Get your client greetings and keep in touch plan off your plate NOW!
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This holiday season let us take care of your holiday greetings to clients, prospects, colleagues and more! We can even use your digital photos to make your holiday greetings even more personal…and an image of your signature can be used too!
What does a virtual marketing firm do?
We thought we’d share our latest video with you to (hopefully) shed light on what virtual assistants or virtual marketing firms like ours can do for your business. It’s long, so we don’t expect you to sit through the whole thing…but we’d be thrilled if you did. Not only do we provide video / slideshow development support, but we can help you promote products, real estate listings and more with them through the various outlets available.
Let us know what you think – the good, bad and ugly by commenting below.
How to Avoid Overwhelm When Starting a New Project
You’re just back from your conference, and boy, are you excited! For the past few days, ideas for new projects and collaborations were flowing, and on the flight home, you filled several pages with notes about a new product you want to launch.
You arrive back in your office, and your desk is covered with notes, messages, and things that need doing…NOW! Just how do you keep this big new project of yours off the back-burner, and NOT get overwhelmed?
Here are a few ideas:
1. Harness your momentum. You’re excited about this new idea NOW. Take an hour to write down your goals for the project as soon as you arrive home. Post them in the most visible spot in your workspace to give the project priority status.
2. Tell your team, your family, and colleagues about your project to signal your commitment to the project a nd make it “real.” Once people know about your plans, they exist somewhere outside of your own head – the first step toward making it happen!
3. Create opportunities for “quick wins.” Think about your project as a series of easily achievable goals that lead to your desired end result. Take your big goal, and divide it into manageable action steps to complete each day/week/month, then address them one at a time.
4. Get a new perspective. Sometimes it is helpful to start with your end result and plan backward. This new view can help you see the big picture, while shedding light on details you may otherwise overlook.
5. Enlist help. Get your team on board! Determine what their responsibilities will be, create an action plan for each, and schedule regular meetings to stay on track and address a ny issues that happen along the way.
6. Use technology to stay on track. It’s easy to use a web-based project management and collaboration tool, such as Basecamp. It allows you to upload and share files, track to-do lists and milestones, and communicate effectively throughout the course of a project.
7. Make it fun. It’s easy to be excited about a project when you’re just starting out. Over time, you are bound to hit snags and stressors here and there. Rally your team with incentives, social outings and rewards for meeting goals throughout the course of the project – not just when it’s completed. And once it is complete, reward yourselves again for a job well done!
Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. To discover how 1st VA can help your business – visit http://www.1stva.com.
Thanks Giving – 11 Reasons To Be Thankful
Okay, this post is less about public relations, copy writing or editing and more about being thankful for what we have; having a sense of peace and contentment with where we are today. A colleague and friend recently published a book that speaks to this message — one day can make a difference in rediscovering dreams by gaining new perspective, modifying priorities and knowing your purpose.
So in this time of giving thanks, I thought I’d share what I’m thankful for. I wish all celebrating the U.S. day of Thanksgiving a safe and happy holiday!
1. I am grateful for client partnerships and collaborations this past year and those that are growing and will flourish in 2010. This past year I’ve returned to the life of a virtual professional by default (a product of a lay-off) and have continued working relationships with past clients and have built new ones. I’m grateful for each and every client this past year and am in a place where I can say I love all of my clients.
2. I am grateful for my partner and best friend, Peter. We’ve weathered some pretty serious storms — the premature death of my mother, my chronic back problems, and other challenges (ones that we all face at some point in our lives). I’m grateful every day for “my rock”.
3. I’m grateful that the sun rises and sets each day. There’s nothing better than watching a beautiful sunset. Having the time to watch a sunrise or sunset is rare, but when it comes it’s so peaceful and relaxing. As business owners dealing with several client needs at a time and our personal commitments, it’s so hard to practice being in the moment. My hope is that there is more of a commitment to that in the New Year.
4. Are you grateful for the mistakes you’ve made this past year? Why should we be? For one, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow, right? When we make mistakes we’re proving that we’re human but also giving ourselves an opportunity to learn and improve. So I am grateful for the large and small mistakes I’ve made this year.
One large mistake I made recently was to lift too much weight when I knowingly had a bulged disc in my lower back. This simple, or what I thought was simple, act of working on a home project with my husband is part of what led my bulged disc to become herniated…so badly that the orthopedic surgeon I am considering was shocked I was walking with no pain. So, the consequence of that mistake is requiring me to be more mindful of my limits and get surgery to prevent anything worse happening to my body. The consequences of this could be serious (especially if I do not get surgery), but I’m not letting it get the best of me. I’m owning up to that mistake, recognizing my limitations, and pledging to myself to never, ever sacrifice my health and well-being again. I’ve got big, muscular friends that can come by and help with the heavy lifting projects!
5. I am so grateful for the ability to help “create positive buzz” for my clients. I love writing; extracting ideas from clients and turning them into concise communications pieces. I am thrilled when a client gets exposure for their products or services. It’s not about the money; it’s about “creating positive buzz” and helping others achieve their dreams and goals.
6. If I were placing these 11 reasons in order by importance this would be #1. My daughter makes me grateful every day. Life changed completely once I became a mother and I would never change it for the world. I have a new source of laughter and inspiration every day and it’s all wrapped up in a 3+ foot tall, giggly, smiley package.
7. Philadelphia, “the city of brotherly love” is my home away from home. I’ll always consider Maryland my home, but for some reason I was always drawn to Philadelphia. I love this city, I love the diversity and its culture and I love living close enough to hop on the train to grab lunch with my husband or meet a prospective client.
8. I’m grateful for the ability to work from anywhere. As virtual professionals we often have the opportunity or even necessity to work outside of our home offices. I have worked from my back patio overlooking my yard, in the car, at Panera, at clients places of work, at the beach and at family members’ homes. You can be super-productive with a change of scenery from time to time.
9. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work at developing other dreams and interests. We don’t necessarily have to be tied to one thing always…I’m sure all of us have varying interests and aren’t solely tied to our virtual businesses. Being friendlier to the earth is one of my interests which is why I developed weeBGreen, with the help of a close friend, in April of 2009. My hope is that it grows to be a sought out source for shopping locally and regionally for earth friendlier products for “wee ones”.
10. I’m grateful for the lessons learned from my mother. I had 22 years with her and she is still guiding me today. She was a firm believer in following dreams and often referenced a poem by Louise Driscoll:
Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within you heart,
For little dreams to go!
Think still of lovely things that are not true.
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yet you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality.
We see so many ugly things -
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alas! we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth’s blind hour.
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow,
Hold fast – hold fast your dreams!
11. I am grateful for my membership to the organization for virtual professionals, IVAA. I’ve made great connections and have developed lasting client and collaborative relationships through this organization. I’m happy to serve as a volunteer staff writer for the IVAACast and hope to see many of my colleagues at the live summit in April!
What are you grateful for this year?
Share your comments here or on Twitter using #gratitudemonth.
Copyright 2009 Innovate Services & Teresa H. Berger
Be a Balanced Entrepreneur: Slow Down and Chill Out
(Reprinted with permission from Andrea Kalli, Certified Internet/Social Marketing Assistant and Coach)
The world is in a permanent hurry. We all rush around as if our lives depended on it. While some people can cope quite happily, even thrive, on living life in the fast lane, many others find they ‘burn out’ easily, which leaves them anxious, tired, and depressed. They feel as if there are never enough hours in the day to meet all the targets they set themselves, without thinking that perhaps they are aiming too high. Feelings of inadequacy rise to the surface because they end each day feeling that they haven’t achieved very much, which leaves them feeling even more anxious.
We live in a 24/7 society that never seems to stop or even slow down. In days gone by, we would go to bed when the sun went down, and wake in the morning as it rose. Without electric light, most everyday chores were impossible, so life was organized around the natural movement of the sun. It ensured that however hard we worked during the day, we had adequate time in which to sleep. We lived life at a slower pace, following the rhythm of nature, because fewer demands and time limits were placed on us. Nowadays, it’s sometimes hard to tell when day turns into night, because we can carry on working at any hour. Some of us work and work, never knowing when to stop, as if we’re afraid that something will go wrong if we do.
When the pace of your life reaches this point, it’s time to do something. Actually, it’s time to do nothing at all. Here are some ways to ensure that you can build some ‘me’ time into your busy life.
First of all, no matter how hard you work, try not to bring your work home with you. When work finishes for the day, leave it at the office or in the factory – as they say, you work to live, not live to work. Similarly, if you work from home, try to make sure your workstation is positioned away from the areas of the home in which you and your family like to relax.
Make sure that, as far as you are able, you can find some time to relax at the end of a working day and, more importantly, at the weekend. If necessary, leave the answer machine switched on over the weekend, turn off the TV, the computer, and your mobile phone, gather up your family, and ask them what they would like to do. Chances are it will be something that you can all do together that will get you working as a team and spending good quality time with each other. You could arrange a picnic at a favorite spot or, if the weather is bad, get out some long-forgotten board games, or get the children involved in crafts and hobbies.
Stand still sometimes. You don’t have to be continually thinking or planning. Don’t feel you have to fill every minute of every day with something ‘constructive’. Just looking at the flowers and trees in your garden, or standing at the edge of the sea, will help to calm your thoughts. At the same time, slow down your breathing – too many of us do not breathe deeply enough. We rush through our breathing in the same way that we rush through the chores of the day.
If it really is difficult to find some ‘me’ time, look at the things you think you must do next week, and see if you can re-prioritize or re-schedule some of them. You may discover a spare hour or two that you can call your own.
We all want to live perfect lives but, in reality, this really isn’t achievable without having to compromise in some way. Instead, remind yourself that life is for living; give yourself time out to relax. You’ll find it much easier to tackle the more difficult aspects of your life.
Andrea Kalli offers a variety of business services, to include: Internet and Social Marketing Strategist/Coach/Assistant, editing for Podcasts/Audio/Video/Teleconferences/Audio Books, and productivity training and support for Microsoft Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services. Her primary area of focus is to work with businesses to achieve greater online presence in building their business and brand.
Simplified public relations and the small business.
As an entrepreneur and founder of two small businesses, I know the challenges that come hand-in-hand with the entrepreneurs life.
Massive to-do lists, not enough time to accomplish all that we desire to, marketing and promoting ourselves and our businesses often taking a back seat to the simple day-to-day monotony that we so badly need to outsource. In my decade plus experience in corporate and entrepreneurial marketing and PR I’ve seen small businesses all too often eliminate marketing from their priorities.
This is a huge mistake. But it can be avoided with strategically and cost-effectively planning ahead to simplify marketing and public relations tasks so that they are virtually on auto-pilot. Using simplified public relations strategies, you can make lasting connections with complementary organizations without spending a great deal of time or money.
What is simplified public relations? In the manner of getting back to the basics, my belief is that at the core of every successful small business are relationships. Relationship building and public relations go hand-in-hand. Public relations strategies don’t have to be complex and scary for the entrepreneur. You simply need to take a look at your desired end result and work backward. From there you can simply plan out your public relations activities on one sheet and schedule them out on your calendar for the year. The hardest part is coming up with the appropriate outlets to contact and researching what news they want to hear.
If you come from a place of service, offering them your expertise and remain genuine, you’ll have an easy time developing lasting relationships with media outlets. They’ll value you as a source and maybe even seek you out for a newly developed story. Just remember to remain professional, appreciative and put yourself in the contacts shoes…they likely get inundated with queries and press releases on a daily basis.
In small business and the entrepreneurial world, positive public relations = relationship building + service + strategic partnerships + informing others. Done right, it can be an invaluable source for business growth.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
Creating Positive Buzz: Local Author & Inspirational Speaker Esther Hughes
From time to time I will be sharing my clients’ news which helps me not only share their exciting events, but also gives you an idea of what a typical press release or story pitch should look like. So consider them case studies if you will and reference them if you need help in writing up that press release or story pitch.
And if you’re still stumped and just want to hand off the writing, you know where to go!
Press Release: People currently affected by cancer have a new source for faith
Author and professional speaker, Esther Hughes, has recently published a book solely for those affected by cancer, Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer. This new resource acts as a tool for anyone affected by cancer, inspiring thought and offering hope.
Esther Hughes, a breast cancer survivor herself, has experienced first-hand the challenges cancer brings (www.EstherHughes.com). Through her battle and recovery, Esther had profound experiences and felt charged with the mission to share what helped her through each day with others affected by cancer. In Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer (http://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Prayers-People-Affected-Cancer/dp/1442108797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250791040&sr=8-1), Esther shares prayers for each stage of the process of dealing with cancer. Her connection of faith to the positive healing process will inspire anyone diagnosed with cancer to keep a positive attitude.
An accomplished speaker, Esther has shared the message of capturing the gift of each day with womens’ groups, churches, community associations, support and wellness organizations, and at corporate functions. Helen Wolf, Facilitator of “Meet the Authors” class at Delaware Valley College commented, “Esther gives a lively presentation, with material presented in a clear, concise, manner, speaking to the audience, not at them. She shares her personal life experiences, encourages feedback, and weaves hope and positive affirmations. Hearing Esther speak can change your attitude at a crossroad in life, and make a personal difference for you, in just one day.” Her other thought-provoking speaking topics include:
- Discover and Uncover You
- One Day Living: Full Life Collection
- One Day + One Event = Second Chances
- SHAPE for Women
- Caring for People Affected by Cancer
For more information on Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer or Esther Hughes visit http://onedayliving.com/.
What do smores have to do with public relations?
I went camping recently and the yummy smores my family and I made by the camp fire are still on my mind. The fact that I’m a chocoholic doesn’t help either.
What do smores have to do with public relations? This may be a stretch but here goes:
1. Patience. Smores take patience to make because you have to first roast the marshmallows to the exact temperature of your preference. Some people like their marshmallows golden brown while others like them crispy on the outside and melted on the inside. Public relations, done properly, takes patience as well. Patience in crafting your message the right way to reach the right people. Patience in getting a response to your first attempt or follow up. Patience in the amount of time and frequency required to spend on generating buzz. You may not create positive buzz after that first or fifth press release or story pitch, but have faith it will come!
2. Organization. Crafting the perfect smore takes organization. You have to have your supplies ready at hand – the marshmallows, the graham crackers, the chocolate and of course a napkin or paper towel to keep the gooiness at bay. Crafting a simplified, yet effective public relations plan takes organization as well. Whether you’re developing an editorial calendar for your ezine or blog, or crafting a quarters worth of story pitches or press releases, your information must be organized. You should have the Who, What, When, Where and Why clearly mapped out and your contact information must be organized and easy to find as well. It’s also notable to have your follow-up plan and strategy for what happens once you generate buzz organized.
3. Slice of heaven. Smores (if you like them as much as I do) can be a slice of heaven. They can help you be in the moment, having fun with family and friends, and can remind you of fun times as a child. Generating positive buzz around you, your business, your events, products or services can be a slice of heaven. When you get noticed for the hard work that you do, or your community involvement you can be in the moment, relish it, be giddy like a kid and do your happy dance. It’s amazing when we get noticed after a lot of effort. It’s what life is all about. Being appreciated, being in the moment, appreciating others, and paying it forward.
Who knew smores and PR had so much in common!?
The Buzz About Music…Matisyahu
It’s Friday, I’m getting ready to head out on a weekend camping trip and music has always helped me get through busy, tough or just down right blah days. I listen to a lot of National Public Radio and lately they’ve been playing Matisyahu’s “One Day”. This song sums up how I would love the world to be every day. So here’s the video…and some questions.
Does music energize, inspire and motivate you?
Does it fuel your passion for life?
How can you tie the music you love to your buzz generation activities?
Finding Your Tribe
Whether you’re a work-at-home entrepreneur or have a brick and mortar office, you need to get out and find your Tribe. Sure online networking is great…LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. are great sources for relationship building, getting answers and finding potential partnerships and clients. But they are just one piece of the puzzle…you’ve got to complete the circle with real live interaction.
But with so many in-person networking and business mentoring opportunities how do you decide what’s best for you and your quest for relationship and buzz building? Part of the process of finding the right “tribe” is determining what your goals are and what kinds of people you want to surround yourself with. What is your niche or who are your ideal clients? What types of people can you identify with? What kind of support are you looking for?
Recently, I’ve found two amazingly inspirational and local groups that I think directly fit in with my business goals and hopes to develop stronger business and personal relationships with like-minds.
- Network Now, a networking group for women in the Bucks County area who are business owners, lead non-profits or are representatives for national companies, is a dynamic group of women from all walks of life. Events are held year round and there are numerous opportunities for growing your network.
- The non-profit Women’s Business Forum is another fabulous organization for women business owners that provides support, mentoring and educational opportunities. It holds two free meetings per month and focuses on growing your business.
How does this tie into Public Relations? It IS a huge piece of your public relations/marketing pie. Networking, or relationship building as I like to call it, is the best way to get known. But don’t do it solely to get known…people can see right through that and won’t take you seriously. Keep in mind that humans have always operated in a “know, like, trust” manner and will appreciate the time you’re taking to invest in your business and learn about theirs. Be genuine. Ask questions.
Go out and find your “tribe”…one that you can authentically connect with…you never know what kind of buzz that may lead to!
Innovate Services & Client Media Mentions…
http://www.business-opportunities.biz http://blog.cristinafavreau.com http://www.ivaa.org/pdfs/latestcast.pdf http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog
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