January 27, 2009
While my main business is Virtual Assistance, I do specialize in providing Communication and Marketing support. I do have an education in PR and have worked in the industry off and on for the past six plus years.
That being said, my main service is writing, with web content being my bread and butter. I’m lucky because writing is my first passion and that is perhaps why I am drawn to this side of my business. Web content writing is different from regular article or print writing. In order for the search engine ’spiders’ to find your site, you should implement search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Here are five very simple tips to help you optimize your site and attract the search engine ‘creepy crawlies’:
Be Smart with your Meta Tags
If you know what SEO is you know what a meta tag is. If you are just learning about all of this stuff however, you most likely won’t know so let me explain. Meta tags include a description of your website, along with keywords that are inserted into the <head> portion of your website, making the information invisible to visitors, however provides useful information for web crawlers. While meta tags aren’t the be all and end all to getting first ranked on Google, they can prove to be helpful and shouldn’t be ignored.
When creating your website be sure to tell the webmaster specific keywords and a brief summary of what your site is all about. For example, if you are an events consultant, people looking for events consultants will most likely Google such words as “events consultant” or “special events” or “events company”. You want to keep in mind what others will be looking for when creating your meta tags.
Research your Keywords
As I mentioned above, keywords are important when writing for the web as they help search engines categorize your information . You want to make it easy for search engines to find you and proper keyword placement is the way to go. If you are an accountant, it is important to have the word ‘accountant’ placed in your website. Other keywords may be “finance” or “budget” or “tax”. It is also important to have the right amount of keywords placed within your website. If you insert too many keywords, you will be doing what some say is “keyword stuffing”. This is frowned upon by major search engines and may leave you without a rank. Keeping your keywords to six to eight per page is just right.
Change It Up Once in a While
Change your web content once in a while to remain on the crawler radar.
Add in Links
Add links to websites that do have a high ranking and you will be on your way to first page rank. Make sure the links are relevant to your site though!
Keep Low on the Animated Graphics
Web crawlers don’t tend to like animated graphics so keep moving objects to a low. If you add photos to your website, be sure to name them. While crawlers don’t read graphics or pictures, they do read the names associated with them.
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Business Solutions, VIP Advice, marketing | Tagged: Google, marketing, page rank, search engine optimization, SEO, web crawler | 
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Posted by vipassistants2008
January 20, 2009
Today’s inauguration of America’s first black President marks a symbol of freedom, new beginnings and new found confidence for, not only the United States, but countries around the world.
Without co
nfidence, growth and success are hard to come by. Confidence is a component of success, even if it can be tough at times to gain it.
It took me quite a long time to find confidence within myself, in my daily activities and in my interactions with people. I am insecure by nature so when I go outside of my comfort zone I tend to feel nauseous. Going outside of my comfort zone includes cold calling, public speaking, and attending networking events and parties involving people I don’t know.
Although I can be insecure, I have a history of pushing negative feelings aside and plunging into situations I may not have done otherwise if I thought about it for too long.
These situations have included:
- Going against the ‘pack’ after grade eight to attend an arts package high school because I thought I would meet new and interesting people and at the same time, be free to explore my creative mind.
- Going against the ‘pack’ once more after high school to attend my local University and live on campus so I could meet new and interesting people.
- Graduating University, only to attend College in Toronto; a city where I knew few people, again to meet new and interesting people.
My limits have not stopped there; I went on to move in with complete strangers, which developed into lifelong friendships, while attending College and again while working in Mississauga. It’s funny that for someone who is quite intimidated by networking events and public speaking, I sure have taken a few leaps. My most recent leap has been opening my own business.
I did have a stable job, with a great pension and benefit plan, however my desire to become an entrepreneur has always stuck with me. When I was in school, I remember dreading the day I would graduate. I wondered how on earth people can stay in the same office for 30 years and still be considered sane. I was not looking forward to the daily ‘drudge’ however saw no other option.
So what does all this storytelling have to do with the importance of self-confidence?
Simply put, you must believe to succeed. If I didn’t believe I would be OK on my own, I wouldn’t have met the friends I have today. I wouldn’t have met my husband. I wouldn’t have opened my business. While marketing is ongoing and some days I need a little emotional push, I am happier now than ever. I am confident my business will be a success and this is exactly what keeps me going.
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VIP Advice | Tagged: confidence, new business, personal development | 
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Posted by vipassistants2008
January 13, 2009
The best job in the world has finally appeared across my computer screen! Keep your fingers crossed, I’m applying!
Tourism Queensland has posted a position titled “Island Caretaker” on it’s job board. Check it out !
The website describes this job as the best job in the world and they are definitely right.
For the duration of six months, the lucky candidate will have the responsibility of living on Hamilton Island exploring all islands of the Great Barrier Reef, reporting back via blog, photos, video and ongoing media interviews.
Other duties include: feeding the millions of tropical fish living in the Great Barrier Reef, clean the ‘pool’ which happens to ‘have an excellent filter’, and collect the mail by joining the aerial postal service for a day. What a view that would be!
The duration of the role is six months and you walk away with free airfare to and from your home city and $150,000 AUD!
I did have the opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef when I was 17. My mom is from Melbourne and we explored Australia for three months. It was the best trip to date! Snorkling in the Reef was absolutely spectacular. It would be amazing to go back!
Well better get on that video to submit. Yes Yes I will work on my ummms and ahhhs before hand;)
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Humour | 
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Posted by vipassistants2008
January 12, 2009
After much thought and consideration, not to mention research, I have decided to completely change my website. It will be launched tonight or tomorrow and will include a video of yours truly!
I feel because I do offer my services to clients from Toronto to the southern United States, I should provide them with an opportunity to see me ‘in person’. It is especially important for clients who are thinking about using my services, but who are reluctuant using someone they have never met. Or for people who just stumble across the site. At least I could get their attention with my oh so charming personality!
So stay tuned as I relaunch the website. It has gone through many changes and that’s only because, as a new entrepreneur, I have been trying out a number of different things to capture the audience. This should be it for a long time.
Here is why I think video is important:
- Provides the audience with some face time, letting them know a REAL person is behind all of the hard work!
- Allows clients to view your personality.
- Allows clients to view your passion for what you do.
- A video provides another way to capture your audience. Another fun tool to click on and therefore stay on your web page for a little longer.
- Helps drive traffic to your website.
New VIP Assistant Solutions website TBA!
CP.
Leave a Comment » | VIP Advice | Tagged: caroline pigott, video, VIP Assistant Solutions, virtual assistant, you tube | Permalink
Posted by vipassistants2008
January 7, 2009
I know I haven’t posted anything insightful lately. I wanted to show you all a picture of what I see from my window. Yes I live in cold Canada (although I’m sure New York is seeing the same thing).
I live in a Winter Wonderland! Now that Christmas is done I wish for this white stuff to just go away. We’ll have it until April. These days are days when I’m thrilled to be working from home. No more strapping on big boots, shivering in a large winter coat and putting up with a runny nose!
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Posted by vipassistants2008
January 5, 2009
Check out my latest interview with Gaebler Resources for Entrepreneurs! Leaving a Bad Job to Become an Entrepreneur
I’ve also updated my portfolio on my website. I have neglected the portfolio page on my blog (oops!) I will get on that this week now that the holidays are done;)
I hope you all enjoyed your New Years and are now fully recovered and ready to get back to work! Enjoy the first full week of 2009!
CP.
Leave a Comment » | marketing | Tagged: gaebler, interview, virtual assistant | Permalink
Posted by vipassistants2008
