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Clarity

Liz Parker

Brisbane Area, Australia

Passionate about helping home-based businesses succeed. Helped over 1000 aspiring virtual assistants set up and run a profitable home-based business

$2.50/min

1

1 Call

43

43 Reviews

14 minutes
Avg. call

Marketing Social Media Marketing Innovation Business planning Business Strategy Virtual Teams Outsourcing Talent Acquisition Delegation Home Based Business

Answers 4
Reviews 43

Answers

Liz Parker answered

Should I hire full time designers, or should I freelance design talent to save overheard? What are the pros and cons to each?

I agree it really depends on what you are trying to achieve. It can take sometime to source the right person to do the job. I disagree that you should only outsource to a freelancer if you have a one off project. My designer is a freelancer and I have been using her for several years because I like her style and she is very fast and efficient so I end up paying a lot less for the work and there is usually very few edits.

I think that for any business it is worthwhile investing in creating a good relationship with any member of your team. If the work you required isn't a full time role, then hiring a freelancer makes a lot of sense because you can build a loyal and trusting relationship with them and therefore depend on them to deliver.

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Graphic Design

freelancing

Outsourcing

Liz Parker answered

Is it advisable to outsource to an agency to create our MVP? Are my security concerns unfounded?

Always protect the "core" of your business. It really doesn't matter who the developers are. Your first responsibility is to ensure that whoever is writing the source code has a strong and long term relationship with you and your business.

Take the selection process very seriously and check referees, talk to previous clients or employers and complete due diligence very thoroughly. Good coders, for example, should make plenty of comments within the script so that anyone who comes after can pick it up and run with it quickly. I have seen many businesses suffer because of a fall out with the coder who didn't do this. A new coder comes in and wants to rewrite!

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Lean startup

Minimum Viable Product

Intellectual Property

Liz Parker answered

Revamping the copy on my website to better explain our story/'why'. Hiring a copywriter, should I know this or can the copywriter help us discover it?

It does sound like you need to get back to your USP - who do you help, why you help them and why they should pick you. There are many different types of copywriters and the first question they should ask you is "What do you want your website to achieve"? Any copywriter worth their fee would want to know about this before starting the work.

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Copywriting

Liz Parker answered

What are your three (3) tips for delegating "up" to people more skilled than yourself?

Having been in senior management and a CEO for many years, I have found that delegating is not only a skill but also an art. You question is very interesting as I assume that in most situations you would be delegating to people more skilled or more knowledgeable about the task or project than you are. A good manager knows their limitations and their role which is to manage rather than do. Therefore the rules on good delegation techniques still apply:

1. Identify the right person or team with the right skills and experience to do the work. It sounds as if you have done this. Write down the reasons that you feel that they will be better placed to get the best results and portray this to the person up front.
2. Be clear on the level of delegation that you are giving to them. There are 9 levels (if you would like to know these, please let me know). This includes a detailed briefing to outline the tasks/outcomes.
3. Negotiate the timeframe, reporting and results. Don't tell, ask - then double the time they estimate. Most of us underestimate the time anything will take. By providing the person with extra time they will feel much more positive about the tasks and be confident on delivering the outcome.

Negotiating the timeframe, reporting and results is the most important step. Never dictate this as you really want a good outcome and this will only be achieved if they are part of this decision.

Please call me if you would like some more practical help.

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Delegation

Leadership

CEO Coach

Reviews

Liz provided some needed advice on a specific issue I was having. I would recommend Liz for business owners looking for more insight into using VA's and building their businesses around VA services.

Rich Peterson Source: Clarity

I worked with Liz over a number of years - both when she was senior in position to me, and later in similar state based management positions within the organisation.

During this time Liz was always collaborative and supportive. She was a great manager and team member, and got the best from staff and colleagues by leading by example, through expression of appreciation and acknowledgement and celebration of successes.

Liz is a good strategist and works hard to put action to ideas with good end results. She has a very 'can do' attitude.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Liz for any position to which she made application to.

Hilary Brakewell Source: LinkedIn

Liz is a very competant manager with examplary people skills who is able to gain the cooperation of others to achieve necessary outcomes through times of rapid and transformational change. She is creative in her thinking and flexible in her approach which enable indivdiuals and others that she is working with to succeed. She does all of this with a great sense of humour and enthusiasm.

Ben Aspinall Source: LinkedIn

Liz was able to provide us with the staff we needed in a very timely manner. I would not hesitate to highly recommend Liz Parker for her highly professional, very thorough and extremely friendly service.

Richard Posener Source: LinkedIn

Liz is detail orientated and exells in delivering services to her clients without the hassle.

Robyn Pappas Source: LinkedIn

Liz has helped us with day to day management of our office systems and would have no trouble recommending her services to any business operator wanting to improve their systems and their efficiency.

Craig Riddle Source: LinkedIn

Liz is a bountiful source of knowedge and information, with a mentoring style that most people would aspire to.

Raine Dinale Source: LinkedIn

Liz is a fantastic mentor and she is passionate about supporting our industry and sharing her knowledge. In a very short period of time, I have learn't so much from Liz about buiness management, marketing, social media, sales conversion and strategies. I learn many new things from Liz every time I speak to her, read an article written by her, or participate in one of her webinars. I look forward to learning more from Liz going forward.

Kerryn Sonnet Source: LinkedIn

I will always be grateful to Liz, she has not only mentored me in my Business, but also at times been there for me on a more personal level also. Any one starting out in the VA world really need to sign up with Liz and her team. The knowledge that you will receive is invaluable to any new or dare I say (older) VA , no matter if you are new or well established there is something for everyone. You get a 1 on 1 mentoring with Liz herself and the webinars are just so great, even if you don’t make it to the webinar Liz makes sure you have access via the website to look at when a time suits you. If you are not a member of the 121Temps I suggest you go and sign up now, you will never lose you will always gain. Thanks Liz

Linda Matanovic Source: LinkedIn

I attended a LinkedIn training session conducted by Liz Parker from Virtual Assistants. It was easily one of the most practical training sessions I have attended. Her deep knowledge of her subject, combined with her easy presentation style, ensured I came away with a much better understanding of how to best use LinkedIn

David Gardner Source: LinkedIn

Liz is a talented business woman and entrepreneur. I admire her experience and drive.

Carol Fisher-Hardy Source: LinkedIn

Member since April 2013