Building an effective social networking strategy is essential for creating positive brand recognition for every company regardless of whether they operate online or are a traditional “brick and mortar” type business.

In today’s fast paced environment almost everyone researches businesses online to determine where they will eat, at what stores they will shop, or what companies can provide the services they need. They look for ease of use, prices and reliability. All of these can and should be formed by creating a business’s positive online presence.

In order to effectively market your business online there must be a specific goal set for yourself or your business whether it’s adding new clients, increasing revenue or finding new sources for your products. Make sure your goal is specific and clear.

An intricate part of your online marketing strategy should be utilizing the services of a Virtual Assistant. However, it is important that the business owner or representative be involved consistently.

What exactly can your VA do for you?

Depending upon your current involvement and skill in social networking will determine the role your VA will play in your strategy. If SM is new to you or you are unsure of what is important have your qualified VA coach you on creating a personalized strategy.

One of the most important tasks that need to be done after developing your plan is identifying which social networks apply to your business and will help you reach your goal. Let your VA set up and optimize each network and monitor them for effectiveness.

A very important way of increasing online traffic is by posting blogs, articles, videos and social bookmarking. These tasks can and should be outsourced to your VA as something she can take care of regularly using the many tools available.

Monitoring the social networks and tracking the success of your strategy should also be outsourced. Monitoring your company’s online reputation and bringing to your attention both negative and positive conversations, even researching and building your targeted followers will be an important part of her role.

Take ownership of your strategy, determine your goal, outsource where you can but remember you are the “voice” of your business. For a successful social networking campaign both the services of your VA and your own involvement is important.

                          

Regina holds a Quickbooks Pro Advisor Certification and is trained in tax preparation. She also offers such services as property management, human resources, and office management. Regina has been a valued member of VAnetworking since November 2008.

                          

Your VA can do more than complete projects and perform daily administrative tasks. She can also be you when you’re not available.

Virtual Events
If there’s a teleseminar, webinar or online workshop coming up that you’d really like to attend, sign up and give the login information to your VA. Let her know the date and time so she can schedule the time to attend. She can ask any questions you’d like her to or simply take notes and present you with a report on the highlights.

Local or Long Distance Events
If you know of a conference in town or even in a different state, ask your VA if she would like to attend on your behalf. Not only could she get great information for you from the various speakers but also make valuable contacts for you by being a representative of your company. Some conferences that even suggest you send your VA or accompany her if time and budget permit. This option is especially helpful if you have two events happening at the same time and would like to attend them both but you can only choose one. Have your VA go to the other one and you can have a meeting upon returning to discuss what you learned.

Books and Programs
Do you have a stack of books you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t been able to get to? How about programs or systems that you’ve purchased to help you in your business? Many of us are guilty of spending money on these products but never seem to find the time to get to them. Why not send them to your VA to read or go through? Your VA can give you the highlights of what she has learned and even work with you to implement strategies to help you build your business. You’re not only getting good information for your own business but you’re also helping her improve her business by giving her access to tools and resources which will only benefit you in the long run.

So the next time you wish you could clone yourself and be two places at the same time, know that you can with the help of a VA.

                          

I am sure that you will agree that after you meet 20 or 30 insurance agents, because let’s face it every networking group has one, it is hard to remember which agent is which … Unless they have done something to make you remember them. I say this because I remember once meeting an insurance agent at a networking event, that was giving out lifesavers with his business card and telling people, after I sit down with you and help you make sense of all your insurance needs you will realize that I am a lifesaver. It was just the hook I needed to remember this gentleman.

I remember a friend once telling me that she went to a dog park with her dog and there were frisbees all over the park with the name of a local doggie spa. The dogs were going around the park and picking up the frisbees to take home … I thought to myself that this was such a great marketing trick!!

So what are you doing for your business to make people remember you? If you are stuck for ideas, perhaps a brainstorming session is in store with your colleagues, your friends or your Virtual Assistant. You will be amazed at the ideas that you can come up with.

Some things to look at as you start trying to think of ideas for your own hook are; your business name, the services you provide, your business values, your business goals and what your services/products mean for the people who purchase from you.

Oh and one last tip … don’t dismiss an idea because it is corny. Sometimes it’s the corny ideas that work the best at making people remember you.