As a marketer, I love Instagram. It is arguably one of the best platforms for getting your brand out there. Instagram is also the best-known place where you can meet “influencers.” These are folks who have built a massive following on Instagram and other social media platforms and use them to share their lives (and the products in them). It’s big money! Many of the biggest, like the Kardashians, make millions upon millions of dollars a year from being influencers. But the influencer phenomena has got me wondering, how much is too much? At what point does it stop being…
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Back in the early 80s, there was a saying that gained tremendous popularity in computing circles. Today, we would call it a meme. “Print is dead.” It was so popular that it was even used as a joke in Ghostbusters. Back then, the concepts of the paperless office and electronic mail was just starting to pick up steam. Of course, we know now that it wouldn’t be until the mid-90s that email would really take off, and decades until the paperless office became a reality. So, here is the question: now that digital technology has reached the point where we…
Read MoreIf there are two words that send shivers up my spine, they are “writer’s block.” As a professional writer, you can imagine how important it is for me to be able to write all day long for my clients. Getting writer’s block isn’t an option when I have so many people depending on me to deliver polished blogs, newsletters, copy for websites, sales pages, funnels, nurture sequences, etc. into their inboxes. If you write your own copy, then you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. Suffering from writer’s block can be incredibly frustrating, but I know one method of…
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Have you ever heard the old saying, “Those that can’t, teach?” Personally, I always thought that is absolutely ridiculous. It’s not just disrespectful to teachers, who sacrifice so much for their students, but it’s also just flat out wrong. There can be a similar perception about coaches in sports. “Those that can’t play, coach.” Again, ridiculous. The wealth of knowledge and experience that a talented coach can bring is incalculable. With their watchful and experienced eye, they can help shape an athlete or team into the best they can possibly be. That takes talent! Thankfully, there isn’t a negative perception…
Read MoreOne of the most common questions that I get asked in free consultations is, “How do I grow my business?” And boy, is that a loaded question! As a virtual assistant, there are a ton of ways that I can help you grow your business, ranging from taking advantage of my digital marketing services to business coaching. But I have always found that one of the most effective methods is to host a webinar. A webinar is essentially an online seminar, and there are so many benefits to creating one! Figure Out What Aspect of Your Business You Would Like…
Read MoreThere’s a great Jerry Seinfeld comedy bit that perfectly sums up how some people feel about public speaking. “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” In my experience working with clients, I’m afraid that I have to agree. Speaking in front of people is a fear born right out of “show and tell,” back when they were a kid. Getting up in…
Read MoreDo you want to know one of the biggest problems for new small business owners? Being seen as an expert in their field. The longer that you’re in business, the more credibility you build. Back when I first started out as a virtual assistant, it was much more challenging for me to find clients than it is today. Back then, I already had extensive digital marketing skills, a passion for the work, and all of the knowledge that I needed to succeed. The problem was that no one knew that for sure. And when you want to hire someone for…
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Have you ever seen A Christmas Carol? The scene that always stuck with me as a small business owner was seeing Bob Cratchit having to stay late on Christmas to finish his work. Boy, I’ve been there (Although being my own boss, I guess I am sort of my own Scrooge too…)In December, there are so many things on your plate, from work to family, to the holidays themselves, that it can be tricky to get everything done by the last week of the year (not to mention stretching every dollar). But thankfully, there is a holiday miracle that can…
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I like to think of myself as a veteran small business owner. Ever since my twenties, I’ve felt the drive to create my own work. It’s something that comes from within me, to create a business from nothing. I’m sure that many of the small business owners and entrepreneurs reading this blog can relate! I’ve been through ups and downs and have learned many lessons along the way. One of the most important lessons was the necessity of needing help. For the first ten years of my business, I did everything myself without any help. Not even a virtual assistant.…
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How many old blog posts do you have on your website? If you’ve been in business for a while, there is a good chance that you have a gigantic back library of blog posts that stretch back years. Blog posts that were written in 2015 or earlier, although still potentially valuable, can seem out-of-date and not relevant to your current business and services. But what if you could recycle and refresh them? What if you could take all of that valuable, old material you invested tremendous time and effort into and bring them back to life with a copywriting “punch-up”,…
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