For most businesses, the decision to make a business website is a large and important step. Whether for direct response or pure branding and identity, there’s a lot that can be said with a company website. Sales can be made, an online identity and communications platform can be launched, and a business that was once only an offline venture can take the huge, and in many cases, hugely profitable, step into online business.

However, all too often a great business website can turn into a letdown. Pages of copy built to sell end up producing very little in the way of conversions. Images that were crisp and clean look to be full of compression artifacts and grime. And most often, and most annoyingly, a design that seems amazing offline just fails to translate, resulting in poor site navigation and frustrated users.

There’s a way around this, however. By using WordPress to make a business website, you gain access to a huge range of WordPress designs that are ready to use. This can cut out the otherwise frustrating process of testing a design for your business, working with a professional, or even hiring a team of web designers and developers to produce your website for you.

There are hundreds of WordPress business templates available, many of which are built to cater to a specific type of business. Some are clean and relatively regal in their appearance, built for legal firms and other high-value prestige businesses. Others are action-driven, built to appeal to direct or response-based marketers and businesses in need of instant results from their online marketing.

The type of design isn’t something that can be summed up an a single-sentence adage; instead, it’s a decision that your business will have to make on its own. Depending on your website’s purpose, it’s best to either present a brand with your chosen WordPress business templates, or to inspire action. Think about how an otherwise tiny difference in the two designs could produce a big difference in your business’s sales.

Alongside the WordPress designs and templates that you choose, it’s also important to consider how it may be helped or hindered by your user’s browser type. Corporate websites that deal with a computer-savvy crowd may be able to choose from among the available WordPress business templates that that incorporate HTML5 and other ‘new’ features. In contrast, direct marketers that appeal to all users may with to leave out advanced features in place of compatibility.

While choosing from available WordPress designs and templates can be time-consuming and relatively stressful when having to make a business website, it can result in large improvement for your business when done correctly. Take the time to stress-test your template before making a decision, as a poor choice could hurt your business’s brand or results. For optimum results, it’s worth thinking long and hard before committing to a single design or template.

Andrea is a Wordpress Virtual Assistant based out of the Denver area of Colorado, yet serves the global entrepreneur.

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I recently spent some time with a client of three years who wanted to see if there were other ways we may be able to support them. They were pleasantly surprised that I was able to suggest new technologies and processes that could not only save them money, and increase productivity, but that required minimal support from either Accurate Business Services, or in-house staff. By sharing my knowledge and experience I was able to increase the value of our working relationship and create cost-effective ways to accomplish their goals whether or not they needed us to implement them.

They could now see how partnering with us benefitted their bottom-line.  We are now both excited to be moving their business forward in a manner that creates a win-win.  If we don’t help make them more successful, why would they need us long-term?

Many of my prospects don’t see the need to work with a Virtual Assistant when they already have and employ in-house staff.  Sometimes in-house staff sees the VA as someone who is poised to take their job.  That’s just not what our relationship is about.

We work with a number of clients who employ full-time staff, or in-house support shared by a number of people.  Working with a Virtual Assistant allows you access to resources they don’t have access to, and professional assistance in times when your in-house staff is overwhelmed and the added expense of training, taxes and benefits, make a temp person an ineffective and overly costly option. Because we work with clients nationwide, we can also share our successes in many business and marketing situations. Why re-invent the wheel?

Still not sure a virtual professional is right for you – find one or two projects you could delegate to a VA, and give it a try – look at www.ivaa.org and check out their Directory, or submit an RFP (Request for Proposal) and see what happens.  Or contact us for a no-obligation complimentary 30-minute consultation to see if working with a VA is right for you.

Once you experience the freedom and professional support, I’m sure you’ll agree there are some distinct advantages to working with a VA.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011! Let’s work together to increase your success.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

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Today, social media sites are very popular among Internet users. This has allowed them to become attractive platforms for Internet marketers. A wide variety of potential prospects can be gained by reaching out in this way. Of the most popular platforms are video sharing and social networking sites.

1) Video Sharing

Aspiring artists, and other performers have been using sites like You Tube as a launching pad for some time. As these sites have continued to grow, online businesses have realized the value of using video sharing to improve their success. By producing entertaining yet professional videos businesses are able to reach a broader Internet market. Product demonstrations that highlight benefits to customers have become quite popular, too.

Not only are you capturing a large number of video enthusiasts, but these sites make it easier for videos to be spread virally. They can also be shared through social bookmarking and networking sites as well as via email.

Should a video be relevant to other businesses, they can easily publish them on other websites and blogs, who can then spread your messages virally.  Video marketing has proven to be a crucial element in any internet marketing campaign.

Additionally, if videos are attractive or interesting enough, people can leave comments that assist online business owners in gaining consumer insights on their offerings.

2) Social Networking

Savvy Internet marketers regularly share relevant content to engage users and prompt them to follow their brand or become a part of their network. Some use these sites as an alternative or supplement to their email marketing campaigns.

Everyday use of social networking sites has practically become a way of life for many internet users. However, promoting a business is not as simple as building a network of random people and marketing to them. Treat these sites as a means to build relationships rather than just another advertising medium. Like video sharing sites, social networking sites can prove to be a valuable source for customer feedback.

Encourage comments from users who can help manage an online reputation and give the brand a higher potential to spread virally among people who share the same interests. Consequently, this allows businesses to spend less time, money and energy on brand building and customer acquisition.

This social media popularity allows people to spread the word about a brand and business offerings and increases the number of prospects who see the message. The idea is to get more people to talk about the business and keep the brand top of mind so that internet users will be more likely to patronize it or to share it with other people.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, owner of Accurate Business Services is a Virtual Assistant (VA).  ABS provides ‘as needed’ marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs.  Clontz is a writer, author, VA Coach, and speaker on business topics including business ethics. For her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit:  http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or http://www.internetmarketingvirtualassistant.net.

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I called back the next day and inadvertently got to speak to her boss.  I explained that I’d found three options for him and asked if it would be okay for me to give them his contact information.

He agreed, but was genuinely shocked that I had called back, and that I would be willing to help him find someone.  I explained that he had a need I could help fulfill because of my connections within the industry, and that I was happy to be of service.

We spoke for several more minutes, just general chit chat about what each of us does, and I went on my merry way.  Two weeks later I reconnected to be sure the three referrals I’d sent him had indeed followed through.

They had, and he was very appreciative for my referrals.  We exchanged a few more niceties and wished each other well.

About two weeks later, he called me with referrals to two prospects he thought would be a good fit for me.  WOW, who would have thought that just because I went a little out of my way, that someone would feel obliged to return the favor?

Both of his referrals turned into new clients, and I feel as if I have made a connection with someone who will most likely be a good resource for years to come.  I’ve even returned the favor and suggested his services to several of my networking buddies with a need; networking at its best.  We both seem to have similar business standards and acumen, making for an unexpected friendship.

The lesson for me was to leave no stone unturned.  If you’re presented with a situation where you’re not the right fit for someone, don’t stop there.  Be a resource, help them to find a good fit and you may enjoy an unexpected connection to someone who can help you grow your business.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, owner of Accurate Business Services is a Virtual Assistant (VA).  ABS provides ‘as needed marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs.  Clontz is a writer, author, VA Coach, and speaker on business topics including business ethics. For her free 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, send a request to: service@accbizsvcs.com or visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, www.VAbizcoach.com or her book website http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com

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Facebook is considered one of the leaders of social media. Its growth has continued to increase and Facebook has become an essential and innovative idea for business marketing.

Facebook is a great way to keep up with friends and family, but you don’t necessarily want your clients to see the more personal side of your life. Businesses should take care to present a well defined and controlled image of their products and services. Facebook fan pages are an excellent choice for business.

Business Facebook fan pages have many of the same features as personal pages. You can still share articles, photos, videos, and applications, but all of the fan page content is related to your business.  Here are five strategies for making your Fan page a success:

Make your Fan page a resource

Consider the information your customers need. Post articles and links to useful information on your wall and showcase yourself as an expert and your customers will return again and again.

Connect

Interact with customers by making use of Facebook’s tools. Respond to comments. Discuss the benefits of your product line and lead new customers to your website for more. Target your offers without being spammy to increase customer loyalty.

Be human

Pictures and personal information put a face on a company. As long as you present an image that enhances your business, personalizing your Fan page is a great way to get followers.

Be present

Keep your profile, articles, photos and video content up-to-date and current. It’s not enough to throw up a page and ignore it. Make sure to respond to customers who become fans. Create a group for your business and participate in groups related to your business.

Be Innovative

Facebook moves fast. Don’t be afraid to try the latest thing. Explore webinars, and other interactive media as options to improve business relationships.

Creating a Facebook fan page is great first step toward integrating social media into your marketing plan. Don’t forget to provide links from your website and/or blog to your Fan page. Connect to your Facebook fan page through other social media to continue to grow your network. In no time your Fan page will be the central hub of your successful online marketing campaign.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

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Free is popular for a reason: it works. With the online world teeming with competitors, every second spent on your product is a gain for your business. If you want to build your brand without spending a lot on advertising, free content is likely to be the most cost-effective and simple viral marketing tools in your inventory. Sure, it doesn’t fit the standard ‘30 second video’ viral marketing mold, but it still spreads on the same principles and systems.

What makes free viral content different from the old world of free content is the amount of it that is present. Five years ago, the standard divide between free and paid was about 10/90. That means that 90% of content was paid for, or completely off-limits until you handed over your credit card details, and only 10% was available free of charge. Nowadays, it is the opposite spread. Some of the smartest viral marketers around are making a lot of money by offering 90% of their content for free, and only 10% for money.

How could that possibly be profitable? Good question. At first glance it appears to be a completely impossible and unprofitable marketing system, but as you look closer it appears as a remarkably simple and incredibly lucrative system. While the past generation of marketers focused on grabbing the attention of a small few with just 10% of their product, today’s marketers are focusing on grabbing the attention and interest of a large majority with 90% of their content, and charging them for the final, most valuable 10%.

Use this strategy to your advantage. Instead of hiding 90% of your content behind closed doors, away from potential opportunities for promotion and viral marketing, release free content strategically and periodically. If you’re not comfortable with giving 90% of your content away for free, change the percentage up a bit. Make it 75% free/25% paid instead. Play with the numbers to the point where you’re comfortable. While it may seem as if you are losing long-term profits, you are really gaining long-term exposure and short-term attention. Focusing on free can:

* help you generate marketing exposure as your message spreads far and wide,
* increase interest in your paid products and more people notice them,
* boost your search engine rankings through increased links,
* make you a ‘hot topic’ on Twitter and other social networks.

All of these benefits were something that you previously had to pay for, not just through indirect lost earnings but in expensive service charges and tiring workloads. When you focus on free, you sacrifice some short-term earning potential — that is not debated. What follows, however, is a long run of marketing exposure, community interest, and viral coverage. While your priorities may differ, the vast majority of internet businesses would lean towards the second option.

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When I am working with a client to create an ethics seminar, I always ask to speak with a few of their key employees, not in management.  This exercise allows me to listen to employees concerns, and get a true picture of the employer’s appreciation of their employees, and what ethical systems have already been addressed and implemented.

I’m never surprised to find that the client seems puzzled by some of the responses I receive.  Some of it stems from the client’s misunderstanding of what ethics encompasses, some of it stems from the client’s inability to communicate properly to the employee what their standards are, and how they affect the way they do business.

Hands down, the biggest complaint I get from employers and employees is lack of follow-through.  We need to do what we said we would, in the time we said it would take, or we need to communicate any shortfalls well before that committed completion time has expired.

I think that’s true in our businesses, too.  We have to be excellent communicators, and have the ability to ask the questions that our clients haven’t even considered.  On those occasions when a situation arises that may tip the scales unfairly in one direction, we have to take the time to consider all sides of the situation and make the most informed decision that is fair and equitable to everyone, even though it might be easier and more profitable not to.

To be an ethical business, you must earn the respect and trust of employees, clients, suppliers, etc., by weighing all the aspects and making sure we treat all parties fairly.  If we always practice good business ethics, we not only help ourselves and our businesses, but we help bring more confidence and trust to our industry – something we absolutely must maintain in order for us all to be successful.

So let me ask you to exercise your moral well-being and increase your credibility without the sweat and expensive work-out equipment!

Wishing you continued success and the wisdom to consider ethical options.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

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Many businesses have recognized this technological and social phenomena as an excellent opportunity to promote their businesses and stay in constant contact with their target audience. If you are among those businesses, you should know that combining your social network marketing efforts with your video marketing campaigns can have a potent effect on just how intimate you are with your audience.

With such a powerful tool as the internet at your fingertips, it would be wasteful to limit your business to traditional advertising. Promoting your company on the many social networks that exist is not only the smart thing to do, it’s also often free or very cheap. The more social networks you add your business to, the more you expose yourself to potential customers. Furthermore, you will usually have full control over your “friends, which can lead to some very focused demographic targeting. Try doing that with a commercial on television!

Another thing to keep in mind is that MySpace and Facebook aren’t the only kids on the block. Niche social networks are growing rapidly. Consider Ning, a company that allows its users to create their own social networks. Types of networks range from science to politics to everything in between. Find the network that suits your demographic best and make your presence known.

If you’ve ever started a video marketing campaign only to be disappointed that, after all of your effort, very few people are actually watching your videos, a great solution is to integrate your videos into your social networks. Don’t just repost your videos on your social networking assets. Update your audience about new videos with blog posts, twitter tweets, and bulletin announcements. Not only will the views start to add up quickly, but the viewers are all from an audience that you know is already predisposed to be interested in your business.

Don’t forget that most video sites now act as social networks on their own. When you just upload a video and leave it, your viewers will sense a lack of connectivity. Customize your profile and fill it out with pertinent information about your business. Add friends and accept friend invitations. Take a few minutes every day and comment on a few videos related to your niche. If someone posts a positive comment (or constructive criticism) on one of your videos, take the time to send them a personal message and thank them for their input. These personal touches can go a very long way to show your audience that you’re connected to them and that you care.

Social networks are all about relationship building and keeping in touch. Often, you’ll find that your video marketing campaigns have the same purpose, so it’s only natural that when you combine the two, you’re creating an atmosphere of trust and availability to your target group.

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As I’ve gotten more experienced as an entrepreneur, I’ve found that there are several types of clients that use these tactics.

The first type is totally unethical, and no matter what you say or do, it’s always better for you to cut your losses and discontinue doing business with them.  I know this can be difficult, but it could hurt your credibility.

The second type is the client who is always looking for something for nothing.  They will take your project quotation and rip it apart looking for hidden discounts.

Sometimes they are just thorough, sometimes they are doing what has proven to be successful in the past.  These clients can be turned into good, ethical clients by simply taking the time to find out why they work this way.

They may have worked with unethical providers in the past, and have found that by questioning an invoice, or price, they usually will get some sort of discount, or free offer.

Open the discussion by asking about their complaints and how you can rectify the situation.  Be a good listener. Let them vent their frustrations. Ask them for an explanation of any deductions, and try to put yourself in their shoes to see if you can get a better idea of their motivations and concerns.

Maybe your invoices could detail more information about your charges and how you met their needs.  Let them know that you want to be more familiar with their specific needs so that you can provide better services in the future.

Most importantly don’t take it personally.  Sometimes we are not the perfect fit for someone’s needs.  What we need to do is maintain our integrity and remember that we can’t be all things to all people.

Do those tasks where you consider yourself to be the expert.  Encourage new clients to contact your references so they have a clear picture of who you are, what your strengths are, and how those strengths can help them achieve their goals.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

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It is a problem that is endemic across multiple platforms, services, and online communities. From Twitter to Facebook, Ning to Reddit, display advertising is sold at record low rates due to the limited user involvement available. Many marketers have written the services off as bust inventory – viewer attention that is so valueless it is not even worth pursuing.

But a small number of innovative marketers are singing a very different tune. They have turned monetizing ‘bust’ inventory into a specialty, buying up spaces on social media platforms at pennies on the dollar and creating dynamic income for themselves. How do they do it? These three tactics appear to be remarkably common, forming the backbone of the social media innovator’s income.

Selling is not the priority, gaining information is.

There is value in social media traffic, even traffic that is largely unfiltered. While thousands of internet marketers chase the short-term sale and instant income, a community of forward thinking marketers have spent their time doing the exact opposite: chasing the eventual sale, and using cheap social media inventory to help themselves get there.

So instead of directing users towards a giant ‘buy now!’ button, these marketers have slowly and carefully guided users through information before requesting their name and email address. The process is the opposite of most direct tactics; it spends little time barraging the customer with tactics, and significantly more time building trust for a sale, be it two weeks or two months down the line.

Social media marketers plan to sell, but not a product.

The smartest social media marketers know that they are only one part of the sales chain, the mark designed to gather information. By removing the sale from the equation, many can generate more valuable output than they would with a shiny, specialized, and specific product at the end of the process.

That is why so many social marketers are no longer attempting to sell products, but to sell information. By gaining an understanding of their audience’s interests and desires, they can generated a powerful resource for other marketers, many of whom will pay for the information. Think in terms of leads and you will quickly monetize social media inventory; treat it as a sales game and you will likely end up with nothing to show for your efforts.

Build an audience first, then monetize.

Far too many marketers jump into the world of social media with products to push, affiliate offers to promote, and businesses to advertise. It is a common mistake, and it is one that tends to backfire early, putting marketers off the format entirely and limiting their future social media efforts.

Instead of going gung-ho right from the start, it might be best to spend your formative social media days developing an audience, and then marketing to them once you have gained a major position. Treat your social media efforts like you would a social media business – gain the numbers, the influence, and the passion first, and introduce the products, services, and offers later.

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