What are they saying about you?

Recent social media enthusiasts are creating content on the web at record speeds, and it's big business. They are sharing content about real-time events to followers as "tweets" on Twitter, offering their opinions in forums, and adding customer generated content on business web sites.

What is being said about your brand?Although you may not have much control over what others are documenting on the Internet, you can use this to your advantage.

Here's how.

1. Set up an alert on Google, Yahoo, and Twitter, among others, with your brand or business name. Anytime there is new content, you'll get notified.

2. Assessment and evaluation. Research time ...learn what different types of social media options are best for your type of business. Some are best for specific industries such as writers, musicians, or marketing.

3. Set up a Social Media Strategy and Action Plan.

a. Create a blog about your industry. Continually add helpful information for your readers. This is also a great opportunity for special offers, list building, and to get your customers involved and coming back for more.

b. Create an account on the most popular social media platforms. You'll want to create and save a file of your profile information to complete your profile quicker. A completed profile builds trust, even better, include a picture! The Big Three? Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. Additional popular communities include Friendfeed, Onxiam, Tabber, Digg, among others.

c. Get involved, join networks, offer others your advice, and become an expert in your industry. But, if your just trying to sell something and not offer anything, it can do more harm than good.

You may be thinking...Oh Great! More to do! I don't have time to be chatting in rooms! Don't fret, there's help out there.

As more businesses are seeking these types of services, providers are stepping up and learning how to provide assistance in the setup and management of social marketing for their clients. Outsourcing will save you time, money, and getting things done.

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Are You Asking for Testimonials?

There's a lot of weight in a customer testimonial, but are you missing out on the some of the benefits?

By contacting your customers and asking for a testimonial, you are creating a perfect opportunity for getting additional information about their experience with your company's product or service. You can learn a lot about your customers needs, ways to improve your offerings, and fine-tune areas of your customer service.

Once you get their testimonial, be sure to ask them if it's okay to publish their contact information with their comments on your website or in marketing materials. Readers want to see testimonials and comments that include the customers full name and preferrably contact information, instead of "Bob in New York" or "A Satisfied Customer." It's just not as convincing without it.

Never post anything other than authentic comments, nothing will hurt your reputation more than dishonesty. Trust is a key element of success, especially for an online business.

Create a collection of testimonials from customers with varying circumstances. If a testimonial is from someone in a similiar industry or situation as theirs. it will help your customer relate. Once you know who your prospect is, you can share the appropriate testimonial for greater impact.

Just by asking, you'll create multiple opportunities. Not only are you able to get compelling content for use in marketing material, learn new ways to improve your business, stay-in-touch with a customer even after the sale, but you'll also be helping to seal the deal on your next project or big sale.

The Suprising Talents of Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistants (VAs) have talents that just may suprise you. With more entrepreneurs running their businesses from a home office, the need for Virtual Assistants is growing faster than ever before.

Here are a few major factors that separate VAs from other home office workers.

Skills-Virtual Assistants have a wide variety of professional skills, they know how to get things done efficiently using the newest technologies available. From planning your next business trip, managing your email, setting up webinar, or possibily having skills to create and market your business online, your VA can complete a variety of tasks on your "to do" list. By using their own equipment, they have their favorite programs and processes at their fingertips without the need for you to provide training, keep updated software, or even share your office space.

Partnership-An important asset VAs continually strive for, is building ongoing, long-term relationships with their clients. The benefits of having a business partner type relationship with your VA are many. As they learn about your business and understand your business goals, they increase their ability to anticipate your needs. They are ther to act as a sounding board for your new ideas, support you during challenging times, provide motivation, and to celebrate your successes with you.

Benefits-Virtual Assistants can now offer benefits and cost-cutting opportunities not previously available to entrepreneurs. Because VAs are business owners themselves, they are responsible for their own benefits packages like insurance, training, vacation/sick days, and retirement. All time is 100% productive, no down-time! This also means no payroll, no employee-related tax issues to worry about, and no manager/employee problems to deal with.

We all have the same amount of hours each day, but a Virtual Assistant can free up some of those hours so you can do more of those things you love, the things that you do best, and you'll have more time to enjoy your passions.

Top 20 Best Website Tips

1. Know the top three things your visitor will be seeking while visiting your site.
2. Make it obvious what action you want your visitor is to take.
3. Give away something of value to your visitor (yes, for free) in return for submitting their email address.
4. Have someone read your content and take out all jargon.
5. Include a toll-free number and email contact on every page.
6. Include a separate title for each page, not just the home page.
7. Write a powerful, relevant description for your page, under 180 characters, using that page's keywords.
8. Every page should have a clear message, what you can do for them, and what they should do next.
   
9. Have a clean, constitant look for every page.
10. Use a graphically correct, professional logo, and yes, a favicon.
11. Include a description of your services or products, including a price list.
12. Include testimonials in your site.
13. Include a sitemap.
14. Offer links to additional resources that your visitors may actually be interested in.
15. Content should be short and to the point, use bullets when appropriate.
16. Include a FAQ section.
17. Include an ongoing, updated blog.
18. Offer a newsletter, update it regularly with relevant, useful information.
19. Make it easy for visitors to bookmark, tag, or subscribe to your RSS feed.
20. Send email to your contact list inviting them to read more about a new service, a new product, free information, or contest for return visitors to your site.

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