Showing posts with label internet income. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet income. Show all posts

Sunday, 26 April 2015

How to Earn Cash With Online Surveys

With the economy in the dumps and not getting better anytime soon, there are many people looking for good ways to earn extra money. Do you need a few hundred extra each month? What about a thousand dollars a week?

You can make this type of money pretty easily by using online surveys. Earning with online surveys is an easy way to make some good extra money or you can make it a full time job. Here is what you need to know about how to earn online surveys cash.

First, you have to know that if you join a survey network your chances of actually making money are much better than just counting on free surveys. You will not be taking a survey for $5 or for a chance to win money with a survey network. Plus you will have surveys to take on a regular basis.

There are quite a few different paid survey networks out there and it will only be a small investment to get you started. You can make your money back within an hour if you get right to taking surveys. Then, everything else is your profit from there.

Second, you should know why the paid networks are so much better. Sure there are small companies that need surveys done, but they are the ones that cannot afford to just pay cash or give out gift cards for taking a survey. They are the ones that give you a lotto ticket to enter a drawing or something of that nature.

The larger corporations like Coke and Pepsi will use the paid networks and pay between $20 and $100 for you to take a survey. This is all depending on the length of the survey and the information they are after. This is why the paid networks are the only way to go.

Last, could you imagine paying under $50 to join a paid survey network, then you earn online surveys cash of between $25 and $90 per hour? Most people would be able to live very comfortably off of taking surveys for a few hours a day at that rate. This is very possible.

There have been some that can make nearly a six figure income from taking surveys and you can be one of them. There is a lot of money out there to be had and you might as well get some of it by taking online surveys. What else are you going to do with your free time?



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1918720

Saturday, 25 April 2015

Earn Online Income From Your Blog With an Email List

Having a blog is one thing, and having it designed in such a way that people feel valued and important, is another.

Sure, having great content and exciting information on your site is one way to draw people to your blog, and then you hope they remember to bookmark your site to come back again.

But on the other hand it is always a better idea to make it as easy as possible for those people to come back again, and one way of doing this is to have the opportunity for them to sign up to your newsletter, or simply as a member to your blog.

Remembering that subscriptions make it easier to earn online income, you can construct your blog in such a way that people cannot comment or contribute unless they are members, and although this may not be suitable for every blog, it can certainly be suitable for some.

By having a "Subscribe Now" button on your blog, with the offer of maybe a free gift or something else of value that the normal visitor does not receive, you make it more appealing for the blog visitors to become members.

If they understand that they can unsubscribe at any time, and that you will not use their email details for spamming or passing on to others, many people will sign up. This is the very start of your relationship with your members, and it should be a great experience for them from this point forward.

With Auto Responders, and other email programs, some compatible with your blogging platforms as plugins, you can pre-program welcome messages, newsletters and other communication to go to your members at the touch of a button.

Sure they have RSS feeds and can subscribe to this feed via email, but having their permission to send information about other things you may be offering, and to communicate with them generally, takes you a step further in the process of being able to earn a good living from your blog.

Subscriptions make it easier to earn online income. In days gone by this same concept was used by many companies, particularly those who did and still do use "mail order" as a means to sell product. It is still as effective today, and easier to implement.


An email autoresponder is your greatest weapon to to make money from your blog and in fact, many of the professional bloggers who earn multiple six figure incomes from their blogs attribute the majority of their income to their email list! If you want more information on how you can turn your blog into a successful, list building machine, I reveal the answers in my FREE ebook Stop Slogging Start Blogging [http://www.stopsloggingstartblogging.com] as well as many other secrets the six figure professional bloggers use to make huge sums of money from their blogs!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2784874

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Earn Online Through Photography

Online world is full of opportunities. There are millions of ways to broadcast yourself and similar number of ways to earn online. a person who spends some time on internet searching for online jobs he will immediately realize that there are many simple things which can earn him better than other stereotypic jobs.

One such way of earning online is through photography. You might have noticed that every website needs quite a number of original and unique pictures. This is how the need of good creative photographer rises. For all those who love photography must try earning some money through their skills.

Avenues in this field are obviously very large. You can never be stagnant and can only grow.

Earning money online through photography is a very lucrative option. Since not many photographers are aware of this option there is a huge demand of photographers online.

For earning money through photography does not need any technical expertise. You should be able to click good quality photos with high digital camera, should be able to upload them on your computer and then edit them using photo editing software. The basic reaction that any aspiring photo photographer will give will be why will anyone buy pictures clicked by me, I am not as good as a professional photographer. To all those who are feeling this way must understand that internet is a cast market where talent is appreciated not the number of degrees you posses.

If you can click good photographs then you are surely required online. No need of underestimating yourself because you might perform better than any other professional. So if you want to earn well while operating from home and doing what you love -photography then you will get hundreds of worthwhile offers. Let your talent is appreciated and paid well.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3337924

Wednesday, 22 April 2015

How To Find Work As A Virtual Assistant In The Real Estate Market

The real estate market continues to grow as it heals from the crash that caused such a housing crisis in 2007. As the market grows, so do job opportunities in the real estate field. Real estate virtual assistants are becoming more common in companies all over the world, and depending on your skill set, you could find yourself working for a highly respected company and taking care of a number of important duties. If you are interested in finding a job in this field, there are several ways that you can both improve your resume and increase your presence in the job market.

Making Your Resume Work for You

Many companies that are involved with real estate, whether they are large corporations or smaller, locally owned ventures, are using real estate virtual assistants to take care of a number of administrative tasks, as well as e-solutions and Web content building. The more skills that you can list on your resume, the better the chance you have to find a job like this.

However, if you find that your resume is a little thin, there are ways to beef it up without having to resort to lies and half-truths:

• Don't forget to include all of the skills that you have taught yourself or learned on your own. Just because you didn't receive any formal training doesn't mean that these skills aren't worth mentioning. If you're a fast typist and are self-taught, time yourself and list your words per minute (WPM) on your resume. If you are very familiar with certain operating systems and software, such as Microsoft Office or Excel, then make sure that each skill is listed. Some of the most sought-after computer skills today are graphics ability, Web content creation, and the ability to navigate WordPress to make original websites.

• While you should list your education on your resume, you should avoid listing awards or extracurricular activities unless they are directly related to the position you're trying to fill. In most cases, they should be left out because most human resource managers don't have time to read 500 resumes about how people were the secretary of their college fraternity or were in the drama organization. Instead, focus on the particulars of your education and experience that you believe make you a good fit for a job as a virtual assistant. For example, if you took computer classes that taught you how to run software and operating systems that make you a good match for the job description, then make sure that you list them.

Real estate virtual assistants are becoming more of a fixture throughout the industry, and if you're looking for a job in this area, then you should be aware of which skills are in high demand. If you already have some of these skills, you can create your resume and start submitting it. Remember, however, that it's a combination of skill, education, and experience that employers are looking for.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7736182

Monday, 20 April 2015

Virtual Assistants: Five New Services You Can Offer

Virtual Assistants, or VAs as they are sometimes known, provide administrative, secretarial and creative support and lifestyle management for businesses and individuals. VAs normally work remotely from home and are self-employed professionals, not employees. If you're a VA, you may have started out providing the sort of standard business support that a small business might need: typing, transcription, diary management, appointment bookings and travel arrangements. But the business world is changing fast, both online and offline. Have you considered expanding your skillset and offering some of the following services?

Website Design

All small (and indeed large) businesses need an online presence. If you can learn HTML and webpage coding, this might be a very lucrative service to offer. Even if you're not technically minded, the growth in content management systems such as WordPress means that, with a little training and knowledge, anyone can create an attractive, functional and fully search engine optimised website.

Social Media Updates

As a virtual assistant, you are probably adept at using social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook but you can appreciate just what a 'time-suck' they can be. Could you assist your clients by posting Facebook and LinkedIn updates, and scheduling Tweets in advance?

Blog Post Writing

This is another necessary but time consuming marketing task. Obviously if your client has a very distinctive writing 'voice' it might be hard to replicate that in your own writing, but as you become more immersed in your client's business, you'll find it easier to emulate their blogging style. As most blogging software allows you to preschedule posts, you could write a month's worth of blog posts for your client in a fairly short space of time.

Affiliate Schemes

If your client has products to sell, you could set up an affiliate scheme for them to enable them to maximise the use of their time and start building some passive income revenue streams. Creating sales page and landing page text, advertising banners and dealing with the administration could be a very useful service to offer and if it allows your client to make more money, then that's bound to be good for your business too.

Information Products

Information products such as eBooks, eCourses, video tutorials and podcasts can all be very good ways to earn extra money, or to use as a selling point (many businesses give away free eBooks as an incentive to capture email addresses, for example). However, they are very time consuming to create and distribute. This might be another great service for your virtual assistant business to offer as it could be a very good return on investment for your client.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6939267

Friday, 10 April 2015

J is For Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures is a concept that has probably been around for a long time, but only seems to have become mainstream over the last few years. They can work in several different ways, but essentially means that two or more businesses will have an arrangement whereby they'll promote each other's businesses and profit from this whenever anybody buys.

At first glance, this seems similar to referral partners, but actually it's a completely different concept. In referrals, although there might be a formal agreement to refer clients in exchange for money between two or more businesses, referrals tend to happen on an ad-hoc basis.

In joint ventures, both parties agree to promote each other on a very regular basis in exchange for money when someone buys. Let me give you a few examples.

1. I set up a workshop. You agree to promote this workshop to your list and your contacts and whenever someone books onto the workshop from your contacts, you get paid a percentage. 
2. We both write an e-book and jointly promote this to our lists and our contacts. Whenever someone buys, we get a share of the money at a 50/50 split. 
3. You create a membership programme. I tell my list about this and drive traffic to your site. If anyone buys, I get a percentage commission.

This concept works incredibly for products and tangible services. The relationship is almost always automated - in other words, I would get paid a percentage automatically using a payment system rather than you having to send me money every month. And unlike referrals, where payment can take months to come through, with a joint venture relationship, payment is instant.

Joint ventures are also incredibly easy to track too - the payment system you use for your joint ventures will allow you to see when your contacts have bought a product or service and give you statistics on how much you've got paid. In referrals, it's not 100% clear because the parties concerned may not be completely honest with you.

So, if this sound like something that might be of interest to you, where do you start?

Well, the first thing to do is to create a list of possible partners - who appeal to the same sorts of customers as you do and has complimentary products or services?

Once you've identified possible partners, you need to think about what you'd like them to promote for you; what percentage commission you're willing to give them and what promotional material you're going to provide them with.

Your partners are unlikely to do anything for you out of the goodness of their heart - they're going to want to know what's in it for them and they're not going to want to have to do a lot of work. That means you're going to have to provide them with everything they need in order to get going.

You're also going to need a payment system that can handle joint ventures so that any payments are automated and send to your partners automatically.

It's only at this stage that you'll be ready to start talking to your potential partners. Don't forget to have a written agreement in place too.

Yes, I know that sounds like a lot of work to get it all set up, but the benefits can be enormous. If you want to start smaller, consider writing articles for the newsletters of potential partners to build your relationship or maybe doing something like a free teleseminar together to build both of your contacts.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4412066

Thursday, 9 April 2015

Joint Venture Internet Marketing - Are There Benefits to Your Business?

Embarking on joint venture Internet marketing is easy and has many benefits. When doing Internet marketing, the joint venture (JV) approach is much more effective than engaging in an abundance of self-promotion.

Complementary Businesses

There is a lot of competition online. You may wonder why a competitor might want to promote the products and services of another business. The answer lies in the fact that your products or services may actually complement rather than directly compete with the partner's products.

For example, a business that sells books on potty training children can collaborate with a company selling training toilets. One naturally leads to the other and is a win-win situation, generating sales for both businesses. The key is that the JV partners are all trying to target the same group of potentials.

Joint Ventures are easier than you might think

The words "joint venture" seem to imply a huge undertaking, but the process is very simple. Just find one or more other business that want to engage in some joint promotion of their product or service with yours. There are many potential partners out there just waiting to promote the products or services you offer.

In the Internet marketing field there are many people eager to help others experience success. This is because once those other entities become successful, the Internet marketer that provided them with assistance can call on them for help with promoting their own products. Therefore, if a business helps others use or master online marketing, it builds up the Rolodex full of potential partners down the line.

Joint Venture benefits abound

JVs reduce costs because campaign development and delivery expenses are spread among the several JV partners. Where each partner promotes to their respective lists, customer acquisition costs are significantly reduced.

Another benefit to JVs in online marketing is the opportunity for a newer online business to quickly increase its visibility. By partnering with a company that is established in the target market, the associated online business can quickly reach a large audience that has already established an interest in the items being sold. Promotion to this highly targeted audience is worth its weight in gold.

Often when a JV approach is used, the promotional effort is camouflaged, making it more effective. Assume Company A includes an article about Company B or its product in its "Newsletter". Positioning the marketing effort as an article, rather than advertisement, makes it appear more credible. The format used indicates that the contents will provide information and add value. Because the information or offer comes from an entity other than the one directly selling the products, more consumer trust is developed.

It's typical for a JV partner's promotion to offer a reduced price to the other businesses clients. Both partners win because the customer, having saved money, feels positive about the company that offered the deal and the company that made them aware of it.

These are just a few of the benefits of joint venture Internet marketing. Online business of any type interested in quickly and easily promoting its products or services should consider a joint venture with one or more partners. All parties involved should quickly see results through an increase in brand recognition or direct sales.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5853956

Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Shoe In Money Review- Real Video Proof of Income!



Ohh, we have some serious discussion here. :)

Why Joint Promotion is Incredibly Underrated

Joint promotion is an area of business ripe with opportunity. I believe it to be one of the most underrated marketing methods out there. With a struggling economy, businesses are holding their cash reserves tightly. Your ability to connect with brands for joint promotion, co-branded advertising or the equivalent can give you the exposure your company desperately needs. I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

For example, let's say you own the Crazy Tasty Granola Bar Company. Finding a strategic partner who is already tapped into your market could open up strong currents of commerce for your business. What if you got together with an exercise garment company or gym franchise and explored ways to give samples of your Crazy Tasty Bar to their customer base. You could simultaneously promote health with a shared approach.

By partnering with the gym franchise you get the exposure you need, in return they may use your product as a free giveaway for sign-up, have them as part of a sales event or a free quick snack for their customers in between sessions. The potential for a co-branded advertising campaign is there, but the messaging can be tricky to produce. Instead, could both companies host a 'Health Day' and provide educational sessions on diet and health?

When you find a partner, be sure to place high priority on comparing your target audience facts or stats and make sure there is an effective overlap for both parties. There are many iPhone users who, if they wanted a video camera would probably buy the Flip Mino camera and vice versa. Both products have similar target audiences. They share age groups and disposable income among other things. If you can confirm a strong base with shared demographics then you're well on your way to confirming a good partner business.

Could you find a partnership with another business who has customers that use your product or service? Does your target audience use computers? travel? need healthcare? or stay in hotels? The questions are worth seeking answers to.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2196574

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Marketing: Cross Promotion Offers Businesses a Win-Win

In business, competition has been the historical norm. Yet a growing number of savvy companies are realizing that joining forces with others can reap much more significant rewards than going it alone. When it comes to promoting a company, cross promotion is a particularly powerful strategy.

Known as "cross promotion," the concept involves working with individuals, groups or companies to create more business for everyone through common promotional activities. At the simplest level, this process might involve referrals from satisfied customers or from companies that offer complimentary services. More creative partnerships may result in shared promotions between companies that have a common target audience or between companies that offer similar services in different geographic areas.

Kare' Anderson, author of Walk Your Talk: Successful Cross Promotion, says, "Cross promotion has the potential for a big marketing payoff because partners can successfully expand through each other's customer base." She suggests the "marketing multiplier method" in which companies save marketing dollars while "multiplying the credible ways and places hot prospects see your service." For instance, companies may print joint promotional messages on their receipts or offer a discount if customers buy products from two or more partnering companies.

Partnering with competitors

In some cases, even direct competitors can benefit through cross promotion. For instance, two small companies may be able to attract a large account by combining forces. While neither company could handle the large account alone, they can work together to share the profits. For many businesses, having a piece of a large pie is better than having no pie at all. And in many cases, the smaller companies together can outmaneuver larger competitors by offering lower prices due to lower overhead.

"Affinity marketing" is a related strategy that allows companies to partner with trade or non-profit organizations. A common arrangement in these partnerships may involve companies serving as sponsors or donors for fundraising events. The organization hosting the event promotes the sponsor company in exchange for some form of support. Since more than 75 percent of adults say they are more likely to purchase a product or service associated with a cause they support, this can be a very successful marketing strategy.

Companies who share promotional activities benefit in many ways. They tend to gain more attention in a less competitive environment, save time and money on promotional costs, expand their reach and frequency in delivering messages to their target market, and gain credibility by standing together with other businesses.

While the benefits are clear, business owners who want to explore cross promotional opportunities need to do their homework. In addition to conducting research in order to accurately identify your target market, it's important to check out potential partners and make sure that both companies are trying to reach the same consumers. Once a mutual market is defined, it's best to approach potential partners with several ideas for low-risk, low-cost, initial activities. To express your commitment to the process, it helps to make the first action even more beneficial to your partner than it is to you, Anderson suggests.

Business partnerships of any kind work best when all parties understand and agree to their part in the process. To avoid misunderstandings, document in writing the details of any cross promotional activity, including each partner's cost and anticipated benefits. All partners should review and approve the resulting agreement.

Cross Promotional Advertising

Advertising is one area in which cross promotion is particularly useful. Many companies find advertising, especially television commercials, to be prohibitively expensive. Yet companies that share a common service in different geographic areas, for instance, can benefit from paying for a portion of a well-produced ad that simply inserts the appropriate company information for use in a specific area. Companies that offer complimentary services can save by sharing costs for an ad that promotes both products or services.

Anderson urges business owners to think creatively about "bundled offerings" with companies that share the same target market. Co-branding, shared display or office space, and co-produced special events are some examples of this growing trend. For instance, pest control companies can partner with landscapers, tree service firms and lawn care companies to offer bundled - and discounted - packages of seasonal services. As added incentive, all customers who purchase the package then may be eligible for a special prize drawing.

Speaking of prizes, an easy way to promote a partner company is to enter your customers in a drawing for a partner's product or service. When the contest is over, switch roles so that your company provides a prize for a contest offered to your partner's customers.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to cross promotion?

A Smorgasbord of Cross Promotional Ideas

Assuming you've chosen an appropriate partner company with a common target market, consider this smorgasbord of ideas to get your creative juices flowing: 

Ask partner companies to mention your services on invoices or letters to customers and do the same for your partner.
Highlight your partner(s) in your company newsletter, e-zine or direct mail.
Develop joint presentations or seminars at home shows or other community events. Or create an informational program featuring all partners' services and offer it as a stand-alone special event.
Offer discounts to customers who buy packages of services from all partners.
Mention partners' services when you speak to customers.
Pool mailing lists and send out a joint promotional postcard.
Share ads in local shopping papers or nonprofit event programs.
Promote specials among partners by distributing information to your client base.
Create joint coupons.
Sponsor a community or charitable event.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6369515

Saturday, 4 April 2015

What Type of Person Is Suited to Freelance Work?

Many people are struggling during these economic times. From the largest cities in the world to the smallest towns, millions of individuals find themselves needing extra income just to make it, or new jobs after an unexpected layoff. The 2009 world recession isn't anything new. We see situations like these repeatedly. For many, the place to turn is the Internet. Freelance work is at an all-time high, and with a simple look, it's easy to see why.

A "freelancer," simply put, is a person who seeks work through their respective profession without the long-term commitments from an employer. Freelancing has historically proved to be recession-proof, thus causing an explosion of freelancers during tough times. There are no set-in-stone prerequisites for freelancing; basically, if you can perform a task, you have what it takes to succeed as a freelancer. All types of demographics appreciate the freelancing market.

One of the more popular "types" of freelancers is the stay-at-home parent. Whether it's a busy mother who doesn't have time for a career or a father who's found himself out of work due to injury, or an infinite amount of other scenarios, freelancing work is available. Husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, single parents, etc; freelancing remains a popular option.

The type of work you can do as a freelancer has no limits. Some of the most popular jobs found on the Internet include Web design, writing, data entry, programming, logo design, engineering, virtual assistant, and the list goes on and on. Even jobs that require on-location work can be found through freelancing. Freelancing has multiple benefits. First and foremost, you have the freedom of being your own boss. This isn't a get-rich-quick gimmick from a website that promises untold riches.

Instead, you're providing a solid service by doing what you know. You answer to no one except the person who pays you; and the terms of payment are usually very flexible, as both parties understand the business of freelancing. The schedule is also a big draw to this type of work. People who are pressed for time - whether they need part-time or full-time income streams - often choose freelancing as a way to work when they want instead of when they need.

The freedom involved with the work brings in millions of new freelancers per year. However, there are a few downsides to freelance work. Any and everyone with a particular skill can seek work out there, but it's not a guarantee that work will be found. There's no one out there handing over the work; in fact, the freelancing market is more difficult to compete in due to individuals who seek supplemental income and flexible schedules. Another downside to freelancing is the lack of benefits, as in health insurance, pension plans, hazard pay, etc. Freelancing work is indiscriminate as a whole.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5961197

Thursday, 2 April 2015

5 Reasons Why Freelance Work at Home Jobs Can Be Very Profitable

If you're considering freelancing, you might be wondering whether or not you truly could support yourself and your family on a freelance income. Freelancing is actually one of the most profitable business opportunities for people who want to work at home, which is why so many people are turning to freelancing. Here are only a few of the reasons why freelance work at home jobs can be very profitable.
Employers pay freelancers a higher rate than a salaried employee. Hiring freelancers allows an employer to pay only for the work that needs to be done, rather than for social security taxes, insurance benefits, and the other overhead costs involved in hiring an on-site worker. Thus, as a freelancer, you'll be earning a higher hourly rate than you would if you did the same job as a full-time employee.


You can work on multiple freelance projects for many employers at once, which means multiple streams of income.


The more productive you are, the more you can earn. At your day job, you don't get paid based on your productivity, but as a freelancer, you get paid once you get the job done. If you're ambitious, work hard, and get things done right the first time as a freelancer, your reward is having more time to spend on more work. Your income is only limited by the amount of jobs you are able to complete.


You set your own rates. As a freelancer, you have the ability to evaluate a project before you begin and offer a price quote you feel is fair for both you and the employer. If the employer is not willing to pay your rate, you can either lower your rate or spend your time looking for jobs that pay more. Most freelancers don't have an hourly nor per-project rate that is set in stone. They profit by adjusting their rates based on the difficulty level of each project.


Work whenever you want. As a freelancer, you control your schedule. You're the one in charge of how much you work and when you work. Many freelancers thrive on the extra dollars they earn on weekends, or by working late a few nights per week. Others profit by working part time jobs and freelancing in the evenings.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/755803

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

Five Myths About Freelance Work - Exposed!

You've heard them. The myriad excuses why one has considered freelance work, but rejected it. Or, perhaps you are considering freelance work, and are trying to sort out the fact from the fiction. Or, perhaps you have decided upon freelance work and are getting the rundown from your parents, or from a well-meaning friend.

In any event, you are now no doubt left with some false impressions, and possibly with many questions. I hope to answer some of those questions here, while simultaneously offering up a realistic view of what you can expect if you are considering entering into the fray. So read up - and consider your decision well.

Freelance Work Earns Quick Cash 
False: It's hard enough for a freelance worker to get paid - even when the output is pleasing to your eye - and you honestly consider it some of your best work. That's because the client still gets to hate it anyway. If he hates it - he won't want to pay you. Did you know that 30% of the US population is freelancers - and of those, some 40% have trouble getting paid? You will eventually get paid rather consistently - but only after you have built a reputation and made yourself indispensable by transcending the client's expectations. When finally paid, that cash will have been fought for - and most assuredly, well-earned.

Freelance Work Is For The Un-Educated 
I beg to differ. A survey conducted by elance.com has shown that about 80 percent of freelancers surveyed by the company have a professional degree or designation of some kind, while just 4 percent have only a high-school diploma. True, there are plenty of opportunities for a talented freelance worker to generate articles and blogs, proofread, help build websites etc, for a few pennies - but REAL freelance work involves education - and experience. You won't be coddled, trained or "ramped up" when you are hired on as a freelancer. You must come on board and commence producing. Uneducated? I think not.

Freelance workers are lazy 
Now that one is just plain unfair. Freelance work is hard work - period. People choose to do this work mostly because of the freedom that it offers - but in many other ways - it is harder than any corporate job ever was. Imagine having worked for months on a job, only to have the client look at it - and decide it isn't what he wanted. Knowing what you are doing minimizes this risk - but nothing can make it go away completely. Freelance workers understand that they face this risk. They may need to do a job five times before the client feels it is ready to spend her money on. The cost of freedom is high - very high - but apparently, it is worth it.

Freelance work is easier than corporate work. 
Again, false: Freelance work most closely approximates running a business. Getting the next job is always a struggle, and producing a satisfactory result is never a given. To worsen matters, freelance workers function in a vacuum, isolated from any resources to offer them aid, or direction. If that isn't enough, statistics show that freelancers must work longer hours to make the same income that they would have made while working in a full-time job. While statistics ALSO show that 9 out of 10 freelancers are happier after leaving their full-time work roles, the freelance role is quite the serious undertaking - and does require dedication - and hard work.

Freelance work is NOT a career. 
OK, well - maybe I'll give you that one. Freelance work is NOT a career. However, the BUSINESS of doing freelance work for a living, is certainly a career - and many, many people have chosen such a career in this country. Every day, some 10 million people rise from their sacks - and go out into the world to build their freelance businesses to the point where they are self-sustaining. The point here, is that if you WANT a career in freelance, you can HAVE a career in freelance. You'll have to have guts and patience, but any meaningful achievement that does not include those two ingredients... Yeah. Gotcha!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7755180

Friday, 13 February 2015

The Seven Stages Of Your Online Business

Every business has a life cycle. If you understand this cycle, your business will thrive and survive over many, many years. If you don't learn the life cycle of a business, you won't have one for long.

Based upon your business' current stage, one strategy of growth will be better than another. There are seven stages associated with the life of an online business. Let's call them:

· The Labored Beginnings

· The Toddler Stage

· The Adolescent Stage

· The Troubled Teen Stage

· The Young Adult Stage

· The Maturity Stage

· Death or Renewal Stage

The first stage of your business, the Labored Beginnings Stage, is the most difficult stage. In this stage you will be building the foundation of your business. With a shoddy foundation, you will have a stillborn business. With a solid foundation, your business will experience a long and healthy life.

In this stage, you need to decide on the focus of your business, its product, its business plan, its marketing plan, financial decisions, its legal form, and then launch the business. Many sleepless nights will accompany this stage. You may wake up in a cold sweat wondering what the hell you are doing. In this stage, your emotions will swing between unbridled optimism and heart palpitating fear.

Having successfully navigated the first stage, your business will grow into its next stage, the Toddler Stage. In the Toddler stage, your business is just finding its legs. It takes a few steps forward. It takes a few steps backward. It occasionally falls on its butt.

In the Toddler Stage, you are going to start selling your product on eBay(TM) . eBay(TM) is by far the largest online auction site. If you want to make a good living selling online, eBay(TM) is the place to start. In this stage, you will fully establish yourself as an online seller. You will observe powersellers, the elite of eBay(TM). They are your models. Learn all you can. 
In the Toddler Stage you should also begin to develop the first stages of your marketing plan implementation, including the use of business cards and starting to compile a mailing list. As we leave the Toddler Stage, your business is starting to roll now.

The Adolescent Stage is where your first major growth spurt will occur. You should begin to increase the number of auctions you are running at eBay(TM). You will add auction management to assist you in managing a larger selling load. You need to establish your domain level web site and step up your marketing efforts.

Marketing will be key in moving your business to the next stage, the Troubled Teen Stage. Why the "Troubled" Teens? In this stage your business can start to spin out of control. You need to establish systems to help you manage your sales and delight your customers. You need to take a close look at your products and drop the low performers. And, marketing once again gets ramped up. Successfully executed, your actions in this stage will lead you to the Young Adult Stage.

In the Young Adult Stage, you will more firmly establish your selling presence on eBay(TM) with an eBay(TM) Store. You will start to shift where you spend your time from auctions to more online sales. You'll need to add new products and weed out low performing products. At the same time, you will continue to increase your marketing activities to include click advertising and an autoresponder. These activities should take you to the next stage, the Maturity Stage.

In the Maturity Stage, your business is firmly established. Sound good? Yes, but it is also the second most dangerous stage after your start-up stage. Why? Your business is doing well. The profits are rolling in. You aren't working as hard because of the systems you established. Why is this dangerous? You will have the urge to relax and put the company on autopilot.

Shouldn't you be able to relax and enjoy the fruit of your labors? Of course. However, remember that each day others just like you are beginning to launch their businesses. And, they are coming after you. They want your customers. Now is the time to really assess your marketing efforts. What's working? What's not working? Do more of what's working because one last choice remains. Are you going to renew your business or watch it slowly die?

In the last stage, the Renewal or Death Stage, you need to learn to look at your business with fresh eyes and start this journey all over again. On the second trip, you will have more confidence, knowledge and expertise. You will also have acquired some bad habits. It's time to shed those and lead your business once more through the stages of its life. The beat goes on...



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/17953