Do Your Marketing Materials Accurately Reflect Your Business?

Starting your own successful Virtual Assistance business requires a significant investment of time, energy and some financial resources. There are many tools available to help you setup your home-based venture. One of the most important considerations in starting (or upgrading) your business is to create a brand that reflects the high quality services you provide.

Keep in mind though, just because you have a home based business, doesn’t mean it should look “homemade”. Everything you do from participating in social networks to your website should reflect a polished professional image. There is NO second chance for a first impression.

Therefore, you’ll want to give careful attention to how you create your marketing materials.No matter what it is: your website, note cards, email newsletter, headshot, social media profiles, etc. your marketing materials must be first class. This isn’t the time or the place to be stingy or cheap. You can create high quality materials for less than you think. Don’t lower the industry standards (or your personal professionalism) by printing materials on your computer or setting up your business website with a shoddy free template.

Make sure your marketing materials reflect all the hard work you’re doing to build your business! This is SO important! Your marketing materials are an extension of you and your business – make sure you position yourself as a service provider that your clients can trust and want to do business with.

Here are some guidelines for creating high quality marketing materials:

1. Website – Hands down, this is your most important piece of marketing real estate. This is usually your potential clients’ first (and could be their last impression) of you – make sure it is the right impression. Building a professional and useful website doesn’t have to be overly expensive. You can work with a professional designer to build a high quality website for about $600 by going to www.eatova.com/websites . This investment will go a long way in setting the foundation for your marketing materials.

   Your website needs to reflect what’s unique about your business and the services you offer. Your site should be easy to navigate, have clear copy that speaks to the reader and MUST have a professional headshot. People want to know who they’re working with and why they should work with you. Don’t leave them guessing. You also don’t want your site looking like someone else’s. So take the time to have your site professionally customized for YOUR brand. (Not whatever the ‘overnight website’ company thinks it should look like.)

2. Logo – Please, make the finanical investement to have your logo professionally designed. While I highly recommend you work with a professional designer that GETS your style and what you want to convey, there are many low cost options like www.LogoNerds.com , who can create a logo for your printed materials as well as your website header for less than $100.
3. Note cards – Note cards should be printed on high quality cardstock, no less than 80 lb. weight. Many of your local printers or large office supply stores can print these for you for a minimal cost. Make sure you include your customized logo and full contact details, so that your brand is on everything your client receives.

These are just a few guidelines to help get you started in the right direction. If you already have some marketing materials that are not high quality and do not reflect your professionalism, consider getting rid of them and starting over. While you might be able to recycle some things, you want to make sure to pull the substandard marketing materials out of circulation.

Having high quality marketing materials does not have to be expensive, but it does require forethought and planning.  You’ve worked hard to build your business and get where you’re at now, continue to build your business with quality.  This will speak volumes about you and the services you provide.