Administration does not drive traffic! (I need your help)

please help me

by Alex on May 26, 2010

Are you tired of wasting valuable time dealing with the mundane task of administration when you could be generating traffic instead?

My Mum couldn’t agree more, but she needs your help.

This is actually something that is beneficial to all of us running an online business in any form, but the hidden agenda here is to help my Mum.

A quick summary of circumstance

  • Firstly, My Mum is awesome! Seriously, the only smarter, harder working mum in the world is…yours.
  • Recently she was made redundant from her role working accounts for a national broadcasting and radio communications company and in typical Whalley style, refused to be demoralized by this and instead chose to embark on her own offline business venture. (I am in the process of convincing her to take this venture online!)
  • The Australian Government provides a grant to new business owners if their idea has merit and they can wade through a load of typical bureaucratic bullshit.Now Wendy (Mum) has waded, oh how she has waded! (she wants to add that raising me was much the same) and the government is so impressed with her idea that they have fast tracked her through the system.
  • As such she needs to get a survey questionnaire filled in to see if her idea has merit.
  • Since her business plan is aimed at small One and Two person startup business entities, I thought I could help since I know we are all in that exact position, albeit online.The survey is 15 questions long, and will take you all of 5 minutes to complete.Both Mum and I would be extremely grateful for your valuable input.

Please Download this word document, fill in and return to getsorted@thewhalleys.com

Get Sorted Business Survey Download link

Here’s a word from my Mum

Get Sorted – WJW Business Support is a book-keeping and office administration business. I will go to clients on an intermittent basis, say one day per fortnight, to assist in the smooth running of their business, including setting up office systems, entering invoices/purchase orders into MYOB and preparing the BAS ready for the accountant.  I also edit promotional material, correspondence and websites for small businesses, which would be especially valuable to those of a non-English speaking background, enabling them to present a professional image to their customers.

A part of the market that I have identified as being likely to be interested in using the services of my business consists of sole traders, micro businesses (one to five employees) and small businesses in the creative and vocational fields.

Many people are disinterested in day-to-day office tasks such as filing, bill payments, sending out invoices and record keeping. When tax time comes around, they may find themselves with a drawer full of receipts, bills, tax payments and unsent invoices.

This is where Get Sorted – WJW Business Support comes in; I can take the administrative burden and stress from my clients, leaving them free to get on with what they love doing: looking after their own customers, creating, dreaming and growing their business.

The purpose of this questionnaire is to establish whether there is a place in the market for my business and to determine who the likely customers might be.

Wendy Jane Whalley, the owner and sole trader of this business, would very much appreciate your taking the time to answer the following questions and email back your completed questionnaire to getsorted@thewhalleys.com as soon as possible

Kind regards,

Wendy J Whalley

Thanks again guys!thanks heaps guys

Get Sorted Business Survey Download link

Alex Uses and Highly Recommends:
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

Matthew Big Red Tomato Company May 26, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Great idea Alex and great way of supporting your mum!

I agree with you, does your mum really need to do this offline, why can’t she do it online? For example I have an Indian based VA who deals with some of my accounting that feeds my dashboard. The fact that he’s based a few thousand miles away doesn’t stop him doing a great job and much faster than the UK accountant who was 1 mile from my house.

Oh and another thing, put the survey on SurveyMonkey.com or send me an email with the questions.

thanks, Matthew
.-= Matthew Big Red Tomato Company´s last blog ..Wednesday Wisdom =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 26, 2010 at 11:33 PM

Exactly! But thanks for providing a real life reference for me to bring to the table. I think she wants to get established and find her feet first. SHe’s getting a site built so when she’s not looking I’ll just Geo Optimise it (that sounds like a transformer of some sort) and do a bit of keyword homework on her behalf, before she knows it she’ll be 100% online.
Good thinking on the surveymonkey Matthew, I’ll let her know (After explaining what it is!)

Reply

mark
Twitter:
May 26, 2010 at 11:07 PM

This is great Alex! Good for your mom for not just taking what life gives here too! I will gladly fill this out this evening and send it back to you.

Have a great day!
.-= mark´s last blog ..Is The internets Makin’ Yins Stupiter? =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 26, 2010 at 11:30 PM

Thanks Mark – I told her you said that and she’s chuffed to the bit. You’re a gentleman and a scholar dear sir!

Reply

mark
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 12:05 PM

Jeez Alex, I am an American and therefore am a little concerned about what “chuffed to the bit” means…

Hey, I just noticed – is it possible that Scott has posted more comments here than you have?
.-= mark´s last blog ..Is The internets Makin’ Yins Stupiter? =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 1:10 PM

Chuffed to the bit is my lazy version of the expression ‘champing at the bitt’ which of course refers to how horses are just keen as mustard and pumped for action! Basically she was super stoked! Scott commenting more than me? Never. (? – goes to check admin panel)

Reply

Jean Sarauer May 27, 2010 at 12:05 AM

Ack! I downloaded and filled out the form and now can’t find it on my computer to attach to an email. If I find it soon, I’ll send it out. Otherwise, if your Mum does give Survey Monkey a try, I’m glad to fill that out too. I seem incapable of messing up their surveys :)
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Exclusive Blog Content: Spark of Genius or Flash of Insanity? =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 12:58 AM

hahahaha, good on ya! no worries Jean, thanks for taking the time to fill it in for Mum!

Reply

Jean Sarauer May 27, 2010 at 2:06 AM

One thing I wrote in my survey that you might want to pass on . . . I was putting a lot of “no” answers in, but this is because I’m still in start-up phase and able to easily handle everything solo. In a year or two, the needs will likely change. I’m just thinking if she gets a lot of responses from newer entrepreneurs they may not indicate a great need for services (or willingness to pay), and I would not want her to be discouraged by this. I think there’s a great need for these services, just not necessarily among newer cheapskate bloggers such as myself :) Good luck to her!!
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Exclusive Blog Content: Spark of Genius or Flash of Insanity? =-.

Reply

Joshua Black | The Underdog Millionaire
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 1:02 AM

Alex,

Got your email and I am trying to download the form, but for some reason the whole thing comes out in some illegible format that looks like code. I don’t know if there is a issue with you being in Australia and me being in the US or what…. I would be happy to critique her business, but iff you could convert the questionnaire just to a text file and re-send it to me, then I will probably be able to open and read it.

As a quick opinion, I don’t actually agree that she needs to take this on-line. This seems like a very personal service and her niche will actually be that she is there, in person, NOT some random voice that is very far away. Sure, she will need a website to sell herself, and there will be some on-line things that she can to to automate the process so that she can take more clients, but I think that in-person is the way to go since so many businesses are LOSING that human touch… way to go mum! (as you Aussies say)

-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
.-= Joshua Black | The Underdog Millionaire´s last blog ..What do The Texas 2-Step and The Success of Your Small Business Have in Common? =-.

Reply

Jean Sarauer May 27, 2010 at 2:07 AM

I’m in the US and it worked for me, Joshua. Geez, I can’t believe something technical worked for me and not someone else. That never happens!
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Exclusive Blog Content: Spark of Genius or Flash of Insanity? =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 9:10 AM

Resent, thanks Under Dog!

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Mike Roosa May 27, 2010 at 3:44 AM

Just sent you mine. Hope that it works out for mum. By the way, what’s a fortnight?
.-= Mike Roosa´s last blog ..Making The First Dollar =-.

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Scott Barron May 27, 2010 at 6:59 AM

I was going to ask the same question!!! What is a fortnight?
.-= Scott Barron´s last blog ..How Safe Are You? =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 7:53 AM

Thanks Scott and Mike, much appreciated hey! What’s a fortnight!?!? What are they teaching you Yanks over there?!
Must be an english thing – A fortnight is two weeks.
(Comes from the shortening of FOURTEEN NIGHTS = FOURTNIGHT.)
I just learnt that then so thanks for making me look it up and learn. WOO HOO

Reply

Scott Barron May 27, 2010 at 10:09 AM

We just say 2 weeks ;-)

Or semimonthly.
.-= Scott Barron´s last blog ..How Safe Are You? =-.

Reply

Scott Barron May 27, 2010 at 12:17 PM

Check out my latest post.

A Note From Wendy

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 1:08 PM

That’s awesome Scott! Thanks man, I just had a very excited mother call me saying ‘look at what your nice friend Scott sent me and did!” I was like, yeah I did it too, but where’s my kudos?!?! She says I get nothing. LOL

Reply

Scott Barron May 27, 2010 at 1:26 PM

Yah, but I used her real picture. ;-)
.-= Scott Barron´s last blog ..How Safe Are You? =-.

Patty Delto May 28, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Big Smile here in Germany because even I knew the term!
Made my day.
.-= Patty Delto´s last blog ..How to Find Profitable Niche Markets =-.

Reply

Scott Barron May 27, 2010 at 7:16 AM

I just finished and emailed it back. I agree with everyone else, this would be a great online buisness also.

What a nice son you are :-)
.-= Scott Barron´s last blog ..How Safe Are You? =-.

Reply

Sally
Twitter:
May 27, 2010 at 7:20 PM

Hey Alex, I dont think it’s really appropriate for me right now as I am just starting out, but would be glad to fill it out in the future. I agree with Jean, survey monkey is great for gathering some stats I have used it a few times now, Sally :)
.-= Sally´s last blog ..Internet Marketing The Crying Game =-.

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Lee | Search Engine Viking May 29, 2010 at 3:35 AM

Hey Alex, just filled out and emailed the form as well – let’s hope her business takes off and makes her a billionaire! (Then I can say “I was there before it all began…”)!

I also just wrote a blog post about it as well. Granted my readership is nowhere near yours, but every little bit helps, right???

p.s. I think it’s AWESOME that you’re doing this!

Rock On
Lee
.-= Lee | Search Engine Viking´s last blog ..Help Alex’s Mom =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
May 29, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Dude that’s awesome! Mum’s totally wrapped with all the feedback and support, I’m gonna show her what you wrote and I bet she’ll cry. That’s really good of you man.

Reply

Michael Pedzotti
Twitter:
June 5, 2010 at 1:50 AM

Alex, is your mum still in need of survey responses? I tried to download the file (ending in .doc) and MS Word refused to open it.
.-= Michael Pedzotti´s last blog ..Try on your visitor’s shoes =-.

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
June 5, 2010 at 7:40 PM

No, thankyou Michael. But you will be happy to know that with the results and the feedback, she completed all her obligations and has been approved!
…which reminds me, I must update that post.
Thanks for thinking of my Mum Michael. You ROCK!

Reply

Louis
Twitter:
July 10, 2010 at 11:32 AM

Hi Alex, Was going to download until I read the last comment of yours. I’m glad to hear the survey has helped. – Louis
Louis´s last [type] ..Are Memberships Sites PLR Content Worth A Try For Search Engine Traffic

Reply

Alex
Twitter:
July 11, 2010 at 10:46 PM

Thanks Champion!

Reply

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