By now, it seems just about everyone has a blog; personal, professional or both.
A blog is a geat way to keep your current and prospective clients up to date on any improvements or upgrades in the services you offer - and it also keeps the search engines interested in your website because you've always got new, updated content on your site. It's a great place to make new client/project announcements as well.
One other common use for a professional blog is to provide links and information to free products and services online that might benefit your clients or those just passing through.

Are you blogging as an addition to your professional virtual assistance site? If so - what kinds of information do you share there? How often do you post? Do you accept comments on your blog? Do you monetize your blog (ie - run ads there?)
We're interested in developing this post as a general guide to professional blogging, aimed specifically at VA's - so add your own two cents and ask for a design/content critique if you like.

Feel free to elaborate here on your own blogging philosophies and ideas, and don't forget to share the link!

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Do you know everyone seems to be blogging these days!! I've got to join the revolution!! I definately am in the process of expanding my marketing, looking for new ways to bring in clients.

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Winslow Girl Virtual Assistant
www.winslowgirlva.com
Taking Virtual Assistance to the Next Level

Hi Jackie
I just wanted to let you know we've got a great in-house program called PHP Blog Manager - it's totally free to set up and use and the best part is you can install it right on your website so your URL would be www.yourwebsite.com/blogname which is great because then it truly keeps the content (and the client or visitor) on your site, rather than sending them to another place (like with blogger or other free blogging programs)
That also means that the search engines will index the pages (and the content) as part of your site which can greatly enhance your search engine rankings and general results (especially if you write keyword rich posts!)

The program also does offer hosting on the site itself, so if you don't know how to integrate with your own site you can just link up to it at the existing URL - but we'd like to offer all VA's who are interested (and contact us through the forums) a chance to get their blog integrated properly and easily within their own websites at 50% off the normal rate.

Anyone who's interested or has any questions, feel free to post here or send me a PM.

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Hi Everyone,

I am pleased to announce that I finally have a niche, Virtual "Blog" Assisting. Take a look at my web site. The web site is still in the "rough draft" stage so any input will be much appreciatied....Ciao!


Makesha Ramel Caldwell Virtual "Blog" Assisting

WOW... Makesha you have done a wonderful job with your site!

I haven't even looked into blogging and to be honest I know nothing about it other than it's a great advertising tool. So I'm sure there are a lot of other businesses that can use your service!

Congratulations on what you've accomplished so far!!! Life is good!

Thanks Tami,

You are always so positive. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about other forums. I appreciate the support. Don't forget to refer me because, of course, I have no clients....Ciao!

Hi Makesha big props for finding your niche!
I have no doubt you'll find lots of clients - it's a great direction to take a VA service and what a great spot to fill! Your the first I've heard of specializing in blogging so you're really making a name for yourself in that respect.

I'm so glad you enjoy the forums - we are so lucky to have to many great and very sweet people on here (yourself included of course ) - don't worry about the 'other guys'.....you found your niche, and a friendly space to chat about it!

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Check out this article entitled 'Jumping on the Blogging Bandwagon: is it worth it?' - it looks at the pros and cons of running a business blog on your site and details a few case studies of currently successful business blogs - find out *why* they're successful and how they are able to stand out and shine in an internet inundated by thousands of new blogs every day.

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This article makes great points --- as founder of a nonprofit dog rescue group, when we set up the website I mandated that it had to be bright and cheerful and fun --- nobody needed to read another depressing, sad website about abused dogs --- people have so often commented to me on the fact that they enjoyed visiting the website and revisted often because of content update. I went through the same thing with blogs.

In the end my sincere feeling is nobody wants to spend time reading boring, dry content online. And if nothing ever gets updated, what reason it there for folks to re-visit the website or blog? Often these things start out big and drift off as people get tired of maintaining them. This is a huge mistake. I like the fact that the article you referenced indicated if necessary, someone needs to be appointed to maintain and update the content. It's only great advertising if it is current. If the content is stale, someone else has beat you to that next client!

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Karalyn J. Eckerle
"The RVing VA"

Me? I do blog for personal reasons but now that I am into the VA business it is a mandatory for me that I should blog too in order to market myself. I think posting about general info about the services offered will be a good thing.