Marketing and Branding your VA Business
Marketing and Branding is all about getting you and your business known to the World. It is your Business’ image and what customers & clients will see and think about when they see your Business around. Will they be thinking “oh I need that for my businesses” or will they be screwing up their lip at the thought of your Business?
So how important is it?
Branding increases public awareness. A Business needs to create a brand that people trust and are familiar with. It is about the reputation behind your Business name and logo. When you see the Big Gold M, what do you think of? When you see a Letter “F” that is surrounded by Blue, what do you think of? (Facebook). This is exactly what successful Branding is. How do these people market to you and others? You already know the answer to that. So how exactly do you start Marketing and Branding YOUR Business?
Have a Business logo. I am at fault here myself and did not have a logo for quite some time. At first I used a Banner for my Business. It was a GREAT Banner (thanks to Anne at Banner Bitz), but it wasn’t a logo. Consistency is important as well. Use the same colours and themes on all your Business Stationary and website. I have always had purple on my website and in my banners so this has been consistent, but my look hadn’t been. Big Mistake. People like constancy and once they get used to something, it sticks in their heads. When they think of your Business, you want that thought to relate to thoughts of success, reliability, efficiency and most of all a Business they can count on.
So, start with getting your Business a Logo. I have recently had my Logo completed by NattyJane Designs. (www.nattyjanedesigns.com.au)Fantastic outcome and a great Business all round. Make sure your logo represents what you do. With my logo, which you can be viewed on my website, you can see that there is a @ symbol as the “a” in my name D@wson, which makes you think about computers. There is also an image of a mouse, not the squeak kind, but the kind you use with your computer. These are 2 images that I wanted in my logo as it represented what I predominately did in Business. You need to think about who you are trying to target most importantly. Is it mums, business owners, males, females or even a certain age?
Marketing
I will start by saying that Marketing is such an enormous subject, that it would take a long time to write about everything to do with Marketing. I will cover what will assist you in starting your new Business. Marketing is everything that you do to put your product or service in front of clients and customers.
It includes all your public relations and how you put yourself and your product out there. Marketing your Virtual Assistant business could include web development and your website, Blogging, Social Media Marketing such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, Branding (as mentioned above), Affiliate and SEO Online marketing and of course in person marketing. You could use all or just one of these. I would recommend implementing a couple of marketing strategies.
Marketing is an ongoing process that needs updating all the time. The way you market to your customers and clients will depend on what is happening in the Business world at that time. For example, right now Facebook is the ‘in thing’ and one massive contribution to marketing at the moment. Facebook recently implemented changes that in turn will benefit every Business who uses it. I can safely say that 70% of my clientele are from Facebook. Any small business would be potentially losing, or not gaining the same amount of business than a competitor on Facebook.
Of course, Facebook is defintely not the only way to market your Business. I am sure you would love to advertise on the TV or Radio or Magazines, but to most of us this is not an option. We have to start small and build our Business from the ground.
Networking is another great way of marketing you business. I am not saying to go to these events and try to hand out your business cards and info to anyone that will listen (and don’t want to listen). You need to build relationships with these people and build up trust (going back to branding). Become known to people and the marketing of your business will come naturally. There are many small business groups in your area; I’m sure ones you didn’t even know about. Start with your local Chamber, perhaps become a member and attend a few events. I myself have also attended a few Women in Business events, and of course being a Work at Home Mum (WAHM), I have attended many networking events with other WAHM’s. This is a great opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.
Advertising Materials are important. As mentioned above, get yourself a great logo that represents you and your business, then get some Business Cards and perhaps some Flyers or Brochures designed. Hand them out to your friends and family, even ex colleagues and let them work their magic. Always have these on hand. You just never know who you could offer your services to. Check out www.vistaprint.com.au for some great deals on printing materials.
As I said, these are just a few small ways to help start your marketing and branding in your Business. Remember to start small and build your way up.
Remember, by 2015 people will be asking not ‘What is a Virtual Assistant’ but ‘Who is your Virtual Assistant.
Erin Dawson
Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant
www.dawsondocuments.com.au
erin@dawsondocuments.com
www.facebook.com/dawsondocumentsva
Erin Dawson runs Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant as a home based Business. She has 2 children that take priority over her work (and a husband to look after as well), though her Clients are always not far behind. She assists Businesses with their Administration needs and works until the Client's tasks are fulfilled. To have a look at what Erin offers her clients, feel free to che
Tags: VA Virtual Assistant Marketing Branding
