Twelve Days of Christmas

As the time draws closer to Christmas, and the radio stations, shops, and shopping centres are banging out festive tunes (especially a particular American lady who likes to remind us about “All she wants for Christmas…”), we thought we’d try our hand at a Christmas jingle with a little VA twist.

So, here we go, the age-old classic, Twelve Days of Christmas:

(Clears throat … mic check… one, two, one, two)

(Drum roll if you please …)

On the first day of Christmas, my VA gave me … An Understanding and Supportive Business Friend.

A Virtual Assistant is much more than someone who works for you. We are the silent partner you didn’t know you needed. We can offer you fresh perspectives and promote your goal of making your business the best it can be. Outsourcing to Preston PA Services means you become a valued member of our professional family, and in turn, we work alongside you, offering unquestionable understanding and support.

On the second day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Two Social Media Posts.

In today’s world, it doesn’t matter if you are a small local business or a major multinational; all companies need an online presence, which is essential to your marketing strategy.

So, if you’re looking forward to closing the doors over the festive period, shutting down the laptop and switching off from work for a couple of days or weeks, you still need to be active on social media! Preston PA Services offer Social Media Packages, which means we can create and schedule two posts per week over three platforms for you to keep a continuous online presence – allowing you to do that rare thing … relax!

On the third day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Three Hours for Myself.

Sounds like bliss, eh?

Delegating tasks will give you back time. Time which probably would’ve been spent trudging through the necessary but mind-numbing back-office chores. When you outsource to Preston PA Services, you gain access to Virtual Assistants with the expertise to take care of your work.

Now, what to do with those hours? There are choices aplenty!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Four Financial Records Updated.

Bookkeeping is one of the fundamental aspects of running a successful business. Most business owners will confess to doing something else rather than keeping control of the financial records; we certainly understand this! It is, however, still one of the least favourite tasks to do.

Preston PA Services’ Bookkeeping service removes the headache of updating the business accounts, reconciling your receipts, getting your books ready to hand over to your accountants or going online and filling in your tax return. You get to spend more time on your clients, developing your business or, indeed, that all-important work-life balance.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Five Hassle-Free Planning Hours.

Running your own business can be challenging. But the bliss of having a Preston PA Services Virtual Assistant by your side is that you have someone committed to your business that you can outsource to. We work with you for your business’s success – freeing up your time to use on whatever you wish! Our VA Packages cover general admin, diary and email management, proofreading, bookkeeping, credit control, social media creation and planning, Internet research, and so much more. Use them to grow your business, plan the next office bash, and/or plan the me-time that is very overdue! Whatever you use yours for, we’re here to help.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Six Outstanding Invoices Paid.

Do you still have a few outstanding invoices from earlier this year? Fear not! Most people will admit it can be a difficult conversation when payments are not being made. You know you need to chase them up, so all the loose ends are tied up before the year-end, but you loathe the idea of making that call. Preston PA Services can handle the Credit Control by issuing reminders and following up with clients to ensure that unpaid invoices are settled.

The cost of living may’ve increased, but if you’ve provided goods or services, you deserve to be paid for your hard work!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Seven Customer Service Matters Dealt With.

As a business owner, you know your clients are your most precious resource – without them, you’re not likely to have a thriving business for long.

Excellent customer service is the lifeblood of any business; it can lead to business growth as it can increase client loyalty, referrals and repeat business. It helps generate positive word-of-mouth reviews, which can attract potential customers. Finally, client feedback can provide valuable insight into areas where your business can improve. Happy clients are more likely to return and continue doing business with your company.

A Virtual Assistant can respond appropriately to a client query and deal with multiple enquiries on social media, email, text message, telephone etc. However, when you’re busy, taking care of all the business processes yourself is difficult – you can only spin so many plates simultaneously!

It would be best to make your clients happy by maintaining timely and appropriate responses and meeting their needs; this is where outsourcing your customer services to Preston PA Services can positively impact your business and you.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Eight Grammatical Errors Corrected.

How many times have you published something, then looked at it and thought, “Oh no, I didn’t mean to write that!”? (Admit it, we’ve all been there!) Or, face palmed when the autocorrect has “corrected” something it shouldn’t have?

Proofreading your work can be difficult, and we don’t always pick up things (like a minor typo or an inappropriately used word). Sometimes, stepping away from our work and having someone else look at it can bring a fresh perspective – especially if it’s something you’ve been working on for a while.

All business documents must be accurate, attractive, and polished, as the success and reputation of a business can frequently depend upon its written communications. Preston PA Services can give you the confidence to know that any documentation you may send shows that you have an eye for detail in every part of your business.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Nine Newsletters.

One way your business can be visible to clients is through newsletters. It’s a great way to promote your products and services, update them on the latest business news, and educate them with regular top tips. Your VA can send periodic newsletters, ensuring your clients are kept in the loop. It’s time-saving and cost-effective. So go on, let us wish your clients a Happy Christmas and let them know your plans for the forthcoming year while you sit in front of the fire sipping on the mulled wine!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Ten Appointments Booked.

You don’t need to miss out on work whilst you’re putting your feet up!

Your Virtual Assistant can provide complete diary management and event organisation remotely. They can schedule appointments and arrange a meeting venue, transportation, and overnight accommodation. Also, your VA can set reminders for important networking events/trade fairs in the coming weeks and months. Whatever you need to be arranged, Preston PA Services can give you the peace of mind that you are supported, organised and ready to make the most of the year ahead!

It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas … (don’t worry, I’m not about to start singing that song too!)

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Eleven Clients Appreciated.

Taking the time to write personally to your clients is a fabulous way to reaffirm your relationship with them and show appreciation for their custom and loyalty, especially if the client is celebrating a particular landmark or achievement.

But what better time to do this than Christmas?

However, this task can be time-consuming – especially when you can spend time on business growth and development instead. A Virtual Assistant can take care of the whole process for you: from writing out cards, delivering them directly, sending out e-cards, or going that extra step and purchasing presents; you’re comfortable knowing your clients are taken care of while you concentrate on doing what you do best.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my VA gave me … Twelve Christmas Cheers!

2022 has been turbulent! We’ve (still) been dealing with the Covid Pandemic; Boris resigned as Prime Minister, Liz was elected and then resigned (a very short tenure), and Rishi took over; we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June but then watched with sadness when she passed away in September; we now have a King; we’ve had Britain’s response to the war in Ukraine; the cost of living crisis, and somewhere in there was a record-breaking 40 °C heatwave (which for us Brits is a bit of a novelty!). Oh, and the Lioness’ did what the men cannot seem to do – they brought football home!

But it’s finally time to focus on what’s up ahead! We’re excited to get back to working with our amazing clients after some time off for Christmas and New Year and to make the most of what we’ve learned these past 12 months.

We wish you all a fantastic 2023!

After reading our Twelve Days of Christmas, would you like to know more about our services? You can click here to contact us.

Author: Helen Summers, Operations Executive and Virtual Assistant