11 Easy Ways For You To Grab (FREE) Traffic…..

My oh my where has the year gone? We say that ever year though. The truth of the matter is, time IS flying so let’s not waste any more of it. On to some important year end business…

How would you like a legitimate "list" of FREE traffic generation techniques that have been proven to work over and over and over?

I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with "11 FREE Traffic Tips" you can implement right away for 2009 to explode your Home Business empire…

One of the most common questions I get from new Home Business Owners and Entrepreneurs I coach when they begin marketing online is:

"How do I generate leads and get consistent traffic to my web site if I’m on a budget?"

…A valid question.

Well, first of all the truth about online marketing you need to know…

You’re only working with two tools: Money and Time. That’s it.

The easiest way to drive traffic to your site is to continue reading »

Right Time to Start a Business

Sometimes others can say it best and are worth quoting. Here’s something from Seth Godin on the Right Time to Start a Business:

• "Whenever a business cycle starts to falter, the media start wringing their hands. Then big businesses do, then freelancers, entrepreneurs, and soon everyone is keening.
• "People and organizations that have no real financial stress start to pull back, ‘because it’s prudent.’ Now is not the time, they say.
• "Growth is frightening for a lot of people. It brings change and the opportunity for public failure. So if continue reading »

Now You Have A Home Based Business – Part 2

We addressed the "Pros" of having a home based business in Part 1, and will now review the "Cons". You decide based on your own specific situation if they really are such, or are they only "perceived" as such. They may present a new opportunity for you to get creative and move them over to the "Pros" side…..

The Cons (or are they?)

• Some towns do not permit in-home offices or limit them to certain zones. (Usually this is not a problem unless you will be having many customers coming to your place of business and/or parking company vehicles on your premises)

• Will customers be visiting your business (home) and if so will it portray professionalism? (Many people run businesses from home these days, and the stigma of years ago appearing to be a small "Mom & Pop" shop are not the same. Most people will take the opportunity to meet with a client somewhere such as a coffee shop though – keeping personal and business separate)

• If a customer does come to your home business – what would happen if they became injured? How would your insurance be handled? (Another key component as to why people will meet their clients offsite,and not on their premises.)

• Have you addressed how you would handle disaster recovery issues and strategies in the event of an earthquake, flood, or fires, etc.? (When you worked for "someone else" these may be items the company addressed behind the scenes and you may have been aware of them or not. Now, it’s up to you to have backups of all of your business documents offsite. In many situations you may be able to run your business on web based platforms that you can access from anywhere. Take some time and think your plan through and determine how you would operate in the event of an emergency.)

• Start up costs and operating costs. (Yes, starting a business will cost you money. There are many low cost alternatives to purchasing a franchise or brick and mortar businesses though. There are numerous reputable online businesses one can become involved in for a fraction of the cost, that have proven track records of generating 6 digit incomes. Learn to master marketing and even a small budget can have a great ROI.)

• Security of your database and information (Make sure you have all of the systems in place to prevent viruses and hackers to enter your system. There are many products on the market these days)

• The feeling of isolation and the lack of interacting with others. (For some this isn’t an issue at all. Others may choose to network with like minded people who work from home and brainstorm together periodically. You can also join organizations such as your Chamber of Commerce or local associations you can participate in.)

• Household distractions such as children, chores, neighbors, etc. (Working form home certainly takes self-discipline. Set up a schedule that will work for you and when it’s time to be "in the office", don’t let excuses interfere and take you away. Hire a babysitter for a certain number of hours during the day, if necessary. Tell your neighbors, that although you’re home – you really are working, and your hours are "Such and Such")

• Lack of support services such as secretarial. (You will either become proficient at things you didn’t know before and/or, you can hire out part time assistance. There are many high school/college students that could take care of your filing. There are many virtual assistants that could take care of accounting and simple processing of orders, etc. You can outsource most tasks – depending on your budget – if your time might be better spent on something else.)

• Reduced living space. (If this is an issue for you , remember the tax benefits you can take advantage of by claiming your home based business)

Come back again – next time we’ll review how to setup your work station with ergonomics in mind.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet Giacoma has the experience to help you with your home based business . Her home business blog has the resources and information you need.

Balancing Your Budget and Social Life

The timing of my reading this article was perfect! Those of you who have high school or college age kids may relate. I have forwarded this to each of mine. Although they grew up learning how to budget , the "outside" forces can be much more tempting at times than logic

“Sticking to your budget while maintaining an active social life can be challenging. Dining out, vacations, retail therapy-all of these things can take a significant toll on your financial stability. Don’t give up hope; just follow a few simple pointers on how to be a responsible social butterfly without breaking your budget. (From Seeds of Success )

1. Forget About the Joneses
If you want to maintain a healthy budget, you must live within your means-so the first step is a mental shift in priorities. Sure, all your friends might drive luxury sedans and sport Swiss watches, but that isn’t an excuse for you to do the same. The truth is, many people who indulge materialist hedonism can’t afford it either. By sticking to your budget now, and investing your savings properly, you’ll end up with more money to spend on what you want in the long run -including bigger cars and shinier watches. Remember that a little restraint now goes a long way.

2. Save for the Fun, Not the Finance Charges
It’s not uncommon for friends to plan winter ski trips or summer getaways together. It’s also not uncommon to rack up serious credit debt on social outings. You don’t have to turn down the invitation, just curb overspending and work your trip into your budget. Calculate how much you’ll need for travel and trip expenses in advance, and pay yourself first. You’ll save huge chunks in credit card interest-plus the peace of mind that comes from knowing your good times your won’t come back to bite you when your credit card bill shows up in the mail.

3. Embrace Like-Minded Savers
Find a support group of penny pinchers who still enjoy cavorting-it’s a great way to exercise financial responsibility without feeling pressured to throw caution to the wind and go "spend crazy." Online groups like ThriftyFun.com and Geezo.com are perfect places to share ideas, stories, get advice and find ways to creatively cut spending while keeping a smile planted squarely on your mug.”

Please leave comment about how you balance your budget and social life!

Until next time, J.

"Take control of your destiny or someone else will"