The Power of Two!

Have you heard of Joint Venture (a.k.a JV)? If not here is a brief description:
a business enterprise in which two or more companies enter a temporary partnership. Abbreviation: JV, J.V. (source cited below)

Joint Ventures can take on different forms such as creating and publishing e-books, create contests and even hold online seminars, as well as other partnership opportunities.

Now on to my story…about 2 weeks ago Kelly McCausey posted a “Barter To Success” blog post inviting business owners to barter their goods or/and services. So I jumped in with both feet and sought after an experienced freelance writer.

That’s where I found Teresa Hall owner of Write About Everything, so far our relationship has worked well. Here is her take on the new found relationship on her blog post

American Psychological Association (APA):
joint venture. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joint venture

Chicago Manual Style (CMS):
joint venture. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joint venture (accessed: November 10, 2008).
Modern Language Association (MLA):
“joint venture.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 10 Nov. 2008. .

Free download! Get instant dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia access from your Windows programs with CleverKeys.
Dictionary.com is now podcasting. Click here to listen to our Word Explorer podcasts.

vWhat’s The Next Step In Your Business Plan?

Have you ever felt like you’ve taken on too much in your business, but yet you haven’t reached that top goal?

Do you remember that time, when you first started your business and you didn’t have enough “work” to fill your schedule? Now, fast forward a year or so and your business is booming! Your schedule is so full that you can’t even take that next step in your own business plan because you’re so busy taking care of everyone else’s work.

Well, I was introduced to a book titled “Becoming An Online Business Manager” by Tina Forsyth. She explains in great detail what makes a great “Online Business Manager”, what their role is, how they can become one, and there’s even a “test” that you can take to see if you are “OBM” material!

Whether you’re looking for your own Online Business Manager or are interested in becoming one, this book is a great investment that you won’t regret spending your hard earned cash on!

 This post was part of a blog tour.
Yesterday the blog tour stopped at Key Business Partner
 
Click the link to purchase Tina’s book,Becoming an Online Business Manager

And tomorrow the blog tour continues with Craig Cannings at VA Classroom

While you’re here sign-up for my newsletter and learn about the “Top 15 Outsourced Tasks” www.buckeyeva.com

 

Feeling The Holiday Stress Already?

The recent snow flurries reminded me that winter is upon us and that means added stress, particularly due to the fact that the Holidays are right around the corner. Can you believe that November 1 means that Christmas is only 8 Saturdays away!

When I start to count down the weeks until Christmas I start to feel over-whelmed and that can cause anyone to get lost in the chaos and loose focus of their business goals. 

Right around this time of year, business owners start to take on added stress. They may have to deal with the stress of meeting end-of-the-year deadlines, clients and customers added demands (after all, they are feeling the stress from their clients and customers) and  not to forget, the stress of pre-planning for the upcoming new year!

Whew!  That’s enough stress to throw even the most calm business owner into a tizzy! By outsourcing just one task, such as article marketing, you can save yourself up to 10 hours in one months time. Just think what you could do with those “unspoken” for 10 hours?

While you’re here sign-up for my newsletter and learn about the “Top 15 Outsourced Tasks” www.buckeyeva.com

 

God Bless!

P.S. Don’t forget to vote!

 

Financial Woes Forecast? Not For Your Business!

Every time I turn on my computer, radio or television I hear how  our nation is in a terrible financial mess. These news stories may be true, however, I’m not letting them bring me down. As a business owner I am determined to take the good and bad times all in stride, by stepping-up my business marketing.

As a business owner you can take some active steps toward your own marketing success by:

1. Article Marketing- Make a goal to submit 1 article per week for 2-3 months and see if you have an increase in clients and/or customers. Make sure that your articles are educating your target market and not just promoting yourself.

2. Interviews- Are you actively seeking opportunities to be interviewed? Online radio (podcasts) are increasingly popular because people can be surfing the internet while listening to your interview. This is a great way to reach your target market by educating them through voice.

3. Blog- Are you adding fresh content to your blog? This is so important, yet it seems that so many business owners have a difficult time with this task. Don’t forget to add your articles, press releases and interview links to your blog!

If your already full schedule doesn’t allow for you to do the above items yourself, by all means, find a virtual assistant who can assist you in doing these important marketing tasks. Just remember, the entire world isn’t having financial difficulties, even though it might seem that way.

God Bless!

Stephanie Fish, Owner of Buckeye V.A. virtual assistance for the physical product seller. If you are serious about building your business without sacrificing your family, please contact me at buckeyeva@gmail.com

Article Marketing=Success

Articles+Customers=Success

O.k. I can hear you saying “Steph, come on..how is article writing going
to get me customers?” Well, I’m here to tell you that the correctly written
article can help you succeed in your business.

Articles are like blood types; they come in positive and negative.

1. Negative: if your article is written poorly, bad grammar, incorrect
information, misleading or promotional.

2. Positive: written correctly, no grammar mistakes, correct information,
educational.

All of your articles should be written to educate your target market. This
why your research needs to come first! Remember way back when I said you
need to focus your business? This is one reason why you have to have a
focused business before marketing your business, otherwise, you’ll waste a
lot of time and money.

So you’ve reseached your target market, your business if focused and now
you’re saying “I just don’t have the time to write my own articles” or
perhaps you’re saying “I need help getting started!”

Well, if you decide not to write your own articles for whatever reason you have 2 choices:

1. Ghost Writer- This is a more expensive option in which you hire/contract with a professional writer to write exclusive articles that you are for your use only.

2. PLR (private label rights) Articles- These are articles written by professional writers, that give you the right to rewrite them anyway you want, the distribute them to your readers, blog, newsletter and website. These are both great options to help you get the content you to educate your target market and help you in your quest for better SEO results!

Please use my affiliate link for EasyPLR.com

Remember, your virtual assistant is willing and able to help you succeed in your business and is most likely a great source to go to for help with your marketing efforts.

God Bless,

Stephanie Fish

Buckeye V.A.

*If your looking for a Virtual Assistant, may I suggest you contact me to see if my services can help you with your small business needs.

Article Writing Challenged? How About A Challenge?

I must confess, I do write articles, I just don’t ever let anyone read them! So what possessed me to sign-up for the challenge? Carrie Lauth over at Blah,Blah,Blog is hosting a “30 day 30 article challenge” and something in me screamed “I HAVE TO DO THIS!!”

I am going to submit my articles on my blog (here) and at the following article directories:

WAHM-Articles.com

1888articles.com

Articlebase.com

talkinmince.com

If you’ve been around me and read my ezines then you know how important article marketing is to your business. To sign-up or learn more about this free challenge go here  http://carrielauth.com/blog/2008/08/29/30-days-30-articles/

 Leave me a comment and let me know if you’re joining the challenge so I can root for you!

Have a blessed holiday weekend!

God Bless,

Stephanie Fish

Overwhelmed By Success? Learn To Outsource

As a virtual assistant for online physical product sellers I see a reoccuring question:

 ”Do I really need to outsource?” The only way I can answer this is by asking you a few questions.

1. Have you seen a growth in your business?

2. Do you feel you are stuck-in-a-rut?

3. Are you so consumed with fulfilling orders that you don’t have time to restock your online photos, grow your social network or get publicity?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you need to learn “how” to outsource and “what” to outsource.  

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Stephanie Fish is the owner of Buckeye V.A. virtual assistance for the physical product seller. I invite you to take advantage of my free 30 minute consultation to see if my services will compliment your business. If you are serious about building your business without sacrificing your summer, please contact me at buckeyeva@gmail.com

 

Don’t Waste Money On A Virtual Assistant!

I’m not saying outsourcing to a virtual assistant is a waste of money, I’m saying Don’t Waste Money On A Virtual Assistant when you’re not ready for a virtual assistant.

Let me explain, as a virtual assistant I know that not all small businesses need to outsource, but I would guess that the majority of small businesses will eventually need to take this next step. The problem that I’ve seen in the past is a small business owner might wait until they have become so over whelmed with their business that they either (1) give up, sell the business or just close it or (2) try to stuff an exorbent amount of tasks into a very small time span and hope the virtual assistant can pull off a years worth of work into 30 days.

 Whether you’ve outsourced in the past, are presently seeking or plan to outsource in the future here is a “Don’t Waste Your Money On A Virtual Assistant” check list:

1. Plan: What would you like to do for the next 30, 60, 90 days to grow your business? Do you need to have a press release and some articles written? Do you need to set-up or add content to your blog? Do you need to get your website out infront of your target market?

2. Prepare: Do you have a current list of account information readily available to you and your virtual assistant?  Do you have a list of questions for your virtual assistant? What about concerns for your business?

3. Pause: If you said “no” to any of the above questions, don’t worry! Your virtual assistant should have a set of questions for you during your initial consultation that should help you sort out all of the important information to get you started on your new relationship.

4. Party:  Rejoice once you have found the virtual assistant that fits your business perfectly, I’m sure you won’t want to let them go. 

Communication is key in all relationships, even business relationships. As a virtual assistant I try to keep in touch by updating my clients on a weekly basis. This has helped us move through many hoops and reach new levels for her business.

 

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Stephanie Fish is the owner of Buckeye V.A. virtual assistance for the physical product seller. I invite you to take advantage of my free 30 minute consultation to see if my services with compliment your business. If you are serious about building your business without sacrificing your summer, please contact me at buckeyeva@gmail.com

 

   

Boomer Diva’s Unite!

I had the awesome opportunity to speak today at the Boomer Diva Day Celebration that was hosted by WECAI 

If you would like to read more about what we learned, what was taught and who the speakers were please visit this post from Michelle Waters

May God Bless You!
Steph

Summer Plans? Life Behind the Computer

DO YOU PLAN ON WORKING LONG HOURS THIS SUMMER?

This is a very important and valid question that needs some serious consideration. As a virtual assistant for small business owners I have seen how frustrated the business owner has become when they have summer plans that do not include your business, yet you know you “have” to continue working.

There is an answer to this question and it’s called “outsourcing”.  There are a few things to take into consideration before you outsource:

1. What are your summer goals? Make a quick list (nothing fancy, this is for your eyes only) of everything you want to work on or accomplish this summer. Include spiritual, health/fitness, alone time, family/friends, sports, fun reading time, etc.

2. How many tasks do you need completed? Will these be on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Are these repeated tasks?

3. How many hours do you want to “free up” for your summer plans?

4. Do you need to start working towards your holiday sales goals? Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be looking ahead to the end of the year!

 

May I suggest something that works for me? Grap your calendar, a large tablet, ink pen and your favorite beverage and go sit in your favorite quiet spot. Start making a list of your goals and be honest with yourself with how much work you can accomplish without sacrificing your summer.

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Stephanie Fish is the owner of Buckeye V.A. virtual assistance for the physical product seller. I invite you to take advantage of my free 30 minute consultation to see if my services with compliment your business. If you are serious about building your business without sacrificing your summer, please contact me at buckeyeva@gmail.com

 

 

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