Why should we Outsource Our Networking?

February 18, 2009

Networking is considered one of the most effective ways of marketing and promoting your business. So what is Networking? There are various Networking Sites available – mainly social, some which you may have heard of are those such as MySpace or Facebook. They are sites which are designed to help people form relationships through the internet. These sites are appearing all over the internet and spreading like wildfire. There are also many other additional web 2.0 tools such as Podcasts, Webinars, Blogs, and Video Casts to name a few. All these tools allow us as individuals or businesses to advertise, promote, inform, share and educate online.

A majority of the social networking sites have free accounts – which makes getting started easy. It’s definitely a cost effective way of getting you and your business out there. Not only are these sites free, but most other networking tools are also free, such as video, podcasts, and blogging. With technology, mobile phones and computers are all feasible when promoting your business.

There is one major pitfall to networking – Time.

Joining, monitoring, and participating, along with inbox management and the general upkeep of your network is time consuming and, whilst very effective, can eat into valuable time in the working day. But all is not lost. A Virtual Assistant or VA can assist with your networking and time management. Staying on top of things is made easy when you have someone handling your account sign-up’s, researching into the most effective places to network, managing profile completion, groups, contacts and much more. A VA can enable you to effectively network. Whether you are an expert who needs more time in the day, or a beginner who has little knowledge in this area, a Virtual Assistant can make ‘all the difference in the World’.

Acquiring assistance with your networking can mean gaining all of the benefits without having to find openings in your calendar to work through every time consuming detail yourself.

Over time, it’s possible to develop a significant network of contacts, potential clients and colleagues by outsourcing as little as one or two hours a week to this project. The more time that is outsourced, the quicker the results will start to show. It is essential to keep in mind that it can often take time to see these results when starting out. There are no ‘quick fix’ networking techniques; this strategy provides a long term effect toward establishing yourself and your business. So although networking is an excellent way of promoting a company, product, service or individual, it is not an instant solution for financial gain, nor will your web site traffic improve overnight.

So what should you be looking for when outsourcing your networking tasks?

1) A good VA will first take an interest in your business, products, services, location, target market, website, and pretty much any other aspect of information you are able to provide in order for them to understand exactly what you are all about.

2) They should offer you a consultation – or at the very least, a form to complete so that you can convey a clear picture of your long term goals. Through this, your VA can then establish what you hope to achieve with networking.

3) They should then research and locate the most beneficial networking methods, sites and techniques based on the information you have provided.

4) Finally, a plan or schedule should be formulated and presented with suggested options, sites and timescales explaining the choices and benefits of each of these methods.

5) Once the plan is agreed – it’s all systems go, just sit back and let your VA get to work!

Posted by Virtual Miss Friday | Filed Under **Blogs**, **Business**, **Internet**, **Marketing**, **Media**, **Motivate**, **VMF**, **eBusiness**, Advertising, Development, Promotion | Comments

Online Business Development – 5 Steps to Success.

February 13, 2009

If you are starting a website, and pursuing a business where a great deal of your income could come from lead generation and general traffic, then there are several decisions you could make to develop your website – creating a truly profitable business.

What are the tools you’ll need to be able to convert that all important traffic into potential income?

Whether you are starting out online, or even if you already have a website in place, it’s never too soon or too late to put your strategy in place and start turning your website into a beehive of activity. The various key areas you will need to focus on are simple, and with a little time – and the right tools, you’ll start to generate the desired outcome.

Here are my 5 most vital steps for creating the perfect foundation for your online business.

1. A Website.

This is the foundation of the business. It is vital that you get this right. Your website will suggest to your traffic the quality and excellence of your product or service. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Think of your website in terms of surroundings. You wouldn’t necessarily want to sit for a while in car park, however if you were walking through a park with trees and pleasant surroundings, you’re more likely to stay a while. Your website is the same, and with the competitive nature of the internet, certainly seeking advice on style, colour and branding is vital for creating the perfect environment for your potential customers or clients. No matter what you are building, from a website advertising your services, to an affiliate portal, an eCommerce shopping cart site or a place to administer memberships or subscriptions, the same rules apply.

2. Clear, Concise well thought out Content.

Once your audience is sitting comfortably, they will need content, something of interest. Your website content is not just about words, as the text can contain several SEO factors which you may not have considered, for example, Flesch readability scores. You may understand your website, but have you considered whether or not other people do? Does your content contain key words and search phrases? Have you considered your ‘behind the scenes’ Meta Data carefully? Have you compared your site and your business with your strongest competitors? Seeking assistance in acquiring this data can be extremely valuable in terms of knowing what you need to do – content wise, to succeed.

3. SEO and a Fresh Flow of Information.

What happens to a place of business on an empty road? It just sits there empty, although sometimes, by chance, a few drivers find themselves lost and wander in as occasional visitors. You need to make sure that your website is not that location. You need a steady flow of traffic and a reason for the search engines to put your website higher up in the rankings. A vital part of your website is a fresh flow of content. Whether this is in the form of a Blog, a Forum, News Announcements and Updates, Regular Special Offers or Articles – there needs to be new data coming in as often as possible.

4. Lead Capture, Email Marketing and CRM.

It’s not what your customers can do for you, but what you can do for your customers. Adding a subscription box to your website will begin a relationship between you and your visitors. Once they have given you their email address – and their name, they are inviting you to tell them more about your business and your services. They would like to hear from you. Use this to your advantage. By taking care of your contacts with a really good CRM and Email Marketing System, you will acquire the privilege of having time to focus on building the relationship between yourself and your visitors.

5. Marketing.

Once you have built your website into a solid foundation for your online business, get creative with your online marketing. Article marketing, networking, blogging, digital media, press releases, and reciprocal links, along with contributing to targeted websites, groups and communities are all ways of promoting your website.

So what is this extraordinary method?

Bringing all these elements together with little or no knowledge can be daunting, and even if you know you are taking the right course of action, utilising various DIY options often results in a lot of time and money wasted, as the end product is rarely satisfactory.

To make sure you are using the right tools for the job, consider hiring an expert Virtual Assistant to help you with bringing these elements together. Work out a strategy with your assistant so that you can have a step by step – tailor made plan. Take time to share your considerations with your VA, and explain your situation thoroughly, so you and your new team can stay on track, moving as rapidly as possible towards the fulfilment of your goals.

The most important step is to remember – never give up, as building a business takes time, just stay focused on the primary goal and your efforts will eventually pay off.

Posted by Virtual Miss Friday | Filed Under **Blogs**, **Business**, **Internet**, **Marketing**, **Media**, **Motivate**, **VMF**, **eBusiness**, Advertising, Development, Promotion | Comments