Tip #9: Create your marketing pieces – especially your website.

Now don’t panic. Remember my mantra…SIMPLIFY. I don’t know html and you don’t have to either. This DOES NOT have to be anything fancy…keep it simple. Simply explain your services, give your contact info and there you go [IMPORTANT: Make sure there are no typos!]. Take about ½ hour and do a Google search. Look at some other VA’s websites.

Then, if you’re in my boat, you can do one of two things:

1. Have your website built and find a place to have it hosted (services like GoDaddy, Register.com or others are inexpensive hosts).
Having someone build your site might be a little more costly than you’d like…unless you’re one of those lucky people who’s related to or knows a “web person!”

OR

2. Build it yourself using a site builder service (made for those of us who have NO html skills). You put in your info and they do the rest! Services like:

eBizWebpages.com

Site Build It!

(This service is a bit more costly – but not astronomical. They are the only all-in-one site-building, site-hosting, and site-marketing product that makes it easy for you to build a professional, popular, and profitable website.)

And many others…

There are also easy-to-use software programs (such as FrontPage and DreamWeaver) that allow you to easily create your site and then plug it into your host. Many times your phone or Internet service provider offers you free web space as part of what you pay for. Use that and forward your site name to that…talk about cost-effective!

You’ll also probably want to create some type of flyer, brochure or other piece (that can be PDF'd so it can be e-mailed) that lists all of your services and your contact information. You may need these pieces for marketing campaigns you do down the road.

In ALL your marketing pieces (including your website), you need to:

• Tell the client why she needs you
• Be the answer to her problems
• Elaborate on all your excellent services and skills
• Mention how extremely reasonable your rates are
• Provide your background and/or education
• Include your contact information (name, phone, e-mail, website)

***Bonus Hint***
You look much more professional to your clients if you have an e-mail address that “you own” and that matches your URL for your website. For example, if your business name is Your Virtual Answer, your website URL should be www.YourVirtualAnswer.com and your e-mail address should be YourFirstName@YourVirtualAnswer.com. (I actually have my e-mail set up to forward – through GoDaddy because they're the registrar of my URL – to my main e-mail address I have through my Internet service provider. I have about 9 POP3 accounts set up in my Outlook…most of them are forwarded for free through GoDaddy.) Need to know how to set up POP3 accounts in Outlook? Click Here