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Tips for getting started in your business

June 5th, 2009 | By Simon In Building Your Business, Getting Started | No Comments »

To many people, starting and running a business is something that they’ve always dreamed of doing, and so proves to be far more productive and satisfying than working under another person.

So if you are one of these people, you may find the following advice will help you with getting started with your business.

One of the most important things to try and do is to do the things that you love doing and get someone else (outsource) to do the things that you’re not so keen on.

As you will be spending lots of time and energy on your business, it has to be something you are really interested in doing. Now, I realize that in the beginning, it is not always easy to be able to outsource, and naturally you do end up doing a lot of the work yourself.

If this is the case, then you need to try and get to a point, as quickly as possible, where you can concentrate on the areas of your business that you enjoy, and have someone else do the rest.

Another piece of advice is that if you can, you may want to start a business while you are still earning from your ‘day job’. This is because you never know when your business will be earning money for you and it takes a little financial pressure of you.

If you are employed while getting started on your business, you are sure of having money in your pocket when you are in the start-up stage of your business.

Have a support system when you start a business

Though you may venture into starting a business on your own, it is always advised to start a business with a support system, and not to do it alone. Have a family member or friend as a partner for getting ideas and for listening to your ideas and views on the business.

Alternatively, a better option is to find someone who can be your mentor, as experienced, impartial guidance is always better for a business.

Before you actually start up a business, it may also be an idea to create a network. You will need clients and customers for your business to flourish; and it is through networking that you manage to make contacts to sell or give away your products and services.

These contacts may be through friends and family, as this a powerful way to get trusted clients, as they will have been recommended by people. This always carries more weight than someone off the street who does not know you.

Writing a business plan can also help to ensure that your business heads in the right direction. Without a business plan, you may end up spending your time and money on starting a business that will in no way at all end up as a success.

How to write an effective information product

February 18th, 2009 | By Simon In Getting Started, Traffic Generation | No Comments »

In my previous blog, I had mentioned some tips on getting points and tips for writing a great information product. Now that you have collected them, let me delve into the subject of using these tips to your advantage.

The first thing you have to do is to see that some trends or patterns tend to emerge through them. When you see this trend, you will be able to create the outline for the information product.

Usually, there will be some elements that are common for all written formats. This means that if you want to have an introduction page, it is mandatory that you have a copyright page to ensure that you are the owner of the product. You also need a disclaimer page to work as a protection for you from potential liability. Remember, it is very possible for a business to get sued.

Divide the body into chapters and sectors

Once these pages are done with, you work on the body of the product, which is usually divided into chapters and sectors, based on the nature of the product. The last thing you have to work on are the conclusion and Appendix or resource list.

Once you have the basic outline of the product, you have to work on filling up the outline with relevant content. This is best done by taking each section or chapter in mind, and then filling in all sub sections that follow your idea.

So if you are writing about weight loss, the first thing you have to write about is the difficulties a person faces when trying to lose weight. Then you have to work into topics related to thinking to lose weight, your decision for loosing weight, the importance of exercise for losing weight, support and secrets to ensure that the lost weight remains lost.

Now that you have covered the sections and sub sections of your information product, you have to wait for my next blog post to learn more about the writing phase of the information product…..

Keyword Elite Frees Up Your Time

September 8th, 2008 | By Simon In Building Your Business, Getting Started, Google Adwords, Pay Per Click, Traffic Generation, Useful Software or Tools | No Comments »

I mentioned last week that since I have been using Keyword Elite, I have had more time to concentrate on other important aspects of my business. This is a key point here, and time is something that you cannot get back and so its critically important that you use it to the max.

Today I’ll be explaining in a bit more detail as to how Keyword Elite works and why it is such a useful piece of sofware to have in your internet marketing tool box.

The starting point with Keyword Elite, is to identify a keyword that is relevant to the niche, product, service etc, that you intend to drive traffic to. So for example, you may want to sell widgets, so you would type “widgets” into the software and watch it go to work.

It will produce a keyword list of related terms and keywords enabling you to decide which you think are relevant and which are not. So for example, Keyword Elite may come up with “useful widgets” as a key phrase which you may decide is worth looking at. On the other hand, it may also come up with “free widgets” which you may decide is not right as you don’t want to target the word free.

The next section allows you to analyse not only the keywords that you’ve identified and assess which may provide you with more traffic, which that may be very competitive keywords and therefore to be avoided … But it also enables you to analyse your competition too!… it really is versatile, even allowing you to create and export adwords ads into your Google account… direct from Keyword Elite.

I thoroughly recommend you look at the tutorials, which you can find by clicking this link. I could go on and on but the tutorials are so good and explain everything that clearly, that this would be the best way to see the power of this software.

Tips on choosing the right internet business

June 22nd, 2008 | By Simon In Getting Started | No Comments »

Housewives, students, the unemployed and the employed are all turning to the internet to find means of making money online. With so many internet business opportunities available today, it proves to be difficult to choose the right internet business. This is why I thought of compiling a small list to bear in mind when looking for your internet business.

Do some online research: Once you have thought of starting an internet business, it is better to first find out if there are any critical views to the business you are eyeing. If you visit official forums of an internet business, you are sure to find positive points to the business opportunity. This is why it is better to use search engines to find out if the business you intend to spend money and time on is worth it.

Find out if the business draws traffic: You could also check out alexa.com to find out more about the website traffic of the internet business you intend to join. Its website traffic should be on the rise if the business is as active as it claims to be. You can also find comments of other users posted on alexa, to get an idea of the feasibility of the internet business opportunity. However though the alexa traffic reports may not always be true about website traffic, it is a great start for your research.

Learn more about the pay plan: Look over the pay plan of the internet business opportunity you plan to join. This is because some MLM programs pay for people upgrading your down line while other programs are usually Ponzi scams. So go through the pay plan thoroughly before committing yourself, and making any payments. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask others about the business.

More tips for choosing businesses coming soon……

How to make some money on the internet with your family

June 16th, 2008 | By Simon In Building Your Business, Getting Started | No Comments »

It is not always that the income you generate from your nine to five job proves to be sufficient for running your family. This is why many people are now looking for means of generating money through online businesses. It is not difficult to start an online business; all you need is a computer, an internet connection, knowledge of basic computer applications and these tips.

Start generating money before leaving your job: Just because you have an online business, don’t leave your job till you start earning money on a regular basis. This is because it will only be after some time that you earn sufficient money to support your family through your online business. Spend your free time in setting up the online business and then slowly turn it into your full time job.

Get your spouse involved: Setting up an online business proves to be difficult alone; so get your spouse who is interested in the online business to help you. People setting up online businesses on their own usually give up quicker than those who set up their businesses with their spouses or a partner.

Allocate time for your home and family: Just because you have an online business, it does not mean that you have to neglect your family. Learn to handle looking after household tasks and the kids, while managing the business by sharing chores between the two of you.

Basically, you can get more work done when the kids are asleep and when they are awake, you and your spouse can take turns at tending the kids and working on the business. However ensure that your kids realize the importance of your business, and respect your workplace when you are working on your business.

There are more tips for prospective online business owners coming up…

Article Content Easy as 1-2-3

June 14th, 2008 | By Simon In Getting Started | No Comments »

Many starting businesses are having difficulty coming up with quality content for their websites. However there are new and improved ways to get the content you need to build your website…without any writing on your part! Make the need for content disappear with these three Steps:

Step 1. Research your Topic: The biggest part of article writing is picking the topic. Getting the right keywords, keyword phrases, or knowing the latest in thing. Research your niche thoroughly. It is important that you are sure of what you want to add to your website and what your target audience wants to read!

Step 2: Search for Public domain Content: Public domain content is content the author doesn’t mind sharing. These articles usually have no fee for their use and you can edit them, or change them to suit your needs. Make sure the articles you choose don’t have the copy rights.

Step 3: Download and Edit: After locating the article you should download it and make any changes you may have. The article can be used for any purpose. Use of Public domain articles gives you more freedom without additional charges or liability…perfect for starting companies with tight budgets!

Blog Hosting Websites: How to get More Bang For Your Buck

June 6th, 2008 | By Simon In Getting Started, Useful Software or Tools | No Comments »

The Internet is lined with thousands of blogging sites. Blogs are becoming a large market for content and information. A Blog or a ‘web log’ can be started by most anyone; so how do you find the best option for you?

Free Blogging Sites:

There are several free sites out on the World Wide Web, Blogger being one. Using Blogger, you can create a blog in literally seconds as it doesn’t require you to have hosting, however you do not technically own the blog, and the host (in this case Google) can shut your blog down in an instant if it wants to.

Many larger “open source” blog hosting sites like Wordpress and Movable Type often provide the best options. They do require you to have a host already in place, however it is very easy and I highly recommend it over a FREE Blogger type service, mainly because you actually own the blog.

3 ways to Spot a Good blog host:

Tip 1: Does the host have a large amount of options and widgets and is it easy to use? If the host can provide you with more options in set up, templates, and special features the site is generally a large and reputable one.

Tip 2: What are people saying about the site? If there is a lot of chatter about the blog host it generally means its a popular one. Check out forums or search via Google, Yahoo or MSN to see what’s being said about them – do your research.

Tip 3: Look at other people’s blogs… who do they use. This is a good indicator as to which services to use and which to avoid. I use Wordpress for all my blogs as its easy to set up, install and ultimately use, but there are plenty of options out there for you.

By following these tips you will be able to ensure that you create a blog quickly and easily. Go on, create a presence on the World Wide Web today!

A Web Host can Make or Break Your Business

April 24th, 2008 | By Simon In Building Your Business, Getting Started | No Comments »

One of the most important decisions that a business-owner can make when considering making their mark on the internet is which web host they choose.  Depending on which web hosting company you select, you can either experience fantastic success…or not.  Much depends on reliability, features, and performance.

The last thing you need is for your business website to be down 50% of the time, or for customers to be searching through your products and getting frustrated because the images take forever to load.  And most importantly, e-commerce transactions need to be secure, fast, and smooth.  Nothing will turn away a customer faster than a financial transaction getting interrupted because of technical glitches in the system.

The problem with most resources online that rate web hosting services is that they are centrally focused on driving traffic to those web hosts who’ve paid for the affiliate marketing on their website.  If a “web host directory” is receiving a per-per-click or a royalty for every person who signs up with a web host – how can their advice be considered unbiased?

Therefore – as a service to our loyal readership of entrepreneurs who need accurate information about web hosts, I will rate the top 5 web hosts based on performance, reliability and features.  The information drawn on for this analysis was from several market review websites that provide a comprehensive comparison of every aspect of the web host.

I simply focused on the three central strengths that matter the most to online businesses, and rate the web hosts accordingly.

Top 5 Web Hosts

Let the countdown begin – starting with the 5th best host:

#5 – IXwebhosting

This host has the entire range of features required for a valuable web host – except the MySQL Database, which is odd considering that most web hosts offer MySQL.  However, the storage capacity, allowing up to 100 subdomains, high bandwidth and  excellent reliability get this host onto our list, just under the wire.

#4 – Hostgator

Hostgator comes in at #4 only because there are more limitations on the hosting account than the others in the top 5.  Only 20 sub-domains are allowed, however unlimited MySQL databases are offered.  At the highest bandwidth of all, and good reliability, Hostgator would make a valuable web host for any business.

#3 – Lunarpages

Beside the fact that it has a very cool name, Lunarpages is also a webhost that excels in many ways.  At a rock bottom price of $6.95, you get fairly high bandwidth, unlimited sub-domains, unlimited MySQL databases, and unlimited E-mail accounts.  The only thing limited is that you can only host one site on an account.  But if you only want to run one business on one site – you can’t lose with Lunarpages.

#2 – BlueHost

Bluehost is also at the $6.95 mark, but with 20 sub-domains, 50 MySQL databases, up to 2500 e-mail accounts, and 6 sites on one account – this is a very heavy-hitter.  While set limits are rare among hosts, with BlueHost I believe it adds to the improved reliability they see above the competition.   

#1 – Host Monster

This is one of the few hosts where you can get an account for $4.95/month.  Beyond the above-par performance and reliability, the features are phenomenal.  Unlimited sub-domains and email accounts, and even unlimited sites on one account!  All around, Host Monster is clearly currently the leader in the web hosting market for services that matter most to internet entrepreneurs.

Hosting – It’s A Minefield

December 14th, 2007 | By Simon In Getting Started, Useful Software or Tools | No Comments »

In my opinion, probably one of the most important factors to consider with your internet company is choosing a very good web host. So, why is this important? Well, if your web site goes down at any point, you are effectively completely out of business, as no one will be able to see your site on the net.

What you need to look for when searching for a web hosting company, is that they have secure server capabilities, fast servers with a high “up time” (as near to 100% as you can get), lots of space, unrestricted FTP access, daily server backups and no minimum contracts. You may want to test their technical support and see if they offer services, scripts, and software and also enquire about their downtime and how long they have been in business. Make sure you are not being charged for the extra services.

When a customer visits your website whether it’s their first visit or not, you want them to see professionalism, knowledge and fast connections. If your visitors notice advertisements from your free or low cost web host server, they will rightly perceive your website to be unprofessional. Slow connection speeds will definitely lose you customers and cost you alot of money.

The problem is there are thousands of hosting companies available online, so where do you start? Well, you could just put “website host” or “web hosting service” into a search engine and see what the results are. How I decided upon my web host, was to speak to other online business owners to find out who they used, and why….

The overwhelming winner in these results was a company called Hostgator. Hostgator boasts arguably one of the best “up time” stats in the industry, with a staggering 99.9% which is guaranteed. They also offer 24/7 online support and a 45 day money back guarantee. They are also extremely well priced, starting at just $4.95 per month, although $7.95 a month will enable you host unlimited websites, yes unlimited!

With today’s changing trends in web hosting services, it is important to get as much server space and bandwidth as you can. Hostgator offer ample server space and bandwith, so this allows for necessary updates and increased traffic to your site as it becomes more popular. And when your business grows, you have the option to have a dedicated server just for your business, so they really can cater for any business both large and small.

 So go on over to their site and have a look at what they can do for your online business.

Website Building

December 13th, 2007 | By Simon In Building Your Business, Getting Started, Useful Software or Tools | No Comments »

Your website is where your business resides, it’s like the head office of an offline company. It is therefore important to practise good design principles to make sure your site reaches out to the maximum number of visitors and sells to as many people as possible. 

When building your own website there are a few things to consider. First of all, are you able to design and build it yourself? For the majority of people the answer to this is “no”. So If you know nothing about web design, you will need to pay someone to design it exactly the way you want. Make sure you use a reputable source so you are not wasting your money.

There are many, many website design companies out there, all of them ranging in quality and price. I have a company that I use for website building (as well as other related projects) and they are called Scriptlance. Scriptlance operate by allowing programmers, website designers, article writers (to name but a few) to bid for your project. This means that you can very often get a job done for a very competitive price, as you could have a dozen website designers all bidding for your project.

You also need to be very careful about choosing your domain name. Make sure it is short, memorable and relevant to your business. One popular site you can visit to check what domains are available is namecheap.

It is also recommended that you keep the number of images on your website to a minimum. They might make your website look pretty, but they also make your site load very slowly and more often than not they are very unnecessary. If you think any image is essential on your site, make sure it is optimized so that it has a minimum file size, something your website designer will easily be able to do.

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