Blogging

  • Blogging, Business, Creativity

    Trying Something New as a Virtual Assistant: Exploring Visual Narrative Designing

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    One thing I’ve learned while working as a Virtual Assistant is that this field is constantly evolving. What starts as administrative support can grow into project coordination, content creation, brand support, and even creative strategy. Lately, I’ve been leaning into something new — Visual Narrative Designing — and it has quickly become one of my favorite ways to challenge myself creatively.

    Visual Narrative Designing, for me, is the process of building a full brand story from the ground up. Not just the graphics, but the voice, the message, the audience, and the personality behind the brand. To practice this skill, I like to create faux brands that allow me to experiment with ideas I might not normally get to try in client work.

    My newest concept is called Hannah Sophica Communications, and this one started with a phrase that made me laugh: Certified Yapper.

    We all know the stereotype — the kid who talked too much in class, always had something to say, always had an opinion ready. Instead of treating that as a flaw, I wanted to turn it into a professional strength. That idea became the foundation for a Gen Z media personality who built her career around communication, journalism, and speaking on trending topics, world news, and social issues.

    From there, the brand started to take shape.
    Lavender purple and lime green became the color palette to represent creativity and bold energy.
    The tone became confident, conversational, and a little playful.
    The mission became clear: create a communications brand that connects with Gen Z audiences in a way that feels real, not scripted.

    Projects like this help me grow beyond the traditional definition of a Virtual Assistant. They allow me to practice brand storytelling, copywriting, design direction, and creative strategy all at once. Even though Hannah Sophica Communications isn’t a real company, the skills behind building it are very real — and they’re the same skills I bring into the work I do for clients every day.

    Trying new things in this field can feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s also what keeps the work exciting. The more I explore different areas of creative and operational support, the more I discover how many ways there are to help a brand communicate its message clearly.

    Right now, Visual Narrative Designing is my newest experiment, and I have a feeling it won’t be my last.

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  • Blogging

    Productivity vs Busy: How to tell the difference

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    Being your own boss is all fun and games until you find yourself “running around like a chicken with its head cut off” with all the things that are required of you. You find yourself making a list, setting the mood to work, and checking off your to-do list, but at the end of the day, you noticed that you didn’t complete what you were supposed to do, but you also added 5 other things to your responsibilities list. If you are doing this on a consistent basis, then you my friend are busy!

    When striving for productivity, on the other hand, its something that is not a one size fits all category. Simply because, being productive is what you make it. Let’s dive a little deeper with a few examples of what being productive, being organized, and being busy can look like.

    • Productivity = You are producing results that serve a purpose other than filling time.
      • Example: You have a new opportunity, or your inventory has grown, and this increases your audience and demand for your product or service. Instead of trying to put email newsletters together, keep track of inventory and sales, or remembering the leads you need to reach out to – you outsource those tasks. Doing so, helps you maintain the workflow and readjust your focus so that you can move on to fulfilling tasks like reviewing your analytics, tracking your goals, and strategizing your next launch.
    • Busy = Doing 30 different things in one day without any results by the time your day ends. Often you begin something and then stop or forget. You mean well but you are just way too busy! (There is no prioritizing)
      • This may look like creating the almighty to-do list with every intention to complete it but you end up not completing any of it. Sound familiar? That could be because there isn’t any prioritization for those tasks which can streamline getting items done and having results.
    • Organized = The most important! The framework/outline of how to remain productive is grouping tasks and adding due dates, categorizing high priority and low priority. Focus on what you can have managed and the things you can have managed by yourself.
      • A good starting part can be using my FREE task manager chart to help you categorized what you can outsource and what you can handle.

    Whichever way you choose to be productive in your business, always remember to do so by using the method that works best for you. That helps you be the most productive. If you need help being more productive in your business, I’d be more than happy to provide support. Click HERE to connect with me to see how I can assist you.

    Virtually yours,

    Marissa

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  • Blogging

    How To Delegate Tasks To Your Virtual Assistant

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    You have done the work, made the plans, accomplished the goals, and now it’s time for the next level – EXPANSION. Congratulations! You’re well on to new experiences and opportunities for your business. However, with great power comes great responsibility and that responsibility is showing up in the form of the many tasks it takes you to keep your business running and growing.

    With so many things that need your attention- deadlines, proposals, collaborations, posting, scheduling, strategizing, and more, an extra hand can really help you. *Deep breath* Okay, you decided to get the extra support and hire a virtual assistant. However, you’ve been doing it all for so long that you don’t quite know how to delegate YOUR business’s tasks. I’m here to help you navigate through what tasks you can outsource to your virtual assistant and what tasks you can manage.

    1. Write out all of the tasks that have to be done for your business. You can use my FREE Task Manager (click here) to get you organized and start writing down your tasks.
    2. Write how long this can take. It doesn’t have to be exact but an estimate. This is the perfect time to reflect on how long it took you to do these tasks on your own and an outlook on the time you can get back when delegating it.
    3. Next to each task, write if this is something that can “Move” your business forward or if it “Maintains” your business. If it “moves” your business then these are tasks that are spearheaded by you! For example, Filming content, strategizing, or prepping for a meeting or conference. If it’s something that can be maintained, those are the tasks that you delegate to your virtual assistant. These tasks include but are not limited to scheduling posts, organizing files, data entry, tracking, or website upkeep.
    4. Group these tasks so that “Move” tasks are together and the “Maintain” tasks are together.
    5. Lastly, share all of the “Maintain” tasks with your virtual assistant to get them started on the tasks that keep your business active and afloat. For all of the “Move” tasks, you can start on and begin to operate on a more productive level and do actions that help GROW your business.

    Now that you have your tasks written, grouped, and categorized your transition to delegating your tasks to your virtual assistant should be easier than ever. If you’re excited about handing off your tasks but don’t know where to get a supportive virtual assistant who encourages your growth and manages your needs, I’d be more than happy to connect with you and explore how my virtual assistant services can help you. Click here to work with me!

    Virtually Yours,

    Marissa

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