Starting out in a new business so many things cross your mind…can I do this…will it catch on…where will it take me? Since jumping online in early 2009 I have been soaking up as much Internet marketing knowledge as my mind can handle and then some. I wanted to learn a new way of creating income that would benefit others as well. I had no idea what would come of it all, but I have to say to all of you considering a similar path…go for it!! Forget about your fears cause reality will be far more painful if you don’t jump in the deep end of the Internet world.
Since starting I have helped individuals, small business owners, family, friends and collegues to join in on creating an Internet presence and building on their talents online. Simple things like setting up Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google profiles, websites, and new businesses have been my focus lately. With that effort I have recieved income, connections, networking opportunities and relationships that are expanding my life in a positive manner. There is nothing more satisfying then getting a call from a stranger in need of your assistance that was sent to you by one of your contacts.
This is not a marketing piece…I just wanted to share some examples where you can also benefit from trying something new and perhaps beyond what you would ordinarily pursue. By taking on this venture it made me realize that I was missing out on living a bigger life. I’m so thankful this happened when it did and you will be too.
Sorry for the absence in my blogging…I will be more diligent as I balance all the new activities coming to me. Thanks for understanding.
As so many people find their past careers vanishing into thin air these days I felt it important to share some valuable thoughts and ideas for those that need help picking a promising career online. To start with throw your normal thinking, understanding, and what you are familiar with out the door when it comes to your next promising career. A clean slate and open approach will invite more ideas, possibilities, and new ways of identifying what you are after. The online career world is nearly infinite in comparison to what many of us were taught to think about careers in the past. Make a list of your talents, knowledge, interests, passions and desires…go on grab a pen and paper…write them down now. Are you done? Then let’s continue picking a promising career online.
With your list in hand start by searching the internet for others that have similar connections with your list and see what they are doing. Sometimes there is no need to reinvent the wheel and you can join in on a working model that suits you. Engage with these people by asking questions, learning more, and collecting the good and bad points to each opportunity. With every exchange you will learn more about what you actually want narrowing in on the target. Now don’t get overwhelmed by all you are likely to find in this search. This will include MLM, network marketing, direct sales, home business, etc. You are in research mode not buying mode so stay true to your list and understand that this is just the first step in the process.
Now you want to pause a moment…and ask what did I see and not see in this first search of established career options. Are there niches open to explore further that suit my list? Write them down and dig deeper until you either eliminate them or find they should be considered further. Again, I can’t stress this enough…don’t limit your ideas based on past assumptions. Don’t over think this process as keeping a light and simple perspective will benefit your efforts. Run through each idea to an end before scratching it off as a non-opportunity.
Now you have developed several possibilities from which to pick from. In that process I want to bring your online skill set into your decision as well. When I decided to take on an online career I had a limited skill set that needed development to be successful online. Don’t let that be an obstacle, but rather a condition of the game. Just like any new career learning new information is part of it. While performing your search collect the required online components or skills that you will need to learn for your career. Some established systems will have training while new or less developed career online opportunities will require you to learn on your own. Either way you can contact me for help in this area as well. Enjoy this process and share it with others that need help picking a promising career online.
So you’ve started creating content for marketing your home business, so let’s make sure you make a massive impact with home business marketing – how to target online content distribution. By using the leverage of online systems you can get the greatest exposure while limiting the time and effort involved. The main point of choosing to be a home business owner was to control your time, resources and reach a more balanced lifestyle, right? OK, today I will share 3 simple online methods that provide me with the best results for my home business.
To start with I will assume you have begun by opening up at least a few social media accounts to include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as examples. A great way to distribute a piece of content to all your social media contacts is through Ping.fm. This free distribution tool allows you to send out a status update to all the accounts you link to this service at one time. For example, I write…Checkout my new blog post: Home Business Marketing – How to Target Online Content Distribution and I add the link to my blog and click send. This status update just went to my 6000+ twitter followers, 500+ Facebook friends, LinkedIn contacts and on and on all from one 140 character message. As you build your social network the reach and number of views will increase. To add to that power make sure to include keywords within your 140 character message to draw the attention of those outside your circle of influence based on their search using a specific keyword. So in the example above several people may find my status update based on the term “home business” and follow the link to my blog.
A second part to using social media for online content distribution is participating in groups. By becoming a member of a group within Facebook or LinkedIn you now have access to all the members who frequent the group pages. If your content provides value to the group you can share it by posting a similar message as used in the example above. The number of group members varies, but hundreds or even thousands may see my post and click on the link and arrive at my blog. You can also start your own group and build up the number of members allowing for even further direct reach through individual messaging.
The last simple online method I use for home business marketing – how to target online content distribution is Onlywire. This free tool allows me to bookmark my content on many sites like Digg, Stumbleupon, Delicious, etc, with just one submission. These sites bring people together to share content from all over the internet based on likes, topics, interests, hobbies, etc. With each bookmark another link to my blog is placed on the internet which increases the potential for another pair of eyes to read it and come to my blog.
Although each of these methods is free, they all require set up time and effort on your part. Remember your home business is a long-term effort and these methods are for long-term gain.
It’s exciting to get your small business up and going. You have many hours of thought, planning, product/service development, networking, funding ,blood, sweat and tears culminating together to complete the picture. One of the most valuable lessons I experienced the hard way was creating my audience from scratch. As I’ve mentioned in other articles more energy and resources are used in starting new things than in any other part of the process. So in that light I suggest strongly that you consider small business start up – leverage an existing audience.
In other words don’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to building an audience. Take a look at your target market and see where they congregate physically, virtually, and in association. Your success is in the largest number of interested viewers you can expose your value to. So go where the crowd is. Join groups, clubs, associations, and contribute your unique value to that established audience. Develop your presence and relationships with this audience and those that relate to what you offer will become your audience and customers.
So where do I find the existing audience? Well, as an online marketing professional my standard answer to that is search the internet. Search for your topic and all that relates to it. Look locally, state, country, or even worldwide depending on your business model. One can access online social networks for audiences with the same topic of interest relating to your business. Look for events, tradeshows, speakers, conventions and the like to attend or participate in. Additional under used resources includes the local chamber of commerce, small business association and colleges. If you take some time to really think about your situation, several more will inevitably come to mind.
To put a bow on this method of leverage you must not forget networking with those in your industry. In the online world many are open to sharing their audience freely or for a percentage of sales made to their audience. Again, the value of a captive audience will far exceed the percentage cost for access. An example might be contributing to a webinar with a product that solves a problem relating to the discussion topic. Plus, if your value is appreciated by that audience the chances for future opportunities to sell additional items will be welcomed as the monetary incentive is reciprocated. New ways of leverage are appearing faster than ever before, but don’t forget small business start up – leverage an existing audience.
If you look out into the world today with all of the job loss, economic pressures, and the obvious lack of control felt by most, home businesses are filling the void. The home business solution for many has never been so accessible, powerful, or changed the idea of work into such a creative experience. So let’s look at Home Business – Why having a home business is so appealing.
The most valued element that people desire in their lives is time. How we use it, what we do with it, and how we can get more out of it. The appeal of a home business, as it relates to time, comes down to creating your own schedule around your life vs. the traditional working for someone else on their schedule. This ability to have a say in and actually control the time you spend creating business is liberating and fulfilling. When managed effectively the home business owner can gain more flexibility in their day allowing for more free time and fitting in non-work activities with less difficulty. How would your stress level decrease with less rushing around like a mad person?
Here is another life changer…a home business can offer anyone the opportunity to do what you love while earning an income. What would it feel like to be earning from your passion or hobby? True happiness comes to my mind. The only limit to what you can do with a home business is your imagination. This is where the creating vs. working applies and benefits your efforts tenfold. If you love what you’re doing it’s not work and you will tend to give more of yourself increasing the chances for success.
The last piece is the control of income your home business produces. So many out there are on a set or fixed income in a job. As a home business owner you can sell direct either products or services at retail values earning profits rather than wages. Remember wages are a wholesale figure that is marked up by your employer where they keep the profits. Also, within your home business there is the opportunity to create multiple income generating methods as compared to the one wage job holder. The amount of income you desire can be tailored to what you are willing to do with your home business. More income options, more time, and more effort will be required to reach more substantial figures just as you might expect.
After thinking about these points I’m sure you can see home business – Why having a home business is so appealing.
Each and every day goes by with your thoughts on starting your online business, but what are you doing to bring that dream to reality? I know, I know there are obstacles, time constraints, fear, money is tight, I need more training, and on and on. Are these excuses real or just procrastination and avoidance raising their ugly heads? What if those obstacles were removed from the picture, what then? Would that do it for you? OK, I’ll take them away for you right now with a simple perspective that fuels starting your online business.
I want to share a wakeup call that I heard this morning from a colleague that will give you a quality mindset perspective. While presented with an obstacle, that would further his online business, my colleague began mentally putting up excuses for why he couldn’t do the task. He talked with his wife expressing how he was nervous, not confident, and stressing over the situation. Sound familiar to where you are with starting your online business? You’re not alone. Speaking from a different perspective and situation, his wife brought to light the insignificants of his troubles when she painted the picture in front of her this morning.
His wife reminded him she was with their family friend at the hospital where she was just about to start her first treatment of chemotherapy for breast cancer. This 36 year old wife and mother, at the beginning of her family life, had real obstacles to face. Life and death, motherless children, limited time with those she loves, the quality of that time, battling cancer itself, successfully completing the treatments and beating cancer came to mind. How do your obstacles stand up in comparison? My colleague realized how trivial his obstacles really were and said to his wife you’re right I can do this. I have created mountains out of mole hills letting my mind control my actions. No more he said and off he went to overcome with a simple perspective.
It’s time to get very clear with your perspective before you miss the opportunities in front of you in life. Ask yourself are these obstacles real or just excuses? Would the young mother in the story above relish the opportunity to trade obstacles with you? Keep your perspective grounded and focus on solutions to these minor obstacles in the way of you reaching the online business you desire. Life is complicated enough without the creation of fictitious problems. I hope that this example gives you a simple perspective that fuels starting your online business.
I can get that done later. I have plenty of time. It won’t take me that long to get started. Ever hear yourself using any of the above procrastination statements? We all do this internal self talk or chatter, but the truth is it’s costing you heavy price, time. Going after your passion is worth your time. Procrastinating is not. So, who’s up for taking action? No more procrastination – Start your home business now!
The first step to overcoming procrastination is recognizing when you are heading down that path. Listen to your thoughts and ask yourself do I have unlimited time in my life to wait? How much time have I already wasted? Where would I be in my home business if I started when I intended to start? The only time we have is the present, so that’s the time to start your home business. Get your idea, product/service, system, plan, and put rewards in place for completing each piece. Sometimes celebrating the little steps is just as important as the big steps. It comes down to maintaining forward momentum to achieve great things.
Now organize your tasks into priorities with time lines. The more accountable you make yourself the less likely procrastination will enter the picture and delay starting your home business. Break the tasks down into small chunks that can be accomplished more easily. Set a time limit and due date for each task for an entire week. Part of getting to the destination is knowing where you’re going. You are creating your map here. Warning! Use it as such or deviation into procrastination is around the corner.
Understand that changing your thought patterns is difficult so expect that you will fall off the wagon. Adding to the mix a curve ball or two that life generally throws at you is also to be expected. That’s all OK. However, make sure these slight course detours don’t become a complete derailment. Go right back to the map and task list and begin the catch up process. The more time applied to staying on track the more the new habit will take shape as a permanent feature in your daily life.
Starting is always the hardest step in any battle whether it’s exercising, beating procrastination, or starting a business. Keep focused on the reason why and the how to portion will take care of itself through your actions…no more procrastination – start your home business now!
That is the million dollar question for most looking to start an online business, isn’t it? After all the reason for doing a business is to make a profit. My thoughts on this topic come from several discussions with top earners in this industry and personal experiences online. The intent here is to open you up to ideas that are less mainstream and more powerful in achieving results. So, what is the most profitable business online? It’s not what you might think.
The answer to that question has one main component that the majority seems to overlook…something you have a passion for. I’m sure that didn’t cross your mind at first, did it? A business is a business and must be treated as such in order to create profits. If your online business doesn’t come from a deep passion, interest, or desire odds are you won’t commit to it is a big enough way. Makes sense, right? If you love what you’re doing you will devote everything to the end result. This passion will take you through good times and bad, will attract customers in everything you do to share the business and ultimately bring the most profit.
A secondary, but highly important component is the income stream. The philosophy here is it takes the same process and effort to sell a low dollar item as it does a high dollar item. Larger ticket items tend to have a larger margin and therefore a higher percentage in the profit column. Another part of online business profit comes from residuals and additional return sales from your customer base. Anytime an ongoing membership fee is collected there is room for ongoing collections of income from your customers. This is a smaller amount, but will grow over time with increased customer base to provide a consistent income. Return sales come through consistent customer contact and providing additional products/services that suit your customer’s interests. It is much easier to earn from a current customer than finding and selling to a new one.
The last point I recommend is strictly for ease of entry, use, and long-term growth as an online business owner. This industry reinvents itself with continuous change, advancement, and at break neck speed. To combat those factors it pays to find a proven online system that you can tailor to your business. I’m talking about a system that was built by professional online marketers to handle your sales, order processing, customer follow up, continuous training and fulltime support. The online business world is fairly new and most don’t have all the skills to handle every aspect of this type of business. However, you don’t need to when you choose this route.
I hope these ideas were helpful in finding what is the most profitable online business? I welcome your comments and questions into this and any other topic I’ve written about.
So you’re looking into the new ebusiness model and for good reason. The internet has opened up the marketplace beyond your home town, connected your business to over 1.7 Billion people, and provided a leveraging tool beyond all others. So let’s look more in depth at the advantages of making your business into an ebusiness with systems, your cost of doing business, and leverage.
To start with I need to explain what I mean by an ebusiness system vs. the traditional business operations. A traditional store front business operates 8-10 hours a day 7 days a week maximum, correct? Customers are attracted through local advertising that reaches a 40 mile radius for example. This type of operation only makes money when the doors are open and the customer can enter the store to buy goods/services. Now the advantages of an ebusiness system are many. Your ebusiness now uses a system to include website, marketing, selling and telling content, and ecommerce to complete the sales transaction. This system is accessible by anyone online city, state, country or worldwide that has a need for your product or service. Not only that, customers can shop at your ebusiness 24/7 even if your physical store is closed. The last compelling point is the current market trend that shows 81% of all buyers look online for information and pricing prior to entering a store to buy. Therefore, the use of an ebusiness system will more than double your business opportunities and potentially sales as well.
The cost of doing business, as a brick & mortar in the last few years has skyrocketed. Increases in employee costs, insurance, utilities, taxes, inventories you name it. In addition, shrinking margins and ROI have saddled your business finances with what many see as the final blow. To the contrary, ebusinesses have flourished due to lower costs and higher margins. How are they doing that you ask? It comes down to overhead and operating costs. An ebusiness has no need for rent, insurance, employees, or even inventory in many cases. The ebusiness system handles most of these things using outsourcing, drop shipping, or automated hosting from service providers at a fraction of the cost of doing so yourself. By leveraging the talent and systems of companies doing similar services for many other businesses and you can have better operations with lower costs producing higher ROI. Now that’s a magic formula.
The last advantage I will mention here today is one I have hinted at throughout this article, leverage. I have spoken about exposure/sales leverage, cost leverage and lastly time leverage. In case it didn’t hit you earlier the time saved and created with an ebusiness is paramount to your success and lifestyle as a business owner. The ebusiness system works when you’re not freeing up time for other things, possibly fun things outside of work? There’s a novel idea. The methods that produce the lower costs of operation also free up time as you are outsourcing more of the work you did or had employees doing that required your supervision time. The one thing most business owners feel they have the least of…is time. An ebusiness can change that by giving you time leverage.
Today I learned of a story from the medical business field that got me fired up. What triggered my feelings of distaste, frustration, and sadness was the lack of regard for achieving the intended goal of exemplary patient care. Now I’m not a doctor, nurse nor of the medical industry, but I have been a patient and I do know the value of customer care. This very point put me in battles with corporate executives in the past and how doing the right thing led me to home based business. After all, our core values and beliefs is what matter most as a leader. Listen to this story and see if I’m off the mark here or if you can relate to where things need to change with what’s going wrong in our world.
Now to keep the identity of the nurse private the specific companies and the like will not be mentioned. So the story begins less than two years ago when a nurse with nearly 30 years experience in all facets of the profession including management is asked to lead a new project. The hospital executives specifically seek out our nurse based on her experience, success, and leadership talents for this new position. After accepting the position our nurse begins by sharing her most valued leadership beliefs, principles and practices with her staff as to how they will work to achieve the end goal. From that point forward everyone worked as an effective team moving towards achieving the goal…that was until last week.
At that point our nurse was asked by management for a discussion about some issues. In that meeting our nurse was told that management was unhappy that the other nurses were going to our nurse for advice and direction as to how to handle patient situations. Management claimed that her relationships or friendships with her staff were to blame. The recommendation was to maintain a more traditional managerial position, rather than friendships, with her staff. Basically these relationships that our nurse cultivated to produce the results our nurse was hired to achieve threatened management. Our nurse was given a day to give her response to the new directive.
Our nurse was in utter disbelief. Management was now attacking her core values as a leader and the relationships she built as the foundation for completing her set objective…because they didn’t command the same respect with their own staff? So now our nurse had a choice…follow the directive by management and compromise her beliefs or hold true to doing the right thing providing exemplary patient care, which funny enough got her the position in the first place.
The choice was simple…do the right thing…not only for her, but for the recipient of the end result, the patient.
This is just one of the many cases I’m sure happening in our world daily. Doing the right thing isn’t the easiest route, but it is what really matters. If our world is going to change these wrongs into rights more of us must take this path less traveled. I found a path that allowed me to hold true to myself and my customers just like our nurse…doing the right thing led me to home based business…where will it lead you?
