July 8, 2008

How to Profit from the Slow Economy

The US economy has definitely seen better days.

For example . . .

• The price to fill your car with gas is 50 percent higher than just two years ago.
• Credit card companies are doubling the minimum payments for many customers.
• A gallon of milk cost over $1.00 more than it did just one year ago.
• And of course you have the mortgage crisis!

You're probably wondering why this article is starting out

with such a "doom and gloom" attitude.

BECAUSE YOU CAN PROFIT FROM IT! Not only can you profit from it,

you can help people out at the same time!

When people tighten their wallets, GIVE THEM

WHAT THEY WANT! They look for coupons,

rebates, lower rate credit cards, mortgage assistance,

and a way to make some extra income!

Here are just a few ways you can profit, and help people out at the

same time.

- Start a website and/or newsletter than features cash back, coupons

and rebates from online merchants. I'm working on a new "Cash Back"

website right now!

- Become an affiliate for credit cards that offer low rates, or

zero percent on balance transfers. Credit card debt isn't a good

thing to have. But if you can get someone zero percent interest, it

can give them much needed extra time to help pay down their debt.

- Team up with a realtor and create an eBook that deals with how to

sell your house in the current market. Then team up with a loan

officer and create an eBook that deals with how to refinance your

existing mortgage.

- Already making a good income online? Create an eBook

detailing exactly how you do this, and again, offer it for sale at

places such as eBay, sitepoint, and digital point.

If you're not making an online income yet, that's okay! Just find

someone who is, interview them, and create a report detailing exactly

how they do it! You now have your own product to sell!

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April 16, 2008

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL HOME BASED BUSINESS

You must treat your business like a REAL BUSINESS, because

that's exactly what it is. Many people who start out with their own

business thinking it's going to be easy. Just 30 minutes a day

and soon they'll be a millionaire. Well, that's not how it works.

Operating your own business, you are the CEO, the employee, etc...

and most importantly, you, and SOLELY you are responsible for the

success or failure of your business.

Work regular hours: We don't mean 9-5 either. Being self employed

you can be flexible, but just make sure the work gets done. So if

your realistic goal number of hours for your business is 30 per week,

break it down to 6 per day, 5 days a week. For those that have

trouble keeping track, you might even purchase a time clock and clock

yourself in and out of work, just as you would at a regular job.

This is a great way to stay on task and make sure you are getting

things done.

Make a checklist: At the end of each day, make a checklist of what

needs to be accomplished tomorrow. Check each item off your list as you

complete them throughout the workday. Do this consistently and

you'll be in great shape.

Focus on what's important: For example, if you design websites, and

need to get a finished product to your client by the end of the week,

don't spend the first three days trying to design a logo. Simply

outsource this project. While the logo is outsourced, you can complete

the rest of the site, and simply add the logo as a finishing touch.

We know it's tempting, but don't spend all day checking your email for

new messages. This wastes so much valuable time. Instead, make a set

time each day, a 1 hour block, to answer all emails.

Separate Personal/Business Expenses: This is an absolute must.

Keep a separate checking account for your personal and business use.

Never purchase business products with your personal account, or vice

versa. Always keep expenses separated, not only will this help you see

how much money your business is really making, it'll make Uncle Sam

happy too.

Keep Family and Friends In Line: Your family and friends must know

that when you are home working, that's your business time. They

can't call to chat, or stop by your house to visit. They must

treat your time working at home, just as if you were working at a

regular job. This will keep your productivity up.

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February 19, 2008

A Realistic Game Plan

Those that are ready and willing, will do what it takes to be successful.

Some of the most common questions we hear are:

"How much can I make this month?"

"Will this really work for me?", etc....

"How fast can I earn money?"

The truth is, you CAN make a lot of money, it CAN work for you, but

it won't be fast!

So many programs promise what just isn't possible.

They promise "no selling, no recruiting, work just 15 minutes a day,

etc... Just join today, and make $10,000 tomorrow".

ABSOLUTELY FALSE

Any legit business takes time to build. You should have, at the minimum,

a 12 month game plan for your business. Setup something realistic,

something you know you can accomplish, and STICK TO IT.

Most people get suckered into these way over hyped sales letters and

assume that their game plan should look like this:

Week 1: Setup business

Week 2: Profit $5,000.00

Week 3: Profit $10,000.00

That's just not the way a real, honest, legit business works. It's a

dream that only .00001% of the population, IF THAT, will ever accomplish.

For example, If you were starting a website selling widgets, your

realistic game plan should look something like this:

First month: Register domain name, setup website. Locate suppliers

of widgets and place for sale on site.

Months 2-6: Continue promoting widgets through website, look for new

advertising opportunities, and joint ventures.

Month: 7: Turn a profit! Goal of $1000.00 net profit for month 7.

Month 8: Goal of $1200.00 net profit.

Months 9-12: Increase net profit by $150 per month.

Remember, every single one of you reading this can be successful!

You have all of the tools needed!

Just get out there, have a realistic game plan, and take action!

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January 9, 2008

Are you Driving Enough Traffic to your Website?

Each week we get several emails from individuals who have very nice

websites up and running. The only problem is that they just don't

know how to generate traffic to them, and are struggling for ideas.

Websites are NOT a "build it and they will come" business. If you

are not out there advertising your website, it's VERY unlikely that

you will ever become successful. You've got get out there and let

potential customers know you exist!

Following are some basic traffic generation techniques that can be

implemented for just about any type of website.

*Visit popular forums, that relate to your website subject,

and put your website URL in your signature file. Then make

helpful posts to boost your reputation and credibility to forum

members.

*Networking: Networking is establishing relationships, and letting

others know about your website through conversation, seminars,

emails, etc... If you can afford to attend a seminar, that would be

fantastic. If not, that's okay too. You can network very effectively

by establishing relationships with others at various online forums,

through email and telephone.

*Window lettering with a unique forwarding URL to track the visitors:

This works especially well if you drive, or park your car, in a

highly populated area. The full car wraps such as

http://www.superwraps.com/ would almost certainly bring a much higher

response rate, but they do come at a higher price in the range of

$1500-$2500. This is something you might consider once your site is

established, and is generating a good stream of revenue.

*Create videos with your URL on them, and post to YouTube and other

large video sites. This is something you can outsource if you are

not familiar with the operation of video editors. You can also use

a video exchange network such as

http://www.nexteramedia.com/video.asp to increase traffic

*Issue a press release detailing a new feature of your website on

MarketWire.com, PRWeb.com, BusinessWire.com, etc... Email a copy

of this press release to your local newspaper and local news

stations.

*Create a weekly contest to encourage visitors to return to your

site (find the logo, similar to "where's waldo" to receive a gift;

best picture submission; best video submission; etc...)

*Create shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, etc.. at zazzle.com.

I prefer zazzle.com to other online services because of their high

quality products. The last thing you want is your website plastered

all over low quality products.

Pass these products out to your family, and anyone you have a

business/personal relationship with, letting them know about your

site. Email this same list of people letting them know about future

updates on your website, etc... You never know who they might forward

it to, or what other websites might pick up the news, etc...

*Add new content each week to your website and over time your

traffic will increase many times over. Consistently adding new,

quality content is a must to be successful.

*Setup an account at eBay.com and place a website link on your

"AboutMe" page. eBay pages rank very well in the search engines, so

this should give you a little boost, and more visibility when a

search is made for your website via one of the search engines.

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