Margate, FL (April, 2013) Getting publicity for your business can be challenging? Between writing press releases, article marketing, social media and more, it all seems too much. But it doesn’t have to be. Wouldn’t you love to know how to do your own PR or be able to make better decisions with working with a publicist or your publicity virtual assistant? Well now you can. Introducing the PR Success Series – www.prsuccessseries.com. All you need to know to get more out of all your marketing efforts.

The PR Success series is intended to help entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, coaches and more master their PR. Presented by Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, a PR and Marketing firm for over 27 years, it will take you step by step into PR methods that work. Insider secrets will be revealed on how to write effective articles and press releases, best ways to pitch the media, how to go full circle in your PR efforts to get the most from all you do, mastering social media and more. The classes will be held weekly starting May 23rd and all classes are recorded so you can download and listen at your convenience.

Ennen walks the walk and talks the talk getting her and her clients in major media that have resulted in not only getting one of her clients #1 status on iBookstore, but major media mentions including USA Today, Woman’s World, Fox News, CNN Radio, Reader’s Digest, Entrepreneur, Forbes, and so many more.
A breakdown of the classes are as follows: Session #1 – You need a marketing plan; Session #2 – Discover the secrets to writing press releases and articles; Session #3 – Pitching the Media; Session #4 – Social Media Magic, Session #5 – PR Secrets

Ennen states, “I am thrilled to be offering this class again. No matter if you want to do your own PR or if you want to just be able to understand the PR process, these classes will help. Also, I know many virtual assistants who want to specialize in publicity and this is exactly the tools you need to be able to do that.

The Publicity Success Series got rave reviews when it was offered previously. In fact Ruth Martin stated, “I was really impressed with the Publicity VA Course and Diana’s great help and knowledge. Hearing her firsthand success stories and learning from her experiences shaves so much time off the learning curve, it’s like having your very own coach guiding you through the hurdles towards the ultimate goal. I’d highly recommend this publicity course to anyone wanting to broaden their publicity efforts on the Internet or offline.”

If you need help with your PR campaigns and want to write a killer press release, article, blog, etc., then sign up now at http://www.prsuccessseries.com. Early bird rates apply. For more information contact or media interviews contact Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.

Special for those that stop by my blog …  $99.00 — but you must email me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com by May 6th to recieve. Can’t wait to see you there.  Also, discounts for teams/

What are your first thoughts when you hear the word networking? We know some of you are probably thinking, “Ugh, I hate to do that!” Right? All that work meeting new people. Forget about it. Or perhaps you’re thinking “Networking is too much like marketing and I’m not good at marketing. Never works, so why do it?”

It’s easy to be apprehensive or even downright anxious about networking if you haven’t had much success at it. But perhaps your lack of success comes from a lack of understanding just how important and beneficial it is. That coupled with a lack of good technique can prevent you from seeing good results. And, you won’t see how easy it can be when done properly. Many just give up instead of making it part of their marketing message.

Networking allows you to let potential clients know who you are and that you have a business that’s ready to help them solve their problems and quite possibly increase their revenue. Plus, making your name familiar to prospective customers is a great way to stay connected. People are more willing to work with a new service if they have heard about you or have had the opportunity to meet you. It helps them to gain the confidence that you can help their business. And finally, for those who work at home, it offers the camaraderie they often miss by not being in a workplace atmosphere. This is especially true when you network regularly at the same places so others become familiar with you and look forward to seeing you.

Like many things, networking can come in many forms. You can network by joining some of the more relevant business groups in your community and even offering to be a speaker at some of their events. You can attend seminars, tradeshows and expos. But what is even more important to where you network is how you network. It really works when it’s done right and we hope to help you see that.

Here are some tips to make your networking experience better:

1. Know the dress code and dress professionally. You don’t want to be over dressed nor do you want to be too relaxed. Simply ask or look at photos of recent events they have hosted to get a feel for it. Past event photos are often featured on their social media pages or website.
2. Make sure you are comfortable. Shoes that hurt your feet or shoes that tend to slip off regularly don’t create a positive appearance. Also, you want to look natural and when you look in obvious pain that sends the wrong message. You don’t want to look like you only dress for these networking events, but that you are professional day in and day out, even if you do normally wear jeans and a tee to work.
3. Make new contacts. Try not to spend all the time with the people you already know. Many people don’t enjoy networking events because of the “cliques” where the same people talk to the same people and it’s hard to break in. Do your best to mingle and truly connect with everyone.
4. Welcome the new attendees. They will long remember you for making them feel comfortable at their first event. And, you can sometimes use your “old contacts” to help you with this. For example, when a new person stops by your group you can introduce yourself and then say, “Oh, have you met…,” and then introduce your friend as well. This can be a great icebreaker for everyone.
5. Always have your short elevator speech prepared. The more prepared you are the more confidently you can introduce your services. Know the audience in advance so you can customize your speech to that group. Also, have business cards handy, as well as a pen.
6. Be a good listener. People can tell when you aren’t interested in their conversation. If you want their business, you should be interested. Pay attention to what is being said as if there were going to be a test later, because there just might be when asked if you recall something that was said just a bit ago.
7. Remember to make eye contact. You likely know how it feels when you’re talking to someone at an event and their eyes keep wondering over your shoulder to scan the crowd. It makes you feel like they have absolutely no interest in you and what you’re saying. Do your scanning of the crowd before you engage in talk with someone. Seek out who you’re going to talk to and keep them engaged with interesting conversation—don’t make it all about you.
8. Collect as many business cards as possible. Be sure to make any special notes on the back of a contact’s card that will help you remember them and why you need to make contact later.
9. Send a thank-you note. Immediately following the networking event, send a thank-you note to all those you spoke with to let them know it was nice meeting them. You can design your own to make it a little more personal. Make sure you sign your own name; don’t have it typed. While handwritten is better, email is acceptable. Just do it!
10. Follow-up immediately with hot prospects. If you made contact with the right people you will have identified some hot prospects. Armed with the notes you took on the back of their business card, make contact and let them know how you can benefit their company. Be sure to get a commitment for a next course of action.

Being prepared, looking professional at all times, and having the confidence that you are an expert at what you do will help to take the “Ugh” of out networking. And remember, the more you network the better you get at it. The more you enjoy it, the more results you will see.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA. Stop by for information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Follow them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/becomeava. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

Authors – Why DO you need to blog …. Let me count the ways!
• It allows you to connect with your readers. They want more than just to read your book. They can not only read more about you, but also talk with you via comments.
• It builds a relationship and that’s exactly what you want.
• It allows you to give out your social media information. You can share on your blog how to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. And what you will discover is many of your readers WILL connect with you more there.
• It allows you to add more material than what is in your book so that they can show what else you are an expert. (Many authors also are speakers or sell products that are related to their book. Blogging lets you show that!)
• It allows you to post your reviews and ask for reviews.
• It also allows you to show off other books you might have written. Often when an reader loves one of your books, they will want more of them. Your blog allows you to do it.
• It shows you are serious about your book and can actually help with your next book. If you were looking for a publisher and they see that you are an active blogger with a large audience, that is going to go far in your favor.
• It allows you to host contests and giveaways. (And have some fun!)
• It allows you to do additional marketing .. (we will get into that later.) But your blog postings can be turned into articles, which you send out online. Your blog postings can be turned into social media mentions, etc.
• And BEST YET, it allows you to post your upcoming speaking events.

What shall I write???? (No problem. We’ll show you!)

What you need to add to your blog — And it’s more than just postings. (And the biggest mistake we see people doing.) You’ll love this one.

Top 10 Tips to Get More Traffic to Your Blog (Many we know you AREN’T currently doing).

Write articles & add to your blog – Yes, we’ll show you how to write those articles too that make tremendous blog postings and can be used for your online marketing efforts.

Don’t forget about Social Media – We’ll show you how to get more with all you do with the right way to take advantage of combining your blog and social media efforts

And so much more.

Sign up now!!

http://serenityva.com/social-media-kiss-keep-it-simple-serene-for-authors

I do get a lot of clients via word of mouth and I highly recommend that. But there are so many other ways to get clients. One of the main things to consider is that clients are often looking at you long before they hire you so keep a professional image. So always be sure to look your best online and offline. That can help tremendously. Become the expert they need in the niche your excel at by showing you know what you are doing, I do that my constantly writing on my topic, social media, networking at events, and connecting with others who might give me referrals. But most importantly, make sure you are doing it right.

The most important thing is to be passionate about your business and be very good at it, continuing to learn and grow. When you are the best at what you do, clients want to work with you now and for years to come.

Authors: Learn How to Sell More Books Using Social Media with Social Media KISS Webinar Series

San Diego, CA (February, 2013). Authors, do you need to learn the basics from social media and how to get the most out of it? Do you get caught up in the minutia of social media, but never seem to get anywhere with it?

Then join Christine Buffaloe of Serenity Virtual Assistant Services as she launches her new, live 10 week webinar series for authors called “Social Media KISS (Keep It Simple & Serene) for Authors.” The series will feature presentations by social media and author marketing experts. It will walk authors through all the steps they need to take to be more successful with their social media and marketing campaigns, which will result in not only more book sales, but also more exposure as the expert in their industries.

Buffaloe will kick off the 10-week series with a one-hour webinar on Thursday, February 28 at 4pm ET, discussing Facebook profile basics for authors, including secrets of a successful profile on Facebook.

Each week the one-hour webinar will address the basics of social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest. Guest presenters include publicity expert, Joan Stewart and author marketing expert, Penny Sansieveri .

Buffaloe has had extensive experience creating successful Facebook pages for authors, such as Martine Ehrenclou author of The Take Charge Patient and Critical Conditions, and Michelle Cromer, author of Where Am I Going. Other clients include, Joan Stewart, aka, The Publicity Hound, Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad, Kathleen Hanagan, Dr. Debra Condren, Joyce Dillon, to name a few.

Executive virtual assistant, Christine Buffaloe has provided virtual and personal assistance specializing in Social Media training and consulting and internet marketing. Christine has been a featured guest on webinars and in Entreprenuer.com

You can register for the entire webinar series or select the ones you are most interested in at http://serenityva.com/social-media-kiss-keep-it-simple-serene-for-authors.

For media interviews contact Buffaloe at Chris@Serenityva.com or call her at 619-955-5772.

Here are some of our best tips to get more done.

1) Have a to-do list and timer. At the beginning of the day, jot down the tasks as well as the expected time it should take. Then write down at the end of the day how long the tasks actually took and cross them off. Yes, many use to-do lists, but by writing down the time it takes vs. the expected time, it becomes more of a challenge. You not only want to cross it off, but you want to cross it off in the time allotted.

2) Have your iPhone or Blackberry by your computer and check it when it beeps. You will discover by doing this, you won’t break away and get stuck doing emails. Only those that require immediate attention will you stop and focus on. So often when we check emails on our computers, we stop to answer. By checking our phones, we see what is coming in, however, we are not compelled to take immediate action. Now set aside time to respond to emails and do numerous ones at once. You are so more empowered when this becomes a habit.

3) Don’t fight it. If you don’t feel like writing your blog post, don’t write it then. Do something else. You find if you get into the habit of doing more of what feels right when you are doing it, you can accomplish so much more. And things get done! Now the key is not to ignore completely things that need done.

4) Avoid interruptions. Yes, it’s okay to not answer the phone during the day or respond back to an Facebook IM. Be blunt and if family and friends take advantage, put it in perspective. For example, I could talk right now, but that would mean that I wouldn’t get this done and that would cost me and my family approximately $100.00. I just can’t do it now. However, I can talk at 6:00 and would love to them. When they are able to see the monetary damage this causes often times they understand more. Of course, you would need to soften it up a bit, but just showing you how important it is to avoid interruptions. Even if you don’t tell them the monetary value, but you know it yourself, you can see how much time and money you will be wasting.

Do you have any time saving tips? We’d love to hear them. Please comment below.

It’s no secret being a business owner can be one the most rewarding ventures ever. After all, you get to be the boss, make all the rules, and make a great income—all at the same time, right? It doesn’t get any better than that! Of course that comes with a lot of hours, a lot of sweat, and a lot of sacrifice. Nonetheless, over 20 million of us do it and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
One of the most hottest businesses to start, according to a recent article in Home Business magazine (December 2012 issue,) is a Virtual Assistant business. If you’ve been following the industry and the top businesses to start listings for any length of time you have likely noticed that a Virtual Assistant business has been high on many lists in recent years. Why? We would say that is due to rising popularity and ease of entry if you have the right skill set and expertise. And, there is minimal investment for getting started.

As we shared with Home Business magazine, “Virtual Assistants partner with his/her clients and learn about the client’s business to become a trusted and valued member of the team. At the same time, the Virtual Assistant only charges for time on tasks, so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.”
It’s the partnership we create with clients that distinguishes us from other types of service providers, like those bidding for jobs on freelance-type sites. The ultimate goal is to establish a long-term relationship with the client to provide business support services, like those we outlined below. These services are performed in your office instead of the client’s, hence the virtual aspect of the working arrangement.

As an independent contractor you are then responsible for paying your own taxes, providing the equipment, software, and whatever else you need to perform the services in addition to all other aspects of running your own business. This is where the VA can eliminate the overhead expenses of a hiring an employee for a business owner.

The article further went on to say, “Virtual Assistant services include: publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical, and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, and administrative tasks.” There are a wide variety of services a virtual assistant can offer, this is only a small sampling of the services you can offer.

Want to learn more on how to become a virtual assistant? Take the time to visit different websites and do your research online. There are a number of colleges that offer training as well as industry experts, like us, who offer coaching. Take a trip to AcademyVP.com for a list of colleges. You can also find on that site a VA Self-Assessment that can help you in determining whether becoming a virtual assistant is a good choice for you. And, you can find answers to some common questions about getting started at VA-TheSeries.com.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant – The Series Workbook. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Connect with them online at @dianaennen and @kellypoelker or facebook.com/becomeava — Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains

Kelly and I were thrilled to be quoted in the December issue of Home Business Magazine – Hot Businesses to Start in 2013 … http://homebusinessmag.com/digitaleditions/dec_2012/ page 16).

What did Home Business Magazine say about starting a Virtual Assistant Business?

Here are a few excerpts from the article that we were quoted in:

With more companies working with fewer employees business are flocking to find the right virtual assistant for their team. Virtual Assistants work as independent contractors from their home offices. They use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail, or disk transfer. Traditional methods such as regular mail and overnight shipping are also used.

While most Virtual Assistants will never meet their clients, it is not unusual to find a VA providing pickup and delivery service in their local area. Most Virtual Assistants now realize the amazing power of the Internet, and their client base spans globally. A Virtual Assistant partners with his/her client and learns about the client’s business to become a trusted and valued member of the team. At the same time, the Virtual Assistant only charges for time on tasks, so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.

Virtual Assistant services include: publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical, and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, and administrative tasks.

A little about us. Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are both leaders in the virtual assistant industry, with a combined history of more than 40 years as small business owners, themselves. They are the co-authors of numerous books including the best-selling book Virtual Assistant – The Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA. Together they remain on top of the latest developments in the virtual assistant (VA) industry and have been featured on Fox News, CNN Radio, Wall Street Journal, Woman’s World and many more.

We would absolutely love if you could spread the word and mention this on your facebook pages, twitter feeds, newsletters, etc. Thanks so much! Diana Ennen

From delightful children’s books like Zip, Burp and Hula, to the fiction thriller, Sledgehammer, readers of all ages will find what they are looking for. For those entrepreneurs who always wanted to start a business, nothing can beat business and how to books on those topics including the best-selling book Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, which was recently featured in Home Business Magazine as one of the hot businesses to start in 2013. The business start-up book also comes with an accompanying VA the Series Workbook. These how to books direct readers step by step through the entire process of starting a virtual assistant business with pros that know exactly what needs to be done to run a successful business. That’s the true power of words.

Also available is So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen. Solid advice on starting a home-based business with spiritual principles is a great way to learn how to start a home-based business for Christian women.

Christian and inspirational books, books on marketing and sales, disaster recovery books, cookbooks, e-books, and more are all found in the bookstore. But what makes this bookstore unique is that the bookstore offers more than just the books alone. For example, the children’s book, Zip, Burp and Hula comes with a matching coloring book and paint by number book so children can delight in coloring along with the characters of the book. Virtual Assistant the Series comes with a workbook. Virtual Assistant Solution Pack comes with over 70 templates of business forms needed to start a virtual assistant business.

The fiction category features the highly acclaimed Sledgehammer, a gripping medical fiction thriller. This book sets theme in a Los Angeles emergency room where terrorists are using smallpox as a biological agent, with plans to release it into several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls to maximize its deadly effects. This book has received numerous five star reviews and begs to ask the question, “What if?”

And for holiday cooking, look to the Bizymoms Cookbook. 151 pages of recipes perfect for holiday cooking as well as yummy desserts, crockpot delights, and meals the whole family will enjoy. Email for a free sample at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com

Stop by the bookstore today at www.virtualwordpublishing.com and experience the magic that only a good book can offer.