Mindset

     If you have made the decision to start your own business, regardless of whether it is online or a brick ‘n mortar setup, you need to get yourself into the proper mindset.  What do I mean by this?

MINDSET

     You will continually have to remind yourself that you are in business.  Maybe you have been accustomed to waking up whenever you wanted, setting your own schedule during the day and then just calling it “quiets” whenever you make the decision.

     Wait a minute!  Isn’t this the reason you have wanted to start your business?  So you could “be the BOSS” and do all those things I mentioned previously?  Well, YES!

     But, first you are going to have a lot of work to do and perhaps MANY hours to get to that point.  So you must instill in yourself the proper mindset.

     You have to remember that what you are undertaking is your WORK!  You must treat it just the same as if you had been employed for a 9 to 5 job.  Your daily routine must be scheduled out to make sure you get everything done that needs to be handled.  As I mentioned, you may (at least in the beginning) be working longer hours.

WHAT?

     You wanted to have your own business.  Now you must work at it to make it successful and grow.  So think of the things you must do and make sure you get them done.

     This means that you must limit your time surfing the internet.  Of course, unless your new business is to surf the web!  There are things that will have to be done, but you must be the master of your time and make sure other things don’t get in the way of running your business.

     You will have to limit other distractions especially if you are working from home.  There may be periods of time that you need to “silence your phone.”  I have set a specific period of time when I do my writing.  My cell phone is placed on vibrate so as not to interrupt me while I’m working.  Use some common sense.  I’m not saying that you may not have an emergency call from time to time that truly MUST be handled.  But, I’ve let most of my friends know that during certain hours I am AT WORK and not available for social calls.

     This also applies to checking on my emails.  Stop for a moment and really think.  Let’s say you have a mailbox at the post office or maybe the box is outside your house by the street.  Are you running to box every 10 to 15 minutes to see if there is any mail there?  Of course not!  So                   why do you do that with your emails?  Set yourself a specific time to check your emails and respond to them if necessary.  Your whole day will be more productive if you follow these two simple rules.

     You can also plan out your schedule so that certain tasks are done in the mornings or in the afternoons. Find out when you are more productive.  We all understand that some of us are morning people and others are not!  Whatever works for you to make you get your work done better is what you have to do to keep your business work on a proper flow.

ALL THIS BOTHER

     I understand for some this sounds like a lot of “being tied down.”  But you want to work for yourself and have your own business.  You need to make sure that YOU control the business or it will control YOU!

     When you do that you will find that you actually are able to get MORE done in a less amount of time.  This then becomes a great motivating factor in getting that schedule under control.

     Then, if you’re like me, you might enjoy that 2 (or 3) hour lunch with your spouse or family.  You may even like a nice afternoon nap to get you recharged for more work.

     Be honest with yourself and get your mindset laid out for a productive day.  You may find that initially took you the entire week to get accomplished you can now do in 3 days.  Isn’t that a nice schedule to be working toward?  And you can make it happen if you just put your mind to it!

PS

     For those of you who would like a little help in this area I have found a fantastic program offer that will help you with your procrastination regardless if it involves personal or business activities.

     The never-before-seen mind hacking method that not ONLY gives you exclusive access to the insider knowledge of hugely successful people, it also teaches you EXACTLY how to use the most POWERFUL mind hacks to conquer your procrastination FOR GOOD!

     Check out the Procrastination Fix and see if it doesn’t help you get order back into your life.

     Don’t forget to periodically check back on my Products/Services Recommendations page for all the available programs and offers that I have placed on this blog site.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"When you're having a cloudy day,

don't wear sunglasses!"

Change

     Here we are almost at the end of January 2018.  It’s hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we started a new year.  Now the first month of that year is almost gone!

     It seems that as soon as I get some type of “order” to my operations I have to sit back and reconsider how am I going to make all these things work out?

     I’ve recently started a new business and am trying to get those things in order.  I’m providing copywriting services and along with that I do some consulting on business matters.  I’m working on getting a new web site completed for these services and within that framework I am including a blog for the site that deals with some in-depth business topics.

     I mentioned that starting in 2018 this blog would include some online marketing and business opportunities and have been working on getting those completed for both Tuesday and Friday each week.

     You add to that my normal business work, my family obligations, my own personal appointments and you can see that the load can get very easily unbalanced if I am not watching it carefully.

     So what I have decided to do to make it a LITTLE bit easier to control is make a change in this blog.  I’ll still include the Tuesday online marketing and business information along with some “links” to opportunities, supplies, and the like.  But on FRIDAYs I’ll just post a smaller more personal blog comment for that day.

     I hope this doesn’t offend many people, but I need to do it because of time constraints.  This will also give me time (and an opportunity) to VENT on some topics that may be a little more TENDER in my thought process.

     Besides sometimes you need a chance to have an emotional release when you are putting words to the page.  And this is my outlet to do that!

     I almost forgot:  I’m also writing a Dr Who short story (original idea).  I’m still checking to make sure that I can do that.  Might have to get some type of permission or something.  I’ve completed one short story already (The Influencer).  This will be my second.  I’ll have to wait to see how it turns out.

     Just wanted to update you readers on how I was going to be handling the blog post so I think I pretty much explained that and included the WHYs.  Will look forward to adding additional material in the weeks ahead and I will keep you posted on how the story is going.

     I know that some people don’t like change, but sometimes it is just necessary.  Besides I’m only human too!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Does opportunity still knock?

Or do you just wait for the text?"

What is Social Media?

     You’ve been on the internet or on your mobile phone and you’ve been using it for years!  You don’t even think twice about opening the app or getting “logged in” and off you go posting messages or pictures, or whatever your particular fancy is!  What is it that you have been doing?

     Social networking, we have all likely heard of it before, but not everyone knows what it means?  If you were asked to define what social networking was, would you be able to give an accurate definition. Unfortunately, most individuals cannot, even though as I mentioned it is likely that you participate in some form of social networking, especially online.

     Social networking is defined as the grouping of individuals together into specific groups, often like a small community or a neighborhood. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions, if not more, of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users and develop friendships.   

     When it comes to social networking online, websites are used. These websites are known as social networking websites.  Social networking websites are, in a way, like an online community of internet users. Depending on the social networking website in question, many of these online community members share a common bond, whether that bond is their hobbies, religion, or politics or maybe some other “attracting” influence.  Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize.  This socialization may include reading the profiles or profile pages of other members or even contacting them.  Then YOU become part of the GROUP!

     The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online.  Another one of those benefits includes diversity. Unlike in most schools or workplaces, the internet gives individuals, from all around the world, access to social networking sties. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Japan.  Not only will you make a new friend, you but may also learn a thing or two about a new culture. 

     As previously mentioned, social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. While there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, there are others that do not. These websites are often deemed traditional social networking websites.  These types of websites typically have an open membership. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends; thus eliminating others that do not meet your criteria.  This is where you must be VERY CAUTIOUS!  You only know what the other person POSTS about themselves.  You may never REALLY know who the person on the other end of your conversation is. 

     If networking on the internet sounds like something you would be interested in, you are encouraged to learn more about it, such as the dangers of social networking. These dangers often involve online predators or individuals who claim to be someone that they are not.  Although danger does exist with networking online, it also exists with networking out in the real world. As when you are meeting friends at a bar, school, or work, you are advised to proceed with caution online. By being aware of your surroundings and who you are talking to, you should be able safely enjoying social networking online.

But WHY are Social Networking Sites So Popular?

     Do you use the internet on a regular basis?  If you do, there is a good chance that you have heard of websites like MySpace, FriendFinder, Classmates, or Facebook and others.  What do all of these websites have in common?  They are known as social networking websites.  Social networking websites, over the past few years, have rapidly increased in popularity, so much that many are wondering why.

     If you have used a social networking website before, it is likely that you are already fully aware of their popularity. There is just something about these websites that draw in millions of internet users.  With a wide variety of different social networking websites available, there are a wide variety of different reasons for their popularity.  One those reasons being the ease of use. 

     Social networking websites are, for the most part, easy to use. Most sites are easy to navigate.  In fact, many require little knowledge of the internet. In addition to being easy to navigate, social networking websites also make it easier to meet new people online. There are many internet users who would love to make new friends online; however, that can sometimes be difficult do. Without social networking websites, you would have to connect with internet users, often in chat rooms, and learn about their interests before deciding if you would like to consider them your “buddy.”  Social networking sites allow you to learn information about another internet user before ever having to make contact with them.

     Another one of the many reasons why social networking sites are popular is because many are free to use. In fact, the majority of social networking sites are free to use.  Despite being free to use, many websites require that you register with them. This registration will not only allow you to create your own profile or online webpage, but it will also allow you to contact other networking members. 

     Although most social networking websites are free to use, there are some that are not.  Many of these websites give you a free trial period or a free membership. That membership can be used to help you determine whether or not the website is worth paying for. What is nice about paid online social networking websites is that many can be considered exclusive.  Since most internet users would not want to pay for something that they can get for free, most paid social networking sites are limited on the number of members they have. This may work out to your advantage because it tends to eliminate those who create fake accounts or aim to cause controversy online.

     Social networking websites are also popular because they come in a wide variety of different formats.  This means that just about anyone can join.  However, there are other social networking sites out there that have a particular focus. These focuses may be on a particular religion, political following, or hobby.  Most specialty social networking sites restrict the individuals that can participate in their network; thus, making your experience more enjoyable.

     Finally, social networking websites focus on meeting new people, especially online, but over recent months, many have started including additional features only available to their online members. Many social networking members can receive their own free webpage, get free access to popular music videos, a free blog, and much more.  Although social networking websites are popular enough to bring in members on their own, these additional features are, in a way, providing internet users with an incentive to join. 

     All you need to do if you are interested in a social site that is perhaps NOT one of the more popularly known is do a standard “Google” search for what you are looking for.  You will probably be very surprised at the number of other sites that you will find.

     Some people have even been able to make a business out of using social media sites.  Again you can do a search on how this can be done.

PS

     Regardless of HOW you decide to make your money, if you are operating your own business you will at some point need equipment to make it function.

     I have included two great sources here:  My Choice Software.  If you need computers, furniture, hardware, networking equipment, printers or scanners and yes, SOFTWARE, this is the place to check out.

     House of Inks.  Here you can get ink cartridges for multiple brands of printers as well as the printers also!  Go to their site for great savings.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"A lazy person can starve

thinking about his next meal."

100 -- Part 2

     I made the last post to “celebrate” the posting of my 100^th blog.  However, I wasn’t sure if I should count the first post as a true blog.  It was only explaining that I had decided to even create the blog in the first place.

     I thereby, after much deliberation and fan fair, decided to enter my 100^th blog as a two-part entry.  That way I could make sure, regardless of how you counted, that I had indeed posted 100 blog posts. So here is the 2^nd part of the 100^th post!  Clear as mud now, right?

    You would think that after writing so many posts that the topics would eventually run out.  But that doesn’t seem to be the case.  I like to think of it as eating your favorite food.  Sometimes you may prepare it a bit differently, but you still look forward to eating it.  It makes me think of the movie Forrest Gump.  There his good buddy in the military, Bubba, was a real shrimp man!  You could have fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, sautéed shrimp, and so on.  There didn’t seem to be ANY WAY you couldn’t prepare shrimp!

     I think of my writing as the same way.  There may be MANY topics, but the pure enjoyment of writing makes it all worth the while.  And when you consider the topics, I look at them as diamonds.  You could take that gem and hold it in your hand.  Lift it up to the light.  Turn it in various angles.  And each time you do you get a new perspective of the beauty of what that stone looks like.

     You can do that with events in your life, your business operations, and practically any topic that you choose.  That’s the beauty of writing.  The words can flow across the page and within a matter of minutes you have created something new, something to share with others. 

     The written page becomes its own living, breathing entity.  A new personification of your inner self.  A little piece of yourself that you can share with others who are willing to read the words that you let flow from within you.

     So this is what I have tried to do over the past year, writing the 100+(?) post articles that have appeared on this blog.  With these words I have let you look at the surface of my being and from time to time allowed you to peer into the darker corners of my sub-conscience.

     I look forward to continuing to do this during 2018.  I’ll be sharing my thoughts and some business insights that I hope will be useful to you.  Continue to follow me on the journey.  But hold on because at times the ride may get a little bumpy.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If the answer is on the 'tip of your tongue'

Spit It OUT!"

100 -- Part 1

     It hardly seems possible, but I have reached a mile-stone, a goal that I would not have thought possible when I first began:  My 100^th Blog POST!

     It just seems like yesterday when I began to talk about the possibility of putting my thoughts into writing and letting them be plastered over the internet with my own blog:  JLS Only Human!  Who would have even guessed that I could have thought of enough material to write that many blogs?  Who would have thought that I would have “stuck” to it long enough to make it happen?

     Well, here it is!  And now I can reflect back and feel some small measure of success.  I know it’s like “tooting” my own horn.  But, if I don’t do it in regards to this blog, who else will do it for me?

     I’m still working on getting additional followers and I hope that within the upcoming year and hopefully the next 100 posts I will have more readers who would like to see where this blog is headed.

     As I have previously mentioned I am going to concentrate more on business topics.  Especially those topics that would be of interest to the small self-employed business operator.  Those like me who want to improve their own business interests and grow a steadily improving source of income.

     With the advancement of your business operations I hope I can give you some ideas to think about and perhaps implement so that your operations can become a smoother one.  Think of what is available today to assist those that want to start their own business.

     It seems like there are sources available that you may never have thought of before.  Sources that were never available just a few years before.  If you are serious about your business plans you need to spend the time necessary to find out from local, state, and federal sources what may be of help to you.

     And with the use of the internet it is possible to find these sources in a matter of seconds.  You will probably be overwhelmed with all the information that “pops up” when you do a Google search.

     I have enjoyed writing these short and long blog posts over the past year and will look forward to doing the same during this year.  The more I “investigate” topics that I can make available to you the more I learn about my own operations.

     This is going to be a great year!  Not only will I be writing for this blog, but I am planning stretching out my own services for copywriting for other businesses.  We’ll see how that goes.  I’ll keep my blog readers posted on how things are going.  Maybe I’ll learn some additional things that I can pass on to you.  Keep looking forward.



PS

     If you want ideas to stimulate your mind along a business path, the bi-monthly newsletter “The Hidden Business Ideas” Letter is something you should check out.

     You can get a couple of FREE sample articles just for giving them your email address and see for yourself if this is something you would find interesting.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Don't spit into the wind!"

Children

     The Bible tells us that “children are an inheritance from God.” (Ps 127:3)

    I think we all know that an inheritance is something that has been given to us to treasure and to make good use of.  So how can we do this with our children?

     In some countries the children are only raised so that they can be “cheap” labor for the family.  And while it true that children should be responsible so that they can be of assistance to their families they should not be viewed as if they are “slaves.”

    With that being said, we who have decided to have children should view them as this precious gift that needs caring for and realize that we are undertaking an 18-20+ year commitment to this project.

     Parents must also realize today children are faced with unbelievable situations in their lives and many experience this at a very early age.  I recall that when I went to school the BIG disaster was if the girls didn’t wear dresses or skirts and the boys didn’t have their shirt tails tucked into their pants!  Much has changed since that time.

     Continually we hear of weapons of various types being taken to school.  And this is happening at middle schools and even elementary schools!  Add to this the constant fear of some type of attack on the school by the students or by others and you can quickly see why going to school today is almost like entering a war zone.

     According to the information provided by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in 2016, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 12.5.  And now we are seeing even younger ones taking their own lives.  This is certainly an area that needs further study, but we can see how badly our younger generation is becoming unable to cope with life’s anxieties.

   Another area that is placing very heavy anxiety upon our young ones is within the job market. In July 2017, the unemployment rates for both young men (10.1 percent) and women (9.1 percent) 

were lower than the summer before, according to the figures compiled by US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

      This would seem to be a major improvement for the young ones who are coming out of high school or college for summer break.  However, when we actually look at some (not all) of the job 

environments that these young ones have to work in it becomes a very harsh and scary situation, especially for some of the young women.

     The school arena and the work place neither are very ideal situations for our young ones to be in today.  Surely the HOME is to be a safe haven for our young?

      According to The Center for Problem Oriented Policing (University of Albany) Guide No 55 “Child Abuse and Neglect in the Home” “child abuse and neglect in the home is but one aspect of the 

larger set of problems related to child maltreatment that occurs in a variety of places and by people with varied relationships to the victim. Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment, comprising approximately 64 percent of all substantiated findings. Approximately 16 percent of the 

substantiated cases involved physical abuse, 9 percent involved sexual abuse, and 7 percent involved emotional abuse. Child fatalities are the most tragic outcomes of maltreatment.”  

      With ALL that our young ones have to deal with in their lives we as adults should be trying the best we can to help.  This means WE cannot be the CAUSE of any of the stressful situations that our young 

ones have to face.  No, we should be the defense against these things happening.  We should be trying to do all we can to safe guard our heritance for the future.        

! Please check out this program is you are serious about making the helping of children a rewarding career.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You may be the fastest, 

but without proper planning 

you may still loose the race."

Website Design

    I mentioned the need for your business to get a website up and running previously.  Now let’s consider a few points you’ll need to keep I mind if you’re making your own site OR if you’re having it done by someone else.

    When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to every minute detail to make sure it performs optimally to serve its purpose. Here are five important rules of thumb to observe to make sure your website performs well.

1) Do not use splash pages

     Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like "welcome" or "click here to enter". In fact, they are just that -- pretty vases with no real purpose. Do not let your visitors have a reason to click on the "back" button! Give them the value of your site up front without the splash page.

2) Do not use excessive banner advertisements

     Even the least net savvy people have trained themselves to ignore banner advertisements so you will be wasting valuable website real estate. Instead, provide more valuable content and weave relevant affiliate links into your content, and let your visitors feel that they want to buy instead of being pushed to buy.

3) Have a simple and clear navigation

     You have to provide a simple and very straightforward navigation menu so that even a young child will know how to use it. Stay away from complicated Flash based menus or multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don't know how to navigate, they will leave your site.

4) Have a clear indication of where the user is

     When visitors are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, you will want to make sure they know which part of the site they are in at that moment. That way, they will be able to browse relevant information or navigate to any section of the site easily. Don't confuse your visitors because confusion means "abandon ship"!

5) Avoid using audio on your site

     If your visitor is going to stay a long time at your site, reading your content, you will want to make sure they're not annoyed by some audio looping over and over on your website. If you insist on adding audio, make sure they have some control over it -- volume or muting controls would work fine.

     So, let’s consider a little more details!

Good Design Practices

     Your website is where your business resides -- it's like the headquarters of an offline company. Hence, it is important to practice good design principles to make sure your site reaches out to the maximum number of visitors and sells to as many people as possible.

     Make sure you have clear directions on the navigation of your website. (Well worth mentioning this a second time!)  The navigation menu should be uncluttered and concise so that visitors know how to navigate around your website without confusion.  Remember:  Could a child navigate your site?

     Reduce the number of images on your website. They make your site load very slowly and more often than not they are very unnecessary. If you think any image is essential on your site, make sure you optimize them using image editing programs so that they have a minimum file size.

     Keep your text paragraphs at a reasonable length. If a paragraph is too long, you should split it into separate paragraphs so that the text blocks will not be too big. This is important because a block of text that is too large will deter visitors from reading your content.

     Make sure your website complies with web standards at www.w3.org and also make sure they are cross-browser compatible. If your website looks great in Internet Explorer but breaks horribly in Firefox and Opera, you will lose out on a lot of prospective visitors.

     Avoid using scripting languages on your site unless it is absolutely necessary. Use scripting languages to handle or manipulate data, not to create visual effects on your website. Heavy scripts will slow down the loading time of your site and even crash some browsers. Also, scripts are not supported across all browsers, so some visitors might miss important information because of that.

Make It Easy To Buy From Your Site

     The ultimate purpose of your website is to get you sales!

     Convincing your prospects to purchase from you is a hard job, but have you ever thought that you're making the process twice as difficult for both parties if your prospects are convinced but don't know how to buy from you? No matter how good you are at convincing your prospects, they won't buy if they find the process cumbersome.  So MAKE IT EASY!

     First, you will want to check that people can find your order form easily and hassle-free. You can write a clear, concise paragraph to direct your prospects to your order form so that you can minimize the chances of them getting lost. You can also reduce the chances of losing prospects by putting a prominent link to your order page from every other page on your site. 

     Also, do you offer multiple payment options? Some people may feel comfortable paying via Paypal, some may only want to pay with their credit card and others might want to send a check. The more options you offer, the better your chances of covering your prospects' desired payment method. After all, it wouldn't make any sense to sell hard to a prospect only to find that they won't be able to pay you when they want to.

     On the other hand, you will want to prove that you are a credible merchant. Is your order form secured using encryption technology? You would want to look into SSL for this. You can also offer a money back guarantee so that people will feel confident about buying from you. How about after sales support? Who do they contact when they have problems after purchasing?

     Alternatively, you can add customer testimonials, your contact information, address, and so on to boost your prospects' confidence. Make them feel safe about buying something from you, a total stranger to them on the other end of the Internet.

     As a conclusion, it would be very pitiful if you sold hard and sold well to a prospect and something goes wrong when he or she is ready to pay. Eliminate any chances of that to maximize your profits!

     Make sure you’ve checked ALL your website connections, links, and SPELLING!  Let the world know that you are in business --- and you are ready to take their orders.

     If you would want an easy to set-up platform you need to visit www.jamarbizbuilder.com.

P.S.

     You may want some GOOD information on a potential HOBBY!  So many people love to have beautifully crafted wood products and NOW you can learn how to make them yourself.  Just visit WOOD PROFITS to learn all about how it is done.

     Maybe you are a woodworking craftsman already and would just enjoy having a new source of projects that you can make.  Just check out TED’S PLANS for the details.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Immortality exists on the web ---

Anything posted there remains forever!"

Extra Business

     It’s a new year and a new opportunity to look forward to a new flow of income, or at least the possibility of some additional income.  How are you going to be able to do this?  Start a business!

     While starting a new business there are a few things that you’ll want to give consideration to: (1) Your set-up type: proprietor, partnership, or corporation.  Each has its advantages and disadvantages and you’ll want to give serious consideration to this formation.  The decision you make now may affect our operations for years to come. (2) How much money are you going to be able to put into the start-up of your operations?  This answer will of course be dependent upon what kind of business you are going to be operating.  (3) What kind of bookkeeping system are you going to use.  There are many good ones on the market, but you’ll need to decide if YOU are going to keeping the books or will you be hiring someone to do this for you.  (4) There are many other things that you will have to consider so it may be best for you to check out your local and state agencies as to their requirements.

     In this blog I’m going to discuss what may be one of the easiest business operations to get going and some of the available tools (services) that may help you to get it done smoothly and quickly.  The business is DROP SHIPPING!

     Maybe you’ve never heard of it, maybe you have.  But this business can get you producing income quickly and with a minimum amount of financial investments.  There are going to be a few things that you will need to make this work:

(1)   A Website.  There are many businesses on the web that will help you get an online merchandising business going.  And there fees are usually reasonable.  However, you’ll also want to determine WHAT you are paying for and WHAT you’ll have to be adding as EXTRAS!  These can become very expensive when you begin to add it all up.  I’ve found the following service very helpful in creating your own website:  www.jamarbizbuilder.com.  This website may at first appear a bit expense (One year hosting fees are about $215) but with your site you get included 5 email boxes, a shopping cart, 500 pages, payment system for your sales, and MANY other benefits that other sites make you pay extra. It would be well worth your time to check out their FREE 10 day trial.

(2)   A Source of Products.  A terrific source of hundreds of thousands of products of all types that I have found very useful is the drop ship merchant directory available from www.WorldwideBrands.com.  For a onetime fee of about $300 you would get lifetime access to this directory.  They are constantly updating it with new products from their sources or even new sources themselves.  If you’re looking for a good supply source you should check them out.

(3)   Accounting.  With any business operations you are going to need a system to keep up with your income and expenses.  Even if you don’t like this chore it will be most helpful and appreciated come tax time.  Having been in the financial arena for over 40 years of my business life I can certainly appreciate the need for keeping good tract of your operations.  Some may decide (and can afford) to hire out this service to another.  That is a great idea if you can afford it.  But in the beginning or if you intend to remain a small operation you make have to care for this assignment yourself.  I have dealt with many accounting programs over the years and have found that often the best for you to use is the one that you can understand and WILL use.  But check around to make sure the program will provide you with the reports, etc that you need to track your business finances.

     As you continue to promote your business you will find that this could be one of the easiest ways to have your own money making business.  Hopefully this will be the means to add some extra income each month.  Who knows, maybe this will become your FULL time employment!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Remember:

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, 

but the constant complainer may get fired!"

E-Books

     For me writing has always been a passion so it is easy for me to recommend to anyone if they want to have a small business or just get a little extra money on the side --- START WRITING!  But I also realize that for many it may not be that easy.  What I have done in this blog is provide you the complete details for FREE from my E-Book “How to Write, Price, and Publish Your E-Book”.  Of course, with any business venture your success can not be guaranteed, but by following the steps I provide you may find an enjoyable means of gaining additional financial gains.  Give it a try!

How to Write an E-Book (Part 1)

     The only way you are ever going to get finished with any project is the get started!  And with writing your own e-book it is no different.  The hardest part of writing is the first sentence.  When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. That's why you have to break it down into manageable tasks. Think of climbing a mountain.

     You are standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?

     There is only one way to climb a mountain: step by step.

     Now think of writing your e-book in the same light. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in the clouds.

     The first thing you have to do, as if you actually were a mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear, however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should take before you begin. Once you've gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your e book.

Beginning Steps to Writing an e-book

     First, figure out your e-book's working title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you'll find that one that will grow on you. Titles help you to focus your writing on your topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your reader's queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to sell books, as long as it's not too cute. For example, Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.

     Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem.  All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement.  Once you've got this statement fine-tuned, you've built your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.

     Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your e-book. Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If they don't, they don't belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement could read: We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good night's sleep.

     Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book.

     Ask yourself some questions:

* Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?

* Will you book positively affect the lives of your readers?

* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader's attention?

* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?

     If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your   e-book.

     Another important step is to figure out who your target audience is. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style, tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will be to write your book for them.

     Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your e-book. Do you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?

     Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your e-book to attract affiliates around the world? The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.

     Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.

How to make your e-book "user friendly"

     You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging.  Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turning the pages. Sidebars are useful for quick, accessible information, and they break up the density of the page.

     Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction. Readers respond to the feeling that you are having a conversation with them. Break up the length and structure of your sentences so you don’t hypnotize your readers and put them to sleep. Sentences that are all the same length and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!

     Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots of practice. Make a schedule to write at least one page a day. Read books and magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that jump out at you. The art of writing is a lifetime process; the more you write (and read), the better your writing will become.  The better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.

     In an e-book that is read on the screen, be aware that you must give your reader's eye a break. You can do this by utilizing white space. In art classes, white space is usually referred to as "negative space."  Reader's eyes need to rest in the cool white oasis you create on your page. If your page is too dense, your reader will get out of it as soon as their eyes begin to tear.

     Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. This makes your information easy to absorb, and gives the reader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphs one after the other.

     Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a font that's easy on the eyes, and stick to that font family. Using dozens of fonts will only tire your readers out before they've gotten past your introduction. Use at least one and a half line spacing, and text large enough to be read easily on the screen, but small enough so that the whole page can be seen on a computer screen. You will have to experiment with this to find the right combination.

     Of course, don't forget to run a spell and grammar check. And then S-L-O-W-L-Y READ through you e-book for obvious words misspelled that ARE NOT caught by your spell/grammar check program (and there WILL be some within your writing!)  You are judged by something as minor as correct punctuation, so don’t mess up a great book by tossing out semicolons randomly, or stringing sentences together with commas. (By the way, that's called a "comma splice.")

     Last of all you should create an index and a bibliography.

     That's it! You've written a book! 

How to Price Your E-book (Part 2)

     You've written and compiled your e-book. If you are going to be charging for this new creation of yours you have to decide how much! Finding the right price is essential to the success of your product. If you charge too little, people will think it's of little value, and they won't purchase it, or even if they do buy your book, you will have to sell thousands of copies to get to the point where you can begin to see a profit. If you price it too high when compared with your competition, you will find yourself steadily lowering the price, which will cause you all kinds of new problems in the future. For example, if you sell your e-book at first for $39.99, and later reduce it to $24.95, don't you think the people who bought it for $39.99 are going to be just a little bit upset with you!

     Choosing the right price for your e-book is one of the most critical parts of the marketing process. The first rule of pricing e-books is to never under price.  Determine the highest price your audience can afford, and then if you find your book isn’t selling, you can always reduce the price. Before you take that step, make sure you are promoting your book like crazy on the internet and on your own websites. The price should be aimed at bringing in profits, but you should never forget that price is one of the factors that people use in judging the value of your e-book before they buy it. So always start with the highest price, and then launch a mega-marketing campaign.

     Pricing any e-book is particularly difficult because e-books are a fairly new commodity. Since they are digital, the value of an e-book is as confusing as the understanding of what digital actually is to the average layperson. This means that we must look at e-books in a different light in order to determine their actual worth in this brave, new cyber world.

     Let's look at the difference between a book in print and an e-book. A printed book is an object you can hold in your hand, store on your bookshelf, even hand down to the next generation. It is priced on factors such as paper stock, design and production costs, and marketing.  E-books have basically NONE of these factors.

     But what unites e-books and print books is that they are composed of ideas. It is the ideas in these books that have the ability to change, or possibly transform people's lives.

     What do you think an idea is worth when evaluated against the cost of paper and ink?  It is the IDEAS that are valuable! That is how you determine the cost of your e-book.

What should I charge for my ideas?

     There are all different kinds of formulas and methods for determining the correct price for your e-book. Let's begin with honing in on your ultimate goals.

     Decide if your goal is to get wide distribution and maximum exposure. This goal is aimed at drawing customers to your business or service, or to establishing the credibility of your reputation. If this is your main goal, you should aim to keep your price on the low side. Some authors have even priced their e-books at a profit loss to draw a high number of new customers. The key is to find a price that maximizes your profits and the number of books you sell.

     This is an excellent pricing strategy if you are looking to acquire long-term customers. Long-term customers are extremely likely to buy from you again and again: as long as the first e-book they buy is of exceptional quality and beneficial to the customer.

     However, if your book contains valuable and more importantly NEW information, references, or techniques then you should aim to price it on the high end.

     After you figure out your goal, you must figure out what your audience's need is for your      e-book. For example, does your book solve a particular problem? If it does, and solves it in a way that hasn't been written about in one hundred other e-books, you will be able to achieve high sales at a high price. If your book solves a problem or answers questions in a new and unique way, you should price your book as high as you can go. You will achieve larger profits this way, but bring in fewer customers. Just make sure the question or problem that your book solves is one that is important and relevant to the majority of your market audience. If your ideas are not common knowledge, or you are presenting a brand new technique, you will be able to sell books at a high price. Just be prepared for your competition to undercut you on price as soon as they hear about your book.

     Keep in mind that the above pricing strategy is temporary. Eventually, you will cease to sell books at this high price. So figure out in advance how long you plan to offer your e-book at this high price, and when that time is up, change your pricing strategy.

     If you want to see large profits over customer draw, aim for an audience that is looking for easy solutions to their problems at a low price. If your book is aimed at solving one particular problem rather than general advice, then you can charge more. Start at the highest price the market will bear to bring in the largest profits, and plan to discount the book a number of times throughout the year.

Marketing Strategies

     The key that unlocks the sales potential of your e-book is to find a single sentence that becomes your selling handle. This sentence states what question or problem your book answers and the benefits your e-book can provide. Then be sure to use that sentence in every piece of sales and promotional material, and every time anyone asks you about your e-book.

     Besides promoting your books assiduously online, there are several other strategies that can help you sell more books.

     One is to give something away for free with your book, such as a valuable bonus item. Or bundle several e-books under one price, which lowers the price for each e-book if they were sold separately.

     An effective technique for figuring out a price is to send out a survey to your current customers. If these customers have already bought an e-book from you, ask for their opinion in terms of price. Do this by creating a sales page for the new book, but don't include a price on that page. Instead, add a number of links to survey questions that ask pointed questions to aid you in assigning a price to your e-book.

     Another strategy is to test out prices by creating a number of duplicate sales pages with different prices on each page. Make sure your sales copy is exactly the same on every page, and includes your selling-handle sentence. Then figure out for each page the conversion ratio between visitors to your site and sales of your book. This will tell you what your optimum price is.

     Ultimately, if you've written a book that solves a problem or presents a new technique, your book will bring in both traffic and profits. So be sure to write that selling-handle sentence that sums up what problem your book solves and what the benefits of your book will be to the customers who purchase it. And then watch your market come to you!

     So you’ve got your e-book priced, now what can you do exactly to get your e-book published?

Steps to Publishing Success (Part 3)

     Even if your best friend owns a top publishing company, giving you an immediate "in," this does not guarantee publishing success.

     First, you have to write a quality book that has a clear target audience. And your book must answer a common problem or need that audience shares.  At this point I am going to assume you have already done that following the information previously given to you in Part 1.

     Then you have to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it for at least two years, determining the best price level to charge for your e-book.  Again I hope you have followed the suggestions in Part 2.

     Let's begin with the process that should commence before you write your first word. Begin by reading A LOT. This has been mentioned to you before but deserves repeating because it is very important.  Read both books you passionately love and books you can't seem to make it past page five. Then figure out what the author did in the book you loved, and what was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.

     Write down these points so they are crystal clear to you. Read other people's books for inspiration and to discover what you should avoid as a writer.

     The next step is to plan out your book. Narrow down your subject, and then divide it into chapters. Each chapter should address a specific aspect of the problem your book is going to solve. In each chapter, break the specific aspect down into several parts.  This will help your readers take in your information a bit at a time instead of overwhelming them with every bit of information clogging up the pages until they feel like they're about to go blind. It's not quite spoon-feeding the information to your readers, but it is close.

How to turn your e-book into Profits

     E-books are a revolutionary way to publish your book without incurring the costs of print production. All you need is a relevant and targeted subject and some inexpensive software, and you can transform your manuscript into a book.

     The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profits from your e-book, is that the market is overwhelmed with e-books, and many of them are not worth the time it takes to download them. Just because the ability exists to easily produce an e-book doesn't make it good writing or worthy reading!

     Make sure your book does not simply rehash old material. You will injure your credibility as an author by claiming to offer valuable new insights and disappointing your audience with material they've read a zillion times before. So spend enough time writing and revising your book to make sure it's of the highest quality and presents the most current information. A good book will eventually sell itself; false claims about your book will make it extremely difficult to sell any future books you may write.

      To attract sales, you will need to develop a promotional campaign, particularly if you are an unknown author.  There are multitudes of books about self-promotion that will guide you in your efforts. Choose a plan that is both creative and professional. Learn how to write a catchy yet informative press release, and send copies of your e-book to sites that specialize in e-book reviews.

     Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hire someone to write it for you. This is an essential. You absolutely need excellent sales copy to sell your book. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons your target audience needs your book, and the benefits they will derive from buying it.

     Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautiful graphics have the power to instantly convey the quality and value of your e-book. Graphics can also convey the amount of valuable information the book contains, and your careful attention to detail.  Professional graphics sell professional books. They reassure the customer that the product is what it claims to be.

     Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You can offer these tidbits for free on your website as a sort of demo of your book. Include an order form for your e-book at the end of the excerpted articles.

     Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sure to simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer a few bonuses that make your book even more enticing to purchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable and high quality. Too many bonuses that are basically a load of useless stuff will compromise the impression your audience has of your e-book. The goal is to convey to your audience that they are getting a quality product for a good deal. That means applying restraint, especially when it comes to adding bonus items. Too much free stuff offered diminishes your credibility.

     Just to review: Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure it is relevant and current. Develop an effective marketing plan that includes excellent sales copy and excerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, and wait for your audience to discover you! 

     Looking forward to your future success in the e-book market!

P.S.

     I know it’s overwhelming, so I’ve made it a lot easier for you. It may be that you just need some additional training.  One of the best and most reasonably priced programs I've found is Freelance Profit Academy Training Webinar.  Give them a try and see what you think.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You know you can't remember everything ---

so try to forget less!"