Hi All,
Just wanted to share with you a task I've recently taken up. Now that I'm starting my own business, I find myself much more interested in reading the Business section of our local newspaper. From there I've found several items that I think will be or are helpful to me.

Last week there was an article about a new startup marketing company that mostly works to promote business on line. I searched for their website and found that they had a section of free downloaded marketing articles. One, which I found particularly interesting (since I'm a researcher at heart) was of statistics which showed people habits for opening and reading email. Apparently, a large majority of people with either open new emails on Mondays or Wednesdays. I haven't read the entire report yet, but am hoping to get to it soon. You can find some free email marketing guides here: eRoi
You do have to give them your name and email prior to getting access. (And they have sent me a follow-up email stating they saw I was in their "resource" center and was there anything else they could help me with. I just want others to be aware of that beforehand.)

Also, from reading the Business section, I learned the name of the local entrepreneurs network and subsequently found their website online.

I'm sure others do this as well, but since I'm just entering the VA arena, I thought I'd share this idea with others.

__________________
Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

This is a great point Kim - we spend so much time finding ways to get our information online, network virtually, and develop internet based social networks without ever taking the time to reach out to the local business community.

I've been waiting for the opportunity to network locally - since we were moving so much it didn't make sense...but now that we're more settled I've gotten info about joining our local chamber and am going to order the paper now too...get the inside scoop on what other business owners in the area are doing. That way, if/when I meet any of them I have some background info to help me out a bit!

__________________

Are you ready to stop dreaming and start DOING?
Join the next Virtual Assistant Business Jumpstart beginning May 8th!

This is such a great idea! I subscribe to our town's really small paper, but it is a weekly one. There is another that we can get that is from the town to our north that is more for our county and is daily. I hate to get it though because I don't read it that often and feel like I am wasting trees! Now I have reminded myself that they have a website that I can check daily. I think this will be a great resource for networking, getting ideas for my business, and just keeping me in touch in general.

Another idea that I was going to do but never got around to it so I'll share in case someone else can use my great idea. When you read about new businesses starting in your community (through the paper or whatever) send them a congratulations card. Not a sales pitch letter (which you could do later but that's not the point of this) but just a congratulations card. Wish them luck with their business, etc. Include a business card but make that the only thing in there that is marketing related. I thought that would be fun.

__________________
Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

Originally Posted by lanelt

Another idea that I was going to do but never got around to it so I'll share in case someone else can use my great idea. When you read about new businesses starting in your community (through the paper or whatever) send them a congratulations card. Not a sales pitch letter (which you could do later but that's not the point of this) but just a congratulations card. Wish them luck with their business, etc. Include a business card but make that the only thing in there that is marketing related. I thought that would be fun.

Wow, what a great idea!!!

Lanel I have done that in the past with good results!

__________________
Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

I think sending Congratulations cards with a business card is an excellent idea! I'm going to add that to my task list.

__________________

Ugh! I checked out the business portion of our county newspaper online and it mostly contains AP articles. I think I would get a lot more out of the print edition. I think my mom gets the paper daily so maybe I can hit her up for her leftovers!

__________________
Sarah
Accurate Office Help