I have been writing this press release all day! Thanks to tools I found here, I was able to create it, then grade it. Now I'm ready to post it.

Let me know what you think.

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For Immediate Release

Erika Yocom
Virtual Personal Assistant

Phone: (303) 522-3221
Email: erika@vp-assistant.com
Web site: www.vp-assistant.com

Small Business, Big Help

Albuquerque, New Mexico - 4/2/2010 - Small business owners and entrepreneurs face the same staffing issues the 'big guys' do, but without all the same resources. They too need an office staff to handle the detail work while they are out growing their business. However, most can't afford full-time help what with wages, benefits, insurance, taxes, etc. According to Erika Yocom, owner of Virtual Personal Assistant, that's where a virtual assistant comes to the rescue.

"VA's offers a variety of administrative and executive task-completion services on a contract basis to provide clients the same support as larger
offices. Using a virtual assistant can save small business an average of nearly 50% over hiring an employee. And, it's a 'green' way to get business
done", notes Erika.

The 'virtual' aspect consists of using technology to accomplish what was once only done in an office. Using a mix of software and hardware, VA's can
assist clients from across town or across the world with a myriad of tasks. And that frees up the entrepreneur to focus on their business.

As Ryan Norbauer, serial Web entrepreneur and president of Norbauer, a Web software consulting firm notes, "Small businesses and all individuals should abide by a mantra that larger corporations have embraced for years: Do what you do best; outsource the rest".

By bringing a VA into the business mix, small business owners are overcoming the details that can bog them down and keep them from growing.

About Virtual Personal Assistant: Erika Yocom has spent over 25 years accumulating the skills her clients need the most. Her company, Virtual
Personal Assistant, offers an 'a la carte' menu of services from which to choose, and is willing to take on new challenges.

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Erika Yocom, Virtual Personal Assistant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vpassistant

Good work, Erika. Coupla things:
1. At the end of 1st paragraph, write it as " ... virtual assistant (VA) comes to the rescue."
2. When you write the plural of VA, it should be VAs (not VA's - which means, that which belongs to the VA).
3. Find and add in a quote from a client about what a great professional you are.
4. Closing punctuation comes before end quote (for example, " ... And, it's a 'green' way to get business done", SHOULD BE " ... And, it's a 'green' way to get business done,")

Fix those things and you're ready for prime time!

__________________
Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Done and done!

Thanks for the heads up.

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Erika Yocom, Virtual Personal Assistant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vpassistant

Hi

Excellent press release. Great job. The one thing I'd recommend is trying to get your keywords in your title. The title is often the best place for it.

How about

Small Business - Big Help - Let a Virtual Assistant Do the Work For You

That's not the greatest, but hopefully you can see what I mean. Also, I've recently revised my PR submission list for free and paid places. Let me know if you'd like to receive it.

Thanks!

Diana Ennen
Virtual Word Publishing
www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Hi Erika,
Great job. Nothing more I can add that's not already been said, but yes do get your key words into your title which can make it search engine friendly.

Continue the good work.

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Althea
Virtually Yours PA

I just got a 'review' from PR.web. They say it is not 'newsworthy' in reference to my business. They gave me a bunch of suggestions to make it more 'pertinent'. They sent me to this reference.

Ouch! So much for my 93 ;~)

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Erika Yocom, Virtual Personal Assistant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vpassistant

Interesting. A year ago, describing what a VA does would be news; but now it's a known quantity. Like you would put out a press release about this profession called nursing or interior design, right?

So now you have to discover the news in your own story. What's missing is an angle: your slant on virtual assistance.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

It's been interesting the last few months. Responses have gone from, "Huh? What's a VA?" to, "Wow, that's great. I heard about that on such-n-such show". The change has been sudden and thorough, at least here in Albuquerque.

So, I will start looking for an angle. Hmmmm. Obtuse or acute? Heeheehee.

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Erika Yocom, Virtual Personal Assistant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vpassistant

Acute, if you ask me. My taste runs to the delicately nuanced as opposed to the obtuse/obvious. Be eccentric! Tell a compelling story!

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I don't know the first thing about writing press releases, and I thought it was great. I'm sure with your talent you will be able to come with something that will get their attention.

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Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

I'm just hitting this area on the VOA. I'm in the process of writing a press release, and it can be a tad-bit cumbersome. Erika, thanks for providing the links.

I love the press release and I'm pretty sure there are still a lot of people in my area who are not aware of what a VA does. Thank you for sharing.

These are great sites! I can't get above a 42!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Hello VP-Assistant,

WOW is an understatement! I know all of us who are new to this forum will really appreciate your creativity. It certainly will help me in promoting and explaining my business. Thanks for sharing. This is great!

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Elvia Abdussamadi
PROVA Administrative Services