So you have gone through all your contacts, now what?
You have your own home business and you are the entire sales and marketing team called "me, myself and I" Everyone will want to get in, you were told. Right
You know that deep in your heart that this must work if the "American Dream" is going to come true for you . Quitting is not an option, and making it work is a top priority.
There is a solution but you must be willing to learn and diversify your business interests.
Veretekk is a company that takes care of 4 vital marketing functions 1. Internet marketing 2. Lead generation 3. Search engine optimization and 4. a second stream of income.
These are all marketing areas that any on line business needs to succeed.
I describe how this system can work for you in several specifically focused websites
http://www.internet-marketing-soho.com, http://www.leadsleads.net , http://www.seosoho.net and http://www.home-business.bz
I am also firmly convinced that having just one home business is just not good business
My particular interest is in health and wellness but that is a very small niche market.I recognized that so I diversified into more mainstream "business to business" service oriented businesses. This is a multi faceted strategy based on credible, respectable and "do-able" home business ideas that are working for the common man around this Planet .
What you see here is 7 months of refinement and over 10 years of experience in the home business arena. There is real value here. If you are determined to change your life for the better, this definitely is worthy of your time.
Colm Maher
1 905 372 9111 est
http://home-business.veretekk.com
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Home Business: The Promise and The Dream
A home based business is all about achieving the American Dream or The Promise of America. It is all about the realization that whatever negative circumstances you are in right now can be changed for the better. The right home based business gives you the vehicle (and money) you need to get from "out under your circumstances" so you too have a shot at achieving whatever the American Dream means to you. It can be done with sweat equity, part time and on the internet and it won't cost you much money.
Our home based business options presented here are all legitimate, respectable and do-able money -making businesses. Do as much research as you like, and at the end, I am sure you will agree with my assessment.While they all require a relatively small investment to get started, they are no where near what even the cheapest franchise would cost you. One, in fact, can be done for $10 per month. No we don'y have any for no money down. The fact that you can easily do it from home avoids the high start up of most traditional, conventional businesses: money for office/warehouse/workshop space and all the money required for overhead that comes with this space like electricity, heat, municipal taxes and telephone/internet connections.
The "Democratization of Wealth", a new term coined by Paul Zane Pilser, using the Home Bsed Business model is unfolding all around you and me. Technology has leveled the playing field so that we all can have our shot at sharing the wealth. In the early years of the 20 th century only the wealthy drove cars. Henry Ford caused an economic and social revolution by making cars for the common man. This global HomeBased Business Model does the same for business as Henry Ford did for the automobile. This Home Based Business is revolutionary because businesses including franchises are usually reserved for people with money.(lots of money) What if there was something the common hard working average Joe or Josephine could do without a heavy investment? There is.
Our home based business options presented here are all legitimate, respectable and do-able money -making businesses. Do as much research as you like, and at the end, I am sure you will agree with my assessment.While they all require a relatively small investment to get started, they are no where near what even the cheapest franchise would cost you. One, in fact, can be done for $10 per month. No we don'y have any for no money down. The fact that you can easily do it from home avoids the high start up of most traditional, conventional businesses: money for office/warehouse/workshop space and all the money required for overhead that comes with this space like electricity, heat, municipal taxes and telephone/internet connections.
The "Democratization of Wealth", a new term coined by Paul Zane Pilser, using the Home Bsed Business model is unfolding all around you and me. Technology has leveled the playing field so that we all can have our shot at sharing the wealth. In the early years of the 20 th century only the wealthy drove cars. Henry Ford caused an economic and social revolution by making cars for the common man. This global HomeBased Business Model does the same for business as Henry Ford did for the automobile. This Home Based Business is revolutionary because businesses including franchises are usually reserved for people with money.(lots of money) What if there was something the common hard working average Joe or Josephine could do without a heavy investment? There is.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Keywords are Key Words
On Google there are only 2 ways to make the first page: you either earn this right by doing everything right on your website to attract the search engine spiders or you pay for Google ads. The former is a lot more work but it is also a lot cheaper. It helps a lot if you a website design program that analyses your website for keyword density, headings etc as you go. But even if you have a great website, you are left the the problem of marketing this website. This is where a company called Veretekk can really help you out. Originally started as an internet marketing company for small business, it promises big results even for experienced seo consultants. If you want to get exposure/traffic/ranking, then consider using Veretekk. The key to using Veretekk is your user name. If you go to my Veretekk home page http://seosoho.veretekk.com , you will immediately hear instructions re the username being a keyword. This part of the process is critical because everything you do later depends on this keyword. Best to call me so I can explain in more detail. For a test drive though, you can pick your best shot(after you decide on the right keyword you can create another silver system in Veretekk), sign up for free Silver system, then configure this system using the Affiliate Portal. If you do this, you will see keywords figure prominently in the "Configuration section" .They also are important in your Title tag, and your Meta tags, as well as your Description section. All these sections relate directly to your Veretekk user name which should be the keyword that best describes your business. At the same time you should not be too general or too specific. Read my last blog about the importance of Word Tracker. If your keyword it too general, you may have a ton of competition which means it will take a long time to get to the front page of Google. Once you get there, the results can be worthwhile.If you are patient and keeping doing the work required without seeing immediate results, then that's ok. If you want a quicker fix, chose a keyword more specific to your business without being too specific. If you are very specific, you will get to the top in Google with Veretekk very quickly. Problem is you won't have a lot of traffic because people may not search for you using your keywords. So its a balancing act and trial and error. It's been said that using Veretekk is like drilling for oil. You will hit some dry holes especially at first but you will always be focusing on finding the gusher. Once you find it your internet presence will pay off, big time. Veretekk requires work and study but it is a serious tool that's available to you so you can improve your business. It also has a built in affiliate marketing program so that when you get results you can happily promote it to other people and develop another income stream for your company.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Product Value
Too often product value is interpreted to mean low price or competitive pricing. Value as it relates to products should almost certainly include the fact that the products do what they say they do and that they work for you. If you are selling soap on a rope, it might be a nice looking soap which you can hang conveniently in your shower stall, but if it doesn't do the job of cleaning you up, it's not much good. No matter how cheap this soap may be, it's still a waste of money. The most expensive shoes you will ever buy are the ones you never wear. On the other hand, shoes that could be considered expensive, say $125, if worn almost everyday, could be the cheapest shoes you've ever worn.
When it comes to health food, vitamins and minerals and such, true value is really important. It is common knowledge that some vitamins and mineral products are actually useless because there's nothing of value in them. So no matter how cheap they are, they are really expensive. Proactive consumers can usually sniff out the duds fairly quickly with a little research. For example, if you are evaluating an online health and wellness business and all they talk about is the money you make, it should make you wonder about lack of product information. Maybe there's nothing of real value in the product? It should certainly force you to question their priorities.
On the other hand, serious health and wellness opportunities often are focused on cutting edge science that may not be all that easy to understand especially for lay people. The important point here is the crediblity of the science and the people behind the product. It's important that these two elements are in place but not that you understand all the science. How many people know why aspirin works? How many people take cholesterol drugs who understand how they work? How many people know all about how their car actually works? Does this stop them from driving?
"Buyer beware" is an extremely important axiom that can sometimes get temporarily forgotten when there's a lot of hype. Smoke and mirrors can sometimes cloud your vision and clutter your thinking, but sooner or later, true product value matters. As the saying goes "you can fool some of the people all of the time, some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people, all of the time." Some business like to say that the management system or the business deveopment system is more important than the products. Products are the cornerstone of any business, especially health care products. Sure business systems can make or break the success of a company but a business system based on questionable products is doomed to failure. Sooner or later, product value (credibility) matters. Your body will tell you.
For more information http://www.healthwellnessopportunity.com
When it comes to health food, vitamins and minerals and such, true value is really important. It is common knowledge that some vitamins and mineral products are actually useless because there's nothing of value in them. So no matter how cheap they are, they are really expensive. Proactive consumers can usually sniff out the duds fairly quickly with a little research. For example, if you are evaluating an online health and wellness business and all they talk about is the money you make, it should make you wonder about lack of product information. Maybe there's nothing of real value in the product? It should certainly force you to question their priorities.
On the other hand, serious health and wellness opportunities often are focused on cutting edge science that may not be all that easy to understand especially for lay people. The important point here is the crediblity of the science and the people behind the product. It's important that these two elements are in place but not that you understand all the science. How many people know why aspirin works? How many people take cholesterol drugs who understand how they work? How many people know all about how their car actually works? Does this stop them from driving?
"Buyer beware" is an extremely important axiom that can sometimes get temporarily forgotten when there's a lot of hype. Smoke and mirrors can sometimes cloud your vision and clutter your thinking, but sooner or later, true product value matters. As the saying goes "you can fool some of the people all of the time, some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people, all of the time." Some business like to say that the management system or the business deveopment system is more important than the products. Products are the cornerstone of any business, especially health care products. Sure business systems can make or break the success of a company but a business system based on questionable products is doomed to failure. Sooner or later, product value (credibility) matters. Your body will tell you.
For more information http://www.healthwellnessopportunity.com
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Triple Threat
In musical theatre, the term "Triple Threat" refers to the 3 basic stage/screen skills: acting, singing and dancing. If you become highly proficient in these 3 areas, the chances of landing a role and launching a career are increased by at least 3x and possibly more. If you apply this thinking to business, you simply don't place all your hopes on one product or service to do it all for you. You diversify in a coherent fashion where all parts of the business work together to achieve the common goal.
In the home business arena, many new entrepeneurs get stuck in a rut promoting only one opportunity. It's "an all your eggs in one basket" approach. This is fine if it works. You also don't want to be seen as promoting numerous opportunities so you start looking like a junkie. The emphasis should always be on a coherent plan working towards a common goal.
The "'Triple Threat" that I have developed revolves around 3 areas : an excellent heath and wellness opportunity to serve an ever growing market for the forseeable future; a low cost but effective lead generation system to feed this health opportunity; and a search optimization strategy (seo) that works towards getting the primary business website ranked highly on the search engines so there is a constant supply of new customers. All 3 areas are profit centres and all work towards the common goal. All accept the current reality of the internet and its role in helping home business achieve it's obvious potential in the market place. At the same time, this overcomes many of the hurdles that many people face in attempting to build a new lifestyle for themselves via a home based business opportunity.
The good thing about this "Triple Threat" is that you can pick and choose what's best for you. You can adopt the wellness opportunity program, use the leads program or the seo program all independant from each other. All of these programs come with a heavy investment in training and education. This is definitely not a get rich quick scheme but a thorough business like approach to creating an income stream on the web.
http://www.colm-maher.com
colm@colm-maher.com
In the home business arena, many new entrepeneurs get stuck in a rut promoting only one opportunity. It's "an all your eggs in one basket" approach. This is fine if it works. You also don't want to be seen as promoting numerous opportunities so you start looking like a junkie. The emphasis should always be on a coherent plan working towards a common goal.
The "'Triple Threat" that I have developed revolves around 3 areas : an excellent heath and wellness opportunity to serve an ever growing market for the forseeable future; a low cost but effective lead generation system to feed this health opportunity; and a search optimization strategy (seo) that works towards getting the primary business website ranked highly on the search engines so there is a constant supply of new customers. All 3 areas are profit centres and all work towards the common goal. All accept the current reality of the internet and its role in helping home business achieve it's obvious potential in the market place. At the same time, this overcomes many of the hurdles that many people face in attempting to build a new lifestyle for themselves via a home based business opportunity.
The good thing about this "Triple Threat" is that you can pick and choose what's best for you. You can adopt the wellness opportunity program, use the leads program or the seo program all independant from each other. All of these programs come with a heavy investment in training and education. This is definitely not a get rich quick scheme but a thorough business like approach to creating an income stream on the web.
http://www.colm-maher.com
colm@colm-maher.com
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Website Builder Traffic Tools
Do you wonder about your website? Is it ranked? Where is it ranked? An excellent free tool for automatically tracking your website is http://www.rankingcheck.com/ . It allows you to track up to 10 websites free and notifies you of any changes in these rankings at Google, MSN and Yahoo.
Demographics is fundamental to your marketing but do you really know the numbers. An excellent site for key word, website demographics is http://adlab.msn.com/Demographics-Prediction/ Just plug in your website address and some keywords and find out the age and gender segments you are really addressing.
The web is all about niche marketing. A great way to keep track of your niche to see what others are doing and to get new ideas is simply to sign up for a Google alert. It notifies you of any new developments as often as you want. It's easy to modify, delete as you wish.
If you are looking for free leads and a way to get your message out across the internet, Veretekk deserves a look. A couple of Portals could be important for your business development http://leads-plus.blastomatic.com/ and http://leads-plus.etracking.net/ There are a few others but I'll let you poke around a bit. Use Veretekk if you want to get your website ranked well on the search engines. It works.
Demographics is fundamental to your marketing but do you really know the numbers. An excellent site for key word, website demographics is http://adlab.msn.com/Demographics-Prediction/ Just plug in your website address and some keywords and find out the age and gender segments you are really addressing.
The web is all about niche marketing. A great way to keep track of your niche to see what others are doing and to get new ideas is simply to sign up for a Google alert. It notifies you of any new developments as often as you want. It's easy to modify, delete as you wish.
If you are looking for free leads and a way to get your message out across the internet, Veretekk deserves a look. A couple of Portals could be important for your business development http://leads-plus.blastomatic.com/ and http://leads-plus.etracking.net/ There are a few others but I'll let you poke around a bit. Use Veretekk if you want to get your website ranked well on the search engines. It works.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Mega or Mini Websites
Is it wise to have one huge mega website covering each aspect of your business or several mini websites focusing on specific areas? I have recently decided to go with the mega website plan for now. I will be closely watching the results over the next six months. Based on my last six months, the mini website strategy has not worked. Perhaps I should have given it more time? Based on experience in other areas, I find that if something's going to work, you know it by initial results that just keep building-- success breeds success.
My decision was partly based on a comment I read that really stated the obvious but it sunk in: people search the net looking for information and when they find a good website, they save it so they can return later to read/learn more. So the question I had was: was there any real value in each of my mini websites that would result in people saving any of my mini websites? Well there was value but was it enough value? The other problem with multiple websites is that people never see the whole picture of your business. Can they make a good decision without all the facts? I doubt it.
I understand that website content is supposed to be the number one reason for high rankings in the search engines like Google but I am not sure that's 100 % true. Based on this argument, a mega website wins every time. It's certainly easier to manage one large website since you know where everything is. When you have multiple webstes, sometimes it takes time to find articles/pages that you know are out there but on which website?
From an advertising perspective, a mega website wins every time because you focus on one website rather than splitting your time and money between advertisng multiple websites. Multiple website could also cause confusion in the minds of the searcher. I know for a fact that once you confuse a consumer, you have given them a reason not to buy and they move on. If you have too many mini websites, the consumer could easily think you are in multiple businesses and you could lose credibility and a customer.
The upside of mini websites is that they can cater to specific niche markets that the mega website will miss. For example, the new mega website I writing about http://www.wellnessopportunity.org is most certainly about building a wellness home business and stresses serious wellness products but it also talks about getting leads for your business, website development for your business and search engine optimization (seo). Now would you expect a "wellness opportunity" website to delve into such matters? No. If you have a web based home business, shouldn't you know or learn about this? Yes.
I don't have an answer to the mega mini question yet but I am sure I will learn as I go over the next 6 months.
My decision was partly based on a comment I read that really stated the obvious but it sunk in: people search the net looking for information and when they find a good website, they save it so they can return later to read/learn more. So the question I had was: was there any real value in each of my mini websites that would result in people saving any of my mini websites? Well there was value but was it enough value? The other problem with multiple websites is that people never see the whole picture of your business. Can they make a good decision without all the facts? I doubt it.
I understand that website content is supposed to be the number one reason for high rankings in the search engines like Google but I am not sure that's 100 % true. Based on this argument, a mega website wins every time. It's certainly easier to manage one large website since you know where everything is. When you have multiple webstes, sometimes it takes time to find articles/pages that you know are out there but on which website?
From an advertising perspective, a mega website wins every time because you focus on one website rather than splitting your time and money between advertisng multiple websites. Multiple website could also cause confusion in the minds of the searcher. I know for a fact that once you confuse a consumer, you have given them a reason not to buy and they move on. If you have too many mini websites, the consumer could easily think you are in multiple businesses and you could lose credibility and a customer.
The upside of mini websites is that they can cater to specific niche markets that the mega website will miss. For example, the new mega website I writing about http://www.wellnessopportunity.org is most certainly about building a wellness home business and stresses serious wellness products but it also talks about getting leads for your business, website development for your business and search engine optimization (seo). Now would you expect a "wellness opportunity" website to delve into such matters? No. If you have a web based home business, shouldn't you know or learn about this? Yes.
I don't have an answer to the mega mini question yet but I am sure I will learn as I go over the next 6 months.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Reduce Personal Income Taxes
There are many advantages to owning your home business. Some are purely emotional, and some are based on sound business planning. The potential tax savings related to owning and operating a small home business are often overlooked or simply glossed over. This probably due to the fact that taxes are complicated, that's why they are all kinds of accountants focusing on the wide variety of tax specialities.
There is one company, Wall and Associates, that provides a service to small home business owners in Canada and the USA. The "Easy as ABC" website features a free tax savings calculator that uses their estimated numbers for possible deductions once you plug in your expected income. The system also allows you to change the numbers as you like. As I said the system is free with no strings attached. It's definitely worth checking out because it has tax information for small businesses in both Canada and the USA.
It's a good website to refer prospects to since it is a third party independant accounting company that specializes in the home business tax field. Recommend by Immunotec.
Colm Maher
colm@wellnessopportunity.org
Skype "colmbonne"
There is one company, Wall and Associates, that provides a service to small home business owners in Canada and the USA. The "Easy as ABC" website features a free tax savings calculator that uses their estimated numbers for possible deductions once you plug in your expected income. The system also allows you to change the numbers as you like. As I said the system is free with no strings attached. It's definitely worth checking out because it has tax information for small businesses in both Canada and the USA.
It's a good website to refer prospects to since it is a third party independant accounting company that specializes in the home business tax field. Recommend by Immunotec.
Colm Maher
colm@wellnessopportunity.org
Skype "colmbonne"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hype in the Wellness Business
One problem with the wellness industry is that there is a lot of hype. Many of the vitamin, minerals, "health foods" on the market have been designed by accountants not scientists. Marketing teams push the envelope on health claims that are not supported by science or anything else. The real problem here is to sort out what's real and what's hype. Hype can look and sound like the real thing because the people promoting it are good at what they do. The amazing part to me is that 1. they get away with it and 2. They don't seem to mind playing with people's health just to make a buck. It is no wonder that many consumers feel that vitamins just don't work. In order for vitamins and such to work, there has to be something of real value in the pill or the box. As a result of these shady practises, the Canadian and US governments are getting more involved in natural product regulation. This will eventually get rid of the shady characters in the wellness business but it may also stifle the development of future wellness products.
The drug industry is very much behind this regulation because they fear that this tiny wellness industry threatens their humongous empire. By the way, anytime you see a study in Google about certain vitamins, minerals or health foods that don't work, check around a bit and find out who funded the study and what were the ingredients of the formulation used. I have found that a lot of studies are funded by drug companies and the potency of the product tested is way under effective levels. But who reads the background material? The bottom line is that you the consumer have to be proactive about the wellness products you consider. Do your own research. If the people/institutions/companies doing the research are credible, then the product is probably ok. Just remember, everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for all. Even drugs do not work for everyone--I've heard that some drugs only work for 50% of the people who take them. So when your doctor says "here, try this" That's what he/she means. He or she doesn't know for sure whether it's going to work for you either. And then there's the side effects. Drug companies have managed to portray themselves as the great health saviours of mankind. The problem is they are not focused on the cure but on treating the symptoms. If you cure someone, you have lost a customer. If you treat the symptoms, you have a customer for life. This improves the bottom line and makes accountants and investors happy.
The bottom line for consumers is pro activity. Don't make your health, someone else's responsibility. Whether its a drug or a wellness product, do your own due diligence, as best you can, until you are satisfied. Then monitor the results you are getting. It can seem like a fulltime job at times but your health is worth it. Where would you be without it?
The drug industry is very much behind this regulation because they fear that this tiny wellness industry threatens their humongous empire. By the way, anytime you see a study in Google about certain vitamins, minerals or health foods that don't work, check around a bit and find out who funded the study and what were the ingredients of the formulation used. I have found that a lot of studies are funded by drug companies and the potency of the product tested is way under effective levels. But who reads the background material? The bottom line is that you the consumer have to be proactive about the wellness products you consider. Do your own research. If the people/institutions/companies doing the research are credible, then the product is probably ok. Just remember, everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for all. Even drugs do not work for everyone--I've heard that some drugs only work for 50% of the people who take them. So when your doctor says "here, try this" That's what he/she means. He or she doesn't know for sure whether it's going to work for you either. And then there's the side effects. Drug companies have managed to portray themselves as the great health saviours of mankind. The problem is they are not focused on the cure but on treating the symptoms. If you cure someone, you have lost a customer. If you treat the symptoms, you have a customer for life. This improves the bottom line and makes accountants and investors happy.
The bottom line for consumers is pro activity. Don't make your health, someone else's responsibility. Whether its a drug or a wellness product, do your own due diligence, as best you can, until you are satisfied. Then monitor the results you are getting. It can seem like a fulltime job at times but your health is worth it. Where would you be without it?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Lost on the Net: MLM Websites
If you are a member of a network marketing company that boasts of having great distributor websites that will generate business for you, think again about their effectiveness. These websites may well bring you business if you personally refer a lot of people to your exact website address but only if your customers spell everything just right. If your customer forgets this address and just types in the name of your host company and your name too--no dice-- your customer may get the company but not you. You could lose him or her right there.
These "distributor websites" are called replicated websites because all distributors have the exact same website except for very minor differences. There's usually not much space for you to get your personalty across or differentiate yourself from others. It's really just like a glorified, very detailed brochure which you hand to people. That means you have to personally hand out this brochure to every single prospect. Sounds just like conventional MLM marketing wrapped up in something of a disguise called the internet. The replicated website idea has it backwards: on the internet, people find you ; if they can't find you, you might as well not exist.
The internet is all about people finding people with solutions for their problems. The new consumer finds you, you don't necessarily find them . The new consumer is being proactive by looking for a new product, new ideas, or perhaps new business concepts. The old consumer watches TV and is told what to buy. Replicated websites are for the old style consumer and the old style salesperson.
In order to be an active player on the internet, you have to learn the new rules. You have to become internet savvy. If you want people to find you on the internet, you will have to bone up on your internet skills. If you plan on being successful in mlm or any small business, the internet needs to be mastered. It's not going away anytime soon so the skills you acquire will always be useful. In such a radically changing environment, the emphasis will always be on learning new skills.
These "distributor websites" are called replicated websites because all distributors have the exact same website except for very minor differences. There's usually not much space for you to get your personalty across or differentiate yourself from others. It's really just like a glorified, very detailed brochure which you hand to people. That means you have to personally hand out this brochure to every single prospect. Sounds just like conventional MLM marketing wrapped up in something of a disguise called the internet. The replicated website idea has it backwards: on the internet, people find you ; if they can't find you, you might as well not exist.
The internet is all about people finding people with solutions for their problems. The new consumer finds you, you don't necessarily find them . The new consumer is being proactive by looking for a new product, new ideas, or perhaps new business concepts. The old consumer watches TV and is told what to buy. Replicated websites are for the old style consumer and the old style salesperson.
In order to be an active player on the internet, you have to learn the new rules. You have to become internet savvy. If you want people to find you on the internet, you will have to bone up on your internet skills. If you plan on being successful in mlm or any small business, the internet needs to be mastered. It's not going away anytime soon so the skills you acquire will always be useful. In such a radically changing environment, the emphasis will always be on learning new skills.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
New Immunotec Distributor Website
I launched a new website today http://www.immunotecdistributor.com . As an Immunotec distributor, you have your own independant but replicated website that has tone of information on it except nobody can find it while searching google. None of the Immunotec websites for distributors show up. So I created my own website that will show up. I also have a Veretekk system to support the marketing of this website http://immunotecdistributor.veretekk.com I am sure that within a month my new website will be at the top of the hits list at Google for the keywords immunotec distributor. I also launched a new website last week helping other networkers to the same thing http://www.homebusinessseo.com It is already in the top ten for the keywords chosen. It is supported by Veretekk http://homebusinessseo.veretekk.com
Monday, June 16, 2008
Small Business Promoted by Mastercard
Mastercard has termed owning your own small business "priceless". No suits, no cubicles, no corporate ladder to climb. Really. I just find it a little amusing that this giant worldwide corporation is promoting small business ownership.I know, they just want to make more money but they have tons of ways of doing that without promoting small business ownership as an alternative to the corporate ladder to success. Could it be that small business ownership has finally joined the mainstream? Could it be that we are in for massive growth in this area?
I wonder what the corporate ladder climbers think of this ad? Maybe on days that the traffic to work is horrendous, when the boss treats them like dirt, when they don't get the raise or promotion they were expecting, or maybe when they get laid off, they might think of this add and wonder . " Owning your own small business: priceless".
I wonder what the corporate ladder climbers think of this ad? Maybe on days that the traffic to work is horrendous, when the boss treats them like dirt, when they don't get the raise or promotion they were expecting, or maybe when they get laid off, they might think of this add and wonder . " Owning your own small business: priceless".
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I Launched a New Website Today
Today I submiited a new website to Google called Home Business SEO http://www.homebusinessseo.com . It basically chronicals my journey from knowing absolutely nothing to almost knowing absolutely nothing about websites and search engine optimization. It's been interesting and I have certainly learned a lot and have much to learn but they say that's what keeps you young and alive. For the yet uninitiated, it could prove to be a very useful website to discover not because of me but because of the other people at websites which I have linked to that have helped me understand just enough to keep moving forward. Tomorrow, I will start working towards making this website #1 on Google by employing the powers of Veretekk. http://homebusinessseo.veretekk.com
Monday, June 9, 2008
It Just Makes Perfect Sense
Have you ever bought a suit to look better at work? How about a new dress? Have you ever bought a car or upgraded your car so you could get to work? Have you ever taken night courses so you could upgrade your job? Did any of these things pay off? Did they make you feel better? Did you feel that your future maybe was just a tiny bit brighter?
Did you know that there's something out there that could give you a better shot at life. Make you feel better. Help you get ahead. If you answered yes to any of the above questions then you had decided sometime in your life to do something about getting ahead. What if you could do something for yourself to get ahead that didn't involve your job or your boss ? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you know that it is important to invest in yourself. I am asking you now to take a little further step for your self.
It's a fact that those who really do well in life have their own business. Most people think they can't afford it or do it. That is simply not true any more. All you really have to do is take ownership of your life and career. Decide that "if it's going to be, it's up to me". After that you just need a vehicle to get you there. But you say "I don't have the money". Can you afford $10.00 a month for GDI(that's less than 2 packs of cigarettes). How about $30 per year? (for Immunotec)How about $42.00 per month.(for Veretekk) If you can see your way clear to this kind of money, you can afford it. If you can't, look at what you are spending money on: cable tv, pay tv, eating at restaurants, smoking, booze. Any of those things going to change your life for the better?
What we have here is a complete package. Several home business packages and, just as important, a way to promote any one of your home based businesses.
You can make excuses or you can make your life better. It's up to you. I am just here to act as a guide. (not a boss)
Did you know that there's something out there that could give you a better shot at life. Make you feel better. Help you get ahead. If you answered yes to any of the above questions then you had decided sometime in your life to do something about getting ahead. What if you could do something for yourself to get ahead that didn't involve your job or your boss ? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you know that it is important to invest in yourself. I am asking you now to take a little further step for your self.
It's a fact that those who really do well in life have their own business. Most people think they can't afford it or do it. That is simply not true any more. All you really have to do is take ownership of your life and career. Decide that "if it's going to be, it's up to me". After that you just need a vehicle to get you there. But you say "I don't have the money". Can you afford $10.00 a month for GDI(that's less than 2 packs of cigarettes). How about $30 per year? (for Immunotec)How about $42.00 per month.(for Veretekk) If you can see your way clear to this kind of money, you can afford it. If you can't, look at what you are spending money on: cable tv, pay tv, eating at restaurants, smoking, booze. Any of those things going to change your life for the better?
What we have here is a complete package. Several home business packages and, just as important, a way to promote any one of your home based businesses.
You can make excuses or you can make your life better. It's up to you. I am just here to act as a guide. (not a boss)
The Internet Fertile Ground for the Gullible
There are many companies out there on the Internet that promote health products that don't actually work but if you pay some doctors enough, he or she will say something that makes the product sounds like it could work for some people some of the time. Doctors can be very compelling even when they are talking about something they basically know nothing about. In some situations, actors are often paid to act as doctors and do a great job most of the time. Executives from "natural health" companies know the rules which have been pretty loose up until now. It's almost unthinkable what some companies have done to promote worthless products that pray on the hopes and fears of sick people or people who are trying to avoid sickness.
So the golden rule is the old axiom "buyer beware". Check out the company as much as you can. Check the research out by reading it yourself. This can be complex but you will get the gist of it. At least, you should have a idea on whether the research is real or sort of made up, or whether the truth has been stretched a little. Personal testimonies, while inspiring, have to be discounted due to their personal, subjective nature. They also lend themselves to hype. People who are trying to sell something sometimes tell lies. I know that's hard to believe---they were so nice. That's why we think so highly of used car salesmen and the like. Scientific research and peer reviewed published works are by far the best source information to look for in evaluating a product and a company. If the claims are made with no back up documentation, it's kind of like buying a "terrific" used car without seeing the service records.
Evaluating a product and a company are really important in maintaining your state of health and wellness but it's doubly important if you want to build a successful wellness home business. Who wants to see your business go to pot after the real facts immerge about the fraudulent nature of the claims made about a product? If you want to waste a lot of time, lose money and lose credibility that's an excellent route to take. If not, the due diligence you undertake before you really start promoting a product line is time extremely well spent. I guess that's why I'm always a little leary about "fast start" bonuses and the like. The other very famous phrase is "when the dream is big enough, the facts don't count" Really. It's a message I read as "don't take the time to really check this out, you might find the out the truth". So do your due diligence and make your decision. Once you've done this properly, go for the gold.
Just a little warning: Once you are satisfied don't be a sucker to your own negative thoughts that mascarade as "facts" manufactured by you to look highly reasonable. They are nothing but doubts thrown your way to block your progress. It's your own mind setting out to destroy your chances of success.
So the golden rule is the old axiom "buyer beware". Check out the company as much as you can. Check the research out by reading it yourself. This can be complex but you will get the gist of it. At least, you should have a idea on whether the research is real or sort of made up, or whether the truth has been stretched a little. Personal testimonies, while inspiring, have to be discounted due to their personal, subjective nature. They also lend themselves to hype. People who are trying to sell something sometimes tell lies. I know that's hard to believe---they were so nice. That's why we think so highly of used car salesmen and the like. Scientific research and peer reviewed published works are by far the best source information to look for in evaluating a product and a company. If the claims are made with no back up documentation, it's kind of like buying a "terrific" used car without seeing the service records.
Evaluating a product and a company are really important in maintaining your state of health and wellness but it's doubly important if you want to build a successful wellness home business. Who wants to see your business go to pot after the real facts immerge about the fraudulent nature of the claims made about a product? If you want to waste a lot of time, lose money and lose credibility that's an excellent route to take. If not, the due diligence you undertake before you really start promoting a product line is time extremely well spent. I guess that's why I'm always a little leary about "fast start" bonuses and the like. The other very famous phrase is "when the dream is big enough, the facts don't count" Really. It's a message I read as "don't take the time to really check this out, you might find the out the truth". So do your due diligence and make your decision. Once you've done this properly, go for the gold.
Just a little warning: Once you are satisfied don't be a sucker to your own negative thoughts that mascarade as "facts" manufactured by you to look highly reasonable. They are nothing but doubts thrown your way to block your progress. It's your own mind setting out to destroy your chances of success.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Business Crediblity
Back in the old days of Amway, you only had to see if your white shirts were whiter and that your LOC actually cleaned what it was supposed to clean to know that your products worked. Enrich International, used to sell a fibre and senna combination that left no doubt that they worked for most people. Public meeting extolling the virtues of having a good bowel movement were good for business. (what a way to make a living).
Most of the time, it's good to sell and promote products where the benefits are easily proven by personal observation. However, there are many products, especially, nutritional products where the efficacy of the product is much more difficult to prove especially in the short term. Most of these nutritional type products are accompanied by personal testimonies that are heavily discounted in medical circles. I have been in many different mlm's and all stated that their products were the best on the market. "On the cutting edge" is a common phrase. So I started wondering, "how do you know they are the best products?". What research has been done? Where is the evidence? (Usually no where or highly questionable). Most of these type claims come from the marketing department, not the research department. (What research department?). It's unfortunate that many of the natural product/vitamin industry products are born in the business office, and formulated by the accounting department and sold to us as "natural wonders". Increased regulation in both Canada and the USA should rid of this kind of "rip off" business practises.
The question remains, how do you know the products actually work. If they work self evidently, great! If they do not, do your due diligence about the research that went into the formulation and the subsequent clinical studies to prove the products work. Why waste money on products that don't work when you buy products that do work. The most expensive pair of shoes you can buy are those you never wear. The most expensive vitamin or food concoction that doesn't benefit you in any way is the most expensive health product you will ever buy. Finally and most important: do you want to recommend a product to a friend or customer that does not work? That's why you should always say: "I don't know if it going to work for you or not,but what if it does?" Doctors' will give you a prescription and say "try this" (He or she's not sure it's going to work for you either).
'Hype" is often used in network marketing companies to get the troops excited so they can go out and recruit more people. If the "hype" isn't supported by facts, you can end up featured on Market Place on the CBC TV network or some other USA investigative TV unit. That's not good for business or your health so its best to check the products and the people before you invest your time, money and energy in a bogus business relationship.
Most of the time, it's good to sell and promote products where the benefits are easily proven by personal observation. However, there are many products, especially, nutritional products where the efficacy of the product is much more difficult to prove especially in the short term. Most of these nutritional type products are accompanied by personal testimonies that are heavily discounted in medical circles. I have been in many different mlm's and all stated that their products were the best on the market. "On the cutting edge" is a common phrase. So I started wondering, "how do you know they are the best products?". What research has been done? Where is the evidence? (Usually no where or highly questionable). Most of these type claims come from the marketing department, not the research department. (What research department?). It's unfortunate that many of the natural product/vitamin industry products are born in the business office, and formulated by the accounting department and sold to us as "natural wonders". Increased regulation in both Canada and the USA should rid of this kind of "rip off" business practises.
The question remains, how do you know the products actually work. If they work self evidently, great! If they do not, do your due diligence about the research that went into the formulation and the subsequent clinical studies to prove the products work. Why waste money on products that don't work when you buy products that do work. The most expensive pair of shoes you can buy are those you never wear. The most expensive vitamin or food concoction that doesn't benefit you in any way is the most expensive health product you will ever buy. Finally and most important: do you want to recommend a product to a friend or customer that does not work? That's why you should always say: "I don't know if it going to work for you or not,but what if it does?" Doctors' will give you a prescription and say "try this" (He or she's not sure it's going to work for you either).
'Hype" is often used in network marketing companies to get the troops excited so they can go out and recruit more people. If the "hype" isn't supported by facts, you can end up featured on Market Place on the CBC TV network or some other USA investigative TV unit. That's not good for business or your health so its best to check the products and the people before you invest your time, money and energy in a bogus business relationship.
Cost of Gas Fosters Home Business
In Canada, regular gasoline is $1.27 per litre or $5.59 per gallon. In the USA, prices per gallon are close to $4.00 per gallon. Why the difference? Doesn't Canada have a good supply of oil? Yes, Canada does have a good supply but world demand determines the price too. In Canada, we also have additional taxes built into the price. As a result, we can always say somebody is benefiting somewhere . (even if it's the federal civil servant with a top flight benefits program)
I hear on the the USA news that some people have to decide to buy food or put gas in their tank. Others don't know whether to go to work or not--just too expensive. This should be very worrisome for anybody in the tourist business in Canada and the USA. People seem to be running scared until they adjust to these new prices. People in Europe have long ago got used to high energy prices that's why they have smaller vehicles. The big loser has to be GM. The same time they released the Hummer, GM killed a functional electric car that would look good just about now. See the movie "Who killed the electric car?"
What if you didn't need a car to make a living? What if you don't have to participate in the rush hour? No one would miss you. What if you could work at home? You can.
I hear on the the USA news that some people have to decide to buy food or put gas in their tank. Others don't know whether to go to work or not--just too expensive. This should be very worrisome for anybody in the tourist business in Canada and the USA. People seem to be running scared until they adjust to these new prices. People in Europe have long ago got used to high energy prices that's why they have smaller vehicles. The big loser has to be GM. The same time they released the Hummer, GM killed a functional electric car that would look good just about now. See the movie "Who killed the electric car?"
What if you didn't need a car to make a living? What if you don't have to participate in the rush hour? No one would miss you. What if you could work at home? You can.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Solid Business Foundation
Whey is not all the same
Many milk derivatives and whey products exist on the market place for health conscious individuals. These products are extremely variable in their protein content, their concentration, the amount of denaturization (damage to the original protein structure), the actual types of proteins present, and other factors which play important roles in the effectiveness of the product. (i.e. concentration of protein, types of protein, fat content, lactose content, bioavailablity, biological activity) Immunocal is a protein isolate. Whey protein "isolates" are the purist form, being 90 to 98% protein with negligible fat and lactose per serving. Whereas whey protein "concentrates" usually contain between 70 to 75% protein with signifant levels of fats, lactose and often many toxins that accompany these. Immunocal contains sub families of proteins with the highest levels of glutathione precursors (building blocks)
available. The unique way that Immunotec extracts these proteins intact (undenatured) in their natural form accounts for our ability to deliver high levels of cystine and cysteine to the cell.
It was Dr G. Bounous who first described the importance of keeping these fragile proteins.
These techniques are not employed by other manufacturers whose products have been seriously
degraded by the time they reach your body. Notice that you will generally not find any warnings
against heating other proteins, because they are most often already seriously broken down.
As a business person, it's good to know your product is the best on the market with the scientific proof to back up the claim.
Many milk derivatives and whey products exist on the market place for health conscious individuals. These products are extremely variable in their protein content, their concentration, the amount of denaturization (damage to the original protein structure), the actual types of proteins present, and other factors which play important roles in the effectiveness of the product. (i.e. concentration of protein, types of protein, fat content, lactose content, bioavailablity, biological activity) Immunocal is a protein isolate. Whey protein "isolates" are the purist form, being 90 to 98% protein with negligible fat and lactose per serving. Whereas whey protein "concentrates" usually contain between 70 to 75% protein with signifant levels of fats, lactose and often many toxins that accompany these. Immunocal contains sub families of proteins with the highest levels of glutathione precursors (building blocks)
available. The unique way that Immunotec extracts these proteins intact (undenatured) in their natural form accounts for our ability to deliver high levels of cystine and cysteine to the cell.
It was Dr G. Bounous who first described the importance of keeping these fragile proteins.
These techniques are not employed by other manufacturers whose products have been seriously
degraded by the time they reach your body. Notice that you will generally not find any warnings
against heating other proteins, because they are most often already seriously broken down.
As a business person, it's good to know your product is the best on the market with the scientific proof to back up the claim.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Leverage
So what's leverage? A simple example of leverage is a crowbar or lever you or a thief might use to pry something open or move a tree stump. It's a simple device that gives you far more power than you would have without it.
Leverage at a Job (you have none)
When you have a job, you are there by yourself. You have no power other than you being physically present for x amount of time. You earn money in a linear fashion. That is 8 hours x 5 days = 40 hours. You get paid x$ for every hour you work. If you don't work, you don't get paid unless you have sick time but even that runs out. This lack of leverage often applies to self employed people as well as employees. The only real difference is that the self employed person has difficulty complaining to "the boss" about his lousy job. In addition, a 40 hour week can look like a vacation compared to the 60-70 hours a week his "new boss" lets him or her work.
Investors Leverage Money
Money managers, financial people and professional investors leverage their own or other peoples' money to earn more money. They earn money on the spread, between different rates of return, between interest rates, on stocks, bonds and other paper money. Often they invest in growth companies after they have done intensive research into the company and the market and sometimes receive excellent rates of return for their efforts. Sometimes its high risk and they get paid accordingly. It takes a lot of time, effort and know how to be good at this form of money making. It's not for the newbie and it does require money. Lots of it. It's not gambling on penny stocks or buying the latest glamorous stock. The golden rule is only invest with money you won't miss or can afford to lose. In other words, don't bet the house.
Real estate investors will often buy commercial properties or apartment buildings with rents offsetting the mortgage , taxes and repairs. As the debt is retired, more of the income becomes part of the asset column providing a good source of residual or passive income otherwise known as beach money.
Rock stars, movie stars and authors leverage their art. If rock starts, movie stars aand writers could not record their work, they'd be just working stiffs like the rest of us. It's the fact that their product can be copied and sold a zillion times over that makes them the big money. So they benefit big time because of technology. It also doesn't hurt that a huge industry has grown on these technologies which will, no doubt, perpetuate the income streams.
Traditional Business Owners Leverage People
A business owner often hires people for certain jobs that need to be done to generate the work or sales it takes to make the gross income for the company. Usually the more employees a company has the greater the gross sales and the greater the net profit. This net profit is generated by the work of all the employees but it flows into only one pocket and that belongs to the owner. As long as the employees keep the work up and as long as the boss is making sure the company is profitable, the money keeps flowing in. If a businessman is smart, he will organize the company in a systemized fashion where he is not really needed every single day. This means he can play golf and go to these far off so called business meetings to have fun. Of course, this all depends on finding and keeping good employees. That can take a while and good employees can be very difficult to replace. There is a huge upside. For every employee a business owner hires he receives 40 hours work. If he has 25 employees, this works out to 1000 hours per week or 50,000 hours per year . That's 25 years of work for one person: that's leverage.This is why John Paul Getty, one of the richest men in America at one time, is often quoted as saying, he ..."would rather have !% of the efforts of a hundred people rather than 100% of his own efforts". This multiplier effect can result in huge profits for shareholders and huge incomes for business owners.
Network Marketing Business Owners
This is a subset of the business owners section but there are significant differences. Some of the key differences are that you can become a business owner for next to nothing-- often less than $500, you can start part time and your income potential is beyond multiplication----it's in the biological growth arena. Everybody in the organization has as much potential to gain as the traditional boss in the conventional business except he doesn't have the employees or anywhere near the overhead a traditional business has. This why the pursuit of "beach money" is such a wise investment of your time and resources. You end up with "uncommon freedom": time and money. Where's the beach?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Business Tools Part 3
The internet is here to stay and anybody who thinks it can be avoided in building any kind of business is missing the boat. Where does anybody with an internet connection go to when they want to find out something new, find a new product or do some business or product research? Most likely, they google it. If you're not online, you are just out of this loop. If you are not on the internet with your very own website, you simply don't exist. If people find out you don't have a website, they are going to think you are too small or technically illiterate.
In Part 1, I wrote about getting your own website. Assuming you have one, you have the next problem. How are you going to let everyone, besides your mother, know that you have one? You could run around and tell everyone you meet or, you guessed it, you could use the internet. Now if you have great content and popular keywords, you might get your website ranked in the top 100. This is not great but's better than 426 th. How can you improve on this?
I discovered Veretekk when buying leads on line. It was a slow process of understanding what Veretekk was all about because I was not and am still not totally internet savvy. But Veretekk is. If you'r e willing to learn there's lots of free training both live and in print. There's lots of free stuff you can take advantage of immediately like free web pages so you can build back links to your main site, free web advertising to classified ad sites and websites. In addition, Veretekk has an internet home business presentation called "Money Machine" and a website that focuses on job losses and other economic issues called Sohomatic.
I view Veretekk as the marketing arm of my home business. It's working night and day even when I'm not. It uses website traffic portals to attract leads for my business. Every day, at least one person signs up and I've basically just got started. This blog was created on advice from Veretekk. It's a great business tool but like most tools, you will need time to master them. It's like learning to drive or sail. Once you know, how it's easy. I am here to help.
In Part 1, I wrote about getting your own website. Assuming you have one, you have the next problem. How are you going to let everyone, besides your mother, know that you have one? You could run around and tell everyone you meet or, you guessed it, you could use the internet. Now if you have great content and popular keywords, you might get your website ranked in the top 100. This is not great but's better than 426 th. How can you improve on this?
I discovered Veretekk when buying leads on line. It was a slow process of understanding what Veretekk was all about because I was not and am still not totally internet savvy. But Veretekk is. If you'r e willing to learn there's lots of free training both live and in print. There's lots of free stuff you can take advantage of immediately like free web pages so you can build back links to your main site, free web advertising to classified ad sites and websites. In addition, Veretekk has an internet home business presentation called "Money Machine" and a website that focuses on job losses and other economic issues called Sohomatic.
I view Veretekk as the marketing arm of my home business. It's working night and day even when I'm not. It uses website traffic portals to attract leads for my business. Every day, at least one person signs up and I've basically just got started. This blog was created on advice from Veretekk. It's a great business tool but like most tools, you will need time to master them. It's like learning to drive or sail. Once you know, how it's easy. I am here to help.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Business Tools Part 2
Client Retention
A major part of any business is attracting interested people who hopefully will eventually become customers. Customers that become repeat buyers are a very important asset to any type of business. It is also an area where most businesses just don't do a very good job. Client creation tools are given high priority but client retention tools are often overlooked. This is particularly important where there is a high degree of personal interaction between the business owner/salesperson and the customer i.e. real estate, investment advisors, network marketers, dentists, chiroprators, vetinarians, naturopaths, medical doctors, insurance agents etc. If business owners viewed client retention as "follow up" then perhaps it would be given more power.
We are all very busy and very focused on the next sale. Once a customer has purchased and gone home, they are often forgotten. Too bad. It is much easier to sell to an existing customer than to create a new customer. In some businesses, like real estate, the sell or buy cycle can be two, five or ten years. That's a long time when you need to make money in the present. That's where long term thinking comes in. The key here is that happy customers can talk. Existing happy customers are your best source of personal referrals. This is "your acre of diamonds".
How do you mine this "acre of diamonds". Occasional personal phone calls are good, occasional e mails are good, and snail mail works well too. These only work if you remember to do them. This is where a good contact management system can pay big dividends. The system I like is tied directly to a greeting card system. Once the customer relationship is established I enter his or her name, and basic information like date of purchase, birthdays, anniversaries, and whatever other days are relevant to them. I can then pick a card, write a personal message, sign it, and press send. By the way, this part is all done on my computer. Once I press send, the Send Out Cards in Utah prints the card, puts it in an envelope, addresses it, stamps it and mails it. All in a couple of days. It's like having a peronal secretary. SOC also reminds you of all the important dates to send cards via your contact management system. Cards can be totally customized with full color pictures on front or inside to make them totally personal.
It's a great client retention tool that will keep your name in front of your clients. It's a great way for some professionals to do their "reminder" mailings. Try it out. Send a card on me. You can send a card to yourself to see how well it works. If you are looking for a home based business, there is a business opportunity attached. Details on website.
A major part of any business is attracting interested people who hopefully will eventually become customers. Customers that become repeat buyers are a very important asset to any type of business. It is also an area where most businesses just don't do a very good job. Client creation tools are given high priority but client retention tools are often overlooked. This is particularly important where there is a high degree of personal interaction between the business owner/salesperson and the customer i.e. real estate, investment advisors, network marketers, dentists, chiroprators, vetinarians, naturopaths, medical doctors, insurance agents etc. If business owners viewed client retention as "follow up" then perhaps it would be given more power.
We are all very busy and very focused on the next sale. Once a customer has purchased and gone home, they are often forgotten. Too bad. It is much easier to sell to an existing customer than to create a new customer. In some businesses, like real estate, the sell or buy cycle can be two, five or ten years. That's a long time when you need to make money in the present. That's where long term thinking comes in. The key here is that happy customers can talk. Existing happy customers are your best source of personal referrals. This is "your acre of diamonds".
How do you mine this "acre of diamonds". Occasional personal phone calls are good, occasional e mails are good, and snail mail works well too. These only work if you remember to do them. This is where a good contact management system can pay big dividends. The system I like is tied directly to a greeting card system. Once the customer relationship is established I enter his or her name, and basic information like date of purchase, birthdays, anniversaries, and whatever other days are relevant to them. I can then pick a card, write a personal message, sign it, and press send. By the way, this part is all done on my computer. Once I press send, the Send Out Cards in Utah prints the card, puts it in an envelope, addresses it, stamps it and mails it. All in a couple of days. It's like having a peronal secretary. SOC also reminds you of all the important dates to send cards via your contact management system. Cards can be totally customized with full color pictures on front or inside to make them totally personal.
It's a great client retention tool that will keep your name in front of your clients. It's a great way for some professionals to do their "reminder" mailings. Try it out. Send a card on me. You can send a card to yourself to see how well it works. If you are looking for a home based business, there is a business opportunity attached. Details on website.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Business Tools Part 1
Every business needs certain specific tools to do the job or there wouldn't be much point in showing up for work. Picture the carpenter, plumber or electrician or worse your dentist without the right tools. If you have a home based office and business you need some tools in oder to get the job done. Besides the basics of a computer, internet connection, printer, fax machine and telephone, you need a method to advertise and promote your product or service to existing customers and develop a way of finding new customers. In order to do this effectively, you need the right tools to be able to initiate and sustain business relationships.
The first tool is a website. There are literally thousands of places on the internet where you can find website hosting, domain registration and web design. Most are designed for more than the home business model and can be quite intimidating to the new person who wants to promote a flegling home business. If you have a home based business associated with a network marketing company, then you are already familar with the concept, so why not take this one step further with Global Domains International. For $10 per month you can not only register your own domain name using any of the available domains i.e .com, .net, .org or .ws . This price also includes a web page design program which is fairly simple to use and you get 10 e mail addresses. (if you already have a website design program, you can upload this your site to GDI)Having your own website and email makes you look a lot more professional on the internet than just using your network marketing companies replicated website and hotmail, yahoo or google e mail.
There is another key benefit as well: GDI is a network marketing company so it pays you to assist other people get started with their own business. One thing I really like about GDI is that it is a global business that just about anyone can afford. One of the introductory websites is in 8 languages which should appeal to those whose primary business is already world wide. For those whose business is confined to North America, this gives you an opportunity to have a global presence.
The first tool is a website. There are literally thousands of places on the internet where you can find website hosting, domain registration and web design. Most are designed for more than the home business model and can be quite intimidating to the new person who wants to promote a flegling home business. If you have a home based business associated with a network marketing company, then you are already familar with the concept, so why not take this one step further with Global Domains International. For $10 per month you can not only register your own domain name using any of the available domains i.e .com, .net, .org or .ws . This price also includes a web page design program which is fairly simple to use and you get 10 e mail addresses. (if you already have a website design program, you can upload this your site to GDI)Having your own website and email makes you look a lot more professional on the internet than just using your network marketing companies replicated website and hotmail, yahoo or google e mail.
There is another key benefit as well: GDI is a network marketing company so it pays you to assist other people get started with their own business. One thing I really like about GDI is that it is a global business that just about anyone can afford. One of the introductory websites is in 8 languages which should appeal to those whose primary business is already world wide. For those whose business is confined to North America, this gives you an opportunity to have a global presence.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Home Office vs Home Business
What is a Home Office?
At its most basic level a home office is just a space in the house which is called the "office". It could be in a closet, beside the furnace, in a garage or in a spare bedroom. In larger homes, it could be a separate room on the main floor next to the kitchen or family room. My home home office started this way but now occupies most of our basement. Most home offices are simply places where on goes to pay the household bills or surf the internet: not much real business happins.
Work from Home
This is a much more business oriented office that probably relates to one major employer. Enlightened companies allow some of their employees to work at home at least some of the time. This can free the employee from a commute and allow he or she to coordinate family events easier. Computers, the internet, the telephone and the fax machine make this all possible and with the advent of video conferencing, the need to be in an actual office to meet with someone is not really necessary. The way gas prices are going, this may be the way of the future for any corporations who want to attract top level specialists. In this scenerio, there is still an employee-employer relationship.
Self Employed Home Office
This is where the person is basically working for himself or herself but there is one major source of income. This would include insurance agents and real estate agents. These agents are not employees and they pay all or part of their own expenses. Being self employed, they can make business deductions for space in their house, car expenses and other office expenses like paper, telephones, internet service and a host of other expenses that you incur when you run a small business.
Home Office Business
This a small business where the person actually owns the business name, has a separate business bank account and writes cheques on the business bank account. The business could deal directly with customers or clients or deal direct with other businesses. This could be an independant real estate broker, insurance broker, hairdresser, plumber, electrician etc. Network marketers would fit in this catagory.
At its most basic level a home office is just a space in the house which is called the "office". It could be in a closet, beside the furnace, in a garage or in a spare bedroom. In larger homes, it could be a separate room on the main floor next to the kitchen or family room. My home home office started this way but now occupies most of our basement. Most home offices are simply places where on goes to pay the household bills or surf the internet: not much real business happins.
Work from Home
This is a much more business oriented office that probably relates to one major employer. Enlightened companies allow some of their employees to work at home at least some of the time. This can free the employee from a commute and allow he or she to coordinate family events easier. Computers, the internet, the telephone and the fax machine make this all possible and with the advent of video conferencing, the need to be in an actual office to meet with someone is not really necessary. The way gas prices are going, this may be the way of the future for any corporations who want to attract top level specialists. In this scenerio, there is still an employee-employer relationship.
Self Employed Home Office
This is where the person is basically working for himself or herself but there is one major source of income. This would include insurance agents and real estate agents. These agents are not employees and they pay all or part of their own expenses. Being self employed, they can make business deductions for space in their house, car expenses and other office expenses like paper, telephones, internet service and a host of other expenses that you incur when you run a small business.
Home Office Business
This a small business where the person actually owns the business name, has a separate business bank account and writes cheques on the business bank account. The business could deal directly with customers or clients or deal direct with other businesses. This could be an independant real estate broker, insurance broker, hairdresser, plumber, electrician etc. Network marketers would fit in this catagory.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Bottom Line
Besides playing a major role in launching the "the health food industry", network marketing also played a major role when the telephone industry was deregulated in the USA in the 1980's. Companies like MCI took off like a rocket thanks to network marketing companies. Since then network market companies like ACN and Excel have continued to play a major role in the communications industry.
In the 1990's a network marketing company called NSF did an awful lot to change people's opinion of the water they were drinking from their own tap. This campaign was continued by Amway and Shaklee. Now it's hard to listen to the radio without hearing an ad for filtered water of some kind.
At about the same time Amsoil invented synthetic motor oil. Totally revolutionary back then but synthetic oil is now sold everywhere.
You will find numerous examples of network marketing companies creating new and revolutionary products. That's why people get excited and want to share the good news with the people they know--usually their friends and family---sometimes--often--they get too excited and turn them off rather than turn them on. Some people just don't know when to stop talking.
The Bottom line: While the products are extremely important, its the change that goes on inside the people that is truly remarkable: the key ingredient that makes this business exciting is that people get to dream again. Goals and dreams that have conveniently forgotten can be resurrected from the graves of quiet desperation. Now individuals have a way to get their dreams, a way to change their life for the better. This is by far the most important gift this business gives to people.
But just be sure you join the company that's best for you and one that is reputable and honest in their business dealings. You don't want your dreams stolen by some charlatan. Network marketing has its share of unscrupulous people just the same as any other business. It's not perfect but it's one of the few chances people really have to make a truly significant difference in their lives.
In the 1990's a network marketing company called NSF did an awful lot to change people's opinion of the water they were drinking from their own tap. This campaign was continued by Amway and Shaklee. Now it's hard to listen to the radio without hearing an ad for filtered water of some kind.
At about the same time Amsoil invented synthetic motor oil. Totally revolutionary back then but synthetic oil is now sold everywhere.
You will find numerous examples of network marketing companies creating new and revolutionary products. That's why people get excited and want to share the good news with the people they know--usually their friends and family---sometimes--often--they get too excited and turn them off rather than turn them on. Some people just don't know when to stop talking.
The Bottom line: While the products are extremely important, its the change that goes on inside the people that is truly remarkable: the key ingredient that makes this business exciting is that people get to dream again. Goals and dreams that have conveniently forgotten can be resurrected from the graves of quiet desperation. Now individuals have a way to get their dreams, a way to change their life for the better. This is by far the most important gift this business gives to people.
But just be sure you join the company that's best for you and one that is reputable and honest in their business dealings. You don't want your dreams stolen by some charlatan. Network marketing has its share of unscrupulous people just the same as any other business. It's not perfect but it's one of the few chances people really have to make a truly significant difference in their lives.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Do you Suggest a Seven or a Nine?
It was a georgeous Spring day. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of fresh cut grass and spring flowers were just beginning to bloom. As I was walking, I thought how nice it was to be quite alone out here. I wondered to my self how this same place would have been very crowded just yesterday. Of course, yesterday was Sunday and now they'll all at work or going to work. It was so much nicer walking down this fairway at 9 am on Monday morning rather than driving for an hour to get to work. As I got closer to my golf ball, I quickly changed my thinking. "What club should I use?" Pondering that for a while I couldn't help but remember that my friend Jack was in just about the same position last week when we both played this hole while he was on vacation. Jack probably just got to work so I thought I'd give him a ring. Jack couldn't quite believe I was calling him so he sounded a little confused. After asking his advice on what club I should use based on his previous experience, he actually sounded irritated with me. Anyway, after exchanging pleasantries and getting his advice, I chose a 9 iron. I had a really good shot and was thankful to Jack. I kind of wondered if Jack was happy at his job even though he said he really enjoyed his job when I approached him about having his own business. I guess maybe, he was just having a bad day. After all, it was Monday morning and he probably had more important things on his mind than playing golf.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Enjoy Your Home and Garden
It's the little things that matter in life but, I for one, don't notice them so much because I've been working so long at home that I just take them for granted. However, for the past few days I have been out and about tring my best to avoid getting stuck in Toronto traffic. It's just so amazing to try to figure out where all those folks are racing to anyhow. I just can't believe people do this everyday. I guess you can get used to anything but there must be a price.
How much energy do we waste just driving to and from work. Who designed this system where we have to move millions of tons of steel every day to make a living ? How many people could actually work at home if the powers that be, would actually just trust their employess to put in a good days work at home? I don't think that's going to happen very soon, unless of course, global warming forces such a change.
Today, I am working at home. It's far more peaceful. I can go for a walk in the park by the beach in Cobourg anytime I want. I'm sitting at my computer and can literally see the grass turn green and the daffodil leaves growing. It's a good day to have a home business.
How much energy do we waste just driving to and from work. Who designed this system where we have to move millions of tons of steel every day to make a living ? How many people could actually work at home if the powers that be, would actually just trust their employess to put in a good days work at home? I don't think that's going to happen very soon, unless of course, global warming forces such a change.
Today, I am working at home. It's far more peaceful. I can go for a walk in the park by the beach in Cobourg anytime I want. I'm sitting at my computer and can literally see the grass turn green and the daffodil leaves growing. It's a good day to have a home business.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Websites and Leads Part 3
Websites and Leads Attraction
Leads attraction is one of the major reasons why companies have websites. The hope is that their potential new customers will find them. With literally biilions of websites that's becoming increasingly harder unless you know the rules of how to play the game. The rules are elusive and subject to change. Unless you happen to be a fly on the wall at Google, understanding the rules can be frustrating. Maybe there are no real rules, maybe the rules change monthly. Anybody who claims to have this all figured is not exactly telling the whole truth.
There are some companies out there who advise small business owners to gather their own leads through developing their own websites. In theory, a well written website with lots of content and positioned well with the right keywords and meta phrases will be found by people interested in your product or service. Did I mention, there were now how many billion websites? How do you get people to find yours? Well you could talk to your friends and relatives and people in line at the mall. That sounds like you are right back at the beginning. Many in network marketing companies have a replicated company website. According to some sources, Google ignores such website as being redundant: Just cluttering up the internet with the same ol' content on hundreds or thousands of sites. Yuk.
I believe websites are extremely important for developing business. Even replicated websites fullfil the purpose of providing information to customers. It's just that you have to send all the customers there. They'll hardly ever find you by searching. Unless of course, you brand your name--more on that later.
Websites provide another very useful function and that is educating your clientel on the need for your product. Often people don't even know anything about a product so how can they need something they know nothing about. So how do you get people who don't know what they want to go to a website they never heard of to find out about a product they don't even know they need. Good questions. Tell that to the guy who tells you the "product sells itself". It kind of reminds of the lady walking by this absolutely gorgeous front yard who said to the gardener that "God sure makes a beautiful garden". To which the gardener replied "Yes HE does and you should have seen it when God had it all to himself".
Leads attraction is one of the major reasons why companies have websites. The hope is that their potential new customers will find them. With literally biilions of websites that's becoming increasingly harder unless you know the rules of how to play the game. The rules are elusive and subject to change. Unless you happen to be a fly on the wall at Google, understanding the rules can be frustrating. Maybe there are no real rules, maybe the rules change monthly. Anybody who claims to have this all figured is not exactly telling the whole truth.
There are some companies out there who advise small business owners to gather their own leads through developing their own websites. In theory, a well written website with lots of content and positioned well with the right keywords and meta phrases will be found by people interested in your product or service. Did I mention, there were now how many billion websites? How do you get people to find yours? Well you could talk to your friends and relatives and people in line at the mall. That sounds like you are right back at the beginning. Many in network marketing companies have a replicated company website. According to some sources, Google ignores such website as being redundant: Just cluttering up the internet with the same ol' content on hundreds or thousands of sites. Yuk.
I believe websites are extremely important for developing business. Even replicated websites fullfil the purpose of providing information to customers. It's just that you have to send all the customers there. They'll hardly ever find you by searching. Unless of course, you brand your name--more on that later.
Websites provide another very useful function and that is educating your clientel on the need for your product. Often people don't even know anything about a product so how can they need something they know nothing about. So how do you get people who don't know what they want to go to a website they never heard of to find out about a product they don't even know they need. Good questions. Tell that to the guy who tells you the "product sells itself". It kind of reminds of the lady walking by this absolutely gorgeous front yard who said to the gardener that "God sure makes a beautiful garden". To which the gardener replied "Yes HE does and you should have seen it when God had it all to himself".
Leads Attraction Part 2
Use the Product to Attract People
Most people aren't looking for a business so promote the product. Owning a business can sound like too much hard work to most people and they usually wouldn't have a clue where to start anyway. If people are looking to make more money, they simply think they need to find a better job. A few, possibly 5%, start to think outside the box: they become possibility thinkers, not probability thinkers. A summary of the four ways we make money http://www.homeoffice.ws/The_Four_Ways_We_Make_Money.html.
People buy products that solve problems for them not because thay like the features and benefits of a certain product. The key question you always have to answer is:What's in it for them?
One thing I 've noticed about my home business is that I rarely meet people who just happen to walk into my house. If I want new business, I must leave my nice cosy home and go out and meet people. (unless I'm marketing on the Internet) If you are selling a food product or even some kind of wellness product, you might want to consider setting up a stall at your local farmers market where people care about nutrition. If you're selling some electronic gadget or some other non food item or service, perhaps a reputable "flea" market would be better. Don't go blow your brains out with some trade shows and home shows were the rent can be very high. If you've done the smaller venues, and got a real good fix on your target market, the expensive trade shows maybe ok in the future, but not at first.
Get the right market for your product. About 15 years ago, I made and sold homemade sausages at 4 different farmers market close to where I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I had been in one year round market for about 2 years and on a good day, I would sell $500 worth of product. Through relatives, I learned that a new short term farmers market was opening up in the Toronto area. I went and on the first day sold over a $1,000 worth of product from all new customers who had no idea how good these sausages really were. Other markets in smaller towns in the are only grossed about $150 to $200. So location is really important. Sam from Walmart was asked "what was the most important factor in the success of a Walmart store?". His answer was "location, location, location." So if it was important for Sam, it's important for you.
Signs, Banners and Such for Leads Attraction
If you've got a really nice expensive looking car already, you might want to put a promotion for your company or product on vinyl letters on the back window or someplace on the car where you can read it easily. I know some people have had success with this method. It depends on the car, the signage and the person driving the car. I have 3 trucks with both the Bread Roots name on them and signs for a home business opportunity on the back and after 1 year can say, I should have kept my money. Neither sign seems to attract any business. Keep in mind however, I am in a very small niche market with both the organic bread and the "wellness opportunity". Such signs might work much better for a mass market business.
Newspaper advertising for Leads Attraction
They say that in Cobourg Ontario, people only buy the local paper to read the obituary column. After spending money advertising a business opportunity over several weeks with no calls, I tend to agree with that assessment. I just can't quite believe everybody's making all the money they want and are totally satisfied with their current lifestyle. This may not be true of your town. Try It. Don't make long term committments. Just don't blow your brains out. In my old days in real estate, I just put in one ad per night, never a string of the same ad over several nights. If you do advertise this way, I understand the classified section is best and also the cheapest. I also know that Tim Sales the author of Brilliant Compensation and a highly successful network marketer was recruited by an ad.
Get Yourself Invited
Depending on your product or service and your product/market knowledge, you could get yourself invited to speak at the various clubs like the Rotary, Lions, Optimists, or Chamber of Commerce or your local BNI group. If it's a health product, you might try connecting with the local health oriented consumer groups, if your product addresses any of the issues they meet to discuss. If you do speak intelligently on the subject, you will attract people to you, rather than you chasing them. This method gets the numbers working for you: instead of presenting one on one you are presenting to 10, 20 100 people at a time. You will be the local expert. It's best if you take the approach of "speaking to give" rather than "speaking" to get at these functions. In my opinion, it shouldn't be a direct sales pitch. I always go for the "soft sell" rather than the "must sell or hard sell" approach.
Hand Out Cards, Talk to Anyone and Everyone
This works best for naturally outgoing friendly type people who are a perfect fit for the of the "meet and greet" approach. Some people are just spontaneous talkers. Enthusiastic words flow through them like the chirping of birds first thing in the morning. They talk to anyone and everyone about anything. If focused on one thing, they can be dynamite. My sponsor in the wellness business is just a bundle of energy who never stops talking all day long. Ask her how she builds the business and she'll tell you she just talks to people. If that's your personality, go for it. If you are a good actor you can play this part and after you're super successful, you can quit. You can be like the actor Cary Grant said of himself as a eulogy at his own funeral. "I acted the part of Cary Grant so long that I became Cary Grant." "If the mind can conceive it, the mind can achieve it." Napoleon Hill
Most people aren't looking for a business so promote the product. Owning a business can sound like too much hard work to most people and they usually wouldn't have a clue where to start anyway. If people are looking to make more money, they simply think they need to find a better job. A few, possibly 5%, start to think outside the box: they become possibility thinkers, not probability thinkers. A summary of the four ways we make money http://www.homeoffice.ws/The_Four_Ways_We_Make_Money.html.
People buy products that solve problems for them not because thay like the features and benefits of a certain product. The key question you always have to answer is:What's in it for them?
One thing I 've noticed about my home business is that I rarely meet people who just happen to walk into my house. If I want new business, I must leave my nice cosy home and go out and meet people. (unless I'm marketing on the Internet) If you are selling a food product or even some kind of wellness product, you might want to consider setting up a stall at your local farmers market where people care about nutrition. If you're selling some electronic gadget or some other non food item or service, perhaps a reputable "flea" market would be better. Don't go blow your brains out with some trade shows and home shows were the rent can be very high. If you've done the smaller venues, and got a real good fix on your target market, the expensive trade shows maybe ok in the future, but not at first.
Get the right market for your product. About 15 years ago, I made and sold homemade sausages at 4 different farmers market close to where I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I had been in one year round market for about 2 years and on a good day, I would sell $500 worth of product. Through relatives, I learned that a new short term farmers market was opening up in the Toronto area. I went and on the first day sold over a $1,000 worth of product from all new customers who had no idea how good these sausages really were. Other markets in smaller towns in the are only grossed about $150 to $200. So location is really important. Sam from Walmart was asked "what was the most important factor in the success of a Walmart store?". His answer was "location, location, location." So if it was important for Sam, it's important for you.
Signs, Banners and Such for Leads Attraction
If you've got a really nice expensive looking car already, you might want to put a promotion for your company or product on vinyl letters on the back window or someplace on the car where you can read it easily. I know some people have had success with this method. It depends on the car, the signage and the person driving the car. I have 3 trucks with both the Bread Roots name on them and signs for a home business opportunity on the back and after 1 year can say, I should have kept my money. Neither sign seems to attract any business. Keep in mind however, I am in a very small niche market with both the organic bread and the "wellness opportunity". Such signs might work much better for a mass market business.
Newspaper advertising for Leads Attraction
They say that in Cobourg Ontario, people only buy the local paper to read the obituary column. After spending money advertising a business opportunity over several weeks with no calls, I tend to agree with that assessment. I just can't quite believe everybody's making all the money they want and are totally satisfied with their current lifestyle. This may not be true of your town. Try It. Don't make long term committments. Just don't blow your brains out. In my old days in real estate, I just put in one ad per night, never a string of the same ad over several nights. If you do advertise this way, I understand the classified section is best and also the cheapest. I also know that Tim Sales the author of Brilliant Compensation and a highly successful network marketer was recruited by an ad.
Get Yourself Invited
Depending on your product or service and your product/market knowledge, you could get yourself invited to speak at the various clubs like the Rotary, Lions, Optimists, or Chamber of Commerce or your local BNI group. If it's a health product, you might try connecting with the local health oriented consumer groups, if your product addresses any of the issues they meet to discuss. If you do speak intelligently on the subject, you will attract people to you, rather than you chasing them. This method gets the numbers working for you: instead of presenting one on one you are presenting to 10, 20 100 people at a time. You will be the local expert. It's best if you take the approach of "speaking to give" rather than "speaking" to get at these functions. In my opinion, it shouldn't be a direct sales pitch. I always go for the "soft sell" rather than the "must sell or hard sell" approach.
Hand Out Cards, Talk to Anyone and Everyone
This works best for naturally outgoing friendly type people who are a perfect fit for the of the "meet and greet" approach. Some people are just spontaneous talkers. Enthusiastic words flow through them like the chirping of birds first thing in the morning. They talk to anyone and everyone about anything. If focused on one thing, they can be dynamite. My sponsor in the wellness business is just a bundle of energy who never stops talking all day long. Ask her how she builds the business and she'll tell you she just talks to people. If that's your personality, go for it. If you are a good actor you can play this part and after you're super successful, you can quit. You can be like the actor Cary Grant said of himself as a eulogy at his own funeral. "I acted the part of Cary Grant so long that I became Cary Grant." "If the mind can conceive it, the mind can achieve it." Napoleon Hill
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Home Business Leads Part 1
Chances are, if you've been in your own home business for a while, the subject of acquiring new customers probably crosses your mind on a fairly regular basis. You are not alone. No matter how big a business you may be, you are either growing or dying. Growth is always the favoured direction. That's why Pepsi and Coke continue to spend mega bucks advertising even when just about everyone on this Planet recognizes their names and some even buy their products. So while everyone may think their particular product is the best in the World and "sells itself" or they may think they've got the greatest system or payplan for success, the bottom line is this. EVERY BUSINESS NEED CUSTOMERS. By the way, I've yet to see a product pick up the telephone, talk to a customer or transport itself to a store or a person's house. People move products, products don't move people.
Types of Leads
Problems and Issues: Warm Market Leads
If you are part of a typical network marketing company or direct sales organization, they always recommend you talk to your family and friends first. Often they will tell you stupid stuff like "everyone gets in" but the reality is some might but often they won't but say something like: "They might get in some time in the future, after they see how it's working out for you" This may sound reasonable to them but it really means "no way I'm doing that". You on the other hand, you are left to wonder about all your lack lustre friends and relatives who sounded so smart before you got in your own business. It also may dawn on you that you can't build a business when no one gets in. Oh. I am not suggesting that you can ignore them but don't expect very much especially at the beginning. After you develop an awesome story, they may come looking for you.
The group of people we are talking about are called your "warm" leads. I'm not sure that's a good description because they can also be the most opinionated, rude and downright hurtful about your new venture. I sell tons of bread in my traditional distribution business, Bread Roots and not a single loaf is sold to a friend or a relative and never has. In fact, my business is hardly never discussed among this group because there is no interest. So why should it be different for my other business interests or your other business interests? The truth is all business is built through strangers or new people.
It's this "everyone get in" sales pitch that gets brand new people really excited the first day they get in. That tied with the "product sells itself" and let the "cd" do all the talking sounds just great. You can excuse the new person for thinking "this is going to be easy". That's what they have been told. So when a brand new person eventually finds out that the marketing people have embellished reality a bit, they quit saying some like "well that didn't work for me. I guess it's just not meant to be"
The real truth is that in any business, the success is in the numbers. How many people you talk to, how many listen to a presentation, how many get in, how many get in and actually buy something and how many get in and actually do something. It's also calling on all the "no's" and "laters" you met the first time round. I believe the fundamental flaw in many network marketing companies is that they don't tell people the real numbers. People join and quit based on wrong information. Great. More to come.
Types of Leads
Problems and Issues: Warm Market Leads
If you are part of a typical network marketing company or direct sales organization, they always recommend you talk to your family and friends first. Often they will tell you stupid stuff like "everyone gets in" but the reality is some might but often they won't but say something like: "They might get in some time in the future, after they see how it's working out for you" This may sound reasonable to them but it really means "no way I'm doing that". You on the other hand, you are left to wonder about all your lack lustre friends and relatives who sounded so smart before you got in your own business. It also may dawn on you that you can't build a business when no one gets in. Oh. I am not suggesting that you can ignore them but don't expect very much especially at the beginning. After you develop an awesome story, they may come looking for you.
The group of people we are talking about are called your "warm" leads. I'm not sure that's a good description because they can also be the most opinionated, rude and downright hurtful about your new venture. I sell tons of bread in my traditional distribution business, Bread Roots and not a single loaf is sold to a friend or a relative and never has. In fact, my business is hardly never discussed among this group because there is no interest. So why should it be different for my other business interests or your other business interests? The truth is all business is built through strangers or new people.
It's this "everyone get in" sales pitch that gets brand new people really excited the first day they get in. That tied with the "product sells itself" and let the "cd" do all the talking sounds just great. You can excuse the new person for thinking "this is going to be easy". That's what they have been told. So when a brand new person eventually finds out that the marketing people have embellished reality a bit, they quit saying some like "well that didn't work for me. I guess it's just not meant to be"
The real truth is that in any business, the success is in the numbers. How many people you talk to, how many listen to a presentation, how many get in, how many get in and actually buy something and how many get in and actually do something. It's also calling on all the "no's" and "laters" you met the first time round. I believe the fundamental flaw in many network marketing companies is that they don't tell people the real numbers. People join and quit based on wrong information. Great. More to come.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Buy Goods in Your Own Best Interest
When you buy products in the usual retail store, who benefits? Well you do, if you buy a product that serves your needs but that's where the benefit ends in a single conclusion. The store owner and the manufacturer of the product benefits through profit. What if you could buy this same product or perhaps an even better product through your own business and have both the product and a share of the profits as well. You would clearly benefit in two ways. This what I mean by "buying in your own self interest". Who could benefit? All consumers if they took this "professional " approach to buying.
What if you could set up a "network of pro consumers" all acting in their own interest and who use their purchasing power (already existing) to fuel a business? A business where all participants could benefit in an equal way with equal chance of success given equal work. Pictorially, it would look like a geodesic dome which could span the globe because their are no geographic limits ---like multi national corporations, except this model could be termed a "global home business network". This essentially would be a massive collection of families and individuals all over the world united simply by buying goods in their own interest. What if there were hundreds or thousands of such loosely knit organizations spanning the globe. Would that foster understanding between countries and races? Could it lead to a more global government who could deal with the multi nationals on a global level. Could it lead to world peace? Could it actually really foster an environment where we could deal with global warming effectively instead of talking about it.
The present economic order created this mess we are all in right now. It also doesn't look like it's got the guts or even the intelligence to do something about it. Isn't it time for real change? As usual, it starts with the almightly dollar. How do you spend it? At Walmart or at your own store. You decide. Do you want to use your own purchasing dollars to empower you or some stock holder?
What if you could set up a "network of pro consumers" all acting in their own interest and who use their purchasing power (already existing) to fuel a business? A business where all participants could benefit in an equal way with equal chance of success given equal work. Pictorially, it would look like a geodesic dome which could span the globe because their are no geographic limits ---like multi national corporations, except this model could be termed a "global home business network". This essentially would be a massive collection of families and individuals all over the world united simply by buying goods in their own interest. What if there were hundreds or thousands of such loosely knit organizations spanning the globe. Would that foster understanding between countries and races? Could it lead to a more global government who could deal with the multi nationals on a global level. Could it lead to world peace? Could it actually really foster an environment where we could deal with global warming effectively instead of talking about it.
The present economic order created this mess we are all in right now. It also doesn't look like it's got the guts or even the intelligence to do something about it. Isn't it time for real change? As usual, it starts with the almightly dollar. How do you spend it? At Walmart or at your own store. You decide. Do you want to use your own purchasing dollars to empower you or some stock holder?
Monday, March 24, 2008
Work Expectations:Canada vs USA
Those professionals and semi professionals who work for a salary in Canada who look forward to their weekend days off should reaaly appreciate living in Canada and the corporate culture here. In the USA, it is almost expected that you work weekends. If you don't, you are viewed as a laggard not fit for advancement. So if you're a Canadian or a Brit be careful of this little known American expectation. It sounds a bit like American corporation actually own most of your free time and your life. What do you get in return? Big BuckS? Status? You certainly don't seem to get anytime to enjoy LIFE.
So Canadians appear to have much more free time to develop alternative sources of income while at least some Americans do not have any free time at all. That would be one good reason to start your own business so you can have more control over how you spend your time.
Since health insurance is tied to a specific job in the USA, the corporation has a lot of leverage over the employee when it comes to "working for free" on weekends. (since most are paid on salary and not by the hour). In Canada, the government provides health insurance as a basic
right so employers have very little to do with it.
The question I have is: The American corporation is already getting a lot of mileage out of salaried employees who are giving up free time and family time to keep their job so why do they want even more by outsourcing these same jobs to foreign markets just to save a few bucks to pass on to their shareholders who probably never work weekends? The employee dedication to the company is obviously not appreciated.
So Canadians appear to have much more free time to develop alternative sources of income while at least some Americans do not have any free time at all. That would be one good reason to start your own business so you can have more control over how you spend your time.
Since health insurance is tied to a specific job in the USA, the corporation has a lot of leverage over the employee when it comes to "working for free" on weekends. (since most are paid on salary and not by the hour). In Canada, the government provides health insurance as a basic
right so employers have very little to do with it.
The question I have is: The American corporation is already getting a lot of mileage out of salaried employees who are giving up free time and family time to keep their job so why do they want even more by outsourcing these same jobs to foreign markets just to save a few bucks to pass on to their shareholders who probably never work weekends? The employee dedication to the company is obviously not appreciated.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Home Business and Health Care Cost
As a Canadian, where universal access to the health system has been around for over 50 years, I am appalled at the state of health care insurance in the USA. I really don't know why the general population allows it to happen. Is it because the Republicans always cry socialism when somebody mentions universal health insurance? People should remind that the USA government provides Corporate Hand Outs all the time. Is that not Corporate Socialism? Some would call it State Capitalism or Fascism. Health care is as basic a right as police and fire protection. Of course, these services were founded by the Banks and Big Corporations to protect property first and people second whereas health care is just about people.
You may well be unemployable if you or any members of your immediate family have had a a serious health issue in the past. The insurance cost to the employer goes up so much, the company cannot afford to hire you. If you have a job and health insurance, pray you stay well and keep your job because if you don't you could lose both your job and your health insurance.If for no other reason, all Americans should have a source of income outside their job. It's just way to risky to be dependant on one job to provide both an income and access to affordable health care.
The costs of health care are so staggering that it's the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the USA. People are losing EVERTHING. This has been happening for years now. It just got a whole lot worse with the sub prime crisis.
The American dream is in danger of becoming"the nightmare"
February 2, 2005: 6:05 AM ESTWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Half of all U.S. bankruptcies are caused by soaring medical bills and most people sent into debt by illness are middle-class workers with health insurance, researchers said Wednesday.The study, published in the journal Health Affairs, estimated that medical bankruptcies affect about 2 million Americans every year, if both debtors and their dependents, including about 700,000 children, are counted."Our study is frightening. Unless you're Bill Gates you're just one serious illness away from bankruptcy," said Dr. David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who led the study. "Most of the medically bankrupt were average Americans who happened to get sick. Health insurance offered little protection."
You may well be unemployable if you or any members of your immediate family have had a a serious health issue in the past. The insurance cost to the employer goes up so much, the company cannot afford to hire you. If you have a job and health insurance, pray you stay well and keep your job because if you don't you could lose both your job and your health insurance.If for no other reason, all Americans should have a source of income outside their job. It's just way to risky to be dependant on one job to provide both an income and access to affordable health care.
The costs of health care are so staggering that it's the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the USA. People are losing EVERTHING. This has been happening for years now. It just got a whole lot worse with the sub prime crisis.
The American dream is in danger of becoming"the nightmare"
February 2, 2005: 6:05 AM ESTWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Half of all U.S. bankruptcies are caused by soaring medical bills and most people sent into debt by illness are middle-class workers with health insurance, researchers said Wednesday.The study, published in the journal Health Affairs, estimated that medical bankruptcies affect about 2 million Americans every year, if both debtors and their dependents, including about 700,000 children, are counted."Our study is frightening. Unless you're Bill Gates you're just one serious illness away from bankruptcy," said Dr. David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who led the study. "Most of the medically bankrupt were average Americans who happened to get sick. Health insurance offered little protection."
Why Network Marketing?
People sometimes say what's wrong with the present system of distribution?
Isn't it work just fine? Well, I don't think it's fine at all unless you're a big corporation like the ones who own the box stores like Home Depot, Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy, Walmart etc. What does the middle class get there, but a low paying job. Big deal.
In Ontario, Canada, it's difficult to tell towns apart because they have all the same Big Box Stores, all the smaller franchise operations and basically the same food stores . Same gas stations. Same Fast Food restaurants. You have to be an old timer to ask what happened to the local butcher, baker, shoe repair shop and family owned restaurant?I believe France and Japan are the only industrialized countries which have resisted this trend by imposing size limitations on stores to preserve small business. India is still full of local business owners but I have heard that things could be about to change.I believe the current crisis in global warming is actually a failure of the unfettered capitalistic system. Failure to consider the health of the Planet is a mighty big oversight in any economic plan.
Check out the movie "The Corporation" on Google and also the clip from the movie "The American Ruling Class" Both are very disturbing because both show that there are powers at work in our daily lives that we know absolutely nothing about. Only trouble is they have a huge impact on how we live our life. So my question is always, "what's so great about the existing economic system?What's it done for you lately? Or what has it ever done for you?Ask the people who've lost their homes due to the sub prime mortgage fiasco or gone bankrupt from health care expenses, what they think of the present economic order.
We we cannot be suppressed forever. Like Barrick Obama says "we have hope" It keeps us going. It keeps me going.This type of personal business ownership that we promote is basically the only vehicle left for the common man or woman to really make it big in his or her own business. Sure it's not perfect but it's the best we have. It's our only hope. Are there shrysters and crooks in it? Yes. You will find them in any form of business, anywhere in the world. That's why you have to study and find out as much as you can about any venture you get into. Be diligent.
Isn't it work just fine? Well, I don't think it's fine at all unless you're a big corporation like the ones who own the box stores like Home Depot, Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy, Walmart etc. What does the middle class get there, but a low paying job. Big deal.
In Ontario, Canada, it's difficult to tell towns apart because they have all the same Big Box Stores, all the smaller franchise operations and basically the same food stores . Same gas stations. Same Fast Food restaurants. You have to be an old timer to ask what happened to the local butcher, baker, shoe repair shop and family owned restaurant?I believe France and Japan are the only industrialized countries which have resisted this trend by imposing size limitations on stores to preserve small business. India is still full of local business owners but I have heard that things could be about to change.I believe the current crisis in global warming is actually a failure of the unfettered capitalistic system. Failure to consider the health of the Planet is a mighty big oversight in any economic plan.
Check out the movie "The Corporation" on Google and also the clip from the movie "The American Ruling Class" Both are very disturbing because both show that there are powers at work in our daily lives that we know absolutely nothing about. Only trouble is they have a huge impact on how we live our life. So my question is always, "what's so great about the existing economic system?What's it done for you lately? Or what has it ever done for you?Ask the people who've lost their homes due to the sub prime mortgage fiasco or gone bankrupt from health care expenses, what they think of the present economic order.
We we cannot be suppressed forever. Like Barrick Obama says "we have hope" It keeps us going. It keeps me going.This type of personal business ownership that we promote is basically the only vehicle left for the common man or woman to really make it big in his or her own business. Sure it's not perfect but it's the best we have. It's our only hope. Are there shrysters and crooks in it? Yes. You will find them in any form of business, anywhere in the world. That's why you have to study and find out as much as you can about any venture you get into. Be diligent.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
What if You Could Own Your Own Job?
What if you were your own boss and owned your own job?
Nobody could take it away except you.What if you could set your own hours?
Set your own goals on your income?
Great you say. “ What do I do for money til I make it?”
That’s a really good question. This prevents most people going into conventional business.
What if you could start part time and keep your present job until you get on your feet?You can. You don't need to ask anybody's permission either.No resume, no interview, just the will to do it.
Are You Qualified to Have Your Own Job?
Are you self activated?
Or do you wait for instructions just so you get it right?
What kind of employee are you? If you were your own boss, would you fire yourself or give yourself a raise or praise?
Do you see opportunity in problems? Do you see problems or solutions?
If it doesn't work the first or second time, do you quit?
Do you act as if you own your present job?
Are you teachable?
Nobody could take it away except you.What if you could set your own hours?
Set your own goals on your income?
Great you say. “ What do I do for money til I make it?”
That’s a really good question. This prevents most people going into conventional business.
What if you could start part time and keep your present job until you get on your feet?You can. You don't need to ask anybody's permission either.No resume, no interview, just the will to do it.
Are You Qualified to Have Your Own Job?
Are you self activated?
Or do you wait for instructions just so you get it right?
What kind of employee are you? If you were your own boss, would you fire yourself or give yourself a raise or praise?
Do you see opportunity in problems? Do you see problems or solutions?
If it doesn't work the first or second time, do you quit?
Do you act as if you own your present job?
Are you teachable?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Jobs --The Basis of Our Economic Order
Has a teacher ever asked you what kind of business you were going to own when you grew up? Not likely unless you went to a very special school. The teacher, even today, will ask a student what kind of job, career or profession you might want to have. If you have a good teacher he or she might direct you to the best schools for that particular field. If you're lucky you will get a job in that field when you graduate. The sad truth is thousands of students graduate and have no job to go to but they do have huge debt. Thousands of workers in places like Ohio have lost jobs they had planned to hold until they retired except the economy got in the way. In both incidences, people were sold on that idea of having a job. The more educated you are the better job you would get. The truth is it doesn't always work out with lots of people in job limbo: No work, a poor paying job, or a dead end job.The Ruling Class in all countries (including the USA) needs a dependable labour force so they can gain people leverage: they need good employees and the school system is the vehicle used to program people into being good employees. It's no coincidence that the school sytem grew as industrialization grew.The reason the government owes you a job is that they created (in conjunction with the Ruling Class) this economic system. The problem for the government is that the work force is trained to think in only one way. "THE JOB" If self reliance, self employment, money management skills and business ownership skills were promoted and taught, people would have the mental tools to create their own jobs. But then that might interfere with the Ruling Class' need for a good, and dependable (agreeable) labour force.Job mentality prevents people looking at self employment and small business options. The only way out of this job thinking trap is to read books that empower the individual: "You Can Do It" books. It's the reason so many people fail in network marketing. It requires a business mentality not a job mentality. Failures blame the industry, not themselves because they don't know any better. Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump recognize network marketing as a viable business option mostly from the education you can get from the business that will help you in any business. Once you "get the thinking" you don't lose it. But its up to the individual to change the way she or he thinks about how you make a living. The government is not going to tell you. Nor are your buddies because they don't know. They've already chosen their system
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