I’m sure you’re like me, you bought, listened, watched and downloaded everything you can find and afford to help build your online business.  Well, I have another one for you!  But hopefully this will be one of the last purchases you make to uncover the secrets to being successful online.

Joel Comm has just released his book, KaChing – How to Run an Online Business That Pays and Pays! I just ordered my copy and can’t WAIT to get it and start digging in.  Even if you are an expert, guru or just a know-it-all about online marketing, I’m sure this book will show you some new ideas.

You can grab your copy today it at KaChing: How to Run an Online Business that Pays and Pays

It used to be, before the telephone, before cellphones, before the Internet, sending notes was the norm – we sent them out to invite people to events, thank them for gifts, send out our condolences and even just to say hello. Even when doing business, everyone from shopkeepers to oil barons sent out cards to begin relationship and seal deals. These days, with all the technology available to us, it’s almost accepted to send out a text message that says “Nice 2 meet U. C u soon.”

Sending out cards and notes may seem archaic, but they seem to be coming back in vogue, perhaps because people hardly get that personal touch anymore (think about it – compared to a decade ago, how many birthday or Christmas cards do you get a year?) Cards can also be used for business – and will definitely put on a lasting impression to your clients.

Have no idea how to begin? Here are some tips to get you started:

Have an updated contact list – having a list will make it easier for you to organize your campaign, but make sure your information is complete and updated. It would be pretty embarrassing if you were to send the wrong card to the wrong person or not have it reach your important client.

Select your message carefully – if you’re sending out holiday cards, read the message carefully to make sure you won’t offend anyone (assuming you’re sending out a lot of cards.) You wouldn’t want to risk sending out something which can make you look bad, when your intention was the opposite.

Use titles – You may be on first-name basis with your clients, but using their titles on the front of the cards shows respect and gives importance to their achievements, so make sure you include that “Dr.”, “Mr.,” “Esq.” etc. with their names.

Spell Check! –  OMG, this is a biggie! Make sure you read each and every line and make sure every word is spelled correctly, lest you make some embarrassing faux pas.

Send them on time – get your holiday cards out early, especially for businesses. They may be leaving work early to take time off. For thank you cards, try to send them no more than a week after, or they may forget what you are thanking them for!

Remember, building relationships is the core of any business and key to its success. Taking the time out to do simple tasks can cement your reputation with the right people. Don’t always have the time to do everything yourself? Get a little help and still have that personal touch with Send Out Cards and it only takes a few minutes to choose, write and send your card. Click on the link today to find out more.

Click Here – Send Out Cards if you are looking for any of the above!

Perhaps you’re stuck in a nine-to-five job you hate, or are a homemaker bored at home, but you’ve probably thought of turning a beloved hobby into a business which will make some money. Many people have done it before, and have done it successfully, though there are those that fail as well. If you’re thinking of going into business for yourself, here are some things you should think about before taking the plunge:

If it becomes work, will you still love it?

If you enjoy knitting sweaters for your loved ones, will you enjoy doing it for money? Sometimes when something becomes actual work, you may find yourself not wanting to do it anymore. But if you’re enthusiastic about something, then you may find yourself loving it even more, despite the long hours of hard work.

Is it worthy of being a business?

You may love your hobby, have a passion for it, but that doesn’t mean you can make money from it. You may be good at making animals from pipe cleaners, but that doesn’t mean you should go out and open up a pipe cleaner shop. You must be practical as well, and do the necessary legwork to find out if your idea is feasible.

Remember, it is a business!

Being an employee has its pros – you just show up at the office, do your work and you get a paycheck two weeks later. Being a business owner or being self-employed is different. You have to deal with day to day operations, payroll, taxes, clients, receivables and payables – things which are not fun and can be boring. Hopefully, you’ll be able to handle such challenges.

What will happen in the long run?

You’ll be investing a large amount of your time and resources into starting your own business – so you have to think of what will happen in 5, 10 or even 20 years. Although no one wants to think of failure, many new businesses shut down within the first year (restaurants, for example, experience a failure rate of about 59%.) Your goals and plans should include future strategies, as well as back-up plans.

Consider alternatives

Okay, so you tell yourself, if you spend another day at your desk, you might do something drastic, but you don’t have the resources or time to pursue your hobby. There can be other alternatives – perhaps all you need is to change career paths into an industry that’s closer to what you love. So you really love to cook, but can’t leave your accounting job to open up your restaurant. Perhaps you should work for a food company. Also, you may be able to teach what you love. You may never sell your landscape paintings, but perhaps you can apply for teaching positions or give art lessons – at least you’ll still spend your time doing what you love.  And of course, you can teach through online teleseminar, webinars, blogging, video streaming – the sky’s the limit!

Whatever you decide to do, just remember: If you follow your heart and passion, and you are truly on the path that was designed for you -  the money will follow. This is the simplest of all concepts, and really where everything should begin. If you’re passionate about baking, then you should consider doing it full-time. If you’re not sure what your passion is, make an list of all the things you love to do and what you’re good at. Then start to narrow it down until you get a couple that just excites you and you have a burning desire to do.  Then do your research and see if there is a market for your business or services.  If there is, the rest is up to you.

If you enjoyed, “Turning Your Hobby Into Business: What You Need to Consider,”

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For many parents, being able to hold down a good job and still have all the time for their kids and then, for themselves, may seem like a fantasy. But many people (both men and women) have successfully melded their home and work life, and have found fulfillment in their work, spend time with their families and make enough money. These people quit their nine-to-five jobs and started their own business right out of their homes, doing what they love.

So you’ve probably thought at one time or another of leaving your desk job and just starting your own business. Why not? It’s time to stop dreaming and get off your butt and start taking action. So here are some tips to get you started:

Find your passion

Very few people when they were growing up thought to themselves, “Someday, I want to be an accountant!” or “I want to market ballpoint pens for small to medium sized companies!” So, if you’re starting your own business, why would you do something you don’t like? Do you like dogs? Why not start a pet-sitting or dog grooming business? Or perhaps everyone at the last pot luck dinner LOVED your cupcakes – why not start baking for profit? Of course, it’s much easier said than done, but eventually, you’ll find what you want. Doing something you love assures you of one thing – you’ll wake up each morning wanting to go to work, not dreading it.

It’s not all play

Just because you don’t have an office or a boss doesn’t mean you can goof off all the time. Starting your home-based business is HARD! Unlike working for a company or corporation, you’ll have to start from scratch and most likely will have to do everything by yourself. Sticking to a regular schedule will help you keep things sane, but at the beginning, expect to put in a lot of hours to help you get off the ground (sneaking away to watch a bit of daytime TV is acceptable, and a perk, of course!)

Make your space

The best part of being based at home is seeing the kids all the time. The worst? Seeing the kids all the time! You do your best to concentrate and your little ones keep interrupting. Much like making your own time, try to set aside some space of your own (like a home office) where you can do your work and get some peace and quiet.

Act Like a Business

So many people when they decide to start a home-based business look for the quickest, and sometimes cheapest, ways to get started.  (that’s not a bad thing, we all have done it) But one thing you should strongly consider is purchasing your own domain name through GoDaddy.com – World’s No.1 Domain Name Registrar .  If you are going to have a business, you need to act like a business and having your own professional domain name is a must.  Also, you should purchase email hosting so that when you communicate, it will be sent from yourname@yourbusiness.com.  It just makes you look more professional and people will take you more seriously.

Automate!

This is the age of computers and why shouldn’t you take advantage of that? Everyone uses the web these days, so having a website (or even a Facebook fan page) where your customers can contact you and get the latest news is a must! If you sell products over the web, then you’ll not only have to figure out a payment method, but how you can process the orders over the Internet. Get some help if you can but there are thousands of solutions out there that will help you. Wahmcart, for example, is ready-made shopping cart solution for your website. They offer the secure shopping cart software, plus a management and tracking solution, making the buying experience for your customers as easy as possible and they are very affordable for the new business just starting out.

Another great solution for your ecommerce needs is 1ShoppingCart.  With this system you can do all of the same things as above, and much more.  Of course, this system is a bit more pricey, but you can run your entire business from product sales, to lead capture to autoresponders and finally to your online newsletter.

There are lots of opportunities out there and there has never been a better time to go than today! Start brainstorming ideas today and you’ll be on your way to a successful home business!

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With the job market being tough and cruel these days, many people think that there’s no way they’ll be able to compete in such conditions. Hiring Managers and Human Resources Professionals are stunned that sometimes, a part-time receptionist position (with no benefits) can garner hundreds of responses. And with the economy making a steady, but slow recovery, there seems to be no relief in sight for many of the unemployed. What are these people to do, when unemployment runs out and there’s just not enough work? Why look for other means to make money.

Perhaps you’ve seen the ads – work from home, stuffing envelopes, making crafts, etc.? More often than not, these are scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But not all online jobs are bogus. Many people are now joining the virtual workforce – thousands of skilled, willing and able people hiring themselves out to companies and individuals on a freelance basis. It used to be, you had to have some kind of skill – computer programming, graphics and design training – to be self-employed. But now, with the convenience of the internet and technology, people are actually hiring their own assistants – workers who may be located in another city, state or even county, who can perform basic tasks. These people set their own hours, their own rates based on their skills and do work for other busy professionals. Being a personal assistant has its perks, but it is a job like any other.

So how does one start? Of course, if you’ve had any experience in this field, then you’ve got an edge over other people. If not, then you can get training from some schools and even online schools.

Finding jobs can be a bit tricky, but sites like Elance, Guru, Two Minute Commute and Odesk has hundreds of job postings for virtual assistants. Just like any job, you’ll have to put your best foot forward – put together your resume, references etc. You’ll most likely have to put up a profile that lists all your experiences, skills and educational information. Competition can be tough, but you’ll have to persevere.

What kinds of work can you expect to get? Really, anything! Some people may want some simple, basic tasks – checking email, compiling lists, and organizing address books, research. Placing phone calls and scheduling appointments are a common task. AJ Jacobs, editor-at-large at Esquire magazine (via Tim Ferris’ The Four Hour Workweek website) recounts his experience of hiring a virtual assistant, who he had do everything from paying his bills to, “finding my son a Tickle Me Elmo.” Many companies also hire virtual assistants to do tasks which take too much time and resources of their on-site employees, such as creating labels for mailing, scheduling meetings, sending out marketing emails – there is a virtual buffet of work for virtual professionals!

Of course, you’ll want to stand out from other applicants – anyone can type into an excel spreadsheet or pick up a phone. One surefire way to do this is to find your own niche – a corner where you and only you rule this market. For example, if you have any medical background, you can do work with patient’s records or doctor’s offices. One hot niche is Internet Marketing and many businesses are clamoring for well-trained marketing assistants. Online marketing has grown exponentially in the past few years, and thus, these skill sets are becoming much more important than ever. Many of the earlier marketers learned on the job, but now many companies cannot afford to pay for their employees’ learning curve, which is why people who possess skills such as blogging, article submission, social networking, affiliate marketing, video editing and marketing support are in demand. Which is why many training centers offer such courses. VAClassroom.com offers one of the most comprehensive online courses, and is recommended by many professionals, both by virtual assistants and the companies that hire them. The course they offer is comprehensive and offers more than just reading materials – you get full access to their site, which includes a FREE 60-Day Trial to the popular VAClassroom Training Membership Program. Members can attend monthly meetings, participate in the discussion forums, watch videos and even join the virtual marketplace where they can network and possibly find jobs.

Another great resource is VAnetworking.com.  This is a community online for virtual assistants and virtual entrepreneurs to connect, share, discuss, promote & network their businesses.  They offer a free membership, discounts on virtual assistant business products and services , an RFP system for both Virtual Assistant and potential Virtual Assistant clients through their VAInsider club,  weekly online, live seminars with industry experts who’ve “been there, done that,” inclusion in the largest Virtual Assistant Article Directory online to help prospective clients find you faster and many other features.

So, check out VAClassroom.com and VAnetworking.com today and see how you can take full advantage of your full potential!

How do you run your business?  Do you have a business plan?  What about a budget?  Do you rely on a board of directors to help you with big decisions?  I rely on God for my business.  Because without Him I wouldn’t have a business at all.

My friend, Laurie Neumann with Christian Home Business Connections, has just released her new book, Run Your Business God’s Way (affiliate link) and I wanted to share the link for those who are interested in getting a copy.

She’s offering it for a limited time for only $9.95.  This eBook is filled with Scripture verses and insight so that you can get busy running your business God’s way. 

If you like this post, please share it by clicking the links below or retweeting.

Well, today’s your lucky day! Today at 1 pm est. is the official launch of the Blastoff network. It is free, easy and fun, plus you can make money with your Blastoff site.

Watch this short video to get more information and then click I Want a Free Blastoff Site

I get many offers through email for business tools to enhance and grow my online business. This week I responded to an opportunity to be interviewed for a Christian Home Based Business Connection. The owner Laurie Neumann, contacted me and we completed the interview very quickly. On Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Laurie posted my comments on her blog, which I was very thankful for.

During my visit to her blog, I noticed all of the great resources and tools she has to offer at her site. So I wanted to return the favor and share some of the resources she has and a link to her site, for anyone interested in starting a home-based business.

Her website is Christian Home Business Connection and these are some of the resources she offers:

Home Business Resource Guide

Top Six Ways Report

And Laurie has many other resources and connections for new home business owners and potential owners, based on Christian values. Check out her site, and tell her I sent you!

Some of the strangest things will spark a thought in your mind. This morning, as I was in the shower, there was an thunderstorm, with lightening. A thought ran through my head, “what if lightening ran in the house, through the shower and zapped me!” (I know…I think some crazy things) But that really made me think, what would my business do if I were hurt or unable to communicate with my clients for an extended period of time.

So I have developed a backup plan for my business and anyone could step in and alert my clients as to what I’m doing and delegate current tasks on to another online business manager.

These are the steps included in my plan:

• Developed a Client Call Sheet with client name, phone and email address. It is posted in my office all all times for emergency contact.
• Set-up an autoresponder email that can be activated with just the click of a button to inform visitors to my website and blog and anyone who emails me that I am unavailable to respond.
• A list of colleagues who can “pinch-hit” for me if I were unable to complete my client’s tasks.

Luckily, the storm passed and I finished my shower without incident. But I’m glad I have a plan in place, just in case I need it.

Do you have a plan? What are some additional steps you do?

I hope I got you thinking about how easily you can start a home-based Internet business yesterday. Now I’d like to share one of the easiest ways to start that business with little or no money!

The first option to consider when thinking of starting an Internet home-based business is to become an affiliate marketer. For those entrepreneurs with limited capital, this is an excellent choice .

An Affiliate Marketer is a person who partners with companies or businesses and through their marketing efforts drives customers to purchase products and/or services from the affiliate company. In return for marketing the products, the affiliate company pays the affiliate marketer a commission per sale. In simple terms, you tell people about these products and promote them on your sites, and you get paid for it!

There are many affiliate opportunities available based on your business model, interests or skill-level. An example of some great affiliates are located on my side bar to your right. Most of these companies are directly connected to my business as an Online Business Manager. That’s why I made a decision to partner with them and recommend their products and services to my clients, contacts and online visitors.

Just determine what type of affiliate business you would like to begin and do your research for quality businesses to partner with. Sign up as an affiliate and set-up your website or blog to promote them. The affiliate business will provide you with great information from links, content for blog posts to promote them and banner ads. And all of these can be done Free.

Stay tuned, more great Internet Home-based Business opportunities to come!