The Busy Woman’s Guide to Online Marketing and Business Opportunities

What woman doesn’t have too much to do and too little time to do it? Starting an online marketing business is a dream come true for many busy women. Never before in history have there been so many women wanting to start their own business. Statistics show there are approximately 11 million women-owned businesses in the United States alone. And this number is growing every day.

There are tons of reasons to begin a career in online marketing – and you probably know them by heart. You’d have more time with the family, and you’d be your own boss. And though information on business opportunities seems to abound, how much of that information is correct and how much is hype? And what’s more, who has the time to dredge through all those opportunities looking for the perfect plan?

Unfortunately, many very capable but busy women give up before they ever get started. Rather than risk falling victim to what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleverly calls Dot Cons, they simply resign themselves to ‘working for the man’ and bury their dreams.

The internet is wide open and there are markets with little or no competition; so now is the time to stake your claim. With this in mind, here are 7 things that will speed your search for the perfect online marketing business:

1. The savvy woman should be leery of those sites that stress how little time their program will require and the speed by which you can replace your current income. There are no legitimate business opportunities where by you can earn a living in only a couple of hours a week. Online business opportunities tend to exaggerate the ease of online marketing and the convenience of shopping online. And while online marketing has a broader client base, and it is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry, this also means the internet is a highly-competitive place to succeed.

2. Don’t purchase a turnkey business where all the businesses will sell the same information or products as everyone else who purchases the system; you’ll be competing with hundreds to thousands of others who are attempting to sell the exact same products or services on identical, websites. It sounds good on paper, but the facts are, those with duplicate websites are your direct competitors, and they too are learning the same techniques.

3. Do find a site that has helpful free information available to you before you make a purchase. The ‘make a quick buck’ sites are fairly easy to spot. These sites have very little information available and consist almost entirely of links to other pages or sites. If the merchant you visit isn’t interested in helping you before the sale, think how much less helpful they’re likely to be afterwards.

4. Actually read the information provided free by the websites you visit. Armed with this information you will be better prepared to judge the specific points of the products and systems you assess.

5. Though some ‘turnkey business products’ are less than desirable, there are some businesses which give you a system or step-by-step instructions to follow, and all you have to do is research your field of interest and decide on the products you want to offer. These businesses can be a goldmine – if they provide assistance to you as you find your niche and decide on the type products you want to sell.

6. Any product or system you purchase should have at least a 60 day, money-back guarantee. 30 days is not enough to learn what you are suppose to do and then do it. And don’t forget to read the fine print; some products require the package not be opened, while others require you have documentation that you tried the product and followed the steps outlined. If the guarantee has any fine print – pass on that product. Satisfaction should be 100% guaranteed.

7. And last but certainly not least is traffic. Don’t fall for any online marketing plan or business opportunity that doesn’t address the issue of traffic. No matter what type business you open, you must have traffic and as you will find, it will be one of the more challenging aspects of your new venture.

If you keep these 7 criteria in mind as you begin your journey into online marketing and business opportunities, you should be able to weed through the online hype in short order and find the legitimate gems.

Women Entrepreneurs ? Doing Business in a Feminine Way

Supporting entrepreneurial women is my passion. With that in mind I wrote this article for female/women entrepreneurs only, so I could focus and celebrate the feminine way of doing business. I’m eager to share with you communities that support doing business in a feminine way.

This is an important subject since women are starting businesses at nearly 3 times the rate of men. Currently there are 11million women owned businesses in the US. What’s motivating women to start their own businesses? According to a survey by Ladies Who Launch, women launch a new business for the following reasons:

To have more FREEDOM and CONTROL over their schedules and LIVES. To pursue their PASSION and DREAMS. To create REVENUE and MAKE MONEY doing what they love.

The specific motives are unique to every woman yet they reflect a pattern. Women want their business to fit in with the rest of their priorities and values in life.

The Feminine Approach to Launching a Business

Women generally rely on a more intuitive approach to starting their businesses. In order to get started, women need to feel the creative juices flowing and then have the freedom to act on their ideas. Ladies Who Launch is the first online and in-person platform to recognize and cater their program (for female/women entrepreneurs only) to the uniquely feminine approach to launching.

The feminine approach is celebrated through the Ladies Who Launch Incubator program, where you can get through the first stage of launching and find the resources you need to continue growing. As an Incubator leader in my local area, I’ve watched that the participants’ businesses truly expand and grow more quickly when they are connected to other women in their area. Click here (insert link) to learn more about Incubator programs in your area.

The Feminine Approach to Running a Business

Women tend to be collaborators and prefer not to go it alone. This can be a tremendous advantage because they’re always on the lookout for help to get their business off the ground more quickly. Most women don’t have a problem admitting that they’re not sure how to proceed and will ask for direction. Their businesses benefit as a result.

At whatever stage their business is at, entrepreneurial women are always looking for:

Inspiration – Women are inspired when they see and learn from other women who have great ideas, a broader, more creative perspective and who are already achieving the kind of lifestyle they visualize for themselves. Learning from other successful entrepreneurs gives women a sense of who’s doing what in business and if she can do it, I can do it!

 

Resources - Women want training and coaching from business experts on the latest business strategies. They also want advice on how to create balance and a high-quality personal life.

 

Community – Women crave a like-minded community of women for a daily dose of wisdom, support and guidance.

Women need a venue to get the inspiration, resources and sense of community they crave. A few years ago I began hosting a monthly “Great Women’s Gathering” in my home. These few joyful hours of unstructured sharing are tremendously valuable for everyone in attendance. It gives us a chance to connect, gather together and learn from one another in a completely supportive environment. Consider starting your own group as a way to reach out to women in your community.

I launched Metromom.com and created The Metromom Entrepreneurs Association for female/women entrepreneurs only. This online community helps metromoms-entrepreneurial moms in home-based businesses-find all the business support and business supporters they need to be successful. I wholeheartedly believe there’s plenty of room for every woman to shine in all that she does-and this quality of abundance is a very important way to celebrate the feminine way of doing business.

Five Winning Strategies For Starting A Business

Do you dream about starting a business, but don’t know where to begin?  Does the idea of being your own boss and creating a company that provides great products and services excite you?  But all you do is dream, unable to move ahead?  You’re not alone.  Many women feel this way.

More than twenty-five years ago, I launched my own company, a public relations agency that is still thriving today.  I’ve also had the privilege of mentoring many other women entrepreneurs.  I’ve seen what works and what prevents women from moving ahead.  Below are five step-by-step strategies that can help you launch the business of your dreams.

1.  Commit to one business 
You must commit to one business.  The biggest roadblock to being an entrepreneur is fear of choosing one business and going for it.  You can’t get an enterprise off the ground, if you spread yourself thin.  Over and over again throughout the years, I’ve met women who have the passion to become entrepreneurs, but they keep spinning in circles, never committing to one business.  Look at it this way, once you succeed at building your first company, you can always start another one.

Remember, too, that it’s important to choose a business that you are passionate about.  This is not about the latest fad or fashion.  It’s about making a commitment to something that will absorb large amounts of your time – and possibly quite a bit of money.  So choose wisely.  If you want to start an online business, then commit to it.  If you want to open a retail store, then go for it.  If you want to be a contractor, then move ahead.  But don’t hang yourself up by wanting to do all three things at once.  Make a choice and commit.

2.  Research that business
Today, it’s easier than ever to learn about any business in the world.  For the fastest results, look online.  Google the type of business you want to start.  Find out about professional organizations in the field.  Read blogs and bulletin boards by people doing similar things.  Learn about sources of help.  Read industry articles and buy the magazines or books that can teach you more.  Participate in teleseminars.  You also need to reach out to business people and others who may be able to help you.  You can do this through networking at local events, seminars, business groups, and online through social networks.  Make sure you understand the business that you want to start.  The more you know about it, the greater your chance for success.

3. Create a business blueprint
Don’t worry about writing a formal business plan at first.  Business plans are essential if you want to raise money through venture capital or obtain a commercial loan from a bank or other source.  Most people start businesses with their own funds or a personal loan.

What you actually need is a three to four-page business blueprint that serves as your personal guide to navigating the road ahead.  Here’s what goes into a business blueprint:
a. A clear description of what the business does and who it serves. 
b. A description of how the business will run on a day-to-day basis. 
c. A list of your specific responsibilities as the business owner.  
d. A list of what other people will do. 
e. An estimate of what it will cost to run the business for the first year.
f. An estimate of how you will cover these first-year expenses, either through sales or from some other source.

Once you create a written picture of how the business will function, you’ll be able to move ahead to the next step.

4. Build a team
One of the biggest myths about starting a business is thinking that you’ve got to do it alone.  But you can’t create a great business without help.  Using your business blueprint as a guide, you’ll need to put together the following three teams:

Professional Advisors:  These are the professionals who will advise you on the basics of starting a business such as whether to incorporate; what type of insurance coverage to obtain; and where to work.  These professionals will include an accountant, an insurance agent, and possibly a lawyer or real estate broker.  Make sure you get recommendations from other small business owners before you hire these experts.

Informal “Board of Directors”:  This is a group of unpaid advisors, often made up of friends and acquaintances with business expertise, who will mentor you as you’re finding your way in the business world.  Don’t be shy about asking for their advice.  You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to help, if you only ask.

Your Own Staff:  This is the team who will work with you on a daily basis to help you build your business.  If you’re not ready for full-time employees, think about adding college interns or part-time employees.  Don’t make the mistake of trying to do everything yourself.  Instead focus on the key activities that will give you the biggest return.  Your business will grow twice as fast.

5. Surround Yourself With Positive People
It’s not enough to simply follow the four steps listed above, you must believe in yourself.  There will be many times when you’ll question yourself, wondering whether you’re doing the right thing.  That’s why it’s essential to surround yourself with positive people.  Negative people encourage self-doubt.  They drain your time and energy, and undermine your ambitions.  Negative people come in many guises, from those who don’t want you to get ahead to others who see the downside of every situation.  And they are everywhere.  Some may even be family and friends.  Try not to share your business dreams with them.  Instead, share your ideas with people who are supportive.  Positive people will help you build your business.  Seek them out for counsel and advice.

Starting a business may seem like a daunting task.  But if you are passionate and committed to making it work, then following these steps will help make the journey easier, less complex, and much more fun.

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Jane Wesman is president of Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc., (www.wesmanpr.com) a firm that creates high impact book publicity campaigns for publishers and writers.  She is also the author of Dive Right In – The Sharks Won’t Bite: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide to Success.

Wesman’s articles on business and marketing have appeared in such magazines and on such websites as American Bookseller, Professional Performance, Inc., Enterprising Women, foxbusiness.com, and womenentrepreneur.com. Wesman is also a frequent guest on television and radio.

Wesman has been a guest speaker at the National Women’s Business Council, the Womensphere Leadership & Innovation Conference, the Stern School of Business, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the Learning Annex, among other venues.  She is currently working on a new book about women and entrepreneurial leadership.

Wesman is based in New York City and may be reached at jane@wesmanpr.com or 212-620-4080.

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VoIP Solutions: Realise Your Business Dreams

VoIP Solutions are very important means by which people can utilise its services to make long distant calls at amazingly low call cost. The users can actually depend on it to actualise their business dreams and come to the forefront of becoming world leaders in business. The services offered by VoIP providers are also very encouraging and make it possible for people to utilise VoIP to expand in business ventures.

The business VoIP solution serve as an uncompromising solution to excel in business ventures. People can depend on VoIP services that bring them solace in the form of quality voice, 3 way calling facility, call waiting, return call and repeat dial facilities. The users can thus rely on this technology to excel in their business ventures.

The VoIP business solutions are now offered by both wholesalers and resellers of the service. The users can rely on the technology to meet their business needs. Thus, calling at low rates is now a reality with the Voice Over IP. People can depend on the technology to make international calls at local call rate. It is possible because the technology makes use of digital packets that are transferred over internet network to distant places of the world. The users find the technology useful for now they can send images, voice and videos simultaneously while transferring a call to an end user.

The VoIP solution provider in the form of resellers and wholesalers of the technology are available at distant places of the world. The users identify themselves with the technology and use the same for fulfilling their communication needs. So, making a call from distant places of the world is no longer a problem with the introduction of the business VoIP solution.

Moreover, the technology being new has overcome all traditional barriers in the form of long drawn wires, high charges for calls forwarded and constraints in the technology that include non deliverance of messages and inability to share files, videos and photos. Then there are also other premium features available with the system. This includes routing a number, filtering calls and even listening to messages that are pre-recorded.

Thus, with such advanced system, voice calls make communication very reliable to users worldwide. People can depend on it to make international calls for hours being free of the concern of high phone bills. There is no other alternative available for low cost calling. The method is simple and effective. Users rely on it for high-end services that include caller ID identification besides call forwarding and call waiting facility.

The users of the VoIP solution should, however, check the bandwidth with the service provider. This is necessary as good voice quality depends on the bandwidth provided by the service provider. Moreover, the other facility offered by VoIP is supported in the presence of good bandwidth. Thus, the users should maintain a codec of atleast 64 KB stream that gives rise to a large IP network. In the presence of this codec, the users can access all facilities offered by the technology. Business houses can completely rely on Voice Over IP in the presence of a good broadband to meet all their business requirements.

The concept of repeated dialing and not getting connected is completely dispelled by VoIP. It allows a number of people to join in for a conference simultaneously. People can depend on the service to meet their daily requirements and to satisfy clients across the globe.

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