I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus with my blog. Actually, truth is I’ve been so busy I just haven’t had the time to get on here to post. Good news, right? The best part of it is that I’ve been super busy with writing projects. Writing is my passion, so it thrills me each time I get a new project that allows me to put pen to paper - er - fingers to keyboard? Anyway, I love being able to express my creativity through words. I think that’s also why I adore cooking so much. It’s also an outlet for creativity.

Anyway, this post isn’t about me. It’s about a resource that I suspect is underused by virtual assistants. Last year, my dear, dear ‘virtual’ friend, Connie McVicker created The VA Connection. It’s a wonderful resource, and it will just get better the more people take advantage of it. It’s basically a central location for everything ‘VA’. You can find VA blogs, e-zines, e-books, training programs, subcontracting services, etc. It’s really a great thing.

If you are a VA with a product to sell, any kind of VA product, head over and list it. You can list it for free!

And that’s it for today. Actually a short post :), whaddaya know?!

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With every new business comes a new brand. Branding is one of the most important (and fun) things you’ll do when starting your business. It’s also often underrated.

A business doesn’t really need to be branded. You don’t necessarily need a logo, a corporate font, corporate colors, etc. to start your business. But when you put your whole heart into starting up a new enterprise why not do it right? Brand recognition is very important. I found an interesting article about the history of branding which you can read here.

Think a logo will cost you a fortune? Think you’ll have to refinance your home to get a professional website designed? Think again. In this day and age you can get a brand for a bargain - without sacrificing quality.

I am not one to brag, I’m quite a modest person actually-but my brand is really great. My logo (my virtual alter ego donned in a Santa hat for the holidays), business cards, website, and blog cost me much less than $1000 and that includes the money I spent to have my web copy proofread. That’s small potatoes for a big brand (big to me at least!).

The first thing you need is your name and tagline. It’s helpful if you have a target market at this point as well so you know who your brand should appeal to. From there your logo is the next logical step. Some free advice…before you jump in and get your logo designed make sure you can use your business name. Check to see if the url you want is available and make sure you can get your name registered. If not, you’re out some money and you’ll just be plain disappointed.

Do you live in an area where graphic design costs more than you can afford to spend on your branding? Are you starting your business on a budget? Look for a virtual assistant that specializes in graphic design. Here at Mann Made Time, with our preferred partner, Signature Worx, we offer lots of economical creative design packages including (drum roll please…) Mann Made Time with The Worx which includes your logo, stationery, brochure, business cards and website!

If you already have a logo and website, a virtual assistant can still help with other graphic design projects. Desktop publishing is something many VAs specialize in and most enjoy doing. You can get yourself a very professional looking flyer, brochure, postcard or almost anything you can think of, for a fraction of what you think it would cost!

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I just got off the phone with a delightful woman - my newest client. I can hardly wait to get started working with her. We spoke for about an hour and I feel like we’re old friends!

Do you know how she found me? Why she called me out of all the other virtual assistants in the world? My website. She said it was nice to look at, well organized, and she was able to find information easily. Above and beyond that, she was so confident in my skills without ever having spoken with me before that she sent me money (in good faith) so I could start working for her right away. There wasn’t even really a consultation process. She’d decided already that I was the right VA for her. I’m absolutely thrilled because my site has just been redesigned, and I’m so glad that I made that investment.

I have another client, a Realtor, and he’s gotten business because his website stands out as well. Like it or not, people make very quick judgments when they’re surfing the ‘net. If you don’t capture their attention within a few seconds, they’re closing that window and moving on.

You might think your skills and credentials will speak for themselves. A potential client will choose to work with you for your reputation or some other reason. So I ask you this. Have you been told by a client that they wanted to work with you because of your website? If not, maybe you should take a good hard look at your site and consider making some improvements. Whether it’s your content, the navigation or the overall design.

In this day and age, almost everyone is searching for goods and services online. If you have a great website, you’re that much further ahead of your competition. Be unique. Be innovative. Be cool. Be fun. Be noticed.

If you want a complete site overhaul or a brand new site, Mann Made Time offers web design through our preferred partner, Signature Worx. Check out our packages. It will be worth the investment.

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