http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.virtualcoastie.co.nz en-us Tue, 05 May 2026 23:00:34 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/149061/game-changer-alert-fergus-is-finally-stepping-into-ai-automation-and-its-about-time/ The world is moving fast—especially when it comes to AI and automation. Every day, there’s a new way to save time, cut out repetitive admin, and improve customer communication without lifting a finger. But let’s be honest... Fergus has been well behind on this front.If you’ve ever felt frustrated that you can’t connect your CRM, automate your lead follow-up, or even link basic systems together—trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve been begging Fergus for two years to open the gates an... Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:26:28 +1200 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post149061 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/144497/6-cash-flow-strategies-every-tradie-needs-to-know-and-how-they-can-transform-your-business/ You’re putting in the hard yards—your team is busy, jobs are rolling in, but the cash in your bank account isn’t adding up. Sound familiar?Running short on cash is one of the most stressful things you can face as a business owner. You’ve done the work, but the bills keep piling up, and chasing payments feels never-ending. The good news? With a few simple strategies, you can turn things around. Here’s how to take control of your cash flow—and what your business could look like just th... Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:31:42 +1200 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post144497 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/136800/ready-to-scale-why-electricians-plumbers-are-hiring-virtual-office-managers/ That’s where a Virtual Assistant (VA)—or, more accurately, your Virtual Office Manager—comes in. We’re not just here to book appointments; we’re here to manage the entire back end of your business so you can focus on getting the job done. But when is the right time to engage a Virtual Office Manager? Sooner than you think.... Fri, 25 Oct 2024 11:16:18 +1300 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post136800 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/133768/understanding-markup-vs-margin-key-to-profitable-quoting/ In the world of trades, getting your pricing right is crucial for success. Whether you're a plumber, electrician, or builder, quoting jobs accurately can make or break your business. But what's the difference between markup and margin, and why does it matter?Let's break it down in simple terms.... Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post133768 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/133111/how-to-ensure-smooth-communication-between-you-and-your-tradie-va/ Effective communication is the backbone of a successful partnership with your Tradie Virtual Assistant (VA). Whether you're coordinating job schedules, managing invoices, or delegating tasks, clear and consistent communication can make all the difference. Here are some tips and tools to ensure smooth communication with your VA, helping you maximise efficiency and productivity.... Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:05:07 +1200 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post133111 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/103585/fergus-job-management-software/ Hell YES!!  The team at Fergus has made the software really easy to set up and start using it straight away, especially if all of the information is at your fingers tips. It will make it easier if your accounting system e.g. Xero or MYOB or existing job management tool are nice and tidy and you’ve been diligent with the data that you’ve entered.  Fergus has a wizard that will help you to import this data, so you will be ready to go.At Virtual Coastie we have worked with many Trades... Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:51:52 +1200 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post103585 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/102217/preparing-for-end-of-financial-year--eofy/ As we fast approach the End of Financial Year in New Zealand (31st March) most businesses will be scrambling to get everything in order so that they can have a somewhat smooth transition into the new financial year. We have prepared some tips and helpful hints to make the EOFY scramble a little easier.... Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:54:44 +1300 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post102217 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/94082/how-to-ensure-smooth-sailing-when-onboarding-your-new-tradie-employee/ Onboarding a new employee is essential because: 1. It makes the best use of time on their first day as you have prepared for their arrival, they won’t sit around waiting. 2. It slowly introduces the employee to the company without having to necessarily be on site straight away. 3. Gives you the opportunity to impart knowledge and it gives the employee an opportunity to ask questions. Before the new employee arrives make sure that you plan for their first day (or half day) to be in the office a... Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:32:53 +1300 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post94082 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/94046/what-is-your-vehicle-fleet-costing-you-to-run/ ... Sun, 13 Nov 2022 16:23:42 +1300 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post94046 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/post/89113/5-reasons-why-your-tradie-business-needs-an-online-presence/ You can’t escape social media and the internet these days, even if you are on a job site that is nowhere near a computer. Is it important for a Tradie business to be online? Why? Your businesses online presence is a culmination of all your social media accounts, websites, blogs and reviews pages that your business has, it’s a visual CV for you and your business. It’s about being online and giving customers the chance to start recognising you or your brand and associate that with your busi... Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:00:14 +1300 http://www.virtualcoastie.co.nz/blog/#post89113