Simply Ask my PA

How Press Releases Can Be Great For Search | WebProNews

Press releases are not only great ways to spread the word about any announcements your business might have. They can also drive traffic, particularly from search engines. This is not news, but it's a commonly overlooked fact.

Search engine rankings are arguably the most important small business marketing tool available today because it drives Web traffic and potential prospects to a small business' website. However, because improving search rankings is desirable, achieving results can be both challenging and highly competitive.

Back in the summer, PRWeb shared a case study with us, involving a firm that typically sees a boost in search engine rankings and a 50% spike in web traffic after they issue a release. In fact, for one release in particular, the firm saw a spike of 400% on two different Web sites, and the firm doesn't believe they were from the same users. They also incorporate social media tools like Twitter to extend the "shelf life" of press releases, and say that drives additional traffic. "When we included a link to our press releases on Twitter and other social media networks, we saw these both expanded the scope of distribution and the extended the longevity of the announcement," the CEO of the company behind the case study had said.  "With other news releases we saw an initial spike in Web site traffic on the first two days and then it dropped off.  With these features we've seen increases in traffic up to five days after the news release was issued." In a study from Arketi Group, also back in the summer, journalists were found to use the web in the following ways:

via www.webpronews.com

4Networking 2010

I am getting ready for an avalanche of 4 Networking activity in 2010.

If you have a business or you are thinking of starting a business in 2010 then you must have a look at http://www.4networking.biz/

Book Review - Get off your Arse

Check out my review of this great business book, as you might have guessed its called GET OFF YOUR ARSE written by Brad Burton of 4Networking fame.

REVIEW

Ten ways to use Twitter to promote your business

If you use Twitter or are thinking, what is it all about then this is a great article for you.

Twitter is not just about telling people what you had for lunch or when your next hair appointment is. It can, when used properly be a very strong business tool.

Have a read of this and the mysteries of Twitter will be uncovered!!

Ten ways to use Twitter to promote your business.

Life without iPhone - No way!!

What is the one gadget that you can't live without?

My iPhone is now a permanent attachment to my arm. I was reluctant to get a phone which appeared so big and without actual keys was so annoying to text with however with much coaxing from a fellow director I made the jump and now I cannot live without it.

You get used to its touch screen and the way it operates the same as any other new mobile but the functionality is awesome and the app store is probably one of the best inventions / services ever created.

Nominations, awards... what have we been up to?

Here's to the success of Ask my PA! So what are we toasting? Well the team have been working extremely hard over the past 6 months supporting many clients and all with very different needs. The one thing we are great at is juggling very many different balls at once and we don't mind blowing our own trumpet either!

It seems that we're not only ones who are blowing our trumpet but many other businesses are raving about us too! We were nominated for the Bradford GRID's Gem Awards for Most Exciting Business Idea in September and received runner up! We were also nominated in October for New Business Idea at Network SHE Awards! Blimey, I feel a speech coming on!

On top of all this I have been invited to be a speaker at an event next year as our virtual PA support has been identified as a perfect support platform to help our local disabled entrepreneurs.

I know first hand how having a disability can affect your every day life. For over 18 years I had a 60% hearing loss in both ears and wore hearing aids which caused me much frustration in my line of work as a PA for a corporate company. I would sometimes miss interpret what people were saying and the inaptness of my desk phone against my hearing aid was horrendous to say the least so I know only too well how the smallest of disabilities can present you with the biggest challenges.

The growth of Ask my PA is to provide an accredited Training Academy which will give training and support to those who have a desire to work from home but don't have the technical know how. This will be particularly beneficial to those who are housebound and also parents who struggle to fit child care arrangements around a 9-5 job. Outsourcing work and home working is now becoming more desirable as companies are reaping the benefits of not having to pay overheads associated with employment. They no longer have to worry about Tax and Insurance, holiday pay, sickness, lighting, heating, equipment or even the none productive time such as the good old tea breaks!

It seems to me like this is a win win situation and another reason to celebrate!

We will keep you informed on the progress of the Ask my PA Training Academy and we are currently having talks with the right people to help move this forward.

The Genius Groove

Have you ever wondered how some people become more successful in life than others? What are they doing that perhaps we are not? Were they born into a privileged life where money and success seem to attract each other?

Luckily for me I was about to hear the answer to this question. I recently attended an event where Dr Manjir Samanta-Laughton MBBS and Author of The Genius Groove gave a fantastic insight into our own personal beliefs and why we create our own barriers.

It really hit home during her presentation when she asked why we believe others are more successful in life than us. Most of us assume it's down to good old intelligence, they must be brighter than us, have great degrees! I was pleased to hear this is not the case, the reason they are successful is down to their own beliefs and a strong desire to achieve results no matter how big or small the quest may be!

I want to use a very simple example of this when I wanted to buy an item from a store in Manchester. They didn't have my item in stock so I tried one of their other stores. Still no luck and apparently this was an old stock item which I probably wouldn't be able to get anywhere else. Undeterred I visited both of their stores in Leeds where I was told the same story, "sorry but you won't get that anywhere else now as it's redundant stock".

Two days later I phoned the same shop in Leeds and gave the product code of my item where I was informed they had 2 in stock! Had I listened to all 4 shops telling me "sorry we can't help you" I wouldn't have my item today and maybe someone else would have purchased it!

I learnt a very valuable lesson that day which I use in business and that is to be a little persistent and very patient. Keep in contact with those you meet in business and don't strike them off because they don't need your service or product right now. Businesses change, management structures change, processes and requirements change, products and services can change and when they do, you need to be there because if you're not, someone else will be!

Granted this may have been a small quest but none the less it was an achievement with a positive result! Now imagine if that was a contract I was pursuing! The desire is the same, the belief is the same which only leaves the result and the only negative result which can be guaranteed is the lack of trying!

Networking Tips

Whether you love it or loath it networking is one of the many ways to make introductions to others in business. I remember my first event which took place a few months prior to starting my business. I hadn't actually come to network, I was there to support my graphic designer who was showcasing his amazing work at York Venturefest. I'd heard there was a network event taking place where you would learn how to network (or so i thought)!

I was ushered into a large room of approximately 80 people and informed we were about to do some "speed networking". Dare i say i felt like a rabbit caught in the headlight's not daring to move and my heart beating so fast i thought my chest would explode! This was purely because i didn't know what to expect, and a fear of the unknown.

I had no business cards to hand out like everyone else, no website for others to view and no prepared speech! I listened intently to others before it came to my turn. My 60 seconds came and the words just flowed. As the last person in our group spoke about her business she turned to me and said "you're hired"! and handed me her business card!

This happened to me at the next 3 tables and i wondered if this was normal? I hadn't heard anyone else being "hired" on the spot so i asked my partner and graphic designer who both assured me this was NOT normal so what was i doing that perhaps others weren't?

I greet every person i meet as though i have known them all my life. Simple as that! This brings down barriers and instantly makes you and your new acquaintance feel at ease. I also look people in the eye and engage them whilst they are talking. There's nothing worse than someone casting their eye over your shoulder whilst your talking so don't do it! We've all seen that "glazed over" look when someone's switched off because they don't need your services so if you're doing it they will see it!

Another tip is do not thrust your business card into someone's hand BEFORE you have introduced yourself. If you can't be bothered to give your name and explain what you do then why should anyone bother to do business with you? I've seen it happen too many times where people have this silly notion that their work is done now everyone has their business card.I personally will not take these home and always leave them behind so if you see your card's left on tables you know why!