I'm very excited to announce a new VA Coaching Program.

If you'd like to start your new year with a bang, subscribe to our 5-month program.

Benefits:

• Access by email 24/7
• One 1-hour phone call each month with Joel and Sue
• Review of website, particularly in the area of marketing and SEO, any marketing materials, including business cards, brochures, postcards, cold calling scripts, etc., blog, articles and rates
• Assistance developing description of your ideal client, creating a 30-60 second pitch, a one page business plan, one page marketing plan and marketing calendar
• Products as listed below, one each month
• PDFs as listed below, one each month
• Questionnaire to determine your specific coaching needs
• We only work with ten clients at a time

Books and CDs included, valued at over $100:
(one mailed each month of paid coaching)

• The Commonsense Virtual Assistant: Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee

• Motivation 101: 5 Steps to Activate Your Potential in Any Economy, An Audio Mastery Course

• 49 Commonsense Business Observations

• The Commonsense Entrepreneur

• Surprise bonus business book

Bonus PDFs included:

• Self Promotion: Getting Started - includes marketing tools and resources

• Blogging for Your Business: includes 3 Keys to Successful Blogging and 5 Ways to Promote Your Blog, Finding the Time to Write and What to Write About, Ideas on How to Get More Traffic to Your Blog and a questionnaire to help you get started

• Article Submissions and Press Release Sites

• Duct Tape Marketing Guide: 7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success

• Marketing and Promoting Your Teleseminar: a list of online sites you can post your teleseminars

• Weekly teleclass with coaches Joel D Canfield and Jerry L Kennedy

• Digital copies of all Business Heretics products: audios and ebooks

• First look at all new Canfield Kennedy content posted at the website

Recently I've been able to help several clients create and set up systems to maintain their blogs and promote them. I've had other VAs ask me for this information too.

This Introductory Blog Package includes a 2-page Blogging Basics report that discusses why you should have a blog, the benefits, 3 Keys to Successful Blogging, and 5 ways to promote your blog.

The package also contains a 3-page report, Blogging: Beyond the Basics, that addresses finding the time to write, what to write about, creating quality content, and more.

The final 2-page report, Blogging: The Advanced Stage, gives you more ideas on how to get more traffic to your blog. The package also includes a questionnaire designed to help you get started with blogging.

I will be offering this package to clients (valued at $49.95). However, as a special introductory offer, I am offering it at a discounted rate for $29. If you would like to purchase this introductory blog package at this special discounted rate, please email me directly at sue@awesomeassistant.info and in the subject line type: Intro Blog Special.

Last month in a local business journal the two small business articles were about blogging and marketing your business during this economic downturn. So I thought I'd share some points from each of them.

Marketing
Many larger businesses hold back from spending money on marketing during difficult economic times. This creates an opportunity for smaller businesses. Since the larger companies have cut back on marketing dollars, most media outlets offer special pricing to smaller businesses in order to get the business they lost from the larger companies. So now's actually a good time to invest in marketing. While your competitors are holding back from marketing, you can take advantage of the special pricing and get your business noticed.

Since consumers are looking to save money, your marketing needs to appeal to their need for both value and quality. This is your chance to help them see why doing business with you can help them during their financial difficulties.

Blogging
Can a blog really help you grow your business? There are small business owners that know it does. A blog can be beneficial to a business. It can humanize your business, improve customer service, give your target audience valuable information they need and want, drive traffic to your website, build your credibility and establish you as an expert in your industry, promote your services and generate income.

Consumers are always surfing the internet looking for information. A blog can provide the information they are looking for. It can be used to ask and answer questions from your readers. Search engines like blogs. They give blogs exposure because they contain fresh, newsworthy content.

Be consistent by posting regularly, three times a week if possible. It will take about three to six months to get exposure and establish yourself as an expert. So persistence is key. If you don't have the time to do it all yourself, hire a virtual assistant to help you create and maintain your blog. You can also prepare a week's worth of entries at once and schedule them to be posted on specific days at specific times.

I'd love to hear your opinions. Let me know what's worked for you.

I've been writing a lot about blogging and will continue to do so for the next week or two. I found an interesting website on blogging. Check out Better Business Blogging.

I'd like to hear from you. What questions do you have about blogging? What tips can you contribute? As I continue to gather information and your questions and replies, I'll post here to help us all become better business bloggers.