A VA's Marketing Kit

Whew! I know it has been a very, very long time in writing and am truly sorry - things have been hectic in the business as well as the personal life, but let's just say that I'M BACK and glad!!

So in the days, weeks, months that I have not been blogging, I tried to create a typical marketing kit any virtual assistant would want to have - especially if you are wanting to start a virtual assistant business. Here is what I have come up with:

Logo Design- There are many talented designers out there. Create a logo that is simple, yet easy to remember. The logo can be your name, initials, a graphic - just make sure it is something unique that describes YOU.

Tagline - The tagline is a catchy phrase that you can attract customers with and want to look at your website, marketing material, remember you by. It can also be put into your logo - if you would like. Again, think of something unique for this and although it is not required in the marketing kit - I think it is definitely useful in marketing out to potential customers.

Business Cards/Stationary - This is the fun part. You can design your business cards, order online from Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, or as most of my VA associates - order from VistaPrint!! Create your own design, incorporate from your logo design, and add your contact information, website information, and even your tagline!!

Brochures, Flyers, Postcards, and Door Hangers - This is another fun step in starting a business of your own. The joys of letting your imagination flow and being able to figure out what looks good here and what looks good there. Brochures are a great way to pass out to gain new clients while flyers, postcards, and door hangers are a great way to inform others of who you are and have others recognize your logo, catchy tagline...your business!!

Website Planning - This is a new one for me and still in the works. This step includes choosing a domain name, registering your domain, website goals, audiences, content, design, and search engine optimization. I think this will have to be another blog since it entails so many steps, but for domain hosting I have heard that GoDaddy.com and Yahoo Website Hosting are user friendly.

Networking - You thought you were done...actually I want to suggest two more steps. This is one of them. Networking is so important because you can obtain referrals through networking as well as meeting some pretty unique individuals while you are at it. Therefore, join your local chamber of commerce, meetup groups, other virtual assistant organizations, forums, etc. The more people recognize and see your name, you - the more clients you may get to inquire about your services. So do not be shy and start chatting!!

Press Releases - Personally, I think this is another good way to market your business out there in your local area. The press releases explain the core of your business - the who, what, where, when, and why. The article shows your ability to shine and assist other business owners or even busy parents that need assistance with personal and/or business tasks. So go ahead and start brainstorming and put some thought into writing your very own press release. You will be glad you did!!

Now I am sure there are other items to include in a marketing kit, but these are the basics that will do with any business starting in today's society. Please feel free to add more and provide feedback on ideas that did not work for you. Until next time, have a great week!!!

Sole Proprietorship vs LLC - Which One to Choose?

Hello there!

Whew! I cannot believe it is almost the end of week ONE in the year 2009! What a busy and exciting week. I managed to knock off 2 of the 6 business goals so far. I decided to treat myself to a waffle bowl of Bart's ic cream at Marble Slab Creamery. Yumm!!

Okay, so I look back at how I made my entrance into the virtual assistant (VA) world and I guess you could say I never really started the "right" way. I mean you are suppose to have a business plan in place, choose your niche, select a business structure, choose a business name, etc. Of course, I am totally not following steps 1, 2, 3, ...it is always better to go with the flow - make it fun and exciting along the way!

I was looking into difference forms of business structures that I have seen in the VA world - sole proprietorship and LLC. For me, I have chosen to be a sole propiertorship structure with sub-contractrors on an as-needed basis. I think this type of structure is the easiest to form and most inexpensive. It is just me and I operate my business, am personally liable for business debts, and report profits/losses on my personal income tax returns.

For those that want to take advantage of a partnership AND sole propriertorship, the limited liability company (LLC) would be a great fit. This structure's profits and losses can be passed through the company and members versus the individual owner. You will need to register with the Secretary of State you live in and pay fees to set it up, but in the long run - you will probaly save more on taxes with this structure!

To learn more about these business structures and more, contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office or here is an article that is useful to read - "What is the Best Legal Structure for my Small Business?"

Next time I see you, we will discuss the marketing version of a virtual assistant business - which I definitely need to work on. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!

2009 Business Goals

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holidays and the new year is right around the corner! There are so many things that happened in 2008. I did not expect my clientale would increase as it did this year. I obtained great clients from freelance websites such as Elance, Guru, and Ki-Work. Most importantly, I have learned to useful time management skills as I continued graduate school, worked a full-time job, and managed my VA business in the evening.

As the year 2008 comes to an end, it's time to think about 2009. What are your business goals for the upcoming year? Since I started my VA practice part-time mid-July, here are a few to start off and hopefully I can add more as time goes by:

1. Commit to blogging at least twice a week
2. Open a separate business account for expenses/income, etc.
3. Apply for a business license
4. Obtain at least 2 new clients each quarter. (This is a tough one!)
5. Increase my referral team of VAs
6. Enjoy my business client relationships and most importantly - have fun in the VA business!!

Until next time...have a happy New Year and see you in 2009!!!