A FREE Internet Marketing Resource You Can't Afford to Miss

A lot of people struggling to build an online businesses think they have to learn how to figure out search engine algorithms, create extensive pay-per-click campaigns and write hard-hitting sales copy before they'll start making any money. In other words, they THINK they have to learn and do a bunch of technical stuff before they can find success.

Well, those are all good tools to build your online businesses, but my friend, Alice Seba, has been using another tool to build hers and she's sharing her very best strategies…at no charge.

If you don't know Alice, she is one of the most generous people you'll ever meet and she has built a profitable business around the principle of giving and being nice to people. That’s why I wasn't surprised when she announced this freebie offer.

Her "Internet Marketing Sweetie System" shows you, in very specific ways, to:

• increase your website traffic
• build better relationships with your prospects
• get more referrals to increase your sales
• networking for longterm success
• transform your competitors to partners

...all with "Internet Marketing Sweetie" principles in mind.

It's nice to know nice guys and gals can get ahead in their online business. Check it out and get your instant access here.

Personalize Your Virtual Assistant Blog

Blogging is a valuable marketing tool for your Virtual Assistant business.

It's not just about what you write in your blog, though. The appearance of your blog counts too. Having a blog that looks like everyone else's can be a little boring, for both you and your readers.

If you want to learn how to personalize your blog, you can learn creative blogging by visiting Blog U.

And if you don't feel like doing all the work by yourself, Designed by Lara provides custom blog design at an affordable price.

Virtual Assistant Niche Idea! Become a Travel Agent VA

If you're in need of a niche, here's a fun one!

More and more Virtual Assistants are adding "Travel Agent" to their list of provided services.

Darrell Williams of Right-Hand-Man Virtual Assistant Services has already added Travel Agent Services to his repetoire, and he's loving it!

For more information on adding Travel Agent Services to your new VA business, visit his new PTN blog where you can get some more information and watch some very informative videos.

Are You Ready to Be a Virtual Assistant?

If you’re ready to transform your administrative experience into a home business and enjoy the freedom and flexibility of being a solo professional, becoming a virtual assistant could be your answer.

A virtual assistant, or a VA, is an entrepreneur that supports other professionals and small business owners from a distance. VAs commonly work from their own home offices and communicate with their clients via email, faxes, instant messaging, telephone calls and other web based applications, such as Google Docs.

But before you slap up a website and call yourself a VA, you should closely examine your qualifications and evaluate if you have the right skills to be a virtual assistant.

If you have any of the following experiences, you may be able to turn your skills into a profitable VA business:

• administrative experience
• book keeping
• strong computer and technical abilities
• good communication and writing skills
• organizational talent
• legal assistant or paralegal
• office management
• professional organizing experience
• concierge experience

Many new VAs brush up on their skills before launching their businesses, so they can give their clients the most efficient service possible. You could take classes that improve your knowledge of commonly used programs like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access and Photoshop, or any other classes that would improve your marketable skills.

Depending on what services you want to provide, you could take classes on things like writing, organization or life coaching.

Several VA certification programs are also available to help prepare you for a successful career as a VA. Certification is not required to be a VA. However, having a VA certification gives your new venture credibility and demonstrates commitment to your business. Potential clients may be more willing to trust you because you’ve completed a training program.

Leaders in the VA industry have established VACertification.com, a voluntary certification program for Virtual Assistants.

Training is also available through several other organizations, including:

The International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA)
Virtual Assistance U (VAU)
VATraining.com
AssistU.com

If you prefer to learn independently, a possible training option is the Virtual Business Startup System created by Tawnya Sutherland. This 30-day program gives aspiring VAs daily steps and valuable resources to take to create a prosperous virtual business.

While VAtraining may be helpful and add to your professionalism, many successful VAs haven’t gone through a VA training program. Instead, they’ve found creative ways to turn their well-developed skills into a profitable business venture.

Ultimately, your unique experience and background will shape your own VA business. If you have the right skills, you can put what you know to work for you and your clients, and start living your work-at-home dreams.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Virtual Assistant?

So, you’ve been on the administrative track for several years and you’re ready to accept the challenge of owning your own business.

Good for you!

But before you dive into the choppy waters of entrepreneurship, let me ask you this.

Are you sure you have what it takes to be a highly successful Virtual Assistant?

To many people, becoming a Virtual Assistant seems an easy thing to do: You post a quickie website, hand out your business cards, and wait for your new business line to light up. What else is there?

Aspiring Virtual Assistants (often called VAs) who take that approach to their new venture are bound to fail. They’re looking at virtual assistance as a job, not as a small business that needs to be developed, grown, and managed.

If you hope to be a successful VA, here are some of the qualifications you should have on hand before you start. If you don’t have them right now, don’t feel discouraged. These are all skills that can be learned and developed over time.

1. Business Acumen. You need to have keen understanding of and insight into business matters. As a Virtual Assistant, you’re the sales and marketing department, customer service desk, accounting, and production department. You have to hold it all together, and look great doing it!

If you don’t have strong knowledge of business matters, start reading business books to learn what you need to know. You may find a Virtual Assistant training program helpful as well. There are several good VA training classes that teach how to build and market a sustainable VA business, from the ground up.

If you prefer to learn independently, a possible training option is the Virtual Business Startup System created by Tawnya Sutherland. This 30-day program gives aspiring VAs daily steps to take and valuable resources to create and manage a prosperous virtual business.

2. Computer Savvy. Since you will be supporting your clients virtually, you need to know how to properly use the equipment that helps you do your job.

Computer skills will be probably be taught in a VA training program. You can also take computer classes to ramp up your knowledge in certain areas. Until you have strong computer skills, you can hire a contractor or another VA to help you out.

3. Expertise. As a Virtual Assistant, you’re not limited to providing administrative services – although many VAs choose to do so. Use your own unique experience and background to shape your business. Take what you know and develop your expertise in that particular field.

Whatever services you decide to offer, though, you need to provide them at an expert level. You clients are paying for expertise, and anything less will damage your credibility.

If your skills aren’t quite up to snuff, develop them now, before you launch your VA business. You can take classes to improve your knowledge of any programs you’ll need to use, like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access or Photoshop. Or, depending on what services you want to provide, you could take business writing, organization, or life coaching classes.

4. Determination. This is the most necessary quality of all. Without determination, none of the above even matters. Determination and perseverance are what will get you through the rough spots of owning your own business and keep you moving when it looks like you aren’t getting anywhere.

If you have trouble getting motivated, think about your "why-" the specific reasons why you want to be a Virtual Assistant.

• Do you need flexibility in your schedule?
• To further develop your skills and talents?
• More time with your family?

Whatever it is that motivates you, write it down in big letters on a sheet of paper and hang it where you can see it everyday. Whenever you find yourself feeling unmotivated and ready to quit, look at your "why" and let it push you to keep going.

Putting the NEWS in your news release

I'm sorry to have to say it, but there's a pretty good chance that your new virtual business is not news.

What is NEWSworthy is how your virtual business helps others.

In your next release, focus on the benefits your business provides, not on the fact that you've started a new business.

If you're a "do-it-yourselfer," the Virtual Business Startup System comes with a press release tutorial that will help you put the news in your news release.

How Can You Make It Easier?

This morning I came across the website for Harmonious Virtual Assistance, LLC. VA Monica Verbenec has done something that makes it easy for people who want to work with her to do so.

See the Buy Now button on her home page? That's so much easier than making her potential and current clients jump through hoops trying to figure out how to pay her - like many other virtual professionals do.

Also, if you click on the link, you can immediately find out what her rates are.

Website users are used to getting information when they want it (like your current VA rates) and doing what they need as quickly as possible (like paying their VA).

How can you make it easier for potential and current clients to work with you?

Where to Submit Your Press Release

Once you've written a news release, the next step is to get it in the hands of people, and media, who are interested in your story.

Submit it to newspapers, radio stations, and magazines.

There are many online press release submission sites as well. You can find them by searching for "submit press release."

If you purchase New VA PLR from WAHM Articles, you'll also get a few helpful pointers on how and where to submit your news release.

If the above link doesn't work, here's the url: http://www.wahm-articles.com/va_plr.htm

To help you get the word out about your virtual assistant business, I recently created a category for Press Releases at the WAHM Articles article directory. If you're a woman who works for home, and your new business helps other women do the same, I invite you to submit your press release at WAHM Articles.

Here's that URL: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Why You Need a Press Release - Reason #2

Journalists at the New York Times read, and follow up on, at least a few of the many news releases they receive.

This story began with a timely, NEWSworthy release.

Create Your Client List, Not More Content!

If you're biting at the bit to get your new virtual assistant business off the ground, but you need to create content first, I have something you might like.

Yesterday I launched a new kind of Private Label Rights content, designed specifically for the new VA - New VA PLR.

I still remember the long hours I poured into creating content for my very first Virtual Assistant website... hours I could have spent looking for my valuable first client.

With New VA PLR you don't have to toil away like I did. You can copy, paste, make a few changes, and start looking for that first client sooner than you thought possible.

Each item in New VA PLR is generically written, so it can be used by any new Virtual Assistant, in any industry.

They're also highly customizable so you can easily adapt them to suit your needs, and the needs of your potential clients.

Here's what you'll find in your New VA PLR:

1. Virtual Assistant Cost Comparison - Quickly and easily show your visitors how they can save literally thousands of dollars a year by contracting your VA business.
2. Virtual Assistant FAQ - Eight of the questions virtual assistants hear most often, complete with answers.
3. VA Info Request - A questionnaire for potential clients, to help you determine what they need and how you can help them best.
4. VA Rates & Retainers - I've supplied the wording. All you need to do is fill in the numbers that show your new clients how affordable you really are.
5. What is a VA? A 500-word article that answers that age-old question, "So, what is a Virtual Assistant, anyways?" Use it without making any changes, or edit it to suit your own business needs. This article can be used on your website or in your marketing kit - or both!
6. New VA Press Release Template - A fill-in-the-blank template created specifically to help you get the word out about your new virtual assistant business.
7. How to Get the Most Out of Your New VA PLR - Suggested ways to customize your new content and your press release for the best results possible.
8. Suggested Affiliate Programs - A list of suggested affiliate programs you can begin promoting with your new VA business. You can begin making money from your website, even before you sign on your first client!

To learn more, visit the sales page at WAHM Articles.

Why You Need a Press Release for Your Virtual Business

Several weeks ago, I was contacting the local media about a charitable event I was helping to organize. We wanted to help spread the word to the general public, and generate some media interest.

Each media outlet I spoke to had the same response:

"Send me your press release."

I've always been a big believer in the power of a well-written press release, but now I'm more convinced than ever.

If you need a press release for your new virtual business, you don't need to spend valuable hours of your time figuring out how to write one. I offer professionally written articles and press releases through my web writing business, WAHM Articles.

Just come on by and let me know what you need!

I also offer monthly specials. This month, subscribers to the WA Blog receive 50% off their first article. Check it out.

Happy marketing!

Time Management Tip - Turn Off Your Email Program

Here's one of my favorite time management tips - but it takes a lot of self control!

I turn off my email program.

When my email program is on all day, I seem to be always checking what's new. Usually, I'll find something more interesting to read than the project I'm currently working on... and then my schedule falls apart.

So, I now leave my email program turned off, and check it only twice a day.

To let my clients know I'm not ignoring them, I've put up an auto responder that lets them know I'm around, but I'm busy working on their project, and don't want to lose my focus. Here's what it says:

Thank you for contacting WAHM Articles.

This note is just to let you know I received your message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible, usually within one business day.

To help me keep my focus, I check my email only at 8 am and 3 pm Mountain Time, Monday - Friday. I am not online Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. If you emailed during these times, I will get back to you as soon as possible the next day.

Blessings today,

Denise

It's amazing how much time this little trick can save! And my clients don't feel slighted because I've let them know I'm doing this so I can give them my best work.

I'm a Work at Home Mom; Do I Need a Virtual Assistant?

by Debra Nail

The term “Virtual Assistant” is becoming more and more common every day. Small businesses utilize VAs for administrative tasks such as data entry, research and many other related tasks.

But, you might say, I’m a work at home mom, how can a virtual assistant help me? I’m glad you asked!

First, for a definition---a virtual assistant is someone who works from their own home-based office to perform tasks pertaining to their client’s business. The VA pays their own insurance, taxes and social security, saving the client’s company money. A virtual assistant is a business owner and works hard every day to build their practice.

There are many ways a virtual assistant can help the work at home mom community. For those just starting out, it could be creating a business image with logos, business cards and forms, etc, all done through desktop publishing by a virtual assistant.

Once your business is off and running, you need customers. The best way to get customers—advertising. Online or offline, your VA can put together a marketing package tailored to your specifications such as banner creation and placement, advertising through classifieds, etc.

Even after customers have committed to doing business with you, there are lots of other tasks your va can perform from sending out direct mailings of specials and promotions to ghostwriting and submitting articles pertaining to your target customer.

A virtual assistant can be your right-hand person to make your business succeed.



About the author: Debra Nail is the owner of WAHM Virtual Helper, a virtual assistance service for work at home moms. You can visit her website at http://www.wahmvirtualhelper.com



Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Learn HTML Tricks, Quickly and Easily

The Virtual Business Startup System (a highly recommended resource for any aspiring or experienced virtual assistant) comes with several easy-to-use website templates.

But even "easy to use" requires some knowledge on the user's behalf to get the most out of them.

When I created my first website using the templates, I had worked with basic html before, and I knew how to use an html editor at a beginner level. To get the most out of my templates, though, I wanted to learn more. I read (or tried to read) several tutorials to ramp up my knowledge, but technical how-to's are not my favorite kind of reading!

I then turned to my library and took out every book they had on html, hoping that something would appeal to me, and finally make sense to my creative, but non-technical brain. :)

That was when I discovered the book HTML: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks (Visual Read Less, Learn More)

It's a friendly book that you don't really have to read - just follow the brightly colored illustrations to accomplish your goal. The difficulty of each task is easy to determine because the book uses symbols to point out new spins on common tasks, tasks that require multiple steps, and tasks that require extensive skill and may involve other technologies.

With these easy-to-follow instructions, I was able to perform even some of the most complex tasks to get my site working just like I wanted.

Some of the tasks covered in this book are:

• Using style sheets
• Creating forms
• Arranging objects using tables
• Working with JavaScript

I forgot to mention that the Virtual Business Startup System includes a 2 hour coupon for Website Design, so you don't need to do any of the work yourself. However, as a new virtual assistant, I wanted to take advantage of this learning opportunity so I could work online more efficiently, and offer web editing services to my clients.

Here's the book again: HTML: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks (Visual Read Less, Learn More)

Website Not Producing Paying Customers? Common Mistakes Found in Business Websites

by Rebecca Clary

Today, a business website is not only a tool, it is a marketing essential. With many more customers starting their search for good local businesses online, you may be cheating yourself if you do no have a website, or if you have common detourants within your current website. In fact, some reports show that up to 75% of first time customers looking for a new business will indeed begin their search online first.

"But I have a website."

You may have a website, but is it drawing in the amount of business that you want? If you are getting visitors to your website, but they are just simply not converting to paying customers, then your website may actually be detouring customers away, rather then grabbing them in. Websites made on "do-it yourself" editors, Websites that were made during the "website boom," among others may have some common errors that drive your customers away.

Here are a few common mistakes found in none-productive websites:

1) Slow loading- One of the common mistakes website owners make us actually adding too much to their website. The more heavy graphic images and content that the customer has to download, the longer it will take for your website to load. If it takes too long, chances are the visitor will hit back without even seeing your website. We understand that you may have a lot to say or show about your business, but the proper way to do this is to split it all up into a few pages instead of one.

2) Outdated information- If your website was made several years ago, and you have not updated the content since, then chances are you will not get the most out of your websites. Your business changes over the years, so your website should change with it. Because, after all, would you hire a business if the only information you can find was post dated 2 or 3 years?

3) Unprofessional websites- This mistake is largely found in websites created during the "website boom" which took place around the start of the 21st century. Then, it was not uncommon to see websites with simple layouts, pictures that simply did not match the business, animated characters, etc. Plus, most of the technology we have today just simply was not available then. This is just not accepted anymore. If you open your website, and there are blinking or moving graphics that do not relate to our website (ex: an animated running dog breaks up your paragraphs, or a "new" sign blinks a few different colors) then chances are your customers are turning away.

4) No content- A website needs to tell as much as possible about your business. If your website only contains a few sentences, and then a "contact me for more information" link, then you will lose customers. The reason customers start their search online is so that they can find out as much information as possible, without having to go through the trouble of contacting businesses and asking.

5) No contact information- You would think providing your contact information would be a no-brainer. You would be surprised at how many companies accidentally leave this out. On the other hand, some only leave their address, which requires the customer to find the business in person in order to inquiry about their services or products. Make sure to leave either an email address or a phone number along with your address.

6) Javascripts- Javascript was a popular language during the website boom. Javascript is the language that controls things such as pop-ups ads, pop-ups messages, scrolling toolbars, etc. When used correctly, javascript can add beneficial dynamic content to your site. However, when used wrong, it may make your site look unprofessional, load slow, or may cause errors that do not allow your website to load at all.

If your website has any of the common mistakes found above, then I assure you that you will benefit from a website redesign. The good news is: redesigns are usually a lot less painful, and less costly then the initial design was. A good design company can take your current website, and make it stunning in a very short period of time.



Rebecca Clary has been designing websites for 12 years, and has published over 200 professional business websites. Today, she owns http://www.109websites.com, a web design firm that focuses on small businesses by providing unique, stunning websites for only $109.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

4 Easy Ways To Promote Your Website Online

by Mindy Benkert

Creating your website is the easy part compared to what comes next – promoting it.

Website promotion is not only a task that you must do continually, but it's also going to take some time and effort before you start seeing results. Fortunately, there are many different ways to advertise your business online, and while some work, others don’t, so it’s really going to be a matter of trial and error to figure out what works for you.

To get your promotional endeavors off to a good start, here are 4 popular and easy ways to advertise your website online:

Article Marketing:

Writing and submitting articles to free reprint article directories is a great way to create incoming links to your website. The purpose of article marketing is to allow other website owners and bloggers to use your articles on their sites, and in return, they must keep the resource box with your website link in tact at the bottom of your article, which can then direct traffic from their website to yours.

Blogging:

One of the great things about blogs is that they are relationship builders. As readers come to know and trust you, they will become interested in what you have to say. Using a blog will give you the means to write up posts that include links to your website where your readers can get more information, such as reading a new article you’ve added, or checking out a product that you are an
affiliate for. Once you have an established readership, blogging will truly become beneficial to your promoting your website.

Email Newsletters:

Building a list and creating an email newsletter will allow you to send out a monthly or even weekly email to your subscribers. You can focus the topic of your newsletter around your website's purpose, and provide readers with quality articles, reviews, and updates. This method enables you to reach your target market, and gain quality traffic to your website by promoting yourself in your emails. You can do that by inserting your website link in the signature line of your emails, and reminding them that they can go to your website for more information. You can also use "teasers" to articles that are published on your website. So instead of sending your readers an entire article, just give them the first couple of paragraphs to read with a link to your website where they can read more.

Message Boards/Forums:

Message boards and forums are not only a great networking tool, but they also give you the ability to promote your website to other members. You can advertise your website in the signature line that appears at the bottom of your post, and interested readers can click your link to go to your website. However, there is more to be gained from message boards and forums then simply advertising in your signature line. By being an active participant, you can build
relationships with other members to increase your credibility and readership in the long-term. So in order to really achieve the benefits of message boards and forums, it’s best if you only join a few of these sites and visit them on a regular basis.



Mindy Benkert is a successful internet marketer and mom. In her Free E-Course, she shares 10 Proven Ways To Quickly and Easily
Promote Your Website. Sign up today!


Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Using the Internet to your Advantage

by Rebecca Clary

Coming from the "Internet generation," I understand the importance of doing your business, or at least advertising your business online. The Internet has opened up a wealth of possibilities to businesses that were simply not available 10 or 15 years ago. But before I start telling my age, please let me explain further.

Open 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

The Internet never closes down for the end of the business day or the weekend. Your businesses information and contact information is available at any time. This means that potential clients can research and decide if they want to do business with you, without having to contact you. Before, the only time a potential client could inquire about your business was during business hours, unless you wanted to give out your private phone numbers and cell phone numbers. Now, they can send you an email, and you can answer it at your convenience.

More Information Then Ever Before

The Internet does not constrain you to a certain number of words. You literally have unlimited amounts of space to talk about, advertise, and display information about your business. Before, you would have to fit what you felt was the most important information into a 30 second commercial, or a specific size of brochure.

Global Users

Before the Internet, you were required to spend large amounts of money to advertise anywhere but your local area. You had to rely on people driving by or hearing/seeing one of your local ads in order to do business with them. The Internet however, is reachable by every country on the planet, and a website or online ads usually costs exactly the same whether people from your hometown, or people from the other side of the world are viewing it.

Changeable Content

When creating a business brochure or handout, you had to make sure you only put none-dateable information in there, because after all, once they are printed, you cannot change the information. This created potentially large advertising costs, and sometimes many wasted ads due to changing information. Likewise, you were unable to change the text or print on a radio or TV ad until that ad ran its campaign. Online, changing information is as simple as point and click. Your phone number changed? Simple, log onto your website or ad and change it.

Small Cost, Large Results

We all know how expensive traditional advertising campaigns can be. A simple ad in the newspaper now costs about $15 a week, a billboard around $600 a month. However, advertising online is far less expensive. For example: a static, 5 page website will cost you around $109 (if you choose the right designer) and about $3 a month after that. That is a total of $145 dollars a year. Posting to search engines where clients can find your business is free, and allows visitors to search for, and find your website. If you choose to advertise your website on other networks, you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad. That allows you to control the amount of money, and you only pay for the people that actually see your website. Small businesses or businesses with small budgets and get, and maintain a website for about $.39 a day.

Overall, the Internet is not one of the best ways to successfully advertise your business. If you are new to the Internet, you may want to consider hiring a professional to develop and maintain your advertisements for you. When searching for a designer and web developer, please pay special attention to their details. Here are a few things that you will want to avoid:

1)Template Websites- Templates, sometimes called cookie cutter websites, are pre made designs and set ups of a website. Any number of other websites can use the every same template for their website. In the event that a potential customer has visited a website with a similar template to yours, then chances are they will either not take your business as serious, or reference your business with that website. Ask the potential designer if your website will be unique or made from a template before you do business with them.

2) Hourly Rate Design- Some web design companies offer "hourly rate web design." It has been found that many hourly designers will tell you something takes much longer to complete then it usually does. In this case, you will end up paying for hours of work when the work only actually took a few minutes, or they will hold your website hostage until you do. Look for set packages that list what you will get, no matter how much time it took to complete.

3) High Hosting Charges- Many new business owners and business owners not familiar with the Internet will let their web designer host their website for them. While there is nothing wrong with this, be cautious of the amount you will be paying month for their hosting. Small businesses that only require small website should not pay over $3-$7 a month for hosting. Larger businesses or businesses with large or dynamic websites should never pay over $10-$15 a month. On the other hand, you may find a design company offering free hosting as an introductory offer. If this is true, be sure to ask how much you will be paying for hosting once the offer expires.

4) Long Completion Times- Web design is a complicated process, however, a good designer can finish a website in a rather small amount of time. Be cautious of web designers that take a long time to complete each website. This may be a sign that they may have to much on their plate. If that is the case, then chances are you will not receive the proper attention and care that is needed to make a website a success. Always ask a potential designer how long it typically takes them to finish and publish a website.



Rebecca Clary has been designing websites for 12 years, and has published over 200 professional business websites. Today, she owns http://www.109websites.com, a web design firm that focuses on small businesses by providing unique, stunning websites for only $109.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Running a Business on Limited Resources

by Rebecca Clary

When I first started my business, I went to the bank for a business loan. Simple enough, right? I had my business plan in order, an itemized list of everything that I would need to successfully run my business, and all the necessary documents. To put it plainly, I was turned down. Why? Not because I did not have the credit to back it up, or did not have a good business plan. The reason the bank man gave me was "because I did not understand that over 90% of businesses fail within the first year, and that I was not prepared in case mine did."

While I understand he was attempting to look out for my best interest, I felt cheated. He was not even going to give me the opportunity to fail. On some level, everyone that goes into business for themselves understand that chances are, the business will not make it past it's first year, and I was no different. The only thing was I had faith in myself that I would not give up trying. The loan processor took that as I would spend my life savings before giving up, and he did not want to see me financially ruin myself.

So what did I do? I set out on the adventure on my own, only using the limited resources and financial backing that I had. I bought second hand office supplies and furniture. I bought the small cheap laptop instead of the multi-thousand dollar computer specifically designed for what I would be doing. Without the proper money for advertising, I had to get creative. My advertising methods was unconventional, but they worked. I found that I did not need large amounts of money in order to get my business to the world.

So would I have been so successful had the loan processor gave me the business loan I asked for? I am not sure, because after all, I made it without the money, what would have happened if I would have had the proper money for advertising? Whatever the case may have been, I am glad he did not, because I am not better able to understand the limited resources that many small businesses face.

So how can you run your business on limited resources? Here are a few things that I learned along the way.

1) New vs. Used- When starting your business, you do not need everything to be "new." Second hand items cost substantially less then new items, and work just as well. Plus, if you think about it, customers will be more comfortable around your office if it feels "broke-in", rather then new and sterile. It gives them the feeling that you have been in business awhile.

2) Creative Advertising- You do not need the hundreds of dollars that it takes to place ads in papers or put commercials on TV. It costs very little to design and print you own flyers and put them in places where your potential clients would gather. Turn your vehicle into a moving billboard by investing in a vinyl signage for your doors or windows. The best thing? Face to Face meetings with your potential clients do not cost a penny, so look for every opportunity to talk with our potential clients.

3) Work At Home- Depending on your type of business, you may consider working at home rather then renting office space. This will save you a lot of money on rent and furnishing an office. Once your business becomes more successful, then you can always rent office space later.

Overall, be thankful for the struggles that you go through now, because in the future, they will have been well worth it. Plus, it will give you a better understanding when it comes to other small businesses.

And, no matter what, never give up on yourself.



Rebecca Clary has been designing websites for 12 years, and has published over 200 professional business websites. Today, she owns http://www.109websites.com, a web design firm that focuses on small businesses by providing unique, stunning websites for only $109.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Overcome Procrastination Immediately

by Debbie Proctor

There are many different reasons why people procrastinate. Some do so because they are afraid of making a mistake. Others are so detail oriented that they cannot complete a project because they need to keep looking at it for errors. Others are simply not disciplined and lack focus. Still others bite off more than they can chew. They have good intentions,but then find themselves overwhelmed and not be able to do anything.

There are solutions of how to overcome procrastination. Here are some tips on how to stop procrastinating and start doing:

Never Let Fear Rule Your Life

You are setting yourself up for failure. Ninety percent of what we fear never comes true. Some of us live nightmares in our head over and over.Stop being negative and thinking the worst case scenario all of the time and start doing.

Fear holds people back from truly living their dreams. It is the worst scourge imaginable and is more deadly than any disease. If you have an idea, dream or vision-do it! Do not fear being laughed at or failing. The difference between successful people and others is successful people take action.

Get Organized

Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish. Do this on paper. Then break it down to how much you can accomplish each day. By setting small goals for yourself, you cannot only gain discipline and focus, which will make your life easier, but you can also eliminate the feeling of being overwhelmed. Taking things one-step at a time is much easier than looking at the big project.

Realize That Nothing Is Perfect

Some people will go over and over the same thing to make it "perfect." They might even pride themselves as being a "perfectionist."This is not a good trait-it is a sign of insecurity and very annoying for anyone who is working with this person. You will never get anything done if you are constantly worried about things being perfect.

This doesn't mean that you should allow shoddy work to flow out from under, just that you have to let things go.You must be able to make a decision in order for your ideas to reach fruition. Otherwise, they are doomed to stay on the drawing board and you are doomed to a lifetime of procrastination.

Learn To Say No

This is a tough one. It can be hard to turn down work and projects,especially when you want to be successful. Learn either to say "no" occasionally, or employ others who will do the work for you.Learning to say "no" can be tough, especially for women who are taught as girls to be agreeable. However, if you can say yes all of the time,chances are that you will be overwhelmed and never get anything accomplished.

Are you ready to overcome procrastination? Let this be your pledge:

"I will not procrastinate today. It is unproductive. I have tasks to do, and I will write them down, so I can decide which of them needs to be done by noon. My goal is to finish at least 2 big tasks and 2 small ones."

Then remember these three little words: Do it now.



Debbie Proctor is an online marketing coach. Your success is her success. She teaches marketers how to effectively market any product or service with her online sales formula. Discover her secrets at:
http://www.themaptoperfectwealth.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com