FAQ: How do I Get More Clients?

If you’re a Virtual Assistant, Writer, Consultant, Web Designer, or Techie, you know that the one thing that is your lifeblood, the one thing that keeps your income steady, is a finding clients. Luckily, there are several ways to keep a steady stream of clients coming in through your door.

Here are just a few:

Advertise in Ezines.

There are online newsletters everywhere that accept advertising. The key thought is to purchase advertising in publications that reach your target market and to create your ad to showcase your expertise. Don’t try to be everything to everyone or you won’t attract clients. Assuming you offer business-to-business service, it only makes sense to advertise in ezines that reach… businesses. And, I hope you’ll narrow down your target market even more than that.

Bad Ad Example: Hire me to lighten your workload. I can do everything that you don’t want to do. Let’s talk!

Better Ad Example: Are you ready to get more leads to your online store? I will handle your ezine advertising campaign for you. No more searching for targeted ezines, no more writing and tracking your ads. I’ll handle it all it all. My clients experience a boost in subscribers, and customers, after I complete my ezine advertising campaigns that will pay for my services. Check out my website for testimonials and free tips.

Write and Submit Articles.

The key with writing and submitting articles for your service-based business is to stay on topic. Don’t write and submit articles about health or pet care. Present a problem in your article and solve it. Make sure your author bio is very compelling to attract potential clients.

Recommended Resources:
www.EasyArticleMarketing.com - a full course that will teach you step-by-step, in detail, how to effectively market with articles.
www.SRZone.com - a short report with advanced tactics to take your article marketing to the next level.

Network where *successful* people hang out.

A huge mistake that VA’s and Ghostwriters make is to hang out on forums where there are other people struggling to make money. Instead, join a membership site for your target market and you’ll find yourself in the “inner circle”.

Recommended Resource:
www.MomsMastermind.com - the place where I have met all of my Virtual Assistants and some of my writers.

Advertise at Shelancers.com.

One of the easiest ways to get your name in front of business owners looking for help is to advertise on Shelancers.com. Again, it is crucial that you list your specialty in order to stand out from the other providers. But, if you can find a problem that business owners face, and offer to handle it for them, you’ll attract loyal clients who will continue to work with you for years to come.

Limited time special. Receive advertising plus training for dirt cheap.
Click here to check out the advertising and training at Shelancers.

Of course, there are ways to get more clients through your existing ones, like referrals, improving your current website to attract more people, building your own list, posting special offers on forums — all of which I will get into more in future posts.

What are YOUR favorite ways to attract clients? Would love to hear your thoughts. And, do check out Shelancers soon. The special on advertising is ending after the introductory period ends.
Warmly,

Nicole

PS. If you’ve never heard of Virtual Assistants and are interested in learning more, then check this out.

Posted by Administrator on May 15th, 2008 under Business Ideas, WAHMs for Hire, Article Marketing, FAQ, Advertising

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Article Marketing: 7 Great Topic Ideas

When I created the Easy Article Marketing course with Kelly McCausey back in 2005, we found that there were two huge barriers to getting people started. They were: 1. “I can’t write.” and 2. “I don’t know what to write about.”

Here’s a great FREE article that you can refer to anytime you find yourself thinking “I don’t know what to write about”.

Enjoy…

7 Great Ideas For Your Next Ezine Article
By Jimmy D. Brown

Writing ezine articles is one of the best business-building activities you’ll ever invest time in on the Internet. They can be used in dozens of different ways to generate web site traffic, build lists, brand your name, earn affiliate commissions and produce sales of your products and services.

They are, unquestionably, a vital part of any successful Internet marketing campaign.

Yet there still remains a lingering question -

WHAT should I write about in my ezine articles?

I want to share with you some brainstorming ideas that will allow you to easily come up with a couple dozen (or more) hot ideas for your upcoming ezine articles. I’m going to briefly share seven (7) fill-in-the-blank article starters along with a brief explanation to help you get started writing attention-grabbing content.

When you’re ready to write your next article, consider one of these not-yet-overused formulas…

01. What To Do When [Enter Problem Here].
The idea with this article is to offer a solution to an existing problem by matter-of-factly addressing the issue being discussed in the article. “What To Do When You Need To Lose That Last 5 Pounds” points out a problem many dieters face and hints that the article will reveal a method for overcoming this barrier. This article’s pointed style makes it a sure read.

02. Can [Enter Solution Here] Help [Enter Problem Here]?
Similar to number one above, this article poses a question while emphasizing both the problem and potential solution. What really works here is to ask a “curiosity-building” question by providing a solution that doesn’t seem to fit with the problem. For example: If you’re trying to re-grow hair on your balding head, could you resist reading, “Can Cheerios Help Thicken Your Hair?” I don’t think so.

03. Should You [Enter Activity Here]? (Take This Quiz).
People love quizzes. They especially love to see how they measure up in some area that they are particularly interested in. That combination makes this another ezine article that gets a lot of views. “Should You Quit Your Job And Start An Internet Business? Take This Quiz!” is going to attract every dissatisfied, looking-for-greener-pastures, internet marketing wannabe on the block.

04. 7 “Must Ask Questions” for [Enter Activity Here].
This is a perfect article for the entry-level beginner in any particular field. “7 ‘Must-Ask’ Questions for First-Time Homeschoolers’ When Choosing Curriculum” is just about a guaranteed read for all new homeschooling moms and dads who don’t want to blow it for their kids. (Note: The “number” of must-ask questions can be whatever you choose.)

05. 3 [Enter Topical Adjective Here] Lessons from [Enter Pop Culture Reference].
By using references to popular culture events, characters, television shows, news stories and trends, you’ll be able to get some cheap mileage from existing “hot buttons” of the general public. I recentl wrote an article entitled, “3 Word-Of-Mouth Marketing Lessons From the Academy Awards” that garnered a lot of interest. Guess when I released it? Yep, a week before the big awards show.

06. Mastering [Enter Topic Here]: How to [Enter Tutorial Statement Here] Part 1.
This is a superb article idea for a series of related tutorials. The word “master” is a bit overused at times in marketing circles, but it means to “become an expert” at something or to “achieve dominance” over something. Who wouldn’t want to “master” their activity of interest? That’s why “Mastering Weight Loss: How To Shed 12-15 Pounds in 30 Days, Part 1″ and other articles in its mold make for much-read content.

07. What Kind of [Enter Desirable Object Here] Is Best For YOU?
We all want what’s “best” for us, don’t we? “What Kind Of Internet Business Is Best For You?” indicates there is something revealed in the article that will allow me to determine which of the options available to me is best suited for me. This is a really solid article to point others towards additional resources (such as special reports, mini-courses, etc.) where they can get specific information about which of the “options” mentioned in the article is most interesting and compatible with them.

So, there you have some great ideas to get you started on your next ezine article.

You know you’re going to write ezine articles, so would you like to get a LOT of completely free traffic with them? Check out “How To Get Free Traffic With Ezine Articles” by clicking here. You’ll learn a powerful (but easy) way to get a lot of visitors to your website by using your ezine articles in a special way … all at no cost to you.

Posted by Administrator on May 12th, 2008 under Article Marketing, FAQ, Web Traffic

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Free Ezine Ideas: Freebie Friday.

TGIF and welcome to Freebie Friday. :)

Today’s freebie is a report entitled “24 Ideas for Endless Email Topics“. It’s downloadable instantly by clicking here.

Here’s an excerpt so you can decide if this report is what you’re looking for:

14. Check your affiliate programs for brandable reports. Many affiliate programs (and a growing number outside of the business-to-business market) are offering information-packed reports that you can brand with your own link. Give these to your list.

My two favorite places to find brandable articles are my clients:

Hope you love it!
Nicole

Posted by Administrator on May 9th, 2008 under Freebies for WAHMs, Sanity Savers, Newsletter Tips

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PLR Recipes - Chicken Crockpot

YUM, YUM, YUM! These recipes look good enough to eat. ;)

Arika and I just added a new set of 40 Chicken recipes to YummyPLR.com and they are all made in the crock pot.

If you’ve got a website that is targeting people who eat (don’t they all?!) adding a recipe section can be a great boost to your content. Of course, I’m only kidding. You wouldn’t add a recipe section to a website about sky-diving (unless it was “what to eat that you won’t throw up as you’re plummeting to earth…”). But, a Mom or Parenting website? HECK YA!

Grab these PLR recipes for .25 cents each.

Bon appetite.

Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 26th, 2008 under PLR

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Business Idea: Start a Transcription Business

You may have seen those “typing for pay” jobs before — well, most of them are scams, so stay away from them!

However, there is one “typing for pay” business that a work at home mom *can* do. And, it’s legit.

Here’s the scoop. Many, many online businesses record teleseminars and turn them into infoproducts. You may have even bought some of them. And, what do most come with? All the good ones include a Transcript, right? (See EasyArticleMarketing.com as an example.)

Personally, I won’t buy a product unless it comes with a Transcript. I’m a visual learner so I like to “see” what I’m learning. Plus, I’m a terrible multi-tasker, so I can only take time to listen to audios when I’m at the gym or doing something other than spending time with the kids or working (which narrows it down quite a bit). Even if I’m out back, watching the kids swim in the pool, I can’t listen, because they keep yelling “Watch this, Mommy!”. If I have headphones on, I feel like I’m not all there. If I’m reading, I can set the papers down and give them my full attention while they show off for me. Anyway, heading off on a tangent. (Moral of the story — if you create an infoproduct, make sure it has transcripts!) ;)

Anyway, back to the plot — who do you suppose TRANSCRIBES all of these audios? When John Reese records an audio, do you think he sits and types it in himself? Of course not. When Kelly and I recorded six hours of audio for EasyPartnerships.com — did we type it all up? Heck no! We hired a Transcriptionist.

With all of the weekly podcasts and radio shows… don’t you think some of them would jump at an offer to have their shows transcribed? I know they would.

–> Just to clarify — this is NOT Medical Transcription. It’s General Transcription. No medical typing is involved.

If you’d like to learn how to start a Transcription Business, check out the very affordable Transcription Starter Kit here. You’ll get everything you need to learn how to get started in this online business.
And, have a great weekend!

Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 25th, 2008 under Business Ideas, Getting Started

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Don’t Phone Spam Me

Hey Affiliate Managers & Marketers — get some manners!

oooh…. I have a gripe. I am normally a very nice person, but I HATE HATE HATE being phone spammed. I don’t know who thought it was good business practice to record an audio and blast it to all of their leads, but it’s just plain wrong for several reasons.

1. It interrupts my work. Don’t mess with a work at home mom. I have exactly 5.5 hours M-F that are all MINE MINE MINE to get my work done. Do not. I repeat. … do NOT mess with MY time.

2. It interrupts my writing. If you’re a writer, you know how you get into the “zone” and feel your fingers flying. You know what interrupts that? The phone — which I don’t mind if it’s actually a REAL person on the other end.

3. It’s just plain RUDE. If you’re going to interrupt my work (or my nap) and get my attention, then you darned well better be a REAL person on the other end. I don’t send a delivery to YOUR home with a tape recorder playing a message from me — don’t do it. Just don’t.

4. I’m YOUR affiliate. I’m doing YOU a favor. Guess what? Your launch is NOT my #1 priority in my day. I actually have OTHER things I need to do. Don’t interrupt them.

5. You can’t opt-OUT. There’s nothing at the end that says “Hey, if you don’t want me harassing you while you’re trying to take a pee just click here”. I can’t DO anything to get rid of it.

6. I never opted-IN. I said that they could send me EMAILS — not call me.

Now, I’m an affiliate manager and proud of it, but the next affiliate manager who spams me at home on my HOME telephone is gonna get an earful.

And, for that aff man who phone spammed me today… ADIOS!

How’s that for a big vent? Kelly is probably sitting there with her mouth open since she says I’m too nice. But, hey, a girl should be able to PEE without getting interrupted by an affiliate manager for a program she WAS (past tense) interested in promoting.

Hey, I should send that aff man the link to www.SalesArmySecrets.com to learn how a REAL affiliate manager treats her peeps.

Opinions? Obviously I have one. ;)

Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 23rd, 2008 under Opinions & Vents, Personal, Affiliate Manager

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Blogs Bad for Business?

I’m an affiliate for Ken Evoy’s Site Sell. I have been for a few years. He’s a great teacher and has a great product and I’ve learned a lot from him.

HOWEVER… the email I got the other day kind of threw me for a loop, and I thought maybe he lost it. Here’s an excerpt:

Blogging has reached lemming status. Without even thinking, many small businesses equate blogging with having a Web site. This is obviously wrong for small businesses with something to sell (ex., services, e-book sellers, etc.).

But it’s also the wrong choice for infopreneurs (ex., those who earn affiliate and AdSense income, without selling anything directly to customers).

How and why has blogging reached “lemming epidemic” status?
How do bloggers actually do FINANCIALLY, where it counts?
Should YOU blog? When? How do blogs compare to Theme-Based Content Sites, performance-wise in the short-and-long terms?

Where did the misleading promise of blogging come from? Why do folks buy into it, despite all the evidence of failure?

I thought “Keep up with the times, Ken!” Then, I went and read his full statement and he’s got me thinking.

Here is the link to read his opinion: Click here-> “The Three Fatal Flaws of Blogging”

(Yes, it is a sales letter, but it has great information, as well, including quotes from Google.com on this very topic.)

Now, I know that there are many bloggers who are making a great living. And, I also know that when I convert my standard websites over to blogs, they perform worse financially (so, I’ve stopped!).

However, what are your experiences? Are you making more money on your blogs or your websites? And, why?

Please share. :)
Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 22nd, 2008 under Business Ideas, Opinions & Vents

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Looking for Crafty Moms.

Hey guys.

If you’re a preschool teacher, a daycare owner, or a mom who does a lot of fun crafts with her kids, I want you.

I am looking for a few good craftie writers for ShowKidstheFun.com

If you’re interested, please either post below (and I’ll email you) or email me through the link at the bottom of the ShowKidstheFun.com page.

The pay is low per craft, but I don’t expect long, perfect articles, either. If you can write and submit five or more crafts per hour, the pay is reasonable for an at-home assignment. Of course, if you include a photo of the craft, I’ll pay more.

Looking forward to hearing from you clever moms!
Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 22nd, 2008 under Content Providers, WAHMs for Hire

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A Yummy Announcement

Hey guys. I wanted to let you know about a new PLR site that is perfect for any mom blog or website.

www.YummyPLR.com - Get PLR recipes and food articles.

These are not typical PLR. They are professionally written and also run through a second writer/editor afterwards who adds even MORE value to them. This is quality PLR.

I welcome you to check out the low, low intro price before it goes up again.

Let me know what you think!
Warmly,
Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 22nd, 2008 under Special Deals, Content Providers, PLR

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Websites for Sale. (Updated)

In an effort to streamline my business better, I am considering selling some of my websites. This is so hard for me to do, as many of these were created with big future plans, but this has to be done to keep my sanity. :)

You can tell the sites have been neglected over the last few months as my other projects have taken priority. Some are “starter” sites that you can view as a diamond in the rough. I’ll post some more as I work through my list of sites.

(If you sign up with www.MomWebs.com as your hosting provider — they’ll transfer the site for us!)
——————–

XSITE PRO, FRONT PAGE, or DREAMWEAVER

Each of the following sites was created with XSitePro, but can be imported into Frontpage and delivered to the new owner.

www.housecleaning411.com - PR3 - this could be turned into a “green” site or a site to promote affiliate programs. - SOLD

www.homedecorthemes.com - PR3 - this site also has a ton of potential. Getting some search engine traffic already. It just needs some love. Would be fantastic for a Mia Bella rep. - $150

www.easynaturalremedies.com - No page rank. Google is not loving this site, but it gets traffic from MSN and yahoo. If nothing else, you could take this site and put it on your own domain and edit it if you’d like.

www.degreesformoms.com - PR2 This was one created on a whim to promote pay per lead affiliate programs.

AspergerResources.com - Great for a mom who wants to talk about her Aspie kid. - $175

www.AllDietPlans.com - PR3 - This one will come with the two Diet Plan packs at EasyPLR (value $31) - $175
——————–

WORDPRESS

www.whatcanidowithit.com - This site has potential to get a lot of press just for being really fun. A dedicated blogger could easily run with this one. (Note: adsense is very untargeted for this… you’d want to do affiliate programs with specific items that you can list as the “what can i do” item of the day or use it to promote “frugal” products.)

——————–

BLOGGER BLOG

EXERCISEISBORING.COM - There is a blogger blog on there now, but you’re welcome to do whatever you wish with it.

——————–

Some of these sites could be converted to promote a Direct sales Business rather than having google adsense on them.
Please note: Some content on the sites is PLR which means you may edit it. Some is free reprint, which means, you can not edit it, but you can replace it with your own articles — making YOU the expert!

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend adding a newsletter to each of these sites to better monetize them.

DOMAINS FOR SALE

These are just the URLs, no website on them at all.

Contact me if you’re interested in any of the sites or domains listed above.
(Make an offer via email to “helper.nicole@showmomthemoney.com”).

——————–

My friend, Jen, is offering two of her sites up for sale, as well.

If you’re interested in either of the sites below, contact her with an offer at jenhouck@gmail.com.

www.fitnessandhealthpack.com - a complete product about weight loss.
www.attachmentmoms.com - content site about being an Attachment Mom.

——————–

My friend, Carrie, is offering a site of hers for sale, too. Email her at clauth@gmail.com if you’re interested.
The site is: www.NaturalMomsHealth.com

——————–

Thanks much!
Nicole

Posted by Administrator on April 21st, 2008 under Other Stuff

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