Category: Home-Based Business

Categories
Home-Based Business

When Calling In Sick Is Not An Option

The phone was ringing and I couldn’t find the energy to answer it. I knew I should answer, needed to answer, but couldn’t summon the strength necessary. I’d been fighting the discouragement and frustration of a lingering illness for months and didn’t see any end in sight. Doctor’s said I’d see an improvement within six months of beginning this new medicine, but a month in and nothing felt different, in fact, I felt worse. I couldn’t imagine how my business was going to survive if something didn’t change soon.

Dealing with sickness as a mom is always challenging. When you add in the responsibilities of a business it can feel downright impossible. As I dealt with my health problems over the course of the last year, I’ve found a few ways to keep my business afloat while I’m healing.

Schedule your time in small chunks.
During the toughest weeks of my illness, I would set daily goals like “work for one hour” and “work on laundry.” By giving myself small goals like these I was almost always able to achieve them. It is amazing how crossing things off from my to-do list helped me to feel productive. My efficiency was a far cry from what it normally is, but I felt encouraged by these accomplishments.

It’s also imperative to schedule specific times to rest. Despite the fact that I was sick, I felt guilty for feeling so tired all of the time. By penciling in fifteen minutes or so at a time to rest, I was freed from the guilt. It became one more item to check off of my daily to-do list.
The extra benefit was that scheduling it in helped my three-year old to adjust to these short nap times. I would lay on the couch and rest and he would sit with me and watch a movie or play the Wii. This way I always knew where he was and he knew I was there for him if he needed me.

Outsource as much as possible.
My virtual assistant (VA), without even being aware of it, was crucial to me during this time. She was able to take on some of the tasks that I do on a regular basis. What a relief to know that I could count on her to do the things that HAD to be done. Even the weeks when I was at my lowest I knew the necessary tasks were taken care of.

If your kids are old enough you can “outsource” some additional chores to them while you’re healing. My six-year old was such a great source of hope and help to me. By helping me more than usual with tasks like laundry, vacuuming and even cooking (she can put crescent rolls on a cookie sheet better than any other six-year old I know), she felt like she was assisting in my recovery. So often our kids feel helpless, like there is no way that they can help us when we’re ill. This was a wonderful way for her to feel needed and helpful.

Let your family help.
During the months that I dealt with health problems, my family played a crucial role in keeping my business afloat. My husband would often take the kids out to dinner or simply outside to play, giving me time to rest and work if I felt up to it.

Grandma, too, comes in especially handy if she’s available and willing. Although, a neighbor or good friend may be willing to help out when needed.

Don’t take on too much.
Even when you’re feeling your best it’s important to learn the art of saying no. Know your limits and don’t go overboard – even with good activities. When you’re dealing with sickness, it’s imperative that you be honest with yourself about your limits. Don’t try to take on all that you would were you well.

When faced with making a decision about a new project or other activity you’re considering, write out your schedule and take a close look at it. Can you afford to add anything? Is there anything that can be cut?

Be nice to yourself.
Take the time to treat yourself to a small reward near the end of each day. This can be something as simple as taking a bubble bath or going out for fast food instead of cooking. Don’t let guilt overwhelm you. Remember, the better care you take of yourself, the more energy you’ll have for those tasks like cooking and laundry that now seem exhausting.

Categories
Business Ideas Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Finance & Capital Franchise Home-Based Business Starting Up

The Pros And Cons Associated With Franchise Businesses

For any individual looking to capitalize on franchising opportunities and owning a franchise business, there are several advantages to consider. Some of those you may be interested in are outlined below:
The Franchise Business Pros
· Having a brand behind you, whether it is locally or nationally famous, will save you a lot of time and money that would be needed to create your own brand or trademark. You will also attract customers immediately rather than having to advertise extensively.
· You will have an established business framework to work within, which dramatically reduces the risk associated with a startup business.
· You will already have tried and tested suppliers and services at your disposal, which will again save you the time and money associated with finding your own.
· You will receive ongoing support for sales and marketing throughout your franchise ownership. Franchisees often choose to tap into the help that is offered to them throughout their tenure via existing marketing and advertising assistance.
· Franchisees often get comprehensive financial assistance because banks are often more willing to lend money to well-known brands and names than business startups that are completely unknown to consumers. Franchisees may also have access to direct financial assistance from the franchisor.
· The risk of investing in a franchise is lower than it is for a regular business startup. An established concept is much more desirable because there is less risk.
· Continued development opportunities and research will be available. Franchisors tend to choose to tap into information concerning competition in the local area, seasonal goods, demand, and local attitudes.
· You will get business support from your franchisor, which will help to find you the best possible site and enable any construction work that needs to be done in addition to employee training and operational assistance.
· All business procedures and methods that you use will already be tried, tested, and proven to work.
· The quality and desirability of the franchisor products have been proven and come at a certain standard level that is well established.
· You will have the buying power of the franchisor and centralized purchasing at your fingertips, so costs may be reduced as a result of bulk buying savings that are handed down to the franchisee.
In addition to the pros of franchise businesses as outlined above, there are also others that you may want to consider. For example, expansion may come more easily with a franchise business and you may enhance your business interests with additional businesses, either within the franchise or outside of it. This is how dreams of riches become realities.
That is not to say that there are not cons and disadvantages associated with franchise businesses. A few of them are outlined below:
The Franchise Business Cons
· You may lose ultimate control of your business as a result of the established franchise standards that you have to run your business in accordance with. You may also find that you cannot implement your own ideas and initiatives.
· The level of royalties could be as much as 10% or more in select cases, which will of course affect your profits.
· You will have to pay an initial fee to buy into the franchise. It could be as little as $4,000 but may extend up to $50,000 so there is significant initial outlay.
· You will have to pay advertising fees to ensure that your business is recognized as existing in your current location. If the franchisor advertises poorly then your fees are wasted.
· You may have to buy a signage pack from your franchisor. Some franchisors insist on you buying their specific signage and so you may find it extremely expensive.
· If the franchisor gets into difficulties then so do you. As you effectively bear their name then you bear the brunt of a problem, including issues with suppliers.
In conclusion, although there are some disadvantages with having a franchise business, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The risks of failure are significantly reduced and so there are fewer problems than a brand new startup business. Of course, you should always ensure that the paperwork is in order, and you should complete your research and due diligence before committing because there are no guaranteed profits, and you would ultimately be responsible should the venture fail.
About the Author:
GlobalBXPhotolarge.gif
GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchises for sale. Sell your business for sale for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have 1000s of franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

Categories
Home-Based Business

Why You Should Start a Home-Based Information Marketing Business Now

home-based-business-pic.jpg
Article Contributed By Robert Skrob
After becoming burned-out as a business consultant who was maxed out on time, I determined that I would never significantly increase my income without taking on additional clients. This meant I had to hire more employees. Realizing that I had neither the time nor energy to make that happen, I looked to the business model many information marketers attribute to their success: Do the work once and get paid many times.
You see, info-marketers have the unique ability to sell products that create recurring income.
Unlike Traditional Businesses, Info-Marketing Business Can Run Without These Three Things:
1. Continuous manual labor
2. Constant interaction with customers
3. Employees – except possibly a virtual assistant
Here’s why.
Info-marketers put a lot of work into creating info-products such as DVDs, books, e-books, CDs, magazines, websites or teleseminars. They do a very good job at creating advertising and marketing programs to support sales. Then, they sit back and make continual profits from these products.
By creating additional similar or complimentary products and services, info-marketers are able to use their existing customer bases to generate more revenue. People who buy information products are much more likely to hire that person to perform additional services such as copywriting.
Quite simply, like other successful info-marketers, having your own published information product makes you the obvious expert. It shows the customer the complexity of the services and the special ability you have to perform them. The only possible conclusion for the buyer is that he should hire you when he needs help with his business or hobby.
What Happens When You Go From Consultant to Info-Marketer
Today, that formerly burned-out business consultant no longer exists. I am now the owner of a successful association management company that provides coaching, marketing, consulting and copywriting services to info-marketers. I am also the co-founder of the Information Marketing Society and author of Start Your Own Information Marketing Business, an easy-to-follow manual that offers steps to building a successful info-business from the ground up. The book features 12 experts in the field of info-marketing who are considered to be some of the most successful in the industry. The group’s compilation of tips is today’s go-to manual for newcomers in the industry who strive to start a successful and lucrative info-marketing business.
The book offers helpful advice such as how to diversify your info-marketing business, and how to turn info-products into money-generating tools that drive million-dollar home businesses.
The info-marketing business is so diverse there is literally something for everyone. Whatever your expertise is regardless of your age or education, if you can name a topic, there is a market for creating an information marketing business. Take action and start your own information marketing business.
Robert Skrob, President of the Information Marketing Association teaches burned-out business owners and consultants how to build 6 and 7 figure income information marketing businesses simply by creating products once and getting paid many times over. Now you can get his FREE Video revealing how 5 info-marketers easily created fast-selling products & how you can too. Get free access now at http://www.infomarketingstartup.com

Categories
Business Ideas Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Home-Based Business Online Business Sales & Marketing Starting Up Technology

Simple Strategies to Viral Marketing Online

Article contributed by Michelle Ulrich
viral%20marketing%20strategies.jpg
1.Social networks – how to work it
a.http://www.craigslist.com
b.http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com
c.http://www.ryze.com
d.Ning.com is a create-your-own social network site
2.Free Classified Ads
a.Backpage
b.Craigslist
c.MySpace – need to be a member with a profile, I believe
3.Teleclasses/Podcasts
a.These can be pre-recorded if you don’t want to interact with others
b.Teleclasses are great for getting the word out about your products/services; guest speakers can promote you to their list and increase your list on a monthly basis
c.Use www.fullcalendar.com to promote teleclasses and events
4.Joint Ventures – co-creation of…
a.New products
b.New teleclasses
c.New workshops
d.New podcasts
e.New ebooks
f.Limitless ideas…
5.Strategic Alliances
a.Promote one another via banner ad exchanges
b.Promote one another via ezine or newsletter mentions
6.Article submissions
a.Write an article – submit online
b.Repurpose into an ezine article or ezine series if article is long
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events
7.Ezine submissions
a.Write an ezine – submit online to ezine banks
b.Repurpose into an article
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events
8.Ezine with tips, resources, trends
a.Submit to ezine banks for additional subscribers
9.Blog
a.Blog or have someone else blog for you no less than 3x/wk
b.Pick a theme for each month to make it easy
c.Base the theme on your teleclasses and ezine, etc. to make all items/tasks easier to complete
10.Affiliate accounts
a.Amazon – book store, software store, web store, etc.
b.Commission Junction
c.Create your own affiliate account – essentially provides a means for others interested in your product a way for them to make a small percentage while you gain a virtual sales force
11.Blogtalk Radio – 15 mins – longer monologues or full blown radio show; record to podcast
a.Repurpose into an article
b.Repurpose into an ezine piece
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events
12.Get involved; share your passion
a.Share your passion with others
i.Online
1.Social networks
2.Forums
3.Message boards
ii.In person
1.Networking
2.Volunteer opportunities in community
3.Church
4.Youth groups
5.Etc.
iii.Don’t forget to share your projects and/or websites with others
About the Author
Michelle Ulrich is the Chief Villager and founder of The Virtual Nation™, an educational destination for Virtual Professionals around the globe. Michelle is an avid believer in giving back to her industry and she does this by offering coaching, teleclasses, resources, and tools, in addition to providing a community of learning, a nation of culture, and a virtual village for her members.
She maintains her private practice where she specializes in working with authors, coaches and speakers who struggle to keep up with e-commerce and new technologies. Clients can check out her services at www.virtualbusinessmarketing.com, while Virtual Assistants can find her over at www.thevirtualnation.com. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 536-9799 in the Pacific time zone.

Categories
Entrepreneurship Home-Based Business Online Business Starting Up

eCommerce on a Shoestring Budget for the Do-it-Yourself Entrepreneur

This article is contributed by Michelle Ulrich.
eCommerce%20on%20a%20Shoestring%20Budget.jpg
1. Website
a. http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/ – FREE
Microsoft Office Live Basics is the easy way to get started on the Web. If you have always wanted your own Web site, Microsoft Office Live has just made it easier — much easier.
– Free domain name and Web hosting
– Easy-to-use Web site design tools
– 500 MB of Web site storage space
– 25 company-branded e-mail accounts
– Web site reports
– Search advertising tool with $50 credit* – (I do not recommended to start)
b. Go Daddy’s Website Tonight for as little as $4.00/month
Go Daddy has THREE plans (or so) to choose from!
Blog instead of a website
c. Blogger.com – Free
d. WordPress.com – Free
e. TypePad.com – Basic Level is Free
i. With TypePad Basic you’ll be blogging in minutes. Choose your design from dozens of professional templates. TypePad makes it easy to include pictures and links, manage comments, and categorize your posts. Includes 100MB of storage and 2GB of bandwidth per month.
ii. $4.95 per month for higher level of service (more storage space, etc.)
Benefits of a blog versus a website
– No web designer needed
– Pick a template and start adding content
– Useful for selling one product (i.e. a book, ebook, info product, etc.)
– Useful for selling a relationship with potential clients
– Useful for opinion writing – be careful what you put out there; people read blogs!
– Hone writing skills
– Post at a minimum of 3x/wk for higher Google rankings
– Can also be a link from a website, which also increases traffic to your website
2. List capture form on your website and ezine delivery
a. iContact.com $9.95/month for up to 500 subscribers; 15-day free trial
i. Non-profits receive 20% discount and may pay by check monthly, quarterly, or annually
ii. Templates or design and paste HTML code
iii. Surveys
iv. Auto Responders
b. ConstantContact.com $15/month for up to 500 subscribers; 60-day free trial
c. CampaignMonitor.com
i. For each campaign you send with more than 5 recipients, you pay a flat delivery fee of $5 plus 1 cent/recipient. Any campaigns you send to 5 or less people are free of charge.
ii. Let’s say you’re sending an email newsletter for a client to their database of 4,500 subscribers. To send this newsletter, you will be charged $5 plus a cent for each recipient, $45 in this case, making a total of $50. All prices are in US dollars.
3. Shopping Carts and eCommerce
a. Mals-e.com
i. Shopping cart, digital downloads and affiliate program ONLY
ii. FREE for up to 1000 digital deliveries per month; you can purchase more as you increase your sales.
iii. $8/mo option for unlimited orders per month
iv. $95 flat one-time fee for their mOrders plus version for a desktop application for downloading and ‘databasing’ orders properly and permanently. www.mals-e.com/morders.php
v. Reporting
vi. Numerous third-party add-ons
b. E-Junkie.com
i. FREE 1-week trial
ii. $5/mo for 10 products/50 MB storage space; rates go up to $125 incrementally based on the number of products
iii. Product storage and delivery
iv. Easy to use, pop-up free, installation free
v. Shipping and postage calculations
vi. Sales tax and VAT calculations
vii. Inventory management
viii. Product promotion
ix. Discount codes
x. Affiliate management
xi. Customization (even works with an existing cart for digital downloads)
xii. Tracking, logging and notifications
xiii. Global acceptance
1. download page and email in language of your choice
xiv. Extras
1. send out free expirable download links
2. Works with eBay and MySpace, too!
c. Payloadz.com
i. Digital downloads ONLY
ii. FREE for up to $100 transaction limit / 50MB of storage
iii. $15/mo for $500 transaction limit / 100 MB of storage
d. WAHMcart.com
i. Full shopping cart very similar to Professional Cart Solutions (see below for full list of options, but you get EVERYTHING for $29.99/mo – no tiers
e. Professional Cart Solutions (aka – 1shoppingcart.com and many other private labels)
i. FREE 30-day trial or $3.95 for 30-days depending upon private label partner
ii. Four tiers of service
1. Starter $29
2. Auto Responder $29
3. Basic $49
4. Pro $79
iii. Shopping cart
iv. Broadcast (ezine, email announcements, etc.) delivery
v. Auto Responders
vi. Digital downloads
vii. Affiliate program
viii. Ad tracking
ix. Reporting
x. Payment processing with PayPal as well as a large list of merchants such as Authorize.net; QuickBooks/Intuit will be on the list soon (poss. Fall 2007)
xi. Templates for ezine delivery to come out soon (poss. Fall 2007)
4. Online Publishing Centers
a. CaféPress.com
b. LightningSource.com – Most recommended by traditional publishers if you must do Print On Demand (POD).
c. Lulu.com
5. Miscellaneous online services
a. CentralDesktop.com – Free online collaboration tool for up to 3 users; $25/mo for up to 10 users and other various packages. Use this tool to work with a virtual team to delegate the projects or pieces of larger projects.
b. EventBrite.com – Event management program. First event is free, then up to $9.95 each event. For paid events, your PayPal, Google Cart or merchant fees shall apply. You can specify donations or payments, number of ‘seats’ available, reporting, and lots of extras.
c. Evite.com – Free event management tool where you can pick a template, customize one on your own, add your Outlook contacts, track responses, and it even integrates with PayPal for paid events.
d. Foldershare.com – Free folder sharing application from Microsoft (a bit clunky to set up between two parties, but is an awesome program for sharing documents with clients, subcontractors, etc.)
e. Google.com – Google offers email, word processor, spreadsheet, calendar, classifieds (Google Base), groups, Blogger, Desktop and lots of other programs for FREE.
f. OpenOffice.org – Free office suite similar to and compatible with Microsoft office. Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program. Interface similar to other office suites.
g. SurveyMonkey.com – Free up to 10 survey questions with 100 responses allowed; $19.95/mo for unlimited questions per survey and 1000 responses allowed, $200/yr to have unlimited questions and responses.
h. TheBasementVentures.com – Host teleclasses, teleseminars, etc. with this free tool. You can even record your own audio and then copy and paste the html code on your website, download the mp3 file and burn it to a CD for info product sales.
i. Thumbstacks.com – Free webinar presentation tool. This is for PowerPoints or various incarnations of PowerPoint only.
j. YouSendit.com – Free file sending program; $4.99/mo for 2 GB file sending, send multiple files, and no ads on your ‘send’ invitation.
k. Zoho.com – Office suite with free and $5 on up for other options. Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation tool, Wiki, notebook, Meeting (desktop sharing, web conferencing, online meetings, etc.), projects, CRM, database creator, planner (online organizer), chat, mail, and more.

About the Author
Michelle Ulrich is the Chief Villager and founder of The Virtual Nation, an educational destination for Virtual Professionals around the globe. Michelle is an avid believer in giving back to her industry and she does this by offering coaching, teleclasses, resources, and tools, in addition to providing a community of learning, a nation of culture, and a virtual village for her members. Education is the foundation of her organization as well as for her own personal and professional development. Michelle has been a community college instructor teaching a Virtual Assistant certificate program online. Aside from coaching and teaching, she is also a speaker and soon-to-be author on the subject of Virtual Assistance. She maintains her private practice where she specializes in working with authors, coaches and speakers who struggle to keep up with e-commerce and new technologies. Clients can check out her services at www.virtualbusinessmarketing.com, while Virtual Assistants can find her over at www.thevirtualnation.com. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 536-9799 in the Pacific Time zone.