Marketing the George Jefferson Way

Lately I have been watching the Jeffersons. I have noticed why George was successful. George Jefferson was a master marketer. He was always ready to tell anyone who would listen, and even those who wouldn't, about his dry-cleaning business.

Even my 10 year-old has mentioned that George gives his business card to everyone. Every time he has the opportunity he gives his "elevator speech" and makes sure people know he is the owner of the largest chain of dry-cleaners in the city. In one episode, he was bailing Weezie out of jail and he gave the guard a card and he even gave the prostitutes in the cell each one.

Any time he had the chance to be in the media, he took it; no matter how ridiculous the reason. He was always trying to get the attention of anyone with money that could further his enterprise.

How are you about spreading the word about your business? I know that I need to learn how to be more like George. I need to tell everyone about my business at every opportunity. I have been doing this well online, and now I am going to start giving this more of my attention in the "real" world.

What is your "elevator" speech? What do you tell people when they ask "What do you do for a living?" How are yoou involved in your community and how is this helping your business? Are you meeting with other business people on a regular basis?

You Never Know How Your Name Gets Around

I was searching through blogs today and low and behold, I found my website suggested as a place to go for more information on virtual assistants. It was on a blog called http://www.thewebwhisperers.com/ written by Bill O'Hanlon. Bill is a renowned speaker and author and has even appeared on Oprah and has been published in her magazine.

Thank you Mr. O'Hanlon for choosing to put my link in one of your blog posts. You can learn more about Bill O'Hanlon at http://www.billohanlon.com/.

Carnival of Virtual Assistants - #1

Welcome to the first ever Carnival of Virtual Assistants. We will bring you great posts from the virtual assistant industry from around the globe. Enjoy and maybe next month your post will be here along with ours.

Tips for VA Clients:
Angela Wills presents StarVA - How to Know You're Getting Your Moneys Worth From Your VA posted at StarVA.com.

Website Design Tip:
Barbra Sundquist presents How to Write a Short Bio or "About Me" Page posted at Barbra Sundquist.

How can a Virtual Assistant Help Me?
Emma Walker presents How can a Virtual Assistant help me? posted at CKPA.

Tips for Women Who Lead Men:
Alvaro Fernandez presents Top Ten Tips for Women Who Lead Men posted at Brain Fitness Blog.

Some Business Success Myths:
Bhupendra Khanal presents Top 10 Mantra for Professional Success posted at Analytics Bhupe.

Gmail Productivity Tips:
The Free Geek presents The Enormous Gmail Productivity List posted at Free Geekery.

Internet Marketing Tips:
Praveen presents My Simple Trading System: A Free Guide Recommending Internet Marketing Resources posted at My Simple Trading System.

Don't forget to leave us your comments and suggestions to make the Carnival of Virtual Assistants even better next month!

My First Press Release

The following is my first ever press release:
____________________________________
Virtual Assistants In The News
The Virtual Assistant industry is catching the eye of the national media.

The Virtual Assistant industry is being highlighted in the national media once again. In the May issue of Reader's Digest, an article on ways to make extra money states, "If you've got word processing, transcription, bookkeeping, public relations or website design skills, you may want to try life as a virtual assistant." The article goes on to quote VA and author, Diana Ennen whose book, "Virtual Assistant -The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA", is a must-have manual for every Virtual Assistant.

In an upcoming episode of the "Today Show", another VA will be featured. A film crew will follow her through a "typical day" in the life of a Virtual Assistant.


"The Virtual Assistant industry is growing rapidly and having it noticed by the press will only help its growth. People will learn what a VA is and either want to become one or hire one."


The Virtual Assistant industry has been featured in national publications in the past. TIME, Businessweek, The Christian Science Monitor, and USA Today have all published articles about Virtual Assistants.


According to Darrell Williams, owner of Right-Hand-Man Virtual Assistant Services, "The more exposure the Virtual Assistant industry gets, the better. Explaining the concept of a VA to potential clients is half the battle. National press exposure makes this so much easier."


For more information on Virtual Assistants and what they can do for you, visit www.righthandmanva.com.

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Virtual Assistant Articles.

I've looked through the Internet and found a few articles about
Virtual Assistant's
published in magazines and newspapers.
Here are the links:

READER'S DIGEST
TIME
BUSINESSWEEK
MY BUSINESS MAG
IQ
MOTTO
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
USA TODAY
ENTREPRENEUR

I will search for more and post the links here when I find them. If you know of anymore, especially from outside of North America, please add a comment with the link included.

Coming Soon!

I will soon be posting Tips on how to properly format documents. Properly formatted documents show that you care how you present yourself and/or business. Keep an eye out for these Tips!

Marketing your Business!

In Real Estate the slogan for looking for a new home is "location, location, LOCATION!" In marketing it's "network, network, NETWORK!"

So what is Networking? One dictionary suggested it means, "meeting people who can be of help to you and being a help to them." This can happen online, through personal contact, advertising, joining groups, meetings, and the list goes on. Networking can happen at the supermarket. Wherever it happens, you have to make the most of it. Talk about yourself, your business, your product/service, and your successes. Don't brag yourself up, but offer up information that shows how you could help that other person through your business.

"Hidden Marketing" is the marketing of your business that goes on behind your back. This is other people talking about your business. This can be good or bad, depending on the impact you have had on your customers. Did they have a positive experience or did you leave a bad taste in their mouth? When people are happy with your service they usually tell you, but when they aren't happy, they tell other people.

Networking and great Customer Service are the cornerstones of successful marketing. If you can find a way to accomplish both these things and one that works for your particular business, then you have it made. I haven't come across a "magic" formula that works for any and every business. Oh, and by the way, it takes WORK. There are no easy shortcuts. It's like your father used to say, "If something is worth having, it's worth working for!"