It's 4:30 am and I have finally had to concede that once again there will be very little sleep this weekend. It's been such a great day already, that I'm too excited too sleep - and it's only the first day! Oh wait - I haven't even told you where I am yet. I'm sitting in my suite at the Caribe Royale Orlando preparing for the first full day of another jvAlert Live! event. I've only been here about 12 hours and I've already made enough new contacts and picked up enough new tips and ideas to make it a worthwhile trip. And the best is yet to come. Of course, you will reap much of the benefit because several of the other attendees have already graciously consented to let me share some of their expertise with you!
What is so special about a jvAlert Live event? Imagine attending 2 days of workshops and seminars conducted by some of the best minds in business and internet marketing. Ken McArthur, Willie Crawford, Michael Angier - they're all here. In fact I met Ken first thing as soon as I checked in. This is his event and as is his custom, he was sitting in the lobby of the hotel waiting to greet his guests as they arrived. Wendy Y. Bailey is here, and so is Felicia Slattery. My friend Rhonda and her companion dog, Molly Flagtail are here again. Rhonda and Molly actually helped me create the "Adventures of Traveling Bob." We were sitting in the hotel lounge at a previous jvAlert just tossing around some ideas and before the evening was over, "Traveling Bob" was born.
Actually, that's the magic of jvAlert. Sure you can attend marketing seminars of all kinds. Willie, Michael and many of the other "great names" in business and internet marketing conduct their own events. But jvAlert is different. While you do learn so much from the presentations and panels, workshops and seminars, the greatest benefit comes after the "official" events are finished for the day. Because that's when the networking happens. Imagine sitting in the hotel lobby or the lounge or coffee shop and having a one-on-one conversation with Willie Crawford. Imagine having Wendy Bailey stop by your room that night to be interviewed for a blog post or your latest book. Or being asked to film a promotional video for one of your sites to help promote the event itself. Meeting people who have made millions in internet marketing and online businesses, sharing ideas with them, getting advice from them. I already have several new ideas and I've only been here 12 hours! If you have ever attended this event, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, you need to, because otherwise you can only imagine the all that happens here! It's life changing! Don't believe me? Here's a quote from my friend Linda Gracy. I brought her with me this weekend. It's her first jvAlert Live. She was thrilled when I introduced her to Ken and Willie. And then she got to sit in the lounge with us last night and bounce around some business promotion ideas. Linda's reaction after we returned to our suite? "OMG! The energy! The excitement! The people! Thank you so much for bringing me, Melodieann! Why didn't you twist my arm the first time you invited me?"
There's room service...it's time to get ready for the first full day of jvAlert. But I will be back this evening - filling you in on all that happened, sharing ideas, tips, and information from the best of the best. And photos! I actually remembered the camera this time so that you can finally have some faces to put with names. Stand by - it's going to be a wild weekend and YOU are going to experience it as much as possible. And hopefully, at the next event, I'll be saying "and guess who else is here?" Will it be you?
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Shopping for a Virtual Storefront
Recently, I decided to open an online store for merchandise based around the "Adventures of Traveling Bob" site. I already had a pretty good idea of what I was going to use. Since I didn't really have a product line of my own yet - Bob's travel guides are still works in progress - I opted to go with CafePress. But before I made a final decision, I did a little research. Since I someday hope to offer my own products through WealthTogether, I wanted to see what other options were available. And since I have heard that several of my readers have decided to start selling products online, I decided to share what I found. So here it is - my Top 5 list of virtual storefronts.
1. Volusion. I had already heard lots of great buzz about Volusion before I checked it out. It has won several awards for Best Ecommerce Solution. I signed up for the 14-day free trial to see how it worked. I was immediately impressed by the hundreds of built-in features. But I was even more impressed by how easily I could customize it to suit my own business. I am not a tekkie by any stretch of the imagination, so the fact that I did not have to know tons of code to build my store was a huge plus. The training video's and online wizards were enough to help even the novice internet marketer build a professional looking store. And I love the Search Engine Friendly Feature. You can use their templates and design tools to create your own look or you can have one of their designers do it for you. Security isn't an issue either. They are PCI/CISP certified. There are several pricing packages to choose from, based on your needs. If you have a good selection of products and you want a truly professional looking storefront, Volusion should be your choice. http://www.volusion.com/
2. ProStores. Another award winner. Like Volusion, ProStores lets you design your own storefront or have one of their designers do it for you. And it offers several different tiers, depending on your needs. Unlike Volusion, in addition to the monthly subscription fee, there is also a transaction fee for each successful transaction. While the subscription fee is less than Volusion's, the transaction fee could add up quickly if your business takes off. ProStores is supported by SSL encryption but is not PCI/CISP certified. If you are just getting started and can't afford the cost of Volusion, ProStores could be the right choice for you. Take advantage of the one month free trial and see for yourself. http://www.prostores.com/
3. Yahoo Merchant Solutions. Yahoo offers most of the same features as Volusion and ProStores. The biggest drawback for me was the 1.5% transaction fee in addition to the monthly subscription fee. If you are at all successful in building your online business, 1.5% can add up to a lot of money fast! Other than that, it brings all the experience and marketing clout of Yahoo to your efforts. Not a bad choice if you can swallow that transaction fee. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ecommerce/
4. Shopify. Shopify's biggest asset is it's design flexibility. You can have a professional looking store up and running in no time. It doesn't have all of the features of Volusion or ProStores, but it is incredibly easy to work with. Once again, there are several pricing options to choose from and like the others, Shopify offers a free trial. http://www.shopify.com/
5. CafePress. I like CafePress for two reasons. It's a good way to get started if you don't have a product of your own but want to start getting your name out in the world of ecommerce. CafePress allows you to put your logo or other graphics on a wide array of "print-on-demand" products from T-shirts to dog bowls. You can set up a basic shop for free or for a very small monthly fee, you can own a premium shop. I have fun trying to think of creative ways to use the Traveling Bob logo and graphics to create products for my store. Use one of their templates or design your own store. It's a great, low-risk way to get a taste of the world of ecommerce. http://www.cafepress.com/.
A virtual storefront to sell your products is just one of the many ways to make money online. Check these out and choose the one that is right for you.
1. Volusion. I had already heard lots of great buzz about Volusion before I checked it out. It has won several awards for Best Ecommerce Solution. I signed up for the 14-day free trial to see how it worked. I was immediately impressed by the hundreds of built-in features. But I was even more impressed by how easily I could customize it to suit my own business. I am not a tekkie by any stretch of the imagination, so the fact that I did not have to know tons of code to build my store was a huge plus. The training video's and online wizards were enough to help even the novice internet marketer build a professional looking store. And I love the Search Engine Friendly Feature. You can use their templates and design tools to create your own look or you can have one of their designers do it for you. Security isn't an issue either. They are PCI/CISP certified. There are several pricing packages to choose from, based on your needs. If you have a good selection of products and you want a truly professional looking storefront, Volusion should be your choice. http://www.volusion.com/
2. ProStores. Another award winner. Like Volusion, ProStores lets you design your own storefront or have one of their designers do it for you. And it offers several different tiers, depending on your needs. Unlike Volusion, in addition to the monthly subscription fee, there is also a transaction fee for each successful transaction. While the subscription fee is less than Volusion's, the transaction fee could add up quickly if your business takes off. ProStores is supported by SSL encryption but is not PCI/CISP certified. If you are just getting started and can't afford the cost of Volusion, ProStores could be the right choice for you. Take advantage of the one month free trial and see for yourself. http://www.prostores.com/
3. Yahoo Merchant Solutions. Yahoo offers most of the same features as Volusion and ProStores. The biggest drawback for me was the 1.5% transaction fee in addition to the monthly subscription fee. If you are at all successful in building your online business, 1.5% can add up to a lot of money fast! Other than that, it brings all the experience and marketing clout of Yahoo to your efforts. Not a bad choice if you can swallow that transaction fee. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ecommerce/
4. Shopify. Shopify's biggest asset is it's design flexibility. You can have a professional looking store up and running in no time. It doesn't have all of the features of Volusion or ProStores, but it is incredibly easy to work with. Once again, there are several pricing options to choose from and like the others, Shopify offers a free trial. http://www.shopify.com/
5. CafePress. I like CafePress for two reasons. It's a good way to get started if you don't have a product of your own but want to start getting your name out in the world of ecommerce. CafePress allows you to put your logo or other graphics on a wide array of "print-on-demand" products from T-shirts to dog bowls. You can set up a basic shop for free or for a very small monthly fee, you can own a premium shop. I have fun trying to think of creative ways to use the Traveling Bob logo and graphics to create products for my store. Use one of their templates or design your own store. It's a great, low-risk way to get a taste of the world of ecommerce. http://www.cafepress.com/.
A virtual storefront to sell your products is just one of the many ways to make money online. Check these out and choose the one that is right for you.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Promoting My Friends!
One of the great things about having a blog with loyal readers is the opportunity it provides me to share some of the awesome things my friends and fellow Divas are doing. I've decided to devote this week to sharing some of the latest with you.
First, it's the launch of a brand new resource for baby boomers. Boomer-Living.com, a subsidiary of The National Center for Baby Boomers, Inc., is a unique and innovative internet resource whose goal is to meet the needs and interests of active and creative Baby Boomers. Boomer-Living.com provides educational and informative content, products, services and community forums where like-minded individuals can learn and share. Their vision is to redefine the mental model of aging from one of limitation to one of rich and rewarding possibilities. The National Center for Baby Boomers and Boomer-Living.com strongly support the concept of lifelong learning, personal mastery, and self-fulfillment. Their focus is directed toward developing an in-depth understanding of their audience and to creating a means to meet their needs and interests. Boomer-Living.com is a trusted resource for baby boomers and a virtual "Center" or "Community" where members can visit twelve interactive locations relating to: Career Management, Culinary Arts, Financial Planning, Fitness, The Center for Well Beings,
The Home, Relationships, Balanced Living Center , Travel, Arts and Entertainment, Coffee House, and the Make A Difference Center.
Several of the Divas are featured contributors to this site. Check it out at http://boomer-living.com/.
If you are a parent then you definitely want to check this out. Friend and Diva Pat Montgomery is hosting her first teleseminar! Pat is an expert on parenting and is the author of "Now You Know What I Know: Parenting Wisdom of a Grandmother," and is host of the popular radio show Parents Rule! Pat is partnering with parent coach Barb Desmarais and they are discussing Parenting: What We Know For Sure. It's free, so the price is right! The teleseminar is on Monday, February 2nd, at 7 pm EST. The link to register is http://www.teleclasscatalog.com/.
Valentine's Day is fast approaching! If you're not sure what to do for that special someone in your life, let Diva Betty Lynch show you how to make it the most memorable Valentine's Day ever. My Country Kitchen created a very special menu with easy to prepare recipes that will impress your Sweetheart! Along with the menu and recipes you will receive a grocery shopping list to make your shopping easier for you. In addition, you will receive ideas for romantic music, table scape, and wine recommendations for your main course and dessert that will make this Valentine’s Day a day to remember. All of these recipes and ideas are ready for you in an easy to download file for just $2.50 for a limited time. That’s right! My Country Kitchen would like to help you make this Valentine’s Day an evening to remember. http://mycountrykitchen.com/.
Speaking of Valentine's Day - or any other card-giving occasion - what do you do when you suddenly need a greeting card and you don't have time to run to the store? Where do you find the most original selection of greeting cards available? The answer to both is simple. Go to Easy Greeting Cards from PopArt Diva. Just pick your design from a WIDE selection, print them on your own printer, trim along the dotted line, fold, and mail. What could be easier? Print as many as you want for only $2.00! http://www.popartdiva.com/DownloadableArt/Greeting-Note_Cards.html.
Be sure and check out FEISTY SIDE OF FIFTY RADIO - a celebration of women over fifty and how boomers are revolutionizing what it means to grow older. Give Eileen Williams just fifteen minutes of your time and she'll give you interviews with women who will inspire you to make significant and positive change in your own life.
There's a new workout video on the market. Pam Archer worked as the Creative Producer on a video for Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dragonfly Productions. It is now on the shelves in Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, (other retailers as well), and at Amazon, and http://www.collagevideo.com/. The title is "Dance Off the Inches-Country Line Dance Video". I can't think of a more fun way to lose those extra holiday pounds. Thanks, Pam!
Helen Georgaklis is the Guest Speaker at next week's Winning SistersNetworking 101 chat on Skype. Helen's topic will be " How to RetireBefore You Die!" The chat will be at 12:30 EST. Info on joining this chat can be found at http://winningsisters.org/speaker.html
DATE: Wed January 28, 2009
START TIME: 12:30 PM EST
END TIME: 1:30 PM EST
LOCATION NAME: Skype Chat-- Winning Sisters Networking 101
CONTACT: Ginger Marks
CONTACT EMAIL: founder@winningsisters.org
CONTACT PHONE: http://winningsisters.org/speaker.html
COST: Free
Do you know what Diva Wendy has been up to? I just finished reading an email from former client, friend and mentor, Ken McArthur. In it he lists the speakers he has lined up for jvAlert Live 2009 in Orlando. jvAlert Live is Ken's big marketing seminar that I used to plan for him during my former life as a meeting planner and he only invites the best of the best to speak here. Want to know who one of the FEATURED speakers is? You guessed it - our own WendyY! Check it out:
http://jvalertlive.com/Orlando4.aspx
I was planning to attend anyway, but now that I know Wendy is going to be there, along with my friend Felicia Slattery, nothing could keep me away. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there as well! I guarantee it's a life changing experience! Just look at me!
And...a great new book that's a must have for any one who wants to hone their networking skills to build their business. I have known Carrie Perrien Smith for many years and she is an expert in the art of networking. Her latest book, "Currency: Striking Networking Gold in a Relationship Economy," is an absolute gold mine of information. Learn more about Carrie, her company Soar With Eagles, and her book - http://www.soarhigher.com/currency.htm. PSST!! Bev! I think she has all the makings of a Diva!
First, it's the launch of a brand new resource for baby boomers. Boomer-Living.com, a subsidiary of The National Center for Baby Boomers, Inc., is a unique and innovative internet resource whose goal is to meet the needs and interests of active and creative Baby Boomers. Boomer-Living.com provides educational and informative content, products, services and community forums where like-minded individuals can learn and share. Their vision is to redefine the mental model of aging from one of limitation to one of rich and rewarding possibilities. The National Center for Baby Boomers and Boomer-Living.com strongly support the concept of lifelong learning, personal mastery, and self-fulfillment. Their focus is directed toward developing an in-depth understanding of their audience and to creating a means to meet their needs and interests. Boomer-Living.com is a trusted resource for baby boomers and a virtual "Center" or "Community" where members can visit twelve interactive locations relating to: Career Management, Culinary Arts, Financial Planning, Fitness, The Center for Well Beings,
The Home, Relationships, Balanced Living Center , Travel, Arts and Entertainment, Coffee House, and the Make A Difference Center.
Several of the Divas are featured contributors to this site. Check it out at http://boomer-living.com/.
If you are a parent then you definitely want to check this out. Friend and Diva Pat Montgomery is hosting her first teleseminar! Pat is an expert on parenting and is the author of "Now You Know What I Know: Parenting Wisdom of a Grandmother," and is host of the popular radio show Parents Rule! Pat is partnering with parent coach Barb Desmarais and they are discussing Parenting: What We Know For Sure. It's free, so the price is right! The teleseminar is on Monday, February 2nd, at 7 pm EST. The link to register is http://www.teleclasscatalog.com/.
Valentine's Day is fast approaching! If you're not sure what to do for that special someone in your life, let Diva Betty Lynch show you how to make it the most memorable Valentine's Day ever. My Country Kitchen created a very special menu with easy to prepare recipes that will impress your Sweetheart! Along with the menu and recipes you will receive a grocery shopping list to make your shopping easier for you. In addition, you will receive ideas for romantic music, table scape, and wine recommendations for your main course and dessert that will make this Valentine’s Day a day to remember. All of these recipes and ideas are ready for you in an easy to download file for just $2.50 for a limited time. That’s right! My Country Kitchen would like to help you make this Valentine’s Day an evening to remember. http://mycountrykitchen.com/.
Speaking of Valentine's Day - or any other card-giving occasion - what do you do when you suddenly need a greeting card and you don't have time to run to the store? Where do you find the most original selection of greeting cards available? The answer to both is simple. Go to Easy Greeting Cards from PopArt Diva. Just pick your design from a WIDE selection, print them on your own printer, trim along the dotted line, fold, and mail. What could be easier? Print as many as you want for only $2.00! http://www.popartdiva.com/DownloadableArt/Greeting-Note_Cards.html.
Be sure and check out FEISTY SIDE OF FIFTY RADIO - a celebration of women over fifty and how boomers are revolutionizing what it means to grow older. Give Eileen Williams just fifteen minutes of your time and she'll give you interviews with women who will inspire you to make significant and positive change in your own life.
There's a new workout video on the market. Pam Archer worked as the Creative Producer on a video for Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dragonfly Productions. It is now on the shelves in Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, (other retailers as well), and at Amazon, and http://www.collagevideo.com/. The title is "Dance Off the Inches-Country Line Dance Video". I can't think of a more fun way to lose those extra holiday pounds. Thanks, Pam!
Helen Georgaklis is the Guest Speaker at next week's Winning SistersNetworking 101 chat on Skype. Helen's topic will be " How to RetireBefore You Die!" The chat will be at 12:30 EST. Info on joining this chat can be found at http://winningsisters.org/speaker.html
DATE: Wed January 28, 2009
START TIME: 12:30 PM EST
END TIME: 1:30 PM EST
LOCATION NAME: Skype Chat-- Winning Sisters Networking 101
CONTACT: Ginger Marks
CONTACT EMAIL: founder@winningsisters.org
CONTACT PHONE: http://winningsisters.org/speaker.html
COST: Free
Do you know what Diva Wendy has been up to? I just finished reading an email from former client, friend and mentor, Ken McArthur. In it he lists the speakers he has lined up for jvAlert Live 2009 in Orlando. jvAlert Live is Ken's big marketing seminar that I used to plan for him during my former life as a meeting planner and he only invites the best of the best to speak here. Want to know who one of the FEATURED speakers is? You guessed it - our own WendyY! Check it out:
http://jvalertlive.com/Orlando4.aspx
I was planning to attend anyway, but now that I know Wendy is going to be there, along with my friend Felicia Slattery, nothing could keep me away. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there as well! I guarantee it's a life changing experience! Just look at me!
And...a great new book that's a must have for any one who wants to hone their networking skills to build their business. I have known Carrie Perrien Smith for many years and she is an expert in the art of networking. Her latest book, "Currency: Striking Networking Gold in a Relationship Economy," is an absolute gold mine of information. Learn more about Carrie, her company Soar With Eagles, and her book - http://www.soarhigher.com/currency.htm. PSST!! Bev! I think she has all the makings of a Diva!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Time Management
Has anyone heard when we might be getting that extra day each week? You know, the one we all desperately need to get everything done? I know I can't wait. Between taking the Travels with Bob site to a new level, working on my first book, and now being a featured writer for Boomer Living, I could definitely use a few more hours in my day and a few more days in my week.
Since I don't think increasing the number of hours available to me for work is an option, I have had to perfect my time management skills. I've discovered several good tips and resources that help me meet all my commitments, still have time for family, and not feel exhausted when the day is over. (The fact that the dust bunnies under my couch are about to attack my dog is irrelevant. They are UNDER the couch and out of sight means I'll deal with it tomorrow!).
The first thing I learned was a very simple rule: Focus on results, not on activity. Don't be wasting your time doing things that are not going to help you meet your goals. Busy work is NOT a good thing!
How do you know if you are managing your time most effectively? I discovered a great test that will tell you! Answer the questions honestly and it will tell you whether you are a great time manager or if, like me, you are good at some things and have lots of room for improvement in other areas. The test is by Mind Tools, a site that teaches essential skills for success - including time management.
Based on my test results, I found I needed to improve in a few areas. So I set out to find the tools that would help me do so.
One of my worst areas is scheduling. I am very bad about remembering appointments and deadlines. I have a planner, but it's a nuisance to have to dig it out every time I need to use it. I have a wall calendar but that's not very effective either. Since I'm on the computer most of my day, I needed something readily accessible - other than the sea of post-its stuck all over the outside of my monitor. Well I found the perfect calendar - Google Calendar. I use many of Google's tools already so naturally I checked theirs out first and it's wonderful! The Quick Add feature lets you Click anywhere on your calendar where an event belongs (or use the Quick Add link), and start typing. You can receive reminders of your appointments - even on your cell phone. And the price is right - FREE!
In keeping with paring down the mounds of paper on my desk, it was also suggested I go to an online to-do list instead of my handy sheet of notebook paper with my list numbered 1-10, in no particular order of importance. Now I have to admit, I was reluctant to embrace this at first. My notebook paper to-do list works just fine! But my uber-organized friend Alice kept pushing until I finally gave in. She recommended I try Remember the Milk and I must admit - I'm impressed! It lets me set due dates like next Friday or in 3 weeks. I can receive reminders or add tasks just about anywhere. And once again, the price is right - FREE!
I also found a program that will keep from going into Post-It withdrawal. Visual person that I am, I do need something to keep me happy! And I found it. Stickies is like post-it notes for your desktop. Computerized post-it notes - what will they think of next?!
Alice, are you happy now? Look at me - I'm a model of efficiency! Now maybe I can schedule in some time to paint the kitchen, clean out the garage, start my new blog....
Since I don't think increasing the number of hours available to me for work is an option, I have had to perfect my time management skills. I've discovered several good tips and resources that help me meet all my commitments, still have time for family, and not feel exhausted when the day is over. (The fact that the dust bunnies under my couch are about to attack my dog is irrelevant. They are UNDER the couch and out of sight means I'll deal with it tomorrow!).
The first thing I learned was a very simple rule: Focus on results, not on activity. Don't be wasting your time doing things that are not going to help you meet your goals. Busy work is NOT a good thing!
How do you know if you are managing your time most effectively? I discovered a great test that will tell you! Answer the questions honestly and it will tell you whether you are a great time manager or if, like me, you are good at some things and have lots of room for improvement in other areas. The test is by Mind Tools, a site that teaches essential skills for success - including time management.
Based on my test results, I found I needed to improve in a few areas. So I set out to find the tools that would help me do so.
One of my worst areas is scheduling. I am very bad about remembering appointments and deadlines. I have a planner, but it's a nuisance to have to dig it out every time I need to use it. I have a wall calendar but that's not very effective either. Since I'm on the computer most of my day, I needed something readily accessible - other than the sea of post-its stuck all over the outside of my monitor. Well I found the perfect calendar - Google Calendar. I use many of Google's tools already so naturally I checked theirs out first and it's wonderful! The Quick Add feature lets you Click anywhere on your calendar where an event belongs (or use the Quick Add link), and start typing. You can receive reminders of your appointments - even on your cell phone. And the price is right - FREE!
In keeping with paring down the mounds of paper on my desk, it was also suggested I go to an online to-do list instead of my handy sheet of notebook paper with my list numbered 1-10, in no particular order of importance. Now I have to admit, I was reluctant to embrace this at first. My notebook paper to-do list works just fine! But my uber-organized friend Alice kept pushing until I finally gave in. She recommended I try Remember the Milk and I must admit - I'm impressed! It lets me set due dates like next Friday or in 3 weeks. I can receive reminders or add tasks just about anywhere. And once again, the price is right - FREE!
I also found a program that will keep from going into Post-It withdrawal. Visual person that I am, I do need something to keep me happy! And I found it. Stickies is like post-it notes for your desktop. Computerized post-it notes - what will they think of next?!
Alice, are you happy now? Look at me - I'm a model of efficiency! Now maybe I can schedule in some time to paint the kitchen, clean out the garage, start my new blog....
Friday, January 9, 2009
What Can I Sell?
Q. I'm just starting to think about an online business. I don't have any products. I've read that infoproducts are a cheap way to make some money but I don't even really know what I would write about. I just know that I'm tired of making someone else's dream come true at the cost of my own. What can I sell so I can get started?
This question was asked recently at a marketing seminar I attended. It's a great question. What can I sell when I don't have any products of my own? The answer - someone else's products! How is this possible? There are a couple of different methods.
My particular favorite is called "affiliate marketing." In affiliate marketing, you sell a product for someone else and receive a commission for everything you sell. Most of these programs are free to join and many even provide you with a website to help you market. I happen to be an affiliate marketer myself for several programs. They each bring me a nice little sum of money every month. Take a look at my sites, and you'll see what I mean. I'm an affiliate for Site Build It! (http://buildit.sitesell.com/wealthtogether.html). I'm also an affiliate for Magnetic Sponsoring http://mwhiteley.magneticsponsoringonline.com/. And in addition to being one of his biggest fans, I'm also an affiliate for all of Derek Gehl's products http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155.
If you're interested in exploring affiliate marketing further, there are several resources available to match you up with tons of affiliate programs. I use (and I'm an affiliate for) Affiliate Showcase run by my friend Ken McArthur http://www.AffiliateShowcase.com/?46035. Ken has put together a site where you can access hundreds of programs that will pay you commissions of 50% or more.
Another great source of products is Clickbank (http://www.clickbank.com/). Some other sites you may want to look at as well are:
http://www.cj.com/
http://www.linkshare.com/
Another source of products that is different from affiliate marketing is called drop shipping. In drop shipping, the products you sell are maintained by the source company. When you make a sale, you provide the customer's order information to the drop shipper and they ship the product directly for you. Your profit is the difference between the cost of the product from the wholesaler and your selling price. As with anything, there are pros and cons and scams involved with drop shipping. I personally have never tried it. But there is a great article that explains it in detail at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping. And one of the best known and most highly recommended drop shippers is Doba (www.Doba.com). Their website has some great information on how drop shipping works as well.
If you have any type of graphic work available to you, there is another source of products for you. CafePress is a virtual storefront that actually provides part of the product for you. They have a wide variety of apparel, housewares, gift items and other merchandise. All you do is add your own graphic design and you have an instant product. I use CafePress for the "Travels with Bob" products. Check it out at www.cafepress.com/travelwithbob.
Whichever route you decide to take to finding your products, make sure you research the company thoroughly to be sure their products will meet your customers' standards. You want to do business with a company that is reliable and guarantees their products. Of course the best thing to sell is your own product. Use these other options to help you build an online presence and some marketing skill while you develop a product that uniquely yours.
This question was asked recently at a marketing seminar I attended. It's a great question. What can I sell when I don't have any products of my own? The answer - someone else's products! How is this possible? There are a couple of different methods.
My particular favorite is called "affiliate marketing." In affiliate marketing, you sell a product for someone else and receive a commission for everything you sell. Most of these programs are free to join and many even provide you with a website to help you market. I happen to be an affiliate marketer myself for several programs. They each bring me a nice little sum of money every month. Take a look at my sites, and you'll see what I mean. I'm an affiliate for Site Build It! (http://buildit.sitesell.com/wealthtogether.html). I'm also an affiliate for Magnetic Sponsoring http://mwhiteley.magneticsponsoringonline.com/. And in addition to being one of his biggest fans, I'm also an affiliate for all of Derek Gehl's products http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155.
If you're interested in exploring affiliate marketing further, there are several resources available to match you up with tons of affiliate programs. I use (and I'm an affiliate for) Affiliate Showcase run by my friend Ken McArthur http://www.AffiliateShowcase.com/?46035. Ken has put together a site where you can access hundreds of programs that will pay you commissions of 50% or more.
Another great source of products is Clickbank (http://www.clickbank.com/). Some other sites you may want to look at as well are:
http://www.cj.com/
http://www.linkshare.com/
Another source of products that is different from affiliate marketing is called drop shipping. In drop shipping, the products you sell are maintained by the source company. When you make a sale, you provide the customer's order information to the drop shipper and they ship the product directly for you. Your profit is the difference between the cost of the product from the wholesaler and your selling price. As with anything, there are pros and cons and scams involved with drop shipping. I personally have never tried it. But there is a great article that explains it in detail at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping. And one of the best known and most highly recommended drop shippers is Doba (www.Doba.com). Their website has some great information on how drop shipping works as well.
If you have any type of graphic work available to you, there is another source of products for you. CafePress is a virtual storefront that actually provides part of the product for you. They have a wide variety of apparel, housewares, gift items and other merchandise. All you do is add your own graphic design and you have an instant product. I use CafePress for the "Travels with Bob" products. Check it out at www.cafepress.com/travelwithbob.
Whichever route you decide to take to finding your products, make sure you research the company thoroughly to be sure their products will meet your customers' standards. You want to do business with a company that is reliable and guarantees their products. Of course the best thing to sell is your own product. Use these other options to help you build an online presence and some marketing skill while you develop a product that uniquely yours.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Free "Recession-Busting" Video
Will you act during the economic downturn, or simply REACT?
Don't let fear of the recession guide your goal setting plans for 2009. This is a BIG mistake...! Fear is an emotional response, only good for short-term survival. When you're in "fight or flight" mode, you're not thinking clearly about the path you're running... You're just RUNNING! So your efforts lack strategy, planning, and insight. I want you to do more than just survive 2009.
Internet shopping is predicted to hit $145.1 billion in the coming year, a significant 14% increase -- despite the recession! Consumers will be spending more time at home, using their computers for everything from bargain hunting and product research to upgrading skills. Studies show this shift is ALREADY well underway...!
I don't want the Big "R" to stop you from pursuing exciting personal, financial, and business goals in 2009, so I've arranged to get you exclusive VIP access to an important video that Internet marketing guru Derek Gehl just put up on his site. Derek's been successfully selling on the Internet for over a decade now, and he's brought in over $100 MILLION in sales... ... so he's by far the BEST person to advise you about how to thrive in ANY market. When you watch his FREE Goal Setting Video, you'll discover how you can make 2009 your richest year yet:
http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155
Derek's also going to be hosting a FREE Webinar in the first week of January to help everyone kick-off their New Year's goals with a bang. You can register for it here: http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155
Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness in 2009!
Don't let fear of the recession guide your goal setting plans for 2009. This is a BIG mistake...! Fear is an emotional response, only good for short-term survival. When you're in "fight or flight" mode, you're not thinking clearly about the path you're running... You're just RUNNING! So your efforts lack strategy, planning, and insight. I want you to do more than just survive 2009.
Internet shopping is predicted to hit $145.1 billion in the coming year, a significant 14% increase -- despite the recession! Consumers will be spending more time at home, using their computers for everything from bargain hunting and product research to upgrading skills. Studies show this shift is ALREADY well underway...!
I don't want the Big "R" to stop you from pursuing exciting personal, financial, and business goals in 2009, so I've arranged to get you exclusive VIP access to an important video that Internet marketing guru Derek Gehl just put up on his site. Derek's been successfully selling on the Internet for over a decade now, and he's brought in over $100 MILLION in sales... ... so he's by far the BEST person to advise you about how to thrive in ANY market. When you watch his FREE Goal Setting Video, you'll discover how you can make 2009 your richest year yet:
http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155
Derek's also going to be hosting a FREE Webinar in the first week of January to help everyone kick-off their New Year's goals with a bang. You can register for it here: http://www.internetmarketing.com/2009-goals/1155
Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness in 2009!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Starting Out With Way Too Little Money
I was reading a business forum the other day. One of the posts was from a woman who was announcing she was quitting her business and going back to work. She just couldn't make her business successful. It seems she stared out with way too little money and so her plan was to go back to her job and save enough money to start again. I don't know what type of business she was in, but I do know one thing. If she had $50 dollars, she could start a successful business. It doesn't matter what type of business you start, there are very inexpensive ways to market and promote it.
If you've read my blog at all, then you know that one thing you need is a website. You can build a web presence completely free by starting a blog or by simply joining some affiliate programs that provide a free website. If you want to host your own site, you can do so for under $20 a month! There are some great web hosting services available for extremely reasonable prices. My favorites? Try Yahoo! Web Hosting. Starting Price: $8.96 per month for the first 3 months. $11.95 per month thereafter. No setup fee.
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting/.
Or if even $11.95 is a little steep, try HostNine. Price: $6.96 per month. No setup fee. http://www.hostnine.com/
If you want to host a website for under $5.00 per month, that is possible! Check out Host Gator where you can get web hosting for as little as $4.95 per month. http://www.hostgator.com/.
You will also need to register your domain name. Again, there are tons of cheap domain name registrars available. Perhaps the most well known is GoDaddy where you can register a new .com for $9.99. http://www.godaddy.com/.
I also recommend Yahoo! Domains where domain registration is $9.95 or free if you host with them. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/
If you want the lowest price available, check out Netfirms where you can register your domain for as low as $6.99 per year. http://www.netfirms.com/domain-names/.
Website done and domain name registered! How about some business cards? You can get 250 quality business card for as low as $3.99 at VistaPrint. I have used VistaPrint for my network marketing business cards and they did a wonderful job. http://www.vistaprint.com/business-cards.
Okay - now how to promote your business inexpensively. Well, if you have a printer of any quality, you can post flyers on bulletin boards, depending on the type of business you are starting. This works well for local business such as house and pet sitters, daycare providers, personal assistants, etc. You can buy paper for less than $10 just about anywhere. Design your flyer and print it. Go to your local UPS Store or Kinko's and make your own copies - cheap!
If your business isn't suited to bulletin board advertising, try classified ads - online for as low as $9.95 per month. There are so many online ad services available and almost all of them do a fine job. I don't really have a favorite. Just Google classified ads and you'll find all you need. Advertising locally is also usually very affordable. Now by locally I mean in papers such as The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette or The Morning News for me. Not the NY Times or The Washington Post!
What is the best investment you can make for less than $20? Go buy a copy of Jay Conrad Levinson's book "Guerrilla Marketing." For about $11.00, you can receive all the advice and tips you will ever need on how to market your business on a budget. It is available form Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com or directly from the Jay's Guerrilla Marketing website http://www.gmarketing.com/. Even if you don't buy the book there, I suggest you still visit his site just to read the articles. And be sure to sign up for the free weekly newsletter!
Lack of money shouldn't be a reason for you to get started on your own future. When I first started, I had NO money. My husband didn't believe this could work and wouldn't agree to let me use any of our money to get started. So I could only spend what I managed to save myself after household bills. Since I was working for a non-profit at the time, that wasn't much! Keep your job until you are making enough to quit. Use these resources to learn how to build and market your business for little or no cost. Take some of your business profits and invest it back into marketing and building your business. And next year, look back in satisfaction at how far you've come. Let's make 2009 your year to shine!
If you've read my blog at all, then you know that one thing you need is a website. You can build a web presence completely free by starting a blog or by simply joining some affiliate programs that provide a free website. If you want to host your own site, you can do so for under $20 a month! There are some great web hosting services available for extremely reasonable prices. My favorites? Try Yahoo! Web Hosting. Starting Price: $8.96 per month for the first 3 months. $11.95 per month thereafter. No setup fee.
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting/.
Or if even $11.95 is a little steep, try HostNine. Price: $6.96 per month. No setup fee. http://www.hostnine.com/
If you want to host a website for under $5.00 per month, that is possible! Check out Host Gator where you can get web hosting for as little as $4.95 per month. http://www.hostgator.com/.
You will also need to register your domain name. Again, there are tons of cheap domain name registrars available. Perhaps the most well known is GoDaddy where you can register a new .com for $9.99. http://www.godaddy.com/.
I also recommend Yahoo! Domains where domain registration is $9.95 or free if you host with them. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/
If you want the lowest price available, check out Netfirms where you can register your domain for as low as $6.99 per year. http://www.netfirms.com/domain-names/.
Website done and domain name registered! How about some business cards? You can get 250 quality business card for as low as $3.99 at VistaPrint. I have used VistaPrint for my network marketing business cards and they did a wonderful job. http://www.vistaprint.com/business-cards.
Okay - now how to promote your business inexpensively. Well, if you have a printer of any quality, you can post flyers on bulletin boards, depending on the type of business you are starting. This works well for local business such as house and pet sitters, daycare providers, personal assistants, etc. You can buy paper for less than $10 just about anywhere. Design your flyer and print it. Go to your local UPS Store or Kinko's and make your own copies - cheap!
If your business isn't suited to bulletin board advertising, try classified ads - online for as low as $9.95 per month. There are so many online ad services available and almost all of them do a fine job. I don't really have a favorite. Just Google classified ads and you'll find all you need. Advertising locally is also usually very affordable. Now by locally I mean in papers such as The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette or The Morning News for me. Not the NY Times or The Washington Post!
What is the best investment you can make for less than $20? Go buy a copy of Jay Conrad Levinson's book "Guerrilla Marketing." For about $11.00, you can receive all the advice and tips you will ever need on how to market your business on a budget. It is available form Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com or directly from the Jay's Guerrilla Marketing website http://www.gmarketing.com/. Even if you don't buy the book there, I suggest you still visit his site just to read the articles. And be sure to sign up for the free weekly newsletter!
Lack of money shouldn't be a reason for you to get started on your own future. When I first started, I had NO money. My husband didn't believe this could work and wouldn't agree to let me use any of our money to get started. So I could only spend what I managed to save myself after household bills. Since I was working for a non-profit at the time, that wasn't much! Keep your job until you are making enough to quit. Use these resources to learn how to build and market your business for little or no cost. Take some of your business profits and invest it back into marketing and building your business. And next year, look back in satisfaction at how far you've come. Let's make 2009 your year to shine!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)