Are Your Outgoing Links on the Right Side of the Law?

Since we're talking about the importance of links...

A few years ago, I took a course in managing web content for small business websites. One of the recommendations was that, whenever you link to an outside page, it's polite to request permission from the website's owner.

I don't know many people who follow that advice, and I hardly ever do either - unless it's to start building a relationship with the owner of that website.

But, did you know, that some of your outbound links may not be legal? Here's a good article that explains what could be an illegal link.

And a few days ago I was writing about Tawyna Sutherland, the creator of the Virtual Business Startup System. I was at her site the other day, and I found this page that explains link popularity better than I ever could. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, and if you want to take a closer look at Tawnya's Virtual Business Startup System, here's the link for that too.

Your Most Valuable Virtual Business Resource

You already know what your most valuable Virtual Assistant Resource is, don't you?

I didn't take care of mine today, and now I'm running low.

It's TIME!

What I try to do is plan my day before I log on to my computer, so I know what I have to get done, and don't get caught up surfing, or chatting in forums, or tweeting on twitter...

That's one of my favorite things about the Virtual Business Startup System. Tawnya Sutherland, the creator of the system, is a super-successful VA, so she knows exactly how valuable your time is. Everyday is broken into "tasks" for you to do, which helps keep you focused and on time... so you don't run out like I just did!

Choosing the "Write" Words for Your Links

Now that you know what your link popularity is (or isn't, as the case may be) you're ready to begin a link building a campaign.

Or are you?

It's not just the links that matter. The specific words you use in those links count too.

Your incoming links should include your keywords in the anchor text (the words that are actually linked to you) or in the words around the anchor text. That helps tell the search engines what your site is actually about.

When you choose keywords for your links, you need to make sure you're using keywords that people are actually searching for. What good will it do to use a bunch of keywords that no one ever looks for? You might have a great site, but no one will ever find it if they're not looking for it!

It's not at all difficult to find out what people are really searching for. Sign up for an account at Wordtracker and take their free trial. While you're there, you can also subscribe to Wordtracker's Keyword Expert Newsletter and get articles, case studies and tips to help grow your new business with keyword research.

Training Your Clients - Teach Your Clients to Help You Do a Better Job

When asked to list the most difficult thing about working with clients, most Virtual Assistants will say, "Unclear instructions."

Learning to give good instructions comes with experience, and if your client has never used a VA before, he might not know what kind of information you need to do the work he's asked you to.

In situations like this, it might be time to "manage the client."

Some VA clients make checklists for their VAs. Here is one example, and here's another.

Why not turn the tables and give your clients checklists of information YOU need? Think of the details you need to know for the particular work you do, and create a list for your client.

Clear communication is of the utmost importance when you're working virtually. Any tool that will help lay the groundwork for clear understanding is worth the time it takes to create.

Find Out How Popular Your Website Is - Free Link Popularity Tool

Search engines are the gateway to the Internet, and to the success of your Virtual Assistant business. They are the first tool your potential clients will use to find your service when they need you.

That's why link popularity is so important. If prospects can't find your website, you can't convert them into paying customers!

What is link popularity, anyways? Link popularity refers to the ranking assigned to your website by the search engines, and it determines the ranking your page gets when keywords and phrases are entered into a search engine.

A good example of a search engine that ranks your importance by your links is Google. You can learn more about their ranking system here.

So, just how popular are you? Here is a free tool to help you check your link popularity. You can also check your competition's link popularity, and find out who's linking to them.

Next time, I'll tell you some easy ways to boost your popularity, and get more links to your website.

Finding a Good Fit - "Trying On" New Clients First

Retainer packages are appealing for both Virtual Assistants and their clients. (1) They're usually cost-effective for the client. (2) Done right, they can provide the VA with a steady income flow.

Before you let a client sign up for a retainer package, it's a good idea to make sure you're a good fit for each other first.

Try each other out first with a small, one-time project to see how well you work together. Trials like this are key to finding clients you will work well with.

Sometimes you'll hit it off with a client instantly. Sometimes it will take an effort from both of you to make it work. Sometimes, it just isn't a good fit.

Don't be afraid to turn down a potential client if you don't feel good about working with them. Remember, you started your business so you could be in control and enjoy your work.

Using Twitter to Find New Clients

I haven't done a lot of social networking, but I'm really enjoying Twitter.

Twitter is a service that lets you stay in touch with friends, colleagues, and clients, and helps you find more.

It helps you stay connected by your responses to a very simple question: "What are you doing?"

It's important that you and your potential clients get along well, and "following" each other on Twitter is an easy way to see what the other person is like.

You can find people to follow by searching for users by keywords. For example, my target market is work-at-home-moms, so I search for "work at home mom" or the acronym "WAHM."

When you begin to follow someone, they receive a notification that they have a new follower. Most of the time, they'll start to follow you too.

By the way, I follow most of the people who follow me... unless they just post their links and have nothing real to say. You're welcome to follow me by clicking here.

If you want to know more, here are five reasons why Twitter is an essential social media tool.

More On Virtual Assistant Franchises

A few days ago, I wrote about the possibility of becoming a Virtual Assistant franchisee, instead of starting your own VA business.

Patricia Beckman, Founder of Cybertary, the only known registered franchisor in the Virtual Assistant industry in the United States, left a very informative comment on the benefits of becoming a franchisee, and the infrastructural development that a franchisor must undergo in order to support its franchisees.

You can learn more about this Virtual Assistant franchise offering at CybertaryFranchise.com.

Here are a few of the highlights that Patricia kindly shared:

• Access to an established and successful corporate structure
• Training and support
• Complete marketing startup package
• Exclusive marketing territory
• Prepared corporate documents
• and much more

You can read my original post and Patricia's full comment here.

The Best Virtual Assistant Directory

Listing your VA business in directories is a good way to start getting the word out about your new biz.

VA Networking has the largest and most up-to-date directory of Virtual Assistant websites online worldwide.

You need to create an account before you submit yours. You can do that here.

Submit Your Virtual Assistant Business Here

Do you have a virtual assistant website up and running? Whether you're a VA newbie, or an veteran VA, I'd love to know about it.

Tell me and my blog readers about it in the comment section below. We'd love to come for a visit. :)

Why You Need a Press Release - Reason #3

If you submit your release to the online press release sites, you can reap the benefits of your release for a very long time.

I still get traffic and inquiries from a release I submitted 2 years ago, about a business I no longer own!

If you need help getting your own Virtual Assistant press release out there, I write releases for home business owners and have had great results!

Are You on the Insider Pages? Free Advertising for Your Business

I just discovered a handy (and free) resource to help you market your new Virtual Assistant business.

Insider Pages works like an online Yellow Pages directory, but it's written by your friends!

Some advantages to updating your listing on Insider Pages:

• you decide what visitors see when they're looking for information on your business
• customers can post reviews of your business
• you can manage your online reputation by posting responses to the reviews
• expert Search Engine Optimization provided for free
• your business listings on Insider Pages' partner sites are automatically updated for you

Click here to claim your free online listing. Unfortunately for me, though, it looks like an Insider Pages listing is only available for American businesses.

Have You Heard the Buzz? Virtual Assistant Franchising Opportunity

Here's a new take on starting a Virtual Assistant business.

Busy Bee Virtual Assistance (TM) offers licensing and franchising opportunities.

This is the first time of I've heard of a Virtual Assistant franchise (or maybe I just wasn't listening) but it seems like a great idea to me. Buying a franchise allows you to work with an established brand and statistically, franchises have a higher success rate than independent businesses.

The Virtual Assistant and Blogging

So here you are, a new Virtual Assistant. Your business is open and you want to move to the next step.

You know that blogging is a helpful marketing tool, and that it would help your new business. On the other hand, you are not sure where to start. Have no fear; it is easier than you think.

The first step in starting your own blog is to decide what you want to blog about. There are all types of blogs out there from rants, journals, poems, opinions etc.

A blog is a medium where you use the written word to express yourself. To make your blog interesting is should be concise, informative, well written grammatically and with no typos.

It's easy to start a blog. You can join a blogging website, like Blogger. (where the blog you're reading right now lives!) or Wordpress. It is free to sign up and the steps in opening an account are easy to follow.

Most blogging websites will offer free templates. If you decide that you would like to have something more to your taste, there are also web sites that will create templates to your choice with the features of your liking.

A helpful blogging resource is Blog U, where you can learn creative blogging and how to personalize your blog.

By far, blogging is the best investment of time a Virtual Assistant may make. By blogging, you will be able to keep your clients informed and share your expertise and knowledge with a larger audience.

Without a doubt, blogging is one of the most popular tools across the internet. A business blog for a Virtual Assistant is a profitable move and one that will reach millions of possible customers. Blogging is fun, simple, easy, and worthwhile.

WAHM Articles Announces Subscriber-Only Contest

What would you do with $75 worth of original content?

This month, one lucky WAHM Articles blog subscriber will get to find out!

At the WA blog, I'm holding our first subscriber-only contest, and the winning subscriber wins their choice of:

• 5-lesson eCourse, created just for you ($75 value)
• press release to help bring some free publicity your way (value $75)

Either way, it’s content that will help you bring in targeted traffic, ready to buy your product or service.

To enter, all you have to do is subscribe to the WAHM Articles Blog!

Here's the URL: http://www.wahm-articles.com/blog

The draw will be held 5 pm MT, April 30, 2008.

Good luck!