Article Marketing for Virtual Assistants

So, are you ready to get your name and your Virtual Assistant business in front of hundreds (if not thousands) of people who are looking for exactly what you have to offer?

What are you waiting for?

Article marketing is one of the very best ways there is to position yourself as an expert in your field, and earn credibility and visibility for your Virtual Assistant business.

When online business owners talk about article marketing, they're usually referring to writing an article on your area of expertise and then submitting it to various article directories around the Internet.

At the end of each article you write is a short bio that tells who you are, what you do, and includes an active link to your website. This information is included every time someone reprints your article.

The idea behind article marketing is that other website owners will reprint your article in exchange for keeping your bio and the link to your website intact. It’s a win-win situation for the article author and the publisher. The publisher gets great content, and you, the author, get more exposure for your website.

To be effective, your article needs to be highly informative and relevant to your target market. Give your readers the information they're looking for, otherwise you'll be wasting everyone's time. Supply real answers to your market's burning questions – but don't give away all your tips and secrets! At the end of the article, you want to leave your reader wanting more so she'll gladly click the link in your bio to get it.

If you don't have time to write articles, or if you just don't like writing, you can always hire a ghostwriter to write articles for you. Outsourcing your writing is a very common and completely legitimate practice for small (and big) business owners. If you're thinking about working with a ghostwriter, you can see my writing services on WAHM Articles.


Once you have your article in hand, article directories are a really good place to begin your article marketing campaign. Most directories have frequent visitors who are always looking for new, quality content. As well, the article directory owner will market her directory, and your articles along with it.

But, article marketing isn't limited to submitting articles to directories. In fact, investing a little more energy and creativity in your article marketing can get you even better results.

Article Marketing Begins at Home. Your article marketing strategy should include publishing your articles on your own website for your visitors to find. New visitors will come back regularly if they know you consistently provide updated, useful content. With each visit, the chance that they will become customers increases. Sending out your new articles to your opt-in list is another form of article marketing.

Niche Directories. Instead of submitting your next article to all the article directories you can find, look for niche directories that would attract your target market. For example, if your target market includes small business moms, submit them to directories that specialize in topics of interest to moms, like WAHM Articles. Doing this little bit of research will increase the likelihood of your target market finding and reading your articles.

Offer Exclusive Articles. When you find one of your articles reprinted on a site that's popular with your target market, contact the publisher and see if you could write an article for them that you wouldn't publish anywhere else. Most publishers love original content when they can get it, and will usually give your article prominent placement in return for writing an article just for their site.

Take it Offline. Article marketing isn't limited to online publishers. Look for local print publications that would appeal to your target market. Contact the publishers to see if they would like to publish one of your articles in return for including your by-line.

Don't limit yourself to just one form of article marketing for your home business. Every business and every target market is different. Try to combine a few of the above strategies to see what works best for yours.

How (and Why) You Should Brand Your Virtual Assistant Blog

If you keep a personal blog, it's fine to write about whatever you want. If your blog is intended to promote your business, you have to keep your audience in mind.

How do you keep your blog appealing to your target market? How can you capture their interest and keep them coming back for more?

The answer lies in "branding" your blog. Develop a distinct flavor for your blog that reflects the character of your business, and positions you as the expert in your field.

Here is an article that you might find helpful when you plan how you can brand your blog.

The Value of Branding Your Blog by Grace Chen

Harnessing the marketing power of your blog is an excellent strategy for growing your business. With the many benefits of blogs, including SEO and developing customer loyalty, even Fortune 500 companies are jumping on the bandwagon. However, utilizing blogs is not as simple as writing articles that optimize your company’s keywords.

Seeing your blog as an extension of your marketing and branding efforts is the key to maximizing the benefits of blogging. Remember, the purpose of your blog is to attract your target customer base – and keep them coming back for more. With that said, there are several strategies you can utilize to maximize the marketing power of your blog.

What does your blog say about your company? Read the rest of the article.

Keeping Up Your Blog When You Don't Have Time to Blog

So, you have a blog, and you have topics to blog about...

But oftentimes blogs are abandoned because a blogger simply doesn't have time to blog!

You don't have to let that happen to you. :)

Consider outsourcing your blogging to a professional ghostwriter who can mimic your blogging style, and make sure you always have something to say - even when you don't have any time to say it!

If you're looking for a ghostwriter who can do all that, I can help you out. Come visit me at WAHM Articles, and let me know just what it is you need.

Blog Topics- What to Say When You Have Nothing to Say

by Vicki Arnold

Even the most passionate of bloggers have moments of writer’s block. There is no need to fret or, worse, abandon your blog when these moments strike. Having a list of back-up topics will keep you going. And, the good news is this applies across many topics or niches. These are general posts that you can tailor specifically to your blog.

When In Doubt, Get Personal

One of the strengths of great bloggers is the ability to connect directly with their readers. Their readers feel as if the writer is speaking directly to them, even if the blog has hundreds or thousands of readers. Sharing a personal struggle or success lets your reader celebrate or empathize with you. Share the quirks in your personality. There is a balance, though. Your readers probably don’t want to know your bathroom habits.

People Love Lists

They are quick and easy reads. They are a break from traditional writing format. They can be serious or fun. Add value to your lists by providing relevant, quality links.

I Hate to Bring Up the Past, But it Works

Look at your archives and reread some of your work. Find an old post and add some new thoughts in a new post. You may find you completely missed a point or you purposefully left it out for length. You may find that your opinion has changed on the matter. Provide a link to the previous text in your new post so the reader will have no trouble finding the information you are referencing.

This is Just Trivial

Do some quick research to find interesting tidbits about your topic. Create a series of “did you know” facts. Share the foundation of your company. Do you have a touching or funny story about how you started blogging? Share it. These posts tend to be a fun break in the routine of posting.

You can write several of these types of posts well before you need them. Save them as a Draft and use them as needed. Just be sure that all links still work and there is no time sensitive material that needs updating. Oftentimes, these random posts will inspire a “real” post and demolish that writer’s block in no time.



For more ideas on blogging topics, visit the Supplemental Blogging Topics article from Simply Vicki at http://www.simplyvicki.com/special-interests/supplemental-blogging-topics/. This article may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact, including the credit and last paragraph.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Setting up a Virtual Assistant Blog

Have you started blogging yet?

It's becoming more and more common for Virtual Assistants to have blogs. A blog is a tool to help you keep in touch with your clients (and potential clients) so they can see what you're up to, and get to know you a little bit.

Also, a blog can be interactive, and you can dialog with your readers, invite their comments, and respond to their feedback.

If you plan to use your blog to interact with your readers, change your blog settings to accept comments. I once read a blog post by a VA who was wondering why no one was commenting on her blog. I was ready to leave my own comment, but when I tried, I found her blog didn't accept comments!

So, once your blog is set up, make sure you check your settings and that people can actually comment on your blog

Which blogging software is right for you?

That depends on how technically savvy you are, and how dedicated you are to your blog.

Blogger, which this blog runs on, is super-easy to use. You can set up your blogger account and get your blog off and running in about 5 minutes. You can host your blog on the Blogger server as well.

Most of my other blogs are Wordpress, which I actually prefer to Blogger, and are hosted on my own Web servers.

Some other options are Moveable Type and Greymatter. These are both programs you host yourself, which I like because it gives you more control.

I haven't used either of these, however I have been told by people who know that Moveable Type can be difficult to install, but fabulous to use.

Greymatter, "the original opensource weblogging software" has lots of features and pretty easy to install.

There's really no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing your blogging software. The important thing is, which blogging software will you actually use?

Virtual Assistants Need Vacations Too!

Think your new virtual business will keep you tied down this summer?

Not so! In fact, taking a vacation will re-energize you and make you an even better VA for your clients when you get back.

With the gas prices in Alberta skyrocketing, my family has decided to stay near home this summer, but we still plan on taking some time off and enjoying it together. I'll miss our annual summer trip to Kelowna, BC, but maybe we'll get there a little later this year...

Before you plan a holiday from your VA business, let your clients know well ahead of time when you won't be available, so they can play around your holiday schedule.

Virtual assistants don't get vacation pay, but you can still pay for a nice holiday with a little planning.

Here's an article you might like about how to plan for your vacation this year.

Vacations Are Possible When You Plan For It by Nicole Calhoun

With the spring and summer months right around the corner and summer break right on its heels, most people's thoughts turn toward vacation! My family is no different. In fact, we've been planning all of our vacation time for the past twelve months.

Our goal is to take three trips a year. Two short ones; maybe a weekend trip to another city in our state or a bordering state. And one nice, relaxing, long trip that we have to pack our bags and head for the airport for that lasts seven to ten indulgent days!

For example, about the time our son's April birthday rolls around, we plan a weekend trip somewhere in our state. His favorite is always San Antonio because he likes to visit the theme parks and gorgeous Riverwalk that they have there. Since we live in Dallas, it's less than a four hour drive; and it's usually the precursor to kicking off our year of getting away.

This year, the longer trip will be in the summertime, a week after school is out. We are planning a vacation to Florida to visit Walt Disney World. We will be gone for ten glorious days for fun in the sun.

And then, in October, my husband and I are planning a three to four day getaway to celebrate our anniversary in beautiful Mexico. And that will give us our three getaways for the year! It's as simple as that.

Now, we haven't always been able to do this. Why? Because of poor planning on our part. But, that is no longer the case. We've wised up, and if you haven't been getting away for a little rest and relaxation because of the same problem, here's how you can guarantee that will not be the case next year...or the year after that - forever!

My husband, Muri, and I have created what we call a "Battery Recharge" account, or in regular terms, a travel account. All monies that go into it ensure that we'll be able to get away with our ten-year old son, Jordan, or for a romantic weekend on our own!

Have a family discussion and decide where each of you would like to go. Narrow it down, and vote on three locations. One that's far away and two that are within a reasonable driving distance.

Once you've done that, do your research. There are a number of online resources. Thanks to technology, finding attractions in the city of your destination is no more than a click away! You can build an itinerary of what your family will do, as well as get the costs of each show or attraction you'd like to attend.

Then, one-by-one, you begin to fund your "Battery Recharge" account until you have the money to do each trip! What's so great about the two short trips, most can be done for less than five hundred dollars. The key is not extravagance. It's just getting away with your family to bond and re-energize yourself.

You work hard, everyday. Take some time to enjoy the fruits of your labor with the ones you love and cherish. Your mental, physical and relational well-being will be all the better for it!

Happy vacationing!



Nicole enjoys spending time with her son, Jordan and her husband, Muri. She loves to write, read, travel, working from home and making new friends. If you would like to spend more time with your love ones please contact Nicole. http://www.fulltimefamily.com

Virtual Assistant Tools at Discounted Prices

You're only as good as your tools, right?

You know you need the very best, but if your business is just starting out, you probably don't have any extra cash to invest in more software.

I just found a site that sells Adobe products at majorly discounted prices.

Hmmm, think it might be time to go shopping!