How do press releases help? Are they submitted to newspaper and magazines?
I have the same question about blogs. How do people find your blog? How does this help?

Has anyone here had a new client find them through a blog or press release?

Thanks
Sorry about the silly questions ut:

Press releases help as they deliver information about your business to the public. You can submit them to newspapers and there are places online.

Blogs are a good way to keep current with your clients (or the general public) about things related to your business. There are places where you submit your blog to for feeds where people can find them, or they can search for them in search engines as well.

I agree with Jacky... Press Releases are awesome to get your business out to the community!! Not only that, but the newspapers usually have online as well, so double the marketing!

Blogs for me, are a great way to get my website higher in the search engines. I also use them to talk about my business, how it can help business owners.. There are soo many ideas that you can use in your blogs!! It is skies the limit!!

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

Those are both great answers! (Jackie did you start blogging?? )
A well-written release and a regularly updated blog *on* your website can be great for getting found in the search engines as well.
When there are more relevant links to your professional website or blog your site naturally moves up as more relevant in the searches for the particular keywords you've linked up in your press release or blog.

Also, blogs are a great way to keep site visitors *coming back* to your professional website, especially if you're well informed or stay on top of a particular industry, for instance, if you specialize as a VA real estate...if you write regular, informative posts about the real estate industry, then people who are interested in the industry will be more likely to come back to you for news, not to mention all the content you're authoring that will be indexed by search engines.

A blog is also a great way to generate unique interest in your skills as a VA. Anyone can get a website up there - but when you have a blog it gives potential clients more insight into your aptitude for communication in general.

Actually *any* content that's profesionally done and is attached to your company name (as a keyword rick text link) will enhance your professional site in the same way - social networking profiles, videos, other types of publications, forum posts

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Thanks for the answers guys. I love this place

Just to answer your question about finding clients through these mediums - personally, I did find one client through having the blog (I always listed what was going on with my practice as well as small business news and resources that I came across). And while it turned out not to be a good fit for me (the client signed up at my regular rate but spent the first two weeks 'negotiating' with me on price ) it did come as a result of my blogging.

If you have regular, ongoing service upgrades, and/or products to offer your clientele, I would imagine that press releases would bring clients in as well simply because over time you establish your business name as an expert, or at least very active, in the industry.

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I have my blogs on one site.. That was my first go at blogging.. Not as high tech as some of you... (use only for high ranking in google)

I much prefer working one on one with clients or even doing marketing than blogging. One of my least favorite ways of marketing.. And isn't that what we need to do? Find our strengths and weaknesses..

Tess is a good reminder than diversifying in our marketing(such as blogging) can result in getting new clients... Maybe that will push me to do more blogging Will have to see on that one!

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

Way to go Jackie!
Great term 'diversifying' - absolutely hits the nail on the head.

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Tess: I actually have had a personal blog for a few months, though it was abandoned during the summer months (my 7 year old doesn't always remember she can play by herself! ugh). If you're intersted, it's at http://vt251.blogspot.com

Aw, your family is *so* cute And your community looks like alot of fun! Personal blogs are a great way to explore writing and photography, not to mention that it's nice to have that little easy soapbox now and then - I've had mine about two years now, you can check it out here.

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