What’s In Your Branding Toolbox?

Personal Branding…What Is It and Why Do I Need It?

What exactly is personal branding and why is it so important?  If you think about major corporate brands like Coca Cola, Wal-Mart, Nike, etc. you know exactly what you are going to get if you visit their stores or purchase any of their products.

 

Small business owners must work on branding themselves too in order to be successful in such a competitive market like we are experiencing today.  The population as a whole is not spending like they used to and when they do spend, they are taking their time, researching the product or service and finding the best price.  As a small business owner, whether you like it or not, you are your business’s brand.  Overall, your customers want to know they are going to be taken care of by you and if it can’t be you it must be someone who resembles you, your values and ethics. 

 

In this type of economy you have a wonderful opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest.  How you ask?  By branding yourself and making your audience aware of who you are and why you are so special.

 

When starting a branding campaign, think in terms of positioning you and your business in the following manner:

• Identify Your Audiences:  I use the plural on purpose.  You probably have serveral demographics that make up your audience.  You must speak to each of them using the language, ideals and concepts they are used to using.  
• Rank Your Audiences:  Once you have a list of your audiences, rank them as to how important they are to your business and brand to the biggest audience first - identifying what their needs, wants and desires are.  Brand to those things.

 What branding is: 

• Expert Status: You know your industry and product best.  Position yourself in the community as an expert.  Do be afraid to toot your own horn.  Your audience wants to know who they can trust and count on in your industry
• Creating Buzz and Demand:  Make what you do and who you are compelling.  Position you and your business as a necessity rather than a want.
• Be Innovative:  Go against the grain of what everyone else is doing in your industry. 
• Always bring VALUE:  Give a little extra in your service or product to stand out above the rest.  This increases return customers and new customers.  Established customers will tell their friends what an amazing value you provide.
• Set the Standard:  Turn up the heat on your competition.  Set a new standard in your industry
• Be a Community Resource:  Make sure the community knows you are there.  Contact local media and let them know you are available if the ever need expert quotes or interviews

Stay tuned because I have more on Personal Branding to offer you!

So How Does Outsourcing REALLY Help me – The small business owner?

As a small business owner, by outsourcing some of the projects that could easily be handled by a competent freelancer, you are giving yourself and your schedule a wonderful gift!  TIME.  By giving someone else the opportunity to help take the load off, you will suddenly have more time to drive business and meet goals you thought were impossible because of lack of time.

There are many freelancers out there – especially educated moms who are more than capable of handling such projects.  As a matter of fact, I am one of them.  I wanted the flexibility to be able to stay at home but I also wanted to work and use the education I worked so hard at getting.  Plus, I love business and watching my efforts catapult my client’s businesses to the next level. 

I have recognized and experienced first hand, the quality of employees that are available to today’s small business owner.  It is hard to find someone who is reliable, has an excellent work ethic,  who is honest and can work independently.  Those are qualities I have and wanted to exercise when I started my Virtual Assistant business.  I wanted to create a business allowing small business owners to come to me for affordable, quality work.  By recognizing this, I have been afforded the luxury of working from home during the day.  It’s quiet here, the kids are at school and I have no interruptions.  Fellow employees aren’t eating up my work hours by stopping by just to say hi, gossip, or whatever.  As a matter of fact, I am more productive working from home in a comfortable atmosphere than I ever was when I worked outside of the home in an office!

I have been able to position myself and use my previous experience to build such a business.  The small business owner wins in this situation not only because of the final product I deliver but also because their schedule is suddenly more manageable to drive business.  I always look at the situation as, if my client looks good as the result of a project I have done, then I look good.  If we both look good, our businesses are succeeding and feeding off each other. 

Contact me if you are interested in learning more about how I can help YOUR business starting today!

Tips for Tough Times

Today’s business climate is volatile at best. 

 

What are we to do to keep our heads above water. 

 

 

Try these tips. 

They may seem simple and based on common sense but in a climate like this, we sometimes panic and forget the most obvious:

1. Monitor cash flow and receivables – DAILY!  I know, it’s not fun but it needs to be done.  Especially if you need the funds to complete a project you know is going to propel your business.
2. Watch expenses – Make sure you are spending money only where it is necessary.  Put a value on your expenses.  If you spend $x.00, to complete something, or take a client out to lunch, what is your potential ROI?
3. Review your business plan!  If you don’t have one, make a New Year’s Resolution for 2009 stating that you will complete one.  A business plan is essential for keeping you and your employees on track with all eyes on the overall goal, making adjustments as necessary.
4. Be MORE Marketable!  Continue your professional education.  There is ALWAYS something new to learn no matter what industry you are in.  If you are up to date on the latest and greatest techniques, that puts you leaps and bounds ahead of your competition.
5. Outsource projects and work at a cheaper rate.  The benefits to outsourcing is to paying by the hour or by the job at a pre-negotiated rate.  Don’t forget, these types of employees are independent contractors operating on a 1099.
6. Start a blog.  There’s no better way to market yourself than with a blog.  What was that?  You don’t have enough time to blog?  This is one of those projects that is easily outsourced!  I blog for many people and industries.  When hiring a blogger, make sure you are hiring someone who is ready to learn and research about your company and industry.  Blogging doesn’t have to happen every day but three times a week is ideal.
7. Keep marketing.  Many businesses that are experiencing slow times want to cut the marketing budget first.  How will people find you if they don’t know about you.  Look for cost effective alternatives to your marketing plan.  There are many out there that you probably haven’t thought of. 

 Stay tuned for more information and tips on business survival during these tough economic times.

Virtually yours, Lora

What Speed Do You Connect At?

And I am not talking about your high speed internet connection either. 

 

What I am referring to is your rate of connection in the business world.  Do you have a network base?  Who can you count on to pass you new or recurring business?

 

 

If you think about it, everything thing you do in life is a potential network connection…who do you come in contact with every day?

• Mail carrier?
• Your child’s teachers?
• Neighbors?
• Sales clerks?
• The dry cleaners?

You may be asking yourself, “How in the world can those people help me?”  Here’s how…

• It all starts with YOU
• Are YOU willing to get to know them?
• How can you help these people you come in contact with everyday?
• Once you start helping them, they will have YOU in mind the next time someone needs an expert in your industry

That’s right!  Your goal is to help others in order to help yourself.  As you get to know those you come in contact with day after day, you will be com a powerful, trusted alli in their world of connections.   

The lesson learned today, don’t skip over the people you come in contact with every day.  They are probably your most valuable resource since they see you frequently and have the opportunity to know you more.

Happy Connecting!

visit:  www.VirtualAssistantOnDemand.web.officelive.com

What are you doing when you’re NOT working?

A survey developed by Staples, Inc. and conducted by Decision Analyst, In, found the out the following when surveying 302 owners and executives of US based businesses.  These businesses had fewer than 20 employees;

98% – Working during time off, nights, weekends and vacations

51% – Sleep with their work – that’s right during REM time they are dreaming of work

48% – They would work even more hours if they could double their companies’ sales

38% – Can’t remember when they had their last vacation

21% – Say they want more time off

How can more time off, vacations and total relaxation take place.  In today’s business climate, the competition is tough!  When major retailers such as Linens and Things, Circuit City and Applebees just to name a few are laying off, closing and filing chapter 11 you wonder how the small guy can stay afloat.

Many times the small business owner is wrapped up in doing it all themselves.  They wear all the hats from president and owner right down the ranks to file clerk.  No wonder the business hasn’t grown.  Small business owners tend to avoid hiring anyone because there is a lot of overhead to that; workers comp insurance, benefits, payroll, training hours, etc.  So what’ a small business to do?  Go Virtual & Outsource.

Outsourcing is your best bet.  All of the following can be done through outsourcing and how do I know?  I know because I have been hired to do all of these things!  Take a look:

• Website updates
• Writing online or hard copy newsletters
• Making phone calls
• Designing business cards, logos and letterhead
• Product development
• Selling books
• Ghost writing blogs
• Creating manuals and workbooks
• Designing brochures
• Planning events
• Sending thank you cards

And I could go on for more pages.  I haven’t even scratched the surface.  The point is, outsourcing and going virtual is a win – win situation. 

For the small business owner, they dictate when, why, where and how much work they need to be done.  Not only that, the person who they outsource is an independent contractor.  That means, they are responsible for filing their own taxes.  And there’s no worker’s comp or benefits to worry about.

For the person being hired as a freelancer, they can negotiate rates and timing to flex with their schedule. 

However, BOTH sides need to do their homework.  In order for the relationship to be successful, the following must be discussed, negotiated and investigated prior to the start of a business relationship:

• If you are outsourcing work – outline your project first allowing for a clear understanding of what is expected at the end of the project
• Request references – both the freelancer and the small business owner should be prepared to give a list of references
• Ask for examples of work – again both sides should be completely comfortable with what the others work integrity and product is
• Determine and negotiate whether the project will be paid on an hourly basis or by the project
• How often will payment take place, weekly, monthly, 50% at the start of the project and the remaining 50% at the end
• Multiple conversations – interview each other and learn what each others goals, visions and aspirations are.  Most misunderstandings occur due to a lack of communication and expression of ideas

I have created a niche for myself in the world of outsourcing.  I love it!  I love my clients.  They have the same entrepreneurial spirit as I do.  We communicate A LOT – mostly via the internet on email.  We know where we stand on projects, we touch base frequently on progress and revisions and it’s a wonderful working relationship.

Stay tuned for more information on this topic!

If you would like to get started outsourcing certain projects or you would like to get started as a freelancer or virtual assistant, contact me!  I would love to help.

Virtually yours,

Lora

Need A Business Idea?

Someone very close to me became ill and could no longer hold a full time job.  This person needed to take care of themselves and rest when they needed it.  But, being driven and loving business, it was hard to sit home and watch the world pass by.  I gave this close person in my life some advice.  My advice was start a business designed to fit their needs. 

What?  No way, start a business that would allow for them to rest, take care of themselves and work from home.  That almost sounds like nirvana.  Impossible.  Plus, what business is out there to start that hasn’t already been done?

My belief is there are as many career ideas as there are individuals in the world.  We just need to slow down and look around.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing and who knows, what you think of might just be the next “Big Idea”

• Make a list of the talents or skills you excel at
• Play a game…if you could do anything in the world that you love to do more than anything else, what would it be?  Don’t worry about money, failure, confidence, just have fun and use your creativity.  Have fun and just be free in your thinking…Need help?  Ask yourself these questions:  What did you love as a kid?  What was your most favorite day so far in life?  Why?  What made it special?  Who are you jealous of?  Now, how can you make a career out of that?  Brainstorm products, services, systems, that are sell-able
• Investigate each of them closely – how could you make a business out of those skills?
• Stay current – what is going on around you and how could you be of service to these events and changes in your community, state, country or the world?
• What do you struggle with?  We all experience something that just doesn’t seem to work well for us.  What would you do to fix it?  Is there a new program, aide, system or product you know would be a great solution to the situation?  If you need it, doesn’t everyone else need it?  How do you think seal-able baggies, post-it notes, crocs, jibbitz, etc. came to be?  The inventors knew they could make a difference in quality of life if they just could make…

So what did that person in my life do?  Found their niche, and created a career that provides and fulfills.