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Can A Blog As Main Web Presence Of A Business Be Taken Seriously?
A startup photographer wants to market his business on the Web. But he's got a limited budget, and would prefer to create a web presence as cheaply as possible (free even better). So he's looking at the option of creating an account with the free Blogger.com.His main question is: Will potential clients take his business seriously if his main Web presence is just a blog?Blogs have come a long way, and are now an accepted format on the Web. However, whether a blog is the right platform for selling his photography service is the big question mark.I told him that the first step should be to determine the purpose of having a Web presence. He said he wanted to be on the Web to help him market his business, get leads for his business, and use the Web site as a showcase of his photography style and quality.Blogs are good for narrative, opinion-driven and information-type web sites. However, I do believe that it cannot properly showcase a photography business.As a photographer, an important decision factor for potential clients is the quality of work, and that is often achieved by having a clean, easy-to-access presentation of the pictures. What I imagine -- and often see in photographers' websites -- is a gallery style layout of picture thumbnails categorized by topic or style. This is something a properly designed website can easily do, allowing for quick navigation where users can click from one photo to the next easily.Blogs may be cheap, but it is much more difficult to navigate. You can't do a gallery style with 20 pictures on the page. Instead, you'll have 1 photo per blog post, or 20 photos lined down. Blogs are good if you are narrating stories behind the photo, but not really to present a big portfolio.Then of course, there's the issue of long domain names. I told him that if he will go with Blogger, make sure that he buys a domain name as he can use that domain to redirect his blog. Instead of thisismyblog.blogspot.com, which doesn't look as professional as he'd hope to be and hard to remember, he can publish his blog into that domain name without getting a web host through the custom domain feature.Still feeling conflicted, I told him that his web site or blog will be the "face" of his business on the Web. He needs to think of his customers and what can make them patronize his services. He doesn't need to make it so high tech and pay $100,000 to develop his Web presence, but it needs to be easy to use and can properly showcase his work. For me, a Web site is more professional, better usability and allows for more functionality such as order forms and running of scripts for payment acceptance.How about you: do you think he should go for just a blog or have a Web site? Let me know your thoughts.
A startup photographer wants to market his business on the Web. But he's got a limited budget, and would prefer to create a web presence as cheaply as possible (free even better). So he's looking at the option of creating an account with the free Blogger.com.His main question is: Will potential clients take his business seriously if his main Web presence is just a blog?Blogs have come a long way, and are now an accepted format on the Web. However, whether a blog is the right platform for selling his photography service is the big question mark.I told him that the first step should be to determine the purpose of having a Web presence. He said he wanted to be on the Web to help him market his business, get leads for his business, and use the Web site as a showcase of his photography style and quality.Blogs are good for narrative, opinion-driven and information-type web sites. However, I do believe that it cannot properly showcase a photography business.As a photographer, an important decision factor for potential clients is the quality of work, and that is often achieved by having a clean, easy-to-access presentation of the pictures. What I imagine -- and often see in photographers' websites -- is a gallery style layout of picture thumbnails categorized by topic or style. This is something a properly designed website can easily do, allowing for quick navigation where users can click from one photo to the next easily.Blogs may be cheap, but it is much more difficult to navigate. You can't do a gallery style with 20 pictures on the page. Instead, you'll have 1 photo per blog post, or 20 photos lined down. Blogs are good if you are narrating stories behind the photo, but not really to present a big portfolio.Then of course, there's the issue of long domain names. I told him that if he will go with Blogger, make sure that he buys a domain name as he can use that domain to redirect his blog. Instead of thisismyblog.blogspot.com, which doesn't look as professional as he'd hope to be and hard to remember, he can publish his blog into that domain name without getting a web host through the custom domain feature.Still feeling conflicted, I told him that his web site or blog will be the "face" of his business on the Web. He needs to think of his customers and what can make them patronize his services. He doesn't need to make it so high tech and pay $100,000 to develop his Web presence, but it needs to be easy to use and can properly showcase his work. For me, a Web site is more professional, better usability and allows for more functionality such as order forms and running of scripts for payment acceptance.How about you: do you think he should go for just a blog or have a Web site? Let me know your thoughts.
Paying Surveys Are The Ticket
Take paying surveys today for cash. No cost, no hassle, never any fees. Just apply to join Survey Strategy's survey panel and if you qualify you will receive immediate surveys that will pay you up to $150 today. Then receive surveys from us everyday that pay you for your honest opinions and time. See for yourself how easy it is. See if you qualify! Click herehttp://www.cashforsurveys.com/visit.php?8
Take paying surveys today for cash. No cost, no hassle, never any fees. Just apply to join Survey Strategy's survey panel and if you qualify you will receive immediate surveys that will pay you up to $150 today. Then receive surveys from us everyday that pay you for your honest opinions and time. See for yourself how easy it is. See if you qualify! Click herehttp://www.cashforsurveys.com/visit.php?8
Can Your Business Make A Lot Of Money?
When starting a business, our first thought is often: Can I make money with this business?I previously wrote about how to evaluate a business idea in the article Evaluating Your Business Idea and Product . The article lists some helpful questions you need to ask yourself when thinking of what products or services to offer.But how can you quickly tell if thereâs a demand for your business idea? The first step is simple: OBSERVE.Take time out and go to the mall, or a park where a lot of people congregate. And observe the whats and the hows of their activities.In one mall visit for example, two things stood out for me. One, almost everyone has a cellphone (or smartphone) and many can be seen talking on the phone, texting or checking their emails. Two, thereâs a lot of baby boomers and older people walking about, shopping or just hanging out in the mall. This observation tells me that thereâs a huge mobile market, and that catering to baby boomers can assure business owners of a sizeable customer base.Letâs use as an example a question asked by someone from Yahoo Answers. He asked if he can make a lot of money tinting windows, both of houses and cars.I advised him to go out and observe. Walk around the neighborhood, or drive to nearby areas, and count how many windows of homes have been tinted. Or sit down in a bench by the busy street and count the number of cars that drive past with tinted windows.In my walks around my neighborhood, for example, rare are the houses with tinted windows and those Iâve seen are for their sunrooms. This tells me either two things: thereâs a big market for a window tinting business; or that there is no demand for such a service.The second step is to ASK.He needs to talk to the neighbors and ask them why their windows are not tinted. Have they ever considered tinting their windows? Do they know the benefits of tinting the windows? If the answer is because they think that tinting windows is not important or necessary, then heâll have a hard time getting customers for his new business.While it is good to hire a market research company and scientifically poll thousands of respondents, home business owners can do well by simply keeping their eyes and ears on their target market.
When starting a business, our first thought is often: Can I make money with this business?I previously wrote about how to evaluate a business idea in the article Evaluating Your Business Idea and Product . The article lists some helpful questions you need to ask yourself when thinking of what products or services to offer.But how can you quickly tell if thereâs a demand for your business idea? The first step is simple: OBSERVE.Take time out and go to the mall, or a park where a lot of people congregate. And observe the whats and the hows of their activities.In one mall visit for example, two things stood out for me. One, almost everyone has a cellphone (or smartphone) and many can be seen talking on the phone, texting or checking their emails. Two, thereâs a lot of baby boomers and older people walking about, shopping or just hanging out in the mall. This observation tells me that thereâs a huge mobile market, and that catering to baby boomers can assure business owners of a sizeable customer base.Letâs use as an example a question asked by someone from Yahoo Answers. He asked if he can make a lot of money tinting windows, both of houses and cars.I advised him to go out and observe. Walk around the neighborhood, or drive to nearby areas, and count how many windows of homes have been tinted. Or sit down in a bench by the busy street and count the number of cars that drive past with tinted windows.In my walks around my neighborhood, for example, rare are the houses with tinted windows and those Iâve seen are for their sunrooms. This tells me either two things: thereâs a big market for a window tinting business; or that there is no demand for such a service.The second step is to ASK.He needs to talk to the neighbors and ask them why their windows are not tinted. Have they ever considered tinting their windows? Do they know the benefits of tinting the windows? If the answer is because they think that tinting windows is not important or necessary, then heâll have a hard time getting customers for his new business.While it is good to hire a market research company and scientifically poll thousands of respondents, home business owners can do well by simply keeping their eyes and ears on their target market.
How To Start A Computer Repair Business (PowerHomeBiz.com)
If you have a passion for working with computers and have the technical knowhow to make it work and trouble shoot problems, you may want to consider starting you own computer repair business.With computers now an integral and commonplace equipment in both businesses and homes, computer repair is one of the fastest growing industries today. Add to that the fact that there are a lot of individuals and even businesses who don't have the skills, manpower, time or desire to repair or install upgrades in their own computers.Some of the common services you may want to offer in your computer repair business include:Spyware and malware removalVirus removal and cleanup Windows installationRecovering a unbootable computerSetting up of hardware and supportUpgrading and replacing broken hardware Repairing Macs (huge demand especially in the residential market)Networking, including printer sharingSetting up and troubleshooting software Training and consultingMost of those who start a computer repair business start tinkering with computers as a hobby, and find that fixing computers are a challenge that is worth taking. However, in starting this business, you need to consider three important factors:willingness to dedicate time and effort to succeed in the businesscapital to jumpstart and run the businesstools to use for the business Just like any business, you need to define your target market and determine how to effectively reach them. Some possible target markets include:Small business owners, who more often than not do not have a dedicated employee for computer repair needs. Most of small businesses also would rather outsource the repair and maintenance of their computers rather than spend too much time away from their core business to do the repairs needed.Home business owners and one person businesses whose computers are extremely essential to the operation of their businessRetired baby boomers are another important possible target market for this business. Most of the old folks will not drive to town to get their computer fixed. Plus, many of them are not willing or do not have the technical know-how to do even simple fixes or installs. Some ways to market the business and reach your target market include (for more marketing and advertising ideas, visit PowerHomeBiz.com Marketing and Promoting a Small Business section):Direct mail campaign (e.g, check with your local county the list of new businesses)Flyers and postcards, including door hangersAdvertising in print media such as local papers, regional papers, national papers, business and trade magazineAdvertising in talk radio, including guesting spots talking about computersNetworking in organizations such as local chamber of commerce, board of trade, associations, community groups, etc.;Online presence including creating a presentation website and listing in local online directories and yellow pagesPR such as writing of press releases announcing your new businessEstablishing yourself as an expert by writing articles for a newspaper/magazine Participation, even sponsoring special community events Trade shows, association events, meetings, and free seminars.Part of the process involves knowing your competitors and understanding what will set your business apart from the competition. And you'll be up against the likes of Geek Squad and Geeks On Call Geek Squad, both of which have reasonably competent technicians and reasonable rates, backed by strong marketing campaigns. It might be useful to consider employment wit such companies first before venturing with your own computer repair business to understand and learn the demands of the business, the systems needed to run the business, get the know how as to who really needs the service and what types of services are most needed.For additional information, read the following books:Computer Repair Business Lessons Learned by Daniel HandHow to start and run your own computer repair business by Joe A. WisinskiStart Your Own Computer Business: Building a Successful PC Repair and Service Business by Supporting Customers and Managing Money by Morris Rosenthal and Reva RubensteinFor more business ideas, visit PowerHomeBiz.com Business Ideas for Your Small & Home Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/BizIdeas/bizideas.htm-------------------------------This is a PowerHomeBiz.com blog post. If you are reading this in a website other than PowerHomeBiz.com, then this post was stolen or used without permission. Go to PowerHomeBiz.com http://www.powerhomebiz.com to read the original post
If you have a passion for working with computers and have the technical knowhow to make it work and trouble shoot problems, you may want to consider starting you own computer repair business.With computers now an integral and commonplace equipment in both businesses and homes, computer repair is one of the fastest growing industries today. Add to that the fact that there are a lot of individuals and even businesses who don't have the skills, manpower, time or desire to repair or install upgrades in their own computers.Some of the common services you may want to offer in your computer repair business include:Spyware and malware removalVirus removal and cleanup Windows installationRecovering a unbootable computerSetting up of hardware and supportUpgrading and replacing broken hardware Repairing Macs (huge demand especially in the residential market)Networking, including printer sharingSetting up and troubleshooting software Training and consultingMost of those who start a computer repair business start tinkering with computers as a hobby, and find that fixing computers are a challenge that is worth taking. However, in starting this business, you need to consider three important factors:willingness to dedicate time and effort to succeed in the businesscapital to jumpstart and run the businesstools to use for the business Just like any business, you need to define your target market and determine how to effectively reach them. Some possible target markets include:Small business owners, who more often than not do not have a dedicated employee for computer repair needs. Most of small businesses also would rather outsource the repair and maintenance of their computers rather than spend too much time away from their core business to do the repairs needed.Home business owners and one person businesses whose computers are extremely essential to the operation of their businessRetired baby boomers are another important possible target market for this business. Most of the old folks will not drive to town to get their computer fixed. Plus, many of them are not willing or do not have the technical know-how to do even simple fixes or installs. Some ways to market the business and reach your target market include (for more marketing and advertising ideas, visit PowerHomeBiz.com Marketing and Promoting a Small Business section):Direct mail campaign (e.g, check with your local county the list of new businesses)Flyers and postcards, including door hangersAdvertising in print media such as local papers, regional papers, national papers, business and trade magazineAdvertising in talk radio, including guesting spots talking about computersNetworking in organizations such as local chamber of commerce, board of trade, associations, community groups, etc.;Online presence including creating a presentation website and listing in local online directories and yellow pagesPR such as writing of press releases announcing your new businessEstablishing yourself as an expert by writing articles for a newspaper/magazine Participation, even sponsoring special community events Trade shows, association events, meetings, and free seminars.Part of the process involves knowing your competitors and understanding what will set your business apart from the competition. And you'll be up against the likes of Geek Squad and Geeks On Call Geek Squad, both of which have reasonably competent technicians and reasonable rates, backed by strong marketing campaigns. It might be useful to consider employment wit such companies first before venturing with your own computer repair business to understand and learn the demands of the business, the systems needed to run the business, get the know how as to who really needs the service and what types of services are most needed.For additional information, read the following books:Computer Repair Business Lessons Learned by Daniel HandHow to start and run your own computer repair business by Joe A. WisinskiStart Your Own Computer Business: Building a Successful PC Repair and Service Business by Supporting Customers and Managing Money by Morris Rosenthal and Reva RubensteinFor more business ideas, visit PowerHomeBiz.com Business Ideas for Your Small & Home Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/BizIdeas/bizideas.htm-------------------------------This is a PowerHomeBiz.com blog post. If you are reading this in a website other than PowerHomeBiz.com, then this post was stolen or used without permission. Go to PowerHomeBiz.com http://www.powerhomebiz.com to read the original post
How To Earn From Your Videos
With the rapid growth of broadband, videos have become a vital part of the Web and watching videos on the Web have become much more commonplace. My 4-year old son, for example, is addicted to YouTube and watches videos of Bugatti and Ferrari cars.But if you're at the other end of the spectrum and loves to produce videos about your dogs or hilarious kids, a number of options are now available to help you get cash for your creations. Here are ways you can earn from your videos: 1. Put advertising on your videos. The best example is the Youtube Partner Program http://www.youtube.com/partners = requires that you must own the copyright of your videos and that these videos generate thousands of impressions. Other similar ad-based programs are:Revver http://revver.com/go/faq/#makingmoney1 = offers both CPM and CPC ads and splits the revenue 50/50 with the video content producerAtom.com (formerly AtomFilms) http://www.atom.com/creators/go_pro/ = payout to Pro Videos vary but could be $8 in revenue share for every 1,000 content plays. Focuses on funny and witty videos, and now allows video creators to have their work shown in Comedy Central TV show.BrightCove http://www.brightcove.com/products/advertising/ = inserts ads in the videos and provides syndication platform for video producers. 2. Be paid by number of views. Metacafe Producer Rewards program http://www.metacafe.com/producercentral/ is open to any creator of an original short video, and the payment system is simple and straightforward â $5 for every 1,000 views, starting at the 20,000 views mark. 3. Earn money by producing videos for others. TurnHere.com http://www.turnhere.com/ helps small local businesses produce professional looking videos for an average fee of $1,000 per video. If you don't think you can compete head-on with TurnHere.com, you can join them as a freelance video producer. 4. Sell your videos. Some of the sites that allow you to sell your videos are:Apple's iTunes Music Store http://www.apple.com/itunes/contentproviders/ requires tha you apply and be approved as a content provider Behemoth http://www.behemoth.com/ which targets Christian family audiencesSteamyo http://www.streamyo.com/ allows video producers to set the price of their videos 5. Get paid for responding to requests for specific types of videos. Videos submitted to CurrentTV.com http://current.com/make.htm are broadcast on the their web site, as well as on cable and satellite channels. There are two options to earn. The first is to submit a "pod" or a 7-minute video on pre-announced topics such as the hottest trends on the street to voting outside of mainland to the juiciest hooking up stories. Payment is negotiated per pod basis, and your video may be broadcast on television. The second option is to submit a video ad as dictated by the sponsor, and you get paid if the video is shown on the Current website or on another television station. 6. Sell videos on a royalty basis. iStockPhoto.com , well known for their subscription model in selling photos, has branched out to videos. After passing a rigid test, you can submit videos and earn as much as 40% of the royalties paid. CreateSpace.com http://www.createspace.com/ allows your videos to be sold on Amazon.com and you can earn royalties on every sale you make. 7. Sell your video on demand. If you are a more established video content producer and independent filmmaker, FlickRocket.com http://www.flickrocket.com/ offers a direct online VOD/rental and download-to-own/burn service. Jaman http://www.jaman.com/ and GreenCine http://www.greencine.com/ offers a venue for independent filmmakers to sell their films. For more detailed information, check out 8 Ways to Earn Money from Online Videos
With the rapid growth of broadband, videos have become a vital part of the Web and watching videos on the Web have become much more commonplace. My 4-year old son, for example, is addicted to YouTube and watches videos of Bugatti and Ferrari cars.But if you're at the other end of the spectrum and loves to produce videos about your dogs or hilarious kids, a number of options are now available to help you get cash for your creations. Here are ways you can earn from your videos: 1. Put advertising on your videos. The best example is the Youtube Partner Program http://www.youtube.com/partners = requires that you must own the copyright of your videos and that these videos generate thousands of impressions. Other similar ad-based programs are:Revver http://revver.com/go/faq/#makingmoney1 = offers both CPM and CPC ads and splits the revenue 50/50 with the video content producerAtom.com (formerly AtomFilms) http://www.atom.com/creators/go_pro/ = payout to Pro Videos vary but could be $8 in revenue share for every 1,000 content plays. Focuses on funny and witty videos, and now allows video creators to have their work shown in Comedy Central TV show.BrightCove http://www.brightcove.com/products/advertising/ = inserts ads in the videos and provides syndication platform for video producers. 2. Be paid by number of views. Metacafe Producer Rewards program http://www.metacafe.com/producercentral/ is open to any creator of an original short video, and the payment system is simple and straightforward â $5 for every 1,000 views, starting at the 20,000 views mark. 3. Earn money by producing videos for others. TurnHere.com http://www.turnhere.com/ helps small local businesses produce professional looking videos for an average fee of $1,000 per video. If you don't think you can compete head-on with TurnHere.com, you can join them as a freelance video producer. 4. Sell your videos. Some of the sites that allow you to sell your videos are:Apple's iTunes Music Store http://www.apple.com/itunes/contentproviders/ requires tha you apply and be approved as a content provider Behemoth http://www.behemoth.com/ which targets Christian family audiencesSteamyo http://www.streamyo.com/ allows video producers to set the price of their videos 5. Get paid for responding to requests for specific types of videos. Videos submitted to CurrentTV.com http://current.com/make.htm are broadcast on the their web site, as well as on cable and satellite channels. There are two options to earn. The first is to submit a "pod" or a 7-minute video on pre-announced topics such as the hottest trends on the street to voting outside of mainland to the juiciest hooking up stories. Payment is negotiated per pod basis, and your video may be broadcast on television. The second option is to submit a video ad as dictated by the sponsor, and you get paid if the video is shown on the Current website or on another television station. 6. Sell videos on a royalty basis. iStockPhoto.com , well known for their subscription model in selling photos, has branched out to videos. After passing a rigid test, you can submit videos and earn as much as 40% of the royalties paid. CreateSpace.com http://www.createspace.com/ allows your videos to be sold on Amazon.com and you can earn royalties on every sale you make. 7. Sell your video on demand. If you are a more established video content producer and independent filmmaker, FlickRocket.com http://www.flickrocket.com/ offers a direct online VOD/rental and download-to-own/burn service. Jaman http://www.jaman.com/ and GreenCine http://www.greencine.com/ offers a venue for independent filmmakers to sell their films. For more detailed information, check out 8 Ways to Earn Money from Online Videos
The Importance Of Accessibility Of Location To A Small Business
The owner of a company I recently featured in Learning from Big Boys in the blog post Lessons on Retailing: Demory's Christmas Memories contacted me through Facebook that after celebrating 10 years in business, he had to announce that the business is for sale.Their Christmas business operated one store in Maryland. They have a web presence, but more of a very simple (even amateurish-looking) Web site that merely advertises the store. They do not use the Web as an additional sales channel.After 10 years of doing good business in their Hagertown, Maryland location, fate gave them a low blow last year.A one-lane bridge near the store was closed in August 2008 for repairs, detouring traffic. The bridge closure dramatically reduced the number of cars passing their road. With fewer cars, their sales plummeted. Even Quiznos in the same area complained in a news article that their sales were down 50% because of the bridge closure.The business has fought the county on getting a temporary bridge put in to at least ensure the continuous flow of traffic. The state actually approved it but the County Commisioners voted it down. And what could be worse than a Christmas store not being accessible in the months leading to the Christmas season?The bridge reopened on Dec. 21, 2008 but by then the damage to the business has been done. Sales dropped and cashflow became so tight. They explored the option of moving the store to another location, but they were not able to secure financing. Unable to run the store any longer, the owners then decided to sell their well establised Christmas store.I have not seen the financials of the business, so I am not really privy to what went down. But one area that they should have pursued was to use the Web to sell their products. They should have opened an ecommerce store that allow them to sell to a wider customer base. Given this day and age of shopping online, failure to tap the Web as a selling channel can be huge kiss of death. Even with the reduced foot traffic, they could have maintained their sales through their ecommerce store.But now the business is for sale. It's sad that a once-successful business suddenly found itself with hardly any customers because their location became inaccessible.What could they have done to save the store?
The owner of a company I recently featured in Learning from Big Boys in the blog post Lessons on Retailing: Demory's Christmas Memories contacted me through Facebook that after celebrating 10 years in business, he had to announce that the business is for sale.Their Christmas business operated one store in Maryland. They have a web presence, but more of a very simple (even amateurish-looking) Web site that merely advertises the store. They do not use the Web as an additional sales channel.After 10 years of doing good business in their Hagertown, Maryland location, fate gave them a low blow last year.A one-lane bridge near the store was closed in August 2008 for repairs, detouring traffic. The bridge closure dramatically reduced the number of cars passing their road. With fewer cars, their sales plummeted. Even Quiznos in the same area complained in a news article that their sales were down 50% because of the bridge closure.The business has fought the county on getting a temporary bridge put in to at least ensure the continuous flow of traffic. The state actually approved it but the County Commisioners voted it down. And what could be worse than a Christmas store not being accessible in the months leading to the Christmas season?The bridge reopened on Dec. 21, 2008 but by then the damage to the business has been done. Sales dropped and cashflow became so tight. They explored the option of moving the store to another location, but they were not able to secure financing. Unable to run the store any longer, the owners then decided to sell their well establised Christmas store.I have not seen the financials of the business, so I am not really privy to what went down. But one area that they should have pursued was to use the Web to sell their products. They should have opened an ecommerce store that allow them to sell to a wider customer base. Given this day and age of shopping online, failure to tap the Web as a selling channel can be huge kiss of death. Even with the reduced foot traffic, they could have maintained their sales through their ecommerce store.But now the business is for sale. It's sad that a once-successful business suddenly found itself with hardly any customers because their location became inaccessible.What could they have done to save the store?
Online Surveys That Pay Updated Sat Jun 6 2009 2:28 Am CDT
Taking surveys is an excellent way to make a little extra money. It doesn't require any additional outlay of cash when you already own or have access to a computer. Most appealing for me, as a stay at home mom, is that you can work on your own time, whenever you have a few minutes to spare for it. Don't expect to be able to make a living at this, and be suspicious of any person or site implying you can, but if you're looking for a legitimate way to earn extra cash, this is a great option for many. Here are my best free online survey sites for earning cash, amazon gift certificates, and more.
Taking surveys is an excellent way to make a little extra money. It doesn't require any additional outlay of cash when you already own or have access to a computer. Most appealing for me, as a stay at home mom, is that you can work on your own time, whenever you have a few minutes to spare for it. Don't expect to be able to make a living at this, and be suspicious of any person or site implying you can, but if you're looking for a legitimate way to earn extra cash, this is a great option for many. Here are my best free online survey sites for earning cash, amazon gift certificates, and more.
Tips To Successfully Run A Home Business
Feeling a bit melancholic that all my favorite shows have ended their seasons (9 months till "Lost"!), I started to think about what I will do differently if I were to start my home business today.My husband and I started PowerHomeBiz.com in 1999, and a decade on the Web has taught me a lot in terms of what to do (and what not to do) when running a home-based business. Here are some in my list:Decide what you do best, and focus on it. For other things you can do marginally, consider hiring others to free up your time to do what you do best. If you are concerned about the cost of outsourcing or hiring outside help, calculate how much time it will take you to do the task yourself (and the opportunity cost of foregoing things you should be doing), and see which option makes the most sense.Little kids and a home-based business are very hard to mix. Either you decide to work only when the entire household is sleeping (that means no sleep for you!); or you hire a babysitter or nanny during the day to watch the kids while you work.Sit down and make every effort to understand your business financials. Not only is the knowledge important come tax time, you can achieve your business goals faster if you know where you stand financially.Understand your cost structure. You can only price your products well if you know what it costs to produce them.You need to be very good in managing your time when running a home-based business. Otherwise, you'll often end up wondering where did time go when the day is over and you've accomplished nothing.Don't be ashamed to say that you run a home-based business. Other people might sneer at you for being "too small time", but they don't know that you earn 5x more than they do!Create a dedicated space for working in your home, and it must be a place that is convenient to you and suitable for your work habits. Even if you consider yourself the smartest cookie in the block, there is much to learn from other people. Participate in forums and even social network sites. Talk to other business owners and network. Be out there and trumpet your business. Even home-based businesses can build its brand.Do not ignore the social media. Participate in Twitter. Create a Facebook profile for your business. Submit content to StumbleUpon and Digg. But be sure to separate your business from your personal accounts.Learn how to chill out and take a break from work. Discipline yourself to stop checking emails while eating dinner with your family. And do not put your laptop in your night stand so you can check emails at 2 a.m.Relax and have fun. You are working from home so you can be free from the rigorous demands and timetable of a corporate environment. Take a break from work and enjoy life at home. Hurry up with work so you can live your life -- talking a walk with your dog, having ice cream with your kid, or watching your boy play tball.
Feeling a bit melancholic that all my favorite shows have ended their seasons (9 months till "Lost"!), I started to think about what I will do differently if I were to start my home business today.My husband and I started PowerHomeBiz.com in 1999, and a decade on the Web has taught me a lot in terms of what to do (and what not to do) when running a home-based business. Here are some in my list:Decide what you do best, and focus on it. For other things you can do marginally, consider hiring others to free up your time to do what you do best. If you are concerned about the cost of outsourcing or hiring outside help, calculate how much time it will take you to do the task yourself (and the opportunity cost of foregoing things you should be doing), and see which option makes the most sense.Little kids and a home-based business are very hard to mix. Either you decide to work only when the entire household is sleeping (that means no sleep for you!); or you hire a babysitter or nanny during the day to watch the kids while you work.Sit down and make every effort to understand your business financials. Not only is the knowledge important come tax time, you can achieve your business goals faster if you know where you stand financially.Understand your cost structure. You can only price your products well if you know what it costs to produce them.You need to be very good in managing your time when running a home-based business. Otherwise, you'll often end up wondering where did time go when the day is over and you've accomplished nothing.Don't be ashamed to say that you run a home-based business. Other people might sneer at you for being "too small time", but they don't know that you earn 5x more than they do!Create a dedicated space for working in your home, and it must be a place that is convenient to you and suitable for your work habits. Even if you consider yourself the smartest cookie in the block, there is much to learn from other people. Participate in forums and even social network sites. Talk to other business owners and network. Be out there and trumpet your business. Even home-based businesses can build its brand.Do not ignore the social media. Participate in Twitter. Create a Facebook profile for your business. Submit content to StumbleUpon and Digg. But be sure to separate your business from your personal accounts.Learn how to chill out and take a break from work. Discipline yourself to stop checking emails while eating dinner with your family. And do not put your laptop in your night stand so you can check emails at 2 a.m.Relax and have fun. You are working from home so you can be free from the rigorous demands and timetable of a corporate environment. Take a break from work and enjoy life at home. Hurry up with work so you can live your life -- talking a walk with your dog, having ice cream with your kid, or watching your boy play tball.
Starting A Business In A Recession
Many people are scared of starting a business during a recession. Times are tough, and people are not spending -- which makes the idea of starting a business in a downturn even more daunting.But an economic downturn shouldn't stop you from pursuing your business endeavors. As they say, the right time to start business is when you have a great idea, recession or not. With the right business idea, where your product or service will benefit customers both in good and bad times, you can beat the odds and succeed even in an economic downturn.The key is to look long and hard at your business idea to see if this is a business where a market truly exists. Afterall, with a recession comes the tightening of purse strings not just from customers but bankers and investors alike. That means starting the business lean, and well, possibly even with your own money.Here are some types of businesses that thrive and stand a better chance of survival during economic downturns: 1. Must have products and services. Food is one business that remain strong during a recession. Afterall, people will still need to eat and drink no matter how bad the economy, though many will be cutting dining out and instead stay at home and cook!And guess what, demand for cosmetics remain strong even when times are tough! Demand for cosmetics seem recession proof as women continue to indulge themselves by buying lipsticks and powders. Ask any woman on the street if they will forego wearing a lipstick and you might get dagger stares everywhere. There's even an economic indicator for it: the lipstick index Other necessity businesses include automotive repair, healthcare, web sites for small businesses, education and learning products. 2. Sign of the Times-type businesses. These are businesses that are most needed during a recession, yet will still generate strong demand even when times get better. An example of this type of business is bargain hunting, helping people find deals, coupons and discounts. Whether good times or bad, people want to save and get the best deals, but more so when everything is tight. 3. Any business with minimal startup costs. Now is not the time to risk your family's life savings into a business you are not sure will work. Home-based businesses are great during recession because of little to no overhead costs. You can start a blog at no cost working from home monetized by advertising, which can allow you to earn decent income. If you're lucky and your blog or website catches on, you can earn spectacular income workin from the comforts of your home without the headache of an office or retail space lease. 4. Start a proven business. It is significantly riskier to start an unproven business from scratch as compared to starting a well known franchise. Franchises may sometimes feel that you are working for somebody else, but buying into a franchise allows you to start a business with a well established brand, fully developed operational systems, and with products or services that are proven winners. Once you've decided what business to start, follow the tips shared by experts in the article Recession Strategies for Small and Home Businesses
Many people are scared of starting a business during a recession. Times are tough, and people are not spending -- which makes the idea of starting a business in a downturn even more daunting.But an economic downturn shouldn't stop you from pursuing your business endeavors. As they say, the right time to start business is when you have a great idea, recession or not. With the right business idea, where your product or service will benefit customers both in good and bad times, you can beat the odds and succeed even in an economic downturn.The key is to look long and hard at your business idea to see if this is a business where a market truly exists. Afterall, with a recession comes the tightening of purse strings not just from customers but bankers and investors alike. That means starting the business lean, and well, possibly even with your own money.Here are some types of businesses that thrive and stand a better chance of survival during economic downturns: 1. Must have products and services. Food is one business that remain strong during a recession. Afterall, people will still need to eat and drink no matter how bad the economy, though many will be cutting dining out and instead stay at home and cook!And guess what, demand for cosmetics remain strong even when times are tough! Demand for cosmetics seem recession proof as women continue to indulge themselves by buying lipsticks and powders. Ask any woman on the street if they will forego wearing a lipstick and you might get dagger stares everywhere. There's even an economic indicator for it: the lipstick index Other necessity businesses include automotive repair, healthcare, web sites for small businesses, education and learning products. 2. Sign of the Times-type businesses. These are businesses that are most needed during a recession, yet will still generate strong demand even when times get better. An example of this type of business is bargain hunting, helping people find deals, coupons and discounts. Whether good times or bad, people want to save and get the best deals, but more so when everything is tight. 3. Any business with minimal startup costs. Now is not the time to risk your family's life savings into a business you are not sure will work. Home-based businesses are great during recession because of little to no overhead costs. You can start a blog at no cost working from home monetized by advertising, which can allow you to earn decent income. If you're lucky and your blog or website catches on, you can earn spectacular income workin from the comforts of your home without the headache of an office or retail space lease. 4. Start a proven business. It is significantly riskier to start an unproven business from scratch as compared to starting a well known franchise. Franchises may sometimes feel that you are working for somebody else, but buying into a franchise allows you to start a business with a well established brand, fully developed operational systems, and with products or services that are proven winners. Once you've decided what business to start, follow the tips shared by experts in the article Recession Strategies for Small and Home Businesses
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Best Tools For Learning How To Start A Small Business
Someone asked me what is the best tool to learn how to start a small business. My answer is simple: It depends on what you think you need and what works for you.1. For some people, they need to sit in a classroom and listen to the lectures of a teacher on how to start a small business. As such, they participate in any of these education opportunities:Adult education programs offered by their counties (example is Fairfax County's Adult and Community Education ProgramsAttend classes given by community colleges Entrepreneurship courses offered by Small Business Development Centers Private foundations such as Kauffman Foundation offers courses on entrepreneurship such as their FastTrac programs focusing on businesses and individuals hardest hit by the recession. 2. Others prefer a structured learning format, but at their own pace without being forced to sit in a class with strict schedules. Hence, they look for online resources for courses and classes that can flexible enough for their schedules. Examples include: The Small Business Administration offers online courses on a variety of topics from business planning to managing financials to exporting Trump University also offers a number of online courses on various topics of business ownership such as business planning and finding startup financing 3. There are others who prefer to talk to small business owners or experts, and preferably, find someone willing to mentor them and guide them as they start their venture. Getting help from experienced mentors can be incredibly valuable, as they have the experience, know-how and understanding of what it really means to start a business. The difficult part, of course, is finding the experienced and successful entrepreneur willing to guide and mentor. Start by networking with other entrepreneur in industry and trade associations, local business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, or even local chapters of business groups. Online networking sites such as LinkedIn can also be a way to find mentors for your business. There are organizations which provide mentorship services, such as Government Mentoring Programs such as SBDCs, which works with community colleges and local business development councils to offer mentoring programs http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/sbdcnear.html ; or the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wnet_roundtables.html Volunteer programs such as SCORE http://www.score.org/ which is composed of mostly retired executives and entrepreneurs Formal mentoring programs such as Athena Foundation http://www.athenafoundation.org/programs/globallinks.html , Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program http://www.helzbergmentoring.org/HEMP/ , or The Aspen Institute MicroMentor Program http://www.micromentor.org/ Professional organizations such as the National Womenâs Business Council http://www.nwbc.gov/Mentoring/programs.html 4. Still, there are others who just want to educate themselves by reading books on how to start a business. Get a general guide on entrepreneurship and starting a business, as well as books specific to the business to be started (if available). Examples of good startup books are: What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More Start Your Own Business : The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need Steps to Small Business Start-Up : Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Idea into a Successful Business Another option, of course, is to use combination of the above and gain a more thorough understanding of how to start a business!
Someone asked me what is the best tool to learn how to start a small business. My answer is simple: It depends on what you think you need and what works for you.1. For some people, they need to sit in a classroom and listen to the lectures of a teacher on how to start a small business. As such, they participate in any of these education opportunities:Adult education programs offered by their counties (example is Fairfax County's Adult and Community Education ProgramsAttend classes given by community colleges Entrepreneurship courses offered by Small Business Development Centers Private foundations such as Kauffman Foundation offers courses on entrepreneurship such as their FastTrac programs focusing on businesses and individuals hardest hit by the recession. 2. Others prefer a structured learning format, but at their own pace without being forced to sit in a class with strict schedules. Hence, they look for online resources for courses and classes that can flexible enough for their schedules. Examples include: The Small Business Administration offers online courses on a variety of topics from business planning to managing financials to exporting Trump University also offers a number of online courses on various topics of business ownership such as business planning and finding startup financing 3. There are others who prefer to talk to small business owners or experts, and preferably, find someone willing to mentor them and guide them as they start their venture. Getting help from experienced mentors can be incredibly valuable, as they have the experience, know-how and understanding of what it really means to start a business. The difficult part, of course, is finding the experienced and successful entrepreneur willing to guide and mentor. Start by networking with other entrepreneur in industry and trade associations, local business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, or even local chapters of business groups. Online networking sites such as LinkedIn can also be a way to find mentors for your business. There are organizations which provide mentorship services, such as Government Mentoring Programs such as SBDCs, which works with community colleges and local business development councils to offer mentoring programs http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/sbdcnear.html ; or the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wnet_roundtables.html Volunteer programs such as SCORE http://www.score.org/ which is composed of mostly retired executives and entrepreneurs Formal mentoring programs such as Athena Foundation http://www.athenafoundation.org/programs/globallinks.html , Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program http://www.helzbergmentoring.org/HEMP/ , or The Aspen Institute MicroMentor Program http://www.micromentor.org/ Professional organizations such as the National Womenâs Business Council http://www.nwbc.gov/Mentoring/programs.html 4. Still, there are others who just want to educate themselves by reading books on how to start a business. Get a general guide on entrepreneurship and starting a business, as well as books specific to the business to be started (if available). Examples of good startup books are: What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More Start Your Own Business : The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need Steps to Small Business Start-Up : Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Idea into a Successful Business Another option, of course, is to use combination of the above and gain a more thorough understanding of how to start a business!
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Business Plans Handbook Collection of free business plans Free Sample Business Plans & Business Planning Articles Links to various free sample business plans on the Web How To Sell More on the Web: 30 Tips To Increase Conversion Rates For An Ecommerce Site Lots of tips on how to sell more on the web and increase conversion rate Resources for Marketing Your Blogs and RSS Feeds List of places where you can market your blog Free Venture Capital and Private Equity Directory Listings of venture capitalists Home Business: Start Your Home-Based Business & Work from Home with PowerHomeBiz.com Information on starting a small and home-based business PowerHomeBiz Small & Home Business Blog Tips, resources and information for the home based entrepreneur
Business Plans Handbook Collection of free business plans Free Sample Business Plans & Business Planning Articles Links to various free sample business plans on the Web How To Sell More on the Web: 30 Tips To Increase Conversion Rates For An Ecommerce Site Lots of tips on how to sell more on the web and increase conversion rate Resources for Marketing Your Blogs and RSS Feeds List of places where you can market your blog Free Venture Capital and Private Equity Directory Listings of venture capitalists Home Business: Start Your Home-Based Business & Work from Home with PowerHomeBiz.com Information on starting a small and home-based business PowerHomeBiz Small & Home Business Blog Tips, resources and information for the home based entrepreneur
Government To Aid Small Businesses
I typically do not blog about politics or government. But like a growing number of people, I am outraged by the huge bonuses AIG will give its derivative traders -- basically our tax dollars after getting significant chunks of the bailout monies. They should have just given all the AIG bailout money to small businesses!I suppose to counter all the flak the Administration is getting for approving the AIG bailout, President Obama announced today that his government will help out small businesses mainly by easing the credit squeeze:By buying up to $15 billion of securities that are linked to small-business loans.By increasing loan guarantees for small business to 90 percent of the loan value to encourage banks and other lenders to extend credit, By waiving the Small Business Administration's loan fees By requiring banks that received federal bailout money to report each month how much small-business lending they did.The IRS also announced that small businesses with deductions exceeding their income in 2008 could use a new net operating loss tax provision to get a refund of taxes paid in prior years Being an eternal optimist, I hope that these measures -- and more -- will help usher in economic recovery for all of us. But I still think that the government should have given more money earlier to small businesses, instead of giving tax payers money to big companies who then sponsor expensive golf tournament sponsorships or pay millions of dollars in bonuses.
I typically do not blog about politics or government. But like a growing number of people, I am outraged by the huge bonuses AIG will give its derivative traders -- basically our tax dollars after getting significant chunks of the bailout monies. They should have just given all the AIG bailout money to small businesses!I suppose to counter all the flak the Administration is getting for approving the AIG bailout, President Obama announced today that his government will help out small businesses mainly by easing the credit squeeze:By buying up to $15 billion of securities that are linked to small-business loans.By increasing loan guarantees for small business to 90 percent of the loan value to encourage banks and other lenders to extend credit, By waiving the Small Business Administration's loan fees By requiring banks that received federal bailout money to report each month how much small-business lending they did.The IRS also announced that small businesses with deductions exceeding their income in 2008 could use a new net operating loss tax provision to get a refund of taxes paid in prior years Being an eternal optimist, I hope that these measures -- and more -- will help usher in economic recovery for all of us. But I still think that the government should have given more money earlier to small businesses, instead of giving tax payers money to big companies who then sponsor expensive golf tournament sponsorships or pay millions of dollars in bonuses.
15 Home Business Ideas That Thrive During Recession
Many people are fearful of starting a business during a recession. Times are tough, and people are curbing their spending, which makes the idea of starting a business in a downturn economy even more daunting.However, for many families and individuals affected by the recession (whether they lost their homes or their jobs), finding more ways to make a living or supplement income streams is a crucial need right now. Even for those still employed, many are thinking of putting in place a backup plan in case they are laid off from their jobs. Then there are those who have recently graduated from college or about to graduate and are finding it to be quite a challenge to find a job.As such, starting a home business is a viable option for many. Home-based businesses are great during recession because of little to no overhead costs.Even during these tough economic times, there are great income opportunities for those who are willing to take the risk. After all, the right time to start a business is when you have a great idea where your product or service benefits customers, recession or not. The right business idea can help you beat the odds and succeed even in a recession.Here are some types of home-based businesses that thrive during an economic downturns and present opportunities for home-based entrepreneurs:Read full article
Many people are fearful of starting a business during a recession. Times are tough, and people are curbing their spending, which makes the idea of starting a business in a downturn economy even more daunting.However, for many families and individuals affected by the recession (whether they lost their homes or their jobs), finding more ways to make a living or supplement income streams is a crucial need right now. Even for those still employed, many are thinking of putting in place a backup plan in case they are laid off from their jobs. Then there are those who have recently graduated from college or about to graduate and are finding it to be quite a challenge to find a job.As such, starting a home business is a viable option for many. Home-based businesses are great during recession because of little to no overhead costs.Even during these tough economic times, there are great income opportunities for those who are willing to take the risk. After all, the right time to start a business is when you have a great idea where your product or service benefits customers, recession or not. The right business idea can help you beat the odds and succeed even in a recession.Here are some types of home-based businesses that thrive during an economic downturns and present opportunities for home-based entrepreneurs:Read full article
Marketing Your Business In A Down Economy
Experts say that cutting marketing in tough times is a bad idea. When the going gets tough, businesses must work harder to market their businesses. In fact, they advice that now is the time to pull out all the stops in marketing. After all, it's survival times.While there is no magic number as to how much a business must spend for marketing efforts, here are some strategies to help your business attract and grow customers during the recession:Set benchmarks for your marketing and make sure you can support the new customers that your marketing efforts will attract. Ensure quality first. While you don't have to wait for perfection, try your best to ensure that customers will love what you deliver. Otherwise, your marketing efforts will just be in vain.Understand how your previous and current customers are finding you. Keep wooing your current customers. Think of additional products or services that you can offer them. They already know your business, and it will be easier to convince them to buy more.Look back and use strategies that worked for you well in the past.Do a little investigation to see what strategies your competitors are using. You might be able to use some of those strategies as well.
Experts say that cutting marketing in tough times is a bad idea. When the going gets tough, businesses must work harder to market their businesses. In fact, they advice that now is the time to pull out all the stops in marketing. After all, it's survival times.While there is no magic number as to how much a business must spend for marketing efforts, here are some strategies to help your business attract and grow customers during the recession:Set benchmarks for your marketing and make sure you can support the new customers that your marketing efforts will attract. Ensure quality first. While you don't have to wait for perfection, try your best to ensure that customers will love what you deliver. Otherwise, your marketing efforts will just be in vain.Understand how your previous and current customers are finding you. Keep wooing your current customers. Think of additional products or services that you can offer them. They already know your business, and it will be easier to convince them to buy more.Look back and use strategies that worked for you well in the past.Do a little investigation to see what strategies your competitors are using. You might be able to use some of those strategies as well.
Marketing With Yahoo Answers: 10 Ways To Promote Your Business Using YA
I previously wrote about How to Use Yahoo Answers to Promote Your Business . The article was first written in 2007 when I just started to top the Business and Finance category, and 2 years later, I am still #1 in the Business and Finance category.Why use Yahoo Answers? For PowerHomeBiz.com, Yahoo Answers has offered a number of benefits:Free traffic - we always love free! Lots of traffic - with more than 21 million users in the US and 90 million outside, YA can potentially bring huge traffic (and free!)Responsiveness to ads - I'm a numbers person, and I love to slice and dice our web stats. One of my important finding is that traffic from YA has brought us a huge chunk of advertising income, and that alone is the main reason why I spend a lot of time on YA. Marketing through Yahoo Answers is not easy. Unlike Twitter where you drop your link in 140 characters, you need to actually answer the question -- and some of the questions can be detailed and even tedious. Plus, YA doesn't allow dropping links for the sake of merely dropping links. So how can you use YA to promote your business? 1. Be relevant = Relevance is the key. You can only drop your links either in the source box or in the actual answer IF AND ONLY IF the link is actually relevant to the question. My strategy is to drop PowerHomeBiz.com links only if I actually got the answer from any of our pages. For example, a question on what business should I start, I paraphrase the content of our article Choosing the Best Home Business to Start and then put the article in the source code. If anyone complains about spamming, I can easily argue that the source is where I actually got the answer. 2. Lose the signature file. See #1 tip. Sig file is the easiest way to be pinned for spamming, especially if your link has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand, and you post the same link again and again in your answers. It's the quickest way for your account to be suspended (and yes, YA also kicks out people, though you can easily create a new account). 3. Put your website/s information in your Profile page. YA allows users to promote their businesses in their profile. Use this to your advantage. 4. Be visible. The more visible you are, the more chances people are (a) going to check out your profile page; and (b) going to click on your website links in your answers or in your source boxes. 5. Provide the best answer -- ALWAYS. Think of YA as your opportunity to present to potential target market that you are the best with what you do, or at least knowledgeable of your sector. They are more likely to check you out if they like what they read from your answers. One more benefit of giving the best answers is increased visibility as you will start climbing up the category or subcategory, if not the country-specific or global leaderboards. Those leaderboards are great marketing tools as they represent the best in that category (however "best" is defined -- best cheater, best answerer, best strategist). BAs mean 10 points, so getting more BAs can help you go up the leaderboards much faster compared to the 2 points of just giving out answers. 6. Come to YA with a strategy. One common tactic, especially of those with incredibly high best answer percentage is to answer only questions with 0 response and then voting for their own answer, thereby guaranteeing that they get the Best Answers (not that I do this). Voting for your answer is not a violation (though YA at one point banned people from voting for their own answer but was quickly overturned). And answering questions with 0 answers is not a violation, either. These strategies are commonly frowned upon, but they are not considered to be against the rules. So what is my strategy? I have a 150-page document of all my answers in YA. So if someone asks about angel investors, I have a ready answer that I can paste. If someone asks about what is Adsense, I also have a ready answer for that. I even have 10 variations on "getting a grant" type of question -- for Qs on grants for school, grants for non profits, grants for starting a business, even getting grants for felons. I can provide my answers fast, just slightly modifying the response based on the actual question. On lazy days, I simply search for questions -- e.g. business plan -- and then pasting my pre-prepared response. Some users don't like it, but hey, my response answers the questions and that's all that matters! 7. Vote for your own answers. As I previously said, YA allows you to vote for your own answer. If you think you answered the best, why will you allow someone who answered "Google it!" or "I don't know" win out over your well-thought out answer? It doesn't make sense. Give your answers a fighting chance by taking time to review all Qs in voting and vote for your own answer. Given that askers rarely come back and choose the BA, you stand a high chance of getting BAs for your answers. 8. Protect your account. Yes, there's a lot of trolls in YA and competitors who want to sabotage your account. If you don't protect yourself, you'll find yourself getting lots of Violation Notices. I even got a VN for spamming because I directed the user to the SBA.gov website! I used to have my account open to the public so anyone and everyone can read and learn from my answers. After someone went over my responses and voting for No Best Answer (if NBA wins, the Q will be deleted) even if I and the other respondents gave on-target answers. So now, I protect my account by:Keeping my account private.I don't accept fans -- unless I know and trust them. I used to have 500+ fans, but I removed all of them. 9. Increase your reporting trust level. Part of #8, but deserves a thorough discussion. YA's community moderation system allows users to file an abuse report for any violations they see or perceive on the site -- from spamming, solicitation, malicious codes, violence or threats, fraud, and others. The more you report abuses correctly, the higher your reporting trust level and the faster you can delete content in YA. In less than 2 minutes sometimes, you'll have the instant gratification of seeing your reported content to be removed from YA (to prevent abuse, they allow only 5 instant deletions from that same user, then your reports go to Yahoo customer care or YA staffers). Go after the very obvious spammers -- those who post their blogspot link with no other answer, the credit/loan solicitation -- as the abuse reports are likely to stick and they are not likely to defend their answers. Another benefit of reporting correctly -- and increasing your trust level -- is that it becomes harder for anyone to report your content and delete it immediately from YA. You need this protection so that others, with lower trust ranking than you, cannot remove your answers by themselves. 10. Read, and re-read the Community Guidelines. Follow the rules, and you will have more opportunities to market your business to YA users. Read the Suggestion Forum as well for some tips from oldtimers on how to navigate YA.
I previously wrote about How to Use Yahoo Answers to Promote Your Business . The article was first written in 2007 when I just started to top the Business and Finance category, and 2 years later, I am still #1 in the Business and Finance category.Why use Yahoo Answers? For PowerHomeBiz.com, Yahoo Answers has offered a number of benefits:Free traffic - we always love free! Lots of traffic - with more than 21 million users in the US and 90 million outside, YA can potentially bring huge traffic (and free!)Responsiveness to ads - I'm a numbers person, and I love to slice and dice our web stats. One of my important finding is that traffic from YA has brought us a huge chunk of advertising income, and that alone is the main reason why I spend a lot of time on YA. Marketing through Yahoo Answers is not easy. Unlike Twitter where you drop your link in 140 characters, you need to actually answer the question -- and some of the questions can be detailed and even tedious. Plus, YA doesn't allow dropping links for the sake of merely dropping links. So how can you use YA to promote your business? 1. Be relevant = Relevance is the key. You can only drop your links either in the source box or in the actual answer IF AND ONLY IF the link is actually relevant to the question. My strategy is to drop PowerHomeBiz.com links only if I actually got the answer from any of our pages. For example, a question on what business should I start, I paraphrase the content of our article Choosing the Best Home Business to Start and then put the article in the source code. If anyone complains about spamming, I can easily argue that the source is where I actually got the answer. 2. Lose the signature file. See #1 tip. Sig file is the easiest way to be pinned for spamming, especially if your link has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand, and you post the same link again and again in your answers. It's the quickest way for your account to be suspended (and yes, YA also kicks out people, though you can easily create a new account). 3. Put your website/s information in your Profile page. YA allows users to promote their businesses in their profile. Use this to your advantage. 4. Be visible. The more visible you are, the more chances people are (a) going to check out your profile page; and (b) going to click on your website links in your answers or in your source boxes. 5. Provide the best answer -- ALWAYS. Think of YA as your opportunity to present to potential target market that you are the best with what you do, or at least knowledgeable of your sector. They are more likely to check you out if they like what they read from your answers. One more benefit of giving the best answers is increased visibility as you will start climbing up the category or subcategory, if not the country-specific or global leaderboards. Those leaderboards are great marketing tools as they represent the best in that category (however "best" is defined -- best cheater, best answerer, best strategist). BAs mean 10 points, so getting more BAs can help you go up the leaderboards much faster compared to the 2 points of just giving out answers. 6. Come to YA with a strategy. One common tactic, especially of those with incredibly high best answer percentage is to answer only questions with 0 response and then voting for their own answer, thereby guaranteeing that they get the Best Answers (not that I do this). Voting for your answer is not a violation (though YA at one point banned people from voting for their own answer but was quickly overturned). And answering questions with 0 answers is not a violation, either. These strategies are commonly frowned upon, but they are not considered to be against the rules. So what is my strategy? I have a 150-page document of all my answers in YA. So if someone asks about angel investors, I have a ready answer that I can paste. If someone asks about what is Adsense, I also have a ready answer for that. I even have 10 variations on "getting a grant" type of question -- for Qs on grants for school, grants for non profits, grants for starting a business, even getting grants for felons. I can provide my answers fast, just slightly modifying the response based on the actual question. On lazy days, I simply search for questions -- e.g. business plan -- and then pasting my pre-prepared response. Some users don't like it, but hey, my response answers the questions and that's all that matters! 7. Vote for your own answers. As I previously said, YA allows you to vote for your own answer. If you think you answered the best, why will you allow someone who answered "Google it!" or "I don't know" win out over your well-thought out answer? It doesn't make sense. Give your answers a fighting chance by taking time to review all Qs in voting and vote for your own answer. Given that askers rarely come back and choose the BA, you stand a high chance of getting BAs for your answers. 8. Protect your account. Yes, there's a lot of trolls in YA and competitors who want to sabotage your account. If you don't protect yourself, you'll find yourself getting lots of Violation Notices. I even got a VN for spamming because I directed the user to the SBA.gov website! I used to have my account open to the public so anyone and everyone can read and learn from my answers. After someone went over my responses and voting for No Best Answer (if NBA wins, the Q will be deleted) even if I and the other respondents gave on-target answers. So now, I protect my account by:Keeping my account private.I don't accept fans -- unless I know and trust them. I used to have 500+ fans, but I removed all of them. 9. Increase your reporting trust level. Part of #8, but deserves a thorough discussion. YA's community moderation system allows users to file an abuse report for any violations they see or perceive on the site -- from spamming, solicitation, malicious codes, violence or threats, fraud, and others. The more you report abuses correctly, the higher your reporting trust level and the faster you can delete content in YA. In less than 2 minutes sometimes, you'll have the instant gratification of seeing your reported content to be removed from YA (to prevent abuse, they allow only 5 instant deletions from that same user, then your reports go to Yahoo customer care or YA staffers). Go after the very obvious spammers -- those who post their blogspot link with no other answer, the credit/loan solicitation -- as the abuse reports are likely to stick and they are not likely to defend their answers. Another benefit of reporting correctly -- and increasing your trust level -- is that it becomes harder for anyone to report your content and delete it immediately from YA. You need this protection so that others, with lower trust ranking than you, cannot remove your answers by themselves. 10. Read, and re-read the Community Guidelines. Follow the rules, and you will have more opportunities to market your business to YA users. Read the Suggestion Forum as well for some tips from oldtimers on how to navigate YA.
Tips On How To Launch A Business During A Recession
Robert Tuchman, successful entrepreneur and author of the new book YOUNG GUNS: The Fearless Entrepreneur's Guide to Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own gives out eight steps on how to start a business that actually makes money, even in this tough economy:1. Start with self-financing.2. Borrow, but with caution.3. Do business from home.4. Don't delegate all the grunt work.5. Know when to show a loss.6. Invest in right software.7. Stay on top of your numbers.8. Hire inexperienced people with lots of passion.Read the article How to Launch a Business During a Recession
Robert Tuchman, successful entrepreneur and author of the new book YOUNG GUNS: The Fearless Entrepreneur's Guide to Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own gives out eight steps on how to start a business that actually makes money, even in this tough economy:1. Start with self-financing.2. Borrow, but with caution.3. Do business from home.4. Don't delegate all the grunt work.5. Know when to show a loss.6. Invest in right software.7. Stay on top of your numbers.8. Hire inexperienced people with lots of passion.Read the article How to Launch a Business During a Recession
Choosing A Keyword-Rich Domain Name
Choosing the domain name is the first important decision you will make in creating the website.There are actually two schools of thoughts in selecting the domain name for a website: the branding approach, and the keyword approach.The branding approach is choosing a short, catchy and easy to remember domain names such as Twitter, Flickr, Google and eBay. The keyword approach is choosing a domain name that utilizes keywords for search engine purposes. Benefits of Keyword-Driven Domain NamesThe main SEO benefit of keyword-reflective domain name is in the inbound link, or how other sites will link to you. Keyword-rich domain names allow your keywords to be placed in the anchor text when people reference your site.For example, WomenHomeBusiness.com â when other people link to the site, they use the text "womenhomebusiness" within their links (e.g. WomenHomeBusiness.com). This is called the âanchor text,â and anchor text of the inbound link is one of the most concise assessments another person can make about what your site/page is 'about'. Search engines then see WomenHomeBusiness.com as a site highly relevant to the term âWomen Home Businessâ thus helping the site become #1 for that term.Another benefit of having keywords in the domain name is to help boost the siteâs CTR (click thru rate) in the search engine results. The URL with the keyword gets bolded in the search results, and this helps grab the attention of more searchers. Search engine users are becoming better at ignoring spam in search engine results, and are looking for important clues in your listing in the search engine results. Keywords in meta descriptions, titles and URLs get clicks.Google does give keywords in the URL a certain amount of weight, but you donât need it in order to rank (as evidenced by those who use the branded approach). MSN/Live Search and Yahoo place more emphasis on keywords in the domain name than Google. So if you are looking to target MSN/Live Search and Yahoo, having keywords in the domain name is the right first step.Guidelines to Consider in Setting up a Keyword-Rich Domain NameIf weâre going with the keyword approach, here are some guidelines to consider: Think of the main keyword youâd like to site to be found â and use that term. What is the site all about? A good domain name relates to your business name or core business. Choose generic domains that users are likely to remember and use, as these domains will carry more weight than others. Keep the domain name short and easy to remember. In many cases, type-in traffic is more valuable as opposed to a 20-letter keyword rich domain name. Say your prospective domain name out loud to listen to its sounds. See if your tongue gets twisted around any syllables. Whatever your domain name, it should stick in the mind. Think of how easy it is to say your domain name to people over the phone. If you have to constantly spell it for the other party to understand your name, then youâve got a confusing domain name. Use excellent, descriptive, and truthful naming strategy when selecting the name of your web site, because the name reflects your value and the brand. However, it is important to remember that the real key to front-page Google rankings lies not in keyword-rich domains, but in the quality and relevance of the website content. You can rank highly for any term you set your mind to, regardless of your domain. Short, catchy titles may help, but ultimately, you need to use your business sense to define your brand. For more information, read the article "What's in a Domain Name: How Your Domain Name Can Ensure Your Online Success" and "So What Makes a Good Domain Name?"
Choosing the domain name is the first important decision you will make in creating the website.There are actually two schools of thoughts in selecting the domain name for a website: the branding approach, and the keyword approach.The branding approach is choosing a short, catchy and easy to remember domain names such as Twitter, Flickr, Google and eBay. The keyword approach is choosing a domain name that utilizes keywords for search engine purposes. Benefits of Keyword-Driven Domain NamesThe main SEO benefit of keyword-reflective domain name is in the inbound link, or how other sites will link to you. Keyword-rich domain names allow your keywords to be placed in the anchor text when people reference your site.For example, WomenHomeBusiness.com â when other people link to the site, they use the text "womenhomebusiness" within their links (e.g. WomenHomeBusiness.com). This is called the âanchor text,â and anchor text of the inbound link is one of the most concise assessments another person can make about what your site/page is 'about'. Search engines then see WomenHomeBusiness.com as a site highly relevant to the term âWomen Home Businessâ thus helping the site become #1 for that term.Another benefit of having keywords in the domain name is to help boost the siteâs CTR (click thru rate) in the search engine results. The URL with the keyword gets bolded in the search results, and this helps grab the attention of more searchers. Search engine users are becoming better at ignoring spam in search engine results, and are looking for important clues in your listing in the search engine results. Keywords in meta descriptions, titles and URLs get clicks.Google does give keywords in the URL a certain amount of weight, but you donât need it in order to rank (as evidenced by those who use the branded approach). MSN/Live Search and Yahoo place more emphasis on keywords in the domain name than Google. So if you are looking to target MSN/Live Search and Yahoo, having keywords in the domain name is the right first step.Guidelines to Consider in Setting up a Keyword-Rich Domain NameIf weâre going with the keyword approach, here are some guidelines to consider: Think of the main keyword youâd like to site to be found â and use that term. What is the site all about? A good domain name relates to your business name or core business. Choose generic domains that users are likely to remember and use, as these domains will carry more weight than others. Keep the domain name short and easy to remember. In many cases, type-in traffic is more valuable as opposed to a 20-letter keyword rich domain name. Say your prospective domain name out loud to listen to its sounds. See if your tongue gets twisted around any syllables. Whatever your domain name, it should stick in the mind. Think of how easy it is to say your domain name to people over the phone. If you have to constantly spell it for the other party to understand your name, then youâve got a confusing domain name. Use excellent, descriptive, and truthful naming strategy when selecting the name of your web site, because the name reflects your value and the brand. However, it is important to remember that the real key to front-page Google rankings lies not in keyword-rich domains, but in the quality and relevance of the website content. You can rank highly for any term you set your mind to, regardless of your domain. Short, catchy titles may help, but ultimately, you need to use your business sense to define your brand. For more information, read the article "What's in a Domain Name: How Your Domain Name Can Ensure Your Online Success" and "So What Makes a Good Domain Name?"
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Links For 2006-09-10 [del.icio.us]
CareData Launches Expert EMR with EHR Technology! This customized software supplies healthcare providers with an easy way to stay on top of patient care and follow-up needs. 10 Trends for Christmas Trends for greeting cards, paper and other Christmas products Internet Marketer Stephen Pierce Introduces Rush Hour Traffic Solutions Entrepreneur offers 12, bullet-proof, strategies for driving traffic to websites with online video series.
CareData Launches Expert EMR with EHR Technology! This customized software supplies healthcare providers with an easy way to stay on top of patient care and follow-up needs. 10 Trends for Christmas Trends for greeting cards, paper and other Christmas products Internet Marketer Stephen Pierce Introduces Rush Hour Traffic Solutions Entrepreneur offers 12, bullet-proof, strategies for driving traffic to websites with online video series.
How To Reduce Your Risks When Starting A Business
Entrepreneurship is all about taking risks. As much as you want everything to go as smoothly as possible, there's really no "sure thing" in business and a million and one things could go wrong when starting a business. Plus of course, there's always the possibility of failure.The key, however, is to manage and reduce your risks when you are starting a business. Many pitfalls can be avoided with careful planning, though there may be some unforseen circumstances where you need to display creative thinking, flexibility and yes, persistence.Here are some ways to reduce your risks when starting a business:Plan for the worst case scenario. You don't start a business thinking it will fail - you need all positive energy and positive thinking. Despite all optimism, however, thinking that there is a possibility of failure can keep you on your toes and force you to make better decisions.Always exercise good judgement. Avoid impulsive behavior and always analyze and examine your business decisions. Don't get carried away by your impulses. Use a check and balance system, particularly when making big decisions. Sound off your ideas with people you trust -- e.g. your spouse, your mentors or even a trusted advisor -- to give you a different perspective of what you plan to do.Find a mentor. The advice of someone who has experienced it all when it comes to starting a business is invaluable. Go to forums or attend face-to-face events and network. Use organizations that help you find mentors. Keep the focus on your strengths. Don't go grabbing every opportunity that comes you way, especially when they are out of your league. Especially in times of recession, focus on your core strengths. You'll stand a higher chance of success building on what you know.Run lean but creative. Don't spend your money for the sake of spending you money. If you can find ways to market your business at the least cost possible, try them.Market, market and market. Even before your business opens, set the stage for marketing. Having customers all waiting for you to open your business can significantly reduce your risks while allowing you to immediately generate needed cashflows.Consider getting the right type of insurance. When thinking of mitigating risks, the first thing that comes to mind is insurance. Insurance products -- such as liability insurance, workers compensation, property insurance, etc. -- can protect you against claims made by customers, employees, vendors and other people you deal with in your business.
Entrepreneurship is all about taking risks. As much as you want everything to go as smoothly as possible, there's really no "sure thing" in business and a million and one things could go wrong when starting a business. Plus of course, there's always the possibility of failure.The key, however, is to manage and reduce your risks when you are starting a business. Many pitfalls can be avoided with careful planning, though there may be some unforseen circumstances where you need to display creative thinking, flexibility and yes, persistence.Here are some ways to reduce your risks when starting a business:Plan for the worst case scenario. You don't start a business thinking it will fail - you need all positive energy and positive thinking. Despite all optimism, however, thinking that there is a possibility of failure can keep you on your toes and force you to make better decisions.Always exercise good judgement. Avoid impulsive behavior and always analyze and examine your business decisions. Don't get carried away by your impulses. Use a check and balance system, particularly when making big decisions. Sound off your ideas with people you trust -- e.g. your spouse, your mentors or even a trusted advisor -- to give you a different perspective of what you plan to do.Find a mentor. The advice of someone who has experienced it all when it comes to starting a business is invaluable. Go to forums or attend face-to-face events and network. Use organizations that help you find mentors. Keep the focus on your strengths. Don't go grabbing every opportunity that comes you way, especially when they are out of your league. Especially in times of recession, focus on your core strengths. You'll stand a higher chance of success building on what you know.Run lean but creative. Don't spend your money for the sake of spending you money. If you can find ways to market your business at the least cost possible, try them.Market, market and market. Even before your business opens, set the stage for marketing. Having customers all waiting for you to open your business can significantly reduce your risks while allowing you to immediately generate needed cashflows.Consider getting the right type of insurance. When thinking of mitigating risks, the first thing that comes to mind is insurance. Insurance products -- such as liability insurance, workers compensation, property insurance, etc. -- can protect you against claims made by customers, employees, vendors and other people you deal with in your business.
Beware Of "Google" Scams: Google Money Kit, Cash Kit, Quick Cash, Etc.
Beware of business opportunity companies that uses the name of Google -- e.g. Google Money Tree, Google Cash Kit, Google Quick Cash, or whatever the other names are. They are all running a scam using Google's name. And I must say that they are succeeding pretty well, convincing a lot of people with snapshots of checks supposedly earned from the "business opportunity."The scammers are spinning the money making opportunities provided by Google's contextual advertising program, Adsense. Unlike Adsense which is free, the main difference of these scammers is that they charge shipping fees of either $1.98 - $3.88 for a CD that will supposedly provide you with a way to earn money from home. They will also ask for your bank information as you enroll in this "free trial."Once you get suckered into the promise of easy money (they even have photos of checks received from Google typically around $5,000), you will then realize that you will be billed anywhere from $69.90 - $72.21 on a monthly basis if you do not call to cancel your "free membership." The fun part is that the CD contains nothing but information on how to sell on ebay, where to supposedly find drop shippers and suppliers etc.Here's the FINE PRINT from the Google Kit website:By submitting this form I authorize Google ATM (DRI*GoogleATM) to immediately charge my credit card $1.95 USD for the setup of the Google ATM Home Business Kit. I hereby request that Google ATM (DRI*GoogleATM) activate my account and authorize them to advance funds as indicated. Monthly Service fees will commence seven days from the date of this purchase, and will be billed monthly thereafter. After the seven day trial you will be billed Sixty nine dollars and ninety cents USD monthly for the continued access to the Google Money Making System. No refunds will be given for failure to use the requested and provided services. It is very important to read the fine print. The above is at the very bottom of a very long page where the reader may be enticed with all the promises of income from the program, further bolstered by the various so-called "testimonials."The worst part for me was their presentation of a "Google" check thereby giving potential suckers (err, buyers) the confidence that this is indeed a program by Google. But, in the fine print they admit that Google has NOTHING to do with this program -- which begs the question: what's the point of showing a "Google" check other than to deceive the people and misrepresent the program as that of Google.Google does not endorse or sponsor this site and is in no way affiliated withthis site The trademarks of Google, MSN, CNBC, USAToday, ABC, CNN and Yahoo! are the properties of their respective companies. These organizations do not specifically endorse or sponsor this site. The Google work job kit is free totry for a limited amount of time only.There are a number of variations to the scam, such as the blog supposedly by a Scott who was able to wipe out his debts by using the Google Cash Kit system, or the Earn Cash from Google or the Money Making Story with Google. I'm not sure how they actually work, but here's what Google in their official Adsense blog saysWeâd like to take this opportunity to state that we're not affiliated with any third-parties that solicit payment to join the AdSense program or that sell CDs with money-back guarantee offers. AdSense is a free product offered to publishers by Google Inc., and thereâs no cost or obligation involved. As a result, we recommend that prospective publishers exercise caution when presented with such offersIf you want to earn money from Google, the ONLY way is to apply to Google Adsense http://www.google.com/adsense . Read the fine print always with these "money making programs." Search the Web for complaints from other people -- and actually listen to their complaints.Remember that there are no scammers if there are no suckers. Don't be one.
Beware of business opportunity companies that uses the name of Google -- e.g. Google Money Tree, Google Cash Kit, Google Quick Cash, or whatever the other names are. They are all running a scam using Google's name. And I must say that they are succeeding pretty well, convincing a lot of people with snapshots of checks supposedly earned from the "business opportunity."The scammers are spinning the money making opportunities provided by Google's contextual advertising program, Adsense. Unlike Adsense which is free, the main difference of these scammers is that they charge shipping fees of either $1.98 - $3.88 for a CD that will supposedly provide you with a way to earn money from home. They will also ask for your bank information as you enroll in this "free trial."Once you get suckered into the promise of easy money (they even have photos of checks received from Google typically around $5,000), you will then realize that you will be billed anywhere from $69.90 - $72.21 on a monthly basis if you do not call to cancel your "free membership." The fun part is that the CD contains nothing but information on how to sell on ebay, where to supposedly find drop shippers and suppliers etc.Here's the FINE PRINT from the Google Kit website:By submitting this form I authorize Google ATM (DRI*GoogleATM) to immediately charge my credit card $1.95 USD for the setup of the Google ATM Home Business Kit. I hereby request that Google ATM (DRI*GoogleATM) activate my account and authorize them to advance funds as indicated. Monthly Service fees will commence seven days from the date of this purchase, and will be billed monthly thereafter. After the seven day trial you will be billed Sixty nine dollars and ninety cents USD monthly for the continued access to the Google Money Making System. No refunds will be given for failure to use the requested and provided services. It is very important to read the fine print. The above is at the very bottom of a very long page where the reader may be enticed with all the promises of income from the program, further bolstered by the various so-called "testimonials."The worst part for me was their presentation of a "Google" check thereby giving potential suckers (err, buyers) the confidence that this is indeed a program by Google. But, in the fine print they admit that Google has NOTHING to do with this program -- which begs the question: what's the point of showing a "Google" check other than to deceive the people and misrepresent the program as that of Google.Google does not endorse or sponsor this site and is in no way affiliated withthis site The trademarks of Google, MSN, CNBC, USAToday, ABC, CNN and Yahoo! are the properties of their respective companies. These organizations do not specifically endorse or sponsor this site. The Google work job kit is free totry for a limited amount of time only.There are a number of variations to the scam, such as the blog supposedly by a Scott who was able to wipe out his debts by using the Google Cash Kit system, or the Earn Cash from Google or the Money Making Story with Google. I'm not sure how they actually work, but here's what Google in their official Adsense blog saysWeâd like to take this opportunity to state that we're not affiliated with any third-parties that solicit payment to join the AdSense program or that sell CDs with money-back guarantee offers. AdSense is a free product offered to publishers by Google Inc., and thereâs no cost or obligation involved. As a result, we recommend that prospective publishers exercise caution when presented with such offersIf you want to earn money from Google, the ONLY way is to apply to Google Adsense http://www.google.com/adsense . Read the fine print always with these "money making programs." Search the Web for complaints from other people -- and actually listen to their complaints.Remember that there are no scammers if there are no suckers. Don't be one.
Selling To The SOHO Market
As a business owner, you might have experienced being contacted by other firms trying to sell their products and services to you. In my case, I get a lot of emails and phone calls from other businesses offering anywhere from their phone systems to computers to accounting services.One thing that strikes me though is that many of these companies, particularly the big vendors, do not seem to know how to sell to the SOHO market. They think of me as a business, so they treat it as a business-to-business deal where I am treated like a corporate buyer.The SOHO entrepreneur, especially the one-person business, is not something that can easily be classified as a business-to-business transaction nor as a business-to-consumer transaction. Small office/Home Office entrepreneurs are more of a hybrid, exhibiting characteristics of both types.Take for example a vendor of a high-end computer system who contacted me. The sales person just rattled off the features of the product and emailed the specs.If I am a corporate buyer of a Fortune 500 company, I may treat the process of buying the computer as just one of the to-dos for the day to be crossed off my list. The emotional investment to the process extends only as to whether the purchase will be good enough for the users of the machine and hopefully cement my value to the company as someone who knows how to choose products well.But I am not a corporate buyer and I do not treat buying expensive machines as simply a task to be crossed of my to-do list. Unlike the corporate buyer who simply needs to write off a purchase order to send to Accounting, I will pay for this machine from my OWN pocket. I will be spending my own money to buy it. That in itself makes a huge difference for a corporate buyer and a SOHO buyer.There is also a deeper emotional investment attached to the decision. This computer may be something I've always wanted, but could never afford when I was just starting. Now that the business is doing well, I can now afford to buy it. So this computer for me will be an affirmation that the business is a success that I can now afford to buy this expensive machine.If you are selling to the SOHO market, think of us as a hybrid with both B2B and B2C characteristics. We're a business, but have the minds (and emotions) of consumers.
As a business owner, you might have experienced being contacted by other firms trying to sell their products and services to you. In my case, I get a lot of emails and phone calls from other businesses offering anywhere from their phone systems to computers to accounting services.One thing that strikes me though is that many of these companies, particularly the big vendors, do not seem to know how to sell to the SOHO market. They think of me as a business, so they treat it as a business-to-business deal where I am treated like a corporate buyer.The SOHO entrepreneur, especially the one-person business, is not something that can easily be classified as a business-to-business transaction nor as a business-to-consumer transaction. Small office/Home Office entrepreneurs are more of a hybrid, exhibiting characteristics of both types.Take for example a vendor of a high-end computer system who contacted me. The sales person just rattled off the features of the product and emailed the specs.If I am a corporate buyer of a Fortune 500 company, I may treat the process of buying the computer as just one of the to-dos for the day to be crossed off my list. The emotional investment to the process extends only as to whether the purchase will be good enough for the users of the machine and hopefully cement my value to the company as someone who knows how to choose products well.But I am not a corporate buyer and I do not treat buying expensive machines as simply a task to be crossed of my to-do list. Unlike the corporate buyer who simply needs to write off a purchase order to send to Accounting, I will pay for this machine from my OWN pocket. I will be spending my own money to buy it. That in itself makes a huge difference for a corporate buyer and a SOHO buyer.There is also a deeper emotional investment attached to the decision. This computer may be something I've always wanted, but could never afford when I was just starting. Now that the business is doing well, I can now afford to buy it. So this computer for me will be an affirmation that the business is a success that I can now afford to buy this expensive machine.If you are selling to the SOHO market, think of us as a hybrid with both B2B and B2C characteristics. We're a business, but have the minds (and emotions) of consumers.