Establish a web presence
Your first marketing task, above all
else, is to establish a web presence. There is no question that a web
site is essential for individuals and businesses competing in today's
business world. Your website is your virtual business card, and it will
give you the opportunity to show off your skills, your services and
what you can do for your potential customers.
The first choice you have to make is whether you're going to hire
someone to design your website or you're going to do it yourself.
Hiring a design pro can cost you anywhere from a few hundred
dollars to several thousand dollars. Remember, though, that the key
to marketing is creativity. So, you might consider contacting your
local community college or college and ask if there is anyone in the
graphic design department who would like to design your website.
You can offer a fee and give your permission, so the designer can
use your website in his or her portfolio. Students are generally eager
to gain experience and samples to put in their portfolios.
If you would like to design your own website but have little
experience, you can generally do so with little difficulty. Many
community colleges offer adult education classes that generally run
anywhere from four to six weeks with classes meeting for a few
hours each week. You should have no trouble finding an inexpensive
adult education course that will teach you HTML and how to design
your own website in a relatively short period.
If you don't have the time and want to get your business started
quickly, then it's time to take to a trip to the library or to your local
bookstore. There are plenty of books that will guide you through the
process. Following are a few books you might want to flip through
when deciding what book will be your guide:
. Creating Web Pages for Dummies, Sixth Edition, by Bud Smith
and Arthur Bedlan.
. Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, Graphics,
and Beyond by Jennifer Niederst.
. Professional Website Design from Start to Finish by Anne-Marie
Concepcion.
. Web Design: A Beginner's Guide by Wendy Williard.
. Web Design Complete Reference by Thomas A. Powell.
Finally, there is a third way to establish a website quickly and
effectively. There are numerous websites online that offer novices
free web templates. You can browse through the many templates
offered, download the one you like best and make the design
changes you want while adding your own content. It is important to
note that some template designers require you give them credit for
the design of the site while others allow you to use the template
without any credit given.
Following are several websites that offer free templates for your use.
You can find more by putting "free templates" in Google, Yahoo or
another search engine:
http://freesitetemplates·com/ -- Offers free as well as inexpensive
templates.
http://www·freewebtemplates·com/ -- Choose from hundreds of free
templates or browse through the many links to other free template
sites.
http://www·interspire·com/templates/ -- Offers dozens of free
templates, site frequently updated and a free newsletter.
http://www.fuzzywebmaster·com/ -- Find dozens of free templates in
addition to articles on Internet marketing and resources for
webmasters.
http://www·free-templates-layouts·com/ -- In addition to free
templates and layout, you'll find links to several dozen other free
template websites.
Business cards. Another effective, inexpensive marketing method
is using your business cards. Always make sure you carry your
business cards with you. Another excellent piece of advice, from
marketing experts, is to hand potential clients and new contacts two
business cards. This way the person can pass your business card
along to someone else who might be interested in your services.
When you design a business card, make sure you make the most of
the space you have. Think about the typical business card: you
generally only find writing on one side, right? That's a lot of wasted
space on the flip side, space you can effectively use.
On the front of your business card, you'll want to include all of the
pertinent information including your name, phone number (both
office and cell, if viable), email address or addresses and the URL to
your website. Maximize the room on your business card by using the
back to list the services you offer or any other information you would
like to share with the client.
Offer discounts. Bring new clients to your virtual assistant business
by offering an introductory discount. Some new small businesses
offer substantial introductory discounts of 40 percent or more while
others decide to stay on the more conservative side. Either way,
offering a discount can be a key factor in getting a potential client to
"take a chance" on you.
Join a virtual assistant forum or listserv. Just go to Yahoo
Groups, and you'll find a plethora of forums and listservs to join.
This is a great way to share your knowledge of the business with
fellow virtual assistants. You'll also find the opportunity for
networking is high. One word of caution, however, before you begin
posting. Make sure you don't use the forum or the listserv as a
platform to sell your services. This is highly frowned upon and could
get you banned from posting.
Write letters to the editor. Read the newspaper, paying close
attention for any articles that relate to your expertise or your virtual
assistant business. Then, write a clear, concise letter to the editor
asserting your opinion in a professional manner. When you sign your
name, make sure to add your business name and URL. The Opinions
section is one of the most read sections of newspapers. So, there is a
good chance someone who needs your services might read your
letter and decide to check out your website, potentially leading to
new business.