Saturday, August 9, 2008

Get The Fundamentals Right


To succeed in business on the Internet, or in the off-line world, requires an understanding of the fundamentals of business and using them to your advantage. In this article, I will outline what I consider the fundamentals of business success are.

Believe in Your Product or Service

First, you need to believe in your product or service. If you don't believe in it, you will have a great deal of difficulty selling your product or service to other people. You also need to have confidence in your ability to provide and promote your product or service. An old saying sums this up best by stating: "All things are possible to he who believes".

Aptitude for the Business

Secondly, you need to have an aptitude for the business. You will also need the motivation to acquire at the very least basic skills and experience before you start your business. If you were to set yourself up as a web designer but did not have any skills or training in this area, then you will almost certainly fail. However, if you are employed as a bookkeeper and you enjoy the job, then setting up your own bookkeeping service would be a sensible choice with a greater chance of success.

Be Responsible

Thirdly, you need to be responsible to your customers. This is achieved by only making commitments you can keep and by not engaging in misleading or dishonest advertising. If you want to build long-term success in your business, then you need to develop long-term satisfied customers. When their needs are being satisfied, customers are at their happiest.

Aim for High Quality

The next principle is that you need to have a high quality product or service. This will be your best advertisement. Inferior quality products usually generate poor customer satisfaction. A dissatisfied customer can be very dangerous for your business. Usually they tell on average about fourteen other people who will then be disinclined to buy your product or service based on the experience of that one dissatisfied person. Therefore, always aim for a top quality product or service.

Make a Profit

However, it is not enough to have a top quality product or service. You also need to have a product or service that will generate enough income to cover all your business expenses and give you a satisfactory wage. A friend of mine once said that business is only about two things: satisfying customers and making a profit. A simple statement but very true.

Sufficient Start-up Capital

You also need to have access to enough cash to set up and run your business, and enough income to meet your private expenses during the start-up phase. A major problem with many home and small businesses is that they fail to have enough money available to ensure their success. There is nothing more discouraging than having a great idea, getting it started on a shoestring, not being able to expand due to cash shortages and seeing a competitor come along and steal your market.

Start Small

Another fundamental principle of home business success is that you start small. This will enable you to minimize your overheads until you are confident of your success in the marketplace. For many of you, this would mean starting part-time while retaining your full-time income source. When you can, expand your business into a full-time venture. This is a great way of minimizing the risk of failure.

Be Well Organized

Successful businesses are well organized. They have a system for keeping track of expenditure and earnings. This level of organization in your business will help to ensure that you are providing your customers or clients with a top quality product or service. It will also ensure that you have enough information available to maximize your profitability and to satisfy your legal requirements for record keeping.

Be Prepared

Preparation is another key ingredient in your business success. This preparation will include being aware of the regulations and laws affecting small and home business. Armed with this knowledge, you should not have any nasty surprises from unintentional violations of the law.

Have a Business Plan

Finally, successful businesses have developed a comprehensive business plan. This is their road map to success. It tells them where they are going and how they are going to get there. There are a number of good resources about business planning on the Internet. Here are some:

http://www.bplans.com
http://www.businesstown.com/planning/creating.asp
http://www.bizplanit.com/

Conclusion

It has been said that genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. The same can be said about business success. Without having the fundamentals in place, a great business idea will usually fail. Set yourself up for success by considering each of the points raised in this article.
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Is It Possible To Earn A Fulltime Income Online?


Most of us have seen numerous adverts promoting programs that will earn us yachts and mansions for only a few dollars investment. Too good to be true? Unfortunately yes. Most of the time you will waste time and money with these programs. So is there a way to make a full time income from only working online a few hours per day?

The short answer is yes but you need to put in a lot more time than a few hours per day to start with. Over the past 8 months I have worked up to 6 hours per day building an income to eventually replace the one in my job. It takes dedication and focus and slowly but surely your income will grow to the point that you can cut back your hours and get some quality time with your family.

The first thing you need to do is to sit down and have a long hard think about what you want from life. I would bet that most of you will at first think about the fast cars and mansions and the celebrity lifestyles that are depicted in many aspirational adverts. However think harder, these are things you would like to have not what you want from life. If after you’ve thought deeply you decide that you want to see your family grow up, you want to be able to make it to your children’s school concert and not have to work late on that important project. If you decide that you want to be able to take your wife for a romantic lunch before you collect the kids from school then you have the correct frame of mind to start making an income for yourself. If you don’t have a family and you decide you want to be self reliant and not a wage slave then you are on the way. Be realistic and you won’t be disappointed.

Now you know what you want and you know it’s realistic it’s time to get yourself a strategy. I like to think of my income building strategy in terms of building a house, before you put up the walls and roof, the part of the house you can see and admire you need to put in the foundations. The foundation of your income has to be a steady source of reliable income that you can build on. For this I built a number of content websites and monetized them by adding Adverts and Adsense feeds. I write articles and submit them to directories. I do everything I can to get the sites into the search engines and get traffic to them. Once the visitors started coming and I was getting a steady income then it’s time to branch out and work on the 4 walls of our strategy.

The second part of the strategy involves taking some profit from the site building and investing it in well researched programs that have a long history of paying out. You need to do your research and due diligence here and spread the risk among a number of programs if you have any doubts about a program walk away. Now you have your foundation and 4 walls in place it’s time to top it all off with the roof.

The Roof like in your house is the top level of our strategy, this is where you take everything you have learned building your foundations and walls and apply it to your own programs, by now you will know what works, you will have developed a network of contacts through programs and forums and you are ready to develop your own programs.

The great thing about this strategy is that if you have no spare cash you can start out with very little, in fact it is possible to start out with $0.00 and turn this into a full-time income by clever use of resources. If you don’t believe that this is possible then have a look at the blog detailed in the resource box at the end of this article and watch start with $0.00 and prove there is such a thing as a free lunch.

Remember be focused and realistic and a full time income is within your grasp.
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Monday, August 4, 2008

5 Ways to Boost Your Traffic and Profits with Content!


Having valuable CONTENT is vitally important to your online business? In fact, content can do more to build your business and profits than just about any other resource or service available.

Here's is a list of 5 ways that content can help build your traffic, subscribers, and customers starting right now:

1. Boost your search engine ranking and daily visitor count by posting keyword rich articles and content on your web-site. For example, if your business involves offering products and services related to dating, posting dating related articles and content will attract prospective customers on a regular basis!

2. Generate a much higher rate of newsletter subscribers than you currently have, simply by offering content in the form of "special reports" or ebooks as bonuses for subscribing to your newsletter. People love free information, so give them what they want and watch your subscriptions increase!

3. Create automated cashflow by using content to formulate multi-part email training courses with related web-site or affiliate links "sprinkled" throughout. Use an autoresponder service to automate the delivery of your training course.

Training courses will also serve as excellent bonus offers for your prospective newsletter subscribers.

4. One of the most important keys to a successful online business is not just having a mailing list or newsletter. It's about building a trusting relationship with your subscribers. This is called "cultivating" your list.

By sending informative articles and other valuable information(content) to your list on a regular basis you will establish yourself as an expert in your niche, as well as gain the trust of your subscribers. As a result, your subscribers will be more apt to take advantage of your paid product and service offers. Make sure that you NEVER take advantage of the relationship you develop with your list by offering products or services of poor quality just to make a quick buck, you will regret it.

If there is one constant in Internet marketing, it's that a cultivated mailing list of subscribers is as good as money in the bank. Don't ever forget that.

5. Another excellent way to generate no cost traffic is by submitting articles to article directories and newsletter publishers with your "resource box" attached. A resource box is nothing more than a short 3-6 line "bio" about you and your web site including a link to your site or instructions on how to subscribe to your newsletter. The important thing to remember here is that you want the link in your resource box to contain your most important keyword or words.

When submitting your article for reprint purposes, make sure to specify that each article is to be reprinted with your resource box attached.

Even one article can go a long way towards generating no cost traffic and visitors. Just imagine your article being sent out to a newsletter subscriber base of 100,000 individuals - many of whom will be reading the included resource box and clicking on your link to learn more about what you have to offer.

Well there you have 5 sure ways to build your online business with the help of articles and content.

With the declining effectiveness of many of the online advertising methods that we relied on in the past, good content is becoming the ultimate KEY to generating one way links, traffic, subscribers, and customers!
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Tips for Finding the Perfect Home Business Income Opportunity

Finding the perfect home business income opportunity is something which many individuals would like to see happen with regard to their employment options. Working from home provides many wonderful things for individuals such as not needing daycare providers, not having to commute and being able to work in a casual, comfortable environment. There are a few tips for finding the perfect home business income opportunity which individuals may appreciate to help them with their search.

Search Reputable Websites Online

One way in which individuals can find the perfect home business income opportunity is by searching on reputable websites which are available online to see what their options may be. By using a search engine and entering in terms relating to their desired home business income opportunities, the individual may find that there is a wealth of options available to them. Searching on websites for home business opportunities may yield great results for some individuals.

Obtain References

Another way to find a home business income opportunity is to obtain references from friends and family members who may currently be operating a home-based business or have done so in the past. By obtaining references of this type, one will be gaining advice from a trusted and reputable source as well as know whether this was a lucrative opportunity for the individual. Obtaining references is an important option to keep in mind.

Have Specifics in Mind

Prior to searching for a home business income opportunity, one should have specifics in mind relating to the home-based business. Items such as business type, hours needed to put in and number of individuals on hand to run the business are all things which should be considered by the future business owner prior to embarking on their search.

Consult “How To” Books

Although the Internet is a great resource to utilize when searching for the best home business income opportunity, one should not neglect to consult books relating to the subject of home businesses. There are a number of reputable “How To” books on the subject of starting home businesses and these are great references not only for finding home business income opportunities but also for helpful checklists relating to starting up the business.

Conclusion

A home business income opportunity is a wonderful thing to consider engaging in, whether on a full time or part time basis. In order to choose the best type of home-based business opportunity, the future business owner should search reputable websites online to gain information and obtain references. In addition, the individual should have specifics in mind relating to the desired business and consult books regarding home business opportunities. By doing these things, the individual will be that much more likely to see beneficial results.
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Set yourself away from the pack


I want to show you exactly how I achieved jaw-dropping success from home.

Not sure this is for you? I understand. You just ask yourself a few simple questions – that’s it.

1) Are you ready to turn your monthly income into your weekly income?
2) Are you ready to work from the comfort of your own home?
3) Are you tired of the rat race and of putting all of your efforts into someone else’s business?
4) Do you want more for yourself and for your family?
5) What would you do with extra thousands every month – pay off all your credit card debt, buy a new home, a second car or take your family on the dream vacation you’ve been dreaming about for years?

Now, hear this: All of this is possible and more!

Who am I and how do I know? Glad you asked.

Not that long ago, and fed up with the 9-5 grind, I started looking for an opportunity that I could “grow” from home, one that would allow me to provide myself, my wife and our children a better life.

Now, don’t get me wrong here. I know money doesn’t buy happiness, but I can tell you that it does buy freedom and my family and I can do anything, and I do mean anything, that we want to now because I took this opportunity and ran with it.

The result: I have a thriving home-based business that will blow you away!
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Monday, July 28, 2008

Planning for Home Business Success


Here are some general start-up tips for a successful home business.

The first tip is a word of caution. It’s easy to think that because your home business can bypass the lease or construction aspects of starting a business, and the overhead costs of furnishing, maintenance, landscaping, utilities and so forth, that you can skip over some other processes to. That attitude, rather than heading someone down the road to a successful home business, could lead to financial business disaster.

An entrepreneurial spirit and a great idea are terrific assets for a successful home business. Other things are important too, however.

Market research and careful planning are of paramount importantance to the success of a home business, as they are for any business. A business plan is a must. It must include details on the products and services the firm will offer, the type of business equipment and the cost of it that will be needed in the coming five years. It should also include information on the competition in the designated market area. This information should include ways that the new home business will be successful in competing – how it is unique and how it is an improvement over what else is out there in the same industry.

A successful home business is one that is set up as the right legal entity. One of the first things new home based entrepreneurs should do is learn the legal consequences and liabilities of the various business types, as well as the tax consequences of each. A home business might be more successful as a partnership than sole proprietorship, for example, if additional cash flow is needed, or the entrepreneur is deficient in a crucial home business skill such as advertising, marketing or accounting, for example. An accountant can advise on the various options such as limited liability corporations, S corporations, standard corporations, limited partnerships and so forth.

Unless a successful home business is going to include walk in customers homeowner’s or renters insurance should provide adequate financial protection against theft or natural disaster. Of course, as equipment and furnishings are added, the insurance would need to increase. If clients were to come to the home office location, liability insurance would protect the firm from the financial devastating situation of customer injury.

A successful home business is one that is well planned and well funded. There is no such thing as too much preparation.
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Your Home Business Can Succeed By Avoiding The Later Syndrome?


It usually sickens me when I see people fail in their home business just because of one problem.

Many home business people are discouraged from trying to learn new knowledge or skills that will take their businesses to a new level because of time issues. They already feel that their lives are too busy and they don't see how it is possible to fit more commitments into their already jammed schedules. Other home business entrepreneurs take an overly laid-back approach to business adventure. They sign themselves up for marketing forums and affiliate programs and then don't take those forums and programs seriously. At the end of the month or year they wonder why their business, income and lives has not improved!

This is as a result of the problem of the “later “syndrome. (Never do today what you can put off for tomorrow. Better yet, never put off 'til tomorrow what you can avoid altogether! ) The later syndrome is a very big hindrance to many home businesses. Does your home business also suffer from this syndrome?
What is the later syndrome anyway? This is where a home business owner puts off what he/she should have done today, for a later time. Simply put, the “later” syndrome is “procrastination”. Other people prefer to call it the “tomorrow syndrome” Procrastination can manifest itself in ways as simple as taking too long to write an ezine ad, putting off article submission or letting slide the date when you promised yourself you'd start an advertising campaign.

The later syndrome in our home businesses is something we can be aware of and deal with over time. Procrastination is so lethal to your home business. You should avoid it. The future of your home business depends on you, just the same as with an athlete, an actor or anyone else who depends on peak personal performance to make a living.

That's why everyone who wants to be successful in their home businesses has to take steps to deal with the ” later syndrome” if and when it appears.
How do you deal with the “later” syndrome?

Try to ensure that you be disciplined. If you have scheduled a task to be done today, do it. Do not put it off for a later date or time. In other words, improve your time management skills.

Just remember that success in home business is a result of simple disciplines performed every day. Such simple disciplines include sticking to your work shedule no matter what. For example, if you are supposed to write an article for submission today, write it. Do not give room to any excuses that may tempt you to write it later.

Failure in any home business is a result of cumulative errors in judgment and decision repeated every day. Such simple errors include procrastination (Also known as the “later” syndrome.

Another technique is to create an environment where you can fully concentrate on your work. Not all people can concentrate in a noisy and chaotic environment. So have a well designated home business office with a conducive environment favorable for concentration.

So, if you think you need success in your home business, you should steer away from the “later” syndrome. In summary, you can fight the later syndrome in your home business by following these points.
· Make a list of what needs to get done. This can be listed in no particular order and will give you a handle on just what you need to accomplish.

· Prioritise these. My way of doing this is by deadlines. I arrange them in order of when they are due. You may also choose to rank them by how important it is to get them done. For example, writing an article and submitting it to article directories on time may be more important to your home business than replying to your friends email. Do that first.

· Get yourself a calendar with room to write notes in. I personally use a bound notebook and write in dates as I go. I make pages with dates for long-term planning and also keep a separate list that I transfer my short-term goals to.

· Take what's at the top of your priority list and determine how long it will take to accomplish it. If it's a quick task, put that down to be done the current day. If it will take a longer time, divide it into smaller tasks to be spread out over several days. Write this in your calendar with specific dates for accomplishing each. Include your deadline for completion of this task on your calendar as well.

· Keep filling your calendar until you have a time set aside to do each item while still meeting your deadlines. Be careful to not overbook yourself and allow plenty of time for delays. This will allow you to feel confident that you can accomplish all you need to in the time you have. Now you can relax and work on one item at a time without feeling you have to do it all at once.
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Eugene Rivera is an internet marketing protégé. He is the webmaster of Secrets of Online Success. Learn about all the money making techniques to achieve success on the Internet. Click on our webpage at http://www.secretsofonlinesuccess.info
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