What is marketing?

If you asked 10 people what "marketing" means to them, you would likely get 10 different answers. You'd probably get a mix of advertising, branding, promotion, public relations, social media, business development, planning, marketing mix and more.

In my mind, marketing is all of the activities and tools that a person or company uses to promote its products, services or ideas. It should include all of the items mentioned above and so much more. So the next time you think about marketing and the tools available to you, don't limit your thinking to one aspect of marketing. Think of the entire gamut of possibilities, and you'll find a wealth of tools and opportunities available to you.

Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts

What are your marketing challenges?

Marketing and PR are great vehicles for small businesses, particularly in a difficult economy where a consistent marketing presence is more important than ever. The challenge, however, is having enough time, money and manpower to market to your target audience consistently and effectively.

I want to help you hit that challenge head on; I am working with Kirk Davis at Green River Community College to put together some very specific marketing "how to" workshops that can help you to grow or sustain your business, even during troubled times.

To provide content that is most useful to businesses like yours, I'd love to get your input.

1) What marketing challenges do you face as a small business owner? (e.g., limited time or money, lack of knowledge, lack of manpower, etc.)

2) What marketing tools (e.g., e-mail marketing, press releases, event promotion, etc.) would you like to learn more about?

3) Do you use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Biznik? Would you like to learn how to use these tools to increase your social capital?

4) What marketing ideas or tools would you implement on your own if you just knew how?

5) Do you have a marketing plan? Do you update and adapt that plan as needed?

Please e-mail your replies to me at dana@virtuallyyourz.com or call me at 360-920-1737. I value your input and will keep your replies confidential.

Thank you and may you and your business be prosperous in 2009!

Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts

A strategy that can't miss

In marketing, I've seen only one strategy that can't miss -- and that is to market to your best customers first, your best prospects second and the rest of the world last.
- John Romero

Virtually Yourz Expands, Hires Two Writers

November 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Marketing Company – Virtually Yourz – Expands, Hires Two Writers

Kent, Washington, November 17, 2008 – Dana Blozis, owner of Virtually Yourz, announced today that she has expanded her company, adding two local writers, DeAnn Rossetti and Gail Schaar, to her staff. Rossetti and Schaar will assist Blozis in providing writing, editing and marketing services to Virtually Yourz clients.

Rossetti, an award-winning freelance writer and reporter based in Maple Valley, has more than 20 years of writing experience. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama/speech and history and a Master’s degree in writing. In addition to working for Virtually Yourz, Rossetti writes book reviews, feature stories, business articles and more for local and online publications.

Formerly with the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Schaar has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and advertising from Washington State University. She has a wide range of public relations, marketing and advertising experience and has won two awards from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Schaar’s specialty is events promotion.

“Since moving to Kent in 2005, my business has grown beyond my expectations. After repeatedly turning down business, I knew it was time to hire additional writers,” Blozis said. “I’m thrilled to have DeAnn and Gail on my team. They bring a unique mix of professionalism and creativity to Virtually Yourz that further enhances the services we provide to our clients.”

With a degree in business administration, Dana Blozis started Virtually Yourz in 2004, after a 20-year career in the financial services industry. Specializing in small business marketing and public relations, Virtually Yourz provides writing, editing and marketing services to corporate clients, small businesses and nonprofit organizations. In addition to running Virtually Yourz, Blozis writes for publications including Seattle Business, Seattle Metropolitan, South Sound magazine, Computer Source, The Seattle Times, Kent magazine, Renton magazine and more. She also serves as the president of the Western Washington Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

For more information about Virtually Yourz, contact Dana Blozis at 360-920-1737 or visit the company’s website at www.VirtuallyYourz.com.

For more information, please contact:

Dana Blozis, Owner
Virtually Yourz
360-920-1737 phone
253-859-9257 fax
dana@virtuallyyourz.com
www.virtuallyyourz.com

Make Time for Marketing

When business owners are busy, marketing is often the first thing to be set aside, but its importance remains key to business success. To make time for marketing, try scheduling your marketing activities on a daily basis so that you accomplish a little bit every day. For example, try something like this:

Monday - Client and prospect follow-up
Tuesday - Networking, new blog post
Wednesday - E-mail marketing (newsletter, promos, coupons, etc.)
Thursday - Change voice mail message to talk about newest product or service.
Friday - New blog post, place ad in local paper

By biting off your marketing activities in small chunks, marketing suddenly becomes easier to manage and less overwhelming. Stay tuned for more free marketing ideas!

Virtually Yourz,

Dana

Virtually Yourz Back from Hiatus

Hello, loyal readers!

I've been doing some business traveling these past two weeks, so I haven't been able to keep up my blog. Fortunately, my creativity is high so the ideas are flowing. Stay tuned for more useful marketing and business tips later this week!

Virtually Yourz,
Dana

What is your biggest marketing challenge?

For some of us, our biggest marketing challenge is knowing what to do. For others, it is knowing how to do it. If you aren't an expert but need a little help, there are thousands of written and online resources to try. A few of my favorite books are:

Complete Publicity Plans
Small Business Marketing for Dummies
Marketing for Dummies
The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide

For my favorite websites, check out my links in the right hand margin. ---->

Don't have time to read but need to beef up your marketing now? Contact your local Small Business Development Center for a consultation, sign up for a marketing class at your local community college or contact your local Chamber of Commerce or downtown association for a referral to a marketing consultant in your area.

Marketing doesn't have to be flashy or expensive to be effective. Instead, it needs to get the right message to the right audience at the right time. Not sure where to begin? Shoot me an e-mail and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction!

My Top 6 Marketing Tools for Retail Businesses

Although some retail business owners are very marketing savvy, a lot of retailers don't know where to begin. Others simply don't have time to do the marketing in addition to their other responsibilities. For those business owners, I offer my Top 6 Marketing Tools for retail businesses:

1) You need a website, no matter how simple. It can be a blog like this one, or something more elaborate with your business name as the domain name, www.mariehaggin.com, for example.

2) Advertising. When times are tight, people often stop their advertising but this is the time when you most need to advertise. If your advertising isn't working for you, try a different publication or a different market. You need to consistently reach the right market with the right message.

3) Networking. This can include membership in organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, your local downtown association, or the local chapter of a group like BNI or it can be an online network like LinkedIn or Biznik. Network with like-minded professionals and share referrals.

4) Rewarding customers. The 80/20 rule tells us that approximately 80% of our business will come from 20% of our customers. That's why every business should have a customer referral program to reward its very best customers. It could be including them in a special monthly promotion, posting a customer of the month photo on the wall of your store, or recognizing them with a Client Appreciation Event. Make sure they feel appreciated and they will continue to shop with you and refer their friends to your store.

5) Community involvement. Like networking, community involvement is a great way to meet other members of your community and to spread the word about your business, even if it is only subtly. Try sponsoring a local sports team or relevant school club, volunteer at the local Food Bank, join the PTA or a local church organization. When feasible, volunteer your time or your services.

6) Shout your news to the world. At least 3 to 4 times a year, issue a news release (also called a press release) to let the community know what you've been up to. Anything that's newsworthy will do - a business anniversary, addition of a product line, a new professional certification, key staff hire, upcoming event, or participation in a nonprofit organization. I recommend you submit the release to your local media, relevant industry-related groups and online. You'll be surprised at how affordable it can be to get widespread coverage and to keep your name "time of mind."

To your success,

Dana Blozis
Virtually Yourz

Where do I grow from here?

In the last 5 years, I have gone from a part-time freelancer to a full-time business owner, writing for publication and writing, editing and marketing for clients. My business has grown so much that lately I've been turning down prospective clients, referring them to colleagues, because I don't have the capacity to take on more business unless I outsource, subcontract or hire an assistant. This has prompted the question - where do I grow from here? Do I stay where I'm at, taking on the same amount of business and finding ways to become more efficient? Or do I consider hiring others to help with the workload and reposition myself as a team of professionals rather than just one person? How much do I want to work? How much do I want to make?

Not sure how to analyze my answers or whether to consider taking the next step, I contacted my local Small Business Development Center at Green River Community College. I will consult with business guru Kirk Davis there to help me sort out the answers. In addition, I plan to consult with a CPA and/or attorney to decide if it is time to move to an LLC from a sole prop.

Has your business grown recently? How did you decide how to take it to the next level? I'd love to hear from you!

I'm not sure where I'm headed - or even where I want to go - but the prospects are exciting. Stay tuned!


Virtually Yourz,

Dana

Virtually Yourz Enters the World of Blogging

I started my own business 4 1/2 years ago and have marketed myself in the usual ways - press releases, networking, a website, etc. Up until now, however, I have resisted blogging. To me, it feels like an online diary that no one aside from family and friends will have an interest in. But the ways we do business are changing and, with them, so must I.

I hope you'll find my blog interesting. I'll share business tidbits, marketing ideas and other tips & tricks I've learned along the way. Hopefully, you'll find some useful ideas to take away with you.

I welcome your comments and suggestions for useful information!

Virtually Yourz,

Dana Blozis
VirtuallyYourz.com

The virtual solution to your writing, editing and marketing needs.