Happy New Year from Everyone here at Marketing Curve!

Before we begin with the content, a quick housekeeping note: This is the first newsletter I'm sending, and as such you may not remember giving me permission to send something over to you. If you don't want to receive this again there is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter.

That being said, if you have a friend or three that would love to see the contents of this newsletter...feel free to forward it on! (They can sign up for their own copy at http://www.marketingcurve.com)

Back to the New Year Celebration...

I'm starting the New Year off by letting everyone know exactly what it is I do. I think there may be some confusion. I hate saying no, and I love to help...unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day, and I can't do everything. So I've pared the list down to only those skills I'm very good at, and enjoy doing.

Super Official 2008 Service List

Online Marketing Consulting (we'll write up a step by step plan for your company based on your goals.)
Strategic Brand Consulting (making sure your business message is consistent across the board)
Sales Consulting (Helping you find ways to sell your product or service more effectively without feeling dirty!)
I will continue to take phone calls as I have always done to help you out or let you know the industry buzz on a product or website you're thinking about giving your money or time to. If I don't know about it I'll find out.
Blog and website consulting. From navigation to alt and meta description tags, we'll let you know what you've got that's good and what could use improvement.
Creation of MySpace pages. It's a little off the beaten path, but it's really fun so I keep doing it.
Copywriting. If you have keywords already I can have Randy check them for relevancy. I will not retype .pdf files, if you need this done...see the next section.
Small design projects. I've had a few requests for business cards, postcards, and graphics on myspace pages. No problem. But I reserve the right to say no to any request if I think I'll produce something that's not wicked cool.
Speaking. If you need a presentation for your chamber or group, I bring fun and energy to presentations on sales and networking effectively.

In case you find yourself asking "So what about _______ you used to do?"

As for the things you may be more used to me doing that aren't on the list, I have a solution for you (because you know I'm about solutions, not problems!) - you need a Virtual Assistant.

You may already know that when I first started working from home about four years ago I was a Virtual Assistant. If you didn't know that, it's understandable, because I was awful at it so we don't talk about it much.

Even though I left the industry to pursue things I was actually good at, I kept my great connections in the community. Through those connections I have recently partnered with Virtual Staff, Inc. (VSI) - a staffing and placement agency for Virtual Assistants.

VSI finds, interviews, tests, and does background checks on every Virtual Assistant so we know what the strengths and weaknesses are of each VA before we let you interview them.

After talking with an Account Executive (that's me!) I'll help pick out a few VAs for you to interview. When you find the one your business cannot live without, we set you up on a no-minimum, no-drama contract to use the VA as little or as much as you need to.

You even get to choose how often you're invoiced! I'm sure you're thinking that all of this convenience has to cost an arm and a leg.

It gets better...because it's also cheaper...VSI Virtual Assistants only cost $31-$35 per hour (our Virtual Assistants track their time by the minute to make sure you only pay for the time they work on your project!)

Why is this better than finding your own random VA online through a Google search?

Your VSI VA comes with a team behind them. If they don't know how to do something, they ask us instead of just saying "I can't do it, sorry."
If you have an issue with your VA, you can call me and I'll take care of it instead of having to confront the VA directly.
Your VSI VA has access to 100% if they have questions or need guidance on any work that is part of a business, branding or marketing plan I helped you create at no extra charge.
VSI takes care of all the billing so you don't have to worry about someone you just met having your credit card or banking information on file.

Some other things a Virtual Assistant can do for your company:

Carry out portions of your business and marketing plans.
Do your business or personal internet research.
Get quotes or rates for you (online or over the phone.)
Design, address, and send direct mail pieces.
Send out email newsletters.
Update and maintain your online shopping cart.
Enter your leads into CRM program or Excel spreadsheet.
Type up and send emails or letters.
Make travel arrangements.
Order gifts, services, or other products on your behalf.
Design fliers.
Take care of time consuming data entry.
Schedule appointments.
Make calls.
Balance and update your books.
Organize your calendar online.
Website maintenance and updates.
Podcast submission, editing, or help with creation.
Signing up for new social media sites on your marketing plan.
Online article writing & submission.
Online Press release writing & submission.
If you've got PeaPod in your area...they can even SHOP for you!

...and almost anything else that can be done offsite using the power of technology...

If you have any questions about this email (or anything else) - just give me a call at (708) 957-1479 or send an email to jennifer@marketingcurve.com and we can talk about it!

I hope you've enjoyed this issue of the Marketing Curve Minute (do you like the name? I'm still working on it.)

In the future we will have a Q&A section. So please email your questions about Internet Marketing, New Media, PayPerClick Advertising, Networking, or Selling to jennifer@marketingcurve.com and I'll answer them in the next newsletter!

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

SNEAK PEEK
Next time, we'll take a look at a new book coming out from the Martini Marketing Networking Series...because networking should be as easy and fun has having a martini with a friend...

coming february 2008 to a networking event near you!