Are you writing at your blog regularly?

It may be time to hire a Blog Content Manager and Promoter.  Whether your goal is to attract new clients or increase traffic to your blog, a Blog Content Manager can assist. Maybe you're an author and want to build an audience for book sales; perhaps you want to generate more traffic and increase ad sales. Whatever your goal is, a Blog Content Manager can help make sure your blog is regularly updated and promoted on social media networks.

Here's what one client has to say:

Sue has been managing my blog content for over a year and her services have added tremendous value to my business. I’ve worked with a lot of contractors over the years, and Sue is one of the best. I greatly appreciate that I can count on her to deliver on her promises, and she always meets deadlines. Sue’s efforts have also given me more time to focus on growing my business, and the consistent addition of content has helped drive a tremendous amount of traffic to my site (http://BusinessInfoGuide.com). I would not hesitate to recommend Sue for blog content management and promotion. She is a true professional who will make your life a lot easier and help bring traffic to your website. - Stephanie Chandler, Business Info Guide

2. Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant?
I selected a virtual assistance business because I am super at what I do, and this is a way to focus on my strengths and the industry I choose to work with.

3. What advice would you give new and aspiring VAs?
Two suggestions.  First, do not go it alone.  Chief Virtual Officer has been instrumental in my business development and guidance.  Second, be a consummate professional, remember that just because you are virtual and using electronic communication does not change the way you should represent yourself.

4. What resources have helped you in your business?
Resources that I have used to guide me as a business owner: Chief Virtual Officer business coaching calls, books such as Duct Tape Marketing – John Jantsch, Power of Intention, Wayne Dyer, and a membership of International Association of Administrative Professionals.

5. Share a success story or something about yourself.
My success story: I am a very successful volunteer Project Leader for the Hands On, United Way volunteer group.  I have been involved for over three years.  This has been a pivotal force in my life.  First, because I meet a lot of great people.  Second, because I’ve grown as a person from being involved in projects where I am helping someone who needs it.  I feel as though volunteerism is character building, gives you internal strength and takes you outside of yourself.  I would strongly suggest that everyone give of themselves, it changes your life.

6. Additional comments you'd like to share.
Going from being an employee to a business owner takes strength, fortitude, support and encouragement.  Be strong, open, flexible and eager to learn, your motivation and willingness will make the difference between being a successful business owner and or having a business that may not make it.

1. When did you start your business?
January 2008

2. Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant?
In 2007 I realized I had hit a “brick wall” in my corporate career. I began looking for a new job but wasn’t excited about getting another j-o-b. Then one day I watched a TV news interview of a successful VA out in Montana and realized I could do that! I purchased a couple of books on how to be a VA and with a little prior planning I quit my corporate job and established my new business.

3. What advice would you give new and aspiring VAs?
I have two:
Polish your networking skills and force yourself to get out of the house and meet people.
Do not buy anything at the office supply store until you absolutely have to!

4. What resources have helped you in your business?
I recently read The Commonsense Virtual Assistant and recommend it to new VAs. My local business assistance center and my local chamber of commerce have been a huge help in getting me clients.

5. Share something about yourself.
Being self-employed I tend to work too much. I am not comfortable “just sitting around”. Realizing I need to relax more I recently took a knitting class. It’s the perfect hobby for fidgety people and it gives me the mental break I need.

6. Additional comments you'd like to share.
If you are considering a career change I highly recommend becoming a Virtual Assistant. There is plenty of work for all of us!

Paula's Contact Information:
Paula Hill - Virtual Assistant
Website: http://paulahill.com
Blog: http://paulahill.com/paulas-blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/paula_hill
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/panther.city.paula
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulahill

1. When did you start your business? 2008

2. Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant? To be able to stay at home with my children, continue my education online and supplement my husband’s income.

3. What advice would you give new and aspiring VAs? I would advise taking a class in marketing so you can tell people about your business.

4. What resources have helped you in your business? I have used Virtual Assistant, FindVirtual.com, and IVAA Forums, and attended class at Sierra College in their VOP program.  I also blog on my website and use Hootsuite to blog on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.

I have been personally coached by Sue and Joel Canfield at Chief Virtual Officer.com.  They help me to set and achieve goals, work with my first client, and help me to start marketing myself successfully.  I have also attended the bi-weekly teleseminars which are reasonably priced at $20.00 each.  Additionally, I have purchased two of their books, “The Commonsense Virtual Assistant” and a workbook called, “Building Blocks, Succeed as a Chief Virtual Officer". I have found these books to be well written, informative, and very useful in getting my business started.

5. Share a success story or something about yourself - a hobby perhaps. My goal as a Virtual Assistant is to use my 15 plus years of experience to help other people in their business life. I also want to share my hobby as a virtual genealogist to help others find their ancestors and build their family history.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today Neilia. Learn more about Neilia below.

Neilia Dudley,  Butterfly Blue Virtual Assistant Services
Website:  www.butterflybluevas.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ButterflyBlueVA ]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/07/14/va-interview-neilia-dudley-butterfly-blue-virtual-assistant-services/feed/ 1 http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/07/07/va-interview-joanne-jinks-hrva/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/07/07/va-interview-joanne-jinks-hrva/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:00:06 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/?p=869 Jo first contacted me after being referred by a fellow member of Find Virtual. Joel and I immediately knew she was the type of person we would enjoy working with. It's been a pleasure to coach Jo as she's growing her business in the UK.

1. When did you start your business?
I started the business in October 2008.

2. Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant?
I have a family and wanted to continue working whilst being there for my children.

3. What advice would you give new and aspiring VAs?
Have faith that you can do it and have faith in your abilities. Its hard work but the benefits for my family have been immense!

4. What resources have helped you in your business?
I have had experience of all of these but have found a real gem in 2 VA business coaches that helped me focus when I had lost my way and their advice has been invaluable. I didn't read many books but did subscribe to other VA blogs and forums.

5. Share a success story or something about yourself.
I have changed my focus to being a Virtual HR Officer and am now on the verge of signing a contract with a company for over £10k a year... I still get to work from home and be with my children!

Here's to your continued success Jo!

Joanne Jinks,  HRVA
Website - hrva.co.uk
Blog - hrva.co.uk
Twitter - Do You Need My Help
Facebook - Joanne Jinks
LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/jojinks

Sue: When did you start your business?
Julie: February 2010

Sue: Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant?
Julie: I have wanted to work from home for about three years now, I enjoy doing computer and administrative related work and when I discovered that other people were making a living doing it from home I decided to try it too.

Sue: What advice would you give new and aspiring VAs?
Julie: Get as much information as you can about the business. Read forums and blogs and talk to the people who are already doing it. And most of all network both online and in person.

Sue: What resources have helped you in your business?
Julie: I read a lot online before I started. I spent at least three weeks reading everything I could find about being a VA.  I joined several online communities and met some fantastic people who gave me some great advice.

Sue: Would you mind telling us a little something about yourself?
Julie: I love music, animals and gardening. I also love anything to do with computers. I am very much a homebody and I’m glad to have found a career that will allow me to enjoy all these things.
Thank you Julie for sharing with us today. Julie's contact information follows:

Julie Dillman, Executive Digital Assistant
http://executivedigitalassistant.com
Twitter @ExecDigAssist
Facebook Executive Digital Assistant
LinkedIn ExecDigAssist

There was a noticeable increase in traffic, more comments, an increase in my newsletter subscription and additional connections with virtual assistants on Twitter and Facebook. There was also a noticeable increase in the number of books I sold this month.

It was a success and not as difficult as I thought it would be. Though I don't plan to continue writing every single day, I am committing to writing at least 2-3 posts weekly. It really helped me focus on getting things done in April.

Views on the weekend were minimal so I won't concentrate on posting on weekends. I did notice that when I posted on days I was a guest speaker on a call, when I sent out my newsletter, Tweeted and mentioned on Facebook my posts, then traffic increased. I'm going to go back and note which pages got the most attention and what entries received the most traffic to help me focus my attention in the future to topics of interest.

What small daily steps to succeed are you going to take?

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.

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?

A successful marketing plan includes specific daily activities. The hit and miss approach may work periodically. But if you want consistent results you need to be consistently marketing.

Take some time to write down your plan. Include a detailed description of your clients and prospects and what they need from your services. Write down specific actions you can take each day to put your message in front of your clients and prospects.

Your Marketing Recipe for Success may include spending time using Twitter and Facebook each day. Beware though not to get caught in the trap of visiting these sites and then getting caught up for hours without a specific plan. Set a timer and spend a specific amount of time proactively connecting with people and providing valuable information.

Please feel free to share your Marketing Recipe for Success.