Archive for July, 2008

Marketing A Business Online

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Marketing a business online can be hard work if you are starting from scratch. In addition, if you have no previous experience, it’s a problem knowing just how and where to start. And if you have virtually no Internet skills at all, where do you start?

I want to turn this on it’s head although it may not provide the answer for everybody, but sometimes it is better to put the cart before the horse!

My attitude is this. Why make life any more difficult than it already is? If you have no particular business in mind, the answer is to find a business that comes with a marketing ’system’ built-in. Unless you are dedicated to a particular product, say one of your own, then you’ll be looking for a business anyway and there are some very good ethical Internet businesses in a box that you can buy into.

A critical factor for most of us is how much can we make and how long will it take before our endeavours bear fruit

Are You Prepared To Invest Sufficient Time And Money?

Most people are not prepared to invest enough financially to ensure the best value for money. The old saying that you get what you pay for is especially true when it comes to the Internet. Marketing an incomplete online business can be massively time consuming and frustrating.

If you are serious about an online business, don’t just jump into the first thing that attracts you and also consider a few of the basics below.

How much time do you have available to put into your business? If you are not prepared to spend the equivalent of at least 2 to 3 days a week to begin with, I would say you are wasting your time and not really serious

If you have funds available, get a professional to build your website or at least make sure that everything functions correctly, especially if it involves e-commerce which it probably will
Will you have an advertising budget? Advertising can attract interest quickly with good keyword optimised pay per click campaign on Google for example. And if you do it right you can keep your costs low but it is very easy to lose your shirt if you get it wrong, so be careful

Ideally you should be writing articles several times a week and posting to the big directories and e-zines

You should create a blog, several in fact, along with audio and video and other web 2 stuff

For all but the most experienced and already successful there is a learning curve, perhaps several and there will also be the odd investment to make. There are some fabulous must have tools and services. The best can be quite expensive but worth their weight in gold because they will save you masses of time and produce results that could never be achieved if done by hand

Attitude Is Everything
There are other issues we could add to the mix but there is one major factor that must be mentioned and that is your attitude.
Unless you are relentless in your efforts, above all else, you will likely fail in your business. Even with a well put together marketing strategy and a great product, there is no guarantee of success, but if you keep going, success will almost certainly follow.

The Internet is vast and each day more and more people are trying their hand at making their fortune online and this means more competition but the majority, perhaps as many as 90%, give up.

There are no quick fixes and longevity and perseverance is the key. You must keep going and keep studying and testing different marketing methods. Marketing is what will make or break your business

With even the best of the genuine Internet businesses, nothing is guaranteed but the rewards can be quite astounding when you persevere.

So Back To Marketing A Business Online
If you are about to market something of your own you will need to study everything you can find that relates to Internet marketing. The danger here is in becoming a perpetual student and never actually applying what you learn.

Marketing is the corner stone of any online business. It will eventually occupy up to 90% of your work activity, once your website (your shop front) is up and running.

The secret of marketing any online business is to become an expert marketer and this must be your goal. All online entrepreneurs rely on many different marketing methods and methods are evolving and changing constantly but the fundamentals remain the same. You must get targeted traffic (visitors) to your site and convert those visitors into your customers. Otherwise, no sales and so no business

But the beauty of it is that this work should eventually only occupy a few hours of your day on average and that is when you start to live a very different lifestyle, one where you make the choices

A New Breed Of Online Entrepreneurs
There is a new breed of online entrepreneurs who are making a more than an excellent living with only one sale a month. Many, who try a bit harder, are making really big profits and 90% of their effort is automated

To be like them and live their lifestyle, you need to have an online business that includes the following

Top quality, high commission products ($2000 and above)
It pays you first
Not dependant on building several levels of down-line (as in multi level marketing)
Has a built in marketing system that just needs personalising by you
No products that you personally have to handle
Does not require face to face or even telephone contact with buyers

Top Tier, Get Paid Today
A top tier, get paid today business in a box system, has to be the first choice for anyone serious about making a great living online today.

So why waste your time marketing an online business that keeps you in front of your computer for hours and hours a day with only meager rewards for all your efforts?

I am sure you agree that you and your family deserve something much better

To find out more about Marketing The Perfect Online Business go to YourMillionDollarGamePlan
Mike Fordham is a freelance writer, Internet marketer and musician/song writer.

Employ Alternative Technologies That Offer Cost Advantages for the Entire Business System

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

How broadly are you looking for cost reductions through new technology applications?

Benefits from an existing technology often run out after a while. If you needed more letters typed on electric typewriters, you couldn’t get much more speed past what a fast, accurate typist could do until the electronic typewriters with some memory were invented. Then, you could reuse parts of letters and merge lists with customized letters, while employing less talented typists. Now, a personal computer you use yourself can launch hundreds of millions of customized e-mails in the blink of an eye.
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You can gain greater cost advantages when you review the current state of the art and reconfigure it into more effective system solutions from the perspectives of the customers and those who are serviced by customers. Technology advances can play a role in this process of creating improved business models, as well.

Often the potential to grasp the benefits of such advances is limited by a narrow focus on how the particular performance of a certain technology compares to the existing alternatives. Such comparisons are flawed for many reasons:

First, the current performance of a new technology will often be vastly different from its potential performance.

Second, many technologies can substitute for one another. As a result, a technology with lower performance may still win in the market place if its costs are low enough.

Third, the performance that ultimately counts is the one that makes the end user more productive. Achieving that result can sometimes mean higher costs for the producer. As a result, the technologists are often in the worst position to consider the cost reduction potential of their technologies. Those who look at applications from the end user’s perspective usually see the best perspective on the opportunity.

QLogic is a company that understands the significance of the end-user’s costs. As a result, the company’s first priority is to locate technologies that could potentially reduce the costs of using mass computer data storage. The company’s products enable the communication with such storage from individual computers.

Over time, the company has migrated from providing components to delivering bundles of technology as solutions to end-user needs. In testing out the potential of such technologies, QLogic considers not only end-use effectiveness but also how the technologies will affect time-to-market for the intermediary suppliers to the end users. That exceptional ability to evaluate and master new technologies has driven the company to enjoy unusually rapid growth in quadrupling its revenues between 1997 and 2000 before the storage industry “bust” of 2001-2002 arrived.

Donald Mitchell is an author of seven books including Adventures of an Optimist, The 2,000 Percent Squared Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution Workbook, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage. Read about creating breakthroughs through 2,000 percent solutions and receive tips by e-mail by registering for free at

http://www.2000percentsolution.com .

'Don't ask, don't tell' policy is reexamined – Los Angeles Times

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

PinkNews.co.uk
'Don't ask, don't tell' policy is reexamined
Los Angeles Times, CA - 3 hours ago
As a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, Bill Clinton vowed to end a long-standing ban on gays and lesbians in the military.
Beyond fear and prejudice San Francisco Chronicle
Hearing today targets 'Don't ask, don't tell' military policy Detroit Free Press
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to be Reviewed FOXNews
guardian.co.uk - Christian Broadcasting Network
all 242 news articles

Advantages And Disadvantages Of An Online Business

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Online business has a lesser start-up cost as opposed to other types of business that you will have to rent a space and buy different equipment and materials before you can actually begin selling. It will make you save from having to hire a number of employees since internet business only requires maintenance and enhancement of the site and the products that you offer.

You will be freed from thinking of the hassle that if your staff will resign immediately, there will be no one to man your place. Furthermore, you need not to worry about paying overhead costs that you usually do if engaged in a business with a physical space. As a beginner, you can look for a domain at a cheap cost and you can also avail of the free domain and hosting valid for one year.

People from all over the world are lured to use the internet for various reasons, may it be for research, finding a match or simply because they want to purchase something. It has become a trend for most consumers these days because surfing the internet is very easy and convenient. Think of the accessibility of this phenomenal innovation. You can sell your products and services both in the local and international markets which means that you can boost the potentials of your business.

You can reach out to any part of the world with your products to be seen without having to spend additional expenses when you sell locally. With online business, you can aquire new customers and invite boundless opportunities at a relatively low cost.

In the internet business, you can increase your profits in no time because you get the advantage of offering your products twenty four hours a day seven days a week. Online shoppers can order or make inquiries anytime, anywhere at their convenience without having to deal with any additional costs on your part. Your customers can enjoy their physical comfort by paying you through several internet banking tools.

If you have gained the trust and confidence of your customers, there is no reason for them not to promote your site to their friends and relatives whose interests exactly fall on the type of products and services that you offer. You will need to establish a good relationship with your clients so that they will continue supporting you.

With your business right at your own home, you can ultimately enjoy the perks of giving more quality time with your family and being your own boss. You may find it difficult for you to manage your time if you are employed in a regular job because you have to deal with the 8-10 hours of spending your time at the office. It may be hard for you to stand the fact that your boss is putting a lot of pressure on you to beat deadlines.

Now, is the time to build your own business and the wisest decision is to venture in an online business which will provide you with greater possibilities of earning a considerable amount of money without sacrificing your time for family.

Because your site is open to the public, there is a tendency that your web visitors or even your customers will copy your concept and your marketing strategy. If people will realize that they can also do exactly what you are doing to gain profits, then they will compete with you. They won’t mind if they make a duplicate with every inch of detail of what you have conceptualized, so long as they know that they can soon be earning from this.

Online business can give the feeling of being isolated both for the entrepreneur and the clients. Sometimes, it is hard to build a good and trusting relationship when you do not see the people you deal with. Since there is a limited close acquaintance between you and your client, the chance for them to be a return visitor is indeed slim. Therefore, you will definitely need a lot of extra effort to establish trust with your potential customers to make them buy what you are offering and keep them coming back for more.

There has been numerous reports of credit card fraud which makes customers reluctant to purchase online. With the increasing cases of fraudulent events, people are so afraid to even give the details of their bank account number allowing them to opt for shopping in the malls.

To make money online, there are definite and infinite chances for you to succeed. All you need is pure determination and the earnest desire to bring forth the success of your chosen venture. Like any other conventional business, online business has its perks and hazards, you just have to develop a positive attitude that in time, you can achieve countless benefits.

A community of the right minded people
must be apart of your inner circle. Who do you have that will personally coach you?.

How To Start A Vending Machine Business – Find Locations Fast!

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Here are a few tips and some of the best ways to find locations for your vending machines. Learning the ropes around the vending business is not as hard as you think if you have the right information.

By far this has got to be the most popular question around because people are always trying to figure out “Hey, I can get the machines because they are all over the place.

I just need to figure out how to get them into these companies and on location.” What you are going to want to do is actually start implementing some different tactics and strategies.

Cold calling, using your local business directory, going to your local business department, getting your phone number listed in the telephone directory. These are all some of the basics that you want to actually get started with for finding locations and getting your business up and running.

Also getting comfortable with talking to people, because the more and more comfortable you get with talking with people, the better your going to get at it. In the beginning I was fumbling over my words.

I didn’t even know what I was really saying; I just knew that I wanted to do something. Eventually, after I talked with more and more people I became more comfortable and confident and actually now, I have pretty much refined my content of what I say to people. I can answer their questions with a lot of confidence.

Eventually part of your marketing plan is going to be the advertising. You have to think that companies out there in your community are looking for vending services right now. What you have to do is get yourself in front of them so you can deliver your message.

For years I would look up at the big companies and think, How can I compete with these guys? Well you know what, I did my homework and research and found a way. Now, I have companies calling me for help, looking for me, instead of me going to them.

At the end of the day, eventually you want to get advertising in some different forms. Using the internet, telephone directories and yellow page listings are part of it.

The only issue is that there is a cost involved with advertising. Building a website to promote your business is another strategy. There are different strategies that you can start to utilize on the internet, where people can find you and you can position yourself in a way so that you can give them the information that they require.

Maybe they will call you or even send you an e mail. Eventually that is the part of the business that you want to do. Can it be done? Sure it can be done. Is it something that your competition is doing? Yes, some of them are doing it. Are they doing it well? Probably not as well as you might think. Is there an opportunity for you to actually do something here? Sure there is, there is totally an opportunity here.

So take some time to research what the costs involved are going to be before using some of these strategies. You want to make sure that you are making money with your advertising investments.

Which Machines Are The Best Performing & Don’t Require A Lot Of Maintenance?

In my view, basically, to start with the best performing that don’t require a lot of maintenance is really snack machines. They don’t have as many moving parts, as say a pop machine or a coffee machine vending machine. They have a light, the fan, the motors that turn the snack coils and they have a computer board.

I find the least amount of problems with snack machines. Pop machines you can get more in to the can jams and things like that. Pop machines are pretty economical, they are great. They work great.

Sometimes you get a coin jam or something like that. I don’t get a lot of breakdowns because I keep the machines clean and working. I don’t really have a lot of problems, so in my view pop and snack vending machine would be the best performing.

Once you get in to coffee and food, it can be a little more intricate, because the coffee machines have a lot more moving parts. They have hoses and coffee grinds are going through. You have to keep cleaning them all the time.

Then there are the food machines which have the compressors and the big trays that move around. They are bigger machines. It is going to be a little bit more expensive once you get into the food and coffee end of things, especially if you have to start fixing things.

Learn How To Start A Vending Machine Business and see how easy it is to get started on the right foot when you have the right information by visiting Your Vending Resource a great website that provides tips, advice and resources about How To Start A Vending Machine Business

What Exactly Is a Passive Income Business And How Can It Work For Me?

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

How much time do you put into your 9 to 5 job to make a living? More than likely, you work many more hours than the standard forty hours per week. Most people that work in a standard 9 to 5 job end up working a lot because they find it a necessity. Particularly today, money is very tight and you feel you must work more than you would like. The good news is that there is another way to earn income without working more hours than necessary. One very popular option is called a passive income business.

The term passive income business requires some explanation. Have you ever heard of a passive income business, and do you know what it means? Business smart people probably have and they have more likely benefited from a passive income business. However, even if you have never heard of a passive business, you can still learn what it is and how to take advantage of it.

Earning income through a passive income business is a way to earn money while you are not physically working. These are businesses that work for you around the clock. They are definitely growing in popularity as people try to look for ways to live a more flexible lifestyle. Some common questions about passive income businesses are as follows.

First, what is a passive income business? A passive income business is one in which the business itself works around the clock to earn you money. They vary in size, ranging from small to quite large. The idea general idea behind these businesses is to find what kind of business works for you and work it to your favor.

A second common question is, What are examples of passive income businesses?. One example would be that of running a rental property business. You are earning money all the time, and while you will have to put in some amount of work, you are earning a profit. Websites that have a store front would be another example. People can visit your website at any time and buy your goods. You are earning money while you are doing other things.

Another very common type of passive income business is that of network marketing. In network marketing, you sell either a product to people, or attract others of like mind who want to work with you in your business. Network Marketing is very popular because of the extremely low start-up costs, often only a few hundred dollars for legitimate ones, and it gives you the ability to earn income passively.

A third question people ask is whether there are different types of these businesses? Yes, there are generally two different types of passive income businesses. One is a residual income and the other is a leveraged income. A third type, the active leveraged income is another example of a passive business that is similar to a passive business.

What is the difference between residual and passive income you might ask? A residual income is a business that allows you to make money off the profits while doing work only once. For example, if you run a pizza place and hire a store manager to handle the day-to-day responsibilities, you are still making money, but are not working at that business on a regular basis. A leveraged income business allows you to make money while others do the work for you. One example would be a contactor or supervisor that hands the work to employees. That supervisor can get much more done thru his employees then he could physically do himself. Network Marketing is a great example of both a residual and passive income business.

A passive income business is an excellent way to both make money and leverage your time and money to allow you better flexibility. More and more people are looking for different ways to earn a living which allows greater flexibility in their lifestyle.

Kurt Henninger is a successful Network marketer helping average people to have extraordinary success with their online business ventures.
SuccessfulNetworkMarketingNow.com

Management is the Key to a Successful Start-up Business

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

A key element to entrepreneurial success is choosing the right people to be part of your management team. In fact, angel investors and venture capitalists both view strength of the management team as the major determining factor in whether they are willing to make an investment in the company. But it is also important for an entrepreneur to have outside advisors he or she can trust and rely on, an accountant being one of these. Even a start-up company with little or no revenues needs to have a good accountant available, as well as an attorney who has experience with young businesses.

Accountants are important members of a company’s team. If you’re a start-up or small business you may not have the resources to hire an accountant full time. There are software programs that can do most of the data entry but it’s still a good idea to hire an accounting firm on a consulting basis to oversee your accounting systems, processing, and tax returns.

Attorneys are just as important, perhaps more so than accountants. An attorney can guide you to select the most appropriate way to set up your business. The best time to retain an attorney is before you need one. It’s worth the money to know that if something comes up you have a legal expert who is familiar with your company. Attorneys have valuable contacts with venture capital firms and private investors. They know what is reasonable in a private offering , what isn’t, and what must be included.

An attorney can also help you protect your intellectual property, trademarks, trade names and trade secrets. While it may seem expensive to have an experienced attorney on your management team it will avoid problems later.

Business Appraisers can tell you how much your business is worth and why. If you’re considering refinancing, that business appraisal can help you determine how much debt the company can carry.

If you’re considering selling your business the business appraiser can provide a ball park valuation. Of course the buyer will want to conduct their own due diligence and may even hire their own independent business appraiser, that’s to be expected. The appraisal you have completed gives you a bench mark to start negotiations.

A Business Plan Consultant can expedite the business planning process. If you’re looking for investors a well thought out concise business plan is critical. If you’re considering starting a company, a business plan will help you improve your chances for success and avoid making serious mistakes. You may be the only one who reads this plan, although you should have input from a number of other people with business experience. A business plan is an important ingredient to the success of a start-up business.

Using Consultants to provide services you need on an outsourcing basis can be much less expensive in the long run than hiring someone as an employee. The consultant probably will cost more on an hourly basis but you only need their services on a project basis. Consultants can provide programming, technical assistance, and communications expertise, just to name a few areas.

When hiring a consultant, or consulting firm, ask for references and check those references. A good place to start the search for a consulting firm is to ask your attorney and accountant for recommendations.

More tips for entrepreneurs . Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. Find out why your business needs an attorney http://www.capital-connection.com/attorneys.html

George Bush backs emergency deal for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – Times Online

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Seattle Post Intelligencer
George Bush backs emergency deal for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Times Online, UK - 14 hours ago
President Bush performed an abrupt U-turn yesterday and dropped his opposition to a wide-ranging Housing Bill that would pave the way for a bailout of
Video: House OKs Rescue for Homeowners, Freddie, Fannie AssociatedPress
all 4,122 news articles

Rather Than Get It Wholesale, Access What You Need for Close to Free

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Your company probably puts a lot of effort into getting the lowest wholesale prices for what you need. But do you spend much time finding ways to satisfy those needs for almost free?

Increasingly, savvy companies are developing and including knowledge-based advantages for customers as part of their business models. Usually, this knowledge can be applied to reduce customers’ costs or increase the attractiveness of their offerings.

So, you can study how to optimize that value-adding activity for customers as part of an improved business model, or you can ask the most expert suppliers to help you create that better business model. Chances are that the latter approach is not only free, but will lead to a more effective solution.

For example, if you are designing a new restaurant concept, Ecolab’s expertise in achieving and maintaining healthful cleanliness can help you design a building and facility that will be easier to maintain in optimally healthful ways.

Companies have often relied on suppliers in this way. Increasingly, firms are looking to their customers to provide the same sort of help.

After all, who is a better judge of their own needs than the customer himself or herself? For example, Dell Computer maintains customized specifications on-line for each of its corporate customers. These specifications are developed in conjunction with the customer’s information technology professionals to represent the hardware and software combinations that will work best throughout the company. As a result, these customers steer their purchases to Dell.

On-line retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble get free product reviews from their customers which are used to help other customers find products they like. These ratings also allow the retailers to suggest other items that have appealed to other customers who have tried both.

Shareholders can be a powerful source of free expertise, as well. By providing discount coupons or reduced rates to shareholders, many companies get reviews of their operations from concerned customers who have a stake in the outcome. Marriott is a good example of this approach.

Outside professionals can also be attracted to provide free or low cost inputs if you can make the tasks appealing enough to them. Combinations of making the activities fun, intellectually rewarding, and prestigious should be helpful in this regard. The potential to do much more in this area remains.

Donald Mitchell is an author of seven books including Adventures of an Optimist, The 2,000 Percent Squared Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution Workbook, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage. Read about creating breakthroughs through 2,000 percent solutions and receive tips by e-mail by registering for free at

http://www.2000percentsolution.com .

Finding Hidden Freelancing Markets And Getting Clients

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

How to get new clients is something which comes up on a regular basis whether you have been in freelancing for years or you are relatively new to the business. Many freelancers spend sleepless nights worrying about the lack of new clients and try to find hidden markets in existence that they did not previously know about.

The problem of finding hidden freelancing markets is so much easier when tackled with an open mind and the muscle needed to make your dreams happen. What muscle, I hear you ask? I am talking about the muscle you need to develop the ability to ask for additional work and new clients. Asking around is necessary when you are searching for new markets for your skills so start by looking to your freelancing friends, the clients you already have and by carrying out some cold calling and cold emailing.

It’s a myth that finding new clients is difficult. In fact, it’s probably the worst myth of many. However, if you do not seek referrals from your existing customers and you fail to put yourself out there the chance of you finding new clients is reduced dramatically. Potential new clients are out there, you just have to find them, work your way into their lives and then solve all of their problems.

It is without doubt a fact that action is needed. How are you going to go about developing this muscle to help you ask for work and uncover new clients? It’s easy! All you have to do it put it into practice. Begin by emailing the firms and clients you would really like to work with. Drop them a short communication saying who you are, what you do, how much you charge for your services, and detail exactly in which way you feel you can help them. It is advantageous if you can mention something that their competitors are doing that they have not yet done, and say that you are available to help them through this process.

Don’t let sending out cold emails concern you. The people and companies you are targeting are always on the look out for freelancers and you never know they may be short of a freelance designer, writer or programmer, just at the time your email is received. If they do not need your services right now, they may put your details on file for future reference.

Sending cold emails and asking around your existing clients about anyone they may know who could use your services may not always be easy for you to start with. Your muscle needs developing and this requires practice. You are likely at some point to be rejected but in the long run the benefits will by far overtake the disadvantages.

So why are you still sitting there looking at this page? Go out and make your freelancing business something to be proud of by using your existing business to generate more clients – they are out there just waiting for your expertise.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.