Author: Akiko Design

For so many of our Regional Directors – the ambitious business people who run the regional branches of Get Ahead VA – achieving a healthy work–life balance was a major reason for deciding to open a Get Ahead VA franchise. Running their own business gives them the flexibility to plan their time and fit their work around their home life – not the other way round.

We’ve spoken to a few of our Regional Directors to find out exactly how they achieve this all-important balance, and to give you some tips if you’re thinking about taking the plunge too!

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When you run a small business, it can be tempting to do as much as possible yourself, but sometimes this DIY approach will end up costing you more than if you had simply outsourced the work to a professional.

This is especially true when it comes to photography for your business – if you’re not a photographer, taking your own photographs can be a risky move. In honour of World Photography Day (19th August), which celebrates photography in all its forms, we’re taking a look at how hiring a professional photographer could be the best decision you can make for your SME.

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Social media is a vital tool for modern businesses, but with so many platforms to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? We’re here to help – each month we’ll focus on one social media platform and examine how it can help your business grow and connect with an online audience. This month, we’re looking at Twitter.

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With 50% of the UK’s workforce predicted to be working remotely by 2020,* there has never been a greater need for virtual team meetings. Done right, the virtual meeting is a great way to keep in touch with the members of your team, even if you’re working in different locations or you’re on the road.

So how can you make sure your virtual team meetings run smoothly? We’ve got 5 top tips for business owners who want to make their online catch-ups both productive and useful for everyone involved.

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Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, run by our Regional Directors. All of our RDs are ambitious, business-minded people who took advantage of Get Ahead VA’s exciting franchise opportunity, which allowed them to start their own business with the support of an established brand behind them.

So what does it take to become a Get Ahead VA Regional Director? We’ve pulled together the top 5 skills which we think are essential if you want to take on this exciting role.

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Thursday 1st August is Yorkshire Day – a day dedicated to celebrating the beautiful, vibrant and innovative county of Yorkshire – and Get Ahead VA is very proud to be part of this wonderful region. To celebrate this special day, we wanted to let you know how we can help your Yorkshire-based business to grow.

What is Yorkshire Day?

Yorkshire Day is an annual celebration of the county of Yorkshire, promoting the county’s  towns, beauty spots and top attractions through special promotions, festivals, art, culture, food and drink. This year the main celebrations will be held in Whitby, where representatives from across the county will come together to show off the best that Yorkshire has to offer.

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Social media doesn’t always feel like a friendly place, and when it comes to making business connections online, your social media channels can sometimes feel more like a stream of self-promotion than a genuine effort to make a connection.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Today, in honour of the UN’s International Day of Friendship, we’re looking at how you can put the camaraderie back into social media, and use the top social networking site for business, LinkedIn, to make real connections that will benefit both your business and your life.

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Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, each run by one (or two!) Regional Directors. All of our RDs are ambitious, business-minded people who took advantage of Get Ahead VA’s exciting franchise opportunity, which allowed them to start their own business with the support of an established brand behind them.

There are so many reasons to become a Get Ahead VA franchisee, and we’re always on the lookout for people who are interested in opening a new branch in their local area. Not sure whether you should take the plunge? Here are five brilliant benefits of opening a franchise with us!

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Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, and we’re always on the lookout for ambitious, business-minded people who are interested in opening a new branch in their local area. Our Regional Directors are brimming with good advice about being your own boss. Today, Fiona, who runs the Leeds branch, is here to share her advice about building a business network.

A big part of being a Get Ahead VA Regional Director is networking – the job is all about building up a network of contacts, including people who might use the services offered by our virtual assistants. I usually attend two networking meetings a week, although there is one week in the month where I go along to four! Given how important networking is, here are my tips for building a useful, supportive network.

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Taking a summer holiday might seem like an indulgent luxury for a business owner, but it is actually an essential part of running a business and making it a success.

When your phone runs out of battery, you recharge it, and the same principle applies to you too. The summer is the perfect time to take yourself away from work for a week or two and top up your batteries with fun, sunshine and, most importantly, rest. Not only will this make you feel better, it’ll benefit your business too, when you return refreshed and brimming with new ideas.

Have we convinced you to take a break? Then here are three ways you can make the most of your summer holiday.

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