Mommy POV Interview
Can you tell us who is Gazelle Simmons?
First and foremost, I’m a Christian and that defines not just who I am but how I live my life, it is part of what makes me who I am. Second, I’m single again which goes to show I’m also human since I’ve made at least one mistake in this life. Third, I’ve got an excellent sense of humor which has carried me through so many times when the urge to give up rears its ugly head. Fourth, I’m my mother’s daughter, my children’s mother, a help to my clients, a good friend and lucky to be able to be a business owner for the last 13 years. All of which has made me truly realized just how blessed I am. So blessed beyond measure, grateful for all that I call my own, humble to have a fresh start after Hurricane Katrina, realistic with everyone who comes to me for advice, sensitive to the needs of others, helpful to anyone I can help, encouraging to those who need to know that each day is a new beginning and always looking to see the best in all I meet.
For someone who is new and does not know much about the Internet and may not know what a VA is or do, can you explain it to them?
The International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) describes a Virtual Assistant (VA) as an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis.
For someone in say PartyLite or Cookie Lee, why would they use you and how would it help them?
For my direct sales clients, I’ve added new contact information to their Aweber, Constant Contact, MailChimp, ShoppingCart1 and others, created newsletters to go out to their contacts and helped them promote their events and specials through social media outlets.
I see you also help with EBooks as well as write them, can you tell us how we would do this and why we might want to?
I’ve helped people to turn out EBooks by editing them, producing them in EBook format, finding information on turning their EBooks into printed publications, setting up promotional events, book signing, etc.
I started my VA book due to the number of people who asked me in email after email how I became a VA. After 10 years of answering them for free, someone suggested that I write a book so I did. It’s available online through my Google site at https://sites.google.com/site/gazellesimmons/vabook
I started my Great American Novel as a journal and most of what’s in the book has happened in my life but like I tell everyone, I changed the names to protect the innocent as well as the guilty. It was 15 years in the writing because I had a couple of husbands and two children who got in the way of my completing it. It’s available online through my Google site at http://sites.google.com/site/gazellesimmons/
Can you tell us what it cost to use your services to set up Facebook, Twitter and what else we would need to build an online presence?
My rates are $24 per hour with a minimum of 10 hours purchased via retainer. All work is done from that retainer and I bill on the quarter hour so you only pay for what you use. Setting up an online presence can be done for you or I can update what you create whichever is more cost effective for you.
How hard is it to maintain these sites after they are set up and how much time does it take and is this weekly daily or monthly?
Maintenance usually requires making posts on a regular basis (1-3 times a day) as well as updating specials, information and promotions. Time depends on whether you need them to be made daily or if they can be set up to automatically post. For those who want weekly posts, it’s good to make them when they need to be done. For those looking to have daily posts, it’s best to set them up to automatically posts so you can get the most for your money with less time used.
Can you share with us one piece of advice people should consider before starting a business?
Be certain that you are a self-starter, that you don’t need the daily contact of other adults, that you can work un-supervised and that you can interact well with unseen individuals. You should careful screen to see if the person contacting you is going to be a good client. Not everyone who calls is going to be the right fit for you. Before working on any project, make sure you have a clear vision of what’s expected, a signed contract and a paid retainer.
What is the one item you could not be without in your business and why?
My computer since I can’t manage without it. I work on it and through it so without it, I wouldn’t be able to work.
How do you feel Twitter and Facebook help business owners and why do you feel this way?
Twitter and Facebook allows business owners to share their information with a wider arena of possible customers as well as keeping their business information in the mind of the current customers. I’ve used both to reach out to people I would never have the chance to meet in person which allows business owners to get in front of so many more people.
How do Bloggers help or hinder businesses?
I’ve got several clients who run their own blogs and these blogs allow them to interact with their customers, other business owners and even their friends and family concerning what their business offers. I haven’t had a single person complain that having a blog has hindered their business.
Is it better to have a website or a blog now days?
Actually, I recommend having both. There are things on your website that won’t fit on your blog as well as blogs being wordier than a website should be. Having a website allows you to focus on what you can do for your customers while a blog allows potential customers to get to know you as a person. People buy from people they like. So if they get to know you and like you on your blog, they will be more likely to buy from you on your website.
Can you tell us what type of pages businesses need on Facebook and why as I hear there is more than one type?
Most of my clients start out with a personal page and then add a Fan Page for their businesses. Some create their pages based on the kind of business they have which is the best way to go. Depending on your industry as well as whether or not you are looking to join other groups, will have a bearing on the kind of page you choose to create.
If someone comes to you and ask if you could set up their social sites for them what all would you do and how long would it take and what would it cost and does this include pictures and things and do you maintain it or do they?
The best place to start in creating social media sites is usually promotional materials, owner’s bio, company logo, pictures, etc., which help to create the basis for any information posted. The length of time it takes depends upon how much information is posted, revisions requested, additional help such as promoting the new page as well as inviting current connections to visit the new page, finding new connections to create and joining groups to put you in front of your niche market. I’ve completed pages in as little as 5 hours and as many as 20. I do offer to maintain social media sites including new posts, revisions and edits. It really is up to the client on how much gets done by me.
Can you tell us who is Gazelle Simmons?
First and foremost, I’m a Christian and that defines not just who I am but how I live my life, it is part of what makes me who I am. Second, I’m single again which goes to show I’m also human since I’ve made at least one mistake in this life. Third, I’ve got an excellent sense of humor which has carried me through so many times when the urge to give up rears its ugly head. Fourth, I’m my mother’s daughter, my children’s mother, a help to my clients, a good friend and lucky to be able to be a business owner for the last 13 years. All of which has made me truly realized just how blessed I am. So blessed beyond measure, grateful for all that I call my own, humble to have a fresh start after Hurricane Katrina, realistic with everyone who comes to me for advice, sensitive to the needs of others, helpful to anyone I can help, encouraging to those who need to know that each day is a new beginning and always looking to see the best in all I meet.
For someone who is new and does not know much about the Internet and may not know what a VA is or do, can you explain it to them?
The International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) describes a Virtual Assistant (VA) as an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis.
For someone in say PartyLite or Cookie Lee, why would they use you and how would it help them?
For my direct sales clients, I’ve added new contact information to their Aweber, Constant Contact, MailChimp, ShoppingCart1 and others, created newsletters to go out to their contacts and helped them promote their events and specials through social media outlets.
I see you also help with EBooks as well as write them, can you tell us how we would do this and why we might want to?
I’ve helped people to turn out EBooks by editing them, producing them in EBook format, finding information on turning their EBooks into printed publications, setting up promotional events, book signing, etc.
I started my VA book due to the number of people who asked me in email after email how I became a VA. After 10 years of answering them for free, someone suggested that I write a book so I did. It’s available online through my Google site at https://sites.google.com/site/gazellesimmons/vabook
I started my Great American Novel as a journal and most of what’s in the book has happened in my life but like I tell everyone, I changed the names to protect the innocent as well as the guilty. It was 15 years in the writing because I had a couple of husbands and two children who got in the way of my completing it. It’s available online through my Google site at http://sites.google.com/site/gazellesimmons/
Can you tell us what it cost to use your services to set up Facebook, Twitter and what else we would need to build an online presence?
My rates are $24 per hour with a minimum of 10 hours purchased via retainer. All work is done from that retainer and I bill on the quarter hour so you only pay for what you use. Setting up an online presence can be done for you or I can update what you create whichever is more cost effective for you.
How hard is it to maintain these sites after they are set up and how much time does it take and is this weekly daily or monthly?
Maintenance usually requires making posts on a regular basis (1-3 times a day) as well as updating specials, information and promotions. Time depends on whether you need them to be made daily or if they can be set up to automatically post. For those who want weekly posts, it’s good to make them when they need to be done. For those looking to have daily posts, it’s best to set them up to automatically posts so you can get the most for your money with less time used.
Can you share with us one piece of advice people should consider before starting a business?
Be certain that you are a self-starter, that you don’t need the daily contact of other adults, that you can work un-supervised and that you can interact well with unseen individuals. You should careful screen to see if the person contacting you is going to be a good client. Not everyone who calls is going to be the right fit for you. Before working on any project, make sure you have a clear vision of what’s expected, a signed contract and a paid retainer.
What is the one item you could not be without in your business and why?
My computer since I can’t manage without it. I work on it and through it so without it, I wouldn’t be able to work.
How do you feel Twitter and Facebook help business owners and why do you feel this way?
Twitter and Facebook allows business owners to share their information with a wider arena of possible customers as well as keeping their business information in the mind of the current customers. I’ve used both to reach out to people I would never have the chance to meet in person which allows business owners to get in front of so many more people.
How do Bloggers help or hinder businesses?
I’ve got several clients who run their own blogs and these blogs allow them to interact with their customers, other business owners and even their friends and family concerning what their business offers. I haven’t had a single person complain that having a blog has hindered their business.
Is it better to have a website or a blog now days?
Actually, I recommend having both. There are things on your website that won’t fit on your blog as well as blogs being wordier than a website should be. Having a website allows you to focus on what you can do for your customers while a blog allows potential customers to get to know you as a person. People buy from people they like. So if they get to know you and like you on your blog, they will be more likely to buy from you on your website.
Can you tell us what type of pages businesses need on Facebook and why as I hear there is more than one type?
Most of my clients start out with a personal page and then add a Fan Page for their businesses. Some create their pages based on the kind of business they have which is the best way to go. Depending on your industry as well as whether or not you are looking to join other groups, will have a bearing on the kind of page you choose to create.
If someone comes to you and ask if you could set up their social sites for them what all would you do and how long would it take and what would it cost and does this include pictures and things and do you maintain it or do they?
The best place to start in creating social media sites is usually promotional materials, owner’s bio, company logo, pictures, etc., which help to create the basis for any information posted. The length of time it takes depends upon how much information is posted, revisions requested, additional help such as promoting the new page as well as inviting current connections to visit the new page, finding new connections to create and joining groups to put you in front of your niche market. I’ve completed pages in as little as 5 hours and as many as 20. I do offer to maintain social media sites including new posts, revisions and edits. It really is up to the client on how much gets done by me.
1 comment:
very, very interesting article. love the interview.
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