Most companies and individuals do not use the web to its full, cost-effective, image building best.  A regrettable fact, considering it is an excellent platform to keep costs down and customer satisfaction high. By encouraging your customer to peruse your information at their leisure, regardless of time of day, or geographic location, you have opened your doors to an audience not available fifteen years ago.  Maximize the use of this tool and you can grow your business to withstand any challenge.

There is a multitude of excellent and useful information on the internet, but the information is occasionally hard to find.  By increasing your comfort level with online resources, you will discover endless possibilities. Infinite amounts of research are available to you as well as sophisticated social networks.  Social networks, developed to assist you both personally and professionally, have created a rolodex of contacts from a variety of companies and locations thereby increasing your visibility and reach.

MySpace, YouTube, FaceBook, and Wikipedia are just among the many social media sites available on the Internet today.  The use of sites like Vestopia, Meetup and Stockpickr can heighten your sales output by enabling you to create models and portfolios for submissions to like-minded social media network members. Through LinkedIn you are able to confer with colleagues to tackle challenges or brainstorm ideas.  Blogging can demonstrate your value to clients and potential clients through a sharing of knowledge on the forums and blogs.  These connections are driving business without any financial investment, a key component during these difficult economic times. Appropriately leveraging these tools and the concepts behind them will assist you in your sales and marketing process.

A strong professional network is further established by “linking” with other business owners that compliment your values and your business.  A “link” connects your site to your associate’s site via reciprocal hyperlinks.  Smart and well-planned links will help you to cultivate your network and business’ credibility.  Every step you take in growing your network as well as your connections will supplementary strengthen your visibility thereby enhancing your potential for greater economic stability.

To help you achieve success and become recession proof, here are a few tips to get you started:

Choose your network – Evaluate what you need and what you want out of a network before you join any of them. Choose the network that works best for you and your business. Fellow members will be looking to you for answers, advice and recommendations. Be aware of the amount of members and membership quality.

Complete and Update your profile – Update your profile immediately. Your profile is your online identity, so update it often. Be certain to list your web site and post a link.

Search for connections – Perform a search for people and businesses you know. Profitable social networking is achieved by creating strong connections. The more people you connect with, the bigger and stronger your network.

Ask for and give referrals/recommendations – Beneficial social networking provides the opportunity to get referrals from other members. You will ask for and get referrals because of your value addition and your relation (past and present) with other members.

Respect other members – Respect other members and value their contributions. Always be friendly, respectful and polite with others. In return, you will receive the same. Gainful social networking is based on respect and consideration.

Provide value - Providing useful information, questions or answers validates you and makes you a valuable part of the network. People will come to know about you and will contact you making you an influential member of the network.

Utilizing this information will assist you in building a reliable social media network, grow potential income through added connections, and increase your economic stability.  It will also enhance your professionalism and credibility in the business world.

If you would like to start your own Blog, but are not certain how to get started, try experimenting with setting up a free blog at Blogger.com or WordPress.com.

Here is a complete overview of options to assist you in your social media networks efforts: Online Marketing ROI Chart

Virtually yours,
Linda Belan
Your Outsource Solutions, LLC

Many experts today are telling us to step up, to take charge and start a small business.  They tell us that economic changes are creating momentum for small businesses.  As corporate CEOs strive to keep their earnings up to the stock market expectations, the Fortune 500 sector is continuing to downsize.  But that is for large businesses and not the small business.

Small business is creating jobs, which is another economic change.  While the government and corporations are downsizing small business is increasing.  Small businesses are doing big things with today’s technology.  Small businesses are able to compete with corporations in industries that only a big corporation could handle.

With these and other economic changes sweeping the country, now is the right time to become a small business owner.  Now is the time to be your own boss.  Now is the time to start a small business you have been dreaming of for years.

Depending on what industry you want to be in, you can start your own business right from your home.  You probably already have most of the equipment that you need like a computer, Internet connection and a telephone.  If you have a good credit rating, you can easily get a small business loan to get whatever else you may need.

It makes no difference if you want to work from your home or open a storefront, now is the right time to start a small business.

Virtually yours,
Linda Belan
Your Outsource Solutions, LLC
www.youroutsourcesolutions.com

LB: Why did you write this book?

RC: My goal was to create a handbook, which entrepreneurs and small business owners can refer to when they are searching for online marketing tools and/or new marketing ideas.  I wrote it for new entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as for those who have been in business a while.

LB: Tell me about yourself

RC: I’m originally from Arizona and now reside in California.  I earned my bachelor’s degree (with Magna Cum Laude honors) from Arizona State University when I was 44 years old.  After graduation, I couldn’t find a job; therefore, I decided to start my own business offering online word processing services, which was 6 years ago.  At that time, I was not aware of the virtual assistant industry, which I am now a member of.  So, I guess you can say I was ahead of the curve.

LB: What qualifies you to write this book?

RC: Approximately 2 years ago, I started maintaining a blog and writing articles in order to implement the article marketing strategy.  (I talk about using this strategy as a marketing tool in my e-book.)  Also, while attending college, I learned how to write.  I had to write.  I remember my English professor saying I should be a writer, because he thought I had the skills.  I didn’t take him serious.  I was just trying to get through college.

In regards to the subject matter, my background and education in marketing and my experience from operating an online business provide me with the necessary qualifications to write this e-book on the topic of online marketing tools.

LB: How long have you been an entrepreneur?

RC: I have been an entrepreneur since October 2002.  Although I started out as a small business owner, I have become an entrepreneur.  There are differences between entrepreneurs and small business owners.  In fact, I wrote an article on the differences.  It is titled, “Are There Any Differences Between an Entrepreneur and a Small Business Owner?”  Ezine Articles is one of the article banks where you can find it.

LB: What is the e-book about?

RC: This e-book contains information on various online marketing tools, along with some examples and in-depth descriptions of the tools.  There is also a resource section that lists websites where you can find the online marketing tools, including “live” links to the websites.  The resource section will save your readers a lot of time in Internet research when they are searching for information on online marketing tools.

LB: What do you want the readers to get out of this e-book?

RC: I wanted to provide those readers, who have a shoestring marketing budget, with information they can use in their online marketing plan or, at least, generate new marketing ideas.  Most entrepreneurs and small business owners do not have a large marketing budget.  The marketing tools I discuss costs little to no money.

LB: Can we look for more books from you in the future?

RC: Yes.  One of my clients, who is a coach of Christian leaders, and I are currently working together on an e-book.  It will be geared towards Christian leaders and Christian virtual assistants.  So be on the lookout for that in the near future.

LB: How can the readers contact you if they have any questions?

RC: Your readers can reach me at 760-631-1335 or toll free at 866-651-3073 or send me an e-mail at rjcartw@rjswordprocessing.com.

LB: Rita, thank you for stopping by my blog on your tour.

RC: You are very welcome. Thank you, Linda, for having me.

Rita J. Cartwright is a Virtual Assistant and owner of RJ’s Word Processing Services and has been in business since 2002. In 1998, she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marketing from Arizona State University with a minor in Spanish. She is also a member of Virtual Assistant Networking Association and Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. In order t to offer her clients quality service, Rita continues to enhance her skills through various teleseminars and webinars, as well as network online and offline with fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Rita’s background in marketing and experience in conducting her business online qualify her to write an e-book on the topic of various marketing tools and strategies. Having to operate on a shoestring marketing budget, provided her with necessary knowledge and skills, which were required in order to implement these same strategies into her online marketing plan. For more information on RJ’s Word Processing Services and Rita, please click here.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners in any industry can use this e-book as a reference guide. Whenever you need fresh online marketing ideas or need online marketing information, you can refer back to this e-book. Nowadays, we are so overwhelmed with information, Rita wanted to simplify the search for online marketing techniques by organizing some of that information together into one location, her e-book. Pick up your copy today at the low price of $3.98.

I will be hosting Rita’s Virtual Book Tour right on this blog on October 26! Come back on October 26th to Virtual Assistant’s Network to find out more about Rita and the reason’s behind the release of her e-Book!