Friday, March 8, 2013

Growing Your Internet Business

What are some of the reasons for wanting an internet business?  People have dreams of running their own company and becoming their own boss.  The idea of creating something from scratch and turning into something that can earn money is exciting.

The internet is the perfect place to offer services.  Not too long ago, it would be hard to do business outside of your regular lcoation.  Now with the web, it brings many people together.  The internet connects buyers and sellers from around the globe.

There are lots of different services that are in need.  In the past, it would take a lot of knowledge to create a website or a webpage for that matter.  Now there have been advancements that make creating websites and web development something that just about anybody can do.  The only thing that changes are the types of ways of earning money.  There was a lot of money made in the past with computer programming jobs.  There are still lots of people making money for these kinds of services, but they might be doing something a little bit different.

Websites can still be made with html code or with php, but more internet users have started using blogs to create sites.  There is a business in creating services for the blog platforms.  Wordpress is a popular blogging and content management system.  Programmers can create software for the wordpress platform.  Instead of creating a lot of standalone software, programmers might go where a lot of the action is. 

The internet makes it all worth while to start an internet based business.  There are a number of other reasons for using the web for business purposes.  The web makes it easy to do more now.  You can hold conversations using internet calling services like skype.  Low cost communications like cell phones and smartphones allow you to conduct business without a lot of the higher overhead. 

The web also makes it easier to outsource work.  You don't have to do everything yourself in business anymore.  You can find other service providers and get the tasks done that help you satisfy your online customer base.  

Your online business might be setting up websites.  You could create the content yourself or you could use freelance writers to get the job done.  Content is something that also has value and can be a business venture.  

We talked about blogs becoming really popular online.  They are easy to setup and just about anybody can start one.  One of the facts that comes into play is the need for content.  People are looking for good content and a blog is a good way to deliver the information.

If you know how to write good content, you are light years ahead of the game.  Content needs to flow online.  There are always new events that are happening and there are always going to be new people looking to learn new information.  One way that people choose to learn is to read information online.  If you can write good content, there is nothing that can stop you.

Blogs get started all the time and sometimes those blogs don't stay updated.   This is potentially where your writing skills can come into play.  There are lots of websites that offer affordable writing services and blog owners might consider taking a chance on other writers providing content for their sites.  

Content is important.  People are looking for information and they head over to the search engines to find what they are looking for.  Another internet business service that has potential is seo services.  Search engine optimization has some basic rules but some business owners might not understand all the technical details and they might not have the time to invest in learning it themselves.  They are interested in getting results.  All you have to do is bring up the topic of web traffic online and you will get lots of pages of information in return.  Search engine optimization comes with just about every website and it is important when it comes to creating content.

An internet business can have a low barrier of entry.  There are lots of different types of services that can be offered.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  

Friday, December 21, 2012

Goal Setting for Your Home Business


Do you ever look up from your home business in December and wonder where the year has gone?  It is amazing how fast a year can go by.  Did you meet your home business goals for the year?  Setting up goals for your home business is a good idea.  Goals can help you focus on what is important and can help you eliminate or reduce the amount of time that you spend on less important things.

Home Business Goals - Where do you want to take your home business

Just like planning a long trip to a place that you have never been before, you want to have a destination that you want to reach.  If you don't have a clue about where you want to take your home business, it would be a good idea to think about it, right?  You don't have to spend a whole month coming up with your business goals, you can sit down and think about where you want to take your business.

Putting it down on paper

You can have a lot of different ideas about your home business that you want to implement.  Ideas can come into your mind and they can leave just as fast.  Have you ever thought about something but you didn't write it down and forgot it?  You don't want that to happen with your home business goals.  Make sure that you have a way to make a record of your goals.  It can be as simple as pulling out a piece of paper and a pen or as complex as buying business plan software.  The main key is to get your home business goals into a format that will not get away from you.  Print out your home business goals and put them in an area where you can see them on a regular basis.

Home Business Management

Management is a constant in all forms of business and your home business is no different.  Are you going to focus more on managing your home business?  Getting your business organized can help it run more smoothly.  When you are not organized, you can waste a lot of time trying to find information and trying to get things done.  When you are organized and prepared in your home business, it can help keep your business on track. One of the goals that many home business owners and business owners in general seek to accomplish is better management.

Growing Your Home Business

Do you want to grow your home business in the near future?  What do you want your home business to look like in the next three to five years?  It helps to start thinking about the future of your home business and what it will take to reach those goals.  Breaking down all the steps that are needed to get to the goal is an important step.  There are day to day items that need to get accomplished to reach a goal.  Building better habits and reaching those smaller goals can help you build momentum to reaching your ultimate business goals.

Putting in the right home business systems

Are there systems in place in your home business?  Trying to do things in a haphazard way might work in the short term for your home business but it might be better to start learning about systems that you can use to help your business run better.  One of your home business goals might be looking into newer technologies that can help your home business run better.  Sometimes a business might be doing things in a certain way but there are other business advancements.  Are there better more efficient ways of getting your business done.  Taking the time to investigate newer software systems and processes might have a real impact on your business performance.

Taking the time to sit down and take a look at the direction that your business is headed is a good idea.  How is the business landscape changing?   Are your customers changing?  Are new regulations going to have a big impact on your business prospects?  Goal setting can help give you an outlook on what is ahead for your home business.  Business planning might not be the cure all for your home business, but you are going into the marketplace with your eyes open to possibilities and pitfalls.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Podcasting for Your Home Business

Buy at Art.com
Ipod
Buy From Art.com
Give people more than just one way to get your content.  Especially for long blog posts, you might want to consider using a new format to spread your message.  Lets face it.  Web readers might only want smaller chunks of text to read online.  For more indepth information, it might be better to use audio.

People don't have a problem downloading an audio file. They can listen to it in the car.  They can listen to it while they are exercising or walking.  Audio can be more convenient and less of a strain on the user.

You probably have lots of written content that could fit this model.  So really think about taking those long blog posts and articles and turning them into something that can be consumed on an apple iphone, ipod or ipad.

Those audio podcasts might also be a way to increase the income for your business.  Think about grouping similar content together and turning it into an information product that you can sell.

Learn more about what you need to start podcasting here.


Sunday, July 22, 2012

Cheap Laptop Computer for Business

I want a cheap good quality laptop computer.  It has been a long time since I bought a computer.  The dell computers that I have purchased in the past really worked well for me.  Now the computers are starting to break down and they are getting a little loud.

The dell laptop that I own has a monitor that went out.  Plus the screen hinge where the monitor meets the base has broken.  The computer still works and I have setup an external monitor to actually see what is happening, but the time has come to upgrade to something new.

Dell really does make a good product.  There have been so many advances since the last time I bought a computer.  The computer battery life is much longer and now they make them so much lighter. Plus there is a whole new category of computer to consider.  The tablet computers, the apple ipad and the android tablets are starting to get my attention.  They keep getting more powerful and they are light and easy to use.  The touchscreen doesn't hurt too.

One thing that I am focused on is the price.  I don't want to overspend on a laptop.  Right now, I just need to get something that will work and be useful.  I am not going to wait as long to upgrade in the future.  The thing about computers is that when they work you really don't mess with them.  My computers are running windows xp and they have worked like a charm since they were removed from the box.

Sometimes I check the free classified ads to see how much people are selling computers for.  The prices are low, but then you think about the small additional cost to buy new.  Another factor is the right time to buy.  We are getting close to the back to school sales and there is the yearly tradition of the big black friday and cyber monday sales.

The cheap laptop decision will be made soon.


Monday, June 4, 2012

Online Work

Online work is attractive.  What are some of the reasons that people consider online work?  Regular jobs might be hard to come by.  Online work might be plentiful.  When you have something new, there are going to be requests for new services.


Take social media for example.  People are just starting to learn how to use social media apps like facebook and twitter.  There is online work for people that can provide social media services.  


Online work is also attractive because you might not need to drive to work everyday.  Online work can give you more freedom.  Getting an internet connection and a computer instantly puts you into the game no matter where you are. 


Online work is going to happen because people like to outsource work that they don't want to do.  Do you love to write?  Could you do it all day?  There are new blogs and websites that get started all the time and the blog owners might start to get tired of writing all the content by themselves.  They might turn to outsourcing. 


Outsourcing work is a trusted business strategy.  Big business does it all the time.  They might bring in consultants to handle a new account.  They might remove some employees and outsource the work to another location.  Many jobs that don't need to be done in-house might be an option for online work.


Online work takes the emphasis off of where the work gets done.  It all comes down to getting the results the client is looking for.  New technology is making it easier to do online work.  Smartphones and tablet computers are just two new inventions that give online workers more ways to stay connected.


Are you ready to venture into online work?  

How to Work Online

How to work online is something that you hear a lot about.  People are having a hard time trying to find traditional work.  Going through the process of getting a job is tough and it can take a long time.  The idea of getting started working online is something that many people would love to do.


The internet brings the globe together.  There are people all around the globe that are requesting services.  New websites are popping up all the time and you never know which ones will become a big hit.


One area that gets a lot of attention online is content.  Websites need new information posted online to stay relevant.  So the answer to how to work online can be answered rather quickly.  The key is to find something that you can do and get started.  


Working online means putting yourself out there and trying to land some clients.  There are all kinds of websites that work as a middle man in placing service providers with people requesting services.


Start taking a look at what you are good at and the skills that you have.  Next start taking a look at the demand for skills.  Software development is a popular skill.  You don't have to go get a job at a large corporation.  You could create software for popular programs like wordpress.  Wordpress plugins are really popular.  Sometimes it might take looking at things differently.


Even if you are not a software developer, you could create your own websites.  Blogs are easy enough to start and you could use your writing skills to create short term and long term income.  


Some people really enjoy writing and a blog could be the perfect outlet that answers the question how to work online.  Create a blog on your favorite subject and offer advertising space for earning income.  Google adsense is a popular income program that can help you make money with your sites.  


Creating your own blog can be simple as pie. You could realistically have a new blog up in just a few minutes.  All you need to do is come up with a blog name and start adding content.  


Choose the focus of your blog.  Are you a political junkie?  Do you think that Mitt Romney has the right answers for the economy?  Do you think President Obama will get the jobs picture turned around? These could be blog topics that you discuss.  


Getting online is not that hard to do.  Just take the first step and get started.  

Friday, June 1, 2012

Home Business Blogs

Why are blogs good for your home business?   A blog can be a great way to share information about what is going on in your company.  Blogs don't require a lot of technical knowledge to be effective.


Your blog can be updated from just about anywhere.  An internet connection and a computer are all that you need to keep your blog up to date.  


What can you blog about?  You can create content around interesting topics that your business is focused on.  Blogs can be tightly focused or they can be really general.  Your blog doesn't have to be strictly business.  A blog can have light information too.  


Take pictures, create audio podcasts and make short videos and share them on your blog.  You don't have to stick to just one form of content creation.