Hello Online Marketers! This week we are featuring another IVWCC member, Laura Gonzales and her business Virtual Business Solutions. Laura is an expert in Quickbooks and anything to do with keeping your books in line on your business. She really knows how to keep it all together for you and your business.
I'm getting to know Laura and she is very efficient and professional in all she does. She learns it all. In fact, she's learning all about Quikonnex right now and I believe it won't be long before she is adding Quikonnex as another service to her clients.
If your business needs some organizing and proficiency added,Virtual Business Solutions would be the company for you to hire.
KB: Laura C. Gonzalez, thank you for taking the time to
participate in this interview for our readers.
To set the stage for this interview, would you please tell us a bit about
yourself?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] I have over 15 years of experience in accounting
and small business management. I own my
own company Virtual Business Solutions that provides strategies, business
solutions, software implementation, business transformation and operational
solutions for clients managing their business. I have worked with many
companies, managed new setups and solved countless issues - every day. My
accounting knowledge, combined with expertise in QuickBooks, Peachtree,
Timeslips, MS Office, PC Anywhere and Small Business consulting, makes me a
powerful partner for any business.
KB: You’re sure right about that Laura- better to hire someone who is not only
good at this sort of thing but someone like yourself who likes doing it. Okay,
give us your elevator speech, or 30-second spiel, about what you do, about your
business:
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] This time of year many companies are
scrambling to get their books ready for their CPA. Virtual Business Solutions
can be the source to help them through this stressful time. We can also set up
systems to make any business more productive and run smoother throughout the
year. If you know someone who might be interested in any of our services, I
would be happy to contact them to address their specific needs.
KB: Thanks for asking Laura, and I’m sure we’ll all keep you in mind during
that awful time known as tax season! How
long have you been in business for yourself?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] 15 years
KB: That’s a good long time Laura. What,
in your experience, has been the greatest benefit in running and owning your
own business? What do you like best about your business?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] The greatest benefit in running my own
business is the flexibility in hours. In owning my own business, I can make
decisions without having to get approvals.
What I like best about my business is HELPING other Businesses become
successful. It gives me such pleasure
seeing small business owners increase revenue, lower their stress, and have a
better overall business.
KB: What an awesome outlook Laura! Flexibility is a determining factor for many
of us in business for sure, but not everyone cares about the success of others.
Running a business takes a certain
“mindset” so tell us what is the most difficult or challenging part of having
and running your own business:
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Learning how to close the office door at the
end of a day or on the weekend.
KB: Oh boy, isn’t that the truth!! Who
is your primary target audience? How do you attract them?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Small Business owners - word of mouth has been
my best way to attract them.
KB: Even with the Internet, I’ve been finding most business owners say that
exact same thing Laura – word-of-mouth. Can you share with our readers what you are
currently doing to promote your business? How do you integrate your online
promotions with your offline promotions?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Sending out web announcements to current
clients, friends, business associates and family. This is integrated with
offline promotions by offering the referral fees to existing customers when I
see them in person or sending this by mail.
KB: What a great way to gain referrals by paying a referral fee. Is your business primarily online or offline
or both? Do you have a website?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Both. Yes I have a website http://www.VirtualBiz4U.com
Right now my
website has been an extension of my advertising material. I put my web address on all invoices,
contracts, business cards.
KB: From what I’ve been told by PR people, putting that URL on every piece of
business literature you have is a MUST in today’s world. What is your best source of customers,
prospects and/or clients Laura?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] CPA's, Attorney's and Banks are my best source
of referring my business clients.
KB: Since we’re having this interview on
the International Virtual Women’s Chamber of Commerce RSS channel, we know you
are a member of this organization but are you a member of any other
professional organizations?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Affiliate of Intuit Pro Connection which
provides resources for QuickBooks software support. Also Affiliate of All
Business which provides resources for small business owners that need legal
forms, and Q&A resources that can help my clients.
KB:
Very specific to your field – no time to waste right Laura. Online networking groups are rising in number
so are you a member of any online networking groups?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Yes, the Ryze network.
KB: That network is a great one to belong to. I don’t know many who do business
online that aren’t members of Ryze. On
average Laura, how often do you visit those networks?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] I just started getting involved in this
network.
KB: It picks up momentum rapidly though! Moving onto a very vital subject in online
business, on average, how many email messages do you receive every day?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Not counting IVWCC? About 30 - 40. If you count IVWCC about 1200 during Meet and
Greets and an additional 20 per day from different forums.
KB: I’m
laughing here Laura because the Meet & Greets sure get our inbox rocking
and rolling! About how many of those
emails are actually email you either requested, from clients, or pertinent
information?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] 30 are from clients. 10 are spam.
KB: Wow, now that is reasonable!!! Good job filtering out the spam Laura. What is your number one complaint, if any,
about email? ...and how do you think it could be resolved?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Relaying information so that it is understood
by both parties. Follow with a phone
call.
KB: Hmmm, that’s the truth because sometimes our written word doesn’t say what
we really mean to say. Follow up with a phone call is excellent advice. Do you publish a newsletter or ezine?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Yes - Once a month I publish “Quick-Tips”. It is a monthly ezine that delivers a
different tip every month about QuickBooks software. Additional information includes Small
Business Owner News which highlights an area of a business that could use
help. Last month’s topic was about
Business Insurance. I deliver “Quick Tips” through an ezine manager.
KB:
Okay, how about generating new subscribers - how do you do that or is that even
a consideration in your type of newsletter?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] I have an area on my website that allows new
subscribers to sign up. I also include it in the ezine, so if clients forward
it on to someone else they can subscribe.
KB: That’s the way to do it! Do you subscribe to any newsletters? If so, what is the delivery format?
(i.e. email/autoresponder, online only,
online with email notification, RSS, other)
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Yes, online.
KB:
Laura, are you familiar with RSS?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Not totally.
KB: That’s no problem since that’s what Cathy and I are here for – to help
everyone learn a bit about using RSS. Do you use RSS in any way for your
business and/or personal purposes?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Not yet but I would like to learn more about
it.
KB:
You said the magic words Laura – not yet! We’ll be doing a Roundtable
Discussion next month that hopefully will help clear things up a bit on RSS. Do you read or subscribe to any RSS
feeds/blogs?
[Laura C. Gonzalez] No.
KB:
You can now since the IVWCC newsletter is delivered now in this RSS channel.
The great thing too is it doesn’t require your email address!
There
are so many ways to promote ourselves online and off, and one of the most
touted and apparently great ways to do so online is to write articles. Do you
write articles for use on the internet?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Not yet but I would like to write some
articles about Accounting Software, options that business owners have on
alternative ways to run their business.
KB:
Great idea Laura. When you speak on what you do, you explain it very clear and
it would be helpful to have articles on that.
Have you ever submitted a press release?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] No, I haven’t.
KB:
Laura, what is the most creative thing you have done to attract customers?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] I sent out an ezine
letting existing customers know about a bill being passed by legislation that
will impact their business.
KB: So you keep your clients in the know by staying in the know yourself.
That’s going the extra mile! If there was one thing you wish you had (other
than time!) to help you grow your business, what would it be?
[Laura
C. Gonzalez] Additional staff that are experts at certain
areas of the business.
KB: Wow, good wish Laura – I hope you realize
that one! If you could offer a word of advice to someone wishing to start a
business in your field, what would you tell them?
[Laura C. Gonzalez] Do it because you love it, do not do it just
to make money.
Thank
you Laura, for taking the time out to do this interview.
END
INTERVIEW ###
Laura
Gonzales
Virtual
Business Solutions
http://www.VirtualBiz4U.com
