Everyone wants to make money living in the comfort of their home, but the question that seems to come up the most is how do I get started.
While you sit there and ponder about how to get started, many people write now are making a full stream of income on the Internet. So my answer to that question is simple.
Start!!!
Are you tired of waking up for the normal 9-5 job, that you seem to complain about every day when you come home from a hard days of work? Well starting your home business might be the right solution for you. You can work when you want at your own speed.
I’m not saying quit your day job today and dive right in; take your time as a seed and blossom to a beautiful flower. When you become accustom to the whole concept.
Make sure that you get the free business newsletter that is offered; this newsletter will coach you into how to start your online business career. You may not realize it yet, but you are about to begin an exciting new lifestyle.
Opportunity
Freedom was a big part into making my home-based decision. The fact that sitting at home taking care of my online business and all family needs was excellent. Where else can you find that kind of job? Work on your own time, and at your own speed. You control the size of your paychecks.
In fact, you control everything.
Don’t Be Afraid
(Success is Spelled W-O-R-K)
Take the leap of faith and trust your judgment. A home business might be the solution to your work problems. Stay true to your goals and fight for the prize.
Prize
SUCCESS
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Friday, October 1, 2021
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Invest In China: Dealing With Labor Unions And The Communist Party
Labor Unions
If the employees request the establishment of a labor union, the employer must assent and offer assistance. Moreover, certain thresholds apply which require employers to hire a full-time employee labor representative (companies with at least 200 employees must hire one employee labor representative, with more hires necessary at higher thresholds). Joint Ventures and WFOEs must allocate an amount equal to at least two percent of the actually paid monthly wages of all the employees as trade union funds (this amount must be paid to the local labor bureau if the enterprise has not established a trade union). The trade union must use these funds in accordance with the trade union fund management measures issued by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, of which the labor union is required to be a member.
Labor union representatives have the right to attend board meetings, although they do not
have voting rights, and they should be invited to attend board meetings if labor issues are discussed. The trade union performs a significant advisory function with respect to individual and collective labor contracts, termination of employees, mediation of conflicts, layoffs, and assisting laid-off employees in finding new employment. The labor union may not impose its will on the employer in these matters. Interestingly, labor unions do not even have the right to strike. However, labor union consent is required in some M&A transactions.
Communist Party Organization
If the employees request the establishment of a Communist Party organization in the workplace, the employer must assent and may be required to provide assistance. A Communist Party organization must be established in any workplace with at least three Communist Party members, and the employer has an obligation to accommodate and support it (details of this obligation are still ambiguous at this point but will likely vary according to the size of the enterprise and the level of Communist Party membership among employees).
If the employees request the establishment of a labor union, the employer must assent and offer assistance. Moreover, certain thresholds apply which require employers to hire a full-time employee labor representative (companies with at least 200 employees must hire one employee labor representative, with more hires necessary at higher thresholds). Joint Ventures and WFOEs must allocate an amount equal to at least two percent of the actually paid monthly wages of all the employees as trade union funds (this amount must be paid to the local labor bureau if the enterprise has not established a trade union). The trade union must use these funds in accordance with the trade union fund management measures issued by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, of which the labor union is required to be a member.
Labor union representatives have the right to attend board meetings, although they do not
have voting rights, and they should be invited to attend board meetings if labor issues are discussed. The trade union performs a significant advisory function with respect to individual and collective labor contracts, termination of employees, mediation of conflicts, layoffs, and assisting laid-off employees in finding new employment. The labor union may not impose its will on the employer in these matters. Interestingly, labor unions do not even have the right to strike. However, labor union consent is required in some M&A transactions.
Communist Party Organization
If the employees request the establishment of a Communist Party organization in the workplace, the employer must assent and may be required to provide assistance. A Communist Party organization must be established in any workplace with at least three Communist Party members, and the employer has an obligation to accommodate and support it (details of this obligation are still ambiguous at this point but will likely vary according to the size of the enterprise and the level of Communist Party membership among employees).
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Home Based Business: Blogging Is A Great Business Idea
If you are looking to start a home based business or perhaps for another angle to branch out your own existing small business then you should really consider blogging. Blogging is a great business idea. Before you dismiss the idea consider these five ways that you can profit from a blog.
The simplest method you can profit from a blog is simply to add some pay-per-click or pay-per-lead program advertising on your blog. This way you can blog to your heart's content about the topic or topics that interest you and earn money from your visitors without any extra work.
If you have products from your existing business or have plans to create your own products--anything from traditional goods and services to ebooks and other electronic products--then a blog is a great way to promote your product and yourself by establishing your expertise in this area.
Even if you do not have your own product, you can easily use a blog to promote affiliate products to and programs that are related to the topic or topics you blog about.
You can also use a blog to capture leads for an affiliate program or for your own programs, ezines, newsletters, or other information products.
Finally, you can also sell advertising space in the form of banners, textual advertising, or text links on your blog. The higher your readership then the more money you can charge.
This is not a new or unique method for internet entrepreneurs to make money on the web. It has been around almost as long as blogging, but that does not mean you cannot start your own internet blog business and quickly begin making money. Remember, if you can write (not professionally but rather comfortably) then you can still acquire articles and blog entries in a number of free or paid formats so you can get started very quickly and very cheaply.
Blogging is a great business idea for a home based business or a small business. You can use any of these five suggestions, in any combination, to profit from your blog.
The simplest method you can profit from a blog is simply to add some pay-per-click or pay-per-lead program advertising on your blog. This way you can blog to your heart's content about the topic or topics that interest you and earn money from your visitors without any extra work.
If you have products from your existing business or have plans to create your own products--anything from traditional goods and services to ebooks and other electronic products--then a blog is a great way to promote your product and yourself by establishing your expertise in this area.
Even if you do not have your own product, you can easily use a blog to promote affiliate products to and programs that are related to the topic or topics you blog about.
You can also use a blog to capture leads for an affiliate program or for your own programs, ezines, newsletters, or other information products.
Finally, you can also sell advertising space in the form of banners, textual advertising, or text links on your blog. The higher your readership then the more money you can charge.
This is not a new or unique method for internet entrepreneurs to make money on the web. It has been around almost as long as blogging, but that does not mean you cannot start your own internet blog business and quickly begin making money. Remember, if you can write (not professionally but rather comfortably) then you can still acquire articles and blog entries in a number of free or paid formats so you can get started very quickly and very cheaply.
Blogging is a great business idea for a home based business or a small business. You can use any of these five suggestions, in any combination, to profit from your blog.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
How To Make A Living Selling On The Internet
Starting a business is easier than you think; it takes a few steps that are easily completed to get your business off the ground.
I have run several companies during my lifetime and I have to say that starting and running an Internet business is probably the easiest way to get going.
The first step is to do some research into a product which interests you. You need to establish if there is a market for the product and also ensure that the market is not flooded.
There are a number of industries that are absolutely flooded and it would be a waste of time getting into. They include: Credit Cards, The Sex Industry, Real Estate or Pharmaceuticals.
Do a search and if there are hundreds or thousands of companies selling exactly the something for almost the same price it would probably be best to thing of another product to sell.
Once you have selected your product, you need to get a website built. You do this by registering a domain name, buying some hosting for your website and actually building your site.
There are plenty of companies out there that can offer you all three. Most of them have templates that make building a website as easy as writing a letter.
After you have got your website up and running you need to be able to take payments over the Internet, the easiest way to do this is to set-up a Paypal business seller account.
Make sure your website is error free and can complete a sale properly. You may want to use your own credit card and sell your self something in a test run.
You now need to market your site; you can do this in hundreds of different ways. I would suggest Google’s Pay-Per Click system. It gives results almost immediately. You do need to watch you spend though.
I would also suggest starting to do some SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) so you will eventually be able to wan yourself off Googles Pay Per Click system.
You might also consider selling your product on E-Bay, and through other vendors on the internet.
I have run several companies during my lifetime and I have to say that starting and running an Internet business is probably the easiest way to get going.
The first step is to do some research into a product which interests you. You need to establish if there is a market for the product and also ensure that the market is not flooded.
There are a number of industries that are absolutely flooded and it would be a waste of time getting into. They include: Credit Cards, The Sex Industry, Real Estate or Pharmaceuticals.
Do a search and if there are hundreds or thousands of companies selling exactly the something for almost the same price it would probably be best to thing of another product to sell.
Once you have selected your product, you need to get a website built. You do this by registering a domain name, buying some hosting for your website and actually building your site.
There are plenty of companies out there that can offer you all three. Most of them have templates that make building a website as easy as writing a letter.
After you have got your website up and running you need to be able to take payments over the Internet, the easiest way to do this is to set-up a Paypal business seller account.
Make sure your website is error free and can complete a sale properly. You may want to use your own credit card and sell your self something in a test run.
You now need to market your site; you can do this in hundreds of different ways. I would suggest Google’s Pay-Per Click system. It gives results almost immediately. You do need to watch you spend though.
I would also suggest starting to do some SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) so you will eventually be able to wan yourself off Googles Pay Per Click system.
You might also consider selling your product on E-Bay, and through other vendors on the internet.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Finding An Internet Home Based Business Opportunity
Hundreds of thousands of people every month are turning to the Internet to find a home based business opportunity. Working from home for many people is a wonderful dream and goal. The lure of the freedom it offers appeals to many people, such as those who stay at home with small children, those who must remain at home because of their health, those who are limited in their careers by finances, credit and education, those who are in a dead end job and want to be their own boss, or those who just want to get out of the 8-5 rat race. In fact, over 50% of small business owners now work from home, and research suggests that revenue generated from home-based businesses will increase by 17% yearly.
There are many questions involved in a search for a home business opportunity such as:
Do online business opportunities work or are they scams?
Is an mlm business opportunity a good online business?
What are the best home based business opportunities and how do you find them?
It is no doubt that some people are making a fortune with their own online home based business. But for every person who making a good living online, there are many more who get caught in scams and lose their money.
If you are looking for an Internet home business, it is important to do your research. Learn as much as you can about the company you are thinking about joining. Be wary of business opportunities that promise instant wealth. It takes time to build a successful online home business. Shortcuts are usually too good to be true, and are most likely a scam. Remember that an Internet home business is still a business and it takes work and dedication, especially in the beginning, when little income seems to be coming in. Those who research, persevere and continue to learn are the ones who will become successful with their online business.
By Dianne Ronnow © 2007. All rights reserved.
This article may be freely copied as long as it is not modified and the resource box accompanies the article, together with working hyperlinks.
There are many questions involved in a search for a home business opportunity such as:
Do online business opportunities work or are they scams?
Is an mlm business opportunity a good online business?
What are the best home based business opportunities and how do you find them?
It is no doubt that some people are making a fortune with their own online home based business. But for every person who making a good living online, there are many more who get caught in scams and lose their money.
If you are looking for an Internet home business, it is important to do your research. Learn as much as you can about the company you are thinking about joining. Be wary of business opportunities that promise instant wealth. It takes time to build a successful online home business. Shortcuts are usually too good to be true, and are most likely a scam. Remember that an Internet home business is still a business and it takes work and dedication, especially in the beginning, when little income seems to be coming in. Those who research, persevere and continue to learn are the ones who will become successful with their online business.
By Dianne Ronnow © 2007. All rights reserved.
This article may be freely copied as long as it is not modified and the resource box accompanies the article, together with working hyperlinks.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Business Dos & Don'ts -- Funny Business Humour
Whenever walking at your place of employment… always carry a clipboard and walk fast. This will make you look extremely busy and your boss will not give you further tasks!
If you are going to the loo and like to read a newspaper whilst… well you know what… carry it in a folder marked "Urgent"… and again walk briskly.
Have huge piles of documents on your desk and whenever the boss walks past… wipe your brow and mutter under your breath… as you rummage through the paperwork trying to find that important piece of work.
If somebody leaves a voicemail for you and it sounds urgent make sure you call them back when you know that they are at lunch and leave a voicemail in return. This means that you have fulfilled your duty in returning their call and the ball is back in their court.
Make sure your computer screen is facing away from everybody else's… this will give you plenty of time to catch up on your personal email, make arrangements for the weekend and still look busy…
Always have the latest and most complicated piece of business software open and minimised so that if your boss happens to walk over to your desk you can maximise it and ask for help! The boss usually doesn't have a clue and will quickly scurry away leaving you plenty of time to sort your next holiday.
Do you want a promotion? Find out what time the boss arrives for work. Make sure you beat him to it by a few minutes every day and leave a couple of minutes after him. Always look busy when he arrives and as he is leaving.
Find out what his hobbies are, his birthday and his favourite treats. By making him feel special you are more likely to be in his mind when he is handing out wage rises.
If you work for a large company make sure you take your holidays at the same time as your boss. This is also the right time to extend your weekends by calling in sick on either Friday or Monday!
The above applies just as well if your boss is female. Can you suggest any other business dos and don'ts?
If you are going to the loo and like to read a newspaper whilst… well you know what… carry it in a folder marked "Urgent"… and again walk briskly.
Have huge piles of documents on your desk and whenever the boss walks past… wipe your brow and mutter under your breath… as you rummage through the paperwork trying to find that important piece of work.
If somebody leaves a voicemail for you and it sounds urgent make sure you call them back when you know that they are at lunch and leave a voicemail in return. This means that you have fulfilled your duty in returning their call and the ball is back in their court.
Make sure your computer screen is facing away from everybody else's… this will give you plenty of time to catch up on your personal email, make arrangements for the weekend and still look busy…
Always have the latest and most complicated piece of business software open and minimised so that if your boss happens to walk over to your desk you can maximise it and ask for help! The boss usually doesn't have a clue and will quickly scurry away leaving you plenty of time to sort your next holiday.
Do you want a promotion? Find out what time the boss arrives for work. Make sure you beat him to it by a few minutes every day and leave a couple of minutes after him. Always look busy when he arrives and as he is leaving.
Find out what his hobbies are, his birthday and his favourite treats. By making him feel special you are more likely to be in his mind when he is handing out wage rises.
If you work for a large company make sure you take your holidays at the same time as your boss. This is also the right time to extend your weekends by calling in sick on either Friday or Monday!
The above applies just as well if your boss is female. Can you suggest any other business dos and don'ts?
Friday, April 20, 2012
How To Get Free Business Card Templates
Many people already know about all of the free business card offers from Vistaprint. What many people don't know is that you pay a little for shipping, but then they add their logo and text to the back of your business card! So instead of promoting you and your business through your business cards, you're promoting Vistaprint as well!
There is a better way. Instead of getting free business cards, check out websites that offer free business card templates. You can download these free templates, change the name, address and other details then send them to your favorite printer to have them printed. Not only are you getting custom business cards, but you don't have to advertise for anyone but yourself.
What makes this deal worthwhile is that, while Vistaprint claims "free business cards" you're actually still paying for shipping. With free business card templates, you download the templates and do whatever you would like with them. That means that they're actually free.
Another wonderful thing about free business card templates is that many sites will even customize these free templates for you. Sometimes they will charge a small fee, but other times they will edit their free business card templates to fit your needs at no charge to you.
Websites offer free business card templates so they can spread the word about their website and designing. Many people often have paid business card templates for sell along with their free business card templates. Some people just enjoy designing business cards and have no great reason for giving them away. These are the people you want to look for. Someone who gives everything away at no charge. You'll be able to spot these websites because they don't have a shopping cart built into their site.
Next time you're ready to buy business cards remember to browse for free business card templates and see if you can't find something that matches what you need, and for free!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
How To Get Your Website Built Whilst On A Tight Budget
Normally, if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few hundred dollars.
All this can change if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a rough guide:
First, you must understand that it is a rip off to get companies to design websites for you.
Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500?
These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on.
Therefore, it would be wise to find freelance designers who work from home.
These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of a company. On the other hand, they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
However, choose freelancers with care. The best way to do this would be to go to http://elance.com.
There, you can post the abstract of your project and get thousands of freelancers to bid on your project, so you will surely get the best deal. On top of that, you will be able to choose the designers based on their experience, past transactions and ratings, so your value for money is secured.
Another route you can take is to design your website yourself. Think about it, if you only need 5 simple pages to present some simple information, why waste hundreds of dollars for it? Just spend a little time to sit down and do it yourself.
You'll be able to design your own sites even if you do not know a single line of HTML code with the help of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs such as Microsoft Frontpage, Macromedia Dreamweaver and so on.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Make Your Small Business Thrive & Win
The advantage that small businesses have over the big boys is that they can make quick decisions in response to changes in the market place. Large corporations have to have a meeting about a meeting before they can have the real meeting to agree a change in direction!
Create Partnerships
Why not create partnerships with other businesses that are in a complementary business but do not compete with your own? Say you are a web designer. You can partner up with someone who provides SEO work. You benefit because you can get your customers websites higher on the search engines and in return they can provide you with leads of people they help that have shoddy websites.
Why Not Merge With Your Main Competitor?
By combining your businesses your buying power increases and you will be able to make both businesses leaner and fitter. If your competitor is smaller than you, why not take him over and remove him from the equation? This will allow you to increase your prices and therefore make higher profits.
If you want to increase your offering why not merge with or acquire a business that can enhance and increase the variety of your offering.
New Technology can Save you Money
Embrace new technology to make your business more efficient. Admittedly this does cost money in the short term but the longer term benefits could be huge. It could be possible to get more done with less people.
Will that be Cash, Cheque or Credit Card?
Do you offer the ability to take payments with credit cards? Why not? By offering many different ways to pay you can make it easier for your customers to buy.
The supplier I use is a company called 2checkout.com. There is a one off set up fee and no monthly charges. They can accept payments in most currencies and charge only a small percentage each time a customer buys. No transactions equal zero charges!
May you live long and prosper.
Create Partnerships
Why not create partnerships with other businesses that are in a complementary business but do not compete with your own? Say you are a web designer. You can partner up with someone who provides SEO work. You benefit because you can get your customers websites higher on the search engines and in return they can provide you with leads of people they help that have shoddy websites.
Why Not Merge With Your Main Competitor?
By combining your businesses your buying power increases and you will be able to make both businesses leaner and fitter. If your competitor is smaller than you, why not take him over and remove him from the equation? This will allow you to increase your prices and therefore make higher profits.
If you want to increase your offering why not merge with or acquire a business that can enhance and increase the variety of your offering.
New Technology can Save you Money
Embrace new technology to make your business more efficient. Admittedly this does cost money in the short term but the longer term benefits could be huge. It could be possible to get more done with less people.
Will that be Cash, Cheque or Credit Card?
Do you offer the ability to take payments with credit cards? Why not? By offering many different ways to pay you can make it easier for your customers to buy.
The supplier I use is a company called 2checkout.com. There is a one off set up fee and no monthly charges. They can accept payments in most currencies and charge only a small percentage each time a customer buys. No transactions equal zero charges!
May you live long and prosper.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Funding New Business/Product Without High Cost Loans
One of the tallest hurdles facing new businesses and entrepreneurs is funding their new venture and the fact remains that securing loans for any new project is next to impossible. Many people are willing to put themselves in debt by maxing out their credit cards, using their savings and borrowing from family and friends to come with enough money to get their project off the ground.
Face it, getting a new product to the market takes time and money and most times the money is going to be hard to come by. It is the experience of many entrepreneurs that it’s nearly impossible to get a loan for a new venture unless you prove to can the bank that you really don’t need the money. However, if you don’t need the cash, many banks will trip over each other to get their cash into your hands.
There is a way to fund your project without borrowing money from banks, friends and family. While venture capitalists sometimes want more than a piece of your business, they will want to see one of their representatives involved in how your business operates before they put money into it. And, many times if things don’t work out the way they think it should, they can pull their money out leaving you broke.
The best way to launch any new product or business, regardless of its scope, is to design a program that is self-funding, bringing in money for product development, packaging, marketing, advertising and sales. You believe in your product so strongly that you are willing to put all of your available financial resources into it, but there’s no reason you should have to. There is a way to find the funding without leaving you and your family without grocery money.
Finding people, friends, relatives and total strangers with money waiting to be invested in a good product or in a valid business is never difficult. However, you will have to show them a good return for their willingness to help you get the business off the ground.
Face it, getting a new product to the market takes time and money and most times the money is going to be hard to come by. It is the experience of many entrepreneurs that it’s nearly impossible to get a loan for a new venture unless you prove to can the bank that you really don’t need the money. However, if you don’t need the cash, many banks will trip over each other to get their cash into your hands.
There is a way to fund your project without borrowing money from banks, friends and family. While venture capitalists sometimes want more than a piece of your business, they will want to see one of their representatives involved in how your business operates before they put money into it. And, many times if things don’t work out the way they think it should, they can pull their money out leaving you broke.
The best way to launch any new product or business, regardless of its scope, is to design a program that is self-funding, bringing in money for product development, packaging, marketing, advertising and sales. You believe in your product so strongly that you are willing to put all of your available financial resources into it, but there’s no reason you should have to. There is a way to find the funding without leaving you and your family without grocery money.
Finding people, friends, relatives and total strangers with money waiting to be invested in a good product or in a valid business is never difficult. However, you will have to show them a good return for their willingness to help you get the business off the ground.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Automatic Responder- The Power Of Autoresponders
An individual business owner and trying your best to get by in the e-commerce world? Surely you get tired of answering the same repetitive questions every day, but you must remember that customer service is a key factor of running a successful business. If you have a designated e-mail address to answer customer service inquiries, you might want to look into autoresponders as a tool to make your life easier, or even replace an employee!
Autoresponders are one of the most underused and useful technologies available to business owners today. They can be used for everything from automated replies to common questions to a carefully scripted series of sales letters to your customer base for an ongoing stream of income. The power of this technology can turn the corner for a business looking for profit.
Autoresponders are so economical, you might think to yourself, “Why didn’t I do this earlier?” Just as any other software or computer application, there are free and cheap ways of getting by. Autoresponders are great for answering frequently asked questions, and advertising. What’s better than free or cheap advertising? Nothing… A few ways that an autoresponder will positively revolutionize your business:
1. You can distribute what’s known as a newsletter or e-article to all of your customers. This can include specials, news, and other positive things to keep your customers coming back.
2. Update your customers with information which other business don’t do, and make your business-customer relationship feel more personal.
3. You can distribute your mass e-mails to clients with autoresponders, vs. sending e-mails one by one.
4. Update clients with information on new products that you have when they have completed their courses.
5. Have fun with your customers! Create contests, and even interactive games like puzzles. Make an incentive like a discount on their next purchase.
Autoresponders are one of the most underused and useful technologies available to business owners today. They can be used for everything from automated replies to common questions to a carefully scripted series of sales letters to your customer base for an ongoing stream of income. The power of this technology can turn the corner for a business looking for profit.
Autoresponders are so economical, you might think to yourself, “Why didn’t I do this earlier?” Just as any other software or computer application, there are free and cheap ways of getting by. Autoresponders are great for answering frequently asked questions, and advertising. What’s better than free or cheap advertising? Nothing… A few ways that an autoresponder will positively revolutionize your business:
1. You can distribute what’s known as a newsletter or e-article to all of your customers. This can include specials, news, and other positive things to keep your customers coming back.
2. Update your customers with information which other business don’t do, and make your business-customer relationship feel more personal.
3. You can distribute your mass e-mails to clients with autoresponders, vs. sending e-mails one by one.
4. Update clients with information on new products that you have when they have completed their courses.
5. Have fun with your customers! Create contests, and even interactive games like puzzles. Make an incentive like a discount on their next purchase.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
What Do You Have To Be To Succeed In A Home Based Business
So, 95% of the people that try to earn money online FAIL. That's a fact and nobody can argue with that.
But, you can belong to the 5% who actually earn money from the confort of their own houses. How? I call it the three "Be's".
Before that, let's talk about something else. Is it possible to start bulding an income using just FREE advertsing resources? Basicly, is it possible to earn money online without spending a penny?! NO! I've talked about it with other marketers and we all reached the same conclusion: at some point, you have to spend some money. But the trick, is how to spend it. Face it like an investment to future. Just spend it wisely. What leads to my main point. What do you have to be to really earn a "few bucks" using the internet in these so called "home based business"?
Be Active - That's right. If you have an idea, just explore it and do something about it. How many times did i heard: "oh man, i want to do this, but i don't if it's going to work. Maybe i just should let it go". WRONG. Be active in every way that you can be. You will never know if it is a good idea, if you just don't try to make it work!
Be Patient - While you are advertising your main home based business you have to be patient. Advertising is a number's game. Just don't quite and keep trying. Give yourself a couple of months until you give up.
Be original - In every step of the way, you have to be unique and creative. Do something different from the competition, and BEING ACTIVE here can really pay off. Write down some ideas that you think can work, embrace them with enthusiasm and you will see results in no time.
That's about it. If you can be active, patient and original you can earn money online. Along your money journey, invest your money wisely (no guarateed sign-ups and so on). Before EVERY MOVE research about it in order to find some feedback and then ACT!
But, you can belong to the 5% who actually earn money from the confort of their own houses. How? I call it the three "Be's".
Before that, let's talk about something else. Is it possible to start bulding an income using just FREE advertsing resources? Basicly, is it possible to earn money online without spending a penny?! NO! I've talked about it with other marketers and we all reached the same conclusion: at some point, you have to spend some money. But the trick, is how to spend it. Face it like an investment to future. Just spend it wisely. What leads to my main point. What do you have to be to really earn a "few bucks" using the internet in these so called "home based business"?
Be Active - That's right. If you have an idea, just explore it and do something about it. How many times did i heard: "oh man, i want to do this, but i don't if it's going to work. Maybe i just should let it go". WRONG. Be active in every way that you can be. You will never know if it is a good idea, if you just don't try to make it work!
Be Patient - While you are advertising your main home based business you have to be patient. Advertising is a number's game. Just don't quite and keep trying. Give yourself a couple of months until you give up.
Be original - In every step of the way, you have to be unique and creative. Do something different from the competition, and BEING ACTIVE here can really pay off. Write down some ideas that you think can work, embrace them with enthusiasm and you will see results in no time.
That's about it. If you can be active, patient and original you can earn money online. Along your money journey, invest your money wisely (no guarateed sign-ups and so on). Before EVERY MOVE research about it in order to find some feedback and then ACT!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Working With New Administrative Staff
Not long ago, one of my clients in the real estate business hired the perfect person as his office manager and administrative assistant. She had most of the qualifications he was looking for and a great personality. But like many business leaders discover, hiring the right person is one thing, and getting them in step with your expectations is another.
The challenge in working with someone new is - managing expectations. What are the priorities? How do you want things done? When do you want things done?
And even more complications arise - like when managers have difficulty communicating, or delegating tasks they have been doing themselves for so long.
My client was no exception. Frustrated by this all too familiar dynamic, he asked me to help him develop strategies to turn this situation into a positive and productive working relationship.
The key to helping this client was to explore what was working and what wasn't. What he was doing and how she was reacting. And to get a handle on what the expectations truly were. From that, I was able to give him a list of strategies tailored to his particular situation.
Instead of telling you what it was that I suggested to him, I think it would be more valuable to share what he did that worked.
1. Be patient
2. Develop a relationship before you expect high performance
3. Make the goals clear, and explain why they are important
4. Let them make mistakes
5. Don't expect them to be at the level you are at
6. Be kind
7. Don't point out every fault - show what you'd "prefer"
Few working relationships are without some sort of stress or strain along the way. That's normal. But for situations where things just aren't working, implementing some strategies for managing expectations and communicating clearly will go a long way in preventing you from having to start all over again.
The challenge in working with someone new is - managing expectations. What are the priorities? How do you want things done? When do you want things done?
And even more complications arise - like when managers have difficulty communicating, or delegating tasks they have been doing themselves for so long.
My client was no exception. Frustrated by this all too familiar dynamic, he asked me to help him develop strategies to turn this situation into a positive and productive working relationship.
The key to helping this client was to explore what was working and what wasn't. What he was doing and how she was reacting. And to get a handle on what the expectations truly were. From that, I was able to give him a list of strategies tailored to his particular situation.
Instead of telling you what it was that I suggested to him, I think it would be more valuable to share what he did that worked.
1. Be patient
2. Develop a relationship before you expect high performance
3. Make the goals clear, and explain why they are important
4. Let them make mistakes
5. Don't expect them to be at the level you are at
6. Be kind
7. Don't point out every fault - show what you'd "prefer"
Few working relationships are without some sort of stress or strain along the way. That's normal. But for situations where things just aren't working, implementing some strategies for managing expectations and communicating clearly will go a long way in preventing you from having to start all over again.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
How To Start Online Christian Bookstore
Selecting a Business can be a daunting task because there are just so many opportunities out there. I chose a Turn-Key Online Christian Home-Based Business in order to meet a variety of needs.Only the person opening the business can determine what those needs are. Certainly, there are some things to consider when starting an online business, for instance: Secular versus Faith-based businesses. I chose a Christian/Family based business because I wanted a company that would meet my spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Once I decided to go with a Faith-based opportunity, my next agenda was to select the type of business.There are many different Home-based firms available, for instance: Multi-level marketing; Retail; Affiliate marketing; Advertising and marketing; Lead prospecting, and Telecommunications just to name a few.
Knowing what skills are essential for operating a business is vital.It takes a self-motivated individual with a healthy mix of both introverted and extroverted qualities to operate a business. What do I mean? Self-motivation is what keeps an individual on task, an individual who pushes through circumstances to complete their goals (Success). An introvert is someone who is self interested, and comfortable by themselves, where as an extrovert is self-confident and comfortable in social settings and communicating with others. Whether these skills are intrinsic or acquired depends on the individual. Skills aside, you should ask several questions yourself before opening a home-based business. What is the best business to choose? Determining your skill set can be very helpful in either choosing or eliminating your options. What if you have a broad skill base and your still not 100% qualified? The next question you should ask yourself is, am I trainable? If no, then keep searching. If your answer is yes, then make one of your criterions to find a company that offers a comprehensive training program. What are the start-up costs? Regardless of the type of venture you choose, rest assured there will be start-up costs. If the start-up costs are too high, look for something cheaper or save up and start when financially able. Some opportunities are worth waiting for. What is the growth potential of the company? Can I afford to start a company myself, or should I try a turnkey system. Turnkey systems are usually more cost effective, ranging from approximately ($200.00-$1,000.00) depending on system chosen. Various opportunities present themselves both on and off the internet; that is why developing a business plan is essential. I know that doing a Business Plan takes time, effort and a tremendous amount of research. There is a reason for that.
Currently there are so many opportunities and variables out there that it is always best to go into a business being prepared for the worst. When creating a business plan you research all aspects of a potential business including a profit and loss statement. Essentially proving the viability of the company you are about to do business with. There are no guarantees even with a business plan however, the more prepared you are the better your chances of success. Define the proposed concept, in my case it was Christian Retail. Gather as much information about the company as possible. There are companies available that provide information about existing companies’ statistics however; they do charge you for use of their services. Try to go to the source first, that is, the company you are trying to analyze. Go to their website and look at everything they offer, no detail is too small. Perform a Market analysis on the proposed company to prove that potential customers in your area have the financial means to purchase the goods your about to retail. The government census bureau is a good source as well as local libraries. Is your target group available? How many Churches, Ministries, or religious schools are in your local area? Do not be afraid to check out adjoining towns and cities. Use simple resources like the yellow pages, online super pages, and various internet searches to determine your competition. What is different about those companies? Determine why the company you chose is superior to those. Does it pass the test? If no, switch to the company that shines above the rest, in products, services, growth potential or a combination there of. If yes, then start projecting the financial future of the proposed company through a three-year projected growth plan. Once you are able to project the financial growth aspects then you will be able to determine what types of resources you will need to accomplish your financial goals. Projecting your resources and developing a marketing and advertising plan are all part of forecasting expenditures so that your profit and loss will reflect as close to real projections as possible. Analyze your rewards and risks so that you can develop an action plan for potential risks. If starting an online business is truly your goal, then take the appropriate steps to make sure it happens. Now that you have created a sound business plan, you are ready to start your business or apply for grants or loans to afford the start-up costs. Below are the rewards I reap through the system I chose:The acronym for a Turnkey system indicates that it is already to go; all you have to do is turn the key. The system I chose came completely stocked with thousands of Christian Products. The ability to customize your website is available through the back office that comes equipped with many features; the following are just a few:
1. The Editorial Block—is the center feature area of the homepage where you can write about products and or services that are essential to your stores effectiveness.
2. Upload Store Graphics—upload logos and images to utilize in creating pleasing aesthetics to your WebPages and email campaigns.
3. Donation Block—that allows you to add a donate block to the bottom of your homepage so that you can send monies to your favorite charities.
4. Control Menu Blocks—you can add links to your site that you have affiliated with, in an effort to increase the profitability of your site.
5. Coupon Center—gives you the ability to create coupons and give discounts to your customers to increase the marketability of your store.
Provide Christian folks, Churches, and Ministries with Christian books that change lives and Christian music that restores the soul; all while diverting profits of these goods from secular companies back into the hands of Christians like us.An international company that provides the financial stability of both short-term profits on goods, and long-term profits (residual income growth) through a multi-level marketing approach. The company I chose also reveals the potential for a continued growth cycle. Advantage of operating a business from home with the ability to work your own hours; with this system, you can work as little as 20-40 hours depending on self-limitations.Free comprehensive scriptural based training program that includes effective ways to market and advertise, as well as, motivate and inspire you throughout the business building process. Free back office support.I own my own customers. I have the opportunity to sell my own goods and services, and advertise them on the home page.Having the ability to foster relationships with intelligent and seasoned fellow business partners who are willing to help each other learn and grow.
Risks:
Approximately 80-90% of new businesses fail within the first year.
NOT creating a sound business plan would be the ultimate risk.
NOT keeping accurate and up-to-date financial records would definitely create problems.
NOT projecting possible problems and anticipating solutions for them.
Self-doubt—fooling yourself into thinking you cannot sustain your business.
Time: it takes time to build a business to foster relationships and develop long-standing patrons.
High advertising and marketing costs—view all your options to make sure you are up-to-date with cheaper and just as effective means of advertising and marketing.
Resources to assist you in building a business plan:
Many software companies make products with templates to aide you in the development of your business plan. There are many books available that aide in the development of a business plan.Government Sources:
The Small Business Association has a plethora of business resources, The Census Bureau, and if your disabled the Social Security Administration.
State Sources: The Chamber of Commerce for each state and if you are disabled, try your local Easter Seals Chapter, or Vocational Rehabilitation program (if offered in your state).
Local Sources: The Town Hall or Town Clerks Office.
Reference sources:
Town phone books, online super pages, various search engines—all you have to do is type in (starting a business), (Christian bookstores), to look up local resources you could try (starting a business, RI, TX, AZ…), and watch the resources that pop up. Libraries have tons of information on many businesses that are of public record. Note: If the company is private, they have the right to keep their records private. Many online businesses are private because of the nature of the internet. Numerous amounts of information can be found both on and off the internet, so do not be afraid of using online search engines. By typing in various search criterions, you can even find offline resources that way. Keep searching and asking until you have the answers you are looking for. Start professional, stay professional, and may God bless you in all your endeavors.
Knowing what skills are essential for operating a business is vital.It takes a self-motivated individual with a healthy mix of both introverted and extroverted qualities to operate a business. What do I mean? Self-motivation is what keeps an individual on task, an individual who pushes through circumstances to complete their goals (Success). An introvert is someone who is self interested, and comfortable by themselves, where as an extrovert is self-confident and comfortable in social settings and communicating with others. Whether these skills are intrinsic or acquired depends on the individual. Skills aside, you should ask several questions yourself before opening a home-based business. What is the best business to choose? Determining your skill set can be very helpful in either choosing or eliminating your options. What if you have a broad skill base and your still not 100% qualified? The next question you should ask yourself is, am I trainable? If no, then keep searching. If your answer is yes, then make one of your criterions to find a company that offers a comprehensive training program. What are the start-up costs? Regardless of the type of venture you choose, rest assured there will be start-up costs. If the start-up costs are too high, look for something cheaper or save up and start when financially able. Some opportunities are worth waiting for. What is the growth potential of the company? Can I afford to start a company myself, or should I try a turnkey system. Turnkey systems are usually more cost effective, ranging from approximately ($200.00-$1,000.00) depending on system chosen. Various opportunities present themselves both on and off the internet; that is why developing a business plan is essential. I know that doing a Business Plan takes time, effort and a tremendous amount of research. There is a reason for that.
Currently there are so many opportunities and variables out there that it is always best to go into a business being prepared for the worst. When creating a business plan you research all aspects of a potential business including a profit and loss statement. Essentially proving the viability of the company you are about to do business with. There are no guarantees even with a business plan however, the more prepared you are the better your chances of success. Define the proposed concept, in my case it was Christian Retail. Gather as much information about the company as possible. There are companies available that provide information about existing companies’ statistics however; they do charge you for use of their services. Try to go to the source first, that is, the company you are trying to analyze. Go to their website and look at everything they offer, no detail is too small. Perform a Market analysis on the proposed company to prove that potential customers in your area have the financial means to purchase the goods your about to retail. The government census bureau is a good source as well as local libraries. Is your target group available? How many Churches, Ministries, or religious schools are in your local area? Do not be afraid to check out adjoining towns and cities. Use simple resources like the yellow pages, online super pages, and various internet searches to determine your competition. What is different about those companies? Determine why the company you chose is superior to those. Does it pass the test? If no, switch to the company that shines above the rest, in products, services, growth potential or a combination there of. If yes, then start projecting the financial future of the proposed company through a three-year projected growth plan. Once you are able to project the financial growth aspects then you will be able to determine what types of resources you will need to accomplish your financial goals. Projecting your resources and developing a marketing and advertising plan are all part of forecasting expenditures so that your profit and loss will reflect as close to real projections as possible. Analyze your rewards and risks so that you can develop an action plan for potential risks. If starting an online business is truly your goal, then take the appropriate steps to make sure it happens. Now that you have created a sound business plan, you are ready to start your business or apply for grants or loans to afford the start-up costs. Below are the rewards I reap through the system I chose:The acronym for a Turnkey system indicates that it is already to go; all you have to do is turn the key. The system I chose came completely stocked with thousands of Christian Products. The ability to customize your website is available through the back office that comes equipped with many features; the following are just a few:
1. The Editorial Block—is the center feature area of the homepage where you can write about products and or services that are essential to your stores effectiveness.
2. Upload Store Graphics—upload logos and images to utilize in creating pleasing aesthetics to your WebPages and email campaigns.
3. Donation Block—that allows you to add a donate block to the bottom of your homepage so that you can send monies to your favorite charities.
4. Control Menu Blocks—you can add links to your site that you have affiliated with, in an effort to increase the profitability of your site.
5. Coupon Center—gives you the ability to create coupons and give discounts to your customers to increase the marketability of your store.
Provide Christian folks, Churches, and Ministries with Christian books that change lives and Christian music that restores the soul; all while diverting profits of these goods from secular companies back into the hands of Christians like us.An international company that provides the financial stability of both short-term profits on goods, and long-term profits (residual income growth) through a multi-level marketing approach. The company I chose also reveals the potential for a continued growth cycle. Advantage of operating a business from home with the ability to work your own hours; with this system, you can work as little as 20-40 hours depending on self-limitations.Free comprehensive scriptural based training program that includes effective ways to market and advertise, as well as, motivate and inspire you throughout the business building process. Free back office support.I own my own customers. I have the opportunity to sell my own goods and services, and advertise them on the home page.Having the ability to foster relationships with intelligent and seasoned fellow business partners who are willing to help each other learn and grow.
Risks:
Approximately 80-90% of new businesses fail within the first year.
NOT creating a sound business plan would be the ultimate risk.
NOT keeping accurate and up-to-date financial records would definitely create problems.
NOT projecting possible problems and anticipating solutions for them.
Self-doubt—fooling yourself into thinking you cannot sustain your business.
Time: it takes time to build a business to foster relationships and develop long-standing patrons.
High advertising and marketing costs—view all your options to make sure you are up-to-date with cheaper and just as effective means of advertising and marketing.
Resources to assist you in building a business plan:
Many software companies make products with templates to aide you in the development of your business plan. There are many books available that aide in the development of a business plan.Government Sources:
The Small Business Association has a plethora of business resources, The Census Bureau, and if your disabled the Social Security Administration.
State Sources: The Chamber of Commerce for each state and if you are disabled, try your local Easter Seals Chapter, or Vocational Rehabilitation program (if offered in your state).
Local Sources: The Town Hall or Town Clerks Office.
Reference sources:
Town phone books, online super pages, various search engines—all you have to do is type in (starting a business), (Christian bookstores), to look up local resources you could try (starting a business, RI, TX, AZ…), and watch the resources that pop up. Libraries have tons of information on many businesses that are of public record. Note: If the company is private, they have the right to keep their records private. Many online businesses are private because of the nature of the internet. Numerous amounts of information can be found both on and off the internet, so do not be afraid of using online search engines. By typing in various search criterions, you can even find offline resources that way. Keep searching and asking until you have the answers you are looking for. Start professional, stay professional, and may God bless you in all your endeavors.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Little Is Large: Making The Most Of Customer Touchpoints
Good restaurants put a great deal of time, money, and energy into crafting their menu. While they may be successful in satisfying their customer's taste buds, it's the totality of the dining experience that brings back repeat patrons. This means that little things count, actually they count a lot.
Customers have many dining options these days and frankly good food often isn't enough to bring them back. According to Restaurants and Institutions New American Diner Survey nearly 43% of diners take into account all the aspects of the restaurant to determine if they'll return. Of course, that's just one sample of what's going on out there but haven't we all experienced a restaurant with good food and attractive prices but then they completely drop the ball when it comes to all the many touch points: an unfriendly server, a dirty table, a stoic hostess, dirty windows, empty condiments, a funky restroom with little soap and no paper towels. Every negative touch point will cancel out any positive effort accomplished by good food and prices.
But don't fret too soon if you think you may be in this situation. Weak spots in the touch point grid are easy to see and fix. Do all you can to hire people who believe strongly in hospitality, consider them investments, as they make a big impression in the customers mind. And that's the mind that will later be deciding if they should return. When problems arise let the customer know that you see their point of view and not only are you on their side but you're working to correct anything that's negative for them. The nice aspect about problems are that they are opportunities. Everyone knows that nothing is perfect and that things go wrong in every business sometimes, but let them see you shine as you take care of the negative no matter how little, because little is large in the customer's eyes.
Remember, everyone likes a problem solver.
Customers have many dining options these days and frankly good food often isn't enough to bring them back. According to Restaurants and Institutions New American Diner Survey nearly 43% of diners take into account all the aspects of the restaurant to determine if they'll return. Of course, that's just one sample of what's going on out there but haven't we all experienced a restaurant with good food and attractive prices but then they completely drop the ball when it comes to all the many touch points: an unfriendly server, a dirty table, a stoic hostess, dirty windows, empty condiments, a funky restroom with little soap and no paper towels. Every negative touch point will cancel out any positive effort accomplished by good food and prices.
But don't fret too soon if you think you may be in this situation. Weak spots in the touch point grid are easy to see and fix. Do all you can to hire people who believe strongly in hospitality, consider them investments, as they make a big impression in the customers mind. And that's the mind that will later be deciding if they should return. When problems arise let the customer know that you see their point of view and not only are you on their side but you're working to correct anything that's negative for them. The nice aspect about problems are that they are opportunities. Everyone knows that nothing is perfect and that things go wrong in every business sometimes, but let them see you shine as you take care of the negative no matter how little, because little is large in the customer's eyes.
Remember, everyone likes a problem solver.
Monday, July 25, 2011
How Often Should You Contact Your List?
One question that people have once they have a list whether that be past customers, newsletter subscribers, or leads is how often they should be contacting them.
There’s really no hard and fast answer to this question, but I can tell you that most people are so afraid of contacting their subscribers too often and annoying them that their err on the side of caution and don’t contact their people often enough.
You need to remember that if you’re not constantly reminding people that you’re still there, that someone else will, and that person will likely forget about you.
For example, if you’re not contacting your subscribers at least once a month, you’re just not contacting your customers often enough. A lot of people think that contacting subscribers everyday is way too often, but there are certainly areas where it works. I am on a list right now where every weekday I’m sent a short little email, and I read it everyday. However, these aren’t marketing and sales pitches, but rather little motivational blurbs – they’re short and take me less than a minute to read.
A good rule of thumb that works for a lot of people is to contact your subscribers once every 2-5 days. That’s often enough that they’ll remember who you are but not so often that they’re going to think they’re being bombarded with messages. Feel free to play around with this number and see what works best for you and your subscribers.
Also remember that not every contact that you make with your customers needs to be an advertisement for something. While sending free content to your subscribers or past customers may seem like a bad financial move, it can be a way to build up good will with your past customers or current subscribers, and when it comes time to buy, they’re going to remember you, and will be far more likely to do business with you.
There’s really no hard and fast answer to this question, but I can tell you that most people are so afraid of contacting their subscribers too often and annoying them that their err on the side of caution and don’t contact their people often enough.
You need to remember that if you’re not constantly reminding people that you’re still there, that someone else will, and that person will likely forget about you.
For example, if you’re not contacting your subscribers at least once a month, you’re just not contacting your customers often enough. A lot of people think that contacting subscribers everyday is way too often, but there are certainly areas where it works. I am on a list right now where every weekday I’m sent a short little email, and I read it everyday. However, these aren’t marketing and sales pitches, but rather little motivational blurbs – they’re short and take me less than a minute to read.
A good rule of thumb that works for a lot of people is to contact your subscribers once every 2-5 days. That’s often enough that they’ll remember who you are but not so often that they’re going to think they’re being bombarded with messages. Feel free to play around with this number and see what works best for you and your subscribers.
Also remember that not every contact that you make with your customers needs to be an advertisement for something. While sending free content to your subscribers or past customers may seem like a bad financial move, it can be a way to build up good will with your past customers or current subscribers, and when it comes time to buy, they’re going to remember you, and will be far more likely to do business with you.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Business Domain Name Success - Choosing A Domain Name
Choosing a business domain name can be one of the most important decisions you make. You can even sell domain names if you buy them as an investment.
Domain names are important to all businesses. Why? It’s as important to any e-commerce business as it is to a retail business. Your name means a lot, and you want something to stick when people hear it. If your domain name is concise, you are more likely to sell it for more, and profit more than long ones.
There are more ways to earn more with the sale of domain names, doesn’t that make you happy? Many people have made fortunes with the sale of domain names, and you can too! Many people like you and me have bought popular domain names as soon as the original owner forgets to renew it. If you buy a domain name, and the owner wants it back, you can ask for whatever price you want! You can easily make money if you’re smart about your domain buying.
There are tons of domain investors who check the availability of domain names. Many can sell these domain names and even lease the domain names so they can earn extra money. If you ever tried to find that perfect domain name for your business then you know it can be expensive if someone else already owns it for an investment.
You can also buy domain names that are generic, then sell the domain name to people in the industry involved with that name. For example, you can buy http://www.hamburger.com, and sell it to http://www.McDonalds.com. Why is that? Because McDonalds might want to take the traffic from http://hamburger.com, and use it to their advantage! Of course something like that example is long gone, but there are always other opportunities on a smaller scale. Just like any other business, making money in this is going to take practice, trial, and error. Nothing is easy, so if you make mistakes or lose money in the beginning, don’t give up!
Domain names are important to all businesses. Why? It’s as important to any e-commerce business as it is to a retail business. Your name means a lot, and you want something to stick when people hear it. If your domain name is concise, you are more likely to sell it for more, and profit more than long ones.
There are more ways to earn more with the sale of domain names, doesn’t that make you happy? Many people have made fortunes with the sale of domain names, and you can too! Many people like you and me have bought popular domain names as soon as the original owner forgets to renew it. If you buy a domain name, and the owner wants it back, you can ask for whatever price you want! You can easily make money if you’re smart about your domain buying.
There are tons of domain investors who check the availability of domain names. Many can sell these domain names and even lease the domain names so they can earn extra money. If you ever tried to find that perfect domain name for your business then you know it can be expensive if someone else already owns it for an investment.
You can also buy domain names that are generic, then sell the domain name to people in the industry involved with that name. For example, you can buy http://www.hamburger.com, and sell it to http://www.McDonalds.com. Why is that? Because McDonalds might want to take the traffic from http://hamburger.com, and use it to their advantage! Of course something like that example is long gone, but there are always other opportunities on a smaller scale. Just like any other business, making money in this is going to take practice, trial, and error. Nothing is easy, so if you make mistakes or lose money in the beginning, don’t give up!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Your Internet Business-- How Kids Can Help
Doing business online can be a real challenge. It can be difficult to keep up with the latest technology and product trends. If you don't have time to do your homework because you are too busy working a full-time job and taking care of a family, it may make things seem impossible if you are not internet savvy. There are definitely some perks having a technology, marketing and product development staff at your place of employment. Just thinking about all of the people it takes to operate a viable business is overwhelming. I have spent many hours reading e-books and watching videos about how to make money online. Because I grew up in the 80s and graduated from college just before the internet was born, like a lot of us, I was never formally educated on the subject, so it was not second nature. I have been labeled by some as "the internet queen" because that is where I can be found during most of my free time. But let me set the record straight, I am far from living up to that name.
Here is a little background about myself just to give you an idea of how my mind works. It doesn't involve much technology. I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. Most of my work has involved kids who are neglected and/or abused. Fighting the desire to throw the laptop on my desk out of the nearest window because it won't cooperate, is probably the most technological thing that I do at work. Don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot about computers over past seven years. Sometimes I get lucky and fix the office printer or help someone with who is having problems with their computer. I will admit that sometimes I have no idea how I did it, but please don't tell anyone. It would ruin my "internet queen" reputation.
So, what I know best is kids. One thing I always say to parents is that, unlike adults, kids are like sponges. They can watch T.V, play a video game and hear every word of your adult conversations, all at the same time. One thing I always tell kids is that, just because I am an adult, does not mean that I can't learn anything from them. Kids seem to have the ability to retain a lot more information at once than adults, so the internet is not as frustrating for them as it is for some of us. So, what does all of this have to do with operating an online business? I used to think it had nothing to do with it until I came to my senses.
Kids these days have grown up on the web. They are aware of fashion and the latest trends. They know what they want and how to push all the right buttons so their parents will get it for them. They also know the limits of what to ask for. So, where do I go when I need help with understanding a program that makes no sense or want to know about the hottest selling items? I ask kids. My eleven-year-old niece and her friends helped me choose jewelry from one of my wholesalers to resell. I had no trouble selling what they chose. They know what their parents and other adults are looking for also. If you don't think your kids ever listen to you or know what you want or are interested in, ask them. You might be surprised to find that they listen to you more than you think. My niece tells me everything her friend's parents are looking for also. She listens to them, too! Kids are great marketers and know what advertisements make them want an item and why. Want to know a great blog site to advertise a product? Chances are a kid can tell you. They are also great researchers. If they don't know, they can find out, and usually it is faster than you can find it. Also, don't overlook the local high school and college computer geeks. That is where you should go when you need a webpage designed or get the answers to your tech questions. They work cheap and sometimes for free. Always reward them in some way, even if it just taking them out to dinner or helping them with something in return. You don't want to take advantage of them just because they are kids. They learn how to treat others by observing their parents and other adults and will mirror these behaviors. It is good way to teach moral values to our future adults. Keep in mind that this is the generation that will be responsible for taking care of you when you are too old to take care of yourself!
Hopefully, I have convinced you that kids can be an important and profitable part of your online business. Learn from them! They love to teach and their patience is usually better than ours. They are kids. They know what it is like for others to be impatient with them which helps them to be more empathetic and less irritated when they have to show you the same thing a hundred times. It's also a great way to spend quality time with a child and even teach them the value of work and the rewards to be gained. Give them praises for their skill, knowledge and help. There is nothing wrong with boosting a child's self-esteem along the way. Your business will be more successful when you give back to others in the process!
Here is a little background about myself just to give you an idea of how my mind works. It doesn't involve much technology. I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. Most of my work has involved kids who are neglected and/or abused. Fighting the desire to throw the laptop on my desk out of the nearest window because it won't cooperate, is probably the most technological thing that I do at work. Don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot about computers over past seven years. Sometimes I get lucky and fix the office printer or help someone with who is having problems with their computer. I will admit that sometimes I have no idea how I did it, but please don't tell anyone. It would ruin my "internet queen" reputation.
So, what I know best is kids. One thing I always say to parents is that, unlike adults, kids are like sponges. They can watch T.V, play a video game and hear every word of your adult conversations, all at the same time. One thing I always tell kids is that, just because I am an adult, does not mean that I can't learn anything from them. Kids seem to have the ability to retain a lot more information at once than adults, so the internet is not as frustrating for them as it is for some of us. So, what does all of this have to do with operating an online business? I used to think it had nothing to do with it until I came to my senses.
Kids these days have grown up on the web. They are aware of fashion and the latest trends. They know what they want and how to push all the right buttons so their parents will get it for them. They also know the limits of what to ask for. So, where do I go when I need help with understanding a program that makes no sense or want to know about the hottest selling items? I ask kids. My eleven-year-old niece and her friends helped me choose jewelry from one of my wholesalers to resell. I had no trouble selling what they chose. They know what their parents and other adults are looking for also. If you don't think your kids ever listen to you or know what you want or are interested in, ask them. You might be surprised to find that they listen to you more than you think. My niece tells me everything her friend's parents are looking for also. She listens to them, too! Kids are great marketers and know what advertisements make them want an item and why. Want to know a great blog site to advertise a product? Chances are a kid can tell you. They are also great researchers. If they don't know, they can find out, and usually it is faster than you can find it. Also, don't overlook the local high school and college computer geeks. That is where you should go when you need a webpage designed or get the answers to your tech questions. They work cheap and sometimes for free. Always reward them in some way, even if it just taking them out to dinner or helping them with something in return. You don't want to take advantage of them just because they are kids. They learn how to treat others by observing their parents and other adults and will mirror these behaviors. It is good way to teach moral values to our future adults. Keep in mind that this is the generation that will be responsible for taking care of you when you are too old to take care of yourself!
Hopefully, I have convinced you that kids can be an important and profitable part of your online business. Learn from them! They love to teach and their patience is usually better than ours. They are kids. They know what it is like for others to be impatient with them which helps them to be more empathetic and less irritated when they have to show you the same thing a hundred times. It's also a great way to spend quality time with a child and even teach them the value of work and the rewards to be gained. Give them praises for their skill, knowledge and help. There is nothing wrong with boosting a child's self-esteem along the way. Your business will be more successful when you give back to others in the process!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Business Imitation Or Innovation?
Are you starting a business for the first time? If this is your first foray into business you are much better of finding a concept that already works and improving on it then trying to launch your latest idea.
Look at how the Japanese identified the opportunity in the automotive industry. They imitated and innovated on an existing proven demand and are now the market leaders.
They did not try and create a new market for an unproven idea. They came, copied and improved on an existing concept.
Many of the most successful business men in the world have used already established formulae for making money and just done it slightly better or added a new twist. Adding your own "flavour" and thereby creating your own unique business will still be fun.
Banks are much more likely to look favorably at a proven business model than to back a new and unproven idea. This is probably the reason why when you buy a franchise you can get funding of up to 70%.
Have a look at the successful businesses operating in your local area that are already making money and see how you could do it better. Perhaps by choosing a better location, you might attract many of their existing customers to your business.
Maybe you can offer a higher level of service and charge higher prices thereby attracting the high value customers.
It is much more difficult to launch a brand new concept and create a new market than to create a novel way of supplying existing demand and just improve on the basic delivery.
Once you have experience in running and managing a successful business then perhaps the time might be ripe to test your own ideas.
Does higher reward come with higher risk? Perhaps it is better to set your sights slightly lower and build a foundation that can serve as a platform for more risky ventures?
Look at how the Japanese identified the opportunity in the automotive industry. They imitated and innovated on an existing proven demand and are now the market leaders.
They did not try and create a new market for an unproven idea. They came, copied and improved on an existing concept.
Many of the most successful business men in the world have used already established formulae for making money and just done it slightly better or added a new twist. Adding your own "flavour" and thereby creating your own unique business will still be fun.
Banks are much more likely to look favorably at a proven business model than to back a new and unproven idea. This is probably the reason why when you buy a franchise you can get funding of up to 70%.
Have a look at the successful businesses operating in your local area that are already making money and see how you could do it better. Perhaps by choosing a better location, you might attract many of their existing customers to your business.
Maybe you can offer a higher level of service and charge higher prices thereby attracting the high value customers.
It is much more difficult to launch a brand new concept and create a new market than to create a novel way of supplying existing demand and just improve on the basic delivery.
Once you have experience in running and managing a successful business then perhaps the time might be ripe to test your own ideas.
Does higher reward come with higher risk? Perhaps it is better to set your sights slightly lower and build a foundation that can serve as a platform for more risky ventures?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Young Business Men & Woman
The most dynamic business people are those who are starting their own business for the first time. They have innovative and daring ideas and believe that the world is a safe place for young entrepreneurs!
They have dreams of the world waiting with baited breath for their latest million dollar idea. They believe that their journey will be short, sweet and simple. They laugh at older people that are still struggling to get by.
They are full of optimism and hope to realize their ambitions in record time not realising that their lack of serious business knowledge and their high sex drive is waiting for them like a trap that a hunter has set!
As they get older, most become cautious and their respect for people that are already successful grows… as they start to realize the sheer effort and true grit that is involved in making a new business fly.
Most serious (or should it be serial?) entrepreneurs generally start making a serious income in their late thirties and early forties. Prior to this they have been at "school" trying to figure out what works and getting shrewder, sharper and wiser by the minute.
Finally, if they have not become cynical, they learn to be humble and knuckle down to some hard work. If they have persevered and not let their business goals die in this shark infested world of business, they are now ready to make inroads into their desires and goals.
The best advice I can give to anybody starting up for the first time is to find one or more successful business mentors that you can trust completely. Make sure that if you ask for their advice then you follow it!
A normal man learns from his experiences, a bright man learns from other people's experiences and a clever man will seek the relevant advice from properly qualified people and take a short cut!
They have dreams of the world waiting with baited breath for their latest million dollar idea. They believe that their journey will be short, sweet and simple. They laugh at older people that are still struggling to get by.
They are full of optimism and hope to realize their ambitions in record time not realising that their lack of serious business knowledge and their high sex drive is waiting for them like a trap that a hunter has set!
As they get older, most become cautious and their respect for people that are already successful grows… as they start to realize the sheer effort and true grit that is involved in making a new business fly.
Most serious (or should it be serial?) entrepreneurs generally start making a serious income in their late thirties and early forties. Prior to this they have been at "school" trying to figure out what works and getting shrewder, sharper and wiser by the minute.
Finally, if they have not become cynical, they learn to be humble and knuckle down to some hard work. If they have persevered and not let their business goals die in this shark infested world of business, they are now ready to make inroads into their desires and goals.
The best advice I can give to anybody starting up for the first time is to find one or more successful business mentors that you can trust completely. Make sure that if you ask for their advice then you follow it!
A normal man learns from his experiences, a bright man learns from other people's experiences and a clever man will seek the relevant advice from properly qualified people and take a short cut!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)