Category: Creative services

How do you know it’s time to rebrand? Well, that depends on a number of things. Crucially, we don’t believe you should ever be afraid of rebranding. Yes, it sounds scary but it doesn’t have to be as big a deal as you might think. A few years ago, we went from “GetAheadVA” to “Get Ahead” – not only did we survive but it proved to be a very good move for us. 

In this blog, we look at some of the signs that it might be time for you to rebrand your business.

1. You’re thriving

Deciding to rebrand doesn’t mean you’re failing. On the contrary, most businesses that successfully rebrand are in a secure position when they do so. When your business is thriving, you can stop firefighting and find enough time to reflect on your business and what it does well. These reflections can help you pin down your brand identity and create something newer and stronger.

2. You’ve changed what you offer

When you first set up a business, it’s natural that you should offer a range of products or services. You’re testing the water and you want to see what works. And when you’ve found what works, you can use it to drive your business growth. 

Of course, this also means that there are some aspects of your offering that will fall by the wayside. Rebranding will reflect your fresh focus and highlight what you offer right now. 

This is what led to us deciding to drop “VA” and market ourselves as “Get Ahead.” We recognised that our differentiator from other virtual assistant agencies is that we offer specialist services like graphic design and HR, in addition to day-to-day admin support services. We still offer VA services but our change of name shows that we are more than just a VA agency. 

3. Your client base has changed

Savvy business owners know that they can’t please everyone all of the time. However, it’s also natural that you started your business hoping to appeal to as many people as possible! Now, as time has gone by, you might find that you know your clients a lot better than you used to. And now you need a brand that reflects them as much as your business.

7. Your original brand isn’t strong

If your business logo is something you cobbled together to go on your first website five years ago, it probably needs updating. This is because your business deserves a strong logo and clear brand guidelines. Not only is it more professional but it makes life easier for you and your employees. If you’re putting together a banner for an expo, for example, you’ll have instant access to the right colour palette and design templates. 

Outsource branding and logo design to Get Ahead

If our blog has got you thinking about a rebrand, we’re here to help. Check out our graphic design case studiesto find out more, or follow us on social media.

Many business owners experience barriers to delegation – potentially disastrous as your business cannot grow without it. Sometimes there is a deep-seated reason why you can’t ask for help; for others, it just hasn’t occurred to them! 

In this blog, we look at common reasons business owners struggle with delegating, and consider the ways you could overcome them.

Common barriers to delegation

1. Imposter syndrome

When we experience imposter syndrome, we believe that we’re an imposter in our sector. We feel like we shouldn’t be in the role of a business owner, or we don’t feel like we’re qualified to work in that industry. Imposter syndrome – unlike actual fraud – is when we have all the qualifications and experience to do our jobs, but we still feel like we shouldn’t be there.

Imposter syndrome is a barrier to delegation because if we don’t feel entitled to do our jobs, how on earth can we take the lead when we ask someone else to do it? And how can we give feedback with confidence? 

Sometimes, all we need to overcome imposter syndrome is a quick reality check. Look back at your qualifications, if you have them. And if you’re a graduate of the University of Life, spend time remembering how you learned all the skills that got you where you are today. 

If your imposter syndrome is more serious than that, it could be helpful to talk to a life- or business-coach. We have quite a few in our business family – talk to your local regional director if you would like an introduction. 

2. “It’s quicker to do it myself than show someone else.”

We’ve all said this at some point! But the truth is, showing someone else is a long-term investment in your business. Certainly, the first time you do it, briefing your staff member or outsourced support will take time. However, once that initial briefing is out of the way, your business now has two people who know how to do it, instead of just one. This means one less thing on your to-do list; it also gives the business flexibility as either one of you can take responsibility for it in future. 

Accepting that you will “lose” an hour while you brief someone else on how to do it is easier when you also see the long-term advantages you’ll gain in return. 

3. Micromanagement 

Micromanagement is often a symptom of a lack of trust. If you don’t trust your staff or external support team, ask yourself why not. If their work is rubbish, stop micromanaging and hire someone else! And if the problem is with you, take action. Remind yourself that your team doesn’t want to do a bad job – they’re on career paths too.  

Overcome barriers to delegation when you outsource to Get Ahead

If you’re struggling to ask for help, Get Ahead could be a good way to start. You’ll have a single point of contact in the form of your local regional director – they’ll be able to introduce you to the right expert who knows your industry and also has the right personality. 

Often, they’ll encourage you to start small, perhaps with some outsourced diary management. If that goes well, you have the option to increase the amount of support you receive. You’ll never be locked into a long contract, and there’s always the option to add or subtract services as your needs change. We hope it will all go well, but if anything doesn’t make the grade, you can discuss it with your regional director. This means you don’t have to give feedback directly to your virtual expert if you don’t feel comfortable.

If you’re ready for Get Ahead to support you, get in touch today – we’d love to hear from you! And if you’d like more information on how to outsource successfully, download our ebook here.

According to a recent survey of social media trends, video is where it’s at. Research shows that two-thirds of social media users feel that short-form videos are the most engaging form of social media content. Video production for social media means you’ll be creating engaging content to boost your following and strengthen your brand. If that’s something your business could benefit from, read on for some fresh ideas.

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Outsource branding and benefit from a different perspective on your business. The decision to rebrand may feel like a big step and a risky one. However, in the long run, it’s usually better to change your brand and strengthen it than to try and muddle along with something that isn’t fit for purpose.

In this blog, we look at how you know you need to rebrand, the advantages of rebranding and why the decision to outsource branding can help.

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Outsource graphic design for fantastic results to convert your customers. Statistics vary, but all conclude that we process visual information incredibly quickly. This means that, when we visit a website or read a printed flyer, we make the decision about that business in a matter of seconds.

For this reason, it’s really important that our graphic design is as great as our business. In this blog, we look at the five main reasons you should outsource graphic design.

  1. High quality work

Graphic designers create stunning artwork for clients every day. They’re always in creative mode and have high-powered, graphics-friendly tech at their fingertips. And if they work for Get Ahead, they’ll have at least three years’ experience to draw on too. This means that when you outsource graphic design to them, they can produce the outstanding work your business deserves.

  1. Powerful visuals to drive conversions

Experienced graphic designers know the importance of creating visuals that reflect your business and tell its story. They understand how graphics work on a subconscious level, like the significance of different colours and subtle differences between photographs. Of course, you want your website to look appealing and professional, but a good graphic designer can create visuals that work on a deeper level too.

  1. Speed

If you do your own graphic design, it probably isn’t part of your usual working day. Even if you enjoy it, you won’t do it as quickly as someone who does it on a daily basis. But when you outsource graphic design, you’ll know it will be completed in a faster time frame than you could achieve yourself.

  1. Correct file sharing

Outsourcing is always better value when it’s sustainable. When you outsource graphic design, you can expect to receive the designs in the right file format for future use. This means that it’s really easy to commission future marketing collateral, like printing your logo onto promotional items. If you’ve ever needed a new website but don’t have your logo saved in a digital format, you’ll know what we mean! Fortunately, with the correct file format, it’s easier to repurpose photos and layouts, saving you money in the future.

  1. One less thing on your to-do list

We know what it’s like to be a busy business owner – there are so many plates to spin! Fortunately, outsourcing graphic design means that you don’t have to do it all yourself. Pass it on to one of our virtual experts and gain some time back for running your business.

Outsource graphic design to Get Ahead

All our graphic designers are experts in their fields with strong track records of producing outstanding work. If you need graphic design support, we’ll find the right virtual expert for your business – someone with the right personality too! Contact us to find out more – we’d love to hear from you.

Outsource web design and benefit from a fresh pair of eyes, expert knowledge and a quick turnaround.

The internet revolutionised the way we do business, but it has also raised the bar in marketing. Now every website needs a website, and every website needs maintaining. Fortunately, our web experts are here to help! They’ve pooled their three favourite ideas for improving your website without going back to the drawing board. Here are some little changes that could make a big difference.

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Blog writing services help SEO in many ways. When you optimise your website for a search engine, you take steps to help the search engine find it. Adding blogs is one of those steps.

In this blog, we look at four ways in which writing and publishing regular blogs boosts your search engine rankings.  

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Many business owners know they need a new website, but feel daunted at the prospect of starting from scratch. Fortunately, our experienced web designers are here to help. Our web experts will see you safely through the whole process, keeping you on track and delivering results you’ll love.

When you’re updating your website or starting a new one from scratch, you’ll usually end up working with a team of our virtual experts, made up of marketing managers, copywriters, graphic designers and web designers. We can also work alongside your in-house team or preferred freelancers.

In this blog, we look at how web design works in practice.

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Good web design is important because your business website is an online reflection of your business. To be effective, its design, content and functionality all need to work well and look professional.

Let’s take a closer look at our top five reasons why good web design is important.

Why is good web design important?

Good web design is important for lots of reasons. Here are our top five:

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Get Ahead exists to provide back-office support for busy businesses. Since our foundation in 2010, we’ve supported a wide variety of businesses, including web and digital agencies. As an agency ourselves, we understand the importance of a consistent culture throughout the organisation, even when the work is delivered remotely.

In this blog, we look at what kind of work digital agencies might choose to outsource and how it could benefit the business as a whole.

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