I know that I've beaten this topic to death, but I really don't understand why everyone is still enamoured with Google. I remember when I made my living from Google, but slowly my page rank climbs on dominant sites will millions of hits - and my income dwindles.
We have always tolerated Google ads beside, in, around - and now on our screens. Why do we have such a problem with paid blogging? We didn't complain when advertisers started hijacking our blog posts and putting little green links in the content - even though we get only a fraction of the income.
I have one post which has an above average click through rate on a CPC worth $250. However, I have never made more than $3.00 on that click - despite having a PR4...which Google promises me should earn at least 20%. So - why are we afraid of PO'ng Google?
"Ethical Paid Per Post Blogging"
Comment: Talina said...
I am having a hard time accepting that the passing of page rank through paid links is ethical... What do you think?
This is a huge deal to me as many of my visitors find me via Google search and Google is wiping out the page rank for bloggers who post paid links and do not include nofollow (which designates to Google that the link was paid for).
Do you know of any companies that pay you to blog and also allow you to use nofollow as Google states you must?
REPLY” Gracepub said:
I do a lot of Internet marketing. I have more than 10 000 links to one of my sites.
I've heard that Google is wiping out links for blogs with paid posts - so. (google has always been a gossip mill. I haven't really seen a difference) I get far more hits from my inbound links and social networking than I ever get from Google. The ratio is close to 10:2
Also if I may highlight a finer point of Internet marketing? Google also pays me for the right to put THEIR links on my blog. What is the difference?
The thing that is more ethical about paid posting over Google is that I pick and choose what posts appear on my blog with paid posts. However, Google does not give me the right to limit advertisers - so I have no right to refuse an advertiser who earns their income by unethical means.
Will it bother me if Google refuses my Adsense account? No. I make almost no money from Google because they have become so greedy. At one time, I would have happily catered to them alone. But now, I have CPCs worth over $250 and Google pays me $.45 on a PR4 site! Why should I give up an income generating venue that pays me more than $4000 a year for $.45?
Also, one aspect of Internet marketing that most people forget ... Google is the one the created the paid post system by teaching Internet marketers to write a ‘keyword heavy’ article and then told the bloggers to put their ad IN the post at the bottom.
Last, Google created the link-back ranking system. They are not interested in hits, visitors, new content, members on feeds, or anything that gives me an advantage over people with a million dollars to invest in Internet Marketing.
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Showing posts with label Business Oportunities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business Oportunities. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Investment Property As An Extra Income
I recently had a nice little win on the lottery. It was nothing to write home about but enough for me to think long and hard about wise investment.
I've toyed with the idea of exotic holidays, fancy cars, even plastic surgery but these all seem so superficial. Those who know of my win are suggesting an investment property.
I have a home already, a comfortable place that I'm happy with and won by a very strategically handled divorce. Because of this, and because I know how much it winds up the ex to see me in it, I am loathe to let it go just because I've come into a little more money.
I've been looking around for a while now, with this idea in mind. There are quite a few properties on the market where I live in the South of England that are in dire need of renovation and I'm quite coming round to the idea of a little project to get my teeth into.
However, I do have a job that I enjoy and I don't want to leave. I had considered working on my investment property in my spare time but don't much fancy giving every weekend and holiday over to stripping, sanding, painting and general hard slog for a house I'm not going to live in.
The other problem I'm encountering is that, given the long working hours I already indulge in, by the time I get round to putting in offers for houses they have already been snapped up. Apparently, this is an up and coming area and with a new university being built in the vicinity, the buy to let property market is really taking off.
After a little research, I found a company that could help me. I have emailed them a brief of the type of investment property I am looking for, the budget I have set and the condition I am willing to accept it in.
They then took over, found my property and quickly secured a deal so that I didn't miss out. I am so excited at this point. Acquiring a house in a divorce was satisfying in a vindictive type of way. Acquiring a house that will be of my own doing actually feels more satisfying.
The company have many services on offer from acquiring the house, brokering a deal, surveying and reporting, arranging and overseeing building works, interior design and even finding tenants and managing the lease.
I have decided not to avail myself of all their services as I don't think I would gain the same satisfaction. They have acquired the house and surveyed the works that need doing as this isn't my field of expertise and in a buy to let property this must be carried out in accordance with certain legal criteria.
I get to do the pretty bit. I get to decide on the interior design, the colours used, the materials used and the furniture that will be put in place. Of course, I won't have the time to do the work myself but when I see the finished article I know it will be from all my own decisions.
The investment property management company I have employed have sourced an interior decorator with a good reputation and six months after my win I am the proud owner of one of the smartest buy to let properties in the area with the ability to command a rather decent rent.
It turns out my investment property was not let to the new influx of students in the area but rather to a city worker and his family. While he was away working all week they did a good job in looking after my property and the management was minimal.
When the family decided on a move to the city themselves, my management company were able to quickly secure more reliable tenants and this has brought me a very respectable second income. The only problem now is that I have the bug and have commissioned the team to find my next investment property.
Housing expert Catherine Harvey looks at the buy to let property market as a means of investment. To find out more please visit http://www.investmentproperty.co.uk/
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I've toyed with the idea of exotic holidays, fancy cars, even plastic surgery but these all seem so superficial. Those who know of my win are suggesting an investment property.
I have a home already, a comfortable place that I'm happy with and won by a very strategically handled divorce. Because of this, and because I know how much it winds up the ex to see me in it, I am loathe to let it go just because I've come into a little more money.
I've been looking around for a while now, with this idea in mind. There are quite a few properties on the market where I live in the South of England that are in dire need of renovation and I'm quite coming round to the idea of a little project to get my teeth into.
However, I do have a job that I enjoy and I don't want to leave. I had considered working on my investment property in my spare time but don't much fancy giving every weekend and holiday over to stripping, sanding, painting and general hard slog for a house I'm not going to live in.
The other problem I'm encountering is that, given the long working hours I already indulge in, by the time I get round to putting in offers for houses they have already been snapped up. Apparently, this is an up and coming area and with a new university being built in the vicinity, the buy to let property market is really taking off.
After a little research, I found a company that could help me. I have emailed them a brief of the type of investment property I am looking for, the budget I have set and the condition I am willing to accept it in.
They then took over, found my property and quickly secured a deal so that I didn't miss out. I am so excited at this point. Acquiring a house in a divorce was satisfying in a vindictive type of way. Acquiring a house that will be of my own doing actually feels more satisfying.
The company have many services on offer from acquiring the house, brokering a deal, surveying and reporting, arranging and overseeing building works, interior design and even finding tenants and managing the lease.
I have decided not to avail myself of all their services as I don't think I would gain the same satisfaction. They have acquired the house and surveyed the works that need doing as this isn't my field of expertise and in a buy to let property this must be carried out in accordance with certain legal criteria.
I get to do the pretty bit. I get to decide on the interior design, the colours used, the materials used and the furniture that will be put in place. Of course, I won't have the time to do the work myself but when I see the finished article I know it will be from all my own decisions.
The investment property management company I have employed have sourced an interior decorator with a good reputation and six months after my win I am the proud owner of one of the smartest buy to let properties in the area with the ability to command a rather decent rent.
It turns out my investment property was not let to the new influx of students in the area but rather to a city worker and his family. While he was away working all week they did a good job in looking after my property and the management was minimal.
When the family decided on a move to the city themselves, my management company were able to quickly secure more reliable tenants and this has brought me a very respectable second income. The only problem now is that I have the bug and have commissioned the team to find my next investment property.
Housing expert Catherine Harvey looks at the buy to let property market as a means of investment. To find out more please visit http://www.investmentproperty.co.uk/
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How To Make A Good Offer When Buying Property
When you're buying property you're making what will probably be the biggest single purchase in your life.
That's pretty scary, and it's why you need to thoroughly do your research before choosing your house.
When you have found the right place, be prepared to do a little haggling - it could save you thousands of pounds.
Really, no-one should just pay the offer price of a house for sale, especially in the cooling market we seem to have at the moment. Indeed, many sellers deliberately put a few thousand on the asking price to give them some room for movement.
But if you're not the kind of person who enjoys haggling, then that's not going to change just because you are buying property!
Here's a handy guide that will help you find ways to knock the asking price down and secure yourself a bargain home:
Do lots of research
This is key to saving money and getting the right deal all the way through the process of buying property. The more work you put in behind the scenes securing valuable information, the more power you will have to negotiate. If the average house price in the area is a little lower than the home you want to buy, find out why. If there's no immediately obvious reason, that information becomes a lever to get a price drop. Just remember to be thorough and realistic with your research.
Understand the seller
If you can work out why they are selling their home, it will put you in a much stronger position to buy it at the right price. For example, do they need to leave the area quickly because of new jobs elsewhere? In which case they will be more open to any steps you can take to speed the sale up (making them more receptive to an offer). Whereas if they have fallen in love with a new expensive property nearby, then money may be more of an issue, making them less likely to want to haggle. Don't be afraid to ask the seller or agent why they are moving.
Make your position clear
Your value as a buyer will depend on the situation you are in and what the seller wants. If you have a mortgage agreed in principle; are a cash or first time buyer; or have no chain, you are generally a more attractive purchaser. This will work in your favour if there are multiple offers for the property. Ensure the seller's estate agent understands the exact details of your situation. Remember, it's in their best interests as well that the person buying property from their client can complete quickly.
Check the market
If the market is slowing, as it seems to be at the moment, then the power shifts to you as a buyer. When houses are slower to sell, it reduces the number of options to the seller, who ultimately just wants to sell up and move on to the next house. In some areas this doesn't apply - for example first time buyers often find there is such a shortage of affordable housing for them, they are forced to grab the first half decent property they can find. This puts the power back with the seller. Do some research on the situation in your area and use the information accordingly.
Leverage the condition of the house
Smart buyers will carefully examine what's included in the sale and what work needs doing to the property to bring it up to top standard. When you are viewing the house, look carefully for any property maintenance that needs to be done. Even a bit of decorating will cost you time and money, and can be reflected in the price. It's also worth indicating that you will have a survey carried out if your offer is accepted. This can sometimes prompt sellers to disclose potential problems the survey may discover, in the hope they won't scupper the sale down the line.
Show you have done your homework
Finally, don't be afraid to demonstrate to the seller and their agent that you have done your research, you understand the market and the property for sale, and you are experienced at buying property. It makes them more likely to just want to do a deal with you and get the transaction moving.
More about how to buy property can be found at http://www.propertytoday.co.uk
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That's pretty scary, and it's why you need to thoroughly do your research before choosing your house.
When you have found the right place, be prepared to do a little haggling - it could save you thousands of pounds.
Really, no-one should just pay the offer price of a house for sale, especially in the cooling market we seem to have at the moment. Indeed, many sellers deliberately put a few thousand on the asking price to give them some room for movement.
But if you're not the kind of person who enjoys haggling, then that's not going to change just because you are buying property!
Here's a handy guide that will help you find ways to knock the asking price down and secure yourself a bargain home:
Do lots of research
This is key to saving money and getting the right deal all the way through the process of buying property. The more work you put in behind the scenes securing valuable information, the more power you will have to negotiate. If the average house price in the area is a little lower than the home you want to buy, find out why. If there's no immediately obvious reason, that information becomes a lever to get a price drop. Just remember to be thorough and realistic with your research.
Understand the seller
If you can work out why they are selling their home, it will put you in a much stronger position to buy it at the right price. For example, do they need to leave the area quickly because of new jobs elsewhere? In which case they will be more open to any steps you can take to speed the sale up (making them more receptive to an offer). Whereas if they have fallen in love with a new expensive property nearby, then money may be more of an issue, making them less likely to want to haggle. Don't be afraid to ask the seller or agent why they are moving.
Make your position clear
Your value as a buyer will depend on the situation you are in and what the seller wants. If you have a mortgage agreed in principle; are a cash or first time buyer; or have no chain, you are generally a more attractive purchaser. This will work in your favour if there are multiple offers for the property. Ensure the seller's estate agent understands the exact details of your situation. Remember, it's in their best interests as well that the person buying property from their client can complete quickly.
Check the market
If the market is slowing, as it seems to be at the moment, then the power shifts to you as a buyer. When houses are slower to sell, it reduces the number of options to the seller, who ultimately just wants to sell up and move on to the next house. In some areas this doesn't apply - for example first time buyers often find there is such a shortage of affordable housing for them, they are forced to grab the first half decent property they can find. This puts the power back with the seller. Do some research on the situation in your area and use the information accordingly.
Leverage the condition of the house
Smart buyers will carefully examine what's included in the sale and what work needs doing to the property to bring it up to top standard. When you are viewing the house, look carefully for any property maintenance that needs to be done. Even a bit of decorating will cost you time and money, and can be reflected in the price. It's also worth indicating that you will have a survey carried out if your offer is accepted. This can sometimes prompt sellers to disclose potential problems the survey may discover, in the hope they won't scupper the sale down the line.
Show you have done your homework
Finally, don't be afraid to demonstrate to the seller and their agent that you have done your research, you understand the market and the property for sale, and you are experienced at buying property. It makes them more likely to just want to do a deal with you and get the transaction moving.
More about how to buy property can be found at http://www.propertytoday.co.uk
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Property Investing
One of the most popular, and profitable methods of generating income and building a home based business is property investing. The recent recession has increased opportunities. If you have a good credit rating, a good plan of action, knowledge of landlord practices, and guts, then you will be able to encourage the banks to lend you money.
The growing land investment industry has become so lucrative than Quickbooks has released a software program just for landlords.
The most important thing to learn is 'buy upscale.' There is no income in buying low rent and 'fix-uppers' or properties in the 'wrong' section of towns.
The growing land investment industry has become so lucrative than Quickbooks has released a software program just for landlords.
The most important thing to learn is 'buy upscale.' There is no income in buying low rent and 'fix-uppers' or properties in the 'wrong' section of towns.
Is Intellectual Property a Good Investment?
There are those who would prefer to invest in things they can touch and feel. Though stocks of a potential nature certainly have value it can sometimes be difficult to believe they will return on an investment. It seems to be easier to believe in things we can see thus the prominence of intellectual property. This is not to say this is a bad idea but instead to highlight the benefits of investing in intellectual property. Here are some of the potential benefits.
When one thinks of intellectual properties it is often divided into two different categories. You have industrial property, which includes patented designs and inventions. Also copyright type productions which include artistic type works and things of a creative nature. It is difficult to put a definite definition on intellectual property. To some it is anything that is of original thought. To others it is any you have created and applied copyright laws to.
If you just finished creating your own original piece of music and it became popular would you want the residual profits from said song? Well that is the idea of investing in intellectual property. You invest in some piece of art or invention that you expect to gain value. Of course a realistic expectation is that the value will increase ever so slightly and gradually but there are exceptions in which value jumps significantly in a short period of time.
So what is the true value of a piece of intellectual property? Well that is up to public demand to decide whether you like it or not. No matter how valuable you may feel a piece of property or art is it is only as valuable as the public deems it to be. Opinions are important so far as they are in common with other opinions.
The question here is intellectual property a good investment. Well, if you are read up and experienced in the arena of whatever physical thing you are betting on then yes it is a good investment. If you have zero experience with this then it is probably wise that you stick with something you know. There is definitely money to be made on intellectual property so long as you know the industry. There is nothing inherently wrong with investing in something you truly believe in so long as it really has value that will increase over time.
Scott Johns conducts research and analysis of stock market picks for a penny stock analysis company. To check out Best Penny Stocks and Picks for some of his company's latest picks.
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When one thinks of intellectual properties it is often divided into two different categories. You have industrial property, which includes patented designs and inventions. Also copyright type productions which include artistic type works and things of a creative nature. It is difficult to put a definite definition on intellectual property. To some it is anything that is of original thought. To others it is any you have created and applied copyright laws to.
If you just finished creating your own original piece of music and it became popular would you want the residual profits from said song? Well that is the idea of investing in intellectual property. You invest in some piece of art or invention that you expect to gain value. Of course a realistic expectation is that the value will increase ever so slightly and gradually but there are exceptions in which value jumps significantly in a short period of time.
So what is the true value of a piece of intellectual property? Well that is up to public demand to decide whether you like it or not. No matter how valuable you may feel a piece of property or art is it is only as valuable as the public deems it to be. Opinions are important so far as they are in common with other opinions.
The question here is intellectual property a good investment. Well, if you are read up and experienced in the arena of whatever physical thing you are betting on then yes it is a good investment. If you have zero experience with this then it is probably wise that you stick with something you know. There is definitely money to be made on intellectual property so long as you know the industry. There is nothing inherently wrong with investing in something you truly believe in so long as it really has value that will increase over time.
Scott Johns conducts research and analysis of stock market picks for a penny stock analysis company. To check out Best Penny Stocks and Picks for some of his company's latest picks.
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Choosing An Investment In Real Estate
Real Estate Investment is now treated as a major case of capital budgeting by using state-of-the-art investment analysis which incorporates the future stream of income it may generate and the associated risk adjustments. It has been the highlight of the investment literature since the 1970's when investment theorists extended techniques such as probability, time value of money and utility into its analysis. The real estate market is versatile. There are single family homes, duplexes, apartment buildings, and so many other properties. Choosing an investment can be hard if you do not know what you are looking for. The first thing you must decide is what kind of investor do you want to be. There are some people who are very good at being a landlord. They do not mind taking care of the problems which can crop up at any time of the day or night. These people like the extra income every month. They have a budget worked out so they know what expenditures to expect and how to cover them.
Other people just want to buy and sell. They find a property, fix it up, and sell it for a profit. They know how much money they can put into the house and still make a profit. They know what repairs to make that will increase the value. They researched and found out about the market for that area. There is one more kind of investor. This is the one who sells the homes, but on land contract. They are gaining an extra income every month. They are not responsible for any repairs. They do not pay the taxes or insurance. They are offering a way for people to become home owners who may not have any other way to go. This type of investor knows the market and knows the law. They will know how to cover themselves should a buyer not be able to make the payments. These people know contracts.
Once you decide what type of investor you want to be then you need to start choosing an investment. There are some things to look at when examining the market. If you are going to be a landlord, you will want to screen the neighborhood. You do not want to buy in a noisy area when you want quiet tenants. On the other hand, you can not have loud tenants in a quiet area. If you are interested in renting to seniors, then do not buy in the middle of family central.
You will want to check out the schools and shopping areas. This can be a good indication of what the area is doing growth wise. This is good practice whether you are going to rent, flip, or land contract. Choosing an investment means getting to know the market and the area. You do not want to be taken by surprise when the city comes in and re-zones your property. This can happen when there is a large volume of growth in an area. You may find your investment no longer qualifies for what it was intended. And easy way to check this is talk with the planning and zoning departments for the area you are researching.
There are times you may run across a deal which is too good to be true. This is usually because it is. A warehouse might be offered at thousands of dollars less than market value. You need to find out why before running down to the finance company to take out a loan. If you find the company selling it is in financial trouble then it may be fine. It may also be there are twenty five more just like it that are empty because everyone moved to another location. You could find yourself with an empty building which is going to stay that way for a long, long time. Carefully research every market before choosing an investment. Know the area and what is selling. Find out the selling price and how long it took to sell. Check zoning regulations and the planning department for the area. Always buy below market value. Buy only what you need, not what looks good. Choosing an investment is not hard with a little leg work and research.
Kim Lee writes for Number 1 Rental Portal in Singapore This portal lists rental properties like HDB flats, whole flats, landed property, office space, private condos etc.
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Other people just want to buy and sell. They find a property, fix it up, and sell it for a profit. They know how much money they can put into the house and still make a profit. They know what repairs to make that will increase the value. They researched and found out about the market for that area. There is one more kind of investor. This is the one who sells the homes, but on land contract. They are gaining an extra income every month. They are not responsible for any repairs. They do not pay the taxes or insurance. They are offering a way for people to become home owners who may not have any other way to go. This type of investor knows the market and knows the law. They will know how to cover themselves should a buyer not be able to make the payments. These people know contracts.
Once you decide what type of investor you want to be then you need to start choosing an investment. There are some things to look at when examining the market. If you are going to be a landlord, you will want to screen the neighborhood. You do not want to buy in a noisy area when you want quiet tenants. On the other hand, you can not have loud tenants in a quiet area. If you are interested in renting to seniors, then do not buy in the middle of family central.
You will want to check out the schools and shopping areas. This can be a good indication of what the area is doing growth wise. This is good practice whether you are going to rent, flip, or land contract. Choosing an investment means getting to know the market and the area. You do not want to be taken by surprise when the city comes in and re-zones your property. This can happen when there is a large volume of growth in an area. You may find your investment no longer qualifies for what it was intended. And easy way to check this is talk with the planning and zoning departments for the area you are researching.
There are times you may run across a deal which is too good to be true. This is usually because it is. A warehouse might be offered at thousands of dollars less than market value. You need to find out why before running down to the finance company to take out a loan. If you find the company selling it is in financial trouble then it may be fine. It may also be there are twenty five more just like it that are empty because everyone moved to another location. You could find yourself with an empty building which is going to stay that way for a long, long time. Carefully research every market before choosing an investment. Know the area and what is selling. Find out the selling price and how long it took to sell. Check zoning regulations and the planning department for the area. Always buy below market value. Buy only what you need, not what looks good. Choosing an investment is not hard with a little leg work and research.
Kim Lee writes for Number 1 Rental Portal in Singapore This portal lists rental properties like HDB flats, whole flats, landed property, office space, private condos etc.
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Book Publishing - How I Got Into Book Publishing
As a published author and creative writing teacher I often get asked how writers can get published. One of the simplest ways to answer that question is tell the story of my publishing contracts with two different publishers.
Like many other writers, I have always wanted to write a book and started scribbling stories as a child. I have also always been an avid reader. When I started my first book I did not know what I was doing. It was a learning experience and I was not sure I could even write an entire book, but at last I did have a completed manuscript. I then began my search for a publisher.
As I knew no other authors or writers I started with the only place I knew. The Writers Market book. I came up with a list of publishers and started sending out queries. I had some interest from some of the big houses but as time went on I collected a pretty impressive list of rejections. I worked my way through all the major publishing houses and then started on the smaller houses. Then came the exciting day when I got the call that a small house was willing to publish my novel.
Now in hindsight I'm not so sure I should have leaped at the offer. Small publishing houses can offer opportunities that the bigger houses cannot. They are often more willing to take a risk on an unknown author or a manuscript that does not fit cleanly into a niche. But they are riskier ventures. Many small publishing houses do not have a long life span. My first publisher did print my first book and contracted with me for my second but went out of business before the second book even came out. Smaller publishers also have lower distribution. It was up to me to arrange distribution in my regional book stores as well as arrange my own book signings and promotion. However the biggest drawback for me was the lack of editorial support and guidance. Remember, this was my first book and I wasn't even working with a critique group. I could have used more editing than I received from that publisher. While getting my first book published was a confidence booster and an education, it was not a financial boon. I received only one royalty check before the publisher went under.
After that experience, I then became even more determined to learn about publishing. I sought out writing groups, attended writers conferences, and joined a critique group. As I gained more confidence in my writing I started entering writing contests and placed in the top three in several writing competitions. One of my first place prizes included being read by a senior editor at Kensington. The editor liked my manuscript and offered me a two-book contract.
This experience was dramatically different from my first. A major publishing house meant a standard contract, a standard advance, and regular royalty payments as well as good distribution. However I also lost a great deal of control over my book. Both covers are bodice rippers and the title of the first book was chosen by the marketing department and I was not even given the right to approve it. Even worse for my writing career though was the fact that the editor who bought me quickly passed me off to another editor and then when that editor left I was handed to yet a third editor. As an orphaned author my second book received little support and I was not offered a new contract.
I would be lax if I did not mention agents during this article. Many unpublished authors ask if agents are important. Obviously as my story points out you can get published without an agent. In fact, I might have gotten published sooner the second time around if I wasn't working with an agent who did not take advantage of some of my previous contest wins. The problem is that the type of agent who is willing to take on an unproven author is not likely to do you much good. If you can make a contact with an agent through a conference or contest or the like then definitely do so but I would not recommend spending a lot of time trying to get an agent before you are published. After I had my contract with Kensington I did work with a higher quality agent for a time but nothing came of that experience although the fault probably lies with me as well as with the agent.
Author: Deanna Mascle
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Like many other writers, I have always wanted to write a book and started scribbling stories as a child. I have also always been an avid reader. When I started my first book I did not know what I was doing. It was a learning experience and I was not sure I could even write an entire book, but at last I did have a completed manuscript. I then began my search for a publisher.
As I knew no other authors or writers I started with the only place I knew. The Writers Market book. I came up with a list of publishers and started sending out queries. I had some interest from some of the big houses but as time went on I collected a pretty impressive list of rejections. I worked my way through all the major publishing houses and then started on the smaller houses. Then came the exciting day when I got the call that a small house was willing to publish my novel.
Now in hindsight I'm not so sure I should have leaped at the offer. Small publishing houses can offer opportunities that the bigger houses cannot. They are often more willing to take a risk on an unknown author or a manuscript that does not fit cleanly into a niche. But they are riskier ventures. Many small publishing houses do not have a long life span. My first publisher did print my first book and contracted with me for my second but went out of business before the second book even came out. Smaller publishers also have lower distribution. It was up to me to arrange distribution in my regional book stores as well as arrange my own book signings and promotion. However the biggest drawback for me was the lack of editorial support and guidance. Remember, this was my first book and I wasn't even working with a critique group. I could have used more editing than I received from that publisher. While getting my first book published was a confidence booster and an education, it was not a financial boon. I received only one royalty check before the publisher went under.
After that experience, I then became even more determined to learn about publishing. I sought out writing groups, attended writers conferences, and joined a critique group. As I gained more confidence in my writing I started entering writing contests and placed in the top three in several writing competitions. One of my first place prizes included being read by a senior editor at Kensington. The editor liked my manuscript and offered me a two-book contract.
This experience was dramatically different from my first. A major publishing house meant a standard contract, a standard advance, and regular royalty payments as well as good distribution. However I also lost a great deal of control over my book. Both covers are bodice rippers and the title of the first book was chosen by the marketing department and I was not even given the right to approve it. Even worse for my writing career though was the fact that the editor who bought me quickly passed me off to another editor and then when that editor left I was handed to yet a third editor. As an orphaned author my second book received little support and I was not offered a new contract.
I would be lax if I did not mention agents during this article. Many unpublished authors ask if agents are important. Obviously as my story points out you can get published without an agent. In fact, I might have gotten published sooner the second time around if I wasn't working with an agent who did not take advantage of some of my previous contest wins. The problem is that the type of agent who is willing to take on an unproven author is not likely to do you much good. If you can make a contact with an agent through a conference or contest or the like then definitely do so but I would not recommend spending a lot of time trying to get an agent before you are published. After I had my contract with Kensington I did work with a higher quality agent for a time but nothing came of that experience although the fault probably lies with me as well as with the agent.
Author: Deanna Mascle
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Real Estate Writing
I find one of the best methods of 'making money' is to write for real estate agencies. The country is moving. Some stats put 'movers' more than 50% higher than those who are buying a first time home. This means that people need information and facts to help them move.
Wilmington NC real estate is the type of website that real estate agencies should be building. It is not a 'static' online brochure. It lists current open houses and the current listings - on their site, not from the MLM list site.
I find that writing for a good real estate agent is a great way to round out a portfolio. It builds credibility as a writer, and helps the real estate company promote their sites.
Wilmington NC real estate is the type of website that real estate agencies should be building. It is not a 'static' online brochure. It lists current open houses and the current listings - on their site, not from the MLM list site.
I find that writing for a good real estate agent is a great way to round out a portfolio. It builds credibility as a writer, and helps the real estate company promote their sites.
Test Your Small Business Ownership Skills?
There is one type of business that you can run better than anyone else in your community. The trick is to identify it by measuring your skills, likes, dislikes, and passions.
Do you go to Christmas parties with the affluent? Do you hang out at the local arena with sports families? Potential small business owners need to ask questions like this before embarking on a business venture. If you know what this year’s designer colors are, where the nearest symphony or world-class theater is, and the difference between a desert fork and a lobster fork, then you are the right person to open a high-end jewelry store. Maybe you know everything about every sport there is and are frustrated because there is no extreme sports store within five hours of your home.
There are some excellent personality tests to do on the web to find out what type of person you are.
You can make a personal dream come true by investing time and effort into starting the job right.
Questions to ask:
Do you like people? Today’s customer service driven society expects managers to leave the office and walk the floor. Teamwork and respect are the foundation of today’s work at home success stories.
Are you Flexible?
Are you the type of person who buys trade magazines and loves spending two days at a tradeshow? Do you make emergency plans and file them, waiting until a time when they can be executed? The small business world is an ever-changing one. Not even convenience stores can be stagnant anymore. We must prepare plans for growth and change, staying abreast of trends, and always ready to cater to the consumer’s whims.
Do you like people?
A manager who learns their customer’s names paves the way for success. This builds customer loyalty faster than the average Public Relations Campaign can.
Entrepreneurship is not the place for managers who want control over their employees.
Respect earned from employees equals customer loyalty.
The most successful people in the business world share some common habits. They can lead several departments without controlling and manipulating everyone. They manage teams by encouraging good communication and rewarding positive results. They learn how to do the job right and then teach by example. If this contradicts what you watch on business reality shows then you are right. The most successful working environments make a lot of profit, but they would not earn high television ratings.
Are you ambitious?
Entrepreneurs have the drive and determination to start a business, but they characteristically lack stamina. A natural small business owner loves what they do. They can imagine doing the same tasks twenty-years down the road.
Testing your ability to run a company successfully is not hard. Natural small business owners do not mind working nights and weekends. They do not consider writing plans and strategies a waste of time. They do not mind researching facts to find ways to strengthen their business and avoid problems.
Are you action oriented?
Delegation is important for any manager, but not at the risk of losing touch with a certain aspect of the business. A true entrepreneur loves solving problems and taking action. They do spend hours researching and analyzing before making a decision, but they can make an instant decision when it is necessary. The most important aspect of a successful manager is their ability to make quick decisions and accept responsibility for the consequences.
Do you have a high Emotional Intelligence level?
EQ, emotional intelligence, is the measure of your ability to accept responsibility and manage effectively without abusing, controlling, or venting on team members or customers. The good news is that EQ, unlike IQ, is relatively easy to change. There are many resources for anyone who wants to test and control their own EQ.
Why is EQ important?
Everything in the store from merchandise to employees to the design is born in your mind. Managers who have a high EQ are typically able to create a store reflects what the customers want. A lower EQ indicates that you will create a store that satisfies your needs.
More important, we attract people who share our characteristics. If we have a lower EQ then we are more likely to attract self-centered employees, not team players. The ability to hire wisely, trust the right people, and choose managers, who act like owners, is an important characteristic of a successful businessperson.
Do not worry if you did not answer yes to all these questions. If you are not people oriented, then maybe an E-business is for you. People who are not self-starters and ambitious might consider franchises. If you are a controlling person who is not good with people then you might do better as a vendor at tradeshows. There is a place for you. There is a small business niche for everyone.
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Do you go to Christmas parties with the affluent? Do you hang out at the local arena with sports families? Potential small business owners need to ask questions like this before embarking on a business venture. If you know what this year’s designer colors are, where the nearest symphony or world-class theater is, and the difference between a desert fork and a lobster fork, then you are the right person to open a high-end jewelry store. Maybe you know everything about every sport there is and are frustrated because there is no extreme sports store within five hours of your home.
There are some excellent personality tests to do on the web to find out what type of person you are.
You can make a personal dream come true by investing time and effort into starting the job right.
Questions to ask:
Do you like people? Today’s customer service driven society expects managers to leave the office and walk the floor. Teamwork and respect are the foundation of today’s work at home success stories.
Are you Flexible?
Are you the type of person who buys trade magazines and loves spending two days at a tradeshow? Do you make emergency plans and file them, waiting until a time when they can be executed? The small business world is an ever-changing one. Not even convenience stores can be stagnant anymore. We must prepare plans for growth and change, staying abreast of trends, and always ready to cater to the consumer’s whims.
Do you like people?
A manager who learns their customer’s names paves the way for success. This builds customer loyalty faster than the average Public Relations Campaign can.
Entrepreneurship is not the place for managers who want control over their employees.
Respect earned from employees equals customer loyalty.
The most successful people in the business world share some common habits. They can lead several departments without controlling and manipulating everyone. They manage teams by encouraging good communication and rewarding positive results. They learn how to do the job right and then teach by example. If this contradicts what you watch on business reality shows then you are right. The most successful working environments make a lot of profit, but they would not earn high television ratings.
Are you ambitious?
Entrepreneurs have the drive and determination to start a business, but they characteristically lack stamina. A natural small business owner loves what they do. They can imagine doing the same tasks twenty-years down the road.
Testing your ability to run a company successfully is not hard. Natural small business owners do not mind working nights and weekends. They do not consider writing plans and strategies a waste of time. They do not mind researching facts to find ways to strengthen their business and avoid problems.
Are you action oriented?
Delegation is important for any manager, but not at the risk of losing touch with a certain aspect of the business. A true entrepreneur loves solving problems and taking action. They do spend hours researching and analyzing before making a decision, but they can make an instant decision when it is necessary. The most important aspect of a successful manager is their ability to make quick decisions and accept responsibility for the consequences.
Do you have a high Emotional Intelligence level?
EQ, emotional intelligence, is the measure of your ability to accept responsibility and manage effectively without abusing, controlling, or venting on team members or customers. The good news is that EQ, unlike IQ, is relatively easy to change. There are many resources for anyone who wants to test and control their own EQ.
Why is EQ important?
Everything in the store from merchandise to employees to the design is born in your mind. Managers who have a high EQ are typically able to create a store reflects what the customers want. A lower EQ indicates that you will create a store that satisfies your needs.
More important, we attract people who share our characteristics. If we have a lower EQ then we are more likely to attract self-centered employees, not team players. The ability to hire wisely, trust the right people, and choose managers, who act like owners, is an important characteristic of a successful businessperson.
Do not worry if you did not answer yes to all these questions. If you are not people oriented, then maybe an E-business is for you. People who are not self-starters and ambitious might consider franchises. If you are a controlling person who is not good with people then you might do better as a vendor at tradeshows. There is a place for you. There is a small business niche for everyone.
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Three Time Management Methods
The biggest misunderstanding about time management is the concept of managing time. Time passes, whether it is managed or not. There are people who can write all day and finish one page and others who write all day and finish three.
The results of poor time management on a writer can be devastating. The causes of poor time management are not found in a person’s organization skills, but in their attitude toward life. It is easy for a councilor or coach to say ‘prioritize.’ It is much harder to prioritize in an effective manner.
Two Methods
Work First
When prioritizing effectively determine what is the most important task, by the consequences of neglect. Start keeping a journal. Chart the amount of time spent on tasks that do not generate an income and those that do. A productive writer sits down and writes for a pre-determined length of time. They trained themselves to do this. It doesn’t come easy. At first, a writer will sit and stare at a blank screen, doing creative writing exercises in an attempt to fill the time. In the short term, this solution can be justified.
A better solution is to pick a subject and start writing. It doesn’t matter if there is a market for the article. A professional writer knows that every article and short story can be rewritten and resold a hundred times. The first attempt is never the last. This in this case the writer is putting the need to be productive ahead of their personal need to feel comfortable and satisfied with their writing.
However, this method is not the best one for all writers.
Self Actualization First
The writer who puts their own needs first, the job next, and the success third is not always counter productive. If satisfying their needs is important to their self-actualizing, the person should set aside time aside to focus on each task, preventing their personal needs from overriding their goal of publication.
The danger for this writer is that they will never write anything unless they receive what they consider fair compensation, or the affirmation of a large publisher. The likelihood of this writer ever reaching their goals without a schedule is slim.
Once you pick a method of managing your day, stick to it at least three months before making any dramatic changes.
Prioritizing for Procrastinators
Many people waste more time managing and organizing their time than they would loose if they just took each day as it came.
List your tasks in order of the consequences if the task is not completed, not the greatest importance. Starting a list with the tasks that bear the greatest consequences, if not finished, causes a dramatic paradigm shift. The tasks you thought were most important, probably because they represented a personal need or goal are near the bottom. The tasks near the top, earning an income, become the focus of the day.
The next step is to start – and finish – each job in order. For some, this may mean allowing the answering machine to pick up the phone. For others it may mean viewing your writing job as if it were a position with an employer. You could not stop work in an office to do laundry, run errands, or catch your favorite show. Why stop writing to answer the phone?
Finish One Job Before Starting the Next
“A job worth doing is one worth doing well.” Many people are confused by the concept of finishing a job. A job is not finished until it can be put away, or delivered, without needing to rework the task. The household laundry is a good example. People drag all the laundry to the basement and sort it, then go do something else. Then, they return to wash a couple loads, and then leave the clean laundry in baskets. Eliminating the interruptions, and finishing one task before starting another, is more productive. After a routine is established, the familiarity will reduce the time needed to finish the task.
Learn to Write Free
Novel Writer Magazine
Writers Online Courses
Get Paid To Write
The results of poor time management on a writer can be devastating. The causes of poor time management are not found in a person’s organization skills, but in their attitude toward life. It is easy for a councilor or coach to say ‘prioritize.’ It is much harder to prioritize in an effective manner.
Two Methods
Work First
When prioritizing effectively determine what is the most important task, by the consequences of neglect. Start keeping a journal. Chart the amount of time spent on tasks that do not generate an income and those that do. A productive writer sits down and writes for a pre-determined length of time. They trained themselves to do this. It doesn’t come easy. At first, a writer will sit and stare at a blank screen, doing creative writing exercises in an attempt to fill the time. In the short term, this solution can be justified.
A better solution is to pick a subject and start writing. It doesn’t matter if there is a market for the article. A professional writer knows that every article and short story can be rewritten and resold a hundred times. The first attempt is never the last. This in this case the writer is putting the need to be productive ahead of their personal need to feel comfortable and satisfied with their writing.
However, this method is not the best one for all writers.
Self Actualization First
The writer who puts their own needs first, the job next, and the success third is not always counter productive. If satisfying their needs is important to their self-actualizing, the person should set aside time aside to focus on each task, preventing their personal needs from overriding their goal of publication.
The danger for this writer is that they will never write anything unless they receive what they consider fair compensation, or the affirmation of a large publisher. The likelihood of this writer ever reaching their goals without a schedule is slim.
Once you pick a method of managing your day, stick to it at least three months before making any dramatic changes.
Prioritizing for Procrastinators
Many people waste more time managing and organizing their time than they would loose if they just took each day as it came.
List your tasks in order of the consequences if the task is not completed, not the greatest importance. Starting a list with the tasks that bear the greatest consequences, if not finished, causes a dramatic paradigm shift. The tasks you thought were most important, probably because they represented a personal need or goal are near the bottom. The tasks near the top, earning an income, become the focus of the day.
The next step is to start – and finish – each job in order. For some, this may mean allowing the answering machine to pick up the phone. For others it may mean viewing your writing job as if it were a position with an employer. You could not stop work in an office to do laundry, run errands, or catch your favorite show. Why stop writing to answer the phone?
Finish One Job Before Starting the Next
“A job worth doing is one worth doing well.” Many people are confused by the concept of finishing a job. A job is not finished until it can be put away, or delivered, without needing to rework the task. The household laundry is a good example. People drag all the laundry to the basement and sort it, then go do something else. Then, they return to wash a couple loads, and then leave the clean laundry in baskets. Eliminating the interruptions, and finishing one task before starting another, is more productive. After a routine is established, the familiarity will reduce the time needed to finish the task.
Learn to Write Free
Novel Writer Magazine
Writers Online Courses
Get Paid To Write
What Control Do Small Business Owners Have Over Cost?
Have you priced your product buying from distributors, local manufacturers, wholesalers, foreign and domestic sources, and home based manufacturers?
Have you compared all the prices they offer?
If your supplier goes under, increases their prices, or stops carrying the product you need, can you still offer your product or service at the same price?
Do you have a backup plan in effect in case your wholesaler’s employees go on strike?
Do you pay shipping costs? Do you have a backup plan in effect if the shipping company goes on strike, or raises their costs? Does your supplier have a B plan.
Remember: You cannot raise prices without losing clients. So, knowing how solid your supplies price, your labor costs, your utilities, etc., will save you heartache later. This is another place where new businesses make a major mistake. It is summer, you have been in business for two months, and things are going great. You have a 80% markup and that is paying all your bills with a little left over for you. The future looks bright.
November comes and you receive your first heating bill. Not to bad, you expected it. It does take a chunk out of your profit, but hey, it is your first year and things will improve. January comes, and the temperature dives. Now the heating bill has doubled. You begin to sweat, but hey, spring is only - 1 - 2 - 3 months away. Anyway, the heating bill will go down in 60 days.
Then you get your hydro bill, and are shocked at tripled price, until you remember that people are using space heaters. This doesn’t include the cost of having the parking lot plowed, because even though you put in your business plan that you intended to do it yourself, you forgot that this is a commercial site. All the extra traffic at the office has an ice build up that no man can get through without a miner’s pick or ton of salt. Things are not looking good.
All this can be avoided by doing your homework. The Hydro company will give you the last tenant’s cost for the year. Call the local snow removal company and ask them for the cost of plowing. You may set aside money for them in the budget, and not use it, but you are in a tight place if the money is not set aside and you need it.
Assume you will have to switch suppliers for some reason, and PRICE your product according to the industry average, or a little above. That way if the supplier who gave you the great price goes out of business, you will not need to raise your price.
Get the cost of shipping from several companies, and even if you choose the cheapest to use, do not PRICE your product based on that.
There may also be the possibility of selling your product at different prices to different markets. Let’s say that you make homemade candles. You sell them at the Chamber Networking meeting for $11.00 and in bulk for $7.00, orders over 50 are $4.75. You sell them off your website for $7.00 + shipping, and 3 or more for $5.00. You sell them at the local Flea Market every Saturday in the summer for $6.00, 3 or more for $4.50. And you sell them to stores wholesale for $4.50.
All these prices must be considered when marketing. The web hosting costs $25.00 a month, and web advertising only costs $250.00 a month. There is more competition at the business level, so you need to market more aggressively. The flea market allows you to get rid of seconds, and possibly connect with business people and shop keepers. The cost of a table at the flea/farmer’s market is $75.00 a week.
Each of these candles cost the same amount to produce, but the cost of putting the candle into the consumer’s hand is drastically different, so the price can be different.
Having more than one avenue to sell your product makes sense. Even someone who runs a daycare can have different prices. A lower price if children come between 8 and are gone by 5. A fee attached if the child arrives between 6 - 8, or stays longer at night. A lower price if the child comes at bedtime and is gone in the morning before other children arrive. You do not need to quote the price list to all clients, just give them the prices they need.
If there are no people in your area who offer overnight watch, then you can raise your price. You may even offer to watch the children to 11 p.m on Saturday morning for a nice little profit. The client may not be able to take you up on this every week, but they may take advantage of the chance to sleep in once in a while.
This is an example of how stepping out of the box will improve sales.
Have you compared all the prices they offer?
If your supplier goes under, increases their prices, or stops carrying the product you need, can you still offer your product or service at the same price?
Do you have a backup plan in effect in case your wholesaler’s employees go on strike?
Do you pay shipping costs? Do you have a backup plan in effect if the shipping company goes on strike, or raises their costs? Does your supplier have a B plan.
Remember: You cannot raise prices without losing clients. So, knowing how solid your supplies price, your labor costs, your utilities, etc., will save you heartache later. This is another place where new businesses make a major mistake. It is summer, you have been in business for two months, and things are going great. You have a 80% markup and that is paying all your bills with a little left over for you. The future looks bright.
November comes and you receive your first heating bill. Not to bad, you expected it. It does take a chunk out of your profit, but hey, it is your first year and things will improve. January comes, and the temperature dives. Now the heating bill has doubled. You begin to sweat, but hey, spring is only - 1 - 2 - 3 months away. Anyway, the heating bill will go down in 60 days.
Then you get your hydro bill, and are shocked at tripled price, until you remember that people are using space heaters. This doesn’t include the cost of having the parking lot plowed, because even though you put in your business plan that you intended to do it yourself, you forgot that this is a commercial site. All the extra traffic at the office has an ice build up that no man can get through without a miner’s pick or ton of salt. Things are not looking good.
All this can be avoided by doing your homework. The Hydro company will give you the last tenant’s cost for the year. Call the local snow removal company and ask them for the cost of plowing. You may set aside money for them in the budget, and not use it, but you are in a tight place if the money is not set aside and you need it.
Assume you will have to switch suppliers for some reason, and PRICE your product according to the industry average, or a little above. That way if the supplier who gave you the great price goes out of business, you will not need to raise your price.
Get the cost of shipping from several companies, and even if you choose the cheapest to use, do not PRICE your product based on that.
There may also be the possibility of selling your product at different prices to different markets. Let’s say that you make homemade candles. You sell them at the Chamber Networking meeting for $11.00 and in bulk for $7.00, orders over 50 are $4.75. You sell them off your website for $7.00 + shipping, and 3 or more for $5.00. You sell them at the local Flea Market every Saturday in the summer for $6.00, 3 or more for $4.50. And you sell them to stores wholesale for $4.50.
All these prices must be considered when marketing. The web hosting costs $25.00 a month, and web advertising only costs $250.00 a month. There is more competition at the business level, so you need to market more aggressively. The flea market allows you to get rid of seconds, and possibly connect with business people and shop keepers. The cost of a table at the flea/farmer’s market is $75.00 a week.
Each of these candles cost the same amount to produce, but the cost of putting the candle into the consumer’s hand is drastically different, so the price can be different.
Having more than one avenue to sell your product makes sense. Even someone who runs a daycare can have different prices. A lower price if children come between 8 and are gone by 5. A fee attached if the child arrives between 6 - 8, or stays longer at night. A lower price if the child comes at bedtime and is gone in the morning before other children arrive. You do not need to quote the price list to all clients, just give them the prices they need.
If there are no people in your area who offer overnight watch, then you can raise your price. You may even offer to watch the children to 11 p.m on Saturday morning for a nice little profit. The client may not be able to take you up on this every week, but they may take advantage of the chance to sleep in once in a while.
This is an example of how stepping out of the box will improve sales.
Real Estate Writing
One of the upcoming methods of making money as a writer is to write for the real estate industry. However, the competition is increasing. The best way to create a niche is to learn how the real estate boards rate and train their own people.
It is also important to teach people how to avoid problems. A good real estate board will protect consumers. They have protection protocols in place to help people who want to move to a new area, or a new country.
There are so many ways to be scammed by a real estate agent. The real estate industry needs writers who can cover all topics from 'where to move' to non-disclosure. The first step is to learn the difference between a good real estate board and a lax one. This isn't hard, it only takes a few hours of internet research to find the answer.
It is also important to teach people how to avoid problems. A good real estate board will protect consumers. They have protection protocols in place to help people who want to move to a new area, or a new country.
There are so many ways to be scammed by a real estate agent. The real estate industry needs writers who can cover all topics from 'where to move' to non-disclosure. The first step is to learn the difference between a good real estate board and a lax one. This isn't hard, it only takes a few hours of internet research to find the answer.
Internet Marketing: Cosponsorship/Joint Ventures
Everyone is trying to save money, even the media. It is relatively easy to encourage them to invest in your business, and help you promote, in exchange for making their lives easier. Internet businesses and work at home ventures are in such a hurry to build joint-venture relationships that they overlook some of the old ‘tried but true’ joint ventures.
For community service or entertainment events, enlist newspapers and broadcast stations as cosponsors. Typically, media cosponsorship means you do the work and spend whatever money is necessary; the station or publication gives you oodles of free publicity, reports on it, and/or broadcasts portions of the event.
Electronic media are required to provide public service programming as a condition of their license, and publications have a vested interest in maintaining their credibility as the eyes and ears of the community. Because cosponsorship demonstrates the media outlet's community interest and also lets the public hobnob with media personalities, a suggestion for cosponsorship will often be greeted enthusiastically.
What's the difference between the ordinary free publicity you can garner and bringing the station in as a cosponsor? Jordi Herold, proprietor of the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, uses cosponsorship several times a month. Asking for radio cosponsorship "is not asking for something for nothing, but raises the estimation of the station in [the eyes of] it's audience--makes it possible to hear the same music live. It does a lot to contribute to the positive image of the station." Ideally, "it becomes a priority at the station. That's not measurable in times of mention, but it becomes part of the dj's patter on the air--you can't log that, you can't buy that, you can't specify that."
Newer, smaller media are good bets, says Herold. "We have a station that's new in the area and is competing for market share. If I do a copromotion, I'm likely to get up to 50 free mentions in addition to my paid advertising. With a station...that doesn't have a relationship with the club, I may only get a one-to-one relationship between the spots I buy and promotional mentions. With a college radio station, you can be all over the map without any expenditure of money."
For live music, radio cosponsorship is an especially valuable endorsement, because the station's promotional spots will give listeners the chance to hear a little of an artist they may not know--and because the station's role as an arbiter of music carries over to readers who see the cosponsorship listed in the newspapers and on posters. It's even okay to have several media cosponsoring an event--if they don't compete. For instance, I organized a candidate forum and got sponsorship--and publicity--from one newspaper, one radio station, and one cable TV station. If I'd wanted to get two radio stations, I would have needed to check with both stations that it was all right to have direct competitors cosponsor the event.
Consider cosponsorships for political candidate forums, live entertainment, fairs and festivals, auctions, and special events.
For community service or entertainment events, enlist newspapers and broadcast stations as cosponsors. Typically, media cosponsorship means you do the work and spend whatever money is necessary; the station or publication gives you oodles of free publicity, reports on it, and/or broadcasts portions of the event.
Electronic media are required to provide public service programming as a condition of their license, and publications have a vested interest in maintaining their credibility as the eyes and ears of the community. Because cosponsorship demonstrates the media outlet's community interest and also lets the public hobnob with media personalities, a suggestion for cosponsorship will often be greeted enthusiastically.
What's the difference between the ordinary free publicity you can garner and bringing the station in as a cosponsor? Jordi Herold, proprietor of the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, uses cosponsorship several times a month. Asking for radio cosponsorship "is not asking for something for nothing, but raises the estimation of the station in [the eyes of] it's audience--makes it possible to hear the same music live. It does a lot to contribute to the positive image of the station." Ideally, "it becomes a priority at the station. That's not measurable in times of mention, but it becomes part of the dj's patter on the air--you can't log that, you can't buy that, you can't specify that."
Newer, smaller media are good bets, says Herold. "We have a station that's new in the area and is competing for market share. If I do a copromotion, I'm likely to get up to 50 free mentions in addition to my paid advertising. With a station...that doesn't have a relationship with the club, I may only get a one-to-one relationship between the spots I buy and promotional mentions. With a college radio station, you can be all over the map without any expenditure of money."
For live music, radio cosponsorship is an especially valuable endorsement, because the station's promotional spots will give listeners the chance to hear a little of an artist they may not know--and because the station's role as an arbiter of music carries over to readers who see the cosponsorship listed in the newspapers and on posters. It's even okay to have several media cosponsoring an event--if they don't compete. For instance, I organized a candidate forum and got sponsorship--and publicity--from one newspaper, one radio station, and one cable TV station. If I'd wanted to get two radio stations, I would have needed to check with both stations that it was all right to have direct competitors cosponsor the event.
Consider cosponsorships for political candidate forums, live entertainment, fairs and festivals, auctions, and special events.
When to Expand an Ecommerce Business
One of the most stressful aspects of business management is learning when to expand the business, and when to create a secondary stream of income. Tackling this the wrong way can leave a business far behind their predicted projections. Handling expansion properly can double and even triple a business within a few months.
There are several ways to expand a business without investing in a partner. There are strengths and weaknesses involved in each, and no one plan is perfect for every business.
Leveraging
One of the current favorites is Leveraging. A business builds one strong stream of revenue until they can maximize and leverage it into capital. This is either done by creating a product that generates massive revenues, or creating a product that can be distributed through wholesale.
Some businesses build two products and market both. One is what their future will be built on. It will become their foundation for success. The other is a viable product, that has excellent prospects, but may not meet the mission statement or provide the opportunities of the first product.
The second product is maximized and promoted, and then sold. The capital earned from the sale is used to take their first product to the next level, or to create another stream of income which supports the first product.
Joint Ventures
Success breeds Success. Likeminded people flock together. Both of these statements are true, and both are the foundation of a successful Joint Venture. New business owners often try to buy their way into networking groups or a joint venture network in the hopes of finding a valuable partner. This is almost guaranteed to fail.
The best joint ventures are those who come about naturally. Two businesses that work together eventually form a symbiotic relationship that benefits both. That is why it is important for ecommerce business owners to step outside of their own circle and meet other business owners, not in networks, but through social venues.
A few months visiting forums and someone will start to stand out. Their name will pop up over and over. These are the people to invest time and effort into. They are the ones who will become the best joint venture partners, because they are working to promote their own business, not just sitting back expecting it to grow on its own.
Investment
Investing money in the ecommerce world is tricky, mainly because few small business owners understand what they are doing until after they spend their money. The best investment in an Internet business is to invest time into learning. Any mentoring or support venture that will teach a new business owner how to succeed, and solves problems, making life easier for new ventures, is a good investment.
If a business does need to invest money to expand their ecommerce business, then never borrow to invest. If the business owner does not understand cyberspace enough to generate the revenue needed for an expansion, then they do not have the skills needed to invest wisely.
Conclusion
It takes time and careful planning to choose the right method for each business. The decision will be based on the time and financial investment, the risk involved, the time needed, and the expectations. Careful planning, and a good business plan will solve most problems, and help business owners avoid making the wrong choice.
There are several ways to expand a business without investing in a partner. There are strengths and weaknesses involved in each, and no one plan is perfect for every business.
Leveraging
One of the current favorites is Leveraging. A business builds one strong stream of revenue until they can maximize and leverage it into capital. This is either done by creating a product that generates massive revenues, or creating a product that can be distributed through wholesale.
Some businesses build two products and market both. One is what their future will be built on. It will become their foundation for success. The other is a viable product, that has excellent prospects, but may not meet the mission statement or provide the opportunities of the first product.
The second product is maximized and promoted, and then sold. The capital earned from the sale is used to take their first product to the next level, or to create another stream of income which supports the first product.
Joint Ventures
Success breeds Success. Likeminded people flock together. Both of these statements are true, and both are the foundation of a successful Joint Venture. New business owners often try to buy their way into networking groups or a joint venture network in the hopes of finding a valuable partner. This is almost guaranteed to fail.
The best joint ventures are those who come about naturally. Two businesses that work together eventually form a symbiotic relationship that benefits both. That is why it is important for ecommerce business owners to step outside of their own circle and meet other business owners, not in networks, but through social venues.
A few months visiting forums and someone will start to stand out. Their name will pop up over and over. These are the people to invest time and effort into. They are the ones who will become the best joint venture partners, because they are working to promote their own business, not just sitting back expecting it to grow on its own.
Investment
Investing money in the ecommerce world is tricky, mainly because few small business owners understand what they are doing until after they spend their money. The best investment in an Internet business is to invest time into learning. Any mentoring or support venture that will teach a new business owner how to succeed, and solves problems, making life easier for new ventures, is a good investment.
If a business does need to invest money to expand their ecommerce business, then never borrow to invest. If the business owner does not understand cyberspace enough to generate the revenue needed for an expansion, then they do not have the skills needed to invest wisely.
Conclusion
It takes time and careful planning to choose the right method for each business. The decision will be based on the time and financial investment, the risk involved, the time needed, and the expectations. Careful planning, and a good business plan will solve most problems, and help business owners avoid making the wrong choice.
Advertising Your Work At Home Business
One of the hardest things to advertise is a work at home business. As soon as you say that you work from home, most 'real' business owners tune out.
If you want to be taken seriously, then you need to play their game by their rules. This includes using the promotion tools the 'office' or 'storefront' based businesses use such as advertising pens, business cards, and Christmas cards.
Image is everything. Sometimes 'mimicking' is the best way to appear legit. We know that work at home businesses are legit - but we need to play their game, their way.
If you want to be taken seriously, then you need to play their game by their rules. This includes using the promotion tools the 'office' or 'storefront' based businesses use such as advertising pens, business cards, and Christmas cards.
Image is everything. Sometimes 'mimicking' is the best way to appear legit. We know that work at home businesses are legit - but we need to play their game, their way.
Will Video and Audio Boost Ecommerce Profits?
The newest trend in Internet marketing is video, audio, and animations to help keep the customer’s interest. At the bottom line is every ecommerce business owner’s main concern, decreasing ROI (Return On Investment).
The opportunity to increase profits is real, but like everything, the tools must be used properly. This is not an area where ‘good enough’ is really ‘good enough.’ Internet Media quality is as important as any other media quality. This is no time to let your uncle use his birthday present digital camera to take pictures, or let your kid use a free-download animation script to make a sales pitch.
Do not try to shoot a video with a web cam in your home. Hire a studio to make the video. The cost may be $500 - $1000, but the end result will be professional. Take a good long look in the mirror. Are you the right spokesperson to sell the company? The $200 investment into a professional speaker, who walks the walk and talks the talk, can easily repay itself tenfold.
Digital voice recordings must also be important. It may be possible to record a sales pitch in the right room, or a closet, and then edit it. But, one hour of studio time with a professional mixer will create a clip that is easy to understand, even with slow download times.
The same applies to slide shows. PowerPoint and Movie Maker are okay for tutorials and book promo videos, but not for sales pitches. A static picture with an audio overlay will not sell - not to today’s entertainment generation. It is important to consider your audience’s expectations, not your own.
When marketing agencies take into consideration who is buying on the web, who owns the computers, who surfs the web for fun, and which target demographics are most likely to use the Internet to make a purchase, they come to the conclusion that Media Matters. The under 40 generation have the money and are most likely to spend online. Unfortunately this ‘entertainment generation’ knows more about media creation than many business owners know about marketing.
This brings us to animation. There are several media companies jumping on the bandwagon. They are creating animation and digital animated images to sell businesses on ‘cool new’ sales tools. It may seem like a fair price to pay $1500 for a 30 second clip where a woman skims across the computer screen, with no background, and talks to potential clients. This holographic illusion can be quite striking - but it won’t sell.
In fact, it may dissuade return buyers. There should be an easy to see button to stop the animation. Unfortunately, the potential customer is forced to listen to the same message, over and over. A good idea may be to put the image on the buy now page - letting other tools sell the client.
The cheap animations do not sell. They slow down page loading time, and can make it impossible for thousands of potential customers with old computers to download the page.
Conclusion:
Audio and Video are proven to sell. They keep interest, and are passive, making it easier to sell without waiting to see if the potential client will click the ad or click through to the buy now page. But, the important factor is quality.
The opportunity to increase profits is real, but like everything, the tools must be used properly. This is not an area where ‘good enough’ is really ‘good enough.’ Internet Media quality is as important as any other media quality. This is no time to let your uncle use his birthday present digital camera to take pictures, or let your kid use a free-download animation script to make a sales pitch.
Do not try to shoot a video with a web cam in your home. Hire a studio to make the video. The cost may be $500 - $1000, but the end result will be professional. Take a good long look in the mirror. Are you the right spokesperson to sell the company? The $200 investment into a professional speaker, who walks the walk and talks the talk, can easily repay itself tenfold.
Digital voice recordings must also be important. It may be possible to record a sales pitch in the right room, or a closet, and then edit it. But, one hour of studio time with a professional mixer will create a clip that is easy to understand, even with slow download times.
The same applies to slide shows. PowerPoint and Movie Maker are okay for tutorials and book promo videos, but not for sales pitches. A static picture with an audio overlay will not sell - not to today’s entertainment generation. It is important to consider your audience’s expectations, not your own.
When marketing agencies take into consideration who is buying on the web, who owns the computers, who surfs the web for fun, and which target demographics are most likely to use the Internet to make a purchase, they come to the conclusion that Media Matters. The under 40 generation have the money and are most likely to spend online. Unfortunately this ‘entertainment generation’ knows more about media creation than many business owners know about marketing.
This brings us to animation. There are several media companies jumping on the bandwagon. They are creating animation and digital animated images to sell businesses on ‘cool new’ sales tools. It may seem like a fair price to pay $1500 for a 30 second clip where a woman skims across the computer screen, with no background, and talks to potential clients. This holographic illusion can be quite striking - but it won’t sell.
In fact, it may dissuade return buyers. There should be an easy to see button to stop the animation. Unfortunately, the potential customer is forced to listen to the same message, over and over. A good idea may be to put the image on the buy now page - letting other tools sell the client.
The cheap animations do not sell. They slow down page loading time, and can make it impossible for thousands of potential customers with old computers to download the page.
Conclusion:
Audio and Video are proven to sell. They keep interest, and are passive, making it easier to sell without waiting to see if the potential client will click the ad or click through to the buy now page. But, the important factor is quality.
What To Do Before Advertising
Advertising involves more than putting an ad online or in the newspaper and hoping people respond. Many small businesses are on a limited budget, and make the mistake of creating an ad that they believe looks good, sending it to a medium they chose at random, and then wondering why it didn’t work.
There are two types of results from ads, instant and long term. Small business owners need to understand that most ads do not produce results for six months. They also need to understand their competition and use their successes/mistakes to help promote your own marketing campaign.
When checking out the competition you must:
• Make a list of direct and indirect competitors.
• How long have they been in business? I usually list this as over 5 years, over 10 years, over 20.
• Where are they located?
• What similar products and services do they provide?
• How do they advertise their product and service?
• How much do they charge?
These things are important to the success of any small businesses.
Location is vital for most businesses. The financial, lawyers, or accountants office in a high-rise building receive more business than the same professional whose office is in the basement of a small building in the industrial site. The first professional can charge more and will draw a different clientele.
Promises are as important as product. Look at those intangible elements that businesses inadvertently promise the client through location, advertising, image, and product. The unwritten agreement between a business and client is as good as a written contract. If the client assumes they will receive a certain level of competence or service from a service/product, if they do not receive it, there could be legal ramifications.
So, if a professional has no experience (other than law school) with corporate law, then you might want to stay away from the professional, high rise building and locate in a smaller area. The same applies to any business. There is no use paying mall prices for cheap clothing. The profit margin will be too low.
The same theory applies to the small boutique owner. If they are in the heart of downtown, in the classy district, then offer bargain service, the company will not remain solvent for long. The same applies for a boutique that sells top quality products, but selects a location on the low rent side of town.
Whenever you need to sacrifice something, like quality, location, service, they need to either redo the CUSTOMER PROFILE part of the market report, or increase the advertising budget.
The two boutiques I talked about here, one on the main strip with ‘almost’ top of the line products, and the one on the back street with top of the line products, can both succeed if they trade locations.
Advertising. My first business taught me the most important fact about advertising; you will never succeed without continuous advertising.
I have seen many businesses fail because they do not see the need for advertising. Businesses grow, or die, in cycles. A retail outlet may have a lot of walk in traffic, but that does not mean it will sustain the same level traffic on a continuous basis. A business possesses a certain level of synergy when it starts.
Customers walk in out of curiosity, interest, or just to browse. This large segment of these customers will not become long-term, nor is it a good representation of your clientele. Your business may boom for two years, but trends change, the novelty wears off, and traffic dwindles.
There is a catch 22 here. A business that always advertises will always incur enough sales to continue advertising. If they do not advertise, then by the time they need to advertise their income has dropped low enough they cannot afford a good advertising campaign.
There are two types of results from ads, instant and long term. Small business owners need to understand that most ads do not produce results for six months. They also need to understand their competition and use their successes/mistakes to help promote your own marketing campaign.
When checking out the competition you must:
• Make a list of direct and indirect competitors.
• How long have they been in business? I usually list this as over 5 years, over 10 years, over 20.
• Where are they located?
• What similar products and services do they provide?
• How do they advertise their product and service?
• How much do they charge?
These things are important to the success of any small businesses.
Location is vital for most businesses. The financial, lawyers, or accountants office in a high-rise building receive more business than the same professional whose office is in the basement of a small building in the industrial site. The first professional can charge more and will draw a different clientele.
Promises are as important as product. Look at those intangible elements that businesses inadvertently promise the client through location, advertising, image, and product. The unwritten agreement between a business and client is as good as a written contract. If the client assumes they will receive a certain level of competence or service from a service/product, if they do not receive it, there could be legal ramifications.
So, if a professional has no experience (other than law school) with corporate law, then you might want to stay away from the professional, high rise building and locate in a smaller area. The same applies to any business. There is no use paying mall prices for cheap clothing. The profit margin will be too low.
The same theory applies to the small boutique owner. If they are in the heart of downtown, in the classy district, then offer bargain service, the company will not remain solvent for long. The same applies for a boutique that sells top quality products, but selects a location on the low rent side of town.
Whenever you need to sacrifice something, like quality, location, service, they need to either redo the CUSTOMER PROFILE part of the market report, or increase the advertising budget.
The two boutiques I talked about here, one on the main strip with ‘almost’ top of the line products, and the one on the back street with top of the line products, can both succeed if they trade locations.
Advertising. My first business taught me the most important fact about advertising; you will never succeed without continuous advertising.
I have seen many businesses fail because they do not see the need for advertising. Businesses grow, or die, in cycles. A retail outlet may have a lot of walk in traffic, but that does not mean it will sustain the same level traffic on a continuous basis. A business possesses a certain level of synergy when it starts.
Customers walk in out of curiosity, interest, or just to browse. This large segment of these customers will not become long-term, nor is it a good representation of your clientele. Your business may boom for two years, but trends change, the novelty wears off, and traffic dwindles.
There is a catch 22 here. A business that always advertises will always incur enough sales to continue advertising. If they do not advertise, then by the time they need to advertise their income has dropped low enough they cannot afford a good advertising campaign.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Choosing the Right Internet Advertising Tools
Internet Marketing is a daunting endeavour. There are two methods of Internet Marketing, one requires a large financial investment, the other requires a large time investment. Both methods work, the important thing a work at home professional needs to determine is the method that will result in the biggest profit.
Unfortunately, in Internet marketing, money does not define success. A business owner may have $10 000 to invest in their business, but have a product which needs a time investment to succeed. Of course, this person can hire people to write for them, promote their web sites, and build a client base.
Another person may have 40 hours a week, for six months, to build their business, but fail because their product needs a PayPerClick or a banner ad campaign to sell.
The first step in any Internet Marketing campaign needs to be research:
How does the competition sell their product?
What works?
What doesn’t?
What can you improve?
Do you have the resources needed to improve?
Once the business owner picks their products or revenue generating program, and answers the above questions, it is time to determine which method can sell the product properly.
Banners and Buttons
Banner exchanges are good looking. Some are animated, others flat, and some are video based. They are expensive, but look great. Banners work when on a niche web portal or community, but rarely work when spammed across the net like a PayPerClick AdSense ad.
A portal website is created to attract visitors and send them to the product owner’s web site. They sell social and image generating products. They successfully sell dating products, and cell phones, but may not be the best method of selling a plastic surgeon’s clinic, or books.
Email Advertising
This method of advertising is rarely successful. The average open-rate is less than .01%, with the buy rate being 1% of that number. This means that a million emails need to be sent out to generate 1 – 100 sales.
People are tired of emails. At first they worked if the web owner had something to give away free, but so many sites are tricking people, and so many emails have viruses attached, that few people open spam emails.
Pay Per Click Text Ads
The success rate depends on the web site the ad appears on. The Pay Per Click campaign needs to measure the cost per click through, not the cost per click, when determining whether a campaign is successful.
AdWords is Google's click-advertising program. Each search engine has their own PPC advertising program. Each are successful when used with the right product. Many Content Management Systems, full of pre-selling articles, can generate good results with most products. The trick is to have a product that is widely promoted.
There are thousands of communities built around music, small business success, medical issues, and online shopping. Any product that will appeal to these people, and can blend into the side of a website like it is part of the site, will sell well.
The second aspect is important. Google Ads work best when the Text banner appears to be a part of the website.
Sponsored Search Engine Advertising
This is a type of text PPC advertising that limits the exposure to the top of the search engine searches. The cost can be as high as $25 to have an ad appear at the very top of the search, in a highlighted box, but the click through rate is much higher than the same ad will generate from appearing on the side of a web page article.
Podcasting and Video Streaming
Internet radio, audio/video streaming have introduced a new medium to Internet advertising. Many product selling sites offer tutorials and sales pitches through audio and video streaming. These tools do not require a high level of skill, or more tools than most product owners currently have on their home PC, and their digital camera.
Newsletters & Mailing Lists
Attracting readers to web sites is half of the Internet Marketing battle. A portal that does not generate a mailing list is a waste of time and advertising money. Advertising in the newsletter is a great way to reach a target audience who is prepared to buy. These people subscribe to newsletters, and actually read the articles and ads.
Unfortunately, in Internet marketing, money does not define success. A business owner may have $10 000 to invest in their business, but have a product which needs a time investment to succeed. Of course, this person can hire people to write for them, promote their web sites, and build a client base.
Another person may have 40 hours a week, for six months, to build their business, but fail because their product needs a PayPerClick or a banner ad campaign to sell.
The first step in any Internet Marketing campaign needs to be research:
How does the competition sell their product?
What works?
What doesn’t?
What can you improve?
Do you have the resources needed to improve?
Once the business owner picks their products or revenue generating program, and answers the above questions, it is time to determine which method can sell the product properly.
Banners and Buttons
Banner exchanges are good looking. Some are animated, others flat, and some are video based. They are expensive, but look great. Banners work when on a niche web portal or community, but rarely work when spammed across the net like a PayPerClick AdSense ad.
A portal website is created to attract visitors and send them to the product owner’s web site. They sell social and image generating products. They successfully sell dating products, and cell phones, but may not be the best method of selling a plastic surgeon’s clinic, or books.
Email Advertising
This method of advertising is rarely successful. The average open-rate is less than .01%, with the buy rate being 1% of that number. This means that a million emails need to be sent out to generate 1 – 100 sales.
People are tired of emails. At first they worked if the web owner had something to give away free, but so many sites are tricking people, and so many emails have viruses attached, that few people open spam emails.
Pay Per Click Text Ads
The success rate depends on the web site the ad appears on. The Pay Per Click campaign needs to measure the cost per click through, not the cost per click, when determining whether a campaign is successful.
AdWords is Google's click-advertising program. Each search engine has their own PPC advertising program. Each are successful when used with the right product. Many Content Management Systems, full of pre-selling articles, can generate good results with most products. The trick is to have a product that is widely promoted.
There are thousands of communities built around music, small business success, medical issues, and online shopping. Any product that will appeal to these people, and can blend into the side of a website like it is part of the site, will sell well.
The second aspect is important. Google Ads work best when the Text banner appears to be a part of the website.
Sponsored Search Engine Advertising
This is a type of text PPC advertising that limits the exposure to the top of the search engine searches. The cost can be as high as $25 to have an ad appear at the very top of the search, in a highlighted box, but the click through rate is much higher than the same ad will generate from appearing on the side of a web page article.
Podcasting and Video Streaming
Internet radio, audio/video streaming have introduced a new medium to Internet advertising. Many product selling sites offer tutorials and sales pitches through audio and video streaming. These tools do not require a high level of skill, or more tools than most product owners currently have on their home PC, and their digital camera.
Newsletters & Mailing Lists
Attracting readers to web sites is half of the Internet Marketing battle. A portal that does not generate a mailing list is a waste of time and advertising money. Advertising in the newsletter is a great way to reach a target audience who is prepared to buy. These people subscribe to newsletters, and actually read the articles and ads.
Marketing Basics
Building a business requires an in-depth knowledge of the product, competitors and customers. Market research provides the business owner with a method for gathering timely and specific information on both your customers and competitors.
What Topics Must be Addressed?
• What do customers need?
• What do customers want?
• What do competitors offer?
• What is the estimated loyalty to old suppliers?
• What is the reluctance to change in this field?
• How suspicious will people be of a new business’s ability to compete?
Customers do not change companies for value only; they sacrifice good will an intangible commodity that may be worth thousands and take years of effort building. This is not something consumers want to give up easily.
Analyze the Market
Critical analyze of the product or service sold, and an honest appraisal of the product and service, will ensure it is able to meet the demands of the customers. Remember, the product must focus on the needs of the customer. One customer may value price over quality. Another may value service over quality. The third customer may not consider service, price, or locality in their quest to find a product that meets their individual needs.
If the customer does not need a cheaper product, but do need a smaller one, manufacturing a cheaper one that is a bigger is a drastic mistake. If an area has several people who offer daycare in their homes, but no one offers this service to disable children, or gifted children, or parents who work late at night, then focus on these needs before opening a daycare.
I ran into this problem. Daycare in my area had no problem opening early for a child, but none of them worked past six o’clock. I needed to drive across the city to find someone who would watch my children until 7 p.m. There was a need, but everyone was so busy offering the same service, with his or her own perks or discounts, but my need went unmet. Or, they offered the service at a price that indicated they believed I was asking for private tutors and gourmet meals to be supplied.
To make my point, not one of the daycare centers I interviewed was full. They fought bitterly for each new child. Yet, not one offered a service that met the community’s diverse needs. It was as if they believed the customer was there to supply their needs, not the other way around.
This is why I caution new business owners to tread carefully where they have no experience in an industry. Ignorance of the mistakes a business is making is an unforgivable sin in the business world. It is impossible to enter the customer’s head when they remain an enigma.
The customer may become annoyed because they want a toaster that makes toast in half the time, but that does not mean they will pay double for this toaster. A business may market toasters that prepare an instant breakfast is doomed if the consumer views this as a luxury they are unwilling to pay for
To stress this point one only needs to look at the infomercial market. Thousands of items sold over the television, to an impulse consumer, which would never sell in a store. The consumer in the local store is a different type of buyer than the one who sits up until three a.m. looking for something different that hits an emotional nerve.
In this case, marketers are appealing to the buyer’s self-esteem. They want to convince the consumer that all the beautiful people own that item, and if they want their friends to think they have the complete kitchen, they will buy the toaster that makes breakfast in half the time.
That is why it is possible to sell specialty items over the television when those same items would not sell in a store. A person would buy a pizza pocket maker over the television because they do not stop to think. There is no ‘cooling down period.’ The same person might look at that gill in the store and laugh. How often do you have all the ingredients for pizza pockets in the house?
What Topics Must be Addressed?
• What do customers need?
• What do customers want?
• What do competitors offer?
• What is the estimated loyalty to old suppliers?
• What is the reluctance to change in this field?
• How suspicious will people be of a new business’s ability to compete?
Customers do not change companies for value only; they sacrifice good will an intangible commodity that may be worth thousands and take years of effort building. This is not something consumers want to give up easily.
Analyze the Market
Critical analyze of the product or service sold, and an honest appraisal of the product and service, will ensure it is able to meet the demands of the customers. Remember, the product must focus on the needs of the customer. One customer may value price over quality. Another may value service over quality. The third customer may not consider service, price, or locality in their quest to find a product that meets their individual needs.
If the customer does not need a cheaper product, but do need a smaller one, manufacturing a cheaper one that is a bigger is a drastic mistake. If an area has several people who offer daycare in their homes, but no one offers this service to disable children, or gifted children, or parents who work late at night, then focus on these needs before opening a daycare.
I ran into this problem. Daycare in my area had no problem opening early for a child, but none of them worked past six o’clock. I needed to drive across the city to find someone who would watch my children until 7 p.m. There was a need, but everyone was so busy offering the same service, with his or her own perks or discounts, but my need went unmet. Or, they offered the service at a price that indicated they believed I was asking for private tutors and gourmet meals to be supplied.
To make my point, not one of the daycare centers I interviewed was full. They fought bitterly for each new child. Yet, not one offered a service that met the community’s diverse needs. It was as if they believed the customer was there to supply their needs, not the other way around.
This is why I caution new business owners to tread carefully where they have no experience in an industry. Ignorance of the mistakes a business is making is an unforgivable sin in the business world. It is impossible to enter the customer’s head when they remain an enigma.
The customer may become annoyed because they want a toaster that makes toast in half the time, but that does not mean they will pay double for this toaster. A business may market toasters that prepare an instant breakfast is doomed if the consumer views this as a luxury they are unwilling to pay for
To stress this point one only needs to look at the infomercial market. Thousands of items sold over the television, to an impulse consumer, which would never sell in a store. The consumer in the local store is a different type of buyer than the one who sits up until three a.m. looking for something different that hits an emotional nerve.
In this case, marketers are appealing to the buyer’s self-esteem. They want to convince the consumer that all the beautiful people own that item, and if they want their friends to think they have the complete kitchen, they will buy the toaster that makes breakfast in half the time.
That is why it is possible to sell specialty items over the television when those same items would not sell in a store. A person would buy a pizza pocket maker over the television because they do not stop to think. There is no ‘cooling down period.’ The same person might look at that gill in the store and laugh. How often do you have all the ingredients for pizza pockets in the house?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
If You Knew How to Make a Million - Would You?
I've spent the last two weeks writing tutorials to help people make fast money from the stock exchange. It isn't like this is any secret, or that it is a rare occurrence. You only need to mention words such as shorting, short trading, swing trades, to make many long time investor's mouth drool.
However, as I was writing these, a small voice kept niggling in the back of my head "Money on the stock exchanged is not won or lost - just moved."
Can I make $100 000 in a year. Yea, but could I live with myself? I could ride fake bull markets until I hit 10 points and bail, leaving poor schmucks who are only investing because their pension isn't covering their bills to take the loss.... ie - I could scam innocent bystanders and pick their pockets.
I wouldn't rob a little old lady 'face to face' - but he money I win has been lost by someone else.
As the recession/depression approaches in 2008/2009 - and the stock networks are already preparing to turn swing trading into millions of dollars (and probably expediting the crash) it makes me wonder -
"If you know how to get rich - at any cost - would you?"
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However, as I was writing these, a small voice kept niggling in the back of my head "Money on the stock exchanged is not won or lost - just moved."
Can I make $100 000 in a year. Yea, but could I live with myself? I could ride fake bull markets until I hit 10 points and bail, leaving poor schmucks who are only investing because their pension isn't covering their bills to take the loss.... ie - I could scam innocent bystanders and pick their pockets.
I wouldn't rob a little old lady 'face to face' - but he money I win has been lost by someone else.
As the recession/depression approaches in 2008/2009 - and the stock networks are already preparing to turn swing trading into millions of dollars (and probably expediting the crash) it makes me wonder -
"If you know how to get rich - at any cost - would you?"
Learn to Write Free
Novel Writer Magazine
Writers Online Courses
Get Paid To Write
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