Vintage VA Services

Well, now that you have a fabulous website and a super informative blog, what is next? Online Social networking! Start to share and connect on the various social networking sites. Today, I will be writing about Facebook. Many of you may already be using Facebook on a personal level. You can also set up a Fan Page for your business. On your fan page, you can load pictures, post information on upcoming events, and link to your blog posts (here is a post on how to link your blog to your facebook page). You can update your status and others can leave comments. Using Facebook is another way to connect with your potential customers and to keep people up to date with what is happening in your business. It important to update your page with new content regularly (and if you are updating your blog, then you have new content already). You also want to read and respond to comments that others are leaving on your page – this is your chance to connect!

Even though Lennar is a large, national homebuilder, I still think there are some great tips to learn from their page. They currently have incredible contest going on where their “fans” are asked to share favorite home memories! What a great way to connect with people and get them thinking of all the good times in their homes! With all of the negative news about homebuilding, and how much equity has been lost, this contest has everyone thinking of what really makes your house a home! I have also seen on their page comments from homebuyers about how much they love their Lennar home! Even if you are a small contractor, you can run a contest to get people involved! You can let all of your current customers know you have a Facebook page and invite them to become fans.  Make sure to add a link on your website to your Facebook Fan page. If you are participating and engaging, people will participate back! The more you share via your website, blog, and Facebook page, the more people you will connect with! And who knows when one of them will need your services!

I came across an article on the iPhone apps for home improvement and thought I would share!  Considering Apple has a new version of the iPhone now – the 3G S, it seemed an appropriate time!  Here is the article from HomeIntelblog.com- DIYers Turn To A New Tool – the Apple iPhone.  I think is great to see how fast technology is changing our business and home lives.  How cool that you can snap a picture of something and then use an app like Sherwin Williams Color Snap™ to match paint colors and pallettes!  How nice is that for the customer that has found the perfect color for her walls, just match this pillow!  I also think the ilevel is awesome!  You never have to search for your level again.  So many useful tools!  People are creating tons of new apps, so who knows what is to come!

Every contractor should have, at the very least, a website.  Having a website lends credibility to your business, and gives you an opportunity to provide information to your customers.  It is a place to direct people for more information about your business.  Your website is a very important marketing tool.  So, if you don’t have one, where do you start?  Here are some tips:

1.       Select and register your domain name.  It is usually not very expensive to get the name registered, and is sometimes free when you sign up for hosting also.  You can check for domain availability at sites like www.checkdomain.com or www.instantdomainsearch.com. 

2.      Choose a hosting site.  You usually pay monthly or sometimes for the year for the website to be hosted.  Some popular hosting sites are www.godaddy.com, www.hostmonster.com, www.bluehost.com.  There are some free hosting options, although they often have ads on the page.  I feel it is more professional to have no ads on your business website.  It can be very distracting.

3.      Decide on what content you want to have on your website.  Think about the customer you are trying to reach.  What are they looking for when searching for a contractor or builder?  Look at your competitor’s website – take note of what you like and don’t like. 

4.      Make sure your site is easy to navigate.  Contact information should be very easy to find!

5.      Don’t be too wordy.  People who search the web tend to skim over the website.  You want to be able to get your message across quickly, so they will stay on your site.  Also make sure the visitor doesn’t have to scroll down the page too much. 

6.      Break the site into multiple pages.  For example – have a Home Page, About Us, Services, Contact Us, Photos of Projects, and Testimonials.  This will help keep the pages shorter and to the point.

7.      Research the keywords that relate to your business.  You can use a tool such as www.adwords.google.com

8.      Your website will probably always be a work in progress – so just get started!  You can always make changes!

Today, whenever we want a service or a product, the first thing we do is go online.  People have a wealth of information at their fingertips.  So, it only makes sense that builders and contractors need an online presence to reach customers.  So where do you start? 

Each of the following is an important piece of the online marketing puzzle: 

Website

Blog

Facebook Page

Twitter Account

Linked In Account 

During the following weeks, I will cover some tips on how to create, use, and maintain the tools listed above!

This week is Virtual Assistant Week at Connecting2Give.  This is a great site devoted to helping people.  They connect people who are in need with people able to fill that need.  With so many websites and blogs out there trying to only make money, it is so nice to find a site that wants to help people.  This week Connecting2Give is giving away lots of resources for VAs.  As I am growing my business, I am constantly searching for information.  It is so helpful to have resources to turn to for new ideas and to learn from successful VAs.  Since I am still in the beginning stages, any and all of the virtual assistant materials, training, and guides are so helpful to me. Virtual Assistant Forums has also been a great resource.  Virtual Assistant Forums is a free website where veteran and new VAs share advice, resources, and support.  The forum has been invaluable to me as I continue to grow my business. (My username is Devonz)

In the spirit of Connecting2Give, one of the goals of my VA business is to help others.  Without a commute and having the ability to set my own hours, I will free up valuable time for my family and community.   I hope to be able to offer my services and time to non-profit organizations.  I love museums (I have my degree in historic preservation), so I would love to eventually be able to volunteer at a museum.

Both Connecting2Give and Virtual Assistant Forums are great sites that give back!