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Search Engine Optimization

One thing that turned writing for the Internet on its head was the invention of the search engine.  These handy tools index web pages and allows users to search for information online.  They display search results in order of relevance which is determined by the search engine’s algorithms.

With the rise of search engines came the opportunity for web pages to get more traffic but only if they could be found easily in search engine results.  So webmasters began to add keywords to their writing so that the search engines would recognize them as a good source of information about those words.

As the search engines have become more sophisticated it has become necessary to use keywords in a natural manner.  While making keywords invisible by making them the same color as the background once worked, search engines penalize pages that use that technique now.  Overusing keywords can also cause a site to be ranked lower and it makes the writing flow poorly.

Writing for Internet Users

The enormous amount of information now available on the Internet is another factor that has necessitated a change in writing techniques.  Web users are faced with numerous sources of information about virtually any topic.  That means that web copy must be attention-getting to keep them from moving on quickly.  Once the visitor has decided that the web page is worth looking at, the information they want must be there in order to prevent them from leaving to find it elsewhere.

Getting and keeping a user’s attention during their initial visit is important.  It is also vital to keep them coming back.  Whether you are selling products or bringing in advertising revenue, giving users an incentive to return is vital.  This can be accomplished by doing things such as adding new content frequently, offering special reports and encouraging them to sign up for your mailing list.

The Internet has a wealth of information to offer its users.  Getting visitors and keeping them coming back to your site requires you to get them there, get their attention and keep them interested.  Writing successfully for the Internet takes these things into consideration while giving visitors what they came for.

Simple Tips and Strategies To Create Your Compelling Web 2.0 Copy

Click here to download now (PDF – print or save to your computer)

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It has been repetitively said that communication is key.  Whether a business is looking to initiate new business or grow relationships within its existing book of business, effective communication is the driving force in helping companies moving their business in the right direction.

Communication should be seen as an ongoing process starting from the first phone or email contact with a prospect to the completion of a project or throughout the course of your relationship.  It is comprised of many components, many of which are highlighted below.

Following these ten important tips will help your company cohesively form a communication strategy that is sure to win over both new and existing clients alike:

1.    THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING

Just as it’s been said the best offense is a good defense, the same can be said for communication. Sometimes the best way to reach out to people is simply by listening to them.  Clients will never be shy about expressing their needs and concerns.  However, a lot of times companies have well developed sales approaches that don’t take into account the dynamic nature of client relations.

It is a good idea to know your strategy and have it firmed up; however, an essential part of that strategy should be formed around listening to what the client has to say on a regular basis. Good listening skills not only allow you to collect valuable information necessary to assist a client and answer their needs, but it also demonstrates sensitivity and understanding.

Listening will set the tone for the rest of your communication.  It will direct your efforts.  By actively listening to clients, you’ll know the best way to communicate with them.  Whether through email or phone, listening skills will foster the next steps in client relations.  This can not only help businesses fine tune their sales and implementation techniques but it will also help to create a long term client relationship, increasing visibility, referrals and market share

2.    EMAIL ETIQUETTE

Email has become the most effective and efficient way to communicate within the workplace. Almost 88 percent of all Internet users in the U.S. use email. This information comes from a survey conducted by the UCLA Center for Communication Policy (The UCLA Internet Report: Surveying the Digital Future. UCLA Center for Communication Policy. 2001).

According to the same survey, approximately 90 percent of those who use the Internet at work use it to access business email. It has provided its own unique set of issues to learn to navigate.  Although, intended to be used to communicate ideas and concerns, as well as, respond to needs as they arise, if not used correctly email can lead to miscommunication resulting in negative consequences.

The use of email can have a dramatic impact on business, a powerful communication tool.  Establishing an email protocol ensures that the client message remains on point and is done so in a   The key components to this would be acknowledging emails in a timely matter, using appropriate tone and making sure to check each email for any spelling or grammar errors.  Clients often may not notice the extra effort taken to deliver the perfect email; they will, however, be quick to point out any errors, miscommunications or poorly written emails.

3.    PHONE ETIQUETTE

The phone brings a real time approach to client interaction.  It allows you to get the true pulse of how a project is headed or what a client needs.  Having a team with proper phone skills are essential to any successful business.  It isn’t just a matter of picking up a phone and dialing the numbers; it is about having a productive, meaningful and engaging conversation.

A good phone conversation has three key elements:

a. The call should be uninterrupted and quiet. It should go without saying that the best place to call a client is from a quiet office and not from a mobile phone in a convertible.  However, with technology allowing us to be accessible 24/7, sometimes a quiet office may not always be available.  Still though, it is essential to find a location that will allow the topic of the call to be the focus and not background noise.  If it is necessary to step out of a room or take a few minutes to find a location, let the client know they will receive a call back shortly.  It is better to get back to them in reasonable time then for either party to be distracted.

b. An agenda should to be in place. It is not always the case that a formal agenda needs to be typed up and distributed ahead of time; however, there should always, at a minimum, be an outline of what needs to be taken care of during the conversation.  In busy settings, it is important to take time to check in on clients, but also important to be aware of their time constraints too.  A focused call will help achieve this.  The tone of a call can be as formal or informal as needed; however, it still needs to be driven by objectives and follow-ups.

c. Follow-up. If necessary or requested, it is a good practice to send a follow-up email thanking the client for their time, reviewing the hot topics of the conversation and putting in writing any requirements that need to be addressed in future calls. This gives another opportunity to show clients that by active listening, their needs are being heard and their goals are being worked towards. It also allows an opportunity to clarify any issues or questions that may have come out of the phone call, but still require more information.

4.    DEFINE THE PROJECT

Entering into an agreement with a client is the basic function of business.  Someone sees a need and decides to fill it.  Months are spent creating the perfect branding and marketing plan in preparations for opening the doors.  The hard work of running a business is rewarded in the success of expanding a client base.

The most important aspect of doing just that is making sure that the needs of the client are met in the most effective way.  So often a client needs one thing and through a series of miscommunication and internal meetings, the client ends up receiving something other than their vision.

Instead of being a business that revisits these issues in postmortems, a proactive way to solve this client killer is to develop a well defined project plan.   Having a definite project scope with appropriate follow-ups will help alleviate the stress of finding out mid course that the client is on a different page.  Defining scope can be as simple as meeting with a client to review the basic needs to as extensive as hiring and assigning a project manager to work with the client in a creating and sign off of formal scope document.

The level of defining scope will be dependent on the size of the project and the needs of the client.  This also goes back to the importance of actively listening.  By taking time early in the process to actively engage the client in what it they require will help to firm up the understanding of the deliverable they are expecting.  Putting the communication effort up front, can also be cost effective as there will be less potential for work spent trying to ‘fix’ issues as they arise.  A successful project is one that continually moves forward.  Moves laterally or backward are financially draining for both client and business owner.

Communicating scope at the beginning of the working relationship ensures that each day the project is active it is moving forward to both the benefit of client and business alike.  In the end, a project that is defined will leave less room for error and more opportunity for repeat business and word of mouth referrals.

5.    MAKE DEADLINES

Hand in hand with defining project scope is honoring the commitment promised to the client.  Scoping out the project ahead of time will allow proper resource allocation to be towards the project from the beginning.

Just as time is money for you, the client is dependent on your word to complete their needs in the time promised.  A delayed project not only adds more payrolls to the business expense, but it delays the end goal of the paying client.

Whether the business makes  t-shirts, hosts websites or performs online trading, the client is dependent on the expertise of the business.  One component of that expertise is the ability to listen to the needs the client is presenting and turning that into a functional timeline.

Your business is making money off the needs of the client, however, the client is dependent on a promised turnaround in order to make money.  A client is going to seek to hire those companies that not only provide the services they need but do so in the most cost effective manner.  They will be taking into account not only price point when making a decision with who to work, but also turn around time.

A business is only as good as its reputation.  And its reputation is solely based on that of its clients.  Communicating with clients on what they can expect is only half the battle; letting them know when they can expect it is the other.

Everyone knows that not all projects are delivered on time.  In fact only a small percentage of projects come in on time and under budget, so although hopeful most clients will be aware that there will be variables beyond control that can push a deadline.  However, how a company communicates that information to a client can be the difference between an angry client and a delayed yet very successful project.

Any successful business knows that there will have to be a fair share of adjusting to situations as they present themselves; going into projects clients will be aware they may need to shift from time to time, open and timely communication to them will allow them to make the changes necessary.

6.    EXPRESS NEEDS

Working with a client is a mutual relationship.  Just as the client is expecting certain things from the business, it is expected that the business will have certain needs for the client.  From the onset of the project through its completion, communicating on what is needed from the client will have a direct impact on how things progress.

As it is with the client conveying their requirements, taking the time to freely communicate expectations, concerns and preferences will help create a dynamic approach to the project and help build trust and rapport with the client.  Communicating has both an immediate and long lasting impact.  Instantly it sets the bar high for the project and lets the client know that they are working with a company they can trust.

7.    ADMIT & CORRECT MISTAKES

Throughout the course of a business relationship with a client there are bound to be situations when what the client wants or expects is not  done to the client’s expectations and, in turn, satisfaction.  When things go amiss, it makes good business sense to take the time to review what went wrong and why.

There are going to be times the ‘why’ is because the business made an error.  Never be afraid to step up to the plate and let the client know an error was made, and more importantly that it is being corrected – immediately.

Communicating issues with the client allows them to see that they have selected a company that both sees manages issues as they arise and doesn’t try to cover them up.  It is often said that it isn’t the lie that befalls a man, but the cover-up.  The same sentiment can hold true for businesses.  It isn’t the error that will hurt your relationship, errors happen; however, an attempted cover-up, denial or lie will have negative implications that can harm the ongoing project, as well as curtail any change of future projects with the client.

There will also be times after careful review it is determined that no real error was done, rather the client miscommunicated, change scope or is just being difficult.  Inevitably at some point everyone will run into this situation; the edict, “The customer is ALWAYS right” applies here.

Treat the client as if they are right, even if it means gritting your teeth. Although easier, and often more rewarding to point out no error was made taking that approach, this will not move the project forward.  Getting into a back and forth with a client on who was right and who was wrong can stall a project and create a new wave of issues to deal with.  There is no reason to admit fault during these situations, however, a skillful business person will listen to the needs of the client and communicate the desire to fix the issue.  Taking steps to rectify the situation without admitting fault will keep the project moving along and will satisfy the concern of the client.

At this point it may become necessary to add more check-in emails or meetings with the client to help alleviate this type of problem in the future. And the good news is once the project is over it the decision can be made to avoid future relations with the client.

8.    PROJECT TRACKING

As the start of the project nears it is a good idea to have a kick-off meeting with the client to review expectations, deadlines, scope, billing, and any other variables that will be tracked over the course of the project.

Structuring expectations of the project from day one will help minimize confusion as the project begins to roll out.  One way to do this is to track all components of the project and provide the client updates along the way.  For example, remember to track all time spent on the project; if billing is by the hour, make sure to send the client updates. No client wants to be surprised by a large bill due to miscommunication of time spent working on the project.

Keep the client abreast of the time it is taking to move the project forward, by communicating with them, it allows them the opportunity to make adjustments if necessary and will help to avoid any payment issues on the back end.  Also track as much of the client communication as you can too.

A system such as Basecamp keeps track of every communication with the client and solves the “didn’t you get my email?” problem.  An overall tracking strategy also allows you the freedom to provide feedback to the client on a moment’s notice.  If they have questions as to the amount of time, the cost, or the overall efficiency of the project, it will be easy to provide them a quick response addressing all of their concerns.

9. LET IT ROLL OFF YOUR BACK

The business world can be tough.  With the best team leading a project, the best efforts in place and the best outcome resulting, there are still going to be situations where it just isn’t good enough for someone.  Even with all the best efforts put forward, inevitably a client will ask for a report to be worded a certain way or for a logo to be in neon yellow and orange. Provide them a professional opinion of what’s better; however, remember at the end of the day (and budget) it is their project and as discussed earlier, ‘the customer is always right.”

Criticism is bound to happen at all levels of the project, from the client to internal meetings, try not to take it personally and think of criticism as an objective opportunity to make the project better.  The more often criticism is presented; the easier it will be to keep it in check, remember its importance and to use it as a tool to move forward.

10. CUSTOMER SERVICE | CUSTOMER SERVICE | CUSTOMER SERVICE

If as if they say, ‘location, location, location’ are the three most important variables in deciding where to start a business, then ‘customer service, customer service, customer service’ are the three most important to keeping it up and running.

Communication is the core component to providing top notch customer service.  From the moment a prospect calls with an inquiry into the services provided to thank you notes, communicating is the best customer service approach to let the client know they matter are appreciated.

One of the most important customer service skills is the ability to understand and effectively respond to the customer’s needs and concerns.  Excellent customer service starts by first taking the time to get to know the customer, his situation, his vision, his frustrations and his goals.

Providing great customer service is not difficult nor does it require a lot of effort.  What good customer service requires is a belief in the philosophy that the business is dependent on the client, and in turn will work to make sure the clients needs are the most important thing.

Clients want to work with those businesses who demonstrate a sincere desire to help them with anything they need, and they are willing to pay for it. Yes, they want products to work and services that meet their needs. More importantly though, they want someone to care when something goes wrong

Everything discussed thus far in this article lead up to this point.  By following the tips as outlined above, you are essentially creating the manual for a customer service plan.  It’s important that every member of the team be on the same page with customer service.

Proper training complete with guidelines on best practices will make sure customer service is consistent across the company.  Making the clients feel appreciated and listened to will keep them coming back for more and in a lot of cases will bring new clients right to the doorstep.

Looking over this article it’s easy to sense a general theme established in the first sentence.  Communication is key!

Communication is the most important tool that a business has to establish, grow and maintain a client base.  Communication is found in every aspect of business.  In fact it is not just in every aspect of day to day operations; it is the core of them.  We are never more than a click or number away from talking to someone about what is needed and how it is going to be delivered.

Technology provides the necessary functions of phone and email. These key tools are used daily to follow up, host meetings, and provide ongoing updates and, if used properly can be used to turn any project into a successful one.

Communicating is not just practiced with clients, internal communication helps to create a team that works within the philosophy the customer is always right. Building a business based on that philosophy, in turn creates a culture that is based on excellent customer service.

Ongoing training keeps all staff up to date with the protocols of the company and makes sure every interaction with a client at each level of the business is the best it can be.  Internal communication can also be found by using a third party tool that will help track client communication, helping to avoid issues of lost email or poor follow-up and allow the business to continually improve internal methods.

With clients looking to get the best service for their money, it behooves companies to focus on continually evaluating and improving communication as needed.  The tips in this article are a good starting point for companies to review and discuss.  Not only do they outline the importance of communication, but they create a basic protocol, that if followed, will help companies firm up a strategy for client communication, training and internal tracking.

Communication can be seen as the most important tool a company can have.  It touches each level of the organization and each client it works with.  It is the key to making sure that the efforts that were put into the formation of the business are rewarded with long lasting and profitable client relations.

While there are many, many tips that are highly useful, I will go over a few main ones and this will give you an excellent start of being on board the successful email train.

Keep your messages to a concise format and brief length, getting to your point.  There is no reason to provide more details than what is necessary.  Your email should start with a proper salutation using titles such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., etc.  Only start with a person’s first name if that is the only information that you have.  Beyond that, state why you are writing and request any information that you are seeking.  Do not abbreviate as this looks unprofessional and may cause confusion for those who may not understand the abbreviation.

When needing to deal with several different subjects it is recommended that these subjects are broken down and separate emails are sent, with the subject line having a descriptive, yet short heading.  In this fashion, the recipient understands the topic almost immediately and more clearly, and is able to respond more precisely.  In addition, he does not forget a response, such as can happen with an email with many different topics.  This also provides ease in scanning quickly for a needed email, ensuring a proper and timely response – which in turn will save time.

As regards a timely response, emails don’t necessarily need to be answered immediately but there are the occasions when it is more prudent to do just that.  In cases of sales, customer service or tech support this may be required, otherwise effectiveness of the communication loses ground.

When composing your emails, always keep in mind the tone that is being set.  It is much harder to decipher the exact inflection of an email than it is when in a face to face conversation.  Know that if you are angry, upset, frustrated or even tired that this can easily come across in your email and thus send out the wrong tone, possibly causing misunderstandings which serve only to waste time.

Resist criticizing others, as this is never professional and can show as a poor personality on your part.  In responding to emails, be mindful of who this email will go to.  You may have sensitive information that is not suitable to use for the ‘reply to all’ option.  Also avoid chain letters; they contribute to clutter akin to junk mail and will usually be deleted before they are even read.  Always, always be sure to use “Please” and “Thank you” as it is courteous and will be received much better than if you don’t.

Following these simple tips will improve productivity through good communication skills.  This in turn will allow for a much smoother transaction all the way around.   Your professionalism will show and good reputation will come forth.

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My question is, where do you keep this information?  On your cell phone, PDA, computer, on a notepad, maybe even in a camera if there are pictures?  There are many places in which to keep information and considering today’s technology, many people choose an electronic device in which to store their pertinent information.

Wherever you keep it, there is one hugely important rule when obtaining, storing and maintaining this information:  Back it up!  I know people who are freelance writers and photographers, and those same people have lost a majority of their information at one time or another.  They wake up, turn on their computer or other electronic device and see that it is crashing or has crashed.  Imagine the stress they feel when they realize that all their information could be lost.

There are many ways to avoid this – maybe not the crash necessarily, but the loss of data.  All you has to do is simply have a backup procedure on a regular basis, and chances are you will lose nothing – or if you do, the impact will be minimal.  Alternative backup is available in many forms – using CDs to copy, using an online storage facility, or using an email service and sending all these items to yourself.

This email trick is one I use for information that is not content sensitive.  In managing customer data, keep in mind organizational skills and know what content is sensitive.  Having an organized system will alleviate a lot of time looking for information.  If there are several people who use the same information, a plan needs to be in place in case someone goes looking for what you have; if they can’t find it, at least they would know where to look.

Maybe this is something as simple as a sign out sheet.  If using a database program, go through this database every couple of weeks and update, delete or add to the information that you already have.  In doing this, you can take outdated information away and update information where necessary, which allows more accessibility for others.

Lastly, keep your information secure.  You can use the services of an outsourced company to keep your records or keep them yourself but either way, keep your information safe from being stolen.  Don’t leave information just lying around.  Don’t leave it in your car if you can help it; people break in.  Don’t leave sensitive information in your email or just in a simple saved file within your computer. Things get stolen and hacked into.

By using proper security within your database management as well as good organizational skills, you will not only save time, prevent losses and maintain security.  You will also be much happier when you are on the go and you need information in a hurry.

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Here are some tips on what to include:

• Company Mission and History

Prepare a statement that allows readers to understand just what the purpose of your company and product are, and what you hope to achieve as a business.  A bit of background on the creation of your business and its products is also useful.

• Product List

An extensive product list will give readers an overview of what products and services your business has to offer.  Extreme detail of each product isn’t necessary.  A brief overview of each item will suffice.  Be sure to include the benefits and purpose of each product.

• Company Bios

Create a page of biographies of the key members of your business team.  Include a brief background, including education information, their personal history with the company, promotions they have received, and outside interests.  Make sure that there is enough personal information so that the bio does not read as a resume, rather a glance at the life the people who make your business tick.

• Company News and Press Releases

Keeping readers abreast of up-to-the-minute company news is also beneficial in a media page.  Link to your company blog and keep the information current.  Also include links to press releases, media mentions of your company, a listing of public appearances, and anything else that may give your company and product a credibility boost.  This section should include enough information for any member of the media to create a compelling story of the current happenings and developments of your business.

• Brochures, Logos, Images

Finally, make links to brochures, logos and product images available on your media page.  This will allow members of the media to develop stories and articles about your company and accompany them with the necessary visuals, without having to go through internal channels to receive the information.  By making these tools easily accessible, reporters and writers will more likely select your product as a potential story lead.

These are the basics of what you can include in your media page.  Some information may be too lengthy to contain within the page itself, so create addition pages and link them to the media page.

Always remember to include any relevant contact information for those who need further information about your company and its services.  With a well put together media page, chock full of information, you can guarantee a better presence for your company within the world of the media.

• Get help with your press releases.  View details here.

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Unfortunately, while many website owners are skilled at creating valuable video content, they forget about SEO optimizing this content for the search engines. This is a mistake as search engine spiders can index video content, if you know how to show them the way.

1.  Use Video Tagging

Most video-sharing sites allow you to create “tags.” Tags are simply keywords that describe video contents. This tagging makes it easier for people to find your content and it makes your content easier for spiders to index. Make sure to use all the tags you can.

2. Use Video Titles

Give your video a title. Titles serve two purposes, like an attention grabbing headline they capture the attention of your prospect and when you use keywords, they can enhance your  search engine rankings.

3.  Categorize your videos

Video sharing sites typically require you to place your video in a specific category. The more specific you can categorize your video, the better.

4.  Create a relevant file name.

If you are hosting a video on your own site, of course still take the time to title and tag your videos and take your SEO one-step further by creating a relevant file name for your video with keywords.

5.  Publish only one video per web page.

Experts recommend only publishing one video per webpage with a simple text title and description. Seo optimizing the page where you publish your video for both video search engines and content search engines by using meta tags for the content of the page. They also recommend creating separate video site maps, which can be submitted to video and content search engines alike.

6.  Use keyword optimized anchor text

Use this option if you link to the video from other pages of your Web site.

7.  Consider Using YouTube Suggest Tool to Generate Keywords

At this point you’re probably familiar with many of the content keyword tools, however for video optimizing, many experts recommend using YouTube’s Suggest tool. Because Google owns YouTube, it works much like the Google Suggest tool.

Per the YouTube Blog, “A query suggestions option is now available for search. To opt in, click the “advanced” link next to the search button, then choose “Display query suggestions as I type” from the search settings. As you type in your search terms a menu will appear with suggested results to choose from to help you more quickly find the videos you’re looking for. On the search results page you’ll also get an additional list of recommended searches by clicking on any of the terms listed next to the new “Also try” menu.

Video content is interactive content and therefore highly regarded by visitors. When it’s informative and entertaining it can be one of the most valuable forms of content on a website. Seo optimizing it for the search engines just makes sense. Utilize these seven steps to make sure your video content is indexed by the search engines.

*Grab your copy of our brand new ebook, “Breakout Seo” to learn powerful strategies you can use immediately to easily attract organic traffic from the search engines.

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Outsourcing became popular in the mid 1980’s and has continued to be a major part of big business practices with even more companies joining in and utilizing this service.
Most recently, this practice has reached beyond big corporations and is being done by businesses of all sizes, especially Internet business owners.

Among the many tasks that are being outsourced by online business owners, the most common ones are:

• Customer Support
• Content Creation
• IT/Tech Support
• Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation
• Keyword Research
• Article Submissions
• And tons more

A business owner can outsource tasks such as these in order to free up their own time and grow their business.

You may be wondering why this practice has taken off in the online business world. The simple truth is outsourcing saves money. The monetary savings are a huge part of why most companies choose to go this route. However, there are also the advantages of not having to offer benefits such as time off, health insurance, equipment, office space and not having to pay income taxes for independent contractors versus full-time employees.

There are many other reasons a company may decide that it is time to outsource. The following are some of the reasons, in addition to cost savings, why online business owners decide to go the outsourcing path:

• Quality Assurance – When an agreement to outsource has been reached, the outsourcing provider has to strictly adhere to a level of service that should exceed expectation. The business owner has full reign on how their services should be carried out and performed.

• Experienced Staff – Services that are needed will be filled by tapping into a larger pool of people who have expertise in the field needed.

• Time Management – Since a lot of the positions that are being outsourced are time intensive, this will free businesses to focus on more pressing aspects of their company.

• Expansion of Business – Many online business owners start out doing everything for their business by themselves. Once the business takes off it reaches a point where it is no longer possible for the owner to do it all alone if they ever want to grow.

• Time to Enjoy Life – The majority of online businesses were started because the owner wanted to actually be able to spend more time doing “non” work things and making more money than a regular JOB can provide. When owners outsource work in their business they are also freeing up their time to do the things they enjoy doing away from the business.

As you can see, outsourcing has its benefits. Whether or not the time is right to start outsourcing in your business is a decision only you, as the owner, can make. Take some time to think about where your business is and how outsourcing certain tasks might help you achieve your goals, both business and personal.

• To get a helping hand with your business today, check out our Outsourcing Services page.

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Offshore outsourcing is a way to hire an external organization in a different country to perform some or most of the functions of a business. The development and manufacturing is usually done in the home country of the business and by outsourcing to a different country, the costs of running that business are reduced, allowing for a better profit margin. But, is it really worth it?

While many Internet business owners want to cut costs wherever they can, it’s important to remember cutting costs is NOT the most important factor. While not all offshore service providers fit this description, many don’t possess the quality of work an online business owner is looking for.

There can be many reasons for this:

1. Language barriers can cause many problems for the business owner.

2. Business concepts or practices may not be grasped by the company performing the work. This is usually because things are done differently in their country.

3. Time zone differences can be a pain to work with if they are too far apart.

4. Currency issues. Many times you save money when you pay someone in a country whose currency is different than your own, but not always. If you don’t have a payment outlet that automatically converts, it is time consuming to figure out the current conversion rate if you aren’t used to how it’s done.

5. Depending on the company, can you really feel good knowing that you’re paying someone pennies (sometimes literally) to complete work for you.

6. Many offshore companies will not do small tasks, which sometimes is all that needs to be done for an online business.

Let me first be clear about something. By offshore outsourcing we’re not talking about freelancers who live in other countries, but instead the big companies who employ workers (who sometimes work for very little pay) to complete the work you need done.

Some common outsourced tasks for online business owners include content creation and writing of various sorts which is why hiring someone from a different country to do the work can be difficult. When you write for your website, you want to write for your readers and if the writer you hire doesn’t do this correctly, you’ll spend a lot of time making corrections or editing their writing. Not a good thing when you’re trying to focus your time on other important areas of your business but can’t because you’re spending too much time going back over someone else’s work.

That being said there are Internet marketers and other online business owners who have found success with outsourcing to offshore companies. As with any other business decision you need to think long and hard before you make a choice as to whether or not to outsource your work to an offshore company.

The main factor behind this practice is the need to cut costs. However, as I mentioned before, quality and customer satisfaction are more important than cost reduction in the long run.

• To get a helping hand with your business today, check out our Outsourcing Services page.

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Virtual Assistants make up a huge portion of service providers online. Because they work from home themselves, they know what it’s like to build a business on a tight budget. This is the perfect scenario and a win-win for both parties. Virtual assistants need the work and you need someone committed to your business who is reliable and understands your situation.

What types of things can virtual assistants  do?

The talents of these assistants are endless actually, but here is a nice size list to give you an idea of the types of things you can hire a virtual assistant for:

Virtual Assistants – VAs provide a variety of services and many specialize in certain areas. You can find a virtual assistant who handles customer service, writes, and creates audio and video material and tons more. Many get paid hourly for their services, but are well worth more than their hourly rate.

Technical Gurus – From HTML to software creation there are tons of moms who love the techie side of things.

Blog Installations & Maintenance – This is a growing service with the emergence of WordPress especially. You can find assistants who specialize in not only installing your blog but even managing your content too.

Ghostwriters – From articles to eBooks and everything in between there are tons of assistants who have turned their love of writing into a business.

Transcriptionists – Many assistants build an entire business around transcribing audio for website owners. If you’re looking for someone to transcribe a report, podcast or interview, look for a transcriptionist.

Editors and Proofreaders – Tired of looking over every single word your ghostwriter sends you? Hire an assistant to do it for you!

Affiliate Managers – The services of some affiliate managers can cost a fortune. From recruiting and training affiliates to paying them and creating tools and resources for your affiliates, there’s probably an assistant who can do it for less than the big dogs and do it well too!

Copywriters – It’s no secret that many online business owners don’t write their own copy, but if you think paying a professional copywriter is cheap think again. Some charge in the thousands just for one sales page. Save some money and hire an experienced virtual assistant that specializes in copywriting instead.

Press & Media Specialists – If you’re looking to get your business noticed you’ll need some PR. There are virtual assistants who focus their efforts on just that. From press releases to social media outlets, these assistants can get you noticed by the right people.

As with anyone you consider outsourcing to, do your research before hiring a virtual assistant. There are unfortunately a few bad apples out there so ask around in your circle of friends and business partners for their recommendations. I’ll be willing to bet that many of those you associate with have worked with or currently work with at least one work at home mom service provider.

• To get a helping hand with your business today, check out our Outsourcing Services page.

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Technical Tasks – Technical stuff isn’t my best friend. As a matter of fact, many online business owners have a fear of the techie side of their business and for good reason. In one click you can lose it all if you don’t know what you’re doing. Save yourself from the possible heartache by hiring someone who specializes in this area to maintain your website or create software for you.

Bookkeeping/Tax Preparation – Most of us dislike the numbers side of business (unless of course your business is bookkeeping). Unless it’s the numbers making it into our pockets we just don’t have an interest in the figures. Save yourself a lot of heartache at tax time and hire a bookkeeper. Then when your accountant asks for your annual information you can simply hand it over!

Customer Service – Many online marketers have a hard time letting go of this part of their business, but in all actuality it serves more than one purpose. You no longer spend an entire day replying to or checking your email. Even better, you aren’t emotionally attached to the responses you might receive. When you’re that close to the action words can hurt. If you let someone who is not so vested in your business, you’ll only see the things necessary for your input. Let the haters have their say, now you don’t have to let it get you down.

Website Design & Maintenance – Do you have a vision for your website, but have no idea how to make it real? Let a professional handle it. No need to learn every little detail in order to keep your site maintained or even created from scratch.

These are only 7 of the many, many tasks that can easily be outsourced to someone else. Take a minute to think of the things you could use a hand with or just want to be relieved of in your business and start researching people who can help you get them done. Once you start removing things from your plate, you can then focus on the things you enjoy doing in your business – the things that an owner should be centering their attention on.

• To get a helping hand with your business today, check out our Outsourcing Services page.

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