Posts Tagged ‘Business’
Use Credit Cards Online – Is It Safe?
How many times will you use your credit cards online this year? During the holidays, for birthdays, for that excellent deal that you just could not get to the store to purchase. All these instances add up quickly. From time to time you begin to wonder whether it is safe to use your credit cards online.
Do You Trust “Them”?
First and foremost, you should always make sure that you are on a secure website before keying in your payment details. Make sure that you are working with a reliable merchant as well. For example, a trusted merchant, a company that you know or have used before is a relatively safe bet. If you haven’t used anyone before, you can find out if the company is reliable and safe in a number of ways – one excellent way is locating their listing in the Better Business Bureau.
Get The Facts For Online Shopping
Not sure if a website is secure or not? It can be hard to tell if you are on a secure website or not. In most cases, if the web address is written like this “https:// ” (secure) the data is better off than on a website which is ” http:// ” only. Most payment pages are through a ‘secure’ connection. Without getting into too many technical details, just remember to enter credit card information only if the address has the “https://” in the URL.
How about those auction houses? Some major auction players such as Ebay provide a relatively secure buying experience – this is to protect merchants as well as the buyer. The larger auction houses on the web are an excellent location to find your product and have a good buying experience.
What about the smaller sites? There is no doubt that you’ll want to make some purchases from the smaller, more unique websites out there. You can do this safely though. If you do not want to give them your credit card information, they use a service such as Paypal. There are many other online payment services as well. In this case, you don’t need to give them your credit card information at all. You give it to Paypal. Then, they make the payment to the merchant. Why go through this trouble? If you do not receive the product you paid for, many of these companies will investigate the matter to help you out. But, even if you never do, at least the merchant does not have your credit card information.
While it may never be fully possible to have no risk involved, keeping the above tips in mind will help you to eliminate certain risks of using your credit cards online.
Happy online shopping!
Home Business Web Page Development
Before we begin to give you additional information on this topic, take a moment to think about how much you already know.
If you have forever hunted to know more about this area, then get willing because we have all the information you can conduct.
Make a grade of what you want to know, what you need to know, and what you already know about this field.
Home Business Web Page Development
During the first portion of this article you needed notes to assess and hopefully you feel as though you have a firm grasp on the topic.
Web development is a broad terminology for some activities together to creating a Web location for the Internet or the World open Web. This can consist of web attendant configuration, client-region coding and attendant-region coding, web matter development, web project, and e-exchange custom development.
From now awaiting the end of this editorial, take the time to think about how all of this information can help you.
although, among web experts, “web development” typically refers to the non-project stage of creating a Web location, e.g. symbols coding and score. Web development can differ from creating the easiest static precise web page of a apparent book to the most involved web-based public commune interact navy, electronic online customes, or internet applications.
If you liked the first split of this editorial, we have more to monitor in the next split!
For better online customes, web development departments can employ hundreds of web developers. Web development may be a location venture relating splits flaxenly than the responsibility of one preferred allotment. fewerer customes might contract a webmaster, lifelike projecter and/or I.T. technician to do the job.
The Industry of Web Development
By the focus of the 1990’s, web development has been among the best ever rising industries in the world. In the year 1995, only fewer than 1,000 web development customes were in the United Sates, but by the year 2005 it improved to over 30,000. The web development custom is anticipated to intensify to over 20% by the end of the year 2010. The increase of this custom is demanded by big and small companies alike who want to promote their yield and navy to customers and to computerize their custom work-surge.
The value of hosting and developing a web location has dramatically dropped through the living. If it outlay thousands of dollars in the early living of Web location development, now a plain Web location may price fewer than some hundreds of dollars, depending on the total and complexity of the fortunate. frequent small Web developer professionals and companies are aiding the flaxen competition in the industry of web development by gift competitive values.
In so far as the platform and tools for web development is fretful, there are abundant systems that are quickly unfilled on the market that are released. A very admired picking is the Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP), which is regularly distributed for unbound. This certainty lonesome has evidently made the development of Web locations so admired to a lot of people all throughout the world.
Another thing to conregionr is the progress of the tranquil and plain to use what You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) Web development software, more regularly referred to as the Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage. The use of this software can near make somebody with prime awareness on web development to invent Web pages in just a subject of report. Even the know-how of HyperText gain prose or just HTML or other programming languages are not musted so greatly anymore. However, it is still recommended if you are aiming for a more professional end findings.
The new generation of tools in Web development uses the technology of Microsoft.NET and LAMP. It just provides the Web location the ability to run its applications online. With the help of Web developers applications are now delivered as part of a Web locations navy, which historically words were unfilled only on desktop based computers.
The wellbeing in Web Development
There are a lot of clothes to account for in Web development, like the glance of errors in numbers opening through the use of forms and also the sanitation of entered numbers’s in precise fields. Malevolent practices like addition of SQL can be done by users with malicious target but with imperfect know-how of Web development as a full. Also, scripts can be ill-worn to authorize unofficial access of a hacker to acquire confidential information like passwords, ahead addresses, as well as confined copyrighted happy.
wellbeing is one of the central issues nowadays in developing Web locations just because these Web locations epitomize customes that strive to have sound online transactions on the World open Web. It is thus very important that rigorous hard of Web based applications be done first before it is made unfilled for commercial use.
In this age of technological advancement, many home customes are demanding to keep up with what the Internet can deal them in language of online selling. Due to the arrival of flaxen competition in web development small customes now has the weight to sell their yield and navy in the same arena where big customes worn to reign.
specialty, it is best to use a admired pursuit engine, such as Google or Yahoo.
The indicate of this editorial is to help you to the next flatten and show you what this amazing specialty has to deal.
My name is David Schiller and I am the webmaster
of http://www.OnlineIncomeFromHomeOrAway.com
I Live in the Barossa Valley, South Australia.
From this indicate ahead, we will let you in on little secrets that will help you realize this specialty into your life.
I promote work from home with a home based custom online.
To score out Articles of the above character go to
http://www.OnlineIncomeFromHomeOrAway.com/blog/
If you thoroughly analyze each part that we have discussed, you will see a joint thread of which to explore.
As they say, awareness equals intensity, so stay to read information on this area awaiting you feel you are adequately educated on the specialty.
Knowing the ins and outs of this topic will help you to fully understand the importance of this entire subject.
How to Make Your First $1 Online and Feel Great About it
When new people come online searching for ways to earn money from home, they often run smack into claims of how easy it is for them to start making thousands of dollars, practically overnight – without having to hardly lift a finger to do anything.
This is how many people get their first glimpse into the world of Internet Marketing. But are they being presented with the real deal?
No way.
Claims of easy and fast income online are false and mislead people who want to believe the hype is true. The internet is a great place to find and share valuable information of all kinds. It’s not, however, a magic gateway to easy wealth. Those pushing these types of money making systems are themselves looking to make easy bucks off of gullible people.
Now that I’ve spilled the beans on this type of scam, I want you to know that you can really make good money online – if you are realistic in your goals.
Forget about making thousands and focus on making just $1.
Why $1?
Because once you start digging into all the ins and outs of internet marketing, you’ll quickly realize that there’s a sharp learning curve you need to go through first before you can even THINK about earning thousands from your online efforts.
On the other hand, it’s real easy to see yourself earning your first $1 within a reasonable period of time. Also, this takes the pressure off of you since you don’t have to pull your hair out frantically trying to make “big money” from something that just isn’t designed to produce those kinds of returns.
Lots of people, like me, who’ve been doing the internet marketing thing for a few years, have tried and failed at many projects before we finally got our sea legs and began making real money. Trust me, when you get around to making your first dollar or two you’ll be very happy.
So, what do you need to do, realistically, to make some money online?
Here’s a few tips:
Get an Education – The world of the internet is vast and there are many ways to earn extra cash from it, BUT not by following fly-by-night get rich quick schemes. Just like any serious job you would have in the offline world, you need to be seriously trained to know how to go about it. People who are successful at this have absorbed lots of information. Get online and start doing your research.
Business or Hobby? Decide right now how you want to approach your online venture. Is it going to be something you put a lot of effort and hours into, or, is it something you want to do once in a while, more like a hobby?
There’s no right or wrong in whichever one you choose, just be aware that your results online will match your attitude towards what you’re doing. Some people enjoy it as purely a hobby – just for fun, and are happy to make a few dollars here and there. Others want to make serious part-time or full-time money. Know which category you fall in.
Work on Small Goals – Set small goals for yourself and work to achieve them. Yes, I know you’d love to be making great money from doing something online, but going for a huge target in the beginning is not the best way. Many beginners have quickly grown frustrated because their initial goal is way too big for them to possibly achieve in a short time.
Step back and set up small goals for yourself. It’s a lot easier for you to find success achieving smaller goals. This way you’ll stay motivated and avoid the frustration that leads many others to quit in frustration. The $1 is an example of a small goal. Write down this goal: “I want to make $1 doing X in 60 days.”
Now you may or may not make your first $1 in 60 days, but regardless, you will have picked up a whole lot of knowledge on learning how to accomplish this first goal.
I know that if you take these tips into consideration, you’ll be able to make your first $1 online – and more!
The Advantage Of Having A Home Based Business.
Thanks to modern technology more and more people are starting to run their businesses from home or even if it is not their own company bosses are allowing employees to take their work home and make themselves available via the computer and internet. Is this something you have been hoping for or perhaps even starting your own home based business?
If you have the opportunity or ability to do so, nothing should stand in your way for making your dream come true. Wouldn’t it feel good not having to get up every morning without having to be all stressed out about making it to the office on time and hoping you do not get stuck in a traffic jam on the way there. There can be a lot of advantages of having a home based business but it also takes a lot of dedication to actually be able to stay disciplined and do your job.
Many people who decide to take their work home and work from there, very often find themselves putting of their responsibility because they figure they can do it later, after all they have all day and night to get things done.
This way of thinking is one which is very normal but one that can very quickly become a big problem and eventually cost you your job. Because of this, working from home may not be for everyone because it is not just all fun and games, it requires dedication and commitment.
Of course working from home has its perks and you do have the opportunity to schedule your own hours which is great especially if you are a parent with young children who require attention. In that case you can arrange your work around their naptimes and such and in the case you are not feeling to good you do not have to worry about calling in sick to work but you should be able to get some work done since you are home anyway.
Families all over the world feel they can never take a few days of and just go on a family trip because of their work. They need to be by their office because of dead lines or meetings or other things which if you are working from home on your computer will no longer be necessary because all you have to do is log on to your computer and send in your project, even meetings may be held over the computer.
So you see, having a home based business can definitely have its advantages and might just be the way you would want to go. You do not have to work with computers in order to work from home but it is obviously a plus having one because it can make things so much easier for you when it comes to a lot of things and you can even deal with your customers or contacts over the internet.
Therefore, if you would like to eliminate the hassle of having to sit in an office all day with people you might not get along with or you simply would like to be your own boss and be in charge of your own time then a home based business just might be the right thing for you. You may even find that you are much more productive when working from your own home.
The Professional Fulfillment And Problems Associated With Being Self Employed
Have you toyed with the idea of self employment? The odds are quite good that you have at least considered it in passing, but perhaps you were not sure if your skills were the kinds of abilities that would permit you to embark in business for yourself and successfully feed your family. Additionally, you might have wondered if indeed it would be possible to market a product without having a large marketing department stand behind you, and a second party paying your wages until the marketing campaigns prove themselves to be fruitful.
Yet when you see those who have already embarked onto the road of self employment, you notice that while personal fulfillment most certainly ranks quite high in their satisfaction rating, there is also a sense of professional fulfillment. The reasons are easily understood. Professional fulfillment comes from a job done well.
You will have proven to yourself and the world that you can not only take an existing product for example and then devise a working marketing strategy, implement it, and follow through with strong sales. If you have previously done something similar for an employer, you will have the added satisfaction of no longer needing the boss to succeed. In a way this very thought will most likely have spurred you on to take greater risks, make bigger gambles, and no longer play it safe only to be rewarded with success!
Your professional fulfillment begins with the fact that you will have proven to anyone beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are a force to be reckoned with and that you can do a job better than an already established company. Add to this the financial benefits, and your sense of professional success only skyrockets! How many have told you that for a longtime you would be operating in the red and perhaps that you would never see a plus instead of a minus in front of your numbers? With your success you will have proven all of them wrong!
As you can see, there is no end to the sense of professional fulfillment that can be garnered simply from being self employed. So go ahead and take another look at that dream that you might have thought was impossible to fulfill and instead dust it off and give it the old college try. Take the time to dot your and cross your and spend countless hours in the office of a certified public accountant that will make sure you are your tax obligations are met, and that you will not suffer any kind of liability problem.
Take the challenge to wave good bye to your boss! You may very well be glad that you did! The dream of being successfully self-employed is quite possibly innate to anyone who is employed. The idea of having the artistic freedom necessary to create winning marketing campaigns is probably one of themost often cited reasons why an employee would much rather prefer to be their own boss.
Another reason is the fact that the relationship between employer and employee has broken down at some level and the employee realizes that certain needs have not been met and most certainly will remain unmet while in the employ of the company. Yet self employment itself is a bit of a double edged sword and not everyone is cut out for this mode of earning a living. If you are contemplating this step so as to work from home and throw off the shackles that corporate employment has become to you, think long and hard if you are truly ready.
There are a set of problems associated with being self employed, and perhaps the biggest obstacle a novice faces is his or her own self. Having a dream is easy; yet making this dream a reality demands a certain level of self discipline. Some personality types are not able to transit from reporting to a boss to reporting to no one yet remaining just as driven.
Additionally, some personality types that benefited from the buffer the employer presented when it came to relationships with clients or customers, will sorely find their patience tested when a new client harshly criticizes the marketing strategy you present to them. Especially if you are in an artistic field, some of these criticisms could feel like personal attacks or even personal rejection, making this form of employment almost harder than working for someone else.
Little Known Ways From Product Creation to Selling
Take an Idea and turn it into a Tangible Upshot.
Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you don’t, but by the end of this article you will!
If you take a look at every upshot you’ve ever worn or heard about, you’re actually looking at the manifestation of an idea. Once engaging a time, it was an idea that spawned its target from cell phones to profile sport to sneakers, even the food we eat and the movies we embrace. Some of the prevalent and most respected companies nowadays began their commerce by creating and then promotion of an idea that later became a upshot. That little seed of genius that floats around in your head may just be your permit to affluence, fame and a monitized network come confirmed. Here’s how:
Creating the upshot
There are some customs you can construct for an upshot. One is to construct it from an initial idea, another to revise an idea that’s already there and vary it and still another is to find the promote first and then construct an idea that will also know a necessity or construct one.
If you feel that you haven’t learned anything new thus far, there is a whole new realm of information in the rest of this article.
plan your upshot
You could keep your upshot as an idea in your head but it’s best if you put it down on paper. This will help give you a different perspective on how you want it to be. Ask manual questions: What will your upshot be? What will be its principle or rate? What will it look like? Will its target compete with what’s already out on the promote or will it influence its promoteability?
Don’t underestimate target. According to Apple’s Steve Jobs, it’s so terribly more than just show; it’s actually interior decor. That means it is internal to the self and utility of the upshot itself. For the newest iMac perfect, for example, Jobs fought not to have a fan installed on the utensils. This upshoted to a more intensive engineering target but a far more advanced machinery in provisos of thermal management.
study the promote
Having a upshot is one thing while having a floor-Base to promote it to is another. establish who will buy your upshot. Is there a sincere promote for it out there? Will it promote finely or will it have to rely deeply on a lot of promotions and advertising?
If you don’t have a fine idea what your upshot will be, it will help if you look at the business you’re interested in and see if there is a necessity that you can finish.
promotion the upshot
The very first thing you should respect when promoting your upshot is policy. There is more to promoting an upshot you have constructd than just calling it a superstar. Look at your upshot from all angles and govern how it will compete.
choose on your upshot sales means
How and where you will promote your upshot will influence your pricing and even its handling and usage. Will your promotion be exclusively online or offline as well? Will you be with an associate plan or honest retail? If you use an associate plan, will your pricing basis for the upshot be commissions? If your promotion platfrom runs aground, can you give discounts off the initial rate? Can the promotion routine sustain your commerce and help it grow?
Set your pricing
The next quest you should have when promoting your upshot is pricing. Pricing has been the defeat of many would-be entrepreneurs and even more established ones, so if you’re not vigilant, it could ruin your odds of winnng.
Make pricing part of your policy. establish the expense of the product counting overpresident expenses and then put a reasonable gain on the upshot. Pricing should case everything from the target of the upshot to its sales. It should also be rated in a way that makes it attractive and yet promote its rate at the same time.
equip and require
Another respectation is reserve and require. How long you will be promoting your upshot will depend on how long you can remain producing it. Where will the resources be sourced and are there factors that will influence how the upshot will be bent in the impending? Is there sincere require for the upshot or do you have to construct it?
If your upshot has been constructd as a upshot of another upshot or to accessorize and supplement it, do you divine any modifications that might adversely influence your upshot sales? If you promote customized leather casings for iPods, for example, you could face some grave upshot upsets once it changes its form or intention in a chief way.
Your competitors
When promoting your upshot, your necessity is to keep your eye on your competitors. What they promote, how they promote it, to whom they promote it and for how long will they effect your business.
Promoting your upshot
Now that you have constructd your upshot, it’s time to launch promoting your upshot in order to promote it. What style of advertising do you necessarily need for the upshot and where will you market? choose whether to structure a website is enough or if you need to tap other more traditional routines of promotion. You will have to reassess your advertising labors from time to time to govern if it profits your commerce or takes away from it unnecessarily.
Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
Credit Cards: Still The Safest Form Of Online Payment
Contrary to popular belief, credit cards are still the safest form of payment for goods and services on or offline. Many consumers fear unauthorized charges and billing errors. In many cases, these problems can all be solved just by knowing your rights and using them to your advantage.
When it comes to unauthorized charges, there are many consumer defenses available. The credit card companies, as well as the government are very aware of identity theft and the recent rise so it has become increasingly easier to report fraudulent charges. Now if your card is used without your permission, you can only be held liable for up to $50 per card. Compare that to if your wallet or purse is stolen and how much you would get back from cash lost in that case. Plus If you report the loss before the card is used, you can’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges. Most good issuers have a 24 hour number where they can be accessed nowadays but it is always a good idea to follow the phone call up with a letter for documented proof and you will be fine. Also if u just have a dispute with a merchant or service provider, it can be handled in the same way as long as they are within 100 miles and the charge is above $50. (These limitations don’t apply if the seller is also the card issuer or if a special business relationship exists between the seller and the card issuer, or if you’ve already made several attempts to resolve the dispute on your own).
Aside from that, some people are afraid of billing errors. While I am fully aware that billing errors do occur,I also know that issuers have a set of rules they have to follow to promptly correct them. These rules are outlined on statements sent out once a year. Many issuers even list your rights on the bill. If you find a mistake on your bill, you can dispute the charge and withhold payment on that amount while the charge is being investigated. The error might be a charge for the wrong amount, for something you didn’t accept, or for an item that wasn’t delivered as agreed. Of course, you still have to pay any part of the bill that’s not in dispute, including finance and other charges.
Some other tips are pretty simple to follow. 1. Never respond to credit card e-mails asking for your details, even if they look official. 2.Always make sure the merchant only charges you once at the time of the transaction. The sooner the better. 3. Don’t enter your credit card into an unsecured website. Make sure the address says “https” instead of “http”. The website should also have a certification of some kind, usually verisign.
So to sum it all up, credit cards are safer than ever and will always be safer than cash in my opinion. I’ve included a link to a list of good, safe low interest credit cards. Feel free to look over them and compare rewards.
All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact and unchanged and all links remain active.
A Rare Blend of Opportunity and Timing: the Light Sport Aviation Mechanic
Someone once said, “Someday your whole life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.”
Along the same lines, I read somewhere that about half of all people don’t really like their jobs. And I thought, “What a waste of a life that is to get up every morning and do something that you really don’t like.” So it is exciting to work with people who sign up for the 3 week long- 120 hour Light Sport Repairman Maintenance Course to start their own business, usually as a second career.
There are few occasions when a great opportunity crosses our path, and it is rarely when the timing is just right. So with great enthusiasm that both timing and opportunity were merging, Ted Finck signed up for Rainbow Aviation’s Light Sport Repairman Course offered in November 2008.
While the course itself is an incredible opportunity, Ted capitalized on the initial investment by adding the Powered Parachute and Weight shift modules. “These two modules just added a week to my trip, for a total of four weeks. But with the added ratings, I have tripled my customer base.”
But Ted went one step further, taking advantage of the opportunity to earn his Powered Parachute Instructor’s certificate at the same time. “It was a great opportunity. Morris Yoder and Lee Woodriff were also taking the repairman course at the same time and are both powered parachute instructors. So we would train in the morning before class, in the evenings after class and on weekends. I took my practical exam with Morris Yoder on the last week of the course and left with not only my Repairman Maintenance Certificate for airplane, weight shift and powered parachute and my Rotax repairman service level certification, but also my powered parachute instructor certificate.
Course participants comprise an incredible, diverse community, attending the course for a variety of reasons. Some owners take the course to maintain and inspect their own SLSA aircraft, some participants are already airframe and powerplant mechanics, others are aircraft manufacturers, and some are instructors who want to perform their own 100 hour inspections, but most, like Ted, are interested in starting their own full time or even part time business. And after participants earn their LSRM certificate their businesses comprise yet again an incredible, diverse community.
For example, Clyde Poser owner of Rule Aviation Services in Buckeye, WA is a retired airline captain. Clyde used the LSRM certificate as a stepping stone to earn his DAR authorization (designated aircraft representative), he then used his LSRM and DAR certificates to qualify to become a contract instructor for the 2 day Repairman courses. He also offers both powered parachute and weight shift flight instruction, so he gave flight lessons while attending the three week course in California. “There’s almost an advantage in some respects to waiting until mid-life to make a significant career change because often times,” Clyde explains, “the experience you had in your previous career can be utilized and can benefit the next chapter in your life.”
As you might have guessed most participants have high expectations for their businesses. Mike Zidziunas ( known as Mike Z.) is no different. Mike is a sport pilot instructor and realized early on that light sport was going to be the future of aviation so he earned his LSRM in August of 2006. “I was not prepared, however, for the incredible opportunities the certificate would offer.” And Mike is taking full advantage of those opportunities. He has opened a Rotax Service Center, he works with manufacturers assembling SLSA aircraft and he plans to expand his business by becoming an A & P mechanic. Maintenance is Mike’s primary focus and he will soon be able to include Amateur-Built aircraft inspections to the list of services he offers.
On the other hand, Aldo Sibi, who earned his LSRM in May of 2006, works full time for Indus Aircraft. He is the Manager and Director of Production and the head of Research and Development. He has made over 56 modifications to the Thorpedo design and has protyped and built the first Thorpedo Diesel engine/airframe combo. Like mIke, Alod is also in the process of becoming an A & P mechanic.
Roger Lee is retired from the Tucson Fire Department has a business in Arizona , Roger’s LSA Service & Repair. Roger works on all LSA aircraft, but he specializes on the Flight Design CT aircraft and the Rotax engines. Roger works as a LSRM out of his truck. He also takes his mechanical skills on the road performing maintenance and inspections at his customer’s location. “I didn’t want to go back to work full time, but there is enough work there to keep me plenty busy.” Roger comments. Roger is able to keep his overhead down and his customers appreciate the lower rates. “This (work) is quite a bit different than being a firefighter because I haven’t had to do CPR on an engine, start an IV in the fuel line or defibrillator a carb.”
The FAA has created an incredible opportunity with the Light Sport Repairman Maintenance Course for an individual to start a new career or a homebased, low-cost business that is rewarding- not just financially- but personally. Additionally, an individual can earn the certificate quickly- in just three weeks. This is incredible when you compare that to the 1900 hour requirement for an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. This powerful three week course is what entrepreneurship is all about: success.
Virtual Office Assistant: Becoming A Virtual Assistant Takes Planning
You’ve thought it over and made up your mind – you want to become a virtual office assistant. Fantastic! Now what you need to do is sit down and create a roadmap for how you’re going to make your dream a reality.
I know you’re excited about becoming a virtual assistant and it’s tempting to just throw your hat into the ring and see what happens. However, it’s best to do a little planning first in order to make sure you can be successful at this.
Here are some things you should keep in mind:
Create a marketing plan – One of the toughest things to do when you’re in business for yourself is figuring out how to promote your services. You’re starting from scratch and even though you have excellent skills, nobody knows who you are. A marketing plan will give you a blueprint to follow so you can get the word out.
There are several ways you can market yourself:
*Business Cards
*Brochures
*Articles
*Online Forums
*Local Organizations
*Networking
*Website
What are your start-up costs?
How much money do you need to spend to get the ball rolling?
Make sure you have the basics to get started: computer in good shape, copy/fax machine, filing cabinet, printer, copy paper, printer ink, daily planner, comfortable office chair, etc.
If you need to buy office supplies, look for places where you can get good discounts. Spend as little money as possible. Once your business is making money, you can purchase additional items.
Charge what you’re worth
When starting out, you may be tempted to set your rates low in order to attract clients – Don’t do it!
Even though virtual assisting is relatively new, most VA’s charge between $25-$70 per hour. Charging lower than this will make you look less professional than your competition. Besides, you need to make enough to cover your own expenses, plus any vacation and sick time you need.
Remember, you’re the boss now. You’re also a professional service provider and deserve to make a good living from your skills.
What’s your specialty?
In your career as an office assistant, you’ve probably picked up many different skills. You will use most of them while virtual assisting. However, when it comes to marketing yourself, it’s wise to pick something to specialize in like: desktop publishing, proofreading, legal transcription, writing articles, resume writing, academic research, etc.
Specializing in one area makes you stand out from the crowd. It’s also way easier to promote your services this way. You can target clients who want to utilize your unique talents. By the way, you’ll still be able to take on clients outside your specialty.
How will you help your clients?
When marketing your services, it’s tempting to tell people how great you are. But that’s not what they’re looking for. Every potential client wants to know WIIFM or What’s in it for Me?
Your job is to let them know what your skills can do to help their business run smoother.
Can you save them time?
Can you save them money?
Are you good at problem solving?
Can you meet deadlines?
Is your work mistake free?
Can you communicate with them by phone, email, skype?
Can your work make them look good?
How will you manage your time?
In order for your business to work, you’ve got to get good at time management. Think of all the things you’ll need to keep track of:
*Multiple Client Projects
*Family Responsibilities
*Personal Errands
*Everything Else
How will you manage all of this on a day-to-day basis?
Working out of your home is great, but there can be a lot of distractions. You’ve got to try to keep your work time separate from your personal time, although this isn’t always possible.
Figure out what days and hours you’re going to work, then print out a schedule and stick to it. You can always make adjustments as you go along.
Golden Goose and Mlm
You know the story of the goose that laid the golden egg, but the greedy owners began to think they weren’t getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once.
But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.
When some think of multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing, they figure it’s a get-rich-quick “loaded goose” and find soon that their lofty dreams of sudden wealth are turned into a chopped up disappointment.
Then adding to their frustration, the disapproving relatives and friends swoop in to say “I told you so. Network marketing is just a fly-by-night scheme to make innocent people think they can become wealthy when in reality only the rich in company make it to the top.” Sounds like a cut up goose with a fork and a knife doesn’t it?
Well, guess what, it isn’t that way at all. Before you grab that white MLM goose by the neck, take a good look at what you’re butchering. You might want to keep your feathery friend around, quietly dropping her golden eggs one at a time.
She’s an enterprising lady, a free thinker with time on her hands to enjoy life while she turns out her product. Think of the residual income if every once in awhile she produces a batch of little goslings that repeat her efforts. Think of the job security!
Consider also what her downy cousins in the business world produce. Corporate America creams off big profits while diligent birdies at the bottom work long hours to make a living. Those top hawks profit from their salesmen, office workers, service employees, staff, on down to the janitors who labor hard to earn their paychecks with no real hope of getting ahead, let alone earn like the elusive leaders in the company.
Day after day the millions of chickadees work hard with little time left to enjoy family, build their assets or discover their dreams. Add to that, stress which causes health problems and retirement that is meager and in a distant haze, you’ve painted the job world in its true dull colors. No peacocks here!
When you think of it, the big difference between network marketing and corporate America is that you are the CEO of your own company for a minimum investment, with hope for residual income and an opportunity to help others have that same vision which is unlike the stiff competition corporate companies promote.
Those precious golden eggs are multiplied in MLM because the goose doesn’t want to fly away. Why should she? There’s no rival for her ingenious products and marketing plan. She flies around with other positive birds and is always helping others get their golden lady. Only a few will find her.
That’s because it’s work to own a golden goose, a job you created that takes effort. And frankly, some people cannot visualize themselves with that kind of responsibility and discipline. It means stretching out of their comfort zone, but totally worth doing. Go for it and fly!
Are you ready to own a golden goose?