The Gritty Virtual Assistant

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How do you think you will get prospects into your pipeline if they don’t know you’re out there? Article marketing is one of the simplest and least expensive methods for marketing and promoting your business (often costing nothing but your time). It’s one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your website and increase your SEO at the same time. Yet business owners come up with all kinds of reasons to avoid article marketing. In this article, I’m answering all your objections–no negative self-talk allowed. You CAN do this!

Objection #1: I don’t think I’m a good enough writer.

No one is asking you to be Hemingway. In fact, some of the best articles out there are those that are straightforward and from the heart. All you have to do is be yourself, speak one-on-one to your audience (your target market) and write about something that they care about or want answers to.

Objection #2: I don’t have anything interesting or of value to say (I’m no expert).

You’re a human being, aren’t you? Unless you are a mannequin, you have thoughts. You have opinions. You have experiences. There are things you are passionate about. Not to mention, you’re a business owner with some skill and knowledge in your field or else you wouldn’t have gone into business, right? You have something to offer and that is yourself. It doesn’t matter that the topic may have been covered a million times before. No one else can write from your perspective, in your voice, with your personality. Your right clients need to hear you so they can get to know, like and trust you.

Objection #3: I don’t have enough time—I’m too busy with clients.

That’s great that you have clients. But clients aren’t necessarily permanent fixtures in your business. They move on for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, it’s you who outgrows them. Even if you have more business than you can handle at the moment, it’s always a smart idea to maintain your marketing presence to keep those prospects flowing into your pipeline. One article a month is completely doable even for the most time-strapped entrepreneur.

Objection #4: I don’t have enough time—I’m too busy trying to get clients.

That’s exactly what article marketing will help you do, silly! Article marketing is a way to drive traffic to your website, which is what you want prospects to do. Articles help increase your expert status in the eyes of would-be clients. Articles give them a chance to get to know you, increasing that all-important know/like/trust factor. Articles also lend to the laws of attraction and intention—your right clients will be drawn to you and want to learn more about how you can help them by clicking through to your website.

Objection #5: I don’t know what to write about.

Here’s my own simple technique: Imagine you’re at a networking function. You’re talking shop with the business owner next to you, getting to know each other. The business owner, now knowing that you are in the ___ business, asks you about ___. Your answer to their question is your article! It really is that simple. So go to those business get-togethers. Write down the questions that current and prospective clients ask you. These are the topics for your next articles.

RESOURCE: The VACOC has a comprehensive list of free article and press release submission sites that you can download here: Article and Press Release Submission Sites.

About the Author: Danielle Keister is a business advisor and innovator in the Virtual Assistance profession. An administrative professional of 20+ years and veteran Virtual Assistant of 12+ years, her logical, no-nonsense approach to business development has gained her recognition as one of the leaders in the field. She loves what she does and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and know-how with the world. She’s all about inspiring others to reach for their highest excellence. When not taking care of clients in her own Virtual Assistant practice, she is busy leading the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce and helping Virtual Assistants create six figure businesses.

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