Virtual Assistant Forums - Online Community for Virtual Service Providers

Go Girls Marketing and Design · #31 (**permalink**) 08-15-2012

I've been blogging for over a year but not for my business. It's my personal blog. I know it's important but since I am new to the industry I feel that I don't really have anything to talk about that another VA - that knows more than I do - hasn't covered before me. I write for clients but always find it hard to write for myself I just have no idea what to say!

Your Virtual Wizard · #32 (**permalink**) 08-15-2012

Josia,

Thank you for your comments.

Please see my previous post (before your own) as I hoped to answer your "don't know what to write about' issue.
Additionally, here's the link What's Stopping You From Starting a Blog?

Janine

Go Girls Marketing and Design · #33 (**permalink**) 08-15-2012

Oh! I totally missed that when I was reading through the comments. I was going to ask if you had some pointers. You're a wealth of information. Thanks a bunch

Go Girls Marketing and Design · #34 (**permalink**) 08-17-2012

Thanks Janine - You have inspired me to commit to writing a blog once a week - even if it's a day in the life of or whatever. Thanks for addressing the more common obstacles. I've been pinning and gathering ideas of things I can write. Yes I do want to write for my audience but I want to put a personal sort of quirky spin on things. I'm feeling a little bit more confident about it now.

ReeseBY · #35 (**permalink**) 09-22-2012

Blogging can seem like a daunting task to promote our own VA businesses but keep in mind that blogging is a marketing tool. Google loves new content and when you consistently produce new content via your blog you're increasingly your chances of being found organically on Google for a particular keyword. Let's say your a virtual assistant that specializes in writing. You could write a blog post about common writing mistakes. If you are a VA that specializes in general admin, write a post about all the online software you use to make your clients' life easier and more productive. I just wrote a blog post about must have internet software for virtual assistants. I wrote a couple of lines about each tool I use, added a link to that particular tool and then I summarized everything. It was my most popular post yet.

Beth0813 · #36 (**permalink**) 09-27-2012

Hello!

I've started a blog but my problem is writing new content. I feel like I'm regurgitating the same old information. I would also like to comment on blogs. Where do I find some good blogs to read and comment on? If I read what other people are doing it might help me with my own writers block.

Thanks,
Beth

Your Virtual Wizard · #37 (**permalink**) 09-27-2012

Beth,

There are a number of VAs here who have blogs. You can certainly start with my own www.YourVirtualWizardBlog.com and you may also wish to stop in at Business Darlings Blog at www.BusinessDarlings.com .

If you Google 'Virtual assistant blogs' you may find a few you can peruse. You can also check out VA websites as blogs are often attached to their websites.

But don't limit yourself to other VA blogs. You want to first know who your own audience is and then read those people's blogs. So if you are aiming to attract attorneys to your website and want to work with them, you should check out their websites through google searches, LinkedIn searches and any sites where your target market 'hangs out'.

You will want to connect with your target market on the social media sites which is where you can check out other people's profiles and read their blogs. LinkedIn is a perfect place to do that and their are many groups you can join where your target market is also a part of that group. All you need to do is keyword their professions and industry names.

You want to write for that market so you want to write what they want to know. You don't want to select a topic and then hope they read it and are interested in it.

I just wrote this blog on Business Darlings I Started a Blog! Now What? 10 Ways to Maximize Exposure for Your Blog which tells you where to post your blog sites and how to market your blog post. My suggestion is that you join Stumble Upon and some of the sites I mention and see what it is your market is talking about.

Post back if you have questions. If you want to tell me who your target market is, perhaps I can make some suggestions.

Remember, it may be old information that you know but it is your twist on the information that makes it unique.

Janine

Your Virtual Wizard · #38 (**permalink**) 09-27-2012

Another option Beth, for blogging ideas is this site for small business topics but use Reditt for other topics as well. http://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness

Janine

idealhelper · #39 (**permalink**) 10-07-2012

I have to say that I love blogging. It's fun, and I get to say and share with the world whatever I please.

Of course, to be successful with blogging, there is more than that. But that's the main obstacle when blogging: trying to succeed with it, right away.

What I do is to focus on my message and experience without getting too distracted about what I should do with my blogging (those limitations stop me from writing).

Also, for me personally, needing to respect writing deadlines stresses me out, so I write whenever I have to say something.

Am I successful with this? Not with blogging. (I have successful websites, but they are different from blogging and I am very disciplined with those.)

But I do have fun with it.

By the way, to keep me writing, I like to use a voice recording of my thoughts and use it as a basis for a transcribed blog post.

lauramarc · #40 (**permalink**) 10-07-2012

I do understand what many people are saying about not knowing "what to write" that hasn't been said. I'm very new here and still setting up my business and... still a bit intimidated. Seeing what everyone else had to offer and feeling a bit inadequate, I signed up for 3 classes online. One of them is Wordpress, which was originally set up for bloggers. I figured I should know how to work my own site. Your blog is pretty nice, Janine. It does give me inspiration.