Monday, May 21, 2007

How To Market Your Home Business

Everyone knows that marketing a home business is one of the most tricky things about having one. You have to be sure that you are doing it correctly, because no matter what your business is, chances are good that there are a lot of people who have home businesses that are going to be able to compete with yours. Because the internet is open to everyone all over the world, you are going to find that it often comes down to people choosing the business that markets themselves the best.

Everyone knows that marketing a home business is one of the most tricky things about having one. You have to be sure that you are doing it correctly, because no matter what your business is, chances are good that there are a lot of people who have home businesses that are going to be able to compete with yours. Because the internet is open to everyone all over the world, you are going to find that it often comes down to people choosing the business that markets themselves the best.

Make Your Mark

So, how can you make your mark on the world and be sure that you are noticed? First of all, you have to have something that no one else does. Chances are good that other people have your same idea, unless you have come up with something that no one has ever heard of before. So, this means that there has to be something about your business that is unique, whether it is in your web site, the way that you do business, or the product that you are offering. You have to be sure that you can easily say that you have something no one else can offer, and that when you say this, you can actually mean it. If you can do this, you are going to be on the right track.

Market Market Market

Another thing that you have to be sure to do is to market yourself. No matter what you are doing, there is a place somewhere that is going to be able to market you. You have to rely on yourself and do your own research, and figure out where you can best market yourself. If you are just starting out, a good thing to do would be to search online for your product or service, and see what comes up. See what your competition is, and then figure out what they are doing to market themselves. Then, see where you can get your name out there and how you can make yourself known in the world where you want to be.

Another thing that you have to do is to get creative about how you market yourself. This could even be the thing that sets you apart from all the rest. If you can be sure that you really know what you are doing, you might be able to find your way to the top of something, and you might be able to be more of a success than you ever thought it would be possible for you to be. Get out there and market yourself, in the best way possible, and see if you can bring yourself to the forefront.

Article Tags: Home Business, Marketing

Source: Free Online Articles from ArticlesBase.com
About the Author:

Michael Laleye Is A Plug In Profit Site Member As Well As An Authority On Developing Home Based Affiliate Businesses. Get more Information On How To Build Your Own Home Business. For Home Business Ideas To Make Money Online, Visit: http://www.MyAffiliateStarter.com

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/how-to-market-your-home-business-150150.html



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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

How Much Does- Free- Cost ?

The word “FREE” is one of the most powerful words in not just the English language, but throughout all human languages.

Any time the word “FREE” is mentioned, it will cause the most cynical or skeptical human being’s ears to perk up like a K-9's!

The word “FREE” is one of the most powerful words in not just the English language, but throughout all human languages.

Any time the word “FREE” is mentioned, it will cause the most cynical or skeptical human being’s ears to perk up like a K-9's!

It is said that the internet has leveled the playing field for entrepreneurs, worldwide. For a lot of people who have taken the time to do their homework and truly learn the ins-and-outs of Internet Marketing, this has proven to be true. Yet there are always exceptions to the rule, and I don't suggest you bank on the exception. This is what brings me to the question, “How much does ‘FREE’ cost?”

Instead of asking “How much does ‘FREE’ cost?” you may want to ask yourself, “How much has ‘FREE’ cost you?” Before you and I go on pondering this question, let me make one thing perfectly clear - I have been caught up in the seduction of the “FREE” offer, too. So you see my goal here is not to make you feel bad because you have been seduced by the “FREE” offer which is disguised as a way to build your trust, and eventually rape you of your hard-earned money and hopes of doing something better for yourself and your loved ones.

As we approach the end of this year, Newbie, beware. Now is the time you will see “FREE” offers coming out of the wood work or should I say “FREE” offers will be popping out of your PC. Now again, let me establish that all “FREE” offers are not invalid or tricks, but a lot of them are and we are going to have to learn to know the difference between the valid offer and the invalid offer.

Ok, here's the deal in a nut shell. The “FREE” offer is being perverted by unscrupulous Internet Marketers. I learned the hard way about free offers, now you don’t have to. For the unscrupulous Internet Marketer, the “FREE” offer is a lot like date rape. I say it's like date rape, because the offer is so cleverly disguised as a trust worthy offer, it's as though they really have your best interest in mind, so you let down your ability to reason and Wham! They've gotten your goods and have moved on to the next victim.

The “FREE” offer is a reciprocator no matter who uses it. This law was set in place by the ALMIGHTY GOD of Heaven and earth, and it cannot be changed by man. For those of you who do not know what law I am talking about, it is this. Give, and it shall be given to you.... so you see no matter who applies the principle, it works. I am not attempting to stop people from using the “FREE” offer approach, because I truly believe if one has something to give, and he/she believes that what they are offering can truly be a help to someone, by all means I say give it!

I was recently reading an email I received, and I have to say that I was really moved. This gentleman expressed to me how he built his business on giving, and to my astonishment he did not ask me to go from there to another website where I could leave my email address, or tell me that if I left his page, I would never be offered such a great deal again in life. No, not that guy, although his approach is brilliant. Sneaky, but brilliant.

If you really want to know the truth, the “FREE” approach is about list building. Yes, it's all about building your opt-in list. You see the guy that I am talking about came up with the most brilliant form of viral marketing the Internet Marketing world has ever seen. Hey! I'm new at this, maybe you've seen it before. Think about this - when was the last time you convinced Internet Marketers worldwide to offer a “FREE” report written by you, to build your opt-in list. The “FREE” approach is about the list. How much does it really cost?

© Copyright 2006 Felton L.Thompkins

About The Author
Felton L. Thompkins is a native Atlantan, now making his home in Jacksonville, FL.

He is a lover of God and of people. His interests include golfing, music, internet marketing, and real estate investment.

Felton L. Thompkins, The Newbies Advocate.
http://www.Simplyeshop.com
http://tinyurl.com/yab6aa




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Saturday, May 12, 2007

Home Based Business - 7 Explosive Marketing Strategies to Ignite Your Sales

Here are seven of the most important marketing strategies you can put into practice that are proven to be successful for any home based business. The strategies can improve your life and your business if you really believe and trust in what you are doing.

*Explosive Strategy 1* Set your goals high

Here are seven of the most important marketing strategies you can put into practice that are proven to be successful for any home based business. The strategies can improve your life and your business if you really believe and trust in what you are doing.

*Explosive Strategy 1* Set your goals high

Get yourself a millionaire's attitude and aim high. All things were once impossible until someone figured out how to do it. The main thing is not to undersell yourself. Your future happiness and any success of your business enterprises rely on you thinking BIG.

'The great danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' Michelangelo

You must set yourself a really great challenge and don’t set yourself too low a target. Re-evaluate all of your business and marketing activities to ensure you have a plan for the next 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 5 years and even the next 10 years!

*Explosive Strategy 2* See the big picture

You must have a clear picture of where you are going and what you want to achieve. You may already have a business with marketing strategies in place, or you may be starting out, it doesn’t really matter because you should still be applying the same process.

You need to look at your ideas again and write down some new ones. How do you know when you’ve arrived at your destination if you don’t know where you are going?

When starting out on your next project, take time to write down what’s going on in your head. Ask yourself if you have every piece to the puzzle and if not, how you will overcome it?

*Explosive Strategy 3* Define your USP

You need a unique selling proposition. It is highly unlikely that you will be marketing a product or service that can’t be provided by a number of other competitors. If your visitor can easily do a search for a similar product, why should they buy it from you and what defines your USP?

Can you offer your product in a way that will make your visitor see amazing value for money and they won’t even need to go looking anywhere else to buy?

Can you:

a) Make a unique offer
b) Give an incredible guarantee
c) Offer an astounding level of service
d) Stand out from the crowd
e) Give away something for free

You can easily differentiate yourself by studying your competitors and then make your offer irresistibly better by using all of the above methods.

*Explosive Strategy 4* Give away something for free

Whatever type of business you run, or are considering starting there is nothing as powerful as FREE. Direct mail exploded with the tag line – 'Send no money now. You were basically told that you could try out the product free for 14 days. You would have it on appraisal and your credit card wouldn’t be billed until you were entirely satisfied.

Here are some tried and tested methods you could apply and they work great for almost any products, particularly to digital products:

a) Write an e-book and give it away
b) Make the e-book available to be resold and given away
c) Write an informative email course about your product or service
d) If you have a software product, let people have it on appraisal for 14 days before they buy.
e) Give away a ‘teaser’ sample to hook your visitors and get them coming back for more.

Once your free offer has been accepted your prospect is up to 50% more likely to buy from you. You’ll lose a big chunk of sales if you try and ask for people’s money the first time they visit your site.

*Explosive Strategy 5* Propel yourself to expert status

You should write articles and submit them to free content sites. When you write interesting articles about your chosen subject and have them published, you instantly elevate yourself to authority status.

The more you write the more internet real estate you can occupy. You can attain expert status within your area of business. This will build trust with your reader. Each article you have published will contain links back to your website and this will bring targeted visitors to see what you have to offer.

Targeted visitors mean more sales. Imagine writing at least one article each week and submitting it to two hundred publisher sites. After just five short weeks you would have over 1000 links pointing back to your website.

Anyone can write an article and with a little practice, a really good article. Even if you don’t want to write it yourself, you can outsource this task for very little cost.

*Explosive Strategy 6* Automate your online business

The number one reason to automate as much of your business as possible is to save time and reduce costs. Any process that can be automated will mean a faster response for your customers and more satisfied customers.

Here are some areas in any online business marketing strategy that you can automate and will help grow your business at the same time:

a) Capture email addresses
b) Automate delivery of digital products and free guides for interested visitors
c) Take credit card orders online
d) Use a smart ecommerce system that automates your sales process
e) Provide instant delivery of e-products
f) Use affiliates to market your products for you
g) Automate the payment of your affiliates
h) Track all of your online advertising and sales results

*Explosive Strategy 7* Create multiple streams of income

Having more than one source of income is vital if you intend to have a great business. You intend to be around for a long time don’t you? Here are five ways you could create additional income streams:

1. Find a strategic business partner. Look for someone who is in a similar line of business to yours. You could offer to exchange products and then it sell to your own 'hot' customer list.

2. Model other successful business or people. You don’t need to copy them exactly but practice some of the same habits that have made them successful.

3. Ask people online with a survey as to what exactly it is they need most to solve their problem. You could compile the results and then produce your next income stream to match exactly their wants or needs.

4. Combine a product and service together in a package deal. It could increase your sales. If you're selling a book, offer an hour of consulting with it.

5. Turn part of your web site into a members only web site. Instead of charging for access, use it as a free bonus for one of your new products to generate extra income.

In conclusion, maintain customer loyalty by looking after them well. Your home based business profits will go from average to spectacular. Customers will return to you time and time again and you will also get free recommendations resulting in additional traffic and more sales.

Adrian Kelly writes for http://www.instantdailyprofits.com. Revealed: An Amazing ground-breaking formula that shows you how to make money online fast... visit now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Kelly



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Do You Use These 6 Clear Set Criteria In Selecting An Internet Home Business?

Are you spending hours and hours everyday in front of your computer looking for an internet home business? Without clear set criteria, you are simply wasting your time and most likely will fall on a spurious opportunity or an outright scam. With the hundreds of internet home businesses available online, you will literally freeze as to which of these you would join.

Listed below are the most important factors you should consider when choosing your internet home business.

1) Are people buying from this internet home business? Would there be people prepared to pay for this product or service? You may have a very good product with every bells and whistles included in it, but if nobody is buying, then what good is that in your business? How do you know that people are buying? Well, if the business has been running for a while, most likely, people are still buying the product or service. If it\'s a newer product then you\'ll have to use your guts. If you buy something and feel good about it then the likelihood is high that there will be a lot more people that will feel just as good as you did about buying it.

More competitors on the product or service would mean that you are in a viable market and you\'ll just have to learn to be good at selling or promoting your product or service. There are many internet home businesses in which you don\'t have to sell anything. Some of the best internet home businesses don\'t even require you to sell a product. How is this done? You simply refer potential customers to a company and get paid a commission on each customer you refer or who buys. What makes this kind of business extremely attractive is that you don\'t have to deal with customer support, product delivery or any of the normal home business troubles.

2) Training and Support. One of the most important aspects of any business system, especially if it’s new to you, is training and support. At least there should be an email address or a phone number to contact if you need personal help. Some internet home businesses provide a web based training and support to their members. The advantage of the web based training and support is that it is readily available anywhere and anytime as long as there is an internet connection. The training system and support should show all there is to know to make money on the internet and should also be easy to follow.

3) Little Experience Needed. The lack of technical knowledge greatly increases failure rates in internet home business. Imagine a mom whose only experience is tending the family, she decides to start an internet business, the next day, she is introduced to css, html, pop-ups, php, blog, merchant account, hosting, autoresponder, sales copy, etc. Instead of simply marketing her business, she would be buried into the technical stuff. A good internet home business should only require a little experience, say; a working knowledge of the internet and operating a computer should be enough.

4) Income Potential. Will this internet business bring in real money for you? Hey, we’re talking of business here not hobby. So the income potential should not be low. Another thing to inquire is if the income potential sustainable. You may get plenty of sales this month but what about the months that follow? Does it offer multiple streams of income so that when one income stream closes, there are still plenty left? Is the income recurring, that is, you get money every month? A good example is web hosting and subscription based sites. Every month you get paid.

5) Can Be Done Part-Time: This is very important because a lot of programs out there say they\'re the perfect part time business but the only way to get any real results is to do it full time. The main reasons you are embarking on an internet home business is the money and freedom that it brings. Freedom to spend your time at things you love. The internet home business you will choose should not tie you up in front of your computer for hours and hours. A good internet home business is pretty automated. Once you set things up, the business runs by itself. You spend a couple of hours a day, tweak and change some things, then leave the system to run.

When talking about internet home business, the second thing that comes to your mind, after money, is the lifestyle. Think of it, if you have to spend 8-10 hours per day in your internet home business, it doesn’t leave much time for fun. That would be more of a job.

6) Company History: With so many scams out there, one thing to look for is a stable opportunity. Look for a business that has been around for a while, say 2 years. Well, there are new opportunities that are worthwhile but you should prefer for an internet home business that has been successful. You are going to invest your own money here so better be sure. You can go to search engines and check. Check the forums. Call the owner over the phone. Send an email to the owner and ask about the business.

These are the six basic things by which you measure an internet home business. Obviously, there are other things but the ones mentioned above are the critical starting points which when used would result in a good business decision.

Alan Ocab will help you launch your very own COMPLETE MONEY MAKING WEBSITE that\'s 100% ready to take orders and pull in PROFITS for you. Find out this internet home business you can start right away, visit: http://www.homebusinesstoday.name

Alan Ocab
Alan Ocab will help you launch your very own COMPLETE MONEY MAKING WEBSITE that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in PROFITS for you. Download FREE eBooks about internet home business and start right now, visit: http://www.homebusinesstoday.name

http://www.articleworld.net/articles/14168/1/Do-You-Use-These-6-Clear-Set-Criteria-In-Selecting-An-Internet-Home-Business%3F


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