Blogging – it’s a challenge I’ve chosen for me and one that I’m enjoying. I love writing about what I know and when you are passionate about something; it just flows and ‘hopefully’ your passion shows through. People love to work with people who love their work – simples! Here’s the link again to the 30 Day Blogging Challenge if you are looking to spend some time ‘with your business’.
The tag [TIME SAVED] shows you where a Virtual Assistant (such as Virtual Hand) can save you time by doing these elements. This allows you to do what you love in your business as well as what you are good at.
We’re talking Graphics today
When you think about everything that is involved in social media, it’s no wonder that many people feel overwhelmed. For some it comes naturally, for others just the sheer thought of putting yourself out there to the world, and especially as a business can be somewhat daunting. Yesterday I spoke about creating, scheduling etc (read it here) and before then about sharing (read that here) but there is one element that in actual fact stumps me – Graphics and they are essential elements for social media. I have talked about the software that is available such as picmonkey and canva (link here) but today I just want to highlight where you need graphics and/or images. We all know the phrase ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ and that when we read something our eyes initially look at the image and what that means and then the text to put it into context.
Images
Sourcing images – I know I’ve mentioned this before but I’m going to repeat myself! Do not just google images and use them on your social media, website, mailings etc – it is not done! It is very rude to the person that created it for a client or for themselves or who are trying to build their business by selling their images and you can be taken to court for it and you will pay! There are many graphic designers out there who can do bespoke images for you. There are also many free images available. It is however time consuming to source these; this is something that a VA can do for you [TIME SAVED]. I have a bank of images that I use for myself and my clients and I know I will never receive that email saying I owe someone some money for them!
Headers
Consistency is key and that goes for not only the frequency in which you contribute, but also the overall look and feel of each of your preferred social media profile. A VA can help you to create a header, to incorporate your brand that can then be uploaded to each profile [TIME SAVED]. Making you instantly recognisable by your followers and potential audience. Streamlining this across Social Media, your website and Mailings is a great way to also reduce the number of ‘you’s’ out there!
Memes
This ties in with the content. You’ve all seen those images stating a famous quote with a link to a website. This is a meme and an item of content that is most likely to be shared. They are powerful methods of marketing your brand and if you’re not sure how to create these, then a VA will most certainly be able to assist you [TIME SAVED]. You don’t have to use famous quotes, you can start creating your own quotes, using your very own words. These could be inspirational, motivational, plain common sense or just happy, encouraging, personal comments.
Having a ‘brand’ theme for images is also something that can be set and your VA can source those ‘types’ of images [TIME SAVED]. What words depict you and your business, what visions can be used and what are good representations?
Graphics per se
I’m not a creative in terms of putting things together to make a ‘graphic’, something individual to promote a product, a landing page or a hook for your potential audience. But I do know a man that is! VAs will work with many other VAs or talents that they can call upon to help. This enables them to provide a better service and you’re not invoicing more than one person for a ‘package’. The VA will work with their partners and just send you one invoice. They can even source individuals to help you; getting samples and working with them behind the scenes whilst you get on with other stuff [TIME SAVED].
I’m not saying you can’t do it yourself – it may be an aspect of your business that although doesn’t earn you money you enjoy it, you have a talent for it and actually the ‘taking time’ outside your fee-earning activities breaks the mould and enables you to think differently and that in turn brings you back fresher, with great ideas and raring to go. Your VA can support you with this by scheduling what needs to be done [PLANNED TIME], prompting you and generally ‘project managing’ your activities [TIME SAVED].
There are also many other elements of your business that a Virtual Assistant can provide support. You can find out more about these via my 30 day blogging challenge, as each day, I’ll be sharing the services and support that VAs (and of course Virtual Hand) can provide.
Here cometh the end of Number 4 – Graphics for social media.
Here’s a link to the Start in case you missed it.
Where do you get your graphics from or do you get all creative and have fun producing your own?
One of the hardest parts of working for yourself is building up a strong presence and keeping your business profile in the hearts and minds of your audience. Why not download your FREE GUIDE on how to raise your profile as a freelancer here.
Connect with Michelle on other platforms too: Learn how you can work with Virtual Hand; how your business can grow and how you can communicate better with your audience.
