Lorac Virtual Solutions

Archive for the ‘internet marketing’ Category

Question for you…

Do you watch online videos more at YouTube OR in your Facebook News Feed?

Well, you are likely doing both regularly as online video usage is WAY up in both Facebook and YouTube.

Did you know that…. 

- YouTube has 2 billion video views per day!

 - Facebook has 1 billion video views per month!

 So, needless to say Online Video is a popular medium in Facebook and a “big deal” for businesses seek to build their brand and connect with their audience.

One of my favorite sources for online training is VAClassroom.

VAClassroom has just introduced the FIRST of five niche social media training programs they will be launching over the next 6-8 months! Based on their research, conversations and surveys with business owners and virtual professionals, it is apparent that the Online Video Marketing Niche will present one of the best opportunities for Virtual Professionals to maximize client and income potential here in 2011!

The internet marketing gurus ALL have told us to use ONLINE VIDEOS  to market our businesses but they don’t always tell us how.  Now it is possible to take the FIRST of five niche social media training programs and I have to tell you it sounds good.

It doesn’t matter what business you are in the training will apply to something you are doing.  Craig Cannings seems to know what is needed and offers straight forward, reasonably priced training that can be done online. 

I have never been disappointed yet in any of the training I have taken through  VAClassroom ~ hope to see you there!

All the best,

PS: Free Website Trade Publication >> Website Magazine

Everyone on the internet is telling you to blog regularly, write articles, tweet, etc. but do they give you any ideas as to what information you need to write about?  Not always.  Even writers who write for a living find it difficult to come up with article content. 

Last year I wrote a number of articles on the VA industry and after the first 10 I started panicking because it seemed that I had ran out of original ideas. I spent a great deal of time doing more research on the subject looking at it from every angle possible. 

And then I discovered PLR and if you haven’t discovered it yet then you need to check it out.  I became a customer of Nicole Dean at Easy PLR and for a very small amount (almost pennies) I purchased a list of topics that covered what I needed to write about.  It saved me a great deal of stress and made my task of writing articles and blogs much easier.

Nicole has written the following article describing the benefits vs free reprint articles you will probably find interesting.  I did.

PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?
by Nicole Dean
Content is always in high demand. Right now the focus seems to be on Private Label Rights (or PLR) articles. PLR articles are pre-written and sold in packages to online businesses looking for content. The big selling points of PLR articles are that you may edit the articles and that there is no author bio required (so they don’t have any outbound links).

Compare PLR articles to free reprint articles. Free reprint articles from places like ezinearticles.com or freeaffiliatearticles.com are written by people who have something they’d like to share. (Or, they are sometimes written by people just publishing junk, in the hopes that they’ll get some incoming links. But, good article directories will delete those, so we’ll focus on the good ones here.)

So, which is better? Honestly, each has its place. Sometimes you’ll find an excellent free reprint article that you’ll want to share with your readers and you won’t mind a bit having an outbound link, especially if there is an affiliate program associated with it. The free reprint article added value to your readers, and you didn’t have to write the article. That’s what free reprint articles are all about.

Other times you’ll already have an idea in mind for a topic and you’ll just want a boost getting that section of your website done. If you run across a high quality PLR package on that niche, you’re set to go.

So, how do you know which PLR service or membership to choose? Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Some PLR sites offer a monthly membership where you receive a grab-bag of articles – on any topic. If you already know what you need, this may be a waste of money. Other PLR sites will list topics and you can buy the articles in a shopping cart. That ensures you receive the articles you need when you need them.

2. Are the articles written by professional writers with experience? Or are they outsourced to the cheapest overseas help they can find – no matter the quality? If the articles are going to be a reflection of your business, you’ll want to ensure that the articles are well-written.

3. Who’s running this thing? Is the PLR site run by someone who knows about content or someone who thinks they can ride the content wave and make a quick buck? Make sure you’re hitching your wagon to someone who knows what they’re doing.

Those are just a few tips to keep you from wasting money on a PLR site that you can’t use. Continue to use free reprint articles, but look into PLR articles as well. They can both benefit your website and your business.

Nicole Dean invites you to check out EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles on niches sold in very limited quantities.

I, personally, recommend this site for all your PLR article needs.

I spent a couple of hours on Friday researching some of the local businesses in my home town looking for websites, blogs, social networking information, etc and what I found was NOT pretty. 

Exposed! 

Not everyone has a website! I am so surprised that in today’s business atmosphere everyone does not have a website. Those websites that do exist are not necessarily doing the businesses any favors either. Some are not easy to read, tell me nothing I want to know and either have really small font or spelling errors.  Shocking, isn’t it? How do they expect to attract new clients or customers? 

A website is like having a sign in the window letting everyone know you are in business. It’s no longer feasible to hang a shingle outside your business and hope everyone will come.  They won’t.  That may seem a bit harsh but by not marketing yourself online you are missing out on an opportunity for growing your business like you never have before.  I won’t quote statistics because they change hourly but it would be fair to say the majority of customers check out local businesses before they walk in the door.  What a shame if they don’t know you exist.

Put Blogging to work for you!

Blogging is a golden opportunity to educate your customers on your products and show them how your products or services are the answer to all of their needs, whether it’s the latest walking shoe or a new service you are providing.  Blogging encourages readership, which will increase your client base, dramatically leading to more sales and more profit.  Why wouldn’t you blog?

 Use Social Networks or lose business to your competitor!

Connect with your customers!  Today, more than ever we must interact with our customers through social networks and forums. Seriously, if we don’t use social networking sites our competitor down the street will start taking business away from us. 

Social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook give you a golden opportunity of interacting and connecting with people, responding to their questions and building a reputation as the person to go to when they are in need of your product or service.  It’s a proven fact that people do business with someone they trust so what better way of building a credible reputation than connecting via social networks.

It’s not easy

Maintaining an online presence and building a reliable reputation does not happen overnight.  It does take hard work and time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  Consider the time spent as an investment into your business, the same as if you placed an advertisement in the yellow pages of the phone book.  Do you know very few people use the phone book anymore? 

It’s your choice

Take the first step and ensure you have a website that shows you at your best; start blogging and connect with your customers using social networks.  None of it has to cost you a great deal of money but it will reap huge benefits so why wouldn’t you want to get started today? The choice is yours.

 All the best, 

PS:  I am here to help.  Don’t be overwhelmed when I am only a phone call or email away from guiding you in the right direction. Email me right now at carolann@loracvs.com to arrange for your free ½ hour consultation.

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Email Marketing You Can Trust

            The traditional word for marketing your business was called “advertising”.

Today you mostly hear the term “marketing”.  It really doesn’t matter what you call it. It matters that you are using whatever tools are at your disposal to target your potential customers, clients or suppliers. 

Some of the traditional methods of marketing are:

1. Telephone directories – these can be in the white pages but definitely your name should be situated in the yellow pages.

2. Newspaper: There are probably at least one local newspaper in your area and maybe more. Use their classified section or create an ad in a targeted section

   1. Offer to write a column about your topic, become known as the expert in your field. Are you an accountant? A virtual Assistant?  Propose an article giving tips or helpful information to their audience. Get your name known in the community.

   2. Penny saver or other local classified types of papers – don’t forget these papers.  They get a lot of traffic.

3. Craig’s List

   1. It really doesn’t matter is you are selling a product or providing a service, advertising on Craig’s List is viable. 

4. Partner with another business

   1. Realtor – create a welcome pack for new businesses, partnering with a realtor,

   2. Welcome Wagon – advertise your service or product, giving samples or discounts to newcomers.

   3. The local coffee shop may let you display your business card or brochure if you give your customers a gift card from their store. You are both gaining in the process.

5. Social Networking Forums

   1. Create networking accounts such as twitter or Facebook.  Interact with people, creating an online presence.  If you are targeting local customers find out who they are and which networks they use – and join them in conversation.

   2. Get involved in discussion groups and interact with the members. Don’t just jump in and start advertising your business.  You are there to interact and find out what your target market is looking for.  Can you provide it?

6. Chamber of Commerce

   1. Attend their networking sessions, offer to give a presentation, be visible.

7. Word of Mouth – this is probably one of the most effective ways of obtaining new business. Ask for referrals from your current customers or clients. If they are happy with you, ask them to tell their friends and clients. 

 Marketing Material

Although marketing online is becoming the most popular method of advertising our businesses, we still need physical marketing material.

Business cards

These are your introduction cards. Make sure they have all of the necessary information telling people who you are, how they can contact you and what you do or provide. Don’t just give them one.  Give them two or three, in case they would like to pass one on to their friends.

 Flyers, brochures, post cards, door knockers

            Hand these out to everyone you know.  Post them on every bulletin board in town; go door to door leaving them at each home or business. 

Signature

Create a signature for your email accounts and forums.  I don’t mean just have your name listed.  Have your business name and something about your business as part of your signature.  List your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts so they can find you.

There are many ways to market your business and not all will work for you.  However, try them all and track what works and what doesn’t.  It isn’t advisable just to do one form of advertising.  Try them all!  What have you got to lose when you are marketing your business?  Nothing.  Now get started.

All the best,

PS:  I ran out of business cards!  Not a good thing.  read how I rectified the problem…