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Outsourcing to Generate Traffic

2010-07-02T23:08:07Z

The following are some tasks that are typically outsourced by business owners in order to increase traffic to their websites.

• Article Writing & Submission
• Forum & Social Networking Site Posting
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Press Releases Writing & Submission
• Setting Up a PPC (pay per click) Campaign

All of the above tasks help to generate traffic to your websites. Just because they are traffic getters doesn’t mean you have to do them, however. There are contractors who specialize in the tasks above because they enjoy doing them and understand how to make them effective.

Let’s take SEO for example. This particular task involves having a lot of knowledge about search engines and how they work. It’s a constantly changing field. Because of this, you probably don’t have the time to spend studying the latest information, but that doesn’t mean that no one else does. There are service providers who make it their business to do just that. So, delegate tasks like this to them and save yourself a lot of time, sweat and heartache.

What methods do you use to generate traffic to your website? Could you save time by outsourcing some of the tasks to someone who does it on a daily basis in order to get the most from your efforts?

What is a Virtual Assistant?

2010-03-25T17:29:00Z

Every business can use some help from time to time. Virtual assistants have created a niche in the area of business assistance. This article describes the attributes of a virtual assistant.

First, let’s talk about what a virtual assistant is not. A virtual assistant is not a secretary. They are not beck-and-call people. And, they can do more than take dictation. A virtual assistant will not buy birthday presents for your kids or your spouse, unless that is a part of the skill set that they offer.

Virtual assistants are executive assistants who have parlayed their expertise into a business. They cater to the small business client, but will work with larger companies. At first, the virtual assistant performed duties consistent with executive assistants, but then they expanded repertoire with non-traditional skills.

A virtual assistant doesn’t have to be in the same office as his or her client. Work is delegated and delivered via email, fax, telephone, and snail mail. A virtual assistant is not limited in the methods used to complete the work.

As a business professional, a virtual assistant works to form a relationship between their business and that of the client. Meshing compatible work styles is important to how well a virtual assistant can perform for the client. Both parties develop an understanding. A virtual assistant is a business owner. Their goals are the same as yours. They want to grow their business and make money by providing a viable product. In the case of a virtual assistant, the “product” is actually a service to other business owners.

The virtual assistant handles administrative work and other details as dictated by the client. Virtual assistants are hired by the hour and can earmark a certain number of hours per month to a client for their work. They have several clients but make their reputation on treating each one like the only one.

Virtual assistants range from greenhorns just getting into the profession to corporate types who want to work for themselves. Along with each virtual assistant goes a wealth of experience in various fields that can benefit any business looking for help. Before hiring a virtual assistant, check to see who is available out there that meets your particular criteria. To find this type of professional support, look online for virtual assisting directories. They list the credentials and expertise of virtual assistants. You can find the person who will work best for you and your business.

What Can I Outsource?

2010-02-11T16:05:00Z

One of the most common outsourcing questions asked by those interested in it is “What can I outsource?”

As an online business owner there are a multitude of tasks that can be outsourced and each business is different. Today let’s talk about tasks that get and keep your business “Up & Running” that can easily be outsourced to an assistant.

Here are just a few:

· Website Design & Maintenance

· Graphic Design

· Customer Service

· Content Creation

· Blog Installation

· Newsletter Creation

· Shopping Cart Installation & Set Up

These are only a few of the activities that can be outsourced to someone else so that you can concentrate on other areas of your business. In order to determine which things you might be able to outsource to keep your business running smooth, make a list of the tasks that you do every day that eat up your time.

One of the most popular tasks to outsource is customer service. It can be a very liberating feeling to be able to get away from your business and know that everything is running smoothly. After all, you started your business to live a certain lifestyle, not to feel trapped to your PC every second of every day. So, make that happen.

If you’re just beginning a project make a lit of all the jobs that will need to be done in order to launch it and choose from them which things you will choose to do and which you will outsource to someone else.

Photo Editing Software

2009-07-27T17:50:37Z

One of the tools that i found to be very impressive is Storybook Creator Plus. This software allows you to create fliers, postcards, storybook pages, invitations and so much more. The software is built off of Photoshop and is very easy to use. I never thought I could create such impressive work in such a short time. If you are looking for a solution for your digital needs, you should consider taking a look at this software. Here's a link to the site: Storybook Creator Plus. Even if you are a novice, there are templates that can be easily imported to get you up and running quickly.

A church approached me and asked if I could create a unique flier to use for the marketing campaign. When I showed them the flier, they were stunned at the results! Little did they know, it did not take much effort. Go ahead and take a look at what this software can do for your business. I know you will be impressed.

Also, if you need help organizing all of your photos, I would suggest Memory Manager 3.0. This software is awesome! It allows you to import all of your photos from a variety of sources and them organize them in a way that they can be found instantaneously. You can group your pictures by family members, events, holidays, whatever! This product is also built off of Adobe Photoshop and Bridge so you get the same results in less time. Here the link: Memory Manager 3.0

The Benefits of Outsourcing Work to a Virtual Assistant

2009-07-24T00:25:00Z

The Benefits of Outsourcing – Why Do It?

First (this one is pretty obvious) by outsourcing you will get more done in your business. Let’s face it there are only 24 hours in a day, but when you enlist the help of others, you can actually add hours to your day. Yes, we’ve now figured out how to add more time to your day. (shhh… don’t tell your competition)

That brings me to the next benefit of outsourcing. You can save time by outsourcing in your business. You’ll not only save time just by getting more done with the help of assistants, but also because you aren’t wasting your valuable time learning how to tackle tasks that you don’t have to do.

Think about that for a minute, is there something you need to do in your business but you have to take the time to learn how to do it before you can implement it? Instead of spending hours learning something you may only use once or twice in your business, let someone else do it that already knows how.

Now the next benefit is saving money. Now, you might be wondering how paying someone to do something for you equates to saving money, but trust me it does. In the long run, your time is valuable. Let’s say you value your time at $50 an hour and it will take you 2 hours to complete a task, but you could easily hire someone for $20 an hour to do the same task in half the time, you’ve just saved yourself $30.

Another way that you can save money when outsourcing is by buying less software. For instance, if you outsource your graphics, you no longer need to purchase a high-end graphics program. Outsource your book-keeping and suddenly you don’t need to buy Quickbooks or Turbotax.

The fourth benefit we are going to discuss is focus. By outsourcing tasks in your business, you will be able to then focus on the activities you are best at. Is there one aspect of your business that you excel at? Focus your efforts where they are most beneficial to your business and get help with the other areas.

The final benefit is directly involved in the growth and profitability of your business. If there is an area of your business that you lack strength in or don’t enjoy doing you tend to put it off, even if you know it needs to be done. Instead, hire someone who specializes in that area and let their light shine. This will bring more to the table when it comes to your business that might not have been there before they joined your team.

What is Outsourcing Anyway?

2009-07-13T21:52:00Z

Outsourcing is the act of contracting out business tasks to someone else for completion. Outsourcing is a way for business owners, like you, to:

· Get more done in your business.

· Save time and money.

· And more...

There’s a common misconception about outsourcing that needs to be cleared up while we’re on the subject. Many think that outsourcing involves sending work to people in other countries who work for pennies and perform the work below standard. That’s not what we’re talking about here. There are ways to outsource work to those who are professionals in their respective fields and will work to give you above par results – wherever they live.

There are a variety of tasks that you can outsource in your online business and we’re going to discuss those later in the course, but for now start thinking about everything you do in your business. Do you handle it all yourself? If so, you’re working yourself way too hard. Or as Rich Schefren says “You’re working for a lunatic”.

Stop spinning your wheels and stop living for your business. If you’re feeling overworked and underpaid, then you need to sit down with your boss (yourself) and give yourself a good talking to.

Believe it or not, those who do every single thing in their business are actually stalling their business from growth. It’s time to create a lucrative business without working yourself so hard.

Facebook

2009-05-15T02:33:00Z

In the world of social media, there is so much to stay on top of. One of the applications that I don't use enough is Facebook. I generally use this application to keep in touch with my friend and family across the globe but is this the most efficient way to use this application? I logon in the morning to see if anyone posted any cute pictures, then I logon again in the afternoon to see if anyone posted any cute pictures..and it goes on and on.

In my quest to figure this out, I plan on creating a Facebook page for my business. Hopefully,this will inspire me to use this application more efficiently. What are your thoughts?

Effective Time Management

2009-04-19T02:04:00Z

I am constantly trying to find ways to better utilize my time. It just seems like they aren't enough hours in the day to get all my tasks completed. Between going to school, running three businesses, church activities and taking care of my husband, time flies.

How do you manage your time? Do you use an online planner or a paper planner? Do you block out times for all your activities for the day or just the important ones?

For those of you who are like me, here are some tips that you might find helpful with time management:

Identity priorities - what are the things that need to get done right away?
Make and use to do lists - create a daily list of things that need to get done.
Take advantage of technology - Use a PDA, online planner, or your cell phone to remember important events
Schedule downtime - schedule time for exercise, taking a walk, etc.
Avoid procrastination - don't wait until the last minute to complete your tasks.
Set reasonable goals - if your goal is not attainable, change it to make it more reasonable

The need for digital storybooks

2009-04-06T13:29:00Z

I am amazed at the oppportunities there are to offer digital storybooks to potential customers. I received a call from someone who wanted a book created for one of their church events. His church holds numerious event throught the year and the've accumulated a lot of pictures. He thought it would be a great idea to produce a book for his worshippers. Of course I told him no problem.

There is a market to sell digital books. Most people take pictures, download them to their hard drive and there they sit. I am determined to make people enjoy their memories. One of the reasons why I am so passiionate about this is my mother was a very humble person and did not take many pictures. Growing up, there was one album of my family that I cherished. It only had a few pictures in it but it was valuable to me. To this day, I cannot find the album. I feel like my heritage is lost. I searched all over the house but cannot locate it.

I want to make sure no one has this experience. Photos are to be enjoyed and passed down from generation to generation. As I work my businesses, I am offering this service to all my clients.

Twitter

2009-03-25T00:25:00Z

To Twitter or not to twitter..that's the questions! Twitter can be a remarkable networking tool if used correctly. One annoying thing about Twitter is people who use it to post everything thing they do every second of the day. I find those tweets quite annoying. Giving substantial information like useful links and other types of information is welcoming. To find interesting people to follow, do a search on your particular interest. You'll be surprised who shows up. You can follow them for a period of time to see if their tweets are interesting. They may in turn follow you or perhaps not. I would not unfollow someone just because they decided to unfollow me. If you have not tried twitter, here's my link http://twitter.com/mhoyte.

There are many applications that go along with Twitter such as Tweetdeck, Tweetlater, Tweetchat, Twitbacks. These applications help you manage your tweets. Give some of them a try!

Why outsource to a VA

2009-03-20T02:20:00Z

5 Benefits of Outsourcing for Online Business Owners

When you are in business for yourself, especially one that is conducted online, you'll find there are a number of different things for you to learn about that can save you time and make you money. Outsourcing is by far one of the more exciting things to discover and put to use.

All too common is the business owner who feels they have to do everything themselves in order for things to go smoothly in their online venture. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! In case you’re curious about why so many online business owners are singing the praises of outsourcing, keep reading to see just five of the many benefits it can obtain.

More Value for Your Time

When you own an online business, one of the most important things to remember is how much your time is really worth. When you think about the dull or repetitive tasks that you are doing, you'll find this work is not worth your high per hour price tag! When you outsource, you'll pay someone else to take care of those responsibilities while you give attention to the more important, money-making projects.

Saving Resources

Think about everything that goes into the tasks that you would outsource. This will range from things like your time and space to costs such as Internet and software. After awhile all of these costs add up. For instance, graphics software can get quite expensive. If you are outsourcing an activity, you get more than just the task itself out of the way. You will also get someone who specializes in areas of your business that you may not know quite as well as or have no desire to learn. More than likely these people will already have the tools needed to complete their assignment. Depending on the project, this might save you money and learning time. This brings me to the next benefit of outsourcing.

Going to the Experts

The tasks you are outsourcing might not be ones that you have no desire to learn about, whether they are troubleshooting, manufacturing, taking orders, website design and maintenance, or something else. By handing the work over to an expert who enjoys and makes it their business to know these things, you'll be able to take advantage of their knowledge in the area without having to learn it yourself. This in turn will give your customers or clients more than you could possibly give them yourself.

Expand

When you outsource, you will soon realize that you are in a great place when it comes to getting more involved with your business. You will be able to expand and provide everything your customers need. Outsourcing frees you up to try new things with your business, learn more and experience new aspects of your industry.

Accountability

When you outsource, you will have a contract with the person or company you are working with. By having someone else who is depending on work from you, you are more apt to stay ahead of the game by planning better and making sure that you’re tasks are getting completed as well.

When you first begin learning about and implementing outsourcing techniques within your business, you’ll find out those boring or repetitive tasks can easily be handed off to someone who enjoys doing them. This will allow you, as the business’ owner, to free up more time to concentrate on more important aspects of your business such as product creation, advertising, networking and other marketing practices.

These are the things that will help your business to grow even more profitable.

Digital Storybook Pages

2009-03-07T04:45:00Z

We now offer a new service for our clients. It is called Digital Storybooks. Below is a page from one of the types of digital storybooks I created. This was done for a newborn baby. In addition to storybooks, I also create customized postcards that are very unique. I get requests to make wedding books, baby books, vacations and just about anything you can think of.

Think about the kinds of events that you celebrate everyday. Let me help you preserve those memories.

Writing Articles

2008-11-13T03:48:00Z

Writing articles sometimes seems like a daunting task. Where do you begin? First, start by putting together a list of items that interest you. Once you are knowledgeable about the subject, you will be surprised how much material you can put together. All of us get writer's block from time to time. Always keep a paper and pen handy so you can jot down ideas as soon as you get them. I put together a couple of newsletters. Click here to view a few of them:Articles

Hopefully after reading some of my articles, it will inspire you to write!

Finding Work

2008-10-31T01:39:00Z

The state of the economy is actually good for the virtual assistant. A lot of companies are laying off their employees because they can no longer afford to pay their benefits. This is where the VA comes into play. We have leverage since we can offer our services to a small business and let them know by hiring a VA, they will not have to pay any benefits. In the long run, they will save money and still be able to get their work done. Let's take advantage of the situation.

VA Industry

2008-09-21T07:35:03Z

The Virtual Assistant industry is growing every day. More businesses are seeing the added benefits that VAs provide. We are able to assist small businesses as well corporate accounts. VA's have a variety of skill sets. From database management to website development and everything in between, we are certain to fulfill any need.

Since we are not confined to an office, we can work anywhere. Some VAs have clients across the country while other prefer to work locally. That's the beauty of becoming a VA.