It?s hard to look anywhere these days and not see someone who hasn?t been affected by unemployment and the gloomy economy. With some states experiencing up to a 20% unemployment rate, you often wonder if there is anyone succeeding today? Fortunately, there is. In fact, some businesses are not only succeeding, but thriving as well. For example, the Home Tutoring Industry and educational-based companies are experiencing record growth. Not only is it the right time for a home tutoring business, but the right industry as well.
This is primarily due to the fact that in order for students to excel today, they need to be able to get additional help. With school districts faced with larger class sizes, teacher layoffs, and even some schools canceling summer schools programs, students are faced with obstacles rarely seen before. In order for them to keep up and thrive, they need support and educational assistance. That?s where tutoring from home comes into play. Students get the help they need and most importantly at a price that parents can afford.
As the demand for tutors rises, so does the need for good home tutoring businesses. With the opportunity to not only make a great income, but make a difference in a child?s life, more and more are starting their own home tutoring businesses. It can be a perfect match for teachers and educators, women or men entering the workforce after staying home to care for family, or people who worked in Corporate America for many years and are looking for a change.
By starting your own home tutoring business, you become a tutor broker. Here you manage a network of professional teachers and educators, matching them with students in need of one-on-one in-home tutoring. In a sense you are establishing a home tutoring referral network in your community. The owner of the business, you, becomes a matchmaker, or broker, matching qualified tutors and teachers with children in need of individualized tutoring.
There are numerous programs out there that will help you start your own business. However, there are many things to consider before you make a final decision. What you are looking for is a company that is cost-effective. Now more than ever it?s important to find the right company
that not only offers the best advice, but has everything you need to get started. Therefore, whenever possible look for a company that can provide more than just a book and information. There are some companies out today, such as Home Tutoring Business, that provide not only the how to?s to starting a home tutoring business, but individualized coaching, website
design and optimization, marketing and advertising copy tailored to your new company, specialized accounting software unique to the tutoring industry, etc.
Steer clear of franchises. To be successful you don?t want to have to pay royalties and be at the beck and call of the franchise. As you?ve seen recently with the auto industry, when you are part of a franchise, they still make the decisions for you. You want a business that allows you total control and earning potential.
Finally, find a company that will stay in touch with you even after you purchase their information. Starting a business can be challenging and if you can find a company that will frequently stay connected via newsletters, cards, additional coaching, etc., you will benefit greatly.
About the Author:
Laurie Hurley based in Newbury Park, CA is the President and Founder of Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com. She has helped more than 100 people establish lucrative tutor referral services in their community. Laurie has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Woman’s World, Redbook Magazine, etc. Laurie also owns her own in-home tutoring company and has seen an unprecedented growth in business since the economic downturn.
Month: June 2009
It?s pretty obvious that the marketing of today has changed. You have newspapers going virtual/web only, Twitter and Facebook replacing postcards and phone calls, and potential clients now being the main target of your press releases as opposed to editors. It?s all changing and to do PR today, you need to change with it. The good news is that it?s never been easier. The bad news, you need to learn a new way to do things. Fortunately, there are tips that can make it easier and I?m here to show you a few.
First, no one can deny the power of social networking. And those that do are just plain wrong. I?ve been in business since 1985 and I liken this to way back when emails became a way of life. Many still contended they wanted to do it the old fashioned way and nothing would beat a letter. (I know it?s hard to even imagine this today.) It wasn?t long until they realized their error, but by then their competition was way ahead of them. Don?t make the same mistake now. You absolutely need to get with it and get on board. I can practically guarantee you within weeks you?ll be hooked and wondering why you ever hesitated. It?s so easy, and the potential so great, you need to start today.
Let?s break it down. Twitter first. Forget all the ?I don?t care what they ate for lunch excuses,? that?s where your competition and peers are and you do need to be there too. Sure you do have a few tweeters who will update you on the latest hot dog they ate, but that?s rare. What you do have is more and more businesses networking and connecting with each other in ways never thought possible. It?s also more than just networking back and forth, you can have chats, host events, get more publicity for your articles and press releases & even announce your seminars and radio shows. And that?s not even the half of it. There are entire books written on this, so my first recommendation is to get them. Why struggle and find your way around when you can easily read the tips from those who know exactly what you need to succeed.
Also, while you are getting your feet wet, don?t jump in and start posting and selling and ranting and raving. Take it slow. Sign up, take a sit, remain quiet for a short time and read what others are posting. Follow the leaders in your industry and take advantage of their knowledge. It can almost feel like walking around with them all day and looking over their shoulders for their secrets. What?s cool is they give their tips freely, why wouldn?t you want to take advantage of that? As an example, if someone were looking for information on starting a virtual assistant business or getting publicity for their business, they could follow me at Twitter.com/dianaennen
Now the key many forget is that not only do you need to follow them, you need to listen earnestly to what they are saying. Go to the sites they recommend. Actually do the things they suggest. And most importantly, if you have the opportunity to contribute and honestly have something of importance to say, do! Even if they aren?t following you, once you list their twitter name @name, it will go to them. Best yet, you might get a retreat or even better a RT and follow back. As many say, those are the ultimate compliments.
Now it?s important to learn the social media lingo ? Hashtags, Retweets, Fans, Follow Friday, this is just a few of the many names you need to know to do business better. t can be overwhelming. No, in fact it is overwhelming. However, if you keep it simple and take it a step at a time, you can do it. When you see a term you don?t know, look it up right then. Write down your interpretation and do the investigating to find out more about it. Here are just a few to help you on your journey.
What?s a retweet? That?s when you find somone?s information useful and you want to pass it onto your followers. So basically RT (retweet) is good content that you pass on. Many RT just to RT. Don?t be one of them. You know your followers and what they want and need, that?s what you should be RT?ing. We highly recommend signing up for TweetDeck for ease in doing
this. A click of a button and you are there.
Next you need to know about Follow Friday. This is definitely one of my favorites. Think of Follow Friday as your day networking at a business get-together, only better. You get to stay in the comfort of your own home, and you get to immediately make the connections, not when you get home with a handful of business cards. Try and plan your week so you can participate. Remember this can be even more effective than a Chamber meeting or an expensive business seminar. So plan a lighter load on Friday whenever possible. You want people to mention you so mention them. Also, don?t just list 20 screens of twitter names that you want people to follow. Tell your followers why they should follow them. What do they offer that your
followers would be interested in? Remember to put #followfriday in your posting. (By the way, see that # in followfriday. That?s what is called a hashtag. Cool huh!) And finally, you want people to retweet your followfriday postings, so keep your count to 120 instead of 140 so they can easily do this. In fact, do this for all tips or postings you wanted retweeted.
Finally, try and post on Friday mornings. I don?t know about the rest of you, but I?ll often go down my postings to find those I want to list. I know I want to list them before hand so it?s not that I?m just going down my friends column, but often times I don?t have their information readily
available. By posting on Friday you are giving it to them.
Finally, sign up for Trilalerts for your keywords. Start following those of interest. For example, I?m a virtual assistant, so I?ve signed up forvirtual assistant updates. Now I can follow other virtual assistants easily. I do the same for Publicity, etc. Who do you want to connect with?
That?s who you sign up for. Follow the media. Sign up for Facebook and Twitter for the newspapers and TV stations in your area. Look for business reporters who tweak and follow them. Learn their style and what they are looking for in their articles.
Also, follow some of the owners of the many article and press release directories who tweet. Some of the best are on there and giving away secrets to success left and right.
Facebook is pretty self explanatory. The key here is to spend some time to expand your network. Fortunately you get notices when someone responds to your posts, so try and go and follow-up as soon as you can. However, be careful that you don?t get sidetracked doing this too often. Build relationships. You can have thousands of friends and fans, but can you honestly connect to all of them. I know I sure can?t.Twitter also now allows your tweets to be sent to your Facebook page too. This is definitely a plus. Just make sure that you don?t do this to all of your postings, only the ones you feel would interest your friends on Facebook.
Article Submissions, Press Release Submissions – I also say you need to send out articles and press releases religiously. Many question how some succeed with this and others don?t. What?s the difference? The main thing is that they know what to do. They realize the difference that page ranking can make and don?t waste their time on sites that don?t get results. They sign up for Google Alerts under their keywords and then check out the sites that frequently get spidered. Then they send to those places and add those sites to their database. We do have a fabulous PR informational package that is free to anyone who emails us.
Marketing a business and social networking doesn?t have to be expensive if you just remember to network and use all the tools available to you. In fact, it can be fun as you get to meet new people and develop new ways to sell you and your business. Also, keep in mind if you don?t want to do it yourself, there are excellent qualified pros and virtual assistants
available to assist. You don?t need to do it all. You just need to do it!
About the Author:
Diana Ennen, specializes in publicity and marketing and is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and author of numerous books. Ready to jumpstart your PR campaign, then email her at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Free PR Informational Package available. Twitter ? http://www.twitter.com/dianaennen .
It?s pretty obvious that the marketing of today has changed. You have newspapers going virtual/web only, Twitter and Facebook replacing postcards and phone calls, and potential clients now being the main target of your press releases as opposed to editors. It?s all changing and to do PR today, you need to change with it. The good news is that it?s never been easier. The bad news, you need to learn a new way to do things. Fortunately, there are tips that can make it easier and I?m here to show you a few.
First, no one can deny the power of social networking. And those that do are just plain wrong. I?ve been in business since 1985 and I liken this to way back when emails became a way of life. Many still contended they wanted to do it the old fashioned way and nothing would beat a letter. (I know it?s hard to even imagine this today.) It wasn?t long until they realized their error, but by then their competition was way ahead of them. Don?t make the same mistake now. You absolutely need to get with it and get on board. I can practically guarantee you within weeks you?ll be hooked and wondering why you ever hesitated. It?s so easy, and the potential so great, you need to start today.
Let?s break it down. Twitter first. Forget all the ?I don?t care what they ate for lunch excuses,? that?s where your competition and peers are and you do need to be there too. Sure you do have a few tweeters who will update you on the latest hot dog they ate, but that?s rare. What you do have is more and more businesses networking and connecting with each other in ways never thought possible. It?s also more than just networking back and forth, you can have chats, host events, get more publicity for your articles and press releases & even announce your seminars and radio shows. And that?s not even the half of it. There are entire books written on this, so my first recommendation is to get them. Why struggle and find your way around when you can easily read the tips from those who know exactly what you need to succeed.
Also, while you are getting your feet wet, don?t jump in and start posting and selling and ranting and raving. Take it slow. Sign up, take a sit, remain quiet for a short time and read what others are posting. Follow the leaders in your industry and take advantage of their knowledge. It can almost feel like walking around with them all day and looking over their shoulders for their secrets. What?s cool is they give their tips freely, why wouldn?t you want to take advantage of that? As an example, if someone were looking for information on starting a virtual assistant business or getting publicity for their business, they could follow me at Twitter.com/dianaennen
Now the key many forget is that not only do you need to follow them, you need to listen earnestly to what they are saying. Go to the sites they recommend. Actually do the things they suggest. And most importantly, if you have the opportunity to contribute and honestly have something of importance to say, do! Even if they aren?t following you, once you list their twitter name @name, it will go to them. Best yet, you might get a retreat or even better a RT and follow back. As many say, those are the ultimate compliments.
Now it?s important to learn the social media lingo ? Hashtags, Retweets, Fans, Follow Friday, this is just a few of the many names you need to know to do business better. t can be overwhelming. No, in fact it is overwhelming. However, if you keep it simple and take it a step at a time, you can do it. When you see a term you don?t know, look it up right then. Write down your interpretation and do the investigating to find out more about it. Here are just a few to help you on your journey.
What?s a retweet? That?s when you find somone?s information useful and you want to pass it onto your followers. So basically RT (retweet) is good content that you pass on. Many RT just to RT. Don?t be one of them. You know your followers and what they want and need, that?s what you should be RT?ing. We highly recommend signing up for TweetDeck for ease in doing
this. A click of a button and you are there.
Next you need to know about Follow Friday. This is definitely one of my favorites. Think of Follow Friday as your day networking at a business get-together, only better. You get to stay in the comfort of your own home, and you get to immediately make the connections, not when you get home with a handful of business cards. Try and plan your week so you can participate. Remember this can be even more effective than a Chamber meeting or an expensive business seminar. So plan a lighter load on Friday whenever possible. You want people to mention you so mention them. Also, don?t just list 20 screens of twitter names that you want people to follow. Tell your followers why they should follow them. What do they offer that your
followers would be interested in? Remember to put #followfriday in your posting. (By the way, see that # in followfriday. That?s what is called a hashtag. Cool huh!) And finally, you want people to retweet your followfriday postings, so keep your count to 120 instead of 140 so they can easily do this. In fact, do this for all tips or postings you wanted retweeted.
Finally, try and post on Friday mornings. I don?t know about the rest of you, but I?ll often go down my postings to find those I want to list. I know I want to list them before hand so it?s not that I?m just going down my friends column, but often times I don?t have their information readily
available. By posting on Friday you are giving it to them.
Finally, sign up for Trilalerts for your keywords. Start following those of interest. For example, I?m a virtual assistant, so I?ve signed up forvirtual assistant updates. Now I can follow other virtual assistants easily. I do the same for Publicity, etc. Who do you want to connect with?
That?s who you sign up for. Follow the media. Sign up for Facebook and Twitter for the newspapers and TV stations in your area. Look for business reporters who tweak and follow them. Learn their style and what they are looking for in their articles.
Also, follow some of the owners of the many article and press release directories who tweet. Some of the best are on there and giving away secrets to success left and right.
Facebook is pretty self explanatory. The key here is to spend some time to expand your network. Fortunately you get notices when someone responds to your posts, so try and go and follow-up as soon as you can. However, be careful that you don?t get sidetracked doing this too often. Build relationships. You can have thousands of friends and fans, but can you honestly connect to all of them. I know I sure can?t.Twitter also now allows your tweets to be sent to your Facebook page too. This is definitely a plus. Just make sure that you don?t do this to all of your postings, only the ones you feel would interest your friends on Facebook.
Article Submissions, Press Release Submissions – I also say you need to send out articles and press releases religiously. Many question how some succeed with this and others don?t. What?s the difference? The main thing is that they know what to do. They realize the difference that page ranking can make and don?t waste their time on sites that don?t get results. They sign up for Google Alerts under their keywords and then check out the sites that frequently get spidered. Then they send to those places and add those sites to their database. We do have a fabulous PR informational package that is free to anyone who emails us.
Marketing a business and social networking doesn?t have to be expensive if you just remember to network and use all the tools available to you. In fact, it can be fun as you get to meet new people and develop new ways to sell you and your business. Also, keep in mind if you don?t want to do it yourself, there are excellent qualified pros and virtual assistants
available to assist. You don?t need to do it all. You just need to do it!
About the Author:
Diana Ennen, specializes in publicity and marketing and is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and author of numerous books. Ready to jumpstart your PR campaign, then email her at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Free PR Informational Package available. Twitter ? http://www.twitter.com/dianaennen .
Do you beat yourself up because you say one thing and do another?
Are you feeling out of control?
Is there any area in your life that is out of whack?
Had enough?
To create a different outcome:
1. Be clear that what you say you want is really what you want rather than what you think you should want. Following another person’s dream rarely, if ever, brings long-lasting fulfillment.
2. Explore the beliefs and patterns that are contributing to the situation you are continuing to create. Most of the sabotage we experience comes from subconscious beliefs and patterns that are very difficult to change with our conscious mind. Healing with Theta, hypnosis, EFT and other modalities that work with the subconscious can produce powerfull internal shifts that will raise your quality of life.
3. Have the courage to walk in uncertainty without quitting too soon, feeling frustrated, and disheartened when things don’t manifest according to your picture and plan or move too slowly. Identify the things that keep you excited, inspired, and motivated no matter what is happening in your life. Strong self-care, daily rituals, walks in nature, getting together with loving friends…… Life is an journey not an event. Are you looking for a quick fix or life-long happiness?
4. Build in support and accountability with a friend or colleague who may also want the same support. Hire a coach to cheer you on, provide objectivity, give you a nudge (or a kick in the butt), celebrate your wins, and support you in seeing the fabulous, beautiful, lovable person you are.
5. Make wiser choices with your time and energy. We make choices minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. One of my favorite books is Debbie Ford’s, “The Right Questions“. She says the choices we make today create our future. Published in 2004, The Right Questions offers brilliant insight and simplicity that provide a solid foundation for making choices that are aligned with your heart and spirit to successfully manifest the life of your dreams.
Almost everyone associates the telemarketing industry with outbound call centers. You know, the gigantic room full of people with headsets on, “cold calling” customers to make sales, generate leads, or collect information for surveys. There’s another kind of telemarketing, though- think customer service 1-800 numbers, customer help desks, or order processing over the phone. Inbound telemarketing is becoming a popular way to outsource processes that businesses might not have the staff capacity to handle. Here are a few ways you can use inbound telemarketing to benefit your business:
Order Processing
Inbound call centers can take customer orders over the phone and even process sales when customers pay with credit cards. Any business with time restrictions, such as those whose employees only work during business hours, can take advantage of this extended availability- the more you’re available to customers, the more sales you’ll make. You can also use inbound call centers for order processing for their language capabilities. While you might not have the resources to hire sales representatives that speak Spanish, Japanese, or Tagalog, an inbound call center does- this allows you to reach and communicate with more potential customers in a language they’re comfortable speaking.
24/7 Customer Service
If your employees can’t be available for customers at all hours of the day, inbound telemarketing offers a solution. Many businesses assign a 1-800 number to a telemarketing firm for in order to give customers around the clock access. Businesses like banks, hotels, and insurance companies that need to provide constant access use inbound telemarketing companies to fill the gaps when their own employees aren’t available to answer questions, fix billing errors, or file claim reports. If your company could benefit from offering 24/7 support to customers, telemarketing is an option you should consider.
Helpdesk and Customer Support
If you sell a technical product, such as software, it can be a good idea to use dedicated telephone service representatives- telemarketing company employees trained by your business that only answer calls on behalf of your company- rather than employing a full-time helpdesk employee as a member of your own staff. You can also reach more customers- telemarketing companies keep longer hours, employ representatives with different language capabilities, and are able to stay open to customers in different time zones more easily.
Lead Generation and Appointment Setting
Inbound telemarketing is often used for lead generation and appointment setting. You can direct sales leads to call the telemarketing company directly to set up a sales appointment, or gather sales lead information when customers place calls for more information about your products or services.
Inbound call centers can be used for several purposes in addition to those mentioned above. Inbound call centers can assist with promotional contests (such as radio call-ins) can help collect survey or donation information, or for any other service you can think of that might benefit your business. It’s always a good idea to speak with at least a few different companies before making a decision about which company to choose.