Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Speed Dating Tips

If you’re giving speed dating a try, then don’t forget to read our article on speed dating tips. The article gives you helpful suggestions on speed dating for men and women. Read on to find out more…

One of the most popular and exciting way of meeting new people, speed dating has been attracting people of different age groups. Frankly, it’s not easy to find your perfect soul mate and when it comes to finding a decent man or a lovely woman, not everyone actually knows what to look for in a potential mate. Before a guy can even muster the courage to ask a girl out, he rethinks each and every move of his. As for the girls, in the hopes of finding Prince Charming, some of us might just miss out on one in the process. The dating world is very unpredictable as you never know what’s going to happen next. And when you throw in the complications of a relationship, then forget about it. Which is why, many singles find that speed dating is a good alternative to meet someone and hopefully, strike a chord. So if you are planning on giving speed dating a shot, then you have to read what we’ve got to say.

Speed Dating Tips for Women

If this your first try at speed dating, your nerves must be at an all-time high right now. There’s so much to think about; whether you’ll be able to find someone, is this a good idea, what should wear, should you think of something witty to say, so on and so forth. Since speed dating, as the name suggests, doesn’t really give you a lot of time to really connect with someone on a personal note, you’ve got to be prepared and work in the time allotted to you. Of course, there will be dozens of guys lined up in front of you and finding Mr. Right can become that much challenging. So to ease you through this process and get you the romance you’ve always searched for, read the following tips.
  • The way you present yourself is very essential. I know some women feel that basing decisions on physical and outer appearance is sexist. But when you come to think of it, the attraction between a man and a woman begins from sight. So don’t feel shy to dress well and look elegant (with as little makeup and accessories as possible).
  • Depending on what you’re looking for in a guy, frame your speed dating questions. For example, you are looking for a non-smoker or someone who drinks at a reasonable quantity, don’t be scared to ask the guys point blank.
  • Keep in mind that you only have but a minute or two to get yourself noticed, so make the right first impression. Even after meeting many women, if you think he has potential, then he needs to remember you till the end. Show confidence in yourself and try to give interesting and truthful answers.
  • It’s not necessary that you need to have witty and/or funny answers to all the questions. Many a times, you might not have something nice to say, but that doesn’t mean you give up. Sometimes, a plain and simple answer will do just fine.
  • Since everyone gets a number, it can be difficult to remember the names of the guy(s) you might be interested in when the whole shebang is over. A good way to remember an individual's name is by writing his name in front of the number. It will be easier for you later on.
Speed Dating Tips for Men

Don’t look at speed dating as a last resort to finding "Happy Ending", but as a unique life experience. Your attitude is everything that makes this effort make it or break it for you. If you go in with the feeling that you are going to find someone that is meant for you, then you’ll be more open and free to communicate with others; and that confidence will show when it’s needed. Women can smell fear, agitation, and every negative thoughts/feelings that come to your head. And we don’t want that to happen. What you need be perceived as is a strong, confident guy whom women would love to get to know more. Am I right? So to put your best food forward, follow these tips.
  • Be humble when you talk to a lady. When a woman speaks to you, basically she's looking at how you speak to her and are you a gentleman. She will base her decision on it.
  • Try not to boast about yourself too much. Of course, everyone has accomplished a lot in their lives which they are proud of. But talking about it constantly can be a turnoff.
  • If you're nervous about talking to so many women in such a short time, then rehearse with a friend. You can do a mock setup and talk about some common speed dating questions.
  • Wear a nice perfume and dress in comfortable clothes. Sensual and sexy smelling perfumes can really get you noticed.
  • Make sure your hair is neat and shampooed, your nails are trimmed, hair on the face is shaved (or if you have a beard, it's trimmed nicely), and you look presentable.
  • Instead of being asked all the questions, try to ask her something unique about herself that not many people know. And, pay attention to her. Women love it when guys listen to what they have to say.
  • Don't be arrogant and don't stare at you know where. Women don't appreciate guys who are just looking for quick hookups.
Some Dos and Don’ts to Keep in Mind

Well, we discussed on what men and women need to concentrate on for speed dating. However, there are few common dos and don’ts which should not be overlooked by any of the two sexes. And here they are…

Do...
  • Keep your cool, calm yourself down, and feel confident in yourself. If you are confident, then it will reflect to the other person.
  • Seem mysterious, but not so much that the person sitting in front of you is turned off by it. Give him/her the feeling of wanting to know you more.
  • Maintain eye contact and smile when you both talk. You are a nice person and that's what you are there to show.
  • Be cordial and when the buzzer rings, exchange a quick goodbye. Who knows, this might just trigger something in the person sitting in front of you and want to talk to you more. Polite people are very attractive.
Don’t...
  • Don't give personal contact details just yet. You want to make sure that he/she isn’t a stalker or something. Keep yourself safe.
  • Don't think that the only way to grab attention is to sound and look interesting. But you have to show interest in the person sitting in front of you.
  • Don't try to be someone you are not. Being someone you’re not is making a person believe that you are a particular person. Instead, why not let someone get to know the real you.
  • Don't wear a slutty dress (for women) or dress as a pimp (for men). Provocative dressing doesn't really say "girlfriend" or "boyfriend". You want to make an impression which says, "Yes, I know you would like me to be in your life."
  • Don't be over flirtatious. Women and many men don't really look for a partner who keeps flirting with each and every person in front of them.
  • Don't wander off to another world when someone is talking to you. Even if you are not interested in them, the most you can do is be polite. (You never know, the person sitting in front of you is another guy's friend; whom you like).
  • Don't bring up past relationships or the fact that you are here because your friends forced you to. It may be the truth, but a girl doesn't really want to hear that just yet.
I hope that these speed dating tips were helpful and they can be put into use. Even though the concept of speed dating may not seem like the best idea, giving love and life a shot isn't all that bad. You never know whom you will bump into there and find a new meaning of life.

By Sheetal Mandora
Published: 3/29/2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Virtual Assistant: Top Reasons to Hire One

There are many important reasons why entrepreneurs need a virtual assistant for their business. It does not only save them money but they also choose the right professionals who can do the exact jobs they needed to be done.
Why do entrepreneurs need a virtual assistant? With the endless reach modern technologies, the world becomes relatively small in terms of space. People, events, and activities are within everyone’s reach anywhere and anytime. With the results of these developments, many unconventional jobs without having to do face to face interactions have sprung just like virtual assistance services.

Virtual assistance has become a professional service offered by a virtual assistant to clients anywhere in the world. A virtual assistant only needs a remote office (e.g. home or anywhere else where he feels comfortable working) while he continuously communicate and collaborate to his clients in terms of the efficient delivery of services and other demands.

Now, here are the top reasons why entrepreneurs like you must hire a virtual assistant?

You can easily hire the right person for the job
There are a lot of professionals in the market today who want to get some jobs online. Since there is a large market of professionals, you can easily screen and select the ones that of your top choice. Furthermore, you can easily match the kind of qualifications that you need for a virtual assistant; if they pass your standards then you can hire them.

A virtual assistant is self motivated and can work well under minimal supervision.
An experienced virtual assistant can work well with minimal supervision due to the nature of his job – being remote to his employer. A virtual assistant is often technologically oriented, so you do not need to train him that much; most of the time, you can just give him an orientation of his tasks and he can work through the rest.

There is no overhead expenses
This is the most practical reason why a virtual assistant is really needed – no overhead expenses. It saves you a lot of money since you do not have to purchase office supplies, no office space needed, and no additional hassles in you logistical needs.

Hiring a virtual assistant is cost effective
You do not have to worry much when you are paying a virtual assistant. There is no taxes, no health insurance, and no other fees attached except that you are paying him the number of hours he worked for you and the extra services that you need him to do.

You can hire virtual assistants when you need it
Sometimes, it is not practical to hire another office staff for rush projects since you know that under normal circumstances, your number of office staffs is enough. Thus, hiring a virtual assistant is the best approach when you want to meet deadlines for projects while not worrying about under-staffing or over-staffing later on.

There is a variety of choices
Since there is a long line of virtual assistants in the market, then you can choose the best ones for you. It is not difficult to replace a virtual assistant if he does not meet your expectations and it is also not difficult to hire one again. Furthermore, you can easily hire a virtual assistant that is within your budget.

Hiring a virtual assistant is a good alternative compared to a full-time administrative staff. The above mentioned advantages do not make you save some money but it also enables you to get the best and suitable professional to work for you. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of entrepreneurs who hires a virtual assistant especially for office secretarial tasks.

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Virtual Assistant in Today's Economy

In today's ever shrinking economy, businesses must find new ways to increase productivity while lowering overhead costs. In an effort to rein in spending, many business owners have begun to perform non-income producing tasks themselves. But what many business owners fail to realize is that in fact by doing these tasks themselves, they are costing themselves money as opposed to saving money. An innovative solution to this common problem is the hiring of a virtual assistant.

A virtual assistant can perform many tasks that are fundamental to running a business, but do not require a physical presence at the business location. Tasks such as checking and responding to emails , sending out invoices, uploading content to blogs, and maintaining virtual client contact can all be outsourced to a virtual assistant offshore. Thanks largely to the availability of the Internet hiring a virtual assistant to perform the tasks of a secretary is now possible at a very reasonable cost. Outsourcing many of the tasks needed to propel a venture into success can now be done with the support of a qualified, eager virtual assistant in the Nigeria.

As an entrepreneur you may be reluctant to take on new costs in order to run your business, especially with the uncertainty of the current market. By hiring a virtual assistant from the Nigeria you can actually decrease your overhead costs while increasing your productivity and in turn your revenue. While it is true that there are virtual assistants available from many countries in the world; what I have found is that employees from the Nigeria have generally sought higher education, are eager to work, possess a positive work ethic and hold a high respect for American values in the workplace.

When looking at the facts and figures of hiring a virtual assistant vs. a secretary the cost effective route is to outsource the work offshore. According to the bureau of labor statistics the yearly median salary in 2008 for administrative assistants and secretaries in the United States was $29,050. The median salaries of executive secretaries and administrative assistants as of May 2008 were upwards of $40,000.

Realistically, that is a staggering amount of money to pay year after year for a supportive office staff which does not directly generate income. Many of these secretaries are employed fulltime and therefore incur extra expenses such as health insurance, unemployment, payroll tax and workers' compensation. With marexventures assistant, the yearly salary would be a fraction of what is paid to an employee and the business would no longer incur the legally required extra expenses.

Perhaps you are not clear as to how you could benefit from the use of a virtual assistant from the Philippines. Perhaps you still think that the best way to save money is by performing the work yourself. However, how much money are you really making or saving when you answer your email, pay bills, answer phone calls, or gather information through research? The Pareto principle dictates that 20% of the work you are doing is responsible for 80% of your generated income. Therefore, there is 80% of your time which can and should be utilized to grow and succeed in your current market.

However, if you are wasting that time performing duties normally designated to office staff, then you have greatly limited the potential growth of your business. Using the same principle, you will see that although you are paying someone for 100% of their working time they are only working 20% of it for you. The reality is that your venture will still need a supportive staff in order to continue expanding. Do you really want to pay upwards of $30,000 for 20% of someone's effort? It's much better to hire a virtual assistant!

INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

Businessmen/women often wish they could multi-task and be in several places at once. Well, now they have a choice, they can now get Virtual Assistants to help them every day. If you try and enumerate a businessman’s itinerary, combine his minute tasks such as scheduling appointments and meetings, organizing presentations, and basic online research, then you will see that these activities take up bulk of his working day. All of those tasks can now be executed by someone else - a virtual assistant.

To break it down further, virtual assistants understand how busy a businessman’s world can be because they are entrepreneurs themselves. They offer professional, secretarial, technical services (all of which are tasks that can be done online) to clients all over the world. They can even outsource virtual assistance work through offshore service providers.

Virtual Assistants work from their homes or under outsourcing service providers, there won’t be a need to expand your current office and provide additional office supplies because all of that is taken care of. If you need to communicate with your virtual assistant for important and detailed discussions, you can use call, e-mail, facebook etc which are free applications that allow you to call and chat with your virtual employees.

Another thing is you have the privilege of indicating how you want to be charged. For example, you only want to be charged per project, or number of hours rendered by the virtual assistant. This shows how cost-efficient this business concept is. Once you have hired a VA, you can now focus on more important things and maximize your time in nurturing your business.