Revolutionary means different things to different people. To some it means money, maximum billable hours, fame, prestige, a big list, a book, speaking engagements, etc. To others it can simply be doing what you are called to do.

After talking with a GREAT woman this morning, she changed my perspective about what revolutionary means to me. I personally “feel” most revolutionary when I am bringing in maximum money, maximum clients, maximum billable hours, maximum, maximum, maximum. However when it comes down to it, I need to focus on making sure that what I am doing is what I am called to do…what’s in my goals, my future plan, etc.

To be honest, I find it an encouragement, not a discouragement to hear about the struggles of other business owners because it just shows me that others are human and that they will come out on top. I just can’t buy that people never have downs throughout the life-cycle of their business. Sometimes we really need to be broken down so we can dust ourselves off and be bigger and better than who we were before.

As business owners, we are all going to face ups and downs in our business, that’s a fact. It doesn’t make us any less of a virtual assistant, person, entrepreneur or someone who doesn’t walk the talk.

You are revolutionary!!!

Viva La Revolution!!!!

Becki

This comprehensive eBook will walk you through getting your newsletter up and online from determining why you’re starting one to growing your subscriber base.

Want to take a guess at how much this will cost you to get this incredible information that will help you retain current clients and set you up as an expert?

$7.00

Yes, for the price of a fast food dinner you will have all of the information to jump full force into the realm of creating and marketing your newsletter to expand your business.

“Expanding Your Business One Subscriber At A Time” is a must read! Eat it up!

Enjoy!

The 2nd half of “Determining Your Target Market: A Heartbeat and a Checkbook?”
W3C – The New Old Wave of Compliance
and much more

Most everyone we know who operates Vista has issues and big ones at that. So I wasn’t too surprised this morning to read this “Microsoft Backpedals, Allows XP “Downgrades” From Vista”.

Becki

Becki

Why do I need to engage in offline promotion when I’m promoting an online business? The reason is simple. The concept of a paperless office is all very well, but your potential customers live in an offline world. To get their attention, you need to reach them where they live. Here’s how:

STATIONERY

Every item of stationery that leaves your office is an opportunity to promote your website. Make sure your website address (URL) appears on every single piece of stationery including:

=> business cards
=> letterheads
=> envelopes
=> address labels
=> fax cover sheets
=> checks
=> invoices
=> receipts, and
=> reorder forms.

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Tangible promotional items that people see or use every day are a great way of keeping your name in front of your customers and prospective customers. Make sure your URL appears prominently and it will be a constant reminder to visit your website.

Promotional items that lend themselves well to this concept
include:

=> coffee mugs
=> paper weights
=> pens
=> t-shirts
=> calendars
=> key chains
=> magnets
=> bumper stickers, and
=> car license plate frames.

PRINTED MATERIALS

Printed materials are a great way to generate (especially) repeat business when included with product orders. After all, your existing customers are already predisposed to deal with you so make sure you take the opportunity to promote your entire line of products and/or services to give them a reason to return. Here’s a few ways:

=> Coupons

Coupons are great to use as incentives for future purchases. Offer a range of coupons including percentage off orders (for example, \”10% off your next order of $20 or more\”), free shipping or free items (for example, \”buy one, get one free\” type offers).

Coupons can also be used to generate new business by making them freely available around the traps. For example, if your business is educational software, make arrangements to have a supply of “30 day free trial” coupons made available at your local school.

=> Gift Certificates

Gift certificates are good because they allow your customer to share their discovery of your products and services with friends, family and colleagues. To be effective, especially in connection with services, a gift certificate needs to have a tangible dollar value to the recipient rather than merely offering to redeem the certificate for a particular service. This is because the referral customer
probably has no conception of the dollar value of your service. The potential customer can, however, readily appreciate the value of a “$30 toward your purchase of $60 or more” gift certificate.

=> Product Sheets

Product sheets are a way for you to make your existing customer aware of what *other* products and services you offer in addition to those they have recently purchased. This need not be any more elaborate than a one page price list but it can be as extravagant asa glossy product page replete with photos if your budget permits.

=> Brochures

Brochures are an effective way to create a professional image and promote your products and services at the same time. Give them to prospective customers for a quick overview of your business and to give them a reason to visit your website for more information.

Distribute your brochure whenever you get the chance: carry them with you wherever you go and hand them out whenever you hand out your business card. Mail your brochure to current clients to inform them of additional products and services that they may be unaware you offer and to prospective clients sourced from rented mailing lists.

Also, get permission to leave a small stack of your brochures in places where potential customers are likely to congregate such as doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms, local schools etc..

Another good idea is to send your brochure to the editors of your local and regional newspapers together with a letter advising of your availability for interview as a local expert in your field.

ADVERTISING

Advertising can be as simple as placing classified ads in your local newspaper or as grand as purchasing television advertising slots. Here’s a few ideas:

=> Classified Ads

Place small classified ads in your local and city newspapers and include the URL of your website.

=> Yellow Pages

If you purchase display advertising in the Yellow Pages, be sure to include your URL.

=> Flyers

One page flyers advertising your product or service and including your URL can be printed cheaply and left on car windshields or distributed via letterbox drops in your local area.

=> Local TV Guide

Your local TV guide can be a good place to advertise cheaply if your product or service is of particular interest to a local geographic target audience. Again, be sure to include your URL.

=> Radio Advertising

Radio advertising can be an excellent buy for many small businesses. Call the sales department of several radio stations that target your demographic. Be sure to ask about rates for different times of day and package deals.

=> Television Advertising

You’re not going to be able to afford the high price advertising exposure that’s offered by the likes of ABC or NBC but you may be surprised at how affordable advertising on your local cable channel can be. Contact the sales department of your cable provider for details. This type of advertising is particularly effective if your product or services is oriented toward a specific geographic target market.

=> Direct Mail

Mailing lists of various sizes are available for rent or purchase for direct mailing your offer to prospective customers.

=> Press Releases

Press releases can act as a form of de facto advertising. Send your press release to the editors of print periodicals.

NETWORKING

Any local community offers ample opportunity for networking. Each networking function you attend is an opportunity to publicize your business and your website. Consider the following:

=> local Chamber of Commerce
=> local industry groups
=> school functions
=> social events
=> charitable organizations
=> community functions, and
=> public speaking.

EVERY CHANCE YOU GET

Last but not least, getting the word out should be a daily habit.

=> Telephone

Every time you answer your business phone be sure to give the caller your website address so they can find out more information about you and your business. Make sure your website addressis included in the message recorded on your answering machine.

=> Mail Inserts

Include a small insert promoting your business and your website in every piece of mail that leaves your home or office.

=> Word of Mouth

Finally, perhaps the most effective and under-appreciated tool of them all – word of mouth. Talk about your business and your website at every opportunity and encourage your customers, friends, family and colleagues to do the same. You would be surprised at just how many businesses out there owe their success to little more than word of mouth referrals.

Successfully promoting an online business requires a sound understanding and methodical application of the principles of online marketing and promotion.

But to focus on online methods to the exclusion of offline does only half the job. Give due attention to offline methods of promotion in conjunction with your online promotional efforts to ensure the widest possible coverage of ALL of your potential markets.

About the Author
Elena Fawkner is editor of A Home-Based Business Online … practical ideas, resources and strategies for your home-based or online business. http://www.ahbbo.com/.

(1) Target Practice

Have you defined your target market clearly? Of course, the biggest audience is best, but what you need for your teleclass to succeed is a message that speaks to your particular niche market.

Define your niche in very specific terms. Rather than “virtual assistants” go further into the market: “virtual assistants who are mothers of children under the age of 6, and who are feeling overwhelmed by the combination of work outside the home and family life”. This will help you tailor your message to your specific target.

(2) Speak to a Single Person

Now that you have defined your target market, construct an image of a typical member of that group. Give your person a name, hair style, height, weight, etc. Make a “virtual target” complete with a name. Those who are visual learners will be able to do this quite easily, but it a great tool for writing your class description to have your target become as “real” as possible.

(3) Create an Outline

Bullet points are the best thing since sliced bread when writing a teleclass description. Make an outline of the top 3 to 5 things that you want your target to learn during your class. Be excruciatingly clear and specific.No detail is too small for the outline and no stone should go unturned here.

This is the “meat” of your description so take your time with this and consider what you want to impart, and what you feel the target needs to hear.

(4) Answer the Questions

Take the target’s place and make another outline of the top 3 to 5 things you think that your target would like to know about your teleclass subject. Consider all the angles from which your target may approach your teleclass.

If you know someone who is in your target audience, ask their opinion. Are you part of a message group that you could poll? Take this research and use it to your advantage.

(5) Write Away!

Now that you have your outlines, use them to craft your description. Keep it short and sweet. An attention grabbing headline is a must as most people will decide within seconds whether to read on or move on. Tell them what they will learn and how it will help answer their questions or address their issues.

Make your description conversational. Avoid technical jargon to make your description easily readable. Make it concise, as most listing services have a word limit. Create an opening, body and end; you can use your opening as a teaser or summary on some listing sites.

Don’t forget that even the smallest things will impact your reputation as a teleclass leader. Be aware of your spelling, grammar and tone of voice. They all represent you to your target. Since your ultimate goal is to grow your practice, pay attention to the fundamentals that create your foundation.

About the Author
Jill Chongva founded Virtual Assistant Diva Administrative Services in 1999 as a way to combine her administrative and computer talents with the thrill of entrepreneurship. She provides clients with Executive level support services using web and PC-based technologies, and has now expanded her business to website and graphic design. For more information, please visit her website at www.vadiva.com

1) Networking

Many Virtual Assistants (VAs) utilize this method and have been very successful in growing their businesses. By networking with other Virtual Assistants, not only are you building relationships, you are also building possible partnerships. The majority of Virtual Assistants subcontract out work to other VAs that they know and trust.

Building genuine relationships can have a two-fold effect. One is that you have gained a friend with whom you can exchange problems, business advice, and business successes. The other is that they will be more willing to subcontract work to you, and this can help you to build your business and your portfolio.

Forums and messages boards are another great opportunity to network with businesspeople, not just other VAs. There are many forums and message boards that are just for VAs, but don’t just limit yourself to these. Visit specialty or niche forums and message boards where your potential target market may hang out. This provides you with more opportunities to build relationships with potential clients. Plug your services when possible, but don’t overdo it.

Some VAs have found success by networking at their local Chamber of Commerce. This is something worthwhile to look into.

2) Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get new clients. By providing outstanding service to your current clients, they will have no problem referring you to their friends and business connections.

3) Press Releases

Press releases are an excellent way to get your name out there. Press releases are basically a newsworthy story about your business that you submit to the media. They are a wonderful way to get publicity for your business at little to no cost.

4) Search Engine Marketing

Have you ever seen the little ads under “Sponsor Links” to the right of your computer screen when you do a search on www.Google.com? These are ads paid for by people to advertise our businesses. They are called Google Adwords. You pay X amount of money every time someone clicks on your ad. Google allows you to choose the amount you want to pay per click and set a budget.

Yahoo, MSN, and other search engines offer similar services.

5) Search Engine Optimization

Optimizing your web pages so that search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN can find you will increase the chance of prospective clients finding you on the worldwide web. This is extremely important as the Virtual Assistance Industry becomes more well-known. You can easily learn to do this yourself.

6) Advertise on Your Car

I’m sure you have been driving somewhere and noticed a car with an advertisement on it. This is another avenue you can utilize to market your Virtual Assistant Business. You never know who might be reading it.

7) Email Signature Files

Email signature files are yet another way to market your Virtual Assistant Business. You can advertise your business each time you send, reply, or forward an email.

Write Articles

Writing articles that are of interest to your target market is another great marketing method. You can submit your articles to places like ezinearticles.com, and get some great exposure for your business, not to mention one-way links. Writing articles is not as hard as you may think. Don’t worry about trying to be eloquent. Keep it simple and make sure to proofread and edit it carefully before submitting it to article sites.

9) Offline Marketing

Web decals, business cards, flyers, brochures, and networking can all be included in offline marketing. You can have business cards made today with little or no costs. VistaPrint.com is a perfect example. Vista Print offers business cards at no cost. You simply pay shipping and handling charges. You can also make your own business cards and flyers right on your computer with the right desktop publishing software.

I hope you can put some of these methods to use to start marketing your Virtual Assistant Business.

About the Author
If you’re an aspiring Virtual Assistant, claim your free e-report “Virtual Assistant Business: A Basic Guide to Start Your Own” at http://www.virtualassistantbusiness.com. VirtualAssistantBusiness.com is a resource site for current and aspiring Virtual Assistants.

India Jordan is the owner and founder of VirtualAssistantBusiness.com. To learn more about other Virtual Assistant Training programs for aspiring and current Virtual Assistants, visit us today.