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Making Money Online is Work: There is No Secret Formula
Posted: 25 Apr 2008 08:06 AM CDT
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This is a guest post by Alan Johnson.
From losing weight to earning a living online, people seem to always be interested in finding some sort of a secret formula for everything. Wouldn’t it be great if we somehow had a secret formula for solving all of our problems?
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a secret formula for raising our children, for having a happy marriage, for earning a living by doing something we love, for losing weight or for becoming more productive? Of course it would, but things don’t exactly stand that way in the real world.
If you want to raise your children the right way, you have to give it 110%, if you want to have a happy marriage then, once again, a lot of work will be required on your part. And, you?ve guessed it: the same principle applies when it comes to earning a living by doing something you love, to losing weight or to becoming more productive.
Secret Formula? You Can’t Be Serious!
Raising your children the right way is possible, having a happy marriage is possible, earning a living by doing something you love is possible, losing weight is possible and becoming more productive is possible. But, and here’s where it gets tricky: there is no secret formula which will solve all of your problems, there is no easy way out.
Do you have solid long-term goals? That’s great and it’s an important first step, but you have to take things to the next level and work towards achieving them, trying to find all sorts of secret formulas would simply be foolish on your part.
Forget About Quick Fixes
Sure, you could always try to approach things with a ‘quick fix’ way of thinking, but you will only be able to come up with short-term solutions that way or may not even be capable of doing that. If you are serious about actually solving a certain problem instead of constantly delaying the inevitable, you have to give it 110%.
Will it be easy? Of course not, but it is the only way to go if you are serious about long-term success. Millions upon millions of people are interested in becoming successful, yet most of them are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices. They seem to somehow think that searching for that secret formula which will make everything seem like a piece of cake is the way to go but, unfortunately for them, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Do you still think that secret formulas are out there, just waiting for you to find them? In that case, I am afraid that you have a lot to learn and, unfortunately, it seems that you will be learning it the hard way. If the thought doesn’t exactly sound all that tempting then taking action and finally starting to head towards the right direction is simply a must.
What will your choice be? Are you ready to change your way of thinking and forget about trying to find ’secret formulas’ or are you interested in finding out how things actually work the hard way?
This was a guest post by Alan Johnson, author of The Online Business Handbook.
Photo by dailyinvention.
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Update from YourCityGuide: Our First Bizop
Posted: 25 Apr 2008 07:51 AM CDT
I don’t normally republish full emails that I receive, but this one is unique. The blog post of mine that he mentions is the very first one that I published on this site way back in November of 2001. Because of this, I’ll let him tell you about his business opportunity:
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Hi Dane,
My name is John Stewart and I am the sole designer and programmer of www.yourcityguide.net. Way back in 2001 you posted on my city guide business opportunity here. Of course my sites were in their infancy back then and I have just released my latest version that I believe to be the best business opportunity online for the money ($99 one time setup and $39.95/mo). My clients can now have a fully functional city guide up and running in a day, complete with full yellow page listings (business leads) and for starters I offer the only guides that come pre-loaded with all of the businesses in your town, searchable by business name or category. They have all of your business leads right there, plus from the very start your directory has full yellow page search functionality. I also offer the best “Featured Business” package to sell local businesses….not only are they listed above the other businesses, they get their own “Business Showcase” that they have full control over… so they can do it all themselves. It contains a Yahoo! Map, contact info, logo, up to 3 coupons, special sales, unlimited items for sale in their storefront, and best of all a WYSIWYG business description they can edit themselves as well… including adding pictures of their business and/or items and more! Of course you have full control over every aspect of the site as well, from creating new pages to banner ads to just about anything you can think of.
I am very proud of my product and gives those looking to start a local business directory/portal the best chance of success without having to break the bank. I offer my guides for a one time setup fee of $99.95 and monthly fee of $39.95 which covers the domain name, hosting, support, and exclusive rights to your city. I personally customize every logo and website and have poured 1000’s of hours into the design and programming over the last 7 years into what I feel is one of the best, most legitimate business opportunities available online. Now I just need to spread the word to get this out to prospective internet entrepreneurs. I’ve been running eBay auctions and craigslist ads with a great response (24 guides sold in just over a month of my new design)… but I’m ready to step it up even more. I’ve built this program from the ground up and am ready to make it take off… hopefully you’ll find the affordability and the product to be desireable to your audience. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Thank you
John Stewart
www.yourcityguide.net
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“BeeLu”tiful Feeding Pillows For Babies
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 09:30 PM CDT
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Bottle feeding parents and breast feeding moms all know the feeling they get in their arm after holding their child in the same position to feed for a long period of time. Lisa Alfieri knew that feeling real well, and she took steps to help other parents solve that problem.
Taking two years to create the right prototype pillow and manufacturing it, BeeLu was officially born in November of 2007.
During a recent interview Lisa told me a little bit about her company and her invention.
What is BeeLu?
BeeLu is a lightweight, compact feeding pillow that fits like a sleeve. This pillow is designed to relieve pressure to you forearm while providing comfort to the babys head and shoulders. This pillow is small enough to fit in a diaper bag thus making it great for moms on the go!
What was your inspiration?
What inspired me was the many times I fed my son and found my forearm would go numb. I would reach for a blanket to provide some padding. When I shopped to find such a pillow one did not exist, so I had one made for myself.
Do you have any previous education or experience that you were able to apply to your business?
I have a bachelors degree in Nursing so understanding the anatomy and mechanics of feeding a baby was easy, however the business has been a challenge.
What steps did you need to take to get started?
So many steps. First I had a pillow made for myself. When I decided to pursue this as an invention, I had to find a manufacturer that could engineer a prototype. This is a trial and error process. Once the pillow was created we had to find a patent attorney, an accountant, someone to help create a logo and my package insert etc…
Have you learned anything since you started that you wish you’d known before?
I have learned a lot as I go along. I wish I would have known more about what tradeshows or baby expos entailed so I could have chosen a tradeshow that would benefit my product the best. Marketing a product can be challenging. There are so many options to advertise. This is where a marketing degree would come in handy.
What are some of the benefits you’ve found in running your own business?
The biggest benefit of having your own business is your own schedule. Also I love to share in my excitement with this product I have created!
Has parenthood taught you anything that you’re able to apply as a business owner?
Parenthood has taught me patience, time management, and some organization.
How do you manage your time between your business and your family?
I can’t say that I have a balance between family and business, I just do the best I can.
Do you have any advice for other moms who are interested in marketing their own inventions or creations?
My advice for other moms is to know a business is a longterm commitment. Be open to people being in your life for a reason. Maintain a good support system, and ask questions from people who have business experience. You can take what applies to you and your business and leave the rest.
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How To Target The Right Customer With Contextual Marketing
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 08:15 PM CDT
This is a guest post by Emilia Johansson.
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There are two schools of thought about placing affiliate ads on a website. One says that you should choose popular affiliate programs because people are more comfortable making a purchase with a well-known company. The other school of thought says that you should choose less-common affiliate programs because this will make your site stand out from other sites and it’s much easier to reach a specific consumer base.
The best model is somewhere in the middle: both popular affiliate programs and those programs that target a niche market. What makes contextual advertising so useful is that it targets specific consumers. The “right” consumer is one who is looking to make a purchase. Whatever school you choose to follow you should do some research first and compare affiliate programs available on the Internet.
To put it another way, you’re not just looking for traffic, but traffic that is interested in spending money. What makes contextual advertising particularly effective is that it tailors affiliate ads to every web surfer. The result is that even if the surfer was looking for information, rather than a product, he still might make a purchase. The purchase might even be one that is unrelated to his original search.
Targeting Consumers With Contextual Advertising
The best way to convert traffic into profit is to ensure that your web content and contextual ads link up. A surfer may only be looking for information on a certain topic, rather than a specific service. That said, the more attractive your affiliate offers, and the more those offers are tailored to both the surfer’s core interests and past browsing history, the better chance the traffic will convert into dollars. Take in consideration that you should be genuinely interested in the niche you’re going to get yourself into. If education is what you’re interested in, you should choose a good education affiliate program.
So, the answer is to mix and match your contextual advertising with web content, PPC campaigns and a variety of contextual advertising methods. Some contextual advertising will change only according to content. Other contextual advertising will rely on past browsing history, regardless of the content on the current page.
The latter makes it more difficult to brand the website as being focused on a particular topic, but it can lead to conversions. The method you use depends on the nature of your affiliate site. It may take some experimentation with the types of contextual advertising, plus the keywords you target in both content and PPC programs.
Contextual Advertising With Google
While Google AdSense has cornered the market on contextual advertising, these ads are so rampant that people commonly ignore them. So, while it’s not a bad idea to include Google ads on a website, you should look to other sources.
Targeting consumers isn’t just about the content of the ads, but also the type of ad, and Google AdSense may just clutter up your site with no conversions. This is not true of every site, however, but your contextual advertising program shouldn’t start and end with the most popular Ad program on the market.
This was a guest post from Emilia Johansson of AffiliateTips.com, an affiliate directory where you can find and compare affiliate programs.
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Coffee News
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 06:23 PM CDT
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Coffee News is a franchise that can be operated from a home office. Started by Jean Daum in 1988 in Canada, the franchise is now operating around Canada and within several US cities. Her idea was to create the most affordable advertising publication anywhere, that delivered outstanding results for the small and medium sized businesses who advertised in them.
Coffee News itself is a weekly publication that promotes small businesses in restaurants and coffee shops. There have been a number of studies that have proven that people are more open to advertisments while they’re eating, and while people are waiting for their coffee or meals to be delivered, it’s only natural that they’d read what’s right in front of them! The newsletter also delivers fun information, unusual news stories, horoscopes, jokes and entertainment- which is in sharp contrast to the regular newspapers and television news broadcasts which seem to focus on the bad news.
Coffee News franchise owners are not multi-level marketing representatives. The company believes that the individuals who do the work should reap the benefits. As a general rule, only the people who are in the beginning stages of a multi-level marketing organization make a lot of money; and Coffee News decided to create the business as a franchise opportunity rather than MLM.
When you become a franchise owner of Coffee News, you make advertising space available to the small and medium sized businesses within your community, at prices they can afford. Most new businesses, and those that are small, have difficulty advertising because the costs are usually outside their budgets. Coffee News makes it possible for these smaller scale businesses to get their name, products, and services in the hands of potential customers.
Restaurant and coffee shop owners love to provide the no-cost-to-them news to their patrons, it allows them to provide their customers with reading material without having to shell out money for daily or weekly newspapers. The franchise is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
When you become a business owner of your own Coffee News franchise, you can expect:
- An exclusive license to operate within your geographical area – meaning no other Coffee News franchises will be operating within your area.
- The ability to set the prices of advertising space in your Coffee News publication.
- A step-by-step manual for business owners that takes you from day one to successful operation of your own business.
- The ability to sell your license if you decide to stop your Coffee News business.
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Videos For Your eBay Auctions
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 04:07 PM CDT
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A new service, called vzaar allows eBay sellers to include a video in their eBay auctions.
Just as ads with no images are now overlooked on eBay, soon ads with still images will be ignored in favor of ads with videos. Unlike pictures or slideshows, video includes audio, allowing sellers to also talk to their prospective customers and effectively pitch their offerings.
This new service displays seller feedback and bidding time left on the item right in the video, and prompts buyers to bid on that exact item – no chance of losing the sale to a competitor.
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Inventor Gets 100 Miles Per Gallon
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 01:55 PM CDT
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WFSB.com:
An inventor in northeastern Connecticut is selling an item he claims can help a car get 100 miles per gallon.
Michael Dabrowski has an E-Wheel under his car and an electro-converter in the front seat. Dabrowski said that when the wheel turns once, the motor turns four times, giving him 150 miles per gallon of gas.
He said the gas to electric converter adds 100 miles to the 57 miles per gallon his Honda Insight gets.
“We’re a 150 miles per gallon right now, which is as high as the gauge goes,” he said. With prices at the pump reaching $4 per gallon, Dabrowski said he has a waiting list for the product.
He sells the converter kits on his Web site.
Photo by 99mpg.
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The Mail Box Store
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 01:49 PM CDT
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The Mail Box Store is a business opportunity offering a turn-key program to set up, open, and operate a convenient place to meet the shipping and mailing needs of customers. The Mail Box Store also offers other personal and business services, including faxing, copying, internet services, mailbox rentals, notary services, key duplication, laminating, and passport photo printing, among others.
The Mail Box Store development package is an all-inclusive deal which includes everything you need to get the business operational. From location negotiation assistance, financing opportunities, equipment and supplies, business forms and agreements, training and support, and all retail merchandise is included in the initial package. The website states that your store could be open and operational in 40 days, unless of unusual circumstances including “acts of God, the government…” The company will even supply staff to assist you with preparations before your grand opening. A trainer will be provide to ensure every aspect of the business is understood by you and your own team.
This business is not a franchise opportunity. Once the final payment has been received for your store development package, the store, the keys, and the contents are yours. After initial training and corporate assistance in completed for the initial opening, the business is under your management and control. The corporate office will continue to provide support and training at you discretion. They will also provide additional resources for business growth that go beyond the initial package and require more time and effort on the business owner’s behalf.
The location of your business will depend upon numerous factors and a trained site locator, as well as a company leasing manager will assist you in selecting an ideal location for your business. Most are located in medium to large-sized strip malls, downtown locations, and other business complexes. However the size of community can be flexible, as the program is designed to meet the needs of all different areas. There are certain other demographic criteria that need to be met when selecting the ideal location and a “comprehensive marketing plan” that needs to be implemented in order to gain the maximum amount of attention and new business potential.
On the Mail Box Stores website is a letter posting from the General Manager which reads in part “We are very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved and the vast experience of our staff. I have been involved in this industry for more then 20 years, developing mail, pack & ship and business services stores for over 900 Entrepreneurs just like you! Together, our staff has more than 55 years of hands-on experience. This wealth of experience allows us to provide our clients with the knowledge, operational information, customized training and other key elements that help in developing a successful store! We are proud members of the Better Business Bureau.”
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Can User-Generated Content Generate Revenue?
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 01:11 PM CDT
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eMarketer:
The user-generated content movement is no longer a fad.
In the US, eMarketer projects that the number of user-generated content creators will rise from 77 million in 2007 to 108 million in 2012.
he content is being read, seen and heard, too.
The number of consumers of user-generated content will increase from 94 million in 2007 to 130 million in 2012.
“US Internet users are creating and consuming user-generated content in record numbers,” says Paul Verna, eMarketer Senior Analyst and author of the new report, User-Generated Content: In Pursuit of Ad Dollars, “across an ever-expanding range of online content that includes video, audio, personal profiles, avatars, photo sharing, Wiki entries and product reviews.”
So the content is there, but is it accompanied by a viable revenue model?
“Advertising revenues against user-generated content are modest,” says Mr. Verna,” and they are expected to stay that way for some time.”
Or, as Andrew Keen, author of Cult of the Amateur, said in a Newsweek interview, “Nobody wants to advertise next to crap.”
“Given the size and level of engagement of the audience, advertising revenues around user-generated content will not approach the level one might expect,” says Mr. Verna.
Nevertheless, eMarketer anticipates US user-generated content advertising revenue will reach $824 million in 2012, up from $162 million in 2007.
Photo by kveselyte.
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Selling Your Products Online
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 12:10 PM CDT
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YoungEntrepreneur.com:
I learned about Jenna Lou Dauer through Rochester’s Post-Bulletin. Jenna was a high school student who started a business out of her home because she was bored and was looking for something to do.
“I was in high school and just bored so I started sewing. I ended up with so much stuff I didn’t know what to do with it.”
The 20 year old has now spent the past two years selling her handmade products online. It’s been so successful that she quit her job and is taking a leave of absence from college to focus on her business.
Most of Jenna’s sales come through Etsy.com, a website that allows people to sell their handmade creations.
“Etsy does a good job of promoting and helping you. I learned a lot of what I need online. Etsy has a lot of resources and forums. I had a million questions, and there are a lot of people who were willing to share and help.”
Jenna says that the key to success in selling your products online is to create a reputation for excellent customer service: “When you’re dealing online there are so many things that can be confused. You have to really communicate well with people, be patient and polite. I communicate with people all over the world. Just meeting different people is fun.”
Jenna now divides her day up with four hours of making products and four to six hours of managing the business. It’s been so successful that she is now expanding her business to sell designed patterns for products instead of the finished products themselves. “Those are selling like crazy. I want to get more into that. I’m really enjoying being a designer more than the manufacturing.”
Photo by Post-Bulletin.
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Producing Videos For Niche Market
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 11:09 AM CDT
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Mail Tribune:
Steve Brown is the owner of Media 14 Productions, a full-service video production company located in southern Oregon. Greg Stiles, a reporter for the Mail Tribune recently interviewed Brown about his small business.
What do you do and how long have you been doing it?
I am a full-service video production company with emphasis on CD and DVD duplication. I believe I’m the largest commercial duplicator in the Rogue Valley. I started the company in 1988 and came back to the valley and built a studio for Body Support Systems in 1999. I re-started the company in 2003 and put the emphasis on VHS duplicating. In 2004 I bought robotic gear to duplicate CDs and DVDs.
What inspired you to go into this line of work?
I wanted to work in the Rogue Valley and needed to do something in technology with a learning curve to it. It prompted me to become a video editor and that led to duplication. I assessed that the valley needed a service that had high-quality, quick turnaround time and dependability. One of the freelance jobs I got down in L.A. was as in-house editor for a video duplication company, EVS Productions.
What decision or action would you change if you could do it again?
I would have found my accountant earlier. When things ballooned up I was searching for an accountant. I know one of the pitfalls for small business is not having good record-keeping. I had someone that for five months told me the next weekend she would put my bags of receipts into QuickBooks. But that weekend never came and it put me into a panic. Then I was introduced to Marion Black and she took my shopping bag full of receipts and my practice of making money orders to pay bills and turned me on to online banking. I have an accounting program that allows me to account for every penny; I fear no audits.
What’s the toughest business decision you’ve made?
To make the conversion and emphasis on duplication of DVDs and CDs and let go of the VHS duplication. You have to understand that I was $10,000 in debt with a credit card that had a 15 percent interest on it. I was paying pretty hefty fees every month for equipment. I didn’t know if the world was ready to make the transition with me to DVD duplication; it was a tenuous time. Turned out it was the perfect time.
What’s your advice for budding entrepreneurs?
Do what you love to do, the money will follow. If you really put your heart and soul into what you love to do, it’s amazing how resources will show up to accomplish your goals. Assess the market and find a real need and then become really good at fulfilling that need. Out of the 25,000 discs pumped out since August, I’ve seen about 10 come back because we exercise extremely high-quality control methods. The biggest discipline is to learn to take a day off.
Photo by Jim Craven.
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Stay-At-Home Biz Owner Is Creative
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 10:08 AM CDT
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The Virginian-Pilot:
Some cute stationery and a creative edge were what Joanne Butcher needed to stay home to take care of her children and operate a full-time business.
“I wanted something with flexible hours that enabled me to be with my family,” Butcher said. “I also wanted a creative outlet.”
Butcher, 42, opened The Paper Wagon in March 2006 in her Salem Woods home by offering personalized note pads. As her business grew, she added bar/bat mitzvah invitations, birth announcements, party invitations and more recently, wedding invitations.
Butcher meets with clients in their homes and brings samples. She helps clients choose design, color and layout. She also delivers.
“Busy moms can shop at home while their toddlers are taking a nap or when the kids are at school,” Butcher said. “People love the convenience.”
Photo by emsago.
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