How to Start Building Your Work at Home Business for the New Year

Keywords: Home Business

As the year draws to a close, a work at home business looks incredibly attractive to your prospective business partners because they want a way to make money to cover the Christmas gifts that they have spent money on. Here we would cover a few simple steps you can take to boost your work at home business in the new year.

Firstly, if you have faced dismal performance with your work at home business the whole year, it's time for you to take a step back and think carefully what sources of leads and signups did you employ? By changing your source of work at home leads, you might be able to change your signup rate with your work at home business.

Advertising is a quasi science, it would be best if you took out a piece of paper and wrote out all your advertising sources and see which sources have been yielding the best result for your dollar. This is important as a home business like any other sales business only does well as the number of new customers that you attract and convert to sales.

Remember a good advertising plan is only good as the time your spend tracking the results of your work at home business advertising campaign. It is a good habit to reflect at the end of the month on which sources of advertising have yielded good results. Some people do monthly and then yearly analysis to see which months yield good results and then spend more money then advertising. This makes good business sense for your home business so that you can spend your advertising dollar wisely.

Online Business: Setting Up An Email Account in Outlook Express

Keywords: Online Business

A long time back (OK, two years ago) I started my web hosting business. Someone talked me into it, to be frank. Someone who himself wanted to recruit me as a reseller so that I could pay him monthly to sell his web hosting service (very smart of him, very dumb of me!). The idea was to provide very cheap custom hosting packages so that people who were till them hesitant about hosting their own websites would be ready to host them just because the hosting cost was so damn low. As is the fate of such low-cost-oriented ventures, I incurred a huge loss and gained a serpentine list of customers who couldn't differentiate between a Word document and a web page and who perhaps went to extra lengths to hire dumb secretaries.

Anyway, I winded up the business in six months before it could drive me to bankruptcy (and lunacy) and transferred the existing clients to other servers paying from my own pocket. Some of those customers still think I'm supposed to solve their problems, not only regarding their websites, but also when they cannot set up their email accounts in Outlook Express. Fortunately my phone numbers have changed since then so I'm out of their reach but there are some that keep coming back like the phantoms of an inexorable past.

A cloying secretary of one of such clients has been trying to trace me down so that I could help her set up an email account in Outlook Express. She persistently called, and persistently refused to comprehend whatever I said on the phone.

The Nuances of Networking

Keywords: Networking

Mention the word networking and you usually either get a “where and when” response or a look of “not me!” For the latter, a networking event may be synonymous with a root canal. But it doesn’t have to be painful. Unlike things like parenting, which you learn only when you become one, you can learn how to network.

To start off, rather than looking at networking as something you “must do”, it helps to think of it as a tool to help you grow business. That is, actually, what it is. It’s meeting people…. talking, sharing, discussing. It’s not going to a function where you know you’ll be uncomfortable and passing out all of your business cards. Nor is it seeing how many cards you can collect.

So let’s simplify it. Let’s take networking and break it down to its basic components..or what I’m calling nuances.

1. Networking is about meeting new people and building your network. It’s not blatant selling. In fact, the “in your face” salespeople are not good networkers. They turn people off.

2. Lighten up. Stop thinking of a networking event as something you’re forced to get through. Instead, think of it as a chance to meet interesting people in a comfortable environment with good food and drink. Take some of the pressure off.

The Simplest Business Plan Ever

Keywords: Business Planning

If you’re a solo professional like I am, you know how tough it is to find any time at all to do any business planning. Doing a full business plan is a must if you’re planning to seek financing or investors, but most solo professionals don’t need anything that complicated. Don’t get me wrong, business planning is one of the most important things you need to do to succeed in your one man or woman show. Without planning you’ll drift aimlessly from one crisis to the next and one idea to the next, never really getting anything done. So, what’s a solo pro to do? Here’s what I do in my own business:

My business plan consists of one page with very little on it. It simply lists the three goals that I must achieve this year. Then, I list a statement for each goal: To achieve Goal #1 I need to….This is followed by two to five activities or action items I need to do to make that happen.

That’s it. That’s the whole plan. The beauty is the simplicity. I simply cannot handle more than that. I don’t have a staff. I don’t have “people”. Everything has to be structured so that I can get it done simply and systematically.

The Nuances of Networking

Keywords: Networking

Mention the word networking and you usually either get a “where and when” response or a look of “not me!” For the latter, a networking event may be synonymous with a root canal. But it doesn’t have to be painful. Unlike things like parenting, which you learn only when you become one, you can learn how to network.

To start off, rather than looking at networking as something you “must do”, it helps to think of it as a tool to help you grow business. That is, actually, what it is. It’s meeting people…. talking, sharing, discussing. It’s not going to a function where you know you’ll be uncomfortable and passing out all of your business cards. Nor is it seeing how many cards you can collect.

So let’s simplify it. Let’s take networking and break it down to its basic components..or what I’m calling nuances.

1. Networking is about meeting new people and building your network. It’s not blatant selling. In fact, the “in your face” salespeople are not good networkers. They turn people off.

2. Lighten up. Stop thinking of a networking event as something you’re forced to get through. Instead, think of it as a chance to meet interesting people in a comfortable environment with good food and drink. Take some of the pressure off.

Advertising 101 How to Make Advertising Dividends Pay Off...Big Time

Keywords: Advertising

McGraw Hill once commissioned an extensive study to determine what marketing weapons make a company famous in it’s market or community.

The study went on to show that advertising created more product, service, or brand awareness than all other marketing weapons combined.

The fact is, we know that Coke is “The Real Thing” because Coke advertises, not because it has good salespeople or does great direct mail.

Advertising stays in front of your prospects when you can’t be there. While a handful of salespeople can only be in front of perhaps a hundred or so prospects per month, advertising can reach thousands of potential buyers each and every month, week, or day.

Studies also show that advertising inspires confidence from your current clients. When current clients see your ad, it reinforces their belief in you.

It makes them feel like they made the right decision to be your client. But advertising can also waste money if you don’t use it properly.

Starting an Image Consulting Business

Keywords: Image Consulting

You might have seen them while watching TV shows such as Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear. Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart needed them to give her advice on how to look sympathetic to a jury.

We're talking about Image Consultants, and they have one of the hottest new businesses today.

Also known by such titles as wardrobe consultant, fashion stylist, or makeover consultant, image consultants are paid to show people how to create a fabulous impression. They might recommend wearing different colors or new styles, go through closets to toss out clothing that isn’t working, shop for a new wardrobe, and put together incredible outfits. They might advise a change of hairstyle, makeup, or grooming.

However, image is more than physical appearance. In addition to how someone looks, we also form impressions based on how someone talks and behaves. So image consultants may also advise people on their vocal communication (voice, grammar, vocabulary, etc.), non-verbal communication (handshakes, posture, eye contact, etc.) and etiquette – from dining to cell phones.

Most image consultants also develop a network of strategic partners they can refer clients to, such as hair stylists, makeup artists, nutritionists, dentists, personal trainers, plastic surgeons, and voice coaches.

Image consultants offer the kind of advice that can help people land a job, get a promotion, find someone to love, or just feel good about themselves.

Essential Steps for the Online Netpreneur – Part I

Keywords: Online Entrepreneurs

Dear Friends,

I hope that this article acts as a step-by-step guide for you on the many ways you can start up your own successful online business. These are tried and proven tips that have helped many to achieve success online. So take the time to read through these few tips as I'm sure it'll help you to focus on what you want to do and initiate an immediate plan of action…

1) Know your target market
I know you've all heard this many times over, but believe me, if you have taken the time to research your target market and find out what their exact needs are then you have already taken the first step towards success.

For example, if you were to start selling a new, more effective brand of dishwasher detergent, you would need to make sure that before you waste all your well-earned money into marketing and advertising, that you know what exactly is your target market looking for. Are their concerns related to the pricing? Or is the brand that interests them? Or do they prefer a liquid detergent as compared to powder or tablet form?

I'm hoping that you're starting to see the picture. And that is why the big companies spend so much money on `market research'. This information alone saves them millions of dollars and promises a substantial gross profit margin. Now a normal person, such as ourselves, do not have that type of money to spend on research but there are other tools that we can use to find out what our target market is searching for.

Top Ten Strategies For Becoming Uncommonly Successful

Keywords: Small Business Success

Here are 10 of 26 proven strategies gleaned from interviews with highly successful people who have overcome obstacles to accomplish such feats at climbing Mt. Everest, winning a Grammy, becoming a multi-millionaire, becoming an established author and humorist, a professional pitcher in the Major Leagues, an internet entrepreneur who earns millions and more. Regardless of your career or industry, when applied, these success principles can shorten your learning curve and be a catalyst for your success.

These principles were excerpted from the book, " I Can't Believe I Get Paid To Do This!" Remarkable People Reveal 26 Proven Strategies For Making Your Dreams a Reality by Stacey Mayo

1) Create Wealth in Alignment With Your Passions

It is important to focus on what you are passionate about first and then find a way to make money at it. Get in touch with your heart first, otherwise, the left side of your brain will rule out perfectly good ideas without having explored them.

"Money allows us the freedom to pursue the things that are important to us. Money is not an end it itself." Stacy Allison, first American woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest

2)Honor Numero Uno: Design Your Life Around Your Priorities

Many people try to fit their dreams into their life and complain there are not enough hours in the day to make it happen. If you want your dream to become a reality, make it a priority. Otherwise, it will never be more than a pipedream.

How to Tackle the Three Major Stresses Associated with Every Home-Based Business

Keywords: Stress

Owning your own home-based business is by and large a very rewarding, exciting endeavor. You can set your own schedule, and be where you want, when you want. You can oftentimes forego the commute to a "regular job" and save money on gas and other "niceties" that are expensive in the work-a-day world, such as lunches, parking fees, etc.

There are unexpected pitfalls and disadvantages, though, in the owning and operating of a home-based business. Some are psychological, some are emotional, and others are purely physical. The unexpected stresses of a home-based business are really one of the major obstacles that need to be overcome by business owners. Many new business owners are unprepared for just how much stress is involved, actually.

Home-based business stresses usually fall into three overall categories:

1. Psychological : Employees, Finances, Legal, and Operations

3. Physical: Sedentary Lifestyle, Poor Eating Habits, Overwork

The Work From Home Internet Business Is booming On The Net

Keywords: Home Internet Business

The work from home revolution on the Internet is in full swing. There has never been a better time or opportunity to make money online working at home in front of your computer. The number of money making opportunities is endless.

With today's technology it is quite possible to run your entire business online from anywhere in the world using your laptop computer. You no longer need to leave your house to make a living for your family. It can be done from the comfort of your own home. No commute required. No travel time with reduced fuel consumption and maintenance on your vehicles. Best of all you are your own boss.

The amount of people using the internet worldwide continues to increase almost monthly. This bodes well for internet business entrepreneurs and anyone wishing to take advantage of the internet work from home business industry. Global Internet Statistics shows over 800 million people worldwide are now using the internet.

Just do a search for internet business opportunities on Google or your favorite search engine. You'll find websites such as http://www.kawarthapublishing.com & http://www.bigmoolla.com promoting several top Internet home based business products and services from paid surveys online to network marketing and MLM businesses. If you already have your own website you can even sign up with Google ad sense and make money displaying Google ad words ads on your site. In fact everywhere you look on the net almost every single site you go to is making money from some form of advertising or work from home business opportunity.

Successfully Meeting And Greeting - Ten Strategies For Getting Off To A Good Start

Keywords: Business Etiquette

A day in the life of every businessperson is made up of a series of meetings and greetings. Whether you are making the initial contact with a client or a colleague, you want to get off on the right foot. Doing so will make the first encounter and subsequent ones go smoothly and easily. Getting off on the wrong foot can make for a difficult recovery. Save your energy for later and use these simple strategies for a successful start

1. Stand up when you meet someone. This allows you to engage the person on an equal level -eye to eye. By remaining seated, you send a message that you don't think the other person is important enough to warrant the effort it takes to stand. If you find yourself in a position where you can't stand up (such as being trapped behind a potted plant) offer an apology and an explanation. You might say something like, "Please excuse me for not getting up. I can't seem to get around the foliage."

2. Smile. Your facial expression says more than your words. Look as if you are pleased to meet the other person regardless of what is on your mind. Put a smile on your face for the person standing before you.

3. Make eye contact. Looking at the people you meet says you are focused and interested in them. If you are staring off somewhere else, you may appear to be looking for someone more to your liking to come along.

Tips on How to Earn Money with a Home Business

Keywords: Home Business

Everyone wants tips on how to earn money with a home based business. It never seems to amaze me that a lot of people with a work at home business are not earning some money.

When I got to question a few of these people about why they are not earning any money, I found out why!

People, you have to do something to earn something! Just because you have joined a MLM or affiliate program, don’t think just by sitting back you will earn some money. NOT TRUE!!!

So I have tried to make it easy on these people by coming up with the necessary things you need to do to earn money from home.

If you honestly do these things, and still don’t make any money then maybe a home business is not for you. But you need to be honest about this and put out the effort.

1. When you first start with a work at home business, set out at least an hour a day devoted to your business.

2. Spend the first day advertising your business on the free classified websites, there are literally thousands of these sites to advertise on.

Being Successful with Your Home Business

Keywords: Home Business Success

How to be successful with you home based business really depends on attitude, persistence and of course what your business offers.

Let's start with attitude. Everyone starts out with this attitude that man I am going to succeed and be able to quit my full time job by next year!

Well I am not going to say that can not happen, but let's be realistic here. A home based business is just like any other business, the only difference is you are doing it from home.

And this kind of thinking that you will get rich over night is usually the death of your business. It is great to have a goal, but keep it within reach. To have a successful home business, the key is watching it grow from month to month.

So keeping your attitude good, and not get discouraged when you are not making $20K a month is the first key to being successful. Remember you want to grow each month, as you grow you also expand bringing in more business and revenue.