PUBLICITY VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

Three Tips to Propel in Your Virtual Assistant Business

2013-11-21T12:59:00.000-06:00

Looking for ways to propel your home-based virtual assistant business? Whether you are just starting out or have a full practice of clients, here are tips to help you get the word out and help you to become the go to virtual assistant for your specialty.

1.    Attend networking events
Attend networking events regularly where your target audience might be. It works! For example, at a recent event the host and main speaker recommended attendees partner with a virtual assistant to help grow their business. You could almost hear gasps in the audience as many had heard of a virtual assistant before, but were surprised to hear it so highly recommended by this very successful speaker. The speaker then outlined the various tasks virtual assistants can do for their business. Over and over throughout the event the speaker shared how their own virtual assistant had been a godsend to them. Needless to say, at networking time, if you were a VA in the audience you got the full attention of attendees when you told them you were a virtual assistant and what the speaker outlined is exactly what you do—and then some!

That’s why we highly recommend attending networking events. And don’t be shy, be proud to say, “Yes I am a virtual assistant and I can be the partner you so desperately need.”

Be armed with business cards and on those cards use that critical back-side to include many of your services. Be especially mindful of the needs of that audience and before the event, know what services you feel would be most important to them. Yes, you can have multiple business cards with different specialties. (Cool, isn’t it?)

More importantly, collect cards from prospective clients who have a true interest in working with you. Take notes about your discussion, preferably on there, and as soon as you get back to the office send a follow up email with specifics. Ask for a meeting to discuss next steps.

2.    Get known by your specialty
Trying to be all things to all people is one of the biggest hurdles for virtual assistants to get over. It can’t be done—at least, not effectively. The fear is you will miss out on that one magic client who might not know you do XYZ because you only say you do ABC. Right?

We’re here to tell you this is not entirely true. The way we see it, and have personally experienced it, is if you specialize in a particular industry or a few select types of services then your marketing efforts will be more focused on just the right target audience. What happens is, you will get more ideal clients who will ultimately need other types of services. It’s up to you to let your clients know what other services you can offer.

Conversely, if you’re all over the place knowing you can do 100 different things for just about any client who walks in the door, that’s great. However, it’s pretty difficult to focus your unique selling proposition and make yourself stand out in the crowd if you’re trying to reach every single business owner who might need any one of those 100 services. Make sense? Narrow the focus, narrow the target, and get to the right client. Simple.

Now, in your marketing efforts you’ll be able to hone in on better keywords and keyword phrases based on the needs of the potential clients. In your copywriting you’ll be able to speak directly to your audience and they will see how well you understand their business pains—and you offer a solution!

3.    Know You’re Worth
You excel best in your business when you charge what you are worth. And don’t worry about what Susie in India is charging. You know what you offer and you know just how beneficial you can be to clients, so be proud, be confident, and charge accordingly.

But just as important as charging what you are worth, is realizing what that worth is. You need to be clear on the value you offer clients. It’s more than just saying, “I’m really good at this.” It helps to have examples. For instance, how much better does this sound? “I’m really good at this and here is just one of the things I accomplished for a client.” And then include an example of how you rocked it.

It’s also okay to test your rates. If you raised your rates substantially and all of a sudden you see everyone exiting the building, you might have gone too far. You can then adjust accordingly. Before adjusting downward though, be sure you have conveyed the value you bring to their business. Learn to sell yourself and your worth—and be confident! If you don’t believe you’re worth it, neither will the client.

These are just a few tips on how you can propel your business. It’s all a matter of knowing what you do, how you do it, and why you are so good at it.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant - The Series Workbook Edition. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Connect with them online at @learntobeava or facebook.com/becomeava

We were thrilled with our latest review of Virtual Assistant the Series … Check it out!

2013-10-21T11:42:00.001-05:00

Get your Virtual Assistant the Series Here!

5.0 out of 5 stars

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC FROM A TO Z...... EXTREMELY SATISFIED!! By Kathy Monzingo

The information that is included in this book is phenomenal for ANYONE that is beginning a career as a Virtual Assistant. It takes you from the very beginning (basics), progressing to more in-depth information. This book is LOADED with resources, examples and links to numerous websites so you can take your education, as a Virtual Assistant, to the next level (i.e. networking, education, etcetera). I am so INCREDIBLY PLEASED and SATISFIED. Thank you for providing such excellent customer service and such an amazing product!! Five Stars++++

Master Your Virtual Assistant Business—Choose the Right Niche

2013-10-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

To niche or not to niche? That is the question weighing heavily on the minds of most new VAs.

Let's take a look at some of the specialties, or virtual assistant niches, where one might find their particular skills and experience fit perfectly. From bookkeeping to publicity and everything in between the opportunities are endless.

Here are some of the more popular virtual assistant niches:

Bookkeeping VAs - Businesses totally need support in this area and what better way to stay on top of it than to hand it over to their virtual assistant. A VA can take care of invoicing, bill paying, accounts payable, bank reconciliation, and much more. Helping a client stay on top of bookkeeping activities throughout the year can make tax time a little less stressful and time consuming.

Real Estate VAs - The real estate industry is making a major comeback these days. What does that mean for VAs? It means if you have an interest or experience in real estate there can be tremendous opportunities for gaining clients. You can be a valuable asset in helping realtors, brokers, and even mortgage companies throughout the entire buying and selling process. From helping to market new properties to collecting all the paperwork required, a real estate virtual assistant could be a vital partner to a real estate team. Additionally, you can assist with all the technical aspects such as helping clients get their website up and running, writing blog content, and more.

Social Media Virtual Assistant - With all the constant changes in social media today, a social media virtual assistant can be so instrumental. Just think how beneficial it can be to clients if every time Facebook changes their policy, they can just call on you to manage any updates and keep them abreast of changes. A social media VA can also make sure that posts get the most attention by finding the appropriate hashtags. Plus, they can develop tweets and status updates for clients to highlight their accomplishments, list upcoming events, update photos, and much more. And don't forget about those blog postings. Best yet, a VA who specializes in social media can create an entire social media campaign. Now we are talking!

Author Assistant Virtual Assistants - Authors are an excellent source of work for VAs. There are so many things you can do for authors to help them throughout the entire book process. A VA can help with things such as: editing, proofreading, typing of manuscripts, PR and marketing, ebook creation, social media, securing speaking opportunities and more! You name it, a VA can help.

(Plus, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you finally see that book on Amazon and start seeing it sell and know that you had a huge part in its success.)

Event Planning Virtual Assistants - If you have ever been involved in planning a meeting, then you know it is not as easy as it looks. Whether online or in person, the key to a successful meeting is planning and careful attention to every detail. From concept to execution, a VA can be instrumental in eliminating unexpected challenges resulting in a flawless event. That's why businesses need the support of an event planning VA. They can take the stress away and make sure everything is done to perfection.

Transcription Virtual Assistants - Transcription is not only confined to the legal and medical fields these days. Although these are great to do, many businesses, today, need to have their seminars and podcasts transcribed as well. Those can then be turned into ebooks and more. Plus, what is even better is you can not only offer to transcribe their material, but combine a little social media with it and write up tweets and postings about the material as well.

Publicity Virtual Assistants - Businesses need the assistance of professionals to help them get more exposure for all they do. From writing and sending out press releases and articles to helping with book promotions and more, a VA specializing in PR can be a valuable asset. Just some of the other tasks they can handle include: book promotions, product launches, helping businesses land more clients, etc.

There are numerous other VA niches that you can specialize in. The most important thing is to find one that fits you, and do all you can to let your clients know that this is what you do and how you can help them.

Looking for additional help? Register for the next VA the Series chat with Kelly Poelker and Diana Ennen on the last Wednesday of every month.

Entrepreneurship Highest in Decades –One Industry, Virtual Assistant Industry Leads the Way

2013-09-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

According to a recent study by Babson College and Baruch College, U.S. entrepreneurship rates have climbed to their highest level in more than a decade. Some attribute this to the fact that after the financial crisis of 2007, hundreds of corporations went belly-up and workers either lost their jobs or realized there was no longer financial security. Others feel it’s because so many are realizing the huge potential of self-employment. No matter the reason, one thing is clear, more and more are becoming entrepreneurs. And one industry that continues to lead the way is the Virtual Assistant Industry, which was voted as one of the most popular businesses to start, according to a recent article in Home Business magazine. In fact according to Google Trends, since 2004 the number of individuals searching for “virtual assistants” has risen 650%.

So what is a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant or VA is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, and others who have more work to do than time to do it.

Here are just a few reasons virtual assistants are in high demand today:

•   Not only are small businesses appearing in record numbers, but they are growing at record rates and as these businesses grow, they need support. A virtual assistant is the ideal source for that support because they come to the table with the knowledge, skills and expertise needed to provide critical services.
•   Social media is an important element of any business success today and most business owners do not have the time or skills to do it properly, thus losing time and money. VAs can be instrumental in this area, which can lead to greater exposure and increased profitability for those businesses. From keeping up with the latest Facebook additions to offering tips on what to post to continue to build a brand, VAs excel in this area. Because of that, virtual assistants now can add the social media niche to the other niches they can specialize in.
•   Technology is advancing and improving faster now than ever before and small businesses often find it difficult to keep up. As more and more are utilizing tablets, smartphones, and many other devices, a business needs to be set up properly for this mobile marketing and a virtual assistant can provide those tools. From helping to get a website mobile friendly to assisting with mobile marketing, virtual assistants and virtual assistant teams bring businesses into the 21st century plus providing great opportunities for tech savvy virtual assistants.
•   Because VAs typically work on a contract basis from their home offices, they are less expensive and less cumbersome than having to hire an employee and provide office space, equipment, benefits, salary, etc. In today’s economy, these aspects of working with a VA are becoming more and more attractive to small business owners and entrepreneurs. So the potential for virtual assistants continues to rise.

The growth of small business combined with the massive increase in people using technology and the internet creates an atmosphere that’s perfect for those who wish to become a virtual assistant regardless of the stage of career they are in. For young workers it can be the one and only career they have. For seasoned professionals it can be the result of a re-invention of themselves; and it works well for military families, families with small children or empty-nesters.

The good news is that there is training available to help anyone who has the desire and the commitment to make it happen. Plus leaders in the virtual assistant industry continue to offer advice on how you too can become successful. In fact, you can join the authors of VA the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA, for monthly chats on how to succeed in your virtual assistant business. You can do it.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant - The Series Workbook. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Connect with them online at @dianaennen and @kellypoelker or facebook.com/becomeava. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

5 Tips to Grow Your Business Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

2013-03-01T17:13:00.002-06:00

There’s nothing like owning your own business. There is the thrill of landing new clients; the joy of getting emails from those you work with who love the results they are getting. And then, there’s that rush you get when you look at your bank account balance and for once it doesn’t make you want to run back to bed and cry. Owning your own business truly rocks!

A key component of building a successful business is continually working on it. We aren’t talking about doing everything it takes to keep the business operational—that’s working “in” your business. We’re talking about working “on” your business – planning, marketing, customer relations, selling, etc – focusing on the things you need to do whether you have zero customers or a million customers. You need to have a good handle on all aspects of your business and continually do more of the right things to keep it thriving. That doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself either. It seems like a tall order, but it’s not.

Here are our top 5 tips for growing your successful business:

1)    Market – Market - Market and then Market some more. Even when you have a full client base, don’t stop your PR and marketing efforts. So many businesses make this mistake. They market, get clients, stop marketing, lose clients, and then market again to regain those clients. This leads to the constant feeling of starting over. You have to look at what you did in the past and review it. If it worked, then do it again. If it didn’t work, come up with something new, and implement that plan. Exhausting, isn’t it? Plus, people tend to forget about you if you aren’t always front and center. So develop a marketing plan that works for your business and continually keep it going. Every week add your marketing tasks to your to do list just as you do for your client work. Continually market your business and the results will absolutely come.
2)    Market correctly. Not only do you need to be marketing consistently, you also need to be doing it correctly so you reach your audience and they are compelled to contact you. One of the first things you need to do is ensure that you are marketing to your target audience. What is that, you say? What about this target audience? Exactly! You have no idea how many business owners we see that just market with no direction in mind. You absolutely have to know whom you want to focus on in your marketing. Those are the ones who will be buying from you and also will understand your value because they are looking for assistance in that area. So know exactly who your target audience is and market to them in the language they will best understand.
3)    Check your stats and measure your results. It’s important to know what marketing activities are working and what aren’t so you can do more of the right things. How can you tell what’s working? Easy, ask clients where they found you. Check out your website stats and see where those potential clients are coming from. Or, simply add in verbiage to your marketing efforts so that when it comes back to you, you know exactly where it came from. For example, you do article marketing, in the bio include an email address that is specific to these articles. Then when someone contacts you, you know exactly where they found you. (Yes, it’s that easy!) It’s not enough just to collect this information. You have to analyze it and take the necessary steps to adjust when things aren’t working. Or, maybe add a little more to an area that is working.
4)    Do More and Be More – When you give clients more than they ask for on a consistent basis, they continue to not only send you more work, but they tell others about you. That’s how your business continues to thrive. Always do more and be more than your clients could ever imagine. In return, they will want to help you succeed, because you are always looking out for them.
5)    Hire Help. Don’t do it alone. You never see the CEO of a company doing everything in their business, so why would you believe that you should be doing it all in your business. Even though you can probably do the work, why do it? You should be focusing on what you do best. That’s the mark of a successful entrepreneur. They know to achieve top success they have to put the right team in place and have confidence in their team.

Lastly, if you ask most entrepreneurs what makes them a success, you most often hear, “I truly love what I do.” That passion is what sets them apart. Be passionate and follow the above steps. In doing so, we think you will start to see good things come your way. We can’t promise it will always be easy, but the knowledge you’ll gain about your business while using these tips to grow your business will give you a new sense of pride and much more confidence going forward. To your success!

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant - The Series Workbook, and Virtual Assistant - The Series: Working Virtually, A Guide to Working Remotely as an Employee. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

7 Mistakes Virtual Assistants Make In Doing PR

2013-03-01T17:11:00.002-06:00

A Publicity VA is a virtual assistant who adds the niche “Publicity” to their VA business. It’s basically working to get more press for your clients. It can be as simple as sending out articles and press releases, to providing more complex services such as creating entire media campaigns and pitching the media. It’s effectively promoting a business, a book, a speaker or coaching program, whatever your clients need that will get them more exposure in the media. To be most effective for your clients, a Publicity Virtual Assistant needs to know how to do it right.

Here are 7 common mistakes Virtual Assistants make in doing PR:

Mistake #1: Not getting enough traction with the releases you write.

•    Don’t be a one-pitch wonder. Know that PR takes time and if you only write one release and send it out to one or two places, you won’t see results. Plan an aggressive PR campaign.
•    Repurpose your material. Your press release can be made into an article, blog posting, added to a media kit, sent to clients, added to your website, newsletter, Twitter, etc. Social bookmark it as well. Get the most exposure you can.

Mistake #2: Your media is not interesting enough.

•    Your release or article needs to address an audience problem. It should be attention grabbing, create curiosity and finally it should entice the reader with a strong reason to continue to read further.

•    Make it newsworthy. Talk about why this release would benefit your audience. Make sure to provide value and a solution to your reader, and why your expert information will make their business run better or make their life easier.

Mistake # 3: Not using social media.

•    It’s important to do as much as you can with all media you send out. Add all media coverage to your blog, site, newsletter, etc. Also, add a share button so that you can share all the media. Ask friends to Digg it, Tweet it, Facebook it, etc.

•    Share other articles and press releases that you find on the industry. This also adds to your rankings and expertise. People will want to read what you find interesting.

Mistake #4: Not doing a keyword search analysis and not using the right keywords.

•    Before you send out any releases or articles, do an SEO search first; Google Adwords, Word Tracker, etc. Also look for search topics in Twitter.

•    Now see how you can incorporate those keywords into your release, title and summary. Even add keywords to image links when possible.

Mistake #5: Not submitting at the appropriate time.

•    Timing is critical. You don’t want to be pitching a business lead when the media is experiencing an influx of other news. Pitch during the slow news spells.

•    Be familiar with editorial calendars. Publications routinely write on topics months ahead and often talk about the same topics during the same time frames. Also, know the lead times for magazines and other media.

Mistake #6: Pitching in the wrong format.

•    Most media will tell you how they want their material to be sent to them, as an email pitch, a completed form or some other method. The most important thing is to know the different methods and submit the release using correct one.

•    Follow the accepted guidelines for writing an article or press release: including overall word count, punctuation, newsworthiness, etc. Using improper format can cause your work to be rejected.

Mistake #7: Not checking the status and rankings

•    It’s important to know your client’s Google Status as well as Amazon Page Rankings, etc. This allows you to follow results of the media you submit for your client.

•    Also, make sure to check stats when submitting articles and press releases. Have the articles been approved recently? How many hits did they get? This tells you whether you want to do more.

Adding publicity as a niche can be exciting and rewarding for a virtual assistant. The key is to learn as much as you can about the field so you can offer top-notch services. Understanding these common mistakes will help you to fine-tune your expertise and allow you to provide your clients with the quality of service they need to promote their business or products.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant - The Series Workbook, and Virtual Assistant - The Series: Working Virtually, A Guide to Working Remotely as an Employee. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Virtual Assistants – Best Ways to Find Speaker and Coaching Clients

2013-03-01T17:08:00.001-06:00

The coaches and speakers niche is a perfect market for the virtual assistant. Coaches and speakers have so much going on with speaking engagements, product launches, webinars, etc., that they just can’t do it all and are often looking for help. That’s why you need to be out there front and center so when they have a need, they come to you.

There are many ways to find clients in the speakers and coaches market. Here are just a few:

•    Being active online is crucial and can work well to help establish you as an expert in your particular field of support. Making your presence known on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites is a key way to build name recognition.
•    Follow those coaches you respect and interact with them frequently. See who they are following and follow some of them as well. Oftentimes, the coaches will announce that they are looking for assistance. Seize those opportunities to reach out and connect to them.
•    You can also attend events for speakers. Setting up a booth at these events is a great way to be front and center with your target audience. Most speakers have their event schedule listed on their website, so it’s easy to find out when they might be in your area. Take advantage of every opportunity you can to get your name (and face) in front of those you want to work with.
•    Send out articles about how a virtual assistant can help speakers and coaches. That way when they type in Google for information, there you are.
•    Do radio interviews, especially on business radio shows. This is a great way to be in front of your audience and showing your expertise with the tips you provide.
•    Host webinars, seminars, etc., and target those on topics that would relate to speakers and coaches.
•    Ask for testimonials from your current clients.

See how easy it can be. If you’re a new VA looking for a niche or a seasoned VA hoping to expand your client base, try some of these suggestions for establishing yourself as a VA serving this niche.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant - The Series Workbook. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com or email them at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com or kp@another8hours.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Different Payment Options for Working with Virtual Assistants

2013-03-01T17:04:00.001-06:00

Not sure what payment option to use when working with Virtual Assistants and their team? Fortunately, there are many payment options available. You can work with them on an hourly basis, retainer basis, utilize their service packages, and even hire them to work with blocks of time. Dependent on the client and their needs, a plan can be customized and implanted specifically for them. This is especially beneficial for those clients who aren’t exactly sure what their needs will be. Let’s break it down.

Here are several payment options to explore:

Hourly Rates – This is the base rate charged for work done on an hourly basis. Normally it’s a higher rate than say your retainer rate, but it still can be effective. With the hourly rate, you have one rate for every hour worked. Most online support businesses, however, normally recommend their client go with a small block of time as opposed to hourly so the client receives the maximum benefit.

Retainer Rates – With retainer rates, you retain services for so many hours a month, and normally the service provider’s rate goes down the more hours retained. The hours are to be used during that month. The benefit of retainer rates is not only do you receive a lower rate than the hourly option, but also you are guaranteed the Virtual Assistant and their team will be available for those hours.

Blocks of Time – You purchase a block of time (say 5, 10 or 15 hours) and once the time is up, you can purchase additional blocks of time. The beauty here is there is no rush to get work to your Virtual Assistant at the end of the month as with the retainer option. With blocks of time, a set price is usually in place and you can order the block of time that fits best for you. However, some companies do offer a lower rate for larger blocks of time (say 20 to 30 hours).

Packages – As the title suggests, this option refers to grouping together services for one fee. You can have add-ons to that fee, but the main package is set. For example, you can purchase a package for a WordPress blog and the support needed to get it up and running. You can also buy packages for such things as having a press release written and sending it out to a designated number of places.

What’s great about offering payment options is no matter what type of business you own or what your specific needs are, Virtual Assistants can customize an option to fit. Speakers and coaches especially benefit because often their projects differ each month with the events they have ongoing. Not sure which one would fit your needs best? Just ask. We will be glad to discuss your needs and help determine the option right for you and your business.

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com and the author of numerous books on starting a virtual assistant business including Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook and also Corel WordPerfect’s Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution pack. E-mail her at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com to receive your free Business Informational Package. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact

Entrepreneur Tips – What is driving your clients away? And What to Do About It

2013-03-01T17:02:00.000-06:00

Many businesses experience a slow down at times throughout the year. It happens to the best of us. However, if you’ve been feeling that slow-down for the past several months, perhaps it is time to take some action and figure out what is going wrong. What might you be doing or not doing that is driving your clients and potential clients away? Before it is too late you need to take a minute to reflect and then make some positive changes. These should help.

Top Ways to Keep Your Clients Coming Back Time and Time Again:

How are you doing with your clients and potential clients? Are you still making your current clients feel special? Even though you’ve been working with them for years, it’s important to still make them feel like they are your #1. Think about it. Are the newer or potential clients getting all your energy? This happens, but it’s important to note and make the appropriate changes.

What can truly happen in your business is you get too overwhelmed. The demands of running your business can be too much. We also know that part of being a business success is to grow your business and secure new clients. You WANT to continue doing this, just not at the expense of your current clients. It might be the time to sit down with your virtual assistant or team and go over more tasks they can handle for you so you can give that quality care to all clients. The biggest mistake most make is thinking they need to do it all alone. You don’t. So take action now.

Also, take a look at your promotions or your offerings. Are you offering all the good stuff to the clients you are hoping to attract? Giving specials is great, but consider what you can be doing for your regular clients too. You know the ones that pay each and every month. It doesn’t have to be money either. It can be things such as sending out extra tweets or helping them with a project they are having problems with.

Are you ignoring feedback? – What are you clients telling you? Are you listening so you can take appropriate action? Look for signs that things are going well. For example, are they not sending you as much work? Are the responses back not as warm and fussy as before? Be mindful of the signs and work to make it better. Also encourage feedback, by asking for it. When I send my invoices, I also ask for recommendations and I truly want to hear what I can do better.

Not connecting enough – Are you not engaging enough with your clients and potential clients. When was the last time you sent out a newsletter or updated your blog? Be honest. Okay, take it a step further, when was the last time you actually did some marketing for your business? Take just a few minutes and write down what marketing you’ve done in the past two months. Now review that. Is it enough? What have you done right, what can you improve upon?

Now you know what you can do to make positive changes, be sure to include a plan to do that. Write down a specific to do list to make these changes and follow-up on them. Be sure to make client relations a big part of what you do to not only keep those clients coming back again, but to keep them referring you to others.

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com and the author of numerous books on starting a virtual assistant business including Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook and also Corel WordPerfect’s Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution pack. E-mail her at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com to receive your free Business Informational Package. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact

Grow Your Virtual Assistant Business with These Top 10 Tips for Good Client Relations

2013-03-01T16:59:00.000-06:00

Want to have the best relationships with your clients? As your grow your virtual assistant business, it’s important to build solid business relationships with your clients. Then these clients will not only keep coming back, but also refer others to you.

Here are ten fun tips to help you establish a great working relationship:

#1 - Come Again?   It’s critical to establish right from the beginning how you will handle the communications with your clients. If e-mailing, what is the standard turnaround time that you respond back to emails. If phoning, what are your hours? Once a client knows when they will hear from you, then they can plan their day and work accordingly.

#2 - No Surprises - Nothing is worse for a client than to discover four hours before you leave that you are heading out on a week-long vacation. That’s stretching it a bit and you probably wouldn’t do that, but think about other ways you might be surprising your client and not giving them the advance notice they need.   Keep in mind that they are probably under pressure too to get their work done. Always give as much advance notice as you can when things will disrupt the business flow.

#3 - Where’d She Go? For building good client relationships, try not to disappear off the radar screen. Check in with your clients often. When a client writes and they don’t hear back from you for days (or weeks), they fear the worst. Even if you are working on a large project and the deadline is weeks away, e-mail them and let them know “All is going well.” That builds confidence and security.

#4 - OOPS, Where Did That Come From? We’ve all been there. You get the email from the client saying they found a typo or typos. Ouch. We can’t be perfect, but try and be as close as you can. Proof and reproof your work. Also, if possible wait until the material is fresh and reread it again. Determine the time when you are at your best, and use that time to do your proofing.

#5 - Super Size It Please - Always give your clients more than they ask for. You will be rewarded with not only more work, but lots of word of mouth referrals too. And there are so many ways to do it. For example, 1) Set up an Autoresponder for them so they can sell more products; 2) Set up Google Alerts under their topic or target audience so you can find websites or blogs that will help them spread their message; 3) Help them produce a newsletter or blog; 4) Send them more clients or referrals; 5) Ask them directly what you can do to better the relationship; and 6) Most importantly, listen to what they say. It’s so easy to get busy and listen with half an ear, or try and talk too much about your business. Being a good listener is a valuable asset.

#6 - Short and Sweet – Make sure that all e-mail correspondence is typed accurately and is short and to the point.   With everyone having busy schedules, this helps your clients save valuable time. One thing you’ll discover is if you write too long of an e-mail often your main points will be missed. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t strive to get the answers you need, but keep in mind that their time is valuable and to use it wisely.

#7 - You Need it WHEN? - Determine exactly when work is to be completed or when the order is to go out. This will save a tremendous amount of problems down the road if everyone is in agreement. It’s also good to have a written contract. Be specific. Once everyone knows what is expected, things run so much more smoothly.

#8 - My Dog Ate It - One thing you want to do is always try and make your deadlines and avoid excuses. We all know that things come up and that’s okay if it happens occasionally. However, if you make it a habit of needing additional time or not finishing projects, that client will fear sending you more work. Not a good thing.

#9 - Saved by the Bell - Make it a point to back-up your work on a regular basis. And test those backups. Can you imagine even losing a week’s worth of work? Your clients are counting on you to protect their work so you want to make sure it is.

#10 - Howdy Partner – Remember that you are establishing a partnership relationship with your clients. You want to help their business grow because as you do, your business grows too. Let them know you value them as a client and are glad that they have entrusted you with their work. In other words, you appreciate them. Also, let them know that you appreciate referrals so that they can help in your success. It can be a two-way street with this partnership.

And finally, enjoy. Start a friendship with your clients and let them know that you care about them. Most of my clients today are good friends. This isn’t to say that I’m not professional and don’t conduct myself professionally, as I do. However, I let them know that I’m also interested in them personally and how they are doing. I take time to know their birthdays, their kid’s names, etc. Think how you feel when something lets you know they care about you.

Hope you enjoyed these ‘fun” tips. As our Industry continues to thrive, it’s important to earn the respect and trust of our clients and also fellow Virtual Assistants. When you set up your business with the goal of doing a fabulous job, you’ll end up with fabulous clients, and fabulous friends. It’s a win/win for all.

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com and the author of numerous books on starting a virtual assistant business including Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook and also Corel WordPerfect’s Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution pack. E-mail her at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com to receive your free Business Informational Package. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact

Virtual Assistants – When is it time to hire a coach?

2013-03-01T16:56:00.002-06:00

You probably started your virtual assistant business with big hopes of success. You figured as soon as others knew you were in business they would be flocking to you. Yes, you were ready.   Success was yours.

However, even though you put up your shingles, “Open for Business” a funny thing happened. No one came. So you go back to the drawing board again and become a little more vocal this time. “Hey, I’m opened, come and get it.” That should do it. But unfortunately it doesn’t.

So many make this mistake. They think with the right services the clients will be able to find you once you get started. Unfortunately instead of that lovely emails you receive of “you’ve got a payment” you can still hear a pin drop and no one is contacting you. Now what do you do?

Believe it or not, this happens to a lot of virtual assistants and other business owners thinking that once you open you can just get down to doing the work. The clients will automatically come running. But that’s not always the case. In fact, that is rarely the case. You need to get out there and promote your business and also you need to be set up for success, well before you send out that first marketing piece.

And that is why you might need a virtual assistant or business coach. Someone who can take you step by step through the process and help you not only get those clients, but also be set up correctly so once you get them, the day-to-day operations of your business run smoothly. Let’s talk about what a coach can do for you.

What can a virtual assistant coach or business coach help with? Here are just a few things:

•    A coach will make sure you haven’t forgotten any of those vital business basic steps needed to start your business. Bookkeeping, licenses, business plans are just some of the topics to be discussed and figured out.

•    A coach will help you decide with your skills and experience who would be your ideal clients. Then the coach will help you put the steps into place to land those clients. Marketing your business will be a big part of what you will be doing together.

•    Your coach will review your pricing and figure out the best way to set up your business, whether you would benefit with going with packages, blocks of time, retainer rates, etc.

•    A coach can review all your media including your website, media, blogs, and make recommendations. This alone is worth its weight in gold. Once you get out there marketing, if your site and branding doesn’t convince clients you have what they need, then you can be not only wasting your time and money, but burning bridges down the road. Those potential clients may never come back.

•    A coach will be your best friend at times and your worst enemy at others. Yes, they will be there for you when you do things right, but they should also be there for you and guide you gently when you don’t. By helping you prevent many of the mistakes that they might have made themselves, you learn the best way to do things.
This all sounds good, but how do you find a good coach? The main thing you want to consider is to find one you feel confident in by reviewing their business. Is it one that you would like to mimic?

Do they walk the walk and talk the talk? You want someone who you respect and know they have your back as well as the skills needed to help you success. Once you know what you’re looking for, go out there and connect. Your business success is waiting!

Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com has been in business for over 25 years and is eager to help coach you to better success. As the author of the highly successful, Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA, she can guide to in all you need to do to be successful too. Email for her free informational package diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Organized and Loving It.

2013-03-01T16:54:00.000-06:00

Over the years, I’ve tried it all- different ways to get organized. Trial and error. Some worked, some didn’t. I tried some of those fancy looking matching desk sets. They looked beautiful and for some, I’m sure they are perfect. But for me, they took up too much valuable space. Space I needed to proof my work, keep my reference books, or keep those essentials that I use on a regular basis. For me, when I work I want everything within an arms reach and have the tools I need to complete my assignments within arms reach.

I have a corner desk and on it I have my computer, printer, fax, phone, etc. Beside my desk I have a two-drawer filing cabinet. This was possibly the greatest thing I’ve ever done to organize my business. In it I have my files and supplies that I use on a daily or regular basis. My clients’ stationery, clients’ files, file for my receipts, all personal correspondence, paper, folders, etc. Whenever these files get bulky with client documents, I simply empty them into the main filing cabinet. For example, my main clients that I’ve been working with for 15 years, their files in the main cabinet are quite large and it’s so nice to have the smaller file close by with just their recent correspondence.   Plus, when I need a folder, an order slip for my books, a copy of my stationery, it’s all right there. AAAHHH, now that’s convenience.

Now for the receipts’ file. I keep it monthly. I simply at the beginning of the month, replace the file with the new month’s file.   That way, at tax time, I don’t have to go through a whole year’s receipts and divide it up then. It’s all separated.

Here are some other organizational tips you might find beneficial:

Mail—We have a round basket by a small table by the front door. All incoming mail goes in there first. Then when I have the opportunity to sort through it, I get it and put it in its appropriate place. Always pitch anything you aren’t keeping   All business-related mail is sorted and put away immediately. Anything that might need work done on it, is logged into my Daytimer and then put in the To Do Bin.

Desk—Your desk should have on it only those items that you use on a regular basis. Look around. What haven’t you used in the last month or two. Start Dumping. Find another spot for it. But find the RIGHT space for it.

No Piling of Anything Allowed. This is one of those habits that can be so easy to get into. Definitely one of the ones that I catch myself doing a lot! But I stop myself now because I know it will just be brushed off to the side and forgotten. Too often I miss something important and regret the piling blunder again. You will be amazed how much more organized you will feel if you just don’t do this one thing.

Daytimer—Now this isn’t only for Time Management. Your Daytimer can have a space for all your business cards, appointment cards, etc.   How great it is to have all these cards right in the same place. On the date of your appointment, you simply grab the card and off you go.

Start the beginning of the day and the end of the day with a clean-up. What a tremendous feeling that is. When you are done with a project. Away it goes. Everything. When you start the next project, out comes all the material you need.

There’s nothing like the feeling of sitting down in the morning to a nice clean organized desk and office. Once you feel this a couple of days, you want to experience this every day so you’ll take the appropriate steps to make it happen.

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, Corel Word Perfect Office Ready, Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.virtualassistantstartups.com. Free to reprint article as long as the bio remains intact. Also, email us at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com for your free information on starting a business.

Home Based Business Success – Start Yours Today

2013-03-01T16:50:00.001-06:00

So many today want to start their own business and fortunately businesses are constantly looking for guidance. One home based business I recommend is starting a word processing or virtual assisting business. It can make a great work-at-home career and the potential just keeps getting better and better. You will now find many famous authors, actors, businesses, and even political candidates beaming about how a virtual assistant is a must have for business success. In fact, in many books now, some are citing that having a virtual assistant is one of your most important keys to success.

Getting started is easy. Fortunately, it’s not expensive either. First of all you need a complete plan of action set out in advance. This ensures that you don't leave any vital steps unaddressed and will have a solid plan of action to succeed. You don’t need anything technical, just how you plan to operate your business including advertising methods, pricing, business hours, equipment and supplies needed, goals, etc.

You want to clearly define your business. There are so many different areas you can go into as a home based word processor or virtual assistant so you need to decide with your skills and your experience what is the best for you. For example, do you want to do strictly word processing or do you want to do marketing too. How about transcription? I highly recommend considering that. Most businesses today do dictate their work and now virtual assistants can transcribe dictation from anywhere in the world. You’d be amazed how easy it is to learn too.

Now, that you have your business plan you need to decide on the name of your business. One thing you need to make sure of is that you can legally have that name. Often I’ve seen word processors start their business and just grab a name and call it their own. That doesn’t work well when someone else has already chosen that name, registered it, perhaps trademarked it, and has been using it for years. First check and make sure that no one already has it, then test it out. Is it easy to pronounce when you answer the phone? Does it sell you well? Does it limit you? Five years from now will you still feel proud of that name? Try it out on friends and ask their honest feedback. Also, go to the various boards and mention it too. For such an important decision it’s worth the effort.

To operate a business you are required by law to have the appropriate licenses. This is your permit to do business locally. It's a simple procedure that doesn't require a considerable amount of time. Contact your city and county officials under occupational licenses for complete details or go online. Most VAs start out initially as a sole proprietorship and then might change later into either an LLC or S Corporation.

Now it's time to set up your bookkeeping. You will want to keep track of all your income and expenses. Save all receipts and pay all your expenses out of your business checking account. A software program such as Quickbooks is ideal for our type of business. Not only does it allow you to keep accurate records, but it also enables you to track exactly where the most money is coming from. This enables you to target your marketing efforts more in that area.

Now you must decide how much to charge. Don't undercharge your services. The Virtual Assisting Industry is a very proud bunch and we want our clients and others to know that when you hire us, you are getting a professional and one capable of making your business better. Clients will pay well for making their business succeed. Determine what is being charged in your area, but also take into account what you are bringing to the table. When you offer specialty services such as web design or say expert proofing or publicity, you can charge more.

It is also important to have an impressive marketing piece. Your brochures, letterhead, flyers, business cards, etc., should look sensational. I personally love VistaPrints at VistaPrints.com. I can afford to get matching business cards, mailing labels, magnets, and even postcards cheap. This makes me look more professional as I have everything the same layout and because it’s so reasonable, I even have different styles for different clients.

Now you need to get those clients. The key to successful marketing is to tell clients what benefits they will receive by answering their main question, "What's in it for me?" Keep in mind, you're not selling your services, you're selling the benefits of your services. What can you offer them that would make their business run more successfully? An example of this would be accurate dependable service done on an “as needed” basis.

One of the most important things is to get a professional website. This will enable you not only to get clients through your SEO efforts, but also to show your clients your services and everything about your business. Look around at other word processing or virtual assisting websites and get some tips. Don’t copy-just get ideas.

Now that you’ve got the clients, you need to keep them. The best way to do this is to always provide them with more than they ask for. Go the extra mile on all assignments. Let them know that you value their business and are eager to help them succeed.

Wasn’t that easy? If you’d like additional information on starting a business, e-mail me or stop by my website at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com. I have free information available, such as a sample chapter of Virtual Assistant the Series, and marketing letters to send to clients, and also excellent books that can help you succeed quickly.

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, Corel Word Perfect Office Ready, Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.virtualassistantstartups.com. Free to reprint article as long as the bio remains intact. Email us for free Virtual Assistant Information Package.

Virtual Assistant Books – Choosing the Right One for Your Business

2013-03-01T16:44:00.002-06:00

Want to have a successful and highly profitable business? Who doesn’t these days? Well, to do that it’s important to have the right resources as your foundation. As a professional Virtual Assistant (VA) your business success, at least initially, can depend on finding the best virtual assistant book. Choosing the right one can be a daunting task at best; however, there are well-written and highly successful VA books on the market that meet those criteria. You just need to know what to look for. You want one that is hands on, practical, current and offers all the information you need to succeed.

But first, what exactly is a VA? A VA is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, sales professionals, and others who have more work than time to do it. They can do everything from offering PR and marketing services to web design, event planning, bookkeeping, administrative tasks and so much more.

So when looking for a virtual assistant book, here are some recommendations:

Experience
Nothing is less practical than a resource written by someone with very little experience in the industry. Be cautious of the books that have been written by those who have been in business for under a year and have few clients.   Instead, look to those writers that:

-    Know the challenges, triumphs and pitfalls of being in the industry for a good length of time.
-    Are highly successful and sought after for their expertise. Let their record of accomplishment speak for itself.
-    Are out there on social networks offering tips and recommendations for others.
-    Above all, look for those that know what they are talking about and it shows.

Highlights Business Essentials Including Tools & Requirements
Look for a VA book that contains details to getting set up such as:

-    Understanding business basics including the type of business to start, how to choose your name, get your licenses, and more.
-    A solid, methodical, well-written, practical business plan you can execute in a reasonable period.
-    A checklist of all the components you need to start including examples of forms, client assessments, social media tools, self-assessment forms, marketing checklist etc.

Marketing Your Business Essentials
Look for solid marketing advice that is easy to follow, but will yield great results. Be especially mindful of these areas:

-    Marketing to your niche and how best to determine that niche and the experience and skills you will need for that.
-    Best ways to market that are cost-effective and time sensitive.
-    Social media tools that are current and inclusive to those plans
-    Updates on the technology and trends to increase your marketing.

Business Operational Procedures
Nice to have the vision for your business, however, day-to-day operations can be like throwing someone in the water who has never swam before and they have either to sink or swim. The right tools to ease that transition include:

-    Explains in detail best tips for organization, time management, client relations, office set up and equipment.
-    How to price your services.
-    Explains the best daily operational procedures such as turnaround time, work balance, etc.
-    Taking not only care of your family, most importantly your number one asset, “you” should be tops on that list.

Let us face it there would be no VA industry without accurate resources. Inspiration with practical and successful material is the perfect component to the successful VA book you need for your business.

Kelly Poelker and Diana Ennen are successful virtual assistants and co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After Virtual Assistant and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, Stop by http://www.vatheseries.com for information on starting a VA business or contact authors at authors@va-theseries.com if you need a virtual assistant. Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DianaEnnen and http://www.twitter.com/KellyPoelker
Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Virtual Assistant Business Tops The List of Businesses to Start in 2013

2013-03-01T16:36:00.000-06:00

It’s no secret being a business owner can be one the most rewarding ventures ever. After all, you get to be the boss, make all the rules, and make a great income—all at the same time, right? It doesn’t get any better than that! Of course that comes with a lot of hours, a lot of sweat, and a lot of sacrifice. Nonetheless, over 20 million of us do it and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

One of the most hottest businesses to start, according to a recent article in Home Business magazine (December 2012 issue) is a Virtual Assistant business. If you’ve been following the industry and the top businesses to start listings for any length of time you have likely noticed that a Virtual Assistant business has been high on many lists in recent years. Why? We would say that is due to rising popularity and ease of entry if you have the right skill set and expertise. And, there is minimal investment for getting started.

As we shared with Home Business magazine, “Virtual Assistants partner with his/her clients and learn about the client’s business to become a trusted and valued member of the team. At the same time, the Virtual Assistant only charges for time on tasks, so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.”

It’s the partnership we create with clients that distinguishes us from other types of service providers, like those bidding for jobs on freelance-type sites. The ultimate goal is to establish a long-term relationship with the client to provide business support services, like those we outlined below. These services are performed in your office instead of the client’s, hence the virtual aspect of the working arrangement.

As an independent contractor you are then responsible for paying your own taxes, providing the equipment, software, and whatever else you need to perform the services in addition to all other aspects of running your own business. This is where the VA can eliminate the overhead expenses of a hiring an employee for a business owner.

The article further went on to say, “Virtual Assistant services include: publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical, and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, and administrative tasks.” There are a wide variety of services a virtual assistant can offer, this is only a small sampling of the services you can offer.

Want to learn more on how to become a virtual assistant? Take the time to visit different websites and do your research online. There are a number of colleges that offer training as well as industry experts, like us, who offer coaching.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA. Stop by for information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Also, stop by AcademyVP.com for a VA Self-Assessment to help you determine whether becoming a virtual assistant is a good choice for you. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Virtual Assistants Excel in the Publicity and Marketing Niche

2013-03-01T16:34:00.000-06:00

We all realize how Virtual Assistants have revolutionized the way we work today. Most businesses now count on their Virtual Assistant the same as they used to count on their secretaries, only so much more. VAs are a prized and respected part of their client’s team, and unlike secretaries, who often were taken for granted, Virtual Assistants are praised for their professionalism and skills. Most businesses today can’t imagine where they would be without their VA. And as the potential for success in a virtual assistant business continues to explode, so does the need for good Virtual Assistants.

Today’s Virtual Assistants need to take pride in their business and also to learn as much as they can about their niche, which is the specialty they have chosen to specialize in. One niche that I highly recommend is to offer publicity and marketing services to clients. This is an area that is growing in leaps and bounds as more and more authors, businesses, and other professionals realize the need to market their business to get good publicity. A business can expand tremendously when hiring a Virtual Assistant to help them spread the word about their products or services. Also, authors today aren’t aware that once they write a book, that’s when the real work begins. They need to get the word out about their book in order for it to be successful. That’s where a good Publicity Virtual Assistant comes in.

Publicity and marketing is thrilling to say the least. There’s such a great rush when your client gets recognized in national magazines, or a TV station wants to do a segment on them and you helped them achieve this success. Or better yet, when your efforts start resulting in substantial increased sales for them. Clients will not only keep using your services, but also tell others about this new positive addition they have to their business. And best yet, you too get to feel that satisfaction as you are helping them achieve their goals.

One of my most successful tips is learning how to effectively use any publicity that a client receives. When clients get national attention in a magazine, newspaper, or TV Segment, or even on a popular website, it’s important to make sure that everyone is aware of this. A press release should immediately go out to announce their accomplishment. This release should be added to their website and also should go to all their local papers, radio stations, and TV networks. Media loves to highlight a success story of their locals, so make sure you get this out there as soon as you can. And you don’t have to wait for the publicity to happen. If your client lands a major TV segment, you can start sending this press out beforehand in order to get more media for when the event happens. You just want to make sure that the client is fairly confident the segment will air. Also, don’t worry if the segment gets bumped back, that often happens as breaking news takes priority. This can almost be a blessing, as then you get to do more publicity before the airdate.

It’s also important to follow-up with the reporters and let them know how much you appreciate the acceptance of your quotes for an article. When you go the extra step to show them your appreciation, they remember you when the next article comes up and they need help with more expert advice. Many reporters work for multiple magazines so one good ally can lead to lots of media exposure. Always keep your PR hat on. Learn to take any situation and turn it into good press for your clients and your business as well. Stay on top of current events and see if you have anything to offer. Whenever a story hits the press that any of my clients would have a connection to, I’ll send it right away. Having press releases already prepared for clients on their business is always a great help. How do you know about these events? Sign up for Google Alerts under the topics of interest and then whenever a story is written, you can follow-up with your press release or article to the reporter. It works! I also use ProfNet from PRNewswire, which allows me to get daily leads from major news outlets. You can also consider PRLeads.

It’s also important to learn how to write a good press release and article and also where to send those. Make sure that your press releases and articles are newsworthy and also something that interests the readers. When I write a release, I always think would I read this release? Would it interest me? If not, I doubt your target audience would be reading it either. Plus, be careful to sound too promotional. You can easily get your message across without sounding like an ad.

Publicity is a great niche for Virtual Assistants. To learn more stop by my site at www.virtualwordpublishing.com or contact me for a free 10 minute call on PR tips or my free PR Informational Package.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, and Virtual Assistant - The Series: Working Virtually, A Guide to Working Remotely as an Employee. For complete information on starting your own VA business stop by http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.vatheseries.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Wake Up and Partner With a Virtual Assistant

2013-03-01T16:28:00.000-06:00

Is your to-do list keeping you up at night? Are you counting tasks rather than sheep to fall asleep?

1. Wade through emails - 2. Finalize the presentation for tomorrow’s meeting - 3. Get handouts ready for Wednesday’s meeting - 4. Make follow up calls zzz - 5. Schedule sales meeting zzzzzz - 6. Buy anniversary gift. - 7. Call my kids.zzzzzzzz

If it’s been a long time since you laid your head down on the pillow at night without a care in the world, rest assured – there is hope. You can have sanity and sleep, too.

When business worries and personal commitments get to be too much, you need to get help. Businesses owners are faced with more and more challenges every day—finding clients, keeping clients, creating products, article and press release distribution, social networking, and the economy. So if you’re spending more of your time on administrative tasks or just plain spinning your wheels going no where fast, it’s time to make a change. It’s time to partner with a Virtual Assistant.

So what exactly is a Virtual Assistant and what can one do for you?

A virtual assistant, or VA, is an independent business professional who among many things, can help overwhelmed business owners handle administrative tasks so they can remain focused on their business. Utilizing the latest technology your Virtual Assistant can manage your social networks, write press releases and correspondence, tweak or create a presentation, make travel arrangements, be your own personal concierge, write letters, follow up on trade show leads, handle literature fulfillment, and even prepare your expense and call reports. The possibilities are endless once you start to see how many tasks you really can delegate.

"I don't know what I'd do without my Virtual Assistant. As a sales professional who works out of my home and travels extensively I don't have an on-site staff to keep things moving. I can rely on my VA to prepare marketing materials, organize my contacts, send out letters, and keep me on track with special projects. Delegating routine tasks and special projects to my Virtual Assistant allows me to spend more time growing the business," says Mark Loudenslager, VP of Sales.

Partnering with a virtual assistant affords you the luxury of spending more time in front of your clients and less time behind your desk. Because virtual assistants are independent professionals they come equipped with their own office, their own equipment, the latest software programs, and the know how of running a successful business. They don't, however, come equipped with added expenses like payroll taxes, expensive benefit packages, paid vacations, holiday pay, or "free time" (that you pay for) for talking to co-workers. They're only there when you need them. Sometimes they're even there when you don't think you need them!

Virtual Assistants are also invaluable in helping to keep your business from being lost among its many competitors or overlooked because of lack of professionalism. Amidst the Internet and Social Networking craze, millions of email exchanges, and web and teleconferencing many professionals have literally ‘lost sight’ of their clients. In a day and age where we thrive on customer relationship management, personal sales calls have taken a back seat to technology. Further, today’s economy has forced more layoffs and corporate downsizing, which has impacted the availability of internal support systems and other such resources. The lack of internal resources has forced companies to rely on already overburdened staff to pick up the slack. Staff such as sales people who are now spending more time doing administrative tasks than they are generating sales. Where does the madness end?

It’s time to wake up and get back in the field. Get ahead of the competition and you won’t find yourself saying, “Oops, I could have had a VA!”

Kelly Poelker and Diana Ennen are successful virtual assistants and co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After Virtual Assistant and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, Stop by http://www.vatheseries.com for information on starting a VA business or contact authors at authors@va-theseries.com if you need a virtual assistant. Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DianaEnnen and http://www.twitter.com/KellyPoelker
Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

The Entrepreneur’s New Year – Tips to Having the Best Year Ever in 2012

2012-02-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

The Entrepreneur’s New Year – Tips to Having the Best Year Ever in 2012

Goals, dreams, to do’s, follow-up, connecting with old and new clients, coming up with a new plan, working, working, working … AAAHHH, it all seems to be too much at the beginning of a New Year. It’s just too much to even think about and so much easier just to not do it. But when you do, it can be so beneficial for the entire year. You set the pace and the success right now for what you can accomplish this year. So go ahead, get out there and do it. Here’s a little help.

Tips to grow your business in 2012:

1) Get Organized – Clean out the old and bring on the new. It’s so important to put away last year’s work and start with a clean start for not only you, but your clients too. It can be as simple as going through your client’s folders, putting anything you might need this year in a new folder and everything else stays in their old worn out folder. Put all your client’s 2011 folders together, put a rubber band around them, and put them away marking them 2011. Also make sure that everything is in alphabetical order in your current file system. Never know how by the end of the year that totally slips and the z’s are by the e’s, but it just happens. How awesome to see a-z once again. Now continue this throughout your office. Done!

2) Get a new planner. (Yes, I know you have one already – but don’t skip to the next step just yet.) This planner doesn’t have client work in it. It doesn’t have school functions and times to pick up the kids. This planner is your business growth planner. (Make sure to mark it accordingly.) The planner needs to have each day on a new sheet, divided by hours.

3) Get Planning - Set out time to work your business. In your new planner, for the next month shade in time you plan on working on YOUR business. For me it’s in the morning from 6:30 to 7:30 and then at lunch. I will probably work other times on my business, but this is the time that I have scheduled just for it. I am a morning person and this is when I do my best work. Take that into consideration for your plan. When are you at your best? For just one week write down what you are going to do in that time. Each Friday or over the weekend you are going to take that one step and plan out your next week.

4) Get writing. (You knew as a marketer, I’d say that didn’t you!) You are going to write one article a month. No excuses. With that article you are also going to send it out, add it to your blog, create a couple of tweets from it, and also add it to your newsletter. Can you see the traction you can get with just one article? And don’t forget you can hire a publicity virtual assistant to do this for you.

5) Get Social – Okay, I know you are already on Facebook and Twitter, but this year you are actually going to get more involved. In your planner, you need to schedule time (at least several times a day) to get active on Twitter and Facebook. (Or whatever social media you use.) Schedule the time and then send great quality tweets and tips.

6) Get Help – You just don’t have to do it alone. Hire a virtual assistant or someone who can help you accomplish all these goals. If you have a virtual assistant already, start sending things over to them to do. It’s all about the action steps of getting it done.

7) Get Happy – Remember you own your business for a reason. Enjoy it! Don’t get so caught up in the to do’s and client work to not remember why you are doing this in the first place. Take some time to reflect where you are and just be grateful for being there. Commit to enjoying your business more this year and the rest of all this (the to-dos’, the client work, etc.) will just seem to fall into place.

Can you see how you can do this? You can grow your business. Yes, it will require that you make a commitment to it, but don’t NOT take advantage of that new year feeling. You will be amazed that after a short time, this will be so routine, you won’t even realize that you haven’t been doing it forever.

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business with Jill Hart and also VA the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After Virtual Assistant (Kelly Poelker). Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Getting Media Exposure to Generate Freelance Leads and Clients

2011-07-25T13:18:00.001-05:00

Pitching the media can be one of your best marketing tools. Here are reasons why you should be pitching the media, the benefits of pitching, as well as tips on developing your media pitch. This will be a three-part series. Next part coming in 3 days! In the meantime for more PR tips, sign up for our newsletter at www.virtualwordpublishing.com or email me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Don't forget to get your copy of our PR Informational Package

Getting Media Exposure to Generate Freelance Leads and Clients

Getting media exposure is one of the best ways to drive a ton of traffic to your website —traffic that can turn into leads and, eventually, into paying clients.
This type of exposure works because it helps establish you as an expert, something few other forms of marketing can do as well (or as quickly). It also gets you in front of prospects who wouldn’t have heard about you through other marketing vehicles.

Just as important, it brings down your prospects’ defenses and allows you to communicate your value more openly and without having to overcome direct buyer objections. That’s because when most people see you mentioned in an article or featured on the news, they feel you’re providing them with valuable or interesting information, and not necessarily selling your services directly.

Take Jill Hart, for example. Jill is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms. Not long ago, Jill sent out a press release to local media about her website, which is devoted to helping moms work at home. She hadn’t done this previously and wasn’t expecting great results. However, within a few days of sending her pitch, a local news producer called asking permission to send a reporter and camera crew to interview her for their morning show. It was a fantastic experience and brought hundreds of new visitors to her website.

Here’s why Jill’s approach worked: she did more than just send a press release to the paper, which is what so many businesses still do. Instead, she developed a pitch that incorporated what was happening in the news at that time. She also tied in something that is always a media draw — a holiday.

The pitch focused on a special Valentine’s Day radio broadcast that Jill was presenting for work-at-home moms. She offered businesses the opportunity to call in, send a Valentine’s greeting, and then briefly discuss their business. It worked! It brought visitors to the radio show and to her website, and she was also able to connect with many businesses who wanted to advertise on her site.

Another great tip from Jill’s pitch was that she pitched the entire story as opposed to just talking about her products or services. This is really important, because media outlets are really looking for are interesting twists, hooks or angles — not just facts, figures or self-congratulatory announcements.

So, what exactly does pitching the media involve? Mainly, it’s about contacting media outlets that would be potentially interested in your story. You can pitch to your local TV, radio, newspaper, or even national media. Local media often covers news specific to your area, and oftentimes you are afforded the opportunity to provide more personal information. National media pitches will need to have of a broad appeal, since it reaches a larger audience. You can also pitch through established sources such as Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and Profnet.

***
Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com offering PR and marketing services. She has been featured on Fox Business News, CBS, CNN Radio, USA Today, Woman’s World, Entrepreneur Magazine and so many more. She’s also the author of six books on starting your own business including VA the Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, and So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom. Contact her at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com or @dianaennen for a free PR Informational Package.

So You Want To Master Social Media - Ten Tips to Help You Succeed

2011-01-31T08:23:00.002-06:00

Thought you'd enjoy our latest article on mastering social media. Love to hear your tips as well.
Thanks! Diana Ennen

So You Want To Master Social Media - Ten Tips to Help You Succeed

It’s official. Social media is here to stay. It’s not a fad like so many initially thought and it isn’t going anywhere soon. Businesses have realized that not only is it a great way to connect with current clients, but a great way to land potential clients as well. And that’s only the beginning. Social media also allows you to promote all your upcoming events and products, and even gives you front row access to editors and reporters who might write on your area of expertise. The possibilities are truly endless. But the big question now is, how can entrepreneurs best use the current social media opportunities to help increase business? Here are some tips we feel will help.

Ten tips to incorporate social media into your marketing plan:

Determine What Social Media Sites Are Best For You. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the top three, but that’s only the beginning. Determine who your target market is and then meet them where they are. It’s okay to ask by taking a survey by email or on your website asking which social media avenue your clients prefer. Once you determine that, be consistent and realize that you can’t be everywhere all the time. Pick the ones that are best for your business and really engage.

Team Up With Other Entrepreneurs. By teaming up, you allow easy access to retweets, Facebook posts, etc. Plus, it’s a great way to provide your audience with more valuable information on topics that would interest them by sharing information that is provided by the business(es) you team up with. Just make sure that your choose teammates with information that is a good fit for your audience.Don’t Just Advertise, Build Relationships. - We’ve all seen them. The tweets and Facebook postings that we know are scheduled and we know are only trying to sell us something. We aren’t saying that you can’t promote your services or products. In fact, we encourage you to do that. But do it right. Don’t just be about landing the deal. Truly connect with your audience and show them why they would want to work with you. We know you’ve heard it a million times already, but it speaks for itself and bears repeating: Social media is meant to be “social.”

Make It a Two-Way Street. You post and you post and you post on Facebook. You’ve tweeted away on Twitter & you’ve updated your status on Linkedin. Finally you’re done. Social marketing is ready to be checked off the list. Not so fast! Realize that just like you are posting there are others out there posting and building relationships as well. Get out there and respond to others, too. When you think about it, how do you feel when someone posts on your Facebook posting or blog entry? It feels good, doesn’t it? When you see a Facebook posting that you like leave a comment - always making sure you add value and are not just promoting your business.

Make It Exciting. We see this often: business owners on Twitter who get on for 20-minute increments and during that time we are inundated with retweets. They will throw in an occasional tip or two, but basically it’s just 20 minutes of nonsense. Now we love a good retweet, but we don’t enjoy this at all. When you are marketing your business via social media, make sure that you engage with others and make it exciting. Give some good information and tips - don’t just retweet to be seen. Provide great value and your followers will not only enjoy your messages, but when they are looking to refer someone who needs your services, you will be on the top of the list.

Learn From Others. One of the best things about being in business these days is that you have the opportunity to follow the pros and see what they are doing right. They eagerly give out tips, videos, etc. Make it a point to follow those who you respect and can learn from. Sit back and take notes. But more importantly, take the action steps necessary to make these points work. It’s more than learning from them, you need to actually do what they recommend as well.Contribute to Other Networks. Another great aspect of social media is getting your message out to more than just your audience. Offer to guest post for other networks in your area of expertise. You never know who may see your posts and become a client.

Create An Expert Status. Why do people follow you? Many times it is because they see you as the best at what you do and they want to learn from you. Therefore it’s important to always give solid tips and advice to really show your expertise. Create high quality blog postings, tips lists and posts to share with your audience. It may take extra time to create high quality work, but the effort will be well worth it in the end.

Spruce Up Your Page. Social media has come a long way in a short time. No more are you limited to a tiny avatar of your logo. Most of the social networking sites today allow you to fully customize your page with images, backgrounds and more. Spend the time to create a page that will draw in your audience and make them want to come back daily.

Be respectful. One of the things that most business owners value most is time. It’s important when you are on Facebook, Twitter and the other networks, that you be respectful of others’ time. A few ways you can do that: Don’t Expect An Instant Response. Sending an Instant Message (IM) to a colleague or respected leader is fine, but recognize that they may not be able to chat with you immediately. Often times that person has allocated a certain amount of time to be on the site. If they are constantly on an IM, they can’t get what they need done. We’re not saying you can’t IM, but be respectful when you do.

Don’t Take Advantage. Social media is a relationship builder and gives us instant access to industry leaders. However, be careful not to take advantage of someone’s goodwill by asking a zillion questions. Most business owners enjoy helping others, however, to provide personalized coaching is a different story. Always respect the person you are communicating with and we bet you’ll find you get way more back than you ever imagined.

See how easy social media is. When done right it can bring amazing results for your business. Not only will you establish yourself as an expert, but you will be promoting your products and services regularly. Make it a commitment to master social media marketing and we promise you next year at this time, you’ll be so glad you did.

Jill Hart, Founder of Christian Work-at-Home Moms http://www.cwahm.com/ and Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ have teamed up to write So You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business http://www.soyouwanttobeawahm.com/. Start or expand your business today with their help. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
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What can a virtual assistant coach do for you? Everything!

2011-01-07T12:26:00.000-06:00

What can a virtual assistant coach do for you? Everything!

Does it always seem that someone else is more successful than you in their virtual assistant business? I know sometimes it’s hard to hear about all those virtual assistants with too many clients, or those virtual assistants all making six figures when you are barely surviving. Don’t you always wonder just what they are doing to make it happen?

Well, wonder no more. You need to know that there truly are some secrets to success. There are things that when you do them consistently and do them well, business success is sure to follow. The problem is, how can you get those secrets? Easy - Hire a virtual assistant coach.

I truly believe to be successful in your virtual assistant business, sometimes you need help. Imagine meeting weekly with a coach that has been already been there and done that. A coach that can review your media, offer recommendations, provide solid tips on what you need to do better, and just walk you through the ups and downs of running a business.

So what exactly can a virtual assistant coach do? Here are our top 10 things we feel a VA Coach can do for you:

1- A virtual assistant coach will help you establish your goals and find ways to meet them.
2- A virtual assistant coach will help you define your niche and make sure that the marketing you do leads you in that direction.
3- A virtual assistant coach can help you in all your marketing efforts to enable you to find clients. That’s right, a good virtual assistant coach will help you secure clients and isn’t that the name of the game.
4- A virtual assistant coach will review your pricing and offer recommendations. It should be noted this is one area where more times than not, the coach will insist on increasing your rates. That same coach will also show you how to do that, raise your rates and really charge what you are worth.
5- A virtual assistant coach can hold you accountable. Many virtual assistants don’t succeed just because they don’t have someone to personally walk with them and push them when needed.
6- A virtual assistant coach can review all your media including your website, media, blogs, etc.
7- A virtual assistant coach can help you discover what is holding you back from being successful and offer you solid tips on moving forward.
8- A virtual assistant coach can help you at any phrase of your business. Don’t think a coach is just for starting your business. A VA coach can help you even if you’ve been in business for years. They can take you to the next level of your business.
9- A virtual assistant can remotivate you and get you back into the thrill of being a virtual assistant.
10- A virtual assistant can help you focus and crack the whip when you go off track.
When you’re ready to really start seeing some results in your VA business, we recommend looking for a coach. Just make sure that it’s someone with an outstanding reputation and one that is active in the VA community. That way you know they are walking the walk and talking the talk.

**
Diana Ennen offers specialized virtual assistant coaching services and has recently released her new coaching packages. Best known as the co-author of Virtual Assistant the Series: How to Become a Successful, Sought After VA, she is passionate about helping virtual assistants succeed. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Publicity Virtual Assistant Free Class

2010-06-14T14:43:00.003-05:00

Dear Diana,

I'm so excited about the upcoming Publicity Virtual Assistant Summer Success Series

http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/tips.html

It all starts with a FREE Call on June 15th at 2:00 EST. All sessions will be recorded)
* 5 Top Things You Need to do NOW to get More PR
*3 Pitching Secrets
* 1 Top Mistake I see Most Make

Call in #1-402-237-6812
Access Code - 36213621#

Here's the recording!

Then on June 22nd we have our First Official Call. I'm going to pull all the stops to show you how to get more PR.

Session #1 -- You need a marketing plan. Steps to build your marketing plan and decide what would work best for your particular business (and why) (June 22nd) 2:00 EST

Session #2 - How to write articles, press releases, blogs, etc., that work and get you and your clients on Google's First Page. (Including some SEO secrets.) (June 29th, 2:00 EST)

Session #3 - Pitching the Media - Do's and Don'ts for Success. What to pitch makes all the difference. I'll show you how to pitch. What to do ... What not to do. Pitching HARO and Profnet - (July 6th 2:00 EST)

Session #4 - Social Media / Social Book Marketing / Etc. How to use it for your success. (July 13th, 2:00 EST)

Session #5 - Review of your media. Questions & Answers - (July 20th, 2:00 EST)

All of this and MORE for only $99.00

Early Bird Special -- Sign up by June 18th -- $69.00
Publicity VA Success Series
Email me for details ... diana@virtualwordpublishing.com

! National Be Heard Day is here – and you’re getting the gifts!

2010-03-08T12:51:00.003-06:00

National Be Heard Day is here. AND WE ARE A PART OF IT! How cool is that!! Also, we are giving great bonuses to those who participate including a free 30 minute PR Coaching call & a PR TIPs booklet that literally rocks!

What is Be Heard Day .. The holiday was established in 2005, by publicity pro Shannon Cherry of Be Heard Solutions (www.beheardsolutions.com). She created the holiday to help entrepreneurs – like you - to find their voice, tell their story and be heard by using low-cost marketing tactics to promote their businesses.

And this year, she’s gotten together a great lineup of marketing pros, including me, to give away some of our secrets for free.

All you have to do it go to http://www.BeHeardDay.com

The keys to the kingdom are now yours - so grab those free gifts today.

You’d better hurry, though. This celebration ends on March 20! Go to http://www.BeHeardDay.com

Publicity that Works - Get the PR Results You Want

2010-02-19T06:54:00.002-06:00

I have the honor of being interviewed tomorrow, Friday February 19th. Here's a release that Tess, the Founder of VirtualAssistantForums.com wrote. Hope you can join me. It will be archived on the site too.

Virtual Assistant Forums Welcomes Diana Ennen for: 'Publicity That Works - Get the PR Results You've Always Wanted'

Diana Ennen, co-author of 'Virtual Assistant The Series' with Kelly Poelker, shares her in-depth knowledge and expertise on the topic of publicity with members of Virtual Assistant Forums during an informative chatroom event. Diana will demonstrate how virtual assistants can successfully incorporate publicity into their own marketing plans as well as their clients'.

The virtual assistance industry is booming as layoffs amid a down economy send the previously employed in search of a way to earn a living. The sheer number of new virtual assistant businesses means it takes much more than a traditional approach to marketing and publicity to launch and maintain a successful practice. Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing and author of 'Virtual Assistant The Series', understands the principles of leveraging publicity for small business marketing success. Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9am PST/12 EST Diana shares her expertise with members of the Virtual Assistant Forums (VAF) community in a special chat event designed to help both new and established VAs take their own marketing efforts to the next level.

Virtual Assistants who implement Diana's proven methods will bring more visibility to their virtual assistance businesses and can expect an increase in traffic flow to their websites. Ennen states, "Many virtual assistants are overlooking or misusing some of the best ways to get the word out about their business; from press releases and article marketing, to social media and online networking." Virtual Assistant Forums members in attendance at this free educational event will receive a free copy of Diana's recently revised PR Informational Package, which includes an extensive list of free press release submission options. As a special gift, two forum members will each receive a $35.00 gift certificate to the Virtual Word Publishing online store.

Virtual Assistants who wish to participate in this upcoming informational event at Virtual Assistant Forums can register for a free membership at www.virtualassistantforums.com.

About Diana Ennen and Virtual Word Publishing:
Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, specializes in professional publicity and marketing services including PR marketing, press releases, social media and article marketing. Diana, who has been a leader and mentor in the work-at-home industry since 1985, is also the highly-regarded author of such titles as: 'Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA'. 'Words from Home: Start, Run, and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business and 'So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom A Christian's Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business'. She resides in Margate, Florida, with her husband and their three children. To learn more about Virtual Word Publishing visit www.virtualwordpublishing.com

About Virtual Assistant Forums:
Virtual Assistant Forums is the social networking and discussion forum for aspiring and established virtual assistants. Register to claim and customize your profile and network with other VAs, share information and experience, create and join discussion groups, and chat with guest experts in the chatroom. Regularly published virtual assistant jobs, tons of great resources, a Virtual Assistant Directory, and more - it's all in one place, and it's all absolutely free. To participate in this friendly, supportive community of professional VAs today visit www.virtualassistantforums.com.

Marketing and Publicity Training Program Specifically For Virtual Assistants

2010-01-13T16:06:00.001-06:00

Marketing and Publicity Training Program Specifically For Virtual Assistants

Margate, Florida (January, 2010) For the last several years, Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth have become known for their elite skills-based training, specifically designed for Virtual Assistants. As Co-Founders and Lead Trainers of Hot Skills VA Training http://www.hotskillsvatraining.com both Greenway and Forsyth want nothing more than to support the Virtual Assistant industry with offering great programs to encourage expertise, great clients and a rewarding business.

“The Virtual Assistant industry is growing tremendously. We’ve seen a big shift over the last two years to where business owners are looking for more specialized support.” says Greenway. “To keep up with the growth, we’ve connected with key experts in various fields to offer top-notch training in various specialty areas. It’s critical that Virtual Assistants keep up with the changing needs of our clients, to best support them and also build a rewarding business for themselves.”

To support this initiative, Greenway and Forsyth have partnered with Marketing and Publicity Specialist Diana Ennen, to offer the only Publicity Specialist Training Program for Virtual Assistants. The 3 week program starts January 25, 2010 and promises to teach critical strategies that Virtual Assistants can implement with their clients to generate publicity.

There are very few Virtual Assistants who specialize in this area yet, there are business owners everywhere desperately seeking a VA who can help them build their expertise and generate publicity.

During this three week program, participants will learn how to:

1. Write and distribute a newsworthy press release so it's posted on the front page of Google almost every time.
2. Write and distribute killer articles so they get noticed by your targeted media and generate attention.
3. Create a professional media kit that gets your client noticed.
4. Pitch to the media - how to effectively connect with the media, including newspapers, TV stations, radio, social media, etc.
5. Avoid the most common mistakes in getting book and product reviews.

This program, in addition to helping virtual assistants add the niche of publicity to their services, will also benefit virtual assistants who are looking to get more publicity for their own business. The PR tips mentioned can be extremely instrumental in helping any virtual assistant take their business to the next level as well.

For more information about the Publicity Specialist program, visit www.HotSkillsVATraining.com

About Hot Virtual Skills Training
HotSkillsVATraining.com was founded by Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth. Cindy and Tina offer a combined 15+ years in the Virtual Assistant profession and have worked with prominent online based business owners and marketing professionals.