Business

Creating Online Content: Where to Start?

March 26, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

When marketing your business online, there seems to be a never ending need for fresh content. Especially when you add social media to the mix! Content is such a key component to internet marketing. But, it can also be very intimidating and overwhelming. You have blog posts, Twitter updates, Facebook posts, LinkedIn, forum discussions, free downloads, e-books and information products, email newsletters…and the list goes on! Ahh! Where in the world are you going to get all of this content? It is enough to make you never want to start, right?

The good news is you know your industry, your customers, and your target market. So you already have tons of information that is useful and helpful in your head! You may already have some marketing materials that can be repurposed for online content. It doesn’t have to be scary! And you don’t have to write a novel (although, you can if you want to). You just need to translate your experience into bite sized bits of information that your market can use.

Start by setting aside some time to really think about your target market. Ask yourself:

What are their questions?
What are their problems?
How does my product or service solve them?
What are they interested in?
How can I help them get the most out of my product or service?
How can I make their life easier?

This should give you many topic ideas that you can then turn into blog posts, social networking updates, and more. Your current and potential customers are turning to the internet to find answers. They want solutions to a specific problem. So you want to create content that provides those solutions. It is as simple as that.

Creating online content really does not have to be intimidating. Taking some time to brainstorm ideas and look at your business through the eyes of a customer is a great place to start. You will find you have a nice list of ideas. Then, as you write more blogs and spend more time using social media, you will start to notice what experiences will make great content! And you will find yourself thinking – this will make a great blog post!

Photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nirak/ / CC BY 2.0

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Filed Under: Business, Internet Marketing Tagged With: Blogs, Business, content, Internet Marketing

No Time for Social Media? Make time!

February 8, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

One of the most common reasons I hear for not using social media is lack of time. I absolutely understand this. Especially as a small business owner! You are super busy, doing just about everything, and the thought of figuring out one more thing is just too overwhelming! But, I also think you can’t ignore what social media can do for your business. And the fact that social media is completely changing the way we do business online! The tools may change, but being social online isn’t going anywhere. So, what are you to do – I say make time for social media.

Start by choosing one social network to begin using. Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, YouTube, a niche site, a forum, a blog – just pick one.

Commit to using that one social network. Fit time into your day to spend time on the site – listening, learning, interacting. Schedule in the time everyday! Whether it is in the morning with your coffee, during your lunch, in the afternoon. Find the time and commit to it every day!

Listen and Learn from others. Pay attention to how others use the site. Read what they are talking about. Comment, connect, interact with people there. Create your own content and share. Don’t just jump in and start bombarding people. Take it slow, and use it as a learning process.

Once you have spent some time getting up to speed with your first social network, join others. The same general rules apply to every tool – be real, be authentic, be helpful, be caring, and build relationships. So once you have gotten the hang of one of the sites, you can take that knowledge and apply it to the others. Although, each social network or group has their own set of rules, so don’t forget to listen first whenever you join a new network.

Then, once you have spent some time on a few of the sites, you can determine what social networking tools will be most beneficial for your business. And focus your efforts there. But, you have to start somewhere, and waiting until you have the time means you never will. Just take it slow and work social media into your current marketing – see where it takes you!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbie73/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Filed Under: Business, Social Media Tagged With: Business, Social Media

How a Virtual Assistant Can Help with Your Business Blog

November 18, 2009 By Devon Zimny 5 Comments

1. Blog Set-up – A blog virtual assistant can get your blog set-up on your domain, and customized for your business. She can keep it up to date and current. As well as, add and customize plugins.

2. Keyword Research – keywords are very important for your blog. Optimizing your post for certain words helps the SEO tremendously. Your virtual assistant can do the keyword research to find topics, related to your industry, which you can write about.

3. Finding images – your virtual assistant can search for relevant images for each post, as well as upload them.

4. Adding tags – Tags and categories help to keep your blog organized. Your VA can make sure each post has the appropriate tag and categories attached.

5. Proofread and Edit – She can check for spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as edit your post.

6. Topic Research – Have a topic in mind, but need to do more research? Your VA can do the research for you, so you have all the information you need to get the post written.

7. Comment moderation – your VA can monitor the comments on your blog, weed out spam, and alert you to comments you should respond to.

8. Blog marketing – your blog VA can assist you with marketing your blog posts, including submitting to social bookmarking sites and social media sites, such as Digg, Delicious, Twitter and Facebook.

9. Submit to directories – She can submit your blog to the popular blog directories.

10. Help you Brainstorm Topic Ideas – Having to come up with new post ideas on a regular basis can be overwhelming, and prevent you from keeping your blog updated. Your VA can help you brainstorm topic ideas and do research to find new topics to write about.

In my previous post, I discussed the benefits of having a business blog. Starting and maintaining your business blog, though beneficial, can be time consuming. Hiring a virtual assistant can really help to minimize the amount of time you need to commit to your blog. Your VA can handle all of the details, and you just need to provide the content. Some of the tasks your VA can assist you with are:

1. Blog Set-up – A blog virtual assistant can get your blog set-up on your domain, and customized for your business. She can keep it up to date and current. As well as, add and customize plugins.

2. Keyword Research – keywords are very important for your blog. Optimizing your post for certain words helps the SEO tremendously. Your virtual assistant can do the keyword research to find topics, related to your industry, which you can write about.

3. Finding Images – your virtual assistant can search for relevant images for each post, as well as upload them.

4. Adding Tags – Tags and categories help to keep your blog organized. Your VA can make sure each post has the appropriate tag and categories attached.

5. Proofread and Edit – She can check for spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as edit your post.

6. Topic Research – Have a topic in mind, but need to do more research? Your VA can do the research for you, so you have all the information you need to get the post written.

7. Comment Moderation – your VA can monitor the comments on your blog, weed out spam, and alert you to comments you should respond to.

8. Blog Marketing – your blog VA can assist you with marketing your blog posts, including submitting to social bookmarking sites and social media sites, such as Digg, Delicious, Twitter and Facebook.

9. Submit to Directories – She can submit your blog to the popular blog directories.

10. Help you Brainstorm Topic Ideas – Having to come up with new post ideas on a regular basis can be overwhelming, and prevent you from keeping your blog updated. Your VA can help you brainstorm topic ideas and do research to find new topics to write about.

So, before you give up the idea of starting a business blog because of the time involved, consider hiring a blog virtual assistant. You can focus on providing great content, while your VA manages the rest!

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Filed Under: Blogs, Virtual Assistance Tagged With: Blogs, Business, virtual assistant

Why a Business Blog is So Beneficial

November 5, 2009 By Devon Zimny 1 Comment

You may be new to blogging, especially blogging for your business. Many think of blogging as just for your personal life, or for moms. But, actually having a blog offers a new way for you to reach customers, and to communicate with them. No matter what your business, there are people out there interested and in need of what you sell. You, no doubt, know your business inside and out, and having a business blog allows you to share your knowledge. Some of the benefits to creating a blog for your business are:

Search Engine Optimization – each new blog post creates one more way for a person to find you via the search engines. You can optimize each post for specific keywords, which will help your site come up when others are searching for that term. You are also consistently adding new content, and essentially new ways to be found.

Establishing your Expertise – Your blog gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge. In building your business, you have learned a ton of useful information. Sharing what you know and have learned establishes your expertise. As you build followers, you will consistently show them why you are the best in your field.

Communicating with your Target Market – A blog is a two way conversation, since your readers can leave comments on each post. You also have the chance to respond to questions and comments. It is a way to start building the relationship, and to continue it.

Answering FAQ in one shot – if you have questions that are asked frequently, you can provide the answer in one post and then direct your customers to your blog. You only have to answer the question once! Plus, customer questions are a wonderful source for topic ideas!

A place to share news, events, and Promotions – You can also use your blog to share news from your company, promotions, or new products. Your blog offers another stream to share your company’s information.

As you can see, starting a blog can be great for your business. So, what are you waiting for? Get started! Brainstorm some ideas and topics you can write about. Take action, so you can start to see the benefits of a business blog.

Search Engine Optimization – each new blog post creates one more way for a person to find you via the search engines. You can optimize each post for specific keywords, which will help your site come up when others are searching for that term. You are also consistently adding new content, and essentially new ways to be found.

Establishing your Expertise – Your blog gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge. In building your business, you have learned a ton of useful information. Sharing what you know and have learned establishes your expertise. As you build followers, you will consistently show them why you are the best in your field.

Communicating with Your Target Market – A blog is a two way conversation, since your readers can leave comments on each post. You also have the chance to respond to questions and comments. It is a way to start building the relationship, and to continue it.

Answering FAQ in One Shot – if you have questions that are asked frequently, you can provide the answer in one post and then direct your customers to your blog. You only have to answer the question once! Plus, customer questions are a wonderful source for topic ideas!

A Place to Share News – You can also use your blog to share news from your company, promotions, or new products. Your blog offers another stream to share your company’s information.

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Filed Under: Blogs Tagged With: Blogs, Business

Social Media and Holiday Shopping

October 30, 2009 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

Yes, it is still a little early for holiday shopping talk! But, this past weekend there was an article in the Sacramento Bee, our local paper, called “Specialty Stores, Boutiques Need Survival Smarts.” The gist of the article is about the need for specialty and niche stores to be prepared for less business this holiday season. With many people still out of work or cutting back, holiday spending is expected to be down again this year. Also, many shoppers plan to shop at large discount stores, instead of smaller, specialty stores. Most of the shop owners in the story have planned, and have less inventory. But, there was no mention of using the internet or social media to help increase business. This is not really surprising to me, even with the rapid increase in adaption of social media, there are still plenty of people who don’t believe in it. But, being a huge fan of social media, my immediate thought after reading the article was that specialty stores should be using the internet and social media! I think there are many ways specialty boutiques can use social media and the internet to boost business. But with the holidays quickly approaching, there are a few tools you can start using now!

Twitter – would allow you to connect with others in the area, share promotions, and share unique gift ideas. This article from Mashable has great information on how to find local Twitter users to connect with. Just spending some time each day to connect with others on Twitter can help get your name out there, and find those customers searching for your products. Plus, it is free! Yes, you have to put some time and effort in, but if you are passionate about your business, then this isn’t hard to do. You can reach a whole section of the community that spends a lot of time online, who may never know your store exists otherwise.
An email newsletter is also a great way to reach customers. Sending out coupons and promotions reminds your list subscribers of your store. With the rush of the holiday season, these simple reminders via email are very helpful! Plus, you can share new products and unique gift ideas. Participating on Twitter can also generate more subscribers to your list. People who find you on Twitter, can then sign up to receive your newsletter – giving you another chance to follow up.
Creating a Facebook Fan Page is another great option. Make sure to let all of your current customers know, so they can become a fan. That will help to spread your business among their friends. You can start discussions about holiday shopping, finding unique gifts, and the holiday season to get your fans involved. As well as sharing your promotions and sales.

Being a busy, working mom, who spends a lot of time on the internet for work and play, I feel like joining the social media conversation should be a no brainer. The opportunity to reach new customers is huge! With a little time and effort, specialty stores could really increase their business this holiday season. To get started, grab a free copy of my report “Social Media 101: Top Ten Tips” using the sign up box on this page.

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Filed Under: Internet Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: Business, holiday shopping, Social Media

Tips for Working with a Virtual Assistant

October 21, 2009 By Devon Zimny 1 Comment

Working with a virtual assistant or VA is an excellent way to boost your productivity and increase your business. VA’s are highly trained, business owners who want to help you grow your business. Virtual assistants are in the service industry because they love to help you and want your business to thrive. When first working with a VA, you may not completely understand how to get the most out of the relationship. I have listed some tips to help make the transition easier on both you and your virtual assistant.

1. Communication – be as clear as possible on what you expect from the project. Especially in the beginning. The more information you can give the better results you will get.

2. Think ahead – try to look ahead in your schedule. Look for tasks you can delegate to your VA. Try to keep the last minute items to a minimum. You may even find tasks that can be completely delegated to your VA, and you can get them off your plate!

3. Remember your VA is a business owner too! This means they have a marketing mindset, and understand what it takes to build a successful business. Take some time to build the relationship and talk with your VA. Go over your ideas and goals and find out how she can best help you achieve them.

4. Communication – this is such a huge point, that I am listing it twice! Your VA is not a mind reader, so you must communicate your goals, ideas, and expectations. This is the only way for your VA to truly help you!

5. Be very specific – especially in the beginning. As you build the relationship, your VA will most likely be able to be a step ahead, but until then, be sure to get specific about details and deadlines!

6. Make some time to discuss your current processes with your VA. Virtual assistants have a wide range of experience, and can help you to streamline your processes. She can help you determine the best way to delegate seamlessly to her, and also help you to create better internal processes for your business.

Remember the relationship with your virtual assistant is ongoing and can grow and change with time. Keeping communication lines open will really help both of you. Hiring a virtual assistant may be the best thing you can do for your business!

1. Communication – be as clear as possible on what you expect from the project. This is especially important in the beginning. The more information you can give the better results you will get.

2. Think ahead – try to look ahead in your schedule. Look for tasks you can delegate to your VA. Try to keep the last minute items to a minimum. You may even find tasks that can be completely delegated to your VA, and you can get them off your plate!

3. Remember your VA is a business owner too – This means she has a marketing mindset, and understands what it takes to build a successful business. Take some time to build the relationship and talk with your VA. Go over your ideas and goals and find out how she can best help you achieve them.

4. Communication – this is such a huge point, that I am listing it twice! Your VA is not a mind reader, so you must communicate your goals, ideas, and expectations. This is the only way for your VA to truly help you!

5. Be very specific – As you build the relationship, your VA will most likely be able to be a step ahead, but until then, be sure to get specific about details and deadlines!

6. Make some time to discuss your current processes with your VA – Virtual assistants have a wide range of experience, and can help you to streamline your processes. She can help you determine the best way to delegate seamlessly to her, and also help you to create better internal processes for your business.

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Filed Under: Virtual Assistance Tagged With: Business, virtual assistant

My Want To: Why I Became an Entrepreneur

October 14, 2009 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

A few months ago, myself, and a few other VA’s got together to go through the Get Clients Now book by C.J. Hayden. (Great book, by the way) We all read through the book and participated in weekly Skype calls to discuss our progress and the book itself. Once we concluded the 6 week Get Clients Now program, we decided that we enjoyed talking with each other, being able to discuss our industry and individual businesses, and just sharing about our lives. So, we decided to continue the calls on a monthly basis, and to choose a new book to read. Alas, the VA Book Club began.

Our first VA Book Club selection is . We have only read through chapter one, “Lie #1: I Just Need to Know How to Do This.” This chapter discusses how many business owners spend all their time working on how to run their business, and forget about the want to. The want to is your reason for starting your business and for wanting it to succeed. So this post is about my want to. Why I started my business and why I want it to succeed.

There are a few reasons why I decided to go into business for myself. The main reason is for my family. In 2008, I was working for a homebuilder, managing the design center. I loved my job, although things were pretty depressing as the housing market crashed. But, my job was challenging, I worked with wonderful people, it was fast paced, and I was constantly learning. I worked my way up from a receptionist with no experience in homebuilding, to managing the design center. I had made it through round after round of layoffs. Oh, and I was pregnant with my first baby. And then boom, I get laid off. So, here I am 7 months pregnant with no job. That was a crazy experience. But, as is often the case in life, things happen for a reason. I was able to stay home my last 2 months of pregnancy because of my severance package, and then was able to stay home longer with my daughter than I ever would have had I still been employed. Having my daughter completely changed my outlook on life, and also what I wanted out of my life. Now, my number one goal was to find a way to work and challenge myself (I really need the constant growth in my professional life) and be there for my daughter. I racked my brain and researched business ideas. This lead me to the virtual assistant industry and I just knew it was a perfect fit for me. I could have my own business, and be flexible and in control of my time and life. So I went for it! My family is the absolute biggest and most important reason I have for jumping into this whole entrepreneur thing.

What I have found, as I have worked to build my business, is that I really love it! My want to is evolving as my business grows. The more I learn, the more I love the direction I am headed! The internet is an amazing world of opportunity. And I have just fallen in love with the possibilities. And, I really, truly, enjoy helping others expand their business online. As I said earlier, everything happens for a reason and I know I am exactly where I should be.

Without really understanding why you want your business to succeed, you may never succeed. Starting and growing your business takes a lot of work, and so you must be really clear on what you want and where you are going. If you don’t have the passion and drive, then you won’t make it through the bumps in the road. You will just give up. So stop and think about your want to. Why did you start your business and why do you want it to succeed?

Our first VA Book Club selection is 9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back: And the Truth That Will Set It Free (amazon link). We have only read through chapter one, “Lie #1: I Just Need to Know How to Do This.” This chapter discusses how many business owners spend all their time working on how to run their business, and forget about the want to. The want to is your reason for starting your business and for wanting it to succeed. So this post is about my want to. Why I started my business and why I want it to succeed.

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Filed Under: Business Tagged With: Business

My New Productivity Plan

October 6, 2009 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

I have been having a hard time lately keeping on task without getting distracted. Between Twitter, email, scheduled webinars and calls, and being a WAHM, the distractions are endless. I have no problem prioritizing client work – that all gets done first. But, when it comes to my business, I find myself not being productive. My new system is to plan each day out on my calendar (I use Outlook). I have everything color coded – specific colors for clients, my business, errands, housework, meetings and seminars, and networking events. I decide what I want to accomplish each day and schedule it out, down to my laundry! It is helping tremendously to have goals set each day. I know exactly what I need to do, and I do not get lost in email or Twitter. I love Twitter, but I can definitely get sucked in! So far this system is working great for me and I plan to continue to use it to keep my business moving forward.

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Filed Under: Business Tagged With: Business, productivity

Quick Website Tips: Proofread!

October 4, 2009 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

It is easy to make simple spelling and grammatical errors on your website. You are so involved with the design and writing the copy, that you can overlook small errors. Once you have your website up, or a new page completed, step away. Give it a day, and then go back and look at your site with fresh eyes. Take the time to read through each page, even read the page out loud, so you can catch any errors. It is a simple process, but many overlook the importance of proofreading your website. You want your website to represent your company in a professional manner, and having spelling and grammatical mistakes takes away from that. If you have a hard time catching these errors, ask a friend or family member to proofread it for you, or hire a professional. This one simple step can really improve the appearance of your website and your company.

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Filed Under: Quick Website Tips Tagged With: Business, website

Vintage VA Services

Creating Online Content: Where to Start?

How a Virtual Assistant Can Help with Your Business Blog

Why a Business Blog is So Beneficial

Tips for Working with a Virtual Assistant

My Want To: Why I Became an Entrepreneur

My New Productivity Plan

Quick Website Tips: Proofread!

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