This article is for you, if you have a good size contact list and you’ve wondered how to create business opportunities. Or even if you are just thinking about starting email marketing as part of your business marketing action plan. Are you in between? Then, this article is for you are well.

Email is a wonderful business tool that, if used properly, will enhance your sales and marketing efforts significantly. Try these methods to get the most out of email communications:

1. Use permission lists only.
2. If you buy a list, make sure it is qualified – that is, those email addresses are valid and they belong to people who have opted in to receive emails on products and/or services like yours.
3. Ideally, build your own list.
4. Include an opt-in page on your web site, so people can sign up to receive email communications from you.
5. As an incentive, offer customers something free in exchange for signing up – a one time discount code, or a free ebook.
6. Make it easy to opt out or update an email address.
7. Only ask for the information you need – too many questions puts people off.
8. Adopt a formal policy about how the data will be used, and make sure each subscriber has to read those terms before opting in.
9. Honor those terms, no matter what.
10. Put a cap on the number of emails you send each subscriber – once a week is likely to be welcomed, but three times a week may cause people to opt out.
11. Set up your system to flag addresses after so many failed delivery attempts; this will make it easier to keep your email list clean and up to date.
12. Avoid attachments; many people won’t open them.
13. Go for something that will work in the body of an email.
14. Offer plain text as well as HTML to accommodate different loading speeds.
15. Set up a reply email, so your subscribers can reach you when they want to respond to the email.
16. Consider using a newsletter format for your email communications.
17. Subscribe to a few email newsletters, so you can see how others are using the medium.
18. Make notes on what type of newsletter formats seem to grab your attention.
19. Ask others for their opinion of which newsletters they like, and why.
20. Don’t send email communications when there is nothing new to say. Repetition will only cost you subscribers.
21. Make the content of the email interesting.
22. Avoid the appearance of being spam, by not using all capital letters in the title for the email, or announcing “Free” in the title line.
23. Do always make sure the subscriber’s name appears in the “To” field. It’s more personal.
24. Look into using email programs that automatically include the subscriber’s name in the body of the email.
25. Keep it short and sweet. Rambling emails, even if they are newsletters, are likely to be closed and deleted without being read.

P.S.: Contact us if you have been thinking about using email as one of your marketing tools but don’t know where to start. We work with many of the popular email marketing clients including:        1 Shopping Cart, Aweber, Constant Contact, iContact, Campaigner, and more. Check out some of the email/newsletter templates that we’ve designed for some of our clients. Keep an eye out for Part 2, 25 More Tips to Using Email Marketing Successfully.

Here are five simple ways that your website could be losing you business:

1. Slow Page Loads: People get really frustrated when pages take long to load. If you have this problem then check the size of your images and ensure that their sizes are optimized to load quicker while still maintaining the integrity of these images. Find ways to optimize your pages as well, also contact your web hosting company about this issue if everything you’ve tried hasn’t resolved the issue.
2. Dead/Broken Links: No one likes to click on a link and it goes to a “not found” page. Use a good broken links checker regularly to ensure that all your links are valid. A great tool to use for checking links is the W3C links checker.
3. Inactive Contact Forms: Imagine someone who is really interested in your products and/or services and then they’d taken the time to complete your contact form, click on the send button and NOTHING HAPPENS! Many people would immediately move on to the next person.
4. Poor Navigation: It’s important to give visitors to your website many ways to navigate through your web pages. It comes highly recommended from the usability point, to have more than one way to click through pages.
5. Visible Contact: Not every potential client wants to use your contact form. So create other options for they to contact you via. Some people like to send emails and some like to speak to a person. Adding an email address link and telephone number can make a difference.

Taking into consideration the mentioned above points can makes a huge difference in whether you gain more business or not.

Social bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit, are simple; yet profitable when wanting to drive traffic to your website. These websites will aid you in establishing your brand and encourage traffic to your website. There has been an increased trend with internet based business owners; therefore, implementing a strong marketing platform will improve your website’s traffic and your client base.

Use Blogging. Blogging is another website in the form of social media. A blog combines commentary, images, and/or links to your website. A blog allows you the opportunity to keep an online “diary” of your thoughts, progress, events and articles that pertain to your website and business. Additionally, your blog encourages user participation and allows your readers to comment on the information posted in your blog. Furthermore, several social bookmarking sites will allow you to link your blog to your social bookmarking account; which will increase your targeted audience. READ MORE

The spotlight was on moi! I was interviewed at the Virtual Assistant Forums, a great place where VAs meet, connect and share information.

Agnes Ikotun, owner of AI Virtual Solutions, combines her 13 years experience in administration, customer service, and information technology as a VA. With a degree in Management of Information Systems from Greenwich University in London, England, she is a Cisco Certified Network Associate, Network+ Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Professional, an Expert Rating Certified Professional, and a National Association of Realtors certified Real Estate Professional Assistant. Agnes uses her many skills to support entrepreneurs and small business owners from her office in Connecticut.

Thank you, Agnes, for sharing with us your experiences as a VA!

You started up as a VA in July of ‘07. How did you come to the decision to do this?

I had been a stay-at-home mom to my 6 and 2 year old daughters and they were becoming more independent. I began to have more free time on my hands and I just felt the time was right to venture out into the working world again.

Thinking back to the first three months in business, what was it like? What were the hard parts, the easy parts, how far did you progress in that time?

The first three months, actually the first six months were spent working on the business, since I didn’t have any clients during this period. The easy part was putting the business together, creating my online presence and networking. The difficult part was waiting for the clients to come knocking on my doors.

What was the most difficult thing about launching your business, and how would you characterize your progress during the first year of operation?

It was pretty easy launching my business, the startup cost was extremely low and I found many great free resources to get me going…thanks to the people on Virtual Assistant Forums. I would say that my progress so far is interesting as no one week is the same as the last. I’m still learning how to meet my clients’ needs, build my business and balance work and life and not get overwhelmed.

You concentrate in “Administrative Support, Internet Marketing, Web Design, and Real Estate Support,” according to your website. That’s quite a large range of skills. Please comment on balancing that variety in your work.

I mostly do Internet Marketing, Web Design and Website Maintenance. But I also love when I get to do some administrative, research and other work in between for variety.

What was your previous experience in the traditional job world?

14 years ago, I started off working as a beauty consultant in an exclusive London departmental store. And in between, when I got bored, I temped as an Administrative Assistant. Then I moved into retail banking, providing front end customer services to account holders. My love for computers helped me change my major from Law to Information Systems, and then I shifted gears to the IT industry, where I worked as an IT Administrator supporting business users.

How does being a virtual assistant compare to life as an employee, in your experience?

As an employee, I always chose to do what I enjoyed and it’s the same working as a virtual assistant. I became a stay-at-home mom when we had our first child and I know the challenges many working moms face, even though I was lucky to escape all of that. The biggest bonus of being a VA is that I can manage my family and work on my terms. I don’t have to feel guilty taking time off work because my little one is ill or attend my 7 year old’s class party. Also I can work anywhere and at anytime.

You have many certifications. Please comment on the experience of obtaining these, and their usefulness in your business.

I felt that the quickest way to get into the IT industry without working experience was to get certified and what a great way to learn as well. I self-studied for my exams, using great books and simulations.

I didn’t have plans to go back into the IT industry when kids came into the picture and I was a little disappointed by that. I realized pretty early in my business that I would be using a lot of my IT skills and my clients see the added value that this brings.

What tasks in your business do you enjoy working on the most?

I enjoy doing web design/website maintenance and internet marketing the most.

Which tasks do you dislike the most?

I not too long ago realized that I don’t enjoy doing bookkeeping (for my business), so I’ve taken it off my list of services.

Please describe your office (equipment, furniture, shrines!) and the working atmosphere you prefer.

I have a comfortable home office, a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop, a faithful 7 year old Dell PC and 4-in-1 HP printer combo. I recently got a VOIP phone; it got ridiculous to continue doing business on my cell phone and having dropped calls.

I prefer when it’s quiet, when my kids are at school. I can get a lot more work done.

Your website says you work with “coaches, speakers, authors, and realtors.” Does that accurately describe your current clientele?

Yes, it does. I support this clientele because I admire what they do. But I also have clients from other industries.

What is your advice to other VAs regarding client relations?

Make each client feel that they are your only client. Communication is so important; always keep clients in the loop.

What marketing tools or tactics have worked best for you?

All of my marketing activities have gotten me results. Some of my tactics include posting ads on bulletin boards, mailing out postcards, email marketing, and joining on and offline groups. Even if some haven’t yet produced clients, I’ve definitely gotten exposure.

Having thrived during your first year in business, what goals are you contemplating for the future? What changes do you plan to make during your second year; and what do you want life to be like for you ten years from now?

I’m working on building a business that can accommodate many more clients. In my second year, I want to refine my business model for substantial growth. Ten years is long time away. The most important thing for me is I want my family and loved ones to be healthy and safe. And I also want to be pleasantly surprised by how far I’ve come.

When it comes to getting up in the morning, what really motivates you?

My family motivates me, knowing that they are really proud of me.

What are some of your extracurricular interests?

For now, I have very little time for extracurricular interests. I have one or two movie nights a week with my husband and I enjoy school runs plus taking my oldest to her after school activities and chatting with the other moms.

I do plan on joining my local swimming club in the next few weeks.

You keep a blog on your website. Please discuss the benefits and drawbacks you find in maintaining that page.

I wish I could write more frequently on my blog and I will, soon…lol. It’s a great sample of my “limited” writing skills. A number of potential clients have asked for writing samples and I’ve directed them to my blog. The only drawback is having a blog and not keeping it up to date, not good!

Having been associated with VirtualAssistantForums.com for a long time, what is its benefit to you at this stage of your business/life?

I get to meet other VAs with varying levels of experience and the forum helps me stay informed about what is happening in the VA industry. There’s the tendency to focus less on ones business as it grows. The discussions here help me to pay attention to my business.

I have also connected with some fabulous subcontractors here as well.

Here’s a sample testimonial from one of Agnes’ very happy clients:

“It has been a pleasure to utilize Agnes’s services over the past several years. Her work has always been carried out with excellence, in both attitude and performance detail. She possesses an incredibly high work ethic- a rare commodity in today’s marketplace, and she has been a highly valued resource to us in the accomplishment of our business goals.”

Lisa Mims, Author/Speaker
A Fulfilled Life

Wethersfield CT — September 19, 2008 – Agnes Ikotun, owner of AI Virtual Solutions LLC, has been awarded IVAA Ethics Check award status by the International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA).

IVAA, the educational and credentialing association for the virtual assisting industry, awards the Ethics Check designation to virtual assistants passing an examination that assesses the virtual assistant’s business ethics competencies in key areas including billing issues, conflict of interest, privacy and confidentiality and the ability to perform the work.

The IVAA Ethics Check examination and Code of Ethics were designed to mitigate mistrust and serve to enable e-services internationally. They do so by bringing a single ethical benchmark to the diverse e-marketplace, setting a standard for cross-border business practices, helping ethical VAs set themselves apart from others, and helping prospective contractors to find e-service providers with a confirmed ethical foundation.

In accordance with IVAA Code of Ethics, Ms. Ikotun agrees to always exercise integrity, honesty and diligence in carrying out her professional duties and responsibilities. Safeguarding the interest of colleagues and clients and will not knowingly be a party to any illegal or unethical activity.

Ms. Ikotun believes that good business ethics should be a part of every business. Her key values are centered on excellence, integrity, and the desire to be an instrument in the success of her clients. Her motto is to treat everyone the way she also wants to be treated.

Agnes Ikotun specializes in providing virtual assistant services for coaches, speakers and authors around the globe.

For more information, contact:
Agnes Ikotun, Chief Virtual Assistant
AI Virtual Solutions, LLC
Phone: (860) 869-3525
E-Mail: info@aivirtualsolutions.com
Website: www.aivirtualsolutions.com

Happy 1st Birthday to
AI Virtual Solutions

*These alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, blogs, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

* monitoring a developing news story
* keeping current on a competitor or industry
* getting the latest on a celebrity or event
* keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

My alerts keywords are relevant to my industry and market niche for example: virtual assistant, agnes ikotun (Myself). I wonder how many people have their names as alerts, I enjoy seeing my name pop up…I digress. I also have alerts setup for clients that I provide Internet Marketing services for to drive relevant traffic back to their websites. My alerts frequencies are setup for once a week for my needs and once a day for my clients, so I’m notified as new things get posted on the net. Definitely try this resource if you are not already using it and do not hesitate to contact me if you need Internet Marketing assistance.

But do you take work home on a regular basis? Or are deadlines an issue? Jane Schulte, author of Work Smart, Not Hard!, says these are sure signs it’s time to delegate, whether you like it or not.

Here are some of her pointers for successful delegation:

* Start small, then increase delegation as skills develop.
* Define clear goals, deadlines and criteria for success.
* Provide all the needed resources and information.
* Give your subordinate full authority over the project.
* Offer guidance and advice without interfering.
* Focus on results, not the process.

If the project is successful, credit the person who got the job done; if there are problems, Schulte advises shielding the responsible subordinate from blame. “Learn from the experience so you can delegate more effectively, provide more training or delegate the next project to a different person,” she says.

The Po!nt: “Work should always be done by the lowest competent level,” says Schulte. Go down the chain of command, find the right person for the job, give them the tools they need to succeed and refocus on the high-level issues that demand your expertise.

Source: An unpublished article by Jane Schulte

A Virtual Assistant is just like an executive assistant or personal assistant, except that the Virtual Assistant handles your affairs from a distance, and electronically. This Top 10 List reviews the 10 most common ways to utilize the services of a Virtual Assistant. I’ve included my own experience below, when appropriate. (And, in case you’re wondering, my VA isn’t available for new clients…sorry.)

1. Get your bills paid.

I haven’t paid a bill for two years…my VA/bookkeeper, Irene, does all of that for me, using Quicken and CheckFree, via her computer. ALL of my bills use a mailing address at a mailbox-type place minutes from her home; she picks up the mail/bills and pays the bills each week using my pass code from my BankOne business checking account. She sends me the bank statement monthly which is one way I have to verifying my bank balance. Of course, embezzlement is ALWAYS a risk, so don’t turn over your checking account to someone who you don’t know well or trust….Also, you may want to simply wire in or transfer funds from another account each month to your bill paying account if you’re concerned about full access to your checking account funds.

2. Screens and forwards your mail.

Irene is sharp; she knows what I want to see and what I don’t want to see, snail-mail wise. I get a weekly Priority Mail envelope from her with just the goodies. What a relief! She uses her good judgment.

3. Solves problems that you don’t want to solve.

I have a coach on contract who I pay $100 each time I have a problem that I don’t want to deal with. I just tell my VA/Coach what outcome I want, answer her questions and wait for the email that it’s done. Now, this isn’t always perfect, but it works most of the time. Just knowing that I have someone to delegate problems to is such a great feeling!

4. Screen and handle email.

I know of several business owners who have a Virtual Assistant look at all of their email and handle what they can, leaving the rest for the business owner to handle. This can free up an hour or two a day and is reason enough to have a VA. Your VA just goes into your incoming email queue and does his/her magic several times a day. Dealing with confidential matters? Just set up a secret/private email address that you only give out to selected people.

5. Manage projects or reporting.

My VA has a weekly checklist of the information, statistics or reports that I need for a number of my projects. Sure, I could compile them myself, but why? I’d much rather the VA do this, and follow up the folks who haven’t reported in (I’m not a good ‘chaser). Sure, it’s cheating, but what’s wrong with living an insulated life?

6. Follow up with clients or other contacts.

I’ll email my VA to follow up with a client who missed a call or to ask a colleague how I can help them do something that I know they are working on, or to schedule a time to chat with a colleague. Do the colleagues mind that I’ve delegated this to my VA? Yes, they are offended sometimes, but only until they get their own VA.

7. Remind you of important dates.

I don’t use my VA for this, but some of my colleagues do. In some cases, the VA handles all of their scheduling/appointments and even reminds them of anniversaries, birthdays, reporting dates, etc. Why NOT!?

8. Point out what you cannot see/give advice.

My VA sometimes says, “Hey, Thomas, did you know that…..” I love this! Let’s me focus on what I want to focus on instead of having to keep my eye on everything or manage my own reminder system.

9. Screens/handles your phone messages.

Your VA can tap into your voice mail several times a day and ‘clean it out’ leaving you the calls that you need to handle. Again, your VA is more than your assistant and more than a message taker or message deliver. Your VA *is* you and acts on your behalf, protecting you and your time/space from the demands of the public/customers. You’ll need to train your VA on how to *be* you, but this will pay off handsomely. I empower my VA to set policy, make exceptions, solve problems, make mistakes, coordinate efforts, screen heavily, anticipate my needs and be a partner, not just a VA.

10. Develop systems of support.

I don’t just ask my VA to do stuff or handle tasks, but also to create systems so that things of a similar nature get handled automatically in the future. Most VAs need support and training on how to do this, but once they get it, you’re all set for a lifetime of a problem-free and task-free environment.

About the Author
This piece was originally submitted by Thomas J. Leonard, Founder, Coach University, who can be reached at thomas@thomasleonard.com.