I wanted to start my very first topic about an on-going problem that I encounter. I hope I do not offend anyone by this topic but rather explain the importance of choosing quality services.
It’s not about finding the cheapest fee or most inexpensive route to get your project completed. You pay for what you get. Do you ever remember going to a supermarket, clothing store or buying anything at the cheapest value? I’m sure that the product you purchased either didn’t work as well or didn’t completely get the job done. For example, I once bought nail polish remover, the cheapest generic product. The more common well known brand that I normally buy was only a few cents more but I thought I would save where I could. Needless to say, I ended up using twice as much to do the job so I really didn’t save at all. In the long run it would have cost me the expense of buying two of the generic versions to do the job of one of the product that was a little more expensive but better quality. Sometimes you might get lucky with a cheaper brand but on the whole it doesn’t work.
This relates to business as well. I am a Virtual Assistant with extensive background experience of over 20 years working with well known high profile nationwide and worldwide professional firms. A potential client once thought my fee would be about half of what it is. She actually read that Virtual Assistants charge this low rate from a popular business magazine. I explained to her that I provide high quality services, such as proofreading and editing of websites, business plans, marketing plans and materials, manuscripts and much more. I put together proposals of the best meeting facilities to hold conferences included with price comparisons using three different facilities, two of which I found for the client. I also do website design and search engine optimization. A person that charges half of what my fee is can not do what I do. I run a business and there are expenses associated with it. I work from a fully equipped office and I am responsible for my overhead (vacation and sick pay, medical and dental insurance, workmen’s comp. and 401 k.) If or when my equipment breaks down, I take care of repairing it. My clients will not have to worry about any of these expenses, so this is where they receive their savings. I also do the job right the first time and ensure my clients are completely satisfied with the final product. Sometimes when you do not choose quality services the final outcome is disappointment and you have to ultimately find someone to come in at the 9th hour to do the job right.
