By The Online Business Basics
Not so long ago, I was making my daily rounds to various message boards online that are dedicated to working from home. Alongside the usual, ‘Is this a scam?’ questions was a disturbing post, which basically said:
‘I’ve come to realize that everything’s a scam, not just envelope stuffing, typing jobs and craft and assembly jobs, but also MLM and affiliate programs. They are all scams! I have tried them all and never made any money.’
What’s even worse was that there were several people who wholeheartedly agreed.
The Internet, unfortunately, is rife with scams and shams about working from home. There is a huge market of people searching for a work-at-home career — and plenty of others willing to take advantage of it in whatever way they can. It’s no surprise, then, that so many people have been ‘burned’ by so-called ‘opportunities’.
But let me say this: An opportunity is not necessarily a scam just because someone didn’t make money.
Yes, you read that right. You see, there’s no such thing as a ‘one-opportunity-fits-all’. I know that many of the opportunities you see online try to make it seem like ‘anyone’ can succeed… but it’s just hype.
For example, Avon is a well-known and legitimate opportunity. Would everyone do well at it? Of course not. A dog-walking business is also a home-based opportunity. A reliable and experienced dog-lover may do well, but someone with a fear of dogs would not for obvious reasons. That doesn’t make the opportunity a scam.
There are loads of opportunities available — those you can ‘join’, and those you create for yourself. And although scams appear to be everywhere you look, legitimate opportunities can be found, too.
Here’s another example. An affiliate program is where you sell another company’s products or services in return for a commission. Now I know from personal experience that most affiliate programs are not scams. Heck, I was able to quit my corporate job because of my success with them!
That’s not to say that I succeeded with all of them. There were plenty of programs I joined where I didn’t make a single thin dime (or, in some cases, that’s ALL I made!). Does that make them a scam? No. It took time, effort, and experimentation before I found the affiliate programs that my audience appreciated.
Healthy skepticism is great, even necessary, when searching the Internet for a way to work from home. At the same time, don’t sabotage yourself by putting on blinders and assuming that everything you run across is a scam.
Learn the tell-tale signs of a scam so that you can protect yourself. Do your research. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, lots of them if necessary! It may take you 1 attempt or 20 attempts to find the business that’s right for you. Can’t find an opportunity that suits you? Create one. Opportunity is everywhere!
“You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.” (Richard Bach)
This article may be reprinted on your website or in your opt-in newsletter, provided that it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification, and the following resource box is left intact:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Online Business Basics website offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the ‘net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.
COMING SOON… Conversations with the Evangelist and Artist Jarita Halliburton
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Join us for conversations with entrepreneurs and professionals who are inspired by the possibilities of building virtual businesses and careers; who themselves are inspiring new trends and paths in online success.
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Behind every success, there is a story; one that inspires those of us who are still on our journey to keep going and those who have reached their goal to dream bigger and louder.
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Once upon a time — and I’m just a touch embarassed to admit it — I threw common-sense out the window and went searching for an “easy” way to make my fortune on the Internet. I found what I thought was a perfect opportunity… but in reality was nothing more than a pack of lies. Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones who quickly came to her senses and successfully fought for and received a full refund.
This isn’t always the case. Business opportunities, or “biz ops” as they’re commonly called, often prey on people who are desperate to start making money from home. The ridiculous claims of easy money can seem so real, so achievable — but let’s face facts: there’s no such thing as easy money when it comes to starting a business.
You won’t make $5000 every month with 30 minutes of work a day. You won’t receive $100,000 in your mailbox just by sending $5 to the first address on a list. Your “automated business-in-a-box” will not magically produce $1000/day while you sit on the beach sipping a cool drink.
The lure of easy money is hard to resist. There is certainly no shortage of biz ops, and no shortage of people who are willing to try them. That’s a good thing in many ways, to be open to trying new things… but it can also be dangerous: you could end up in the situation where you jump from one biz op to another, in an endless quest for something easier, faster, or potentially more rewarding.
I once “spoke” through email with a very bright guy who has been operating his own successful offline business for over 10 years. He wanted a change, and so he came onto the Internet looking for the perfect opportunity.
Well, he found several that appeared to be perfect. None of them were — he found that out the hard way, after spending several thousands of dollars over the last 3 years. It just goes to show that no one is completely immune to endless get-rich-quick claims, regardless of how experienced or educated he is.
There seems to be some sort of belief — especially with people who are new to the Internet — that joining a business opportunity is the only way to make money online. It’s no wonder, then, that so many biz ops have sprung up to fill the demand. But whatever happened to creating a product or service of your own?
Starting a business online is financially very affordable, when you compare it to the traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ business. What makes people so willing to shell out several hundreds of dollars for a ‘biz op’, but equally unwilling to spend the same money creating and building a business of their own making?
Remember that ‘biz ops’, no matter how wonderful they may seem, aren’t a magic bullet. A business is a business, and they all require time, commitment, hard work, and plenty of determination. Biz ops are no different: in amongst the scams there are legitimate opportunities — but there’s no such thing as a “perfect” opportunity that’s going to be right for everyone.
So if you’ve been doing the ‘biz op tango’… consider sitting down with a pencil and notepad — and doing some good, old-fashioned brainstorming. You just might discover your ideal business!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Online Business Basics website offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the ‘net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.
Small business owners sometimes lament over the fact that they don’t have a million-dollar marketing budget. While we’ve all thought about how much easier things would be if we had unlimited funds, it’s still possible to earn a decent profit with the right marketing plan. Thousands of home business owners can attest to their success at building a profitable business on a ‘shoestring’ budget.
However, making a few mistakes can just as easily lose you a nice chunk of cash. Are you making these common mistakes?
1. Trying to market to as wide an audience as possible.
You can’t be everything to everyone, no matter how hard you try.
Who did you originally create your product for? Assuming you did your research and know that there’s a demand for your product, then you also know who your audience is. Focus your efforts on reaching these people and showing them how your product or service will benefit them. Don’t worry about pleasing everyone else.
2. Focusing too much on you or your company.
How many times have you seen a site that says something like, “We’re an established, 100-year company listed on the NASDAQ with over 10 billion dollars in sales, powered by our cutting-edge, state-of-the-art blah-blah-blah technology…”
*Yawn*. So what? As a prospect, I don’t care. I want to know how your product or service is going to benefit ME.
Focus on your customer. All the details about you and your company should be background information, not the focus of your marketing efforts.
3. Sticking with a marketing strategy that doesn’t work.
Don’t get caught up in the idea that ‘things will get better’ if you’re not seeing results with your current marketing strategy. If you do the same things, you can expect the same results. If you’ve put in an honest effort and it’s simply not giving you the results you’re looking for, then it’s time to try something else.
4. Changing or discarding a strategy that works.
It’s easy to feel ‘bored’ with the same old thing… but if you have a winning marketing strategy that consistently gives results, then why change it?
The desire for ‘something new’ isn’t a good reason to discard a great strategy. Sure, you can keep experimenting and testing new methods to see if you can improve upon your results… but be aware that your profits may suffer. Be sure to keep backups of all your marketing materials; if your new strategy doesn’t work, you can always go back to the old one.
5. Inconsistent or no follow-ups.
Although some people buy on impulse, many prefer to think things over first. There can be any number of reasons why a prospect doesn’t buy right away: money’s tight at the time, they have other pressing concerns, they were distracted before they could purchase… whatever the reason, be sure to follow up with your prospects. You’ll be much more likely to catch them at a time that they’re ready to buy.
6. Taking a passive, rather than pro-active role.
Sitting back and waiting for money to fall into your lap just isn’t going to work — no matter how ‘automated’ your business is, or how wonderful your product. Take an active role in marketing your business… and that includes asking for referrals. Let your customers know that you’ll do what you can make them happy, and ask them to pass along your URL to others who may be interested.
7. Expecting prospects to do too much.
Don’t you just hate visiting a site, only to find that you either have to call for more information, or fill out a nosy form with lots of personal information so that the business can call you? Most people don’t want to risk a high-pressure sales call, so they won’t bother.
It’s intrusive and can be time-consuming. Give your prospect the *option* of getting the information they want from the web, without having to speak directly to someone. Your phone number can be displayed as well, for those who prefer to talk to you or your staff in person.
That’s not to say that asking for personal information — or expecting a phone call — is inappropriate for all businesses, of course. But in general, if you want people to stick around, make it easy for them.
8. Assuming that visitors know what to do.
I remember visiting one particular site not too long ago. I read the sales pitch and browsed the site… only to find a telephone number and a small form with a place for my email address. Confused, I thought, ‘Am I supposed to call to order? What does the form do? Is it a newsletter signup box or is it an ordering form? How do I place an order?’
That site lost my sale, because there weren’t any clear instructions. Tell your visitors what you would like them to do, and make the process as simple as possible.
9. Trying to do everything for free — or not enough.
Many beginners try every free promotion method they can find. Others think that free promotions are useless, so they shell out large amounts of cash on what they believe are “effective” marketing methods.
* ‘Free’ isn’t a ‘bargain’ if you don’t get results.
* Throwing money at marketing isn’t going to make your campaign a success.
There are plenty of excellent free or low-cost methods of promoting your business, and many methods that require a larger investment. Both provide excellent opportunities. The goal is to market your business using techniques that give you the largest return for your investment. And if it’s free? So much the better; you’ll reap larger profits!
10. Basing your marketing plan solely on assumptions or advice.
One common mistake is to do exactly what your competitors are doing. But just because they’re doing something does not necessarily mean it’s working! You could be copying a failing strategy.
There are countless marketing tips and many ‘gurus’. Each one can only let you know what has worked for him or her. However, no matter how many people it’s worked for, there is no guarantee that their strategies will work for you also. Studying as much of this material as you can will allow you to test and develop *your own* effective strategies — those that directly bring results for your particular business.
Test everything you do. Your customers will ‘vote’ on the effectiveness of your marketing by making a purchase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Online Business Basics website offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the ‘net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.
Starting any business takes a lot of hard work and determination. But most importantly, it takes determined FAITH. Faith in God and your ability to trust him.
Perhaps the most challenging part of reaching for risky goals and lofty ambitions is the period of wait; something our society, these days, want nothing to do with. But, no matter how many gadgets and gizmos we create to enhance our addition to instant gratification, some things we will just have to wait for and improve through.
I found a great and fun example of someone who used their creativity to liven up an “In the meantime” moment, all of us who have flown, dread!
We all have these moments whether on a plane or in our lives, careers, and businesses. This gentleman got creative with his period of wait and in doing so made the waiting period of others more enjoyable as well. If you find yourself “In the meantime”, what do you do to cope with the space between planting seeds of hard work and the season of success harvest? In other words, are you impatient? Does your soul dampen and get discouraged when it seems all your work has been in vain?
Be faithful in your waiting periods and use the time to perfect and plan for when your success flight takes off. You can avoid any unnecessary strife when you realize your success is in progress!
Well, while human cloning isn’t legal, I have the next best thing…An Online Business Manager! What is that you ask?
Well its kind of like a Virtual Assistant on steroids! If you aren’t familiar with the term virtual assistant, here’s a recap.
Wiki definition: A Virtual Assistant (typically abbreviated to VA, also called a virtual office assistant) is an entrepreneur who provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from a home office.They usually work for other small businesses, brokers and consultancy groups.
The term Online Business Manager or OBM is so new, it doesn’t have a Wiki definition yet. However, an OBM essentially provides services that free the business owners time. But, also performs services from a marking mind set that proactively looks for ways to generate passive income streams for the business owner.
A VA typically acts as an off site administrative assistant that handles assigned administrative and management tasks-what I like to call static support. (Although, some VAs may work in a growth oriented approach as well).
The Difference:
An OBM delivers solutions from a marketing mindset or what I like to call “Growth Oriented Support”. We look at ways to improve and support your existing processes as well as create multiple paths to money!
An OBM will often manage a team of VAs as well as work with employees of a business to carry out objectives and improve the overall bottom line!
Compensation:
So, how much does it cost to hire an OBM, you ask? Compensation will vary from depending on the service provider. However, OBMs typically bill in one of two ways:
1. Hourly based retainers: This would be a predetermined price assigned to a certain amount of hours each month.
2. Incentive based or “pay for performance”: This is a fairly new and exciting concept that pays an OBM a percentage of sales from projects they develop or help market in some way to generate revenue. They typically lower their standard hourly rate considerably. This allows you the option of getting much needed help to support and grow your business at an affordable rate while rewarding your OBM for their hard work. Its a win, win!
I’ll share more about the tantalizing services of an Online Business Manager. but for now, I’ll leave you by referring you to become a Facebook fan. And-while you’re there, be sure to grab a FREE copy of my e-book “101 Ways to Use an Online Business Manager” http://bit.ly/free_eBook to learn more.
PS. For a directory of Online Business Managers to choose from, check out
http://www.obmconnect.com/hire/ and submit a RFP.
The experts tell you to write down goals. Then they tell you how they will “magically” come about through the “Attraction Factor” or some other nonsense.
What about when it doesn’t work?
Very few people reach all their goals using the “normal” system. If you’re one of the .001% who always seems to hit all your goals, I’m not talking to you. You’re an amazing dedicated individual who has more motivation than I can even understand.
What about us normal mortals? Let’s cut to the chase. If you’re like me, setting and reaching goals doesn’t always work.
Here’s the problem. Most products that talk about how you can just attract your intentions are so superficial. They don’t discuss the whole subject…and it simply doesn’t work for most people.
If you want success and to reach your goals, you have to add additional steps and action to the plan.
And more than that…in my own life I’ve often much better success by taking the shortcut. Instead of just reaching for goals, I take a different route.
I decide the life I want. Then I figure out everything that’s in the way of that…and start removing each and every item out of the way to create the perfect life.
And I’ve found this much more successful for me since “goals” rarely motivate me. All people have two motivations: pleasure and pain. You want pleasure and you want to avoid pain. Goals are based on the pleasure motivation, but if you’ve done any copywriting you know that pain is often much more motivating.
Which one is easier to sell…prevention or a cure? The cure is. People who are in pain will pay anything to get out of pain.
So I put together a much more motivating way to reach my goals involving this shortcut. And no, it doesn’t cause any pain – it motivates you by removing the pain that’s in your life right now.
I shared my whole system in a teleconference with my coaching clients. Now I’m releasing the full audio of that teleconference along with the the transcript and action guides.
This product includes Master Reprint Rights so you can sell it yourself and keep all the money…even using my entire sales letter. Or you can sell it through my affiliate program for 100% commissions at http://www.mymarketingcoach.com/affiliates.html
FOR THE EYES OF THE SERIOUS MINDED WEBPRENEUR ONLY!
Okay, I’m a nerd for the net, so you don’t have to be. I am all about sharing jewels that I find online with you! So, without further adieau, here is a unique opportunity to get an ‘over the shoulder’ peek at how to grow an online business.
Terry Dean is a successful webpreneur who runs a multiple stream online business. He has a FREE intern program that I think is just a phenomenal concept.
I learned about Terry after subscribing to Steve Little’s ThePerfectbizFinder report. Both of these guys are just powerhouses of “useful” information. I mean you actually look forward to their e-mails.
Anyway, you absolutely need to at least check out the details at http://www.freeintern.com/ . If you are looking for the inside scoop on how to get your online endeavor movin’, without being nickel and dimed to death by other offers, you gotta check this out!
Past history has shown that it’s not necessarily the companies with the snazziest websites that do well, or even the companies with the most money. The ‘small guys’ — that is, Internet home businesses typically run by 1 or 2 people — may not make the news like the big ‘dot-coms’, but there are many who quietly and steadily continue to turn a profit, even while big companies report huge losses or go out of business entirely.
So what’s the secret? Here are a few tips from small but successful ‘netrepreneurs’ on how to build a thriving online business:
1. Find a niche with a demand.
Select a specific market to which you can offer unique products or services. You can’t be everything to everyone, and trying to offer a giant selection of goods to a huge and generalized market is the route to frustration, disappointment, and even failure. We can’t all be Wal-Marts!
As a small business, focus on a promising niche market and work hard to offer them the products and services they want.
2. Care about the quality of your product or service.
Sell only what you would be proud to sell to your family and friends, and insist upon consistently high quality. This will help to encourage referrals and repeat business — both powerful ways to keep the profits rolling.
3. Be smart and frugal.
Avoid unnecessary expenses, and be particularly vigilant when you’re first getting started. One of the nice things about doing business online is that it’s possible to begin earning an income while operating on a shoestring budget. Try to minimize expenses. Once your business is pulling in profits, you can reinvest part of it back into marketing and expansion.
4. Focus on marketing strategies that return the most profit for your dollar.
One of the biggest myths beginners face is that people will flock to your site once it’s built. However, there are literally billions of web pages available, and every business has to find ways to attract their target audience to their little corner of the web. Track the success of each of your marketing campaigns. Drop those that don’t work, and focus on those that yield the best results.
5. Provide the best customer service that you can.
Fast, helpful replies to inquiries and requests for assistance help to create and keep happy customers. This is particularly true of the Internet, where people have come to expect ‘instant’ responses. Genuinely helpful answers also help to ensure customers feel as if they’re *people*, and not just another generic, faceless entity in cyberspace. Treat customers as you would like to be treated.
6. Build your business slowly but surely.
Instead of attempting to build your business into an overnight success, strive for gradual but steady expansion. Small businesses operating on tight budgets generally cannot afford to throw a pile of money into a marketing campaign that’s ‘hit-and-miss’. Instead, they find out what works, then build upon their successes.
7. Create multiple streams of income.
Your business can continue it’s growth by branching out to offer a variety of products or services. For example, an online business may earn income from sales of its own primary product or service, sales of website or newsletter advertising, and commissions from affiliate programs. Start with one income stream and gradually add to it when you have the resources to do so.
Multiple streams of income will also help to ‘buffer’ your business against income fluctuations. While one product or service may experience a downturn in sales, the others may not. Similarly, if it turns out that one income stream disappears (for example, an affiliate program shuts down), then you can fall back on your other products and services.
8. Work together.
Use the Internet to find like-minded entrepreneurs. Develop mutually beneficial working relationships with carefully selected businesses. This will provide you with the opportunity to cross-promote your products and services, as well as give and share advice. A strong support network can help to build your own business as well as the complementary businesses with whom you choose to partner.
9. Keep educating yourself.
What works online today may not work quite as well tomorrow. Invest in continuing your marketing education and put what you learn to good use. You don’t want your business to simply ‘survive’ online; you want it to thrive!
10. Enjoy what you do.
If you don’t, then business will only be a chore, not a pleasure. Being passionate about what you do will give you that extra energy and desire to build a business that continues to offer your customers quality products and services — while earning a profit.
This article may be reprinted on your website or in your opt-in newsletter, provided that it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification, and the following resource box is left intact:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Online Business Basics website offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the ‘net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.
With billions of web pages and countless email messages — a good percentage of which are spam — building a successful business on the Internet is hard work. Many entrepreneurs seek to create a ‘full-time’ income (whatever that may mean to each individual) yet find that making just a few sales is still a struggle.
Have you ever looked at your online earnings and wished you could do better? If so, then it’s time for a change. Doing the same things will give the same results! Here are just a few suggestions for building your online business:
1. Give your website and/or sales letter a makeover. For example, some sites offer lots of free content, as a way to help people while building credibility. Others are much more direct: the entire website consists of a single sales letter. Many argue that these ‘mini-sites’ are far more effective in generating sales because they don’t have any distractions – the visitor can focus on what you have to say. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your content site … but consider creating a mini-site to help drive sales.
As for the sales letter, if copywriting isn’t your strength, then hire someone to do it for you. Sure, it costs money — but a good sales letter can pay for itself many times over.
Things don’t stay the same online for very long! Don’t be afraid to experiment. Just remember to keep backups so that you can always revert to the old version if your experiment doesn’t produce the results you want.
2. Don’t forget about the ‘real world’. There’s life outside of cyberspace! Many people prefer to be contacted by postal mail. Email has become so clogged with spam that it can be very difficult to get people to read (or even SEE) your message! Ideas on how to promote your business offline are available at http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/articles/checklist3.html
3. Evaluate your income stream. How stable is your income? Are you protected against income fluctuations? Will you be okay if one of your income streams disappears, and how long will it take to recover?
You can also ‘widen’ your income stream by creating additional sources of revenue. For example, someone who sells a cookbook or recipes can also offer their services as a ‘menu planner’: working within a set of guidelines (time, budget, cooking skills, dietary restrictions…), the menu planner can create ‘custom’ recipes for her customers. Whatever you choose to do, find other opportunities to add to your bottom line.
4. Read, read, read. Education never stops! There’s always something new to learn, and even one golden nugget of information or inspiration could be responsible for a significant boost in your business!
There are countless manuals available to show you how to market your business… but realistically, you only have a limited amount of time you can devote to really reading and absorbing the information. You might choose to purchase a number of manuals, but select one of them and resolve to seriously study the material — then take action on what you learn.
5. Try to turn customers into *repeat* customers. What ideas do you have for a complementary product? It’s easier to sell to a happy customer than it is to sell to someone who’s never had any experience with your products before. Let your existing customers know about your new products.
If you sell services, be sure to touch base with your customers every so often — remind them that you’re still around and available for work. You can even offer incentives or discounts for the next time they use your services.
Keeping customers happy is obviously important if you’re planning on building a viable long-term business. Happy customers can turn into both repeat customers as well as a source of referral business. But no matter how hard you try, you will never make everyone happy — so don’t fall into the trap of spending so much time and effort with one customer that you alienate or ignore the rest.
6. Form new partnerships in areas you’ve never considered before. Perhaps you’ve always targeted a certain type of business with which to form joint ventures. For example, someone who sells a fitness tape might have always approached weight-loss sites with partnership proposals.
Instead, try to think of other markets that could also use your product. In the above example, new moms who are trying to become active again might appreciate a fitness tape. Or how about stressed-out corporate ‘worker bees’ who need a way to relax?
7. Build for the future. How can you attract more customers? Is your customer service up to par? How can you use your current customer base to expand your profits? Concentrate on methods that allow you to build a business relationship with your customers — a common example is to publish a quality newsletter to help you stay in touch, build credibility, and help to keep your business near the forefront of your readers’ thoughts.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Keep working towards your business goals, little by little. It’s the only way to get there!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Online Business Basics website offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the ‘net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.
By The Online Business Basics
