Ask yourself these questions about your marketing efforts:

• Do you feel your marketing efforts are becoming stale?
• Are you marketing the same way and with the same messages you did one year ago?
• Do you feel your efforts are not producing the results you’d like?

It’s time to try something new!

Perhaps you need to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Have you done one of the following yet?

• Create a free report for your market and add more value to your marketing efforts
• Shoot a short video with tips for your market and post it on your website
• Attend a networking event
• Invest in yourself and learn a new thing that will benefit your network

If what you are doing now isn’t working and getting the results you want, then doing the same old things is not the answer. It’s time to try something new. Take some time to brainstorm and envision the future you want to create for yourself. Then go out there and do it!

We’re all tired of being bombarded by sales pitches on our social networks. Your efforts at social networking to market your business can be successful. Remember, it is what you make it.

That means that instead of constantly sending out advertising, you need to provide value to your network. Posts tips and advice that your network can use in their business. This will earn you credibility and the respect of your network.

There’s all this talk about networking, online and in person, and building relationships. What does it mean? How can it benefit you and your business?

Networking should be a vital piece of your marketing puzzle. But the point of networking is not just to have lots of contacts and build your list. You want to build relationships with people so they can get to know and trust you. You also want to get to know and trust them so you can confidently refer them to people you know. Because one of the best ways to get word of mouth referrals is to start giving referrals yourself.

Building relationships means more than just connecting on Twitter or Facebook or emailing someone whose business card you received at a networking meeting. You need to take further steps. Pick up the phone and make a call. If they are in your local area arrange a time to meet and talk. Visit their website and other social networking sites to learn something about them before you approach them. Ask them about what they are interested in before you start telling them anything about yourself. Show a real interest in the other person.

As you start building relationships you will find there are key people who you are drawn to and are drawn to you. They may start referring people to you and vice versa. These key relationships are ones you want to strengthen and maintain.

Take a few minutes and make a list of the top four people in your network that you want to build stronger relationships with. Think about why these four are important contacts. Are they easy to work with or get along with? Do they send you referrals regularly? Are they good listeners with good ideas? Note that information down along with their name.

Now think about what you’ve given to that particular relationship. Do you spend time on their blog or connecting with them on a regular basis on Twitter? Do you send them referrals regularly? What do you do for them to help them achieve their goals?

Next think about the last time you had a meaningful exchange with that person. Schedule time each month to connect in a meaningful way with that person to continue growing your relationship.

As you take time to build these relationships by networking you will find that there is an increase in your satisfaction. You may also find a measurable increase in the number of referrals you give and receive.

Who are you going to contact today in order to continue building a relationship?

Business owners are looking for some help but aren’t always sure exactly what they need. They contact virtual assistants but aren’t sure how a virtual assistant can help them. And many times virtual assistants find it challenging to educate business owners with information about how they can benefit the business owner.

However, there are business owners who have been able to define what they need from a virtual assistant. They may have had an unpleasant experience in the past and now have finally found the virtual assistant for them.

So instead of trying to explain to you, the business owner, how we virtual assistants can help you, I thought you might like to hear from these business owners who have used a virtual assistant.

If you are a business owner, I hope the comments from these business owners will help you more clearly understand how a virtual assistant can help you with your business needs. And if you are a virtual assistant, perhaps these comments can help you define to your prospects just how you can help them.

Excerpt from Successfully Start Your Business:

“For business owners with limited resources they are a great option as you can delegate a task to them with a deadline…no on-the-job training, no payroll taxes, no sick leave or unplanned absence – they take care of all this themselves. You get to define your problem, compare the solution you see with them, and let them take care of the rest.

“For somebody starting a business that needs a Business Plan, Sales and marketing Plan, advertisement, series of spreadsheets, a sales flyer or similar one off project, a Virtual Assistant can be a great option – especially if you find one that understands what you do and doesn’t need extensive training.”-Andrew Rogerson,  Successfully Start Your Business: Expert Advice from a Business Broker

Testimonials of Business Owners Who Finally Found the Virtual Assistant for them

“I just love having an assistant that is knowledgeable and gives thoughtful consideration to our projects. My only previous experience is with assistants that just did what I told them to, but contributed very little input and really didn’t add any value.”–”Yo Pal” Hal Elrod, Best Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Life Success Coach, Sacramento, California

“I have had a really hard time finding assistants who can meet my high expectations. I never have to worry about projects getting completed accurately or on time because she always delivers. She has an excellent attention to detail and a contagious enthusiasm for her work. “–Stephanie Chandler, Author and Speaker, Sacramento, California

I’d love to hear your comments, both from business owners and virtual assistants.

There are several online communities for virtual assistants. These can be very beneficial in providing support and resources to virtual assistants. My favorite one is FindVirtual.com.

The Find Virtual community has been growing and we are seeing more activity. We’re working hard to grow this community and promote it as a valuable resource to all virtual assistants. So I’m asking for your assistance. If you are not yet a member, please join us at FindVirtual.com.

Below are some things we can do to promote and be more active in the Find Virtual community. Please pick one or two, or all of them and commit to doing whatever you choose within the next week. Then let me know what you’ve done and let’s watch our community grow.

What you can do to help:

1. Invite another VA you’ve connected with elsewhere to join our community.

2. Tweet about Find Virtual and why you find the community valuable. (Find Virtual’s Twitter page)

3. Post a link to Find Virtual on your Facebook page.

4. If you have a blog, write a blog post about the value of the community.

5. Post a comment on a forum or blog post here at the community and then Tweet about that.

6. Reach out and connect with 5 members of the community you have not yet connected with.

7. Create your badge here and post it on your website.