Do you have a website, but find it a challenge to keep it updated? If so, you may be in the market for a Virtual Assistant who specializes in website management. Much cheaper than a website overhaul, a simple maintenance plan can keep your website up to date and looking fresh.

I will admit, right off the bat, that I am not a designer. I have never had any formal education in designing print materials. Nor would I consider myself to have artistic flair when it comes to the creation and layout of websites and print advertisements. What I do have is a sense of what appeals to me. When I see something that catches my eye I often bookmark the site, cut out the magazine photo or take a picture. Then when I’m ready to create a new web layout or advertisement I search through my snippets for inspiration. Sometimes I find myself unhappy with the placement of an object or the combination of typographic styles. Somehow the overall design seems — off. It’s when I hit this “How To” wall that I turn to my trusty friend and close companion… the Internet.

I have been a fan of WordPress for many years. I began using WordPress as a blogger, but soon found that using WordPress as a Content Management System (CMS) was the best option for my needs. I’ve created several websites that are pure CMS or a CMS/blogging mix. I’ve found WordPress to be an extremely adaptable alternative to other website platforms. I joke that it is the chameleon of the web world, changing its face to meet the needs of the environment it is in.

You just contracted with the best deisgner in town and had a new website put together. You admit it looks great – just the right measure of flash and professionalism. Since you’ve changed the design though, your web sales are down. Google Analytics is showing that people aren’t just clicking on the categories and posts on your home page. What happened?

You may have developed the greatest product since sliced bread. You may even be giving it away for free. But if no one knows that your amazing business or organization exists, how will they ever make a purchase from you?

Adding opportunities for prospective customers to interact with your business in a positive way allows you to gain trust as an online entity. Trust is fundamental when doing business online because without it many prospects are unwilling to make that final step and part with their hard earned cash. By utilizing tools such as blogs and newsletters you can help cultivate a sense of trust that will encourage prospects to turn into customers. It’s something that I like to call “pre-customer service.”

We’re changing the look and feel of the website to more accurately reflect our customer base. Expect to see a few changes over the next 24 hours.

This Friday we’re improving our grammar one comma at a time.

When I started freelance writing I put zero money down. I began it as an experiement in the evenings after my day job. I knew I loved to write, I had good reviews of my writing and great success in college English classes, but I wasn’t sure how it would work as a business idea. The experiment was a success and now I’m a full-time freelance writer working in the comfort of my own home. However, if I could start over again there is definitely one thing I would have done differently – created a larger financial cushion.

It’s easy as a Freelance Writer to forget about your own blog. Just look at me. Over the past few months I’ve been back and forth with consistancy and now, looking at my end product – well, I’m disapointed in myself. Afterall, how can I prove to a potential client that I’m the best choice for their job?