Today many people desire the stability of a second income or the freedom generated by starting a home based business or by starting an online business.Whatever type of business you desire, starting your own business is one of the greatest decisions you will ever make.The freedom and liberation from routine that comes from a profitable home based business or online business is like nothing else you will experience in life.Whether your aim is to provide a full time income to replace the day job, or a second income to supplement your lifestyle, it can all be achieved through the power and versatility of the internet.However, it is estimated that 90% of online businesses either fail or never generate a single sale. The primary reason for this is under estimating or simply not grasping the need to market effectively and reach your target audience.I can talk to you about the importance of keywords and the need to get the basics of search engine optimization correct, but this is for more established site owners and can easily be the topic for a whole weekend of discussion.For new web site and home based business owners the fastest way to start establishing interest in your online business is through the incredible power of Social Media.By far the most widely used social networking site is Facebook. It offers direct access to more than 500 million users and although it’s seen by many as a social site, it does in fact present a huge range of opportunities for online businesses and the home based business community.Facebook is a platform where companies can interact with current and potential customers, and where they can promote their products and services.Recently Facebook has taken steps to actively encourage businesses to use their service, by offering initiatives such as adverts and fan pages. Businesses can set up a company profile or groups and message boards where customers can converge to discuss with one another the service they have received. Like other social media sites, the key here is openness and businesses must be willing to give up a certain degree of control to customers.Keeping content interesting and relevant is crucial to any social media page, and Facebook is no exception. To attract and retain followers or fans, you need to offer exciting content that stands out from the crowd. Consider different forms of content, such as video marketing, audio, pictures or blogs that would most appeal to your target audience.Facebook can also be used as a market research tool, through which companies can poll their fans and measure their reaction to new ideas before applying them to the business.Once your page or group is set up, think about who you want to attract. Start off small by inviting friends and current customers, who will then invite their friends and so on. Social media is an extremely viral form of communication, so don’t expect to have thousands of fans overnight. Discounts and other offers exclusive to Facebook fans or group members can be a great way to generate more followers.If you are considering using Facebook to promote your online business or home based business then consider the following.* Post regular business updates on your wall – it is important to keep content fresh and interesting. But try not to add too many updates because content overload will overwhelm your fans and swamp their news feed pages.* Make use of video or images – keep your page visual as this helps to engage your audience.* Offer discounts and run promotions and competitions – this is great way to increase your following, by providing offers exclusive to Facebook fans.* Carry out market research – Facebook offers a free platform for market research. Poll your fans to find out what they think of your business ideas.* Respond to comments – make sure you reply to questions or comments posted by fans and start developing a dialogue with them. Similarly, reply to criticism, don’t ignore it.* Start discussion groups – encourage conversation about your business. This is an effective way to boost brand awareness, and you can educate fans about your product or service.* Use Facebook ads to increase your fans base – although it’s no substitute for proper engagement, it can help boost fan numbers.* Share blog posts – if you have a company blog make sure you share the latest posts on your Facebook fan page.* Avoid over commercialisation – when sharing interesting product news or offers, try not to be too profit-focused. Social media sites are not merely another sales platform and being overly commercial is a guaranteed way to deter fans.Above all, be upbeat, positive, newsworthy and honest. Nothing deters potential clients more than negativity and false claims.Have fun with your new home based business and remember that it is simply a vehicle to drive you to where you want to be in life.
Effective Marketing Strategies in Product Creation
Marketing includes matters such as pricing and packaging of the product and creation of demand by advertising and sales campaigns. There are other options, of course, like product creation, resale rights marketing, joint ventures and the likes, but they are merely secondary to the above.
If you take the freelance route, it is important to ensure that all rights to profit from the final product, or any materials produced in its making, remain yours. Bookkeeping, physical product creation or delivery of goods can be done better with specialized help. Determining the purpose of the product is vital in niche product creation.
Implementation of Methodology – The choice of implementation of Six Sigma methodology depends on whether development is required on existing processes (DMAIC) or on new process/product design creation (DMADV). Determining what you really want to sell, something that you can be relaxed selling is the first step at the creation of a niche product. With the technological advancements in the hosting industry, from automated control panels and scripts that simplify creation of accounts; to complete turnkey solutions, there is no excessive need to worry about spending time on the actual product sold to the customer.
For instance, you should be prepared to either perform yourself or to subcontract the completion of the following tasks:- Product idea research (are there any existing products or patents already existing for this idea)- Product specification document training (what it will do, how it will look, how will it be powered, and how the user will interface with it)- Marketing study (what it will be named, who would buy this, how much would they pay, how will we get customers to purchase the product)- Schematic or electronic circuit design process- Creation of a bill of material or BOM and an approved vendor’s list or AVL for each component in the design, preferably with multiple sources identified, with a BOM and AVL for each assembly level in the product- Printed circuit board layout design process (single sided board, double sided board, or multilayer board; size of the PCB; board material)- Mechanical packaging design with user interfaces (displays, buttons, switches, key. This removes all product creation costs from your budget as a marketer.
No other database of affiliate programs offers such a possibility for profit on either the affiliate side or the product creation site. Your chosen niche should allow for the creation of more than one product or service.
There are several marketing strategies that are necessary in the creation of a successful e-commerce web site – Email marketing (broadcasting) of prospects/customers – Effective use of auto responders (generate automatic email messages) – Online Newsletter – Online Form / Survey to capture your prospect’s email address – Electronic Product Delivery (if you sold a digital product) – Advertisement (Ad) Tracking – Back End Sales – Affiliate program etc.
Four Signs of a Legitimate Home Based Business
Home based business: The future of business across the world!Choosing a home based business is something that leaves many people shaking in fear of being scammed or duped into buying into a business idea that is less than legitimate.While the world is filled with “get rich quick” websites and programs that promise you millions of dollars with just a few hours of work, the reality is that most things that sound too good to be true usually are.That said, there are many legitimate home business programs available, as well. You just need to know what to look for when researching programs to find those that are right for you. No unfounded claims or promises: Legitimate business programs give you straight-up information about what you will need to do to be successful.They will let you know that there is work that needs to be done, and if you follow the system and do things by the book, you will make money and be successful with their program. Scam companies will tell you that you just buy their program and watch the money roll in – nice idea, but not so realistic.Up front about startup fees, investments, and costs: A good program will let you know from the beginning what you will need to spend to get started. Some of the less savory home business opportunities hit you with hidden fees, after you have already invested in their program.While there are often unforeseen expenses in any business venture, these should be minimal when you have found a program that is well organized and successful.Getting started with your home based business: Look for a business model that gives you all of the tools you need to get started on your business right away. You should have access to products, eCommerce tools, and other business resources that will help you to get your website or business set up and rolling, without having to do extra research to find the things you need elsewhere.Offers support, training, and mentoring: Solid home business programs will also give you a support system that you can turn to while growing your business, helping you on the way to finding success.New business owners need the help of someone experienced in business, or educated about their specific program to help them organize themselves and make the right decisions about their new business. Finding a company that offers help like that is the best way to give yourself a solid base when starting your business.Take a long hard look at the business model and resources offered when choosing a home based business plan. Once you find something that has everything that you need to get started, go ahead and make the investment that will get you started on your way to becoming a successful business owner.With a legitimate company behind you, a positive attitude about your new venture, and the right tools in place, you stand a solid chance of becoming a successful business owner.