More information on having a “stunt double” do your social media for you…

Find the right people to follow and befriend. To reach your goals, you probably want to connect with as many people as possible without getting labeled a spammer and losing your accounts. The key is to move slowly and consistently: connecting with ten old friends and maybe twenty new ones per week. Your social media specialist knows how to find the best prospects for you online and approach them in a way that builds relationships first.
 
Be who you are, share what you love and build those connections!  In just one fifteen-minute appointment, your social media specialist can gather enough information to keep your accounts spinning and your online presence fresh and engaging all week.

Are you ready to step up to the challenge of social media? 

For more information on having a “stunt double” contact us at jo@simmonsvirtualassistant.com

Imagine being able to be a social media star in just 15 minutes a week! You could gain all the advantages of lively online relationships—all the exposure, connections and referrals—without disrupting your all-too-busy life!

The trick is finding a “stunt double” to drip your content into the networks at the appropriate time and place. Simply add a fifteen-minute appointment to your week to provide the needed information, and your social media marketing specialist will take care of the rest

1.  You’ll start out on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  Your online reputation starts with your “profile” on these three sites. Each one presents your basic biographical information, but with a different twist: LinkedIn is you buttoned up in your business suit; Facebook is business casual and Twitter is the cocktail party. Give your information ONCE to your social media specialist and she’ll tweak it to work in these three environments.

2.   Set out your goals for Social Media, and then put a plan into place to achieve them. Want to reconnect with previous clients and customers? Meet new, qualified leads? Build interest in your offerings and drive traffic to your web site? Let us know what you need social media to do for your business and we’ll show you the strategies and tactics to achieve them.

3.   Follow your plan consistently. Need the exposure of tweeting every day, posting to your blog three times a week, publishing an article once a week or e-mailing a newsletter every month? Your social media specialist takes care of these repetitive tasks so you can focus on building your business.

I have Virtual Assistant’s that work for me that can act as your “stunt” double for your social media.  In as little as 15 minutes a week you can have that presence on the social media sites. 

Don’t be afraid to let yourself get involved in social networking.  If interested I will give you a Free 30 minute consultation to see if we are a good fit for you and your business.

Email me at jo@simmonsvirtualassistant.com for more information.

Happy Networking!

Are you on the social media sites and sometimes really wonder what you should be “tweeting” about?  You really don’t want to share what you had for breakfast on there but people do it. 

I have made a list of questions that will get you thinking of what you should write on the social media sites to gain attention. 

1.  Do you have any speaking engagements coming up this week? 

If yes, where will it be, when and what time zone will it be, is there anyone you hope to see there? What is the topic? Are you speaking for a specific group? (Chamber, AARP, eWomen Network, etc.)?

2.  Do you have any new projects you are beginning/working on?

3.  What’s the most pressing business question the Universe could answer for you this week?

4.  What “learning” (tip, encouragement, trend or technique) do you want to share with the world this week?

Answer these questions and start posting away!  Also remember that quotes are great and people really do want to know what you have been up to.  They want to get to know the “real” you before they do business with you. 

Good luck and let me know if these help!

“The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.”  ~Bob Burg

For Social Media & networking it is all about relationship building.  90% relationship building and 10% business building.    IF you do this you will see success. 

Do you need to achieve business goals and are not sure how to go about it?  Try more networking! 
 
Networking is defined as an extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.  The goal of effective networking is, ultimately, to achieve a positive outcome.  However, sometimes it can take a while to get there.  In order to get what you want, try to remember to “give first” to others to help satisfy their goals.  It will come back to you. 
 
What can networking do for you?  It can establish new contacts, build alliances and partnerships, facilitate business transactions, help you gain insight and knowledge, provide access to needed resources, and leverage the collective purchasing power.

Some networking groups you might join are your local Chamber of Commerce, Business and Networking International (also known as BNI), Business and Professional Women (yes, both men and women can join this), eWomenNetwork, Toastmasters or other networking groups in your area.  If you do not know if these groups are established in your area, do a bit of research, and call your existing contacts in your community.  This is a great way to begin your networking, by networking for information.
 
Once you have found a networking group, always remember the golden rule “give first to others.”  Always think of others when networking.  If you know of someone who could use a certain service or product, give that person a referral and connect them.  You will be networking with others who will support you. 
 
If you are not used to networking, take small steps.  Often you are permitted to attend a networking group at least twice before you must make a decision to join.  This way you’ll have time to determine if you have a strong connection with that group.

Small steps will lead you to bigger steps that will ultimately achieve your goals.

Once I became certified in Social Media Networking my business took on a whole new caliber and niche market.  I have new clients coming in weekly.  I am currently working with a writer and we do package deals to help our clients have great success with social media. 

Here are some more examples of what getting certified with Craig Cannings and VAClassroom.com can do for your business:

One graduate of the Social Marketing Specialist Training Program at VAClassroom mentioned that she landed a great new Social Media client in the plumbing business. Plumbing? If pumbing businesses are starting to use Social Media Marketing strategies, then can you imagine the massive potential client base that is just waiting to be tapped into?

Another graduate from VAClassroom, mentioned that she is working with a Real-Estate company setting up a blog and performing other Social Media Marketing activities.

There are so many vertical markets to tap into and the opportunities for Social Media Marketing Specialists are truly endless at this point!

Since Craig at VAClassroom is so excited to hear these success stories from the graduates of the training program, he wants to make sure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to be trained in this “high demand” area right now.

So, VAClassroom is running a special for the last ten days of April.They are knocking off an additional $100 on our training program ($397) and offering it to you for $297 until midnight on April 30th.

If you are serious about growing your business in 2009, then there is no better opportunity right now then to position yourself as a Social Media Marketing Specialist.

Just click on the link below for all the course details. Also, please make note of the below coupon code that will give you the $100 discount off our training program.

Click Here: http://tinyurl.com/dykp2w
COUPON CODE: april09

Once you click one of the order buttons, you will see a “coupon” field where you can insert the above coupon code.

In these trying times for the economy and money is tight we are all looking at ways to tighten up our marketing efforts. 

Here are 5 tips for Free or low cost advertising

1.  Submit an article to your newspaper.  This article should be of interest to people and not solely based on your business.  Remember to submit it to the correct editor that handles the articles.

2.  Write a Press Release about your business.  Have you learned something new with your business or made any additions?  Announce it to the world!  Once you write a press release there are numerous places you can submit them.  Submit to the editors of your local newspapers and submit online to the online press release websites.

3.  Make a Donation to your church or another community event.  A lot of places do fund raising.  This is a great way to advertise your business through giving.

4.  Have fun with Social Media!  Join Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  Join groups that relate to you or your business on these sites.  Become engaged in conversation with others.  Build those relationships with others. 

5.  Volunteer.  I cannot stress enough how good it feels to volunteer your time and services to others.  Businesses and especially non-profits are always looking for volunteers.  If you cannot find a place to volunteer call your local Volunteer Hot-Line and they will line you up with a place. 

We all want business right now.  Do your part to help others.  Think outside the box and have fun with this.  Getting your name and business name out there can be challenging but fun at the same time.  

Have you ever asked someone, “How can I help make your day better?”  You will be amazed at the responses.  I don’t care if you are having the best day in the world… someone can always make it better.  Asking that question at the first opportunity saying hello loosens any prior tension and relaxes the person.   
 
Start today…   People need to know that they are valued and cared for.  So every person you see today say “Hi, how can I help make your day better…?”  and start having fun.  

I would love to hear the responses you get from people.  Feel free to share them with me and I can add them to my next blog.

Do you have business or personal goals that are not being met?  Try more Networking!

Networking is defined as an extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.  The goal of effective networking is to ultimately achieve a positive outcome.  However, sometimes it can take a while to get there.  In order to get what you want try to remember to “give first” to others to help satisfy their goals and then in return it will come back to you. 

The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this:  decide what you want.  If you are not getting what you want with what you are doing right now—change it!!  Get out more and go to organizations in your area that are desperately seeking volunteers to help or if you are interested in joining a club there is usually a nominal fee involved.  This way you get out and meet more people in an area that you feel comfortable and already have an interest in.

Determine what you want.  Decide on your major objectives, targets, aims and destination.  If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you expect to get there? 

What can networking do for you?  It can establish new contacts, build alliances and partnerships, transact business with each other, gain insights and knowledge, gain access to needed resources and leverage the collective purchasing power. 

Networking is a lifestyle and not a work style.  Opportunities are everywhere and at all times.  In order to succeed you must proceed with intention and conviction to network yourself.  Along with starting eWomenNetwork I also started my own leads group and in September 2005 started my own Virtual Assistant business.  I was able to do this all through networking. 

Goals are dreams that are written down.  Once you determine a specific goal, write it down and tell everyone you know about it—live out loud about it!  This way you are networking with others who will support you.  If you are not use to networking, just remember to take small steps and they will lead you to bigger steps that will ultimately achieve your goals.

Are you ready?  Go!

Jo Simmons has a BA in Human Services and is the owner of Simmons Virtual Assistant and past Managing Director of eWomenNetwork.  Jo started a eWomenNetwork chapter in her home state of South Dakota and grew it successfully.  She obtained a database of over 1000 names in 3 months.  Let her show you how to grow your business.  Virtual assistance can help your business grow.  Let Jo and her team of VA’s take the headaches out of your administrative tasks so this can free you up to work IN your business.  For more information please visit www.simmonsvirtualassistant.com.