I actually had a pretty rubbish website when I first started out. I was totally clueless about SEO, my old developer had created the site in Dreamweaver which I think went out with the dinosaurs, I had no niche, I didn’t know what I was doing and nobody knew where to find me. So how did I get traffic to my website so people could see how amazing I was and hire me?
When you first set up your Virtual Assistant business it can feel like you have a million decisions to make – and one of these will be where to set up and build your shiny new website so you can get found online. Because there are so many options to choose from, I’ve outlined the pros and cons of each one to prevent your brain from exploding.
Like a handshake, a business card can say a lot about you as well as the type of business you operate. Because it’s often the first point of contact for potential clients and therefore needs to create the right impression, I’ve put together a list of the most common mistakes I’ve seen when collating cards so you don’t unwittingly make them.
When you set up a website you need to buy the domain name and then find a place to have the website hosted. You can buy the name from anywhere (I use GoDaddy) and then you’ll need a place to keep the site. Think of your domain name as the name of your shop and hosting as your landlord – they’re the person who makes sure your shop stays open!
Your website is pretty important. It acts as a ‘shop window’ for your business and if it’s really shonky then potential clients will think you’re really shonky too. I’ve seen some truly shocking VA websites, so read my post, find out if yours might be one of them, then calmly but quickly log in to your site and tart it up immediately!
I don’t make websites for a living so I’m not going to go into detail about every single tiny thing you need to have a decent site, I’m just going to provide an overview of the different things you need to think about when you’re setting it up. Having a website will help your business in the long run, so it’s important to have one that appeals to prospects.
An ongoing debate amongst freelancers is whether or not you should display your rates on your website. Although not everyone agrees and I have my own fixed opinion on the matter, I want to outline the pros and cons of both arguments as well as address common concerns so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
So you’ve decided to go ahead and become a Virtual Assistant. You know who your target market is, what services you’re going to offer and you’re all ready to get going… all you need now is to decide what to call your shiny new business. Of course, this is easier said than done! So exactly how do you decide on your company name?
Once you’ve decided what to call your Virtual Assistant business, you may want a logo. On one hand, your logo is just a formality so you can launch your business, and on the other, it represents who you are, what you stand for and will also be on all your marketing materials. Plus, if you get it wrong it could be a complete headache to redesign later!
