Still Twitterpated? How’s that Working Out for You?

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Amber Whitener

Millions of virtual business owners like us are on Twitter. It is one of those tools that can seem exciting at first, then quickly become a “chore” by having to figure out ways to keep conversations going. If you haven’t found your “purpose” on Twitter, then this post will give you some ideas to finding your Twitter niche.

I don’t really use Twitter all that much to build my business. I happen to prefer Facebook. However, the usefulness of keeping up with my “peeps” has not lost its value. I use it often to teach and to learn about the virtual assistant world. You can learn so many helpful things while listening to live conversations that are happening around the world.

The best ways to learn about how to use tools like Twitter are by experience and by examples. These are five of my favorite peeps who I sporadically chime in on their conversations. They each have their own specific area to shine on Twitter.

@KenaRoth is the perfect example of a VA who has a true passion for Twitter. She shares social media tips, shows genuine interest in people by asking them about their lives/business/family/etc. She has established herself as an expert in her field with Twitter (and Facebook). Now, when people want training to use social media for business, they go to her.
I loved her blog post: Twitter, Some Get It, Some Don’t.
@JenFriel has a fun way of uniting nerds on Twitter. You’ll often see her high energy tweets with a #nerdsunite hashtag. She also shares new places and nerdy conventions she is attending with foursquare. She’s what you’d call an extroverted nerd.
@teksquisite (Bev Robb) is an internet security expert who is always keeping me up on the latest in cyber crime detection and prevention. You’ll often see her tweets hash-tagged under #scammers and #cybercrime. She has established herself as an expert in her field with Twitter. Now, when people are concerned about security threats, they go to her.
@joshchandler is a social blogger who can often be found chirping for charity. See how he shares information about a cause? He gets good causes moving with his tweets. Now this is what I call using your powers for good.
@VAForums uses Twitter to promote their newest resources and forum members’ news. If you are a virtual assistant and haven’t signed up as a member at the Virtual Assistant Forums, then you are missing some tons of helpful tools, templates, and peer support. All they ask is that you keep it professional.

Now you have a few ideas of how to use Twitter creatively for your business: to share tips and good conversation, let out your inner nerd, do your part to fight cyber crime, help a charity, and promote your business. Reach and keep followers with these Twitter tools.

Amber: @FindingAnswers

Jennifer: @thesnflwrgrl

Kena: @KenaRoth

No Time for Blogging…What to Do???

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Kena Roth

Everyone knows how important it is to be blogging these days. The stress alone of keeping it maintained can be overwhelming, not to mention keywords, SEO and link baiting, just to name a few.

“I have NO TIME TO BLOG.”

Does that sound like you? If you’ve reached a point in your business that you need a blog or someone to help with your blog, it may be time to hire outside help.

Hire outside help? People do that? YES! All the time.

It doesn’t matter if you are starting a blog for the first time, or you have gotten so successful you don’t have time to maintain the one you have. www.notimetoblog.com can help!

You already know, or you’ve heard, that blogs can help grow your small business.

As a vital part of your social marketing strategy, they can pull in NEW customers AND help you stay connected to the customers you already have.

But if you’re new at all of this, it can sound intimidating or overwhelming, and you may not even have the time to or know-how to get started. If you’re not new to blogging, you may simply have no time to blog, but don’t want to lose your audience or customer base.

Take a look at what their monthly service will provide (WOW).

Monthly service will provide:

Complete Search Engine-Optimized WordPress blog with custom template: You will not have to worry about set-up or design. You will have complete control to edit any content that doesn’t match your message.
Ongoing WordPress maintenance/security: We’ll check your site daily to make sure it is operational, and will control spam.
Plug-in updates: Plugins power all of those “extras” that connect your website to the rest of your social marketing plan, like your Twitter feed, animations or video feeds. They won’t update automatically, so, we’ll manage it for you.
Your choice of 4 or 8 blog posts per month: We do the writing and posting of your weekly or twice-weekly search engine-optimized posts. You have editorial control to alter or change any posts or to contribute content ideas.
Ongoing traffic generation: When people search for your product or service, you want them to find you. This service includes website and RSS directory submissions. We’ll let Google, Yahoo and Bing know about your new WordPress Blog. We’ll also publicize your blog on other popular websites so your blog will be easily found by the search engines.
Social Bookmarking: Another way people can find your blog is on Social Bookmarking sites like digg.com and delicious.com. When you’re listed, people (and the search engines) can find you by tag and subject.
Connect your blog to popular sites: Every post will automatically appear on your personal profile pages on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

“No Time to Blog” services start at just $97 per month for up to 4 blog posts. The monthly cost for 8 posts per month is just $147. This includes complete blog maintenance such as, software updates, all blog posts as well as search engine optimization and traffic generation. If you don’t have a blog they’ll set one up for you for just $197, which includes one year of webhosting and security updates.

Organization is a Tricky Thing

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Jennifer Gallaher

Organization can be a tricky thing, not to mention a daunting task. However, if it is done in steps, you will not only feel a weight has FINALLY been lifted off your shoulders, but you will feel more balanced when your project has finally been accomplished.

A great point to remember is, what works for one person, may not work for another. Each person’s organizational system is or will be different; just like a person’s personality. The trick is to come up with a system that works with you and your natural abilities or habits so as to assist in you in being at your best, whether for your clients or for your friends and families.

I came across an article in the Lifestyle section of MSN awhile back and found it to be spot on. It offered up realistic tips on how to get and maintain being organized. I have laid out the basic tips for you and added my own little thoughts; however, if you want to read more, I encourage you to click on the link above.

Custom-design your system = This is something that you will have to put some thought into. What works best for you? What goals are you trying to achieve?
Think kindergarten = The old adage “everything has its place” seems to come to mind here. Make sure documents get filed in their rightful place instead of lying on top of your desk or your to-do-lists are next to your computer or typed up on sort of project management system instead of scattered throughout your office. Centralization seems to be the key here.
Organize the basics first = Start with areas that are accessed the most often, like a briefcase, which can end up becoming a “junk drawer.” Once the most accessed areas have been tackled, move on another area…one step at a time. As you start to see “the light at the end of the tunnel”, the more motivated you are apt to feel.
Study yourself = Find out when you are at your most productive and utilize that time period to your advantage.
Learn your concentration threshold = Tailor your schedule/tasks around your attention span. If you know you have a big project coming up, cut it into smaller parts accordingly. Make sure to intersperse those break times as well. This will help with the wondering minds.
Hire a pro or find a friend = If all else fails and you still feel overwhelmed, as for an outsider’s perspective. Their ideas could be the difference between success and failure.

For more inspiration, you may want to visit Julie Morgenstern’s site. She has written several books on the subject of organization and time management. Her site also offers tips that can further assist you with your goals.

The best advice I ever received was to stay positive. I think this advice works well for organization and time management, too. Success and accomplishments will abound, if you just stay positive.

Good luck and I look forward to your organizational tips!

5 Quick Home Business Tips

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Amber Whitener

1. There’s no shame in looking for free options. However, more often than not, you get what you pay for.

2. If you have kids or visitors, make sure you know where the “mute” button is on your phone.

3. Make sure you get references, everytime.

4. It’s OK to invite your friends to try stuff with you or go to events. As long as that’s not all you’re doing. Use social media to share, not annoy. So no more than one promo every two weeks or so. Does that sound reasonable? See my earlier post: Invite Me Too! (Once.)

5. Never underestimate the power of before & after photos!!! Whether you are a personal organizer, video/photo editors, web designers, chefs, or even home theater system installers!

If you can think of more, do share.

The Virtual Assistant Journal

Monthly Archives: April 2010

Organization is a Tricky Thing

5 Quick Home Business Tips