Category: Offering Business to business Services

Get ahead Va

Get Ahead VA – Day to Day Life as a Virtual Assistant

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?
My name is Rebeca Newenham and I live in Guildford with my husband and our three daughters. I first became a mum in 2001 and my girls Isabelle, Aimee and Robyn are now 14,12 and 10.

What’s your business called?
Get Ahead VA

Can you describe it in one sentence?
Get Ahead VA delivers nationwide virtual assistance services for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?
In 2010, after a corporate career in buying for retail giants such as Superdrug and Sainsburys, I was looking for a flexible work solution that could fit around my lifestyle and my three young daughters. I was inspired by my mother who ran her own tutorial agency when I was a child. Having grown up with a successfully self-employed mother, I saw it was possible to be able to contribute financially to the family and to do school drop off and pick ups too. My mum was a great example and I knew that one day I wanted to run my own business just like she did.

How did you fund your start up?
Having looked at various business options I chose to start a Virtual Assistance (VA) business because I saw a clear gap in the market for it and because it had low start-up costs. All I really needed was a laptop and myself. My corporate buying career had given me so many great contacts and fantastic business experience, and after a few years of looking after my three children I was well accomplished at multitasking!

How do you manage working around your children?
It is always a juggling act but mobile technology really helps as I can be working from any location and I am not tied into being sat at a desk nine till five. As a business we really embrace flexible working – both for our clients and our VAs. There have been some late nights and weekends but I am lucky to have a great team of people working for me now which makes managing it all much easier.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?
Every day is different. I am often at networking meetings or business events talking to prospective clients. Luckily I have always enjoyed meeting new people. I also have regular meetings with our existing clients and our team of VAs to make sure projects are on track and we are looking after clients’ needs. We often find that clients come to us initially looking for one service (such as social media or telephone answering) but go on to use our wide range of other services including PR, website design and even accounting.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
Like any small business owner there have been many challenges along the way. Knowing when to invest and in what has been key. A few years ago we made a major investment in a new website, which proved to be really worthwhile. It made a real difference to our reach online and helped to develop social media as a key referral channel for our business.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?
I feel so lucky to have found a real balance between work and family life. Being a mumpreneur means I am in charge of my own time – I can work flexibly around school hours and be there for assembly and netball matches. But I also get to use all the skills I gained in my pre-children career and do something I really enjoy. Networking is a huge part of my role and I have always loved meeting new people. The girls are all really proud of what I do which makes it even more worthwhile.

What are your plans for the future?
At the moment we are particularly excited about our expansion in Scotland, as we have recently appointed a dedicated marketing specialist for this area. Based in Glasgow, Beverley will be working on bringing new clients on board over the next few months. The number of SMEs in Scotland is growing strongly and we are well placed to assist in further growth for these businesses.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?
Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. Do your research up front and then just get on with it. If things don’t turn out quite as you thought first time don’t panic – just think about how you could do it differently. Keep evolving until you get it right.

Get ahead VAWebsite address: www.getaheadva.com
Twitter address: @GetAheadVA
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/get-ahead-va

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Your Web Toolkit – Helping Other Businesses to Make Their Websites Successful

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?
I’m Cathy Topping, and I became a mum to twin girls – Holly and Isobel – at the end of 2015. They were born in Sydney, which is where my husband and I had been living for about 5 years. When they were 4 months old, we moved back to the UK.

What’s your business called?
Your Web Toolkit

Can you describe it in one sentence?
I help small businesses to plan, build and market their websites

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?
I was actually already a small business owner – graphic and web design – before the girls were born. Since they’ve arrived though, the upheaval has made me re-evaluate my approach to what I can offer in terms of products and services.

And so I came up with the idea of Your Web Toolkit in early 2016.

How did you fund your start up?
Self funded

How do you manage working around your children?
It is hard! My husband is a teacher and has flexible hours, so we basically tag team the childcare. When he’s working, I have the girls. When he doesn’t have teaching hours, he takes the girls and I go to a café to get my work done. We both also work in the evenings. There’s not much downtime in our lives at the moment!

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?
I usually get a least a few hours each day, and I have been using Trello boards to keep on top of what I need to do. It’s an online tool that allows me to quickly see what I need to get done across my different business and client projects. This approach allows me to maximise the few hours I do get, so that I’m not wasting time thinking about where I’m up to, or getting distracted and falling into an internet wormhole!

Most days, I head to a café to work. If I’m at home, I get distracted by the girls, the housework, the temptation to sometimes just lie down! In the café, I can really focus and make sure my time is truly productive.

My daily tasks are very varied. At the moment, I’m working on course materials. I also try to have a blog post on the go – in some stage of being written or edited. I manage my social media accounts. I’m also updating and adding to my website as needed – new landing pages, updating existing pages. And then, around all that I fit in client work. Right now, I’m working on a website, ebook designs, and a logo.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
Trying to find enough time to get anything done is my biggest challenge. I’ve been using productivity tools to help with keeping me focused and moving forward

My new challenge is to get students and clients for my new website. I’ve been applying everything I know from my existing design business to generate interest and traffic towards the site.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?
In spite of the hard work involved in juggling my business time and ‘Mummy’ time, I am glad that I’ve got the opportunity to be around while my girls are this young.

Running my own business has its fair share of stresses and downsides, but the flexibility to work around other parts of my life is part of what makes me keep following this path.

What are your plans for the future?
I have lots of plans for my new business. Aside from working with small businesses and entrepreneurs, I really want to find a way to help young women and mothers. Although I’m not sure how that might look right now, I would like to find a way to help women who feel trapped because of lack of financial independence.

On a personal note, we’re hoping to get back to Australia later this year to visit family and friends.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?
Get a website! Spend some time researching online marketing, and get a website built that is aligned with your marketing plans and goals.

You don’t need to spend a fortune either, there are DIY options that are really affordable – some are free if you don’t mind spending time working it out yourself.

Websites aren’t just for online businesses either. You can use your site as a marketing tool to send people into your physical store – for example.

Website: http://yourwebtoolkit.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1079428642121263/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourwebtoolkit

Lime Blue VA – What it’s like to be a Virtual Assistant

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?
I’m Sofi and I’m mum to 2 gorgeous girls, Alice (5 years old) and Grace (2 years old).

What’s your business called?
Lime Blue VA

Can you describe it in one sentence?
I provide my clients (small business owners) with a bespoke administration service that meets their individual needs.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?
I became a self employed virtual assistant in August 2015, it’s something I’d thought about for many years but the reason I took the plunge last year was that my eldest daughter was starting school and I want to be more flexible for her.

How did you fund your start up?
The start up for my business was quite easy on my pocket, my main requirements were PC, printer/scanner/copier and insurances. So I was able to purchase these things from savings and then keep adding to my requirements as the months passed, like website, business cards etc.

How do you manage working around your children?
I try to work as much as possible when my girls are at school and nursery but if I do need to put in more hours then I do these after they have gone to bed. I try, where possible, not to work when they are around.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?
Being a VA, there is no typical day, it varies greatly but that’s what I love, I love the variety of my job and helping lots of small businesses. One day I might be creating a beauty bible, the next day I’m creating invoices for an architect or researching travel in a foreign country. I find that having a limited number of hours that I’m very focussed, so my daily routine is that I drop my girls off at school and nursery, come home, computer gets turned on whilst I make a cup of tea and then that’s me at my computer until I have to leave to collect my girls!

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
I guess the biggest challenge is having to make all the business decisions on my own and not having an office buddy to bounce ideas off. I overcome this by not rushing any business ideas, talking it through with my husband and then implementing any changes etc when the time feels right.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?
The flexibility for my girls, the variety of work from working with lots of different clients and helping small business to grow.

What are your plans for the future?
To work with more small businesses and expand my knowledge base so I can offer even more services to my clients.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?
Stay strong, focussed and remember your reason for going it alone.

Home

https://www.facebook.com/limeblueva/

Running Two Creative Businesses – Lighthouse Creative Designs

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

Hi! My name is Olivia. Me and my partner Steve have been together for 5 years, known eachother for 10 years, we met at a motorbike rally! Always knew we’d end up together at some point in our lives, then we had our wonderful surprise daughter Ophelia on the 20th January 2015!

What’s your business called?

I have two businesses, one is a freelance graphic design business called Lighthouse Creative Designs and I’m in the process of setting up my shop’Mad as Hops’ Victorian bespoke fabric and gifts. Graphic design is our bread and butter, I wish to be more involved with my fabrics though.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Exhilarating!

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I started after My daughter was 5months old. I had previously worked for an awful design company beforehand, I would alwayscome home stressed anxious, fowl mood and unconfident. I then decided I wish to be at home with my daughter, |I didnt want to come home upset and stressed then my mood projecting onto her, ( even though you act like your not upset infront of your child… they still know!). She was my drive and push I needed to get me back on track 🙂

How did you fund your start up?

I attended a free course ( Princess Trust ) who kindly offered a start up loan, I wanted to drift away from that and save the funding myself. I used free websites such as word press ( https://wordpress.com/) and wix (http://www.wix.com/) then spread the word locally using social media, word got around then I made contracts for frequant jobs. Then I purchased my domain, website business cards and flyers.

How do you manage working around your children?/ Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

At first… I am not going to lie! It was very difficult! You are trying to establish a routine, and babies are changing every single day! (not to mention night feeds still because daddy also has a full time job!) I do not like to use the TV and gagets very often, so it was a struggle. I used Pinterest.com and created boards and sensory fun for children, This was my saviour! now shes mobile, its much easier as she plays and runs around. I make Ophelia’s Breakfast, she has an hour of TV in the morning then nap. I crack on with work then. She wakes up I get her sensory objects out whilst I continue. Then the afternoon we have a break and go to the park with the dog. I put her to bed at 7pm, If I have more work I’ll continue for another couple of hours.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

Pressure and deadlines, some of my clients are famous for sending me lastminute.com jobs… This can get me rather flustered at times, depending on what the job is of course! Just need to take a breather, cup of tea, make sure little one is well occupied and had her breakfast or lunch then get cracking. my saviour is my laptop! So im with her aswell.

Also my work load can become quiet, but I still work, I still have to keep my routine for Ophelia, so when works quiet its my time to catch up with my social media and websites, maybe work out discounts etc to keep it active. Despite the quietness, you must remain postive and busy!

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

It makes me feel good knowing that I can manage and cope with Ophelia, work and household work, my friends dont know how I do it haha!… I have the most demanding little boss in the world haha, I wouldnt have it any other way 🙂

What are your plans for the future?

To continue with working from home, and I am artistic too, hoping Ophelia has my creative gene, cant wait for her to join me 🙂

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

I would say, dont doubt yourself. You CAN do this!… Treat this as your empire. Your bread and butter, your other baby! Keep going, remain postive!

Everything you need will come at the perfect time when you least expect it!

Also if your below the age of 30 and want to learn more, or even go down the funding route, Please contact the princes trust, the course is free and its for a week, itll change your perspective and give you confidence, I also met other mums and made friends with others starting up their businesses too! I couldnt reccommend it enough! They are amazing! Well worth it! I was already 30 when I started the course.

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Tropical Eleven – A Mum Offering Creative Services to Small Businesses

Tell us a bit about your family?
I am 24year old mum of 1 little boy born in 2015. Married to my very inspiring husband who is 27 in 2014.
My husband has returned to University so that he can start his Postnatal business.-Very interesting and exciting stuff-Watch out for this!
When I found out I was pregnant my contract (for a very large corporation) was up for renewal, in which they decided to end instead of paying me maternity. I always wanted to work for myself so decided to take the time off while being pregnant to work freelance doing design and marketing.

What’s your business called?
Tropical Eleven

Can you describe it in one sentence?
One stop creative services for business start ups and small businesses.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?
It started in 2015. The the dream of being able to work when I wanted/could and having myself to answer to.

How did you fund your start up?
Luckily with Design and marketing all my work is done from home. I only needed money to setup my website when I first started so I used the money made from one of my first clients to pay for this.

How do you manage working around your children?
My working hours start when my little 10 month old boy goes to bed. I work until 11.30pm sometimes later depending on the day I have had. The days my husband is off I spend about 2 hours through the day working. I keep organised with a planner so that when I sit down to work I know exactly what needs done so my time is spent efficiently.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?
Each day I get up at around 5.30am/6am I get up and have breakfast while my little boy watches tv and plays with his toys. I then make him some breakfast and put him down for a morning nap. While he naps I get ready and check my emails, wash the bottles, unload the dishwasher and the day is ready to go. Some days we are at playgroup and playdates for a few hours. The task of lunchtime feeding and cleaning the mammoth mess. alot alot of playing follows. If I can manage to get him to have an afternoon nap I will then get some work done in this time. Most nights I am designing a website for someone. This includes emailing and calling the client. Mostly I am sat at my desk. Sometimes I need to do research work for startup businesses or businesses that are looking to revamp their strategies. I sometimes need to go away for this so We make a little family trip of it.

I keep organised by keeping a planner and keeping ontop of emails.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
I remember when I posted on Netmums. and earlier that day I had updated my website. Crazily enough I had reverted my websites history and saved it as a previous version! SO I had a man comment on my post absoloutely slating my website and my company. I went on to see what he had ment and there it was he was right I had some mistakes on my website. I was sharp to revert my website back to the update that should have saved, Hey mistakes happen. But this mans comments were so harsh and so disheartening. . I didnt let this stop me though. I know I am good at what I do. I am no extreme computer html coding genius. I am providing a service for people in situations like mine where returning to work sometimes is not an option. Always remember… when starting up you may make some obvious mistakes and you will always get someone who wants to bring you down. Dont listen to them. If you think you can setup a business GO FOR IT.

What’s the best thing about being self employed?
I can work when I want. I have myself to answer to. I work harder than ever before and I feel extremely proud.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to work with my husband on his upcoming business. Tropical Eleven is not a full time income for me it is actually to be used to save for my son. I plan to hire freelance designers who want to work from home in which I will then purely manage the business and d the odd bit of designing as a hobby.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?
Go for it. You do not need to have everything perfect before you start. Its all a learning curve, I have work with many startup businesses over the past few years and the perfectionists are holding themselves back.Take the plunge, The money will come, and if it doesn’t work out. Onto the next idea. Just make sure you manage your time!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
I offer a referral reward for anyone who manages to refer someone to Tropical Eleven for a website, upon full payment and completion you will receive £35! Just get the person interested to email info@tropicaleleven.com and use the code ‘INSPIRATION’.

www.tropicaleleven.com

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Mum typing with baby in arms

AB Marketing Services – Running a Marketing Business around a Family

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Tell us a bit about your family?

I am 1 of 5 from a small village called bradwell on sea. we as a family have suffered a lot of heartache over the years but its only served to bring us together and to appreciate loved ones more. It has made me stronger and to never take things for granted as tomorrow is never promised. I am 32 years old and a proud mum to elliott aged 10 and kaytie aged 8 and a half! My partner of 5 years also has 2 children of exactly the same ages. I am lucky to not only have the full support from all of my family but also the wonderful family of my partner.

What’s your business called?

AB MARKETING SERVICES.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

AB Marketing services prides itself on being able to offer low cost and affordable websites and marketing packages for new or small businesses to enable them grow online.

How did you fund your start up?

I managed to get my first few jobs in the door with no money, just me and my pc and the first few jobs then paid for me to start expanding and purchasing my Macbook, and stationery and even my own website to help run my business. I also still manage a part time job which also helps the funding!

How do you manage working around your children?

I don’t sleep!! haha! My children are my priority – I get up everyday, check emails, fire out messages and then I am a mum until school time! I take my kids to school and then have a day job to get to 3 days a week and work on my business only during the evenings once the children are in bed on these days. I then commit to all day tuesday thursdays and saturdays to my own business. I try to have sundays off with the children. It is difficult but you just manage! It won’t be forever, as I hope to reduce the day job one day. But I do appreciate my time with the kids more when I do get it. I have 2 kids and my partner has 2 kids, so weekends with 4 kids can be fun but also handwork but I wouldn’t have it any other way

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

I face daily challenges – strong competition in a crowded market is my main problem! You will always find that one guy that will offer a website for £99 and undercut me! But i stick to my guns. I know I do a good job and give it my all! People get far more than just a website from me. I only work with people I feel comfortable representing and I put my heart and soul into every site. My children always comment on all the sites and they even get to know the customers, they become a part of me. I overcome challenges by being true to myself and sticking to my guns, if people like me and choose me then GREAT if not then thats their personal choice and I still wish them well with their venture.

What’s the best thing about being self employed?

That feeling of achievement I get overtime I hear the words THANK YOU! Every time I receive a nice review, but best of all every time I hear my children tell their friends how clever their mummy is.

What are your plans for the future?

To loose the day job and just be me! I would say I would like to employ someone but then I think i would find it hard to not be involved or full control – so maybe someone to do the accounts and filing! haha!

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?

DONT GIVE UP! Look in that mirror and remind yourself of why your doing it! Its far better to say I tried than I wish I tried…

www.abmarketingservices.com

Adele recently had her story printed in the local paper, you can read it below:

Im Adele, aged 32 years, and mummy to 2 gorgeous kiddies Elliott aged 10 and Kaytie aged 8 and a half years. I am an office manager/administration clerk for an insulation firm in south woodham ferrers part time.
I then set up my own new business AB MARKETING SERVICES in 2015 and currently manage to do both jobs.

It all randomly happened after I helped my partner with a bit of marketing and a few newsletters for his new business. We were out for dinner one day at a family event and I saw an advert whilst surfing online on my phone, for a diploma in Digital Marketing! Before I knew it I had signed up – with the intention of it helping me to help my partner with his new venture another local firm, DJC KIT CARS. I thought it would give me a better insight into things. My partner Dan also gave me the encouragement to give it a go!
For the last 15 years I have always worked within sales, marketing and administration roles and just thought this would further increase my knowledge etc… Once I started the diploma I soon realised that my passion stretched much further than just wanting to help my partner out. I really enjoyed this – I loved learning and pushing myself, I passed with distinction and 98% and soon began making plans of perhaps trying to make a business out of this. After a few recommendations and setting up a Facebook business page and my own professional website that was it…. I obtained my first few clients from word of mouth and the enquiries started to flood in.

I pitched myself at being able to offer affordable Website & marketing packages for fellow new businesses like myself. I love nothing more than helping people and seeing fellow businesses do well. I am lucky that I managed to get a fantastic graphic designer on board, Gary Thomas from Braintree, that assists me and helps me to be able to offer all the services that I do. Gary has been in the business much longer than I have and offers me a wealth of support and experience.

As Iwork from home this allows for minimal overheads and in turn ensuring the best possible rates for my customers. I already have an extensive client base and seem to be going from strength to strength. I pride myself on only taking on clients who I feel proud to represent. I take the time to talk with new clients and understand about them and their business. I ensure we are all happy to work together and that I feel happy to recommend them and their businesses to ensure the best service possible for the client and for me to perform my duties in an honest and fulfilled manner.
A lot of the companies I have had the pleasure in working with have been local self employed people like Aaron from A Clarke Carpets & Flooring in Mayland, and Nick from NCD Equipment in South woodham and my first e-commerce website lays with entrepreneur and new found friend thanks to our businesses John at Maldon Furniture at the causeway in heybridge. it gives me a real sense of pride working with local companies within our small communities.
My contacts do stretch further afield with having completed websites for companies such as a Hot Tub Rental company in Manchester and I’ve made a lovely friend in Gabi from Ludlow Food Hygiene Centre In Shropshire and more recently a new cleaning company from North London has seen me come to meet the loveable duo Vio & Rina. I have created websites for all kinds of companies, local Chimney Sweep, DJ, Builders, Construction firms, Window tinting company, Double glazing & Window repairs and even a Michael bible tribute act. All my clients have been unique and individual and carry some amazing stories. It has been very humbling.
My own mum from Southminster has stepped out into the entrepreneurial field and now has a budding eBay business in pre-loved wares. I have been lucky to be able to offer my marketing skills to help further her success.
There are far too many awesome clients to mention, and i can honestly say its been an absolute pleasure to work with them ALL. They have all given me far more than just money, they have given me their trust and faith and in most cases their friendship. I think the fact that I take the time to get to know all my clients and take a real interest in them and their business is what helps me to stand out. This is great as website & marketing services is a crowded field and theres strong competition, this is why I try to offer a little more. I don’t just want to create a website. I want to help people. This is far more than just a business to me. I LOVE this. I love meeting new people and have an absolutely wonderful customer base, all details of which can be found on a separate page on my website, so please be sure to check out these new companies too as no doubt we shall be seeing great things from these companies as they begin to grow over time.

Experience has taught me that digital marketing has seen massive growth in recent years and keeping up with new trends is key to success when embarking on new marketing strategies. Social media for example shows us how times are changing and how people connect and seek advice and the importance of being recognised in such a vast and competitive field. My aim is to help companies grow online. I work hard with new or small businesses to empower them to get noticed and i am committed to being low cost & affordable and tailor my packages to suit ALL budgets and individual needs. I try to offer as much free help and advice as i can and shall begin blogging from next month to help offer my clients that little bit extra.

It has been a very tough conquest to get here, I’m currently completing my second diploma in Social Media & Online Reputation Management. I have days where 2 kids, my chronic illness (crohns disease) a house to run, a day job AND my own business to run and the DIPLOMA with live evening lessons, assignments and exams all gets a bit much for me. But when I take a breath and see how far I have come and what I have achieved, or I think back to the little notes my kids write for me wishing me luck or when I hear them telling their friends how clever their mummy is I know I have made all the right choices. Most importantly I am achieving something for myself and getting paid to do something I love. I could not have got here with out all the love and support from my close friends and family (you all know who you are!) and the continued faith all my clients have in me.

so, If anyone would like to know more about me and AB Marketing Services and how i can help your local business with a new low cost website or marketing packages then please visit my website at:www.abmarketingservices.com where there is also a list of other local firms I am happy to recommend.

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