5 Ways The New Facebook Timeline Will Help Your Business
April 24, 2012 by Lisa Santos · Leave a Comment
Many of those who are new to Timeline are quick to question the need for yet another new Facebook makeover. After all, didn’t we just recover from the last one? The thing is, Facebook’s Timeline is really cool, and it has some great new features that can really improve your business’s online credentials, as long as you know how to use it to its full potential. Need convincing? Here are five ways the new Facebook Timeline will help your business:
Your cover art. Perhaps the first thing people notice about Timeline is the huge, banner-style cover photo that frames the top of the page. This eye-catching space is a great way to really showcase your business’s logo, your team, and other business-related images in a creative way, and is a marked improvement over the previous Facebook format.
Staying current. In today’s techno-centric market, staying current is as important to your business’ reputation as is your knack for great customer service. As people are often slow to accept what they aren’t familiar with, and businesses are no different, you can really gain a competitive edge and prove that your business is current, by learning the ins and outs of Timeline right away and using that knowledge to your advantage.
Easy to Navigate format. Timeline really is easier to navigate than the old format, plain and simple. By putting things in chronological order and providing useful navigation tools for your page’s visitors, Facebook is enabling you to provide for your customers your complete company history, and in a visually pleasing format.
New Ads. Along with Facebook’s new Timeline format, the social networking giant has also revamped the look of their ads to fit into Timeline in a streamlined fashion. The new ads sit on the right side of the page and actually look like content. Therefore, these ads can be a great new tool for marketing your business.
The Highlight Option. Highlight important events, specials, and business announcements on your Timeline to give it a full-page horizontal spread. This is a great way to put a spotlight on things you really want your customers to know about your business.
Facebook Timeline is not exactly a complete overhaul of how you choose to market your business through social media; After all, the idea is still to attract people, engage them, and inspire them to send others your way. For help making the most out of your business’ new Facebook Timeline profile, contact us, LS Virtual Assistant Services. We can be reached by phone, at 757-204-5782 or on our contact form.
Did You Know? Viewing Online Videos is Preferred Over Reading Text
November 7, 2011 by Lisa Santos · Leave a Comment
Studies have shown that more and more consumers prefer to watch online videos to reading text. That translates to: your prospects and customers would rather watch online videos to reading the details on your website.
Can you believe that?
I can…
Online video marketing has exponentially changed the way your customers buy — and how we sell our products or services. The most powerful social media tool out there, video marketing, is speedy and gives your customers and prospects instant gratification.
Observe someone as they scan the internet. Their eyes and energy are directed to the most visually stimulating options on your landing page. Landing pages that have videos are proven to convert better than those that don’t.
Therefore, any business today that is serious about claiming their stake in online real estate should be using online videos to some degree if they are serious about reaching their target audience.
Just how hard is it to get online videos for your business?
Sure, it looks easy and simple enough… The truth is that video marketing can be somewhat complex and requires a little research before slapping up any ole video.
If you are visually demonstrating your product, online video advertising can increase brand recognition and drive traffic to your online and offline business premises.
Immediate gratification is something you can give prospective customers and returning customers by embedding short clips right into your website.
The videos you create can be instructional, commercial, historical or humorous – whatever fits your business needs. And you don’t have to stop at one type of video – do several of them. In fact, the more videos you have spread around the web, the better.
One thing is for certain; as a business owner, your goal is to accommodate the high video demand by creating online videos for your target audience.
Otherwise, you may never experience the joy of auto-pilot, 24/7, hands-off sales.
Who Uses Virtual Assistants?
April 1, 2010 by Lisa Santos · 2 Comments
For small and medium sized businesses that are especially at the start-up stage, the requirement for extra assistance is often vital. But the constraints on funds, space or equipments can prevent them from hiring a full time assistant.
This is where a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a great resource.
Advantages of using a VA:
• The need for the traditional office paraphernalia like office space and equipments are eliminated, since a VA independently provides services from a remote location using his/her own equipment.
• The organization only needs to pay the VA for the time and material, if any, spent on the specific project.
• Since VAs have prior secretarial or similar experience, the need for training them is eliminated.
• Employee recruitment cost almost accounts to nothing at all.
• It cuts down overhead expenses like employee related insurances, taxes or benefits.
Hence, VAs are the best alternative that a growing small/medium scale business has as an economical and efficient alternative to hiring a full time employee.
Businesses that generally use the services of a VA:
The services of a VA can be availed by any person or business. Since a VA normally has prior administrative experience, their services are especially useful in businesses that experience regular periods of excessive pressure occurring due to paper work and other routine administrative tasks.
The businesses that generally use the services of a VA are:
- Real estate agents
- Legal professionals
- CPAs
- Journalists
- Authors
- Website owners
- Affiliate marketers
- Teachers and professors
- Life coaches/business coaches
- Consultants
- Therapists
- Beauty salon owners
- Artists
- Musicians
- Photographers
- Other small business owners, and so on
When would considering a VA be required?
Businesses should think of using the services of a VA if they are met with the following instances:
1. More free time is required to focus on strategic and more important goals
2. Delegation of work to existing staff would affect their productivity and their ability to meet deadlines
3. Existing staff do not have the required skill set to complete the task in question
4. There is a limitation on funds with regards to providing training, purchasing of office equipment or space
5. There is a requirement for a forwarding address when the person in question is away from work for a while
6. There is a requirement of an extra hand when the volumes of work are too large and difficult to handle on one’s own
7. There is a general need of a personal assistant
Adding in the Extra Help: Should You Hire A Virtual Assistant?
October 5, 2009 by Lisa Santos · 1 Comment
Whether you are a small business or a corporation, the question arises, should you hire a virtual assistant? You know that there are a large number of tasks that need to be done during the day, some which seem impossible to do. However, you know that this is a large leap into a new way of functioning for your business. If you are determining the best business moves, you may want to evaluate your reasons for getting involved with the extra helping hands.
The major reason why anyone would hire a virtual assistant is because there is too much work that is taking away from things that they would be doing. The best way to evaluate on whether you need a virtual assistant or not, are to see what you are doing all day. If you are spending time on administrative correspondence and not your vision, then a virtual assistant may be a good answer. This is especially important if you have noticed that your business is beginning to grow or expand.
Another factor to consider with a virtual assistant is the resources that you will need. This will depend on the place where your business is and what type of help it needs. If you are growing considerably, it might be in your best interests to hire a full-time or part-time employee. However, if you don’t know if you will have that much work, a virtual assistant is a better option because everything is off contract. That means that if there is no work, you don’t pay them.
By hiring a virtual assistant, you will be helping yourself with both time and money. The simple thing to do is to evaluate your situation. If you have room for some help, but not for a larger step, hiring a virtual assistant is the best option. This will ensure that you will get the best, while saving time and money in the long run.
Sign Up For Blog Updates
Subscribe Below and Receive Our Free Report and 10 Day Email Series on "Local Business Domination: 10 Easy Ways to Attract Local Customers"
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe with us.-
Gallery
