WordPress, Blogger or Typepad? Oh My!
Why a blog?
A blog is one of the perfect places to start your social media marketing campaign. In fact I have heard it suggested more than once that it is the cornerstone.
A blog allows you the opportunity to produce fresh content which the search engines love and your followers will enjoy.
So now you know a little about the why, lets take a look at the what.
What is the best blogging platform for me?
The big names you have probably heard before, WordPress, Blogger and Typepad. But what is the difference?
Hosted Blog – Blogger.com, Typepad.com & WordPress.com
A hosted blog is where your blog, your content, is stored on their servers.
Self Hosted Blog – WordPress.org
A self-hosted blog means that it is installed and hosted on your server.
Which one do I choose?
There is a lot of talk about which one is best and there can be heated discussions regarding the pros and cons. When asked I will always say that a self-hosted blog is the way to go. However, the truth of the matter is, that it is a personal decision, features that might be very important to me, may not be as important for you. I do think that you need to do your research and see what others say and what the advantages are of each option. I have listed a few points below to get you started.
Some Pros of a hosted blog
- You can literally be up in running in minutes
- Very easy to use for the complete beginner
- No need to sign up for a web hosting service – WordPress.com & Blogger.com are free – Typepad does have a low monthly charge.
Some Cons of a hosted Blog
- There is always a danger of your blog being deleted or access blocked by the hosting service (I have heard horror stories!)
- The web address to your blog will always advertise their service, it will always read: mydomain.blogspot.com or mydomain.wordpress.com etc.
- On some there are links at the top that will take you to the next blog that the service hosts. You have no control over what pops up next. Their content could be family friendly or not, it could mirror your opinion or have the exact opposite.
Some Pros of a self-hosted blog
- Your domain will not advertise someone else’s service
- Full customization, it can look exactly like your site (This site is a perfect example – I have used the WordPress.org blogging platform as my site – full integration between website and blog)
- An incredible array of plugins to choose from. Plugins will extend the capability of what your blog can do.
Some Cons of a self-hosted blog
- Not necessarily a d-i-y project, it certainly can be, but it will require time, research and trial and error
- It does take longer to set up and customize
- You will need to pay for web hosting
What it all boils down to is what you are looking for in a blog. Take some time and write out the purpose of your blog, where does it fit in your marketing campaign. Make a list of the different features your blog should have.
I have seen amazing examples of highly successful blogs on both hosted and self-hosted sites as well as terrible ones.
Personally I believe that in the end, the time and effort you put into a self hosted blog is worth it.
- You control the hosting
- You control the customization
- You control what and who you are advertising
What platform do you use right now? What other pros and cons can you think of?
Say, do I really need a shopping cart?
My answer is… maybe. Let’s talk about this one.
Let’s take a look at where you are right now and then take a look at what your goals are for the next 3, 6 and 12 months.
Most likely these goals will include list building, selling eBooks, audios or starting a newsletter. All of these goals are an effort to build a larger marketing base. If this is part of the plan then yes, maybe a shopping cart is for you.
But… do you need a full featured shopping cart? Or just an auto responder or newsletter service to get you up and running? This is where knowing what your desired end result is important. Lets explore the differences.
A Newsletter service like Constant Contact offers an incredible array of templates where you can quickly and easily drop in your newsletter copy. You can even import your own HTML design.
Pros: This type of service includes easy maintenance and for many is a great place to start. Even the novice can jump in and get up and running quickly.
Cons: What it doesn’t offer is a full fledged Auto Responder (AR) feature, which is an important option for any internet marketing campaign. Constant Contact does have an AR option but it is very limited.
An Auto Responder/Newsletter Service like Aweber is great, a wide array of features that include newsletter templates and the ability to import your own HTML design. It also includes a fully featured auto responder, one of the best in my opinion.
Pros: They offer a smooth optin feature for your visitors and easy management of names between lists. A great set up wizard to help you cover all the steps in starting a new list. Plus! Great tech support.
Cons: What they do not offer is a shopping cart function that can be linked to an AR. There are ways around this of course by using outside vendors such as Paypal. This will require more set up time but it can work quite effectively. In the end for some this will be a huge obstacle for others it could be the perfect solution.
Shopping Cart / Newsletter / Auto Responder service such as 1ShoppingCart / Professional Cart Solutions / Cartville….. (same cart – different names) is another top choice. You can start with the basic auto responder package then upgrade to the shopping cart when needed and even upgrade to the digital product download & affiliate program modules.
Pros: For many this is THE place to start as it will grow with you. All of the features you need in one package, no outside programming needed to integrate the different functions. They too offer great technical support.
Cons: A shopping cart service will take a bit more leg work to get up and running. It is not hard but will take some up-front training to do it on your own as there is no wizard to walk you through each step.
Each service offers you a wide array of options and each has its list of pros and cons. In the end it will depend upon your goals and what you have planed for growth, please take the time to evaluate up front and save yourself a lot of work later on down the road.
Not sure what might be best for you? Check out our Starter package – we can work with you to look at your current situation and future goals. Together we can create a plan of attack to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
Want to listen instead of read?
Why do I need a VA?
- I need help!
- I can’t keep up!
- I can’t do this on my own!?
- I don’t know how to do this?
- I’ll never make that deadline.
- My to do list grows no matter what I do
Any of these sound familiar? They do to me~ Not only do I hear this from my clients and colleagues, I hear it also from me. Yes, even VA’s need VA’s. The plain ole’ big truth of the matter is, none of us, no matter how hard we try, can do it on our own.
Sure we try and for awhile it looks as though we can do it. Then you get sick and things pile up. You miss your daughter’s soccer game or taking your Mom to a measly 1 hour appointment to see the doc seems like an insurmountable fete.
That is when the little voice inside your head starts asking:
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- Why am I doing this?
- Is it worth it?
- Am I crazy to think I can do this?
- I’m too exhausted to think.
- I just don’t know what to do.
We have all been there! Some of are still there….
As entrepreneurs it is hard to ask for help, let alone admit we need it.
We are the lone gunman, the swaggering John Wayne, the tough guy (or gal!) who is ready to take on the world and make it better. The thought of asking for help, getting it and then being brave enough to accept it…. can be a scary prospect.
You must be ready to ask for help and you have to be open to accepting it. You may come into it kicking and screaming but with just a little change of attitude and direction, finding the right help can be easier than you think and more liberating than you ever realized.
Once you find help, take the time to share your goals, show your vision of where you are headed. A good assistant or team member will walk along side you believe in you and your business and join you on this amazing journey.
So, why do I need a VA? I need help, I need to take my biz to the next level, to its next evolution and I can’t get there on my own!
Want to listen rather than read?
What’s so great about being an entrepreneur?
There are some days you just gotta wonder, what really is so great about being an entrepreneur? Long hours, for many low pay and little to no free time.
So why do we do it?
What keeps us getting up in the morning and moving forward to the next client, proposal or project?
Most of the time I am thrilled to be in the position I am now but when there are days when the deadline is looming or their are a million tasks coming into my inbox that I start wondering.
Then I come across something like this and once again I am reminded, how cool it is to own my own business, to be working on my part of the American dream.
Shine – A Big Film About Small Business
This film is being put together by the founder of Biznik, talking to entrepreneurs from around the globe about owning your owns business and the impact it has on both the world around you and on You!
One of the quotes in the movie trailer is:
“Be the change you want to be in the world ( Ghandi ) and I think that is what entrepreneurs are all about”.
What an awesome way to think about my business and why I am doing this work. I had to stop and think about that for a moment and digest it and realize how powerful that statement really was.
From the Mom & Pop store around the corner to the guy who drives the ice cream truck each summer, most of us are doing what we do because we love it. We love the challenges, the joy, the heartache (okay maybe not so much that part…), the journey of being an entrepreneur and the differences we can make in the lives of our colleagues, peers, family, friends and neighborhood.
How powerful is that?
What is your definition of a virtual assistant?
There are countless definitions of what a virtual assistant is. If you look at Wikipedia, the IVAA or the VANetworking.com sites, you will see 3 slightly different variations on a theme.
When asked this question, I have tried a few different versions myself, to see what a) is easy to say and b) is easily understood. I have narrowed it down to a super simple definition:
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative and/or technical support from a remote location.
It’s simple, short, sweet and to the point. The cool thing is that it usually leads to more questions and gives me the opportunity to talk about The Blue Jeans VA and what it is we do. It’s certainly not any magnificent “30-second” elevator speech but… I’m working on it 
For many there is a very narrow definition of who and what a virtual assistant is and does. It can get tricky and I wonder, where is that line that says, up to this point you are a virtual assistant but once you cross that line you are now a consultant or a freelancer.
I tend to lean towards the other end of the spectrum, towards a broader, more generous definition.
With the incredible advances in technology, changes in how and where business is conducted (for both small and big business) the VA industry has grown as well, it has had to.
I think the line between virtual assistant and freelancer/consultant is narrowing and is becoming a bit on the blurry side. Many in our field start a VA business in the “true” sense of the word, meaning starting with the basics and offering administrative support. Then we grow, expand and find an affinity with a certain topic, skill or type of work that grabs our imagination and draws us in.
As we grow, do we stop being VA’s or are we just stretching and expanding the definition, perception and idea of what a VA is or can be? What is your definition?
Want to listen rather than read?
Thought about working with a VA?
Join me this Wednesday, June 15th to hear more about working with a virtual assistant.
- What questions should you ask?
- Where do you find a VA?
- How can a VA help me?
- What should I consider in choose a VA?
Find this out and more, sign up today and get working on that mile-long to do list and get out of overwhelm.
Get more done without feeling overwhelmed
In working on an upcoming interview for a teleseminar, my coach suggested a title that really resonated with me:
“Get More Done Without Feeling Overwhelmed”
This is what I hear from clients, what I read on Twitter and Facebook and a common thread of teleseminars I have listened to over the past month. It is a cry for help and a urge to move toward a simplified life both personally and professionally.
The good news is that the Virtual Assistant Industry hears you! And we want to help. Here at The Blue Jeans VA our goal is to help you move forward and to simplify the process as much as possible so that you are not overwhelmed.
So what can we do to help you Get More Done Without Feeling Overwhelmed?
My personal favorite? Bookkeeping! One of THE best and easiest! places to start. Yes even VAs outsource in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I was thrilled to be able to hand off my bookkeeping to someone I trusted and could rely on.
What else can you off your plate?
- Updates to your shopping cart
- Adding new plugins to your blog
- Research and find resources for your next presentation or teleseminar
- Setting up a new blog
- Keeping track of friend requests in Facebook
- Setting up scheduled auto Tweets in Twitter
- Project Management
And this list is literally just the tip of the iceberg!
- What is on your to-do-list that you would love to not have to do again?
- What has been sitting on your to-do list for ever that you just can’t seem to get to?
As an entrepreneur you probably have a never ending list that seems to grow faster then you can cross things off. You wear so many hats in running your business that it is easy to forget where you are and where you are going. This is when the ovewhelm kicks in and you are screaming to yourself,
I can’t do it all!
Well guess what!? You are not supposed to.
No matter how much you try to be “super entrepreneur”, sooner or later you realize that this is not living it is surviving.
Surving is good, but living… now that’s the ticket.
Enjoying your business, spending more time with your family and learning to take time to take care of yourself. Want to do all that without feeling overwhelmed? Then I urge you to take time to seek out and talk to a Virtual Assistant. Have a consultation, a brainstorming session and see what can be done to get you out of overwhelm and back in control.
Want your own brainstorming session? Want a customized plan to get you out of overwhelm? Contact us here to set up a time just for you.
Consider it a 30-minute investment in you, your business AND your family! It’s a no obligation consult, we would love to work with you and be a part of your growth success but you have to be ready for it.
