2-1-2 Small Business Sense

The url or domain name of your online home business is an important place for your main keyword, but more often than not those just starting an online home business are not aware of this until after they have registered their domain name and started marketing their home business, but you can always register a sub-domain name with your chosen keyword included. There are many other ways to optimize a web site for the search engines.

The meta tags are part of the behind-the-scenes source code on your webpage that give information to the search engine robots enabling them to index your online home business website properly.

The title meta tag is what will show up in the search engine results as the title of your website and so it is one of the best ways to appeal to both search engines and potential website visitors. Add your main keywords into your title tag being careful not to stuff it with keywords so that it becomes meaningless to your potential customers. Certainly avoid just listing your keywords in the title tag. You need to aim to include a short, precise, descriptive piece of text that accurately describes what your online home business has to offer.

The description meta tag will usually show up under the title of your webpage in the search engine results, which means it is actually an advert for your website. Ideally this should contain text that tells the visitor what your online home business can offer them as well as contain some keywords. Limit your description to 250 characters including spaces.

Visitors to your site will find it helpful if they find headings and subheadings giving them an idea of what your site is about and by adding keywords to these headings and adding a piece of html code around the headings will optimize your site for the search engine robots. The search engine spiders will see from these headings that the content of your website reflects the keywords in your title tag.

The spiders crawl through your site looking for text to tell them how to categorize your site and it pays to make life easy for the spiders. They check how relevant the content of your site is to certain search terms, so you need to spread your keywords strategically throughout the text of your website. Place top performing keywords at least once or twice in the first and last paragraphs and mention them once in the body of your content. Use variations of your keywords instead of repeating the same keyword over and over again. Use strong tags to target phrases also. Do not over use bold / strong tags, use once or twice on each page.

Ideally, it is best to optimize your web page for two or three keywords at most. If you want to optimize your website for more keywords or if your website if offering a variety of products or services then rather create a separate web page for each product or service and optimize each page for related keywords. This way will ensure that a potential customer who clicked on a certain advert or link is taken straight to the page relative to their search, rather than to a home page where they have to look for the actual product they searched for. By streamlining the sales process makes it easier for potential customers to make a purchase.

Bear in mind that the search engine robots can only view text, when they come across images they will find no information to gather, as the html code for an image only identifies the location of the image. You can take advantage of the opportunity to add keywords by using an alt tag and title tag for the image. The alt text on images should describe the image and if possible these images will be related to your targeted phrase. The title lets you use alternate keywords without breaking the flow for visitors.

In the source code of your online home business website you will probably find images that make up the design of your site and these also offer the opportunity to use alt tags to add keywords. They may already be in your source code so you need to look for this code after the image location html alt=”" and you can insert your keywords inside the inverted commas, be sure to keep them brief and do not stuff with keywords.

Since search engine robots do not read punctuation marks such as full stop, commas etc., you can use a keyword phrase that runs from the end of one sentence into the beginning of another. In other words you do not have to contain your keyword phrase within a sentence.

Whether you are just starting an online home business or have had your website for a while, always follow the golden rule of organic search engine optimization i.e. Create your online home business web pages for your users, not search engines. In other words write a descriptive and convincing html title that will appeal to your visitors and then make sure that your keywords appear in the title in order to make it search engine friendly.

By: Cynthia Minnaar

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A number of questions are asked by clients either before purchasing or after downloading the accounting software. Many of these questions and the answers are the same the most typical of which are produced here.

Why is the monthly profit and loss account not updating from the sales and purchases entered.

Updating the profit and loss account in the financial accounts file is automated. If the financial accounts file is not updating automatically the links from the sales accounting spreadsheet and or the purchase accounting spreadsheet are not working. This may be because the file names have been changed which breaks the links between the files.

The most common reason is the way the files were originally saved when initially downloaded from the website by opening the files first before saving them. When a file is opened first before saving the computer stores that file in a temporary internet folder and changes the links to temporary links within that temporary folder.

When that file is then saved it is those temporary links which are being saved and not the original links. Those temporary links would not be recognised by the other files which form the link structure. The solution is to delete the files and save the files again direct to your accounts folder without opening them first thereby preserving the original links.

Accounting entries on sales and purchases appear on the profit and loss account but do not appear on the list of expenses on the self employed tax return.

The self employed tax return required to be completed in the UK is dependent upon the sales turnover. Small business with total sales income exceeding 64,000 pounds for the financial year ending 5 April 2008 are required to complete the full self employed tax return while businesses with a turnover under 64,000 pounds may complete the short version of the self employed tax return.. Coincidentally the threshold is the same as the vat threshold.

In addition if the sales income is less than 30,000 pounds then it is not necessary to complete all the individual expense classifications. The excel formulae within the financial accounts file automatically fill in the short or full tax return and only fill in the detailed expense classifications if required to do so.

Does the package produce my quarterly vat returns when a vat flat rate scheme is being operated.

The user guide contains notes on how to enter the value added tax flat rate percentage on the sales bookkeeping spreadsheet. The bookkeeping single entry of the flat rate vat percentage on the sales sheet updates throughout the package including the subsequent months on the sales sheet and also each month on the purchases bookkeeping spreadsheet automatically calculating value added tax at the flat rate percentage and expenses value added tax paid on purchases at the zero vat rate producing a quarterly vat return.

Does the self employed accounting software package produce a balance sheet.

Producing a balance sheet is optional for self employed small business and not an essential requirement of completing the self employed tax return. The self employed package is based upon single entry bookkeeping and does not produce a balance sheet which requires double entry bookkeeping while the limited company package does produce a balance sheet as it is a legal requirement for a limited liability company.

As the self employed accounting software includes sales and purchase spreadsheets and also cash and bank spreadsheets it is possible to manually produce a balance sheet if required but the accounting software does not produce it automatically.

Do I purchase a new software package each financial year or can the accounting software be updated for more than one year accounts.

As the accounting software and payroll packages include the current financial year tax rules that enable the financial packages to automate the production of that years tax returns then each year has new tax rules embedded and being on excel rather than an accounting database then it is necessary to purchase a new accounting or payroll package each year.

By: Terry Cartwright

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Peter Drucker the noted management consultant said, “Chances are good that up to 66% of your companies hiring decisions will prove to be mistakes in the first 12 months.”

That’s a pretty damning statistic when you consider the potential cost of a mis-hire can be as much as three-times the persons salary. This means for a failed hire of a typical middle manager with a salary of $50,000 – you could face costs as high as $150,000.

And let’s not overlook the potential for law suits, and the intangible costs associated with depressed morale and the very real loss in productivity. Of course you may even need to factor in packages and other layoff costs too.

Studies have shown that “DIY Recruiting” is dangerous to your companies health, and relying on gut instincts, first impressions, and poor hiring processes will undoubtedly lead to the dismal future painted by Peter Drucker in the opening paragraph of this article.

But hiring doesn’t have to be this way. True, hiring is part art, but mostly it’s a well researched science with the exceptional firms providing top quality recruitment services, capable of successfully sourcing and selecting great people for your growing company.

Excellent recruitment begins with understanding the requirements – and we’re not just referring to the required skills of the applicant (although this is important) we are referring to a much richer and more in-depth analysis that includes the job, the environment, the people and the culture.

A true Tier-1 recruitment firm seeks to understand the behaviour patterns, competencies, interests and abilities that would define a top performer within the company. Along with traditional methods of resume selection, phone screening, and in-person interviews, Tier-1 firms include personality profiling, and applicant assessments along with supporting background and reference checks.

And unlike person-to-person interviews, which always have the chance for misinterpretation, scientifically developed applicant assessment reduces the chances of an unsuitable applicant to the lowest levels. Contrary to popular myth, it’s not possible to “fake” valid and reliable assessments. And candidates who do attempt to fake it are only fooling themselves!

Successful recruitment is not magic, it is however something you shouldn’t DIY. Top Tier recruitment companies are specially trained to implement only the industry’s best practices combining a structured hiring process, a scientifically proven applicant assessment profile, and a detailed company requirements analysis.

In conclusion, DIY recruiting is dangerous, expensive, depressing, and legally risky. Heed Peter Drucker’s advice: hire a professional recruiter and avoid a 66% failure rate.

By: Fernie Black

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An E-Business is in many ways different from a brick and mortar store. But in some ways it is the same. One way they are the same is General Accounting. If you are making money as an Internet Marketer, then you are going to have to decide whether or not to hire an accountant or do-it-yourself.

There are a few pros and cons to both options

a. DIY – FREE!

Accountant – $$$$

b. DIY – lots of work and time

Accountant – Much less work and a smaller amount of time

c. DIY – Tax and accounting knowledge may be very limited

Accountant – Professional usually college grad and many years of hands on experience

If you are to become successful as an Internet Marketer, then your main objective is to continue to build your business, and to do that you need to be spending your time doing business building stuff. Whether it’s building your list or developing new products or whatever it may be, and all those things take time. So you time is probably better spent working your business, not dealing with accounting issues, tax issues, etc.

Now some people may be well versed in tax law and or accounting procedures, either from college experience or previous business experience. But the majority of us are not that fortunate.

So you have 2 options here. Either begin doing your research and find out as much as you can about tax and accounting information, as it pertains to your business and state. Or hire a professional accountant.

Hiring a professional is obviously going to cost you some money. How much will depend on the expertise of accountants in your area, as well as the demand for accountants in your area. I can’t really tell you what to expect for accounting services as there are to many variables.

Depending on how much work you expect your accountant to do will be one deciding factor. With that said if you do want to hire an accountant you can usually keep the costs down somewhat by doing at least some of the accounting work yourself.

For example if you can keep a simple monthly ledger you will save your accountant quite a few hours worth of work every month. And if you are paying by the hour that can add up quickly. I have an accountant for my business and I know I have got an extremely good deal.

My accountant fees are relatively cheap I think for what my accountant does for me. I have at the time of this writing about 3 full time employees. I take care of record keeping on a month to month basis, mainly in the form of a monthly ledger, and I keep track of employees scheduling and pay and thats about it. My accountant does all my payroll tax stuff for the feds, issues my payroll checks for my full time employees bi-weekly, and does all my end of year tax preparation stuff.

Now last year my business grossed about $700,000.00 so my accountant had her work cut out for her, I did what I could to help make her job easier but in my opinion she handles the lions share of the work. She charges me about $500.00 to do all my end of business tax prep stuff, and $26.00 per pay period to do my payroll. So if you shop around and are willing to do some of the work you should be able to reasonably afford accounting services, and save your time for building your online business!

By: Mike Hagerty

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DIY business

If you’ve ever received a quote from a graphic design company, and sat looking at the screen, a low whistle escaping you, wondering incredulously how people afford to market their businesses… you have probably also considered just doing your own design! The most common corporate printed material (after business cards) is the company brochure – it’s a necessity for many businesses. Today we are looking at whether it is more cost effective to outsource the design for your brochure printing, or do-it-yourself, and the extra benefits and disadvantages associated with each strategy.

Brochure printing as a corporate identity

Your brochure is the key to your corporate identity. Even more than your business card (which will be used mainly in B2B situations), your printed brochure is often the main physical point of contact for your customers when they are considering your products or services. It is vital that it be professional, attractive, and say everything that you need it to in a compelling way.

Does this mean I should DIY or outsource?

You should outsource if you:

Are not comfortable with graphic design principles or software
Are not comfortable with copywriting
Are competing with companies with professionally printed brochures
Want to improve a flagging perception of your business
You should DIY if you:

Have solid graphic design and copywriting experience, or access to someone in the company that does
Have little competition in your niche
Need to literally watch every cent and want a tiny (

By: Steve DD Roberts

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Let’s start by talking about strategic focus. Leadership models and new business models are key ingredients to success in the 21st century. The successful 21st century business model is built around servant style leadership with a focus on strategic thinking by harnessing the creativity and innovation of the employees. The vehicle to accomplish this is the strategic planning process
Strategy serves as the organization compass and roadmap to future success. Strategic thinking must be clear and communicated effectively throughout the organization. It is not something you can leverage with technology. It isn’t something you will find in the latest business manual. It is embedded in the minds of your management team and most of your employees. It is your employees who are on the front line and know what is really going on with your customers and your markets. It requires effective leadership to release the power of the employees in building a strategic roadmap to the future.

Defining objectives and developing initiatives and action plans to meet those objectives is the basis of strategic planning. However, it all starts with an end game, a “Vision for the Future.”

Strategic planning is a management tool. It is used to help an organization clarify its future direction – to focus its energy, and to help members of the organization work toward the same goals. The planning process adjusts the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment. Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to support fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does and why it does it, with a focus on where it wants to go and how it is going to get there.

Fundamental decisions, actions and choices must be made in order to develop a plan that provides a Roadmap on “How to get there from Here.”.” The plan is ultimately no more, and no less, than a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it, and when and how to do it.

The scope of the strategy development process for any company is dependent upon individual business needs. The strategic planning process is a time and resource-consuming endeavor that involves many people in the organization. This process includes both tactical and strategic application. The DIY process assumes that you have a good handle on both your internal and external environment. If you don’t you may want to consider hiring a consultant to do an internal assessment and survey your customers and vendors to analyze your external environment.

Hiring a consulting firm can cost as little as $10,000 for a simple two day facilitation to upwards of $100,000 for comprehensive involvement by the consulting firm during the entire process.

So, if you are not inclined to hire an outside consultant, you may want to follow this ten step process for DIY (Do It Yourself) Strategic Planning. Although it isn’t possible to describe in great detail the entire process in an article (it would require 50 pages) the following is an overview of the process.

The Ten Step Process

Let’s identify the steps first and then we’ll discuss each one in a little more detail . I cannot emphasize enough that the true value of a strategic plan is not in the document itself. It is in the process of creating it, involving many of your employees from the bottom up. This empowers them to be more effective and better-informed leaders, managers and decision makers.

1. Select the strategy team and send a company wide communication

2. Create a Vision for the Future (End Game)

3. Preparation —–Secure an off site location for the kick off meeting which includes training the team on the strategic planning process. Purchase a strategic planning template, download one from the web or e-mail rick@ceostrategist.com for a generic sample.

4. Complete a SWOT analysis. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats)

5. Identify the critical core initiatives that are necessary to support the vision for the future and to achieve its objectives

6. Develop strategic implementation plans (SIPs) that support the identified critical core initiatives

7. Prioritize the CCI’s and SIP’s based on the biggest impact on the bottom line in the shortest period of time. Modify and complete the document template to fit your company strategy

8. Develop an accountability process based on a structured monthly strategic review

9. Develop a presentation of the strategy for approval by the CEO, owners or Board of Directors.

10. Develop a Roll Out Strategy to explain the strategic plan to the entire company

Step One ——— Selection and Communication

It all starts with communication. The very first piece of information should be the announcement to all employees that the company is embarking on a planning process for the future. This memo should be sent from the President asking for everyone’s support. (A sample memo is available from rick@ceostrategist.com) The memo will likely announce who the strategy team members are and ask for everyone to congratulate them and provide input at every opportunity. CAUTION: Make sure that you have talked to any employee in advance that was not picked for the strategy team that may feel that they should have been.

Once the team is announced and the process starts make sure you continue to keep employees aware of the progress and solicit their input. A minimum of a monthly memo should be issued. The strategic planning process can take from 6 weeks to 12 weeks so it is important to keep everyone informed without releasing too much detail.

The strategy team should include a senior accountant, and should consist of between seven and ten members. Team selection should be based on competence, integrity, work ethic, leadership skills, and future growth potential within the Company. The team will formulate and present the strategic document to the President/CEO and the Board of Directors. It is critical that all employees are empowered and encouraged to communicate their ideas and issues with any member of the strategy team. This process ensures accountability and ownership of the strategy at every level in the organization.

Step Two — A Vision for the Future (The End Game)

The Vision for the Future (End Game) in business is simply defining what winning the game in your business is really about. What does winning mean. Just exactly what do you want your company to be when it grows up? Ask yourself the following questions from the perspective of looking five to seven years into the future.

1. What markets should your company be serving five years from now?

2. What products should you be distributing?

3. Who are your primary competitors?

4. What are your strengths?

5. What are your competitors’ strengths?

6. How has your marketing strategy changed?

7. What are your core competencies?

8. What is the size of your revenue stream?

9. How is your revenue stream segmented?

10. Do you have a Human Resource Development plan?

The CEO/Owners should create the “Vision for the Future” (End Game) for presentation to the strategy team.

Step Three — Preparation

Running a strategic planning process is not just designing a template and having the team members fill in the gaps. On the contrary, it means carefully coaching the management team through a thinking process. Often, the actual strategic plan is even less important than the development and growth of the team members participating in the process. The strategy team should be trained on the process you intend to follow in developing the strategic plan. Once that is competed the CEO/President should present the vision of the future with copies for everyone and then excuse himself from the meeting to allow the strategy team to tear the end game apart and put it back together. The President will have explained that they have the right and the obligation to challenge the end game if they do not agree with any part of it. However, any challenge to any portion must be accompanied by alternative recommendations. The concept is to finalize a “Vision for the Future” that everyone owns.

Step Four—- The SWOT analysis

The team will conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis to identify critical constraints and potential opportunities for growth.

Step Five — Developing the Critical Core Initiatives from the Vision for the Future

Critical core initiatives are over arching initiatives that are found within the Vision for the Future. An example may be defined as a human resource initiative for becoming employer of choice. There are many independent action steps (Strategic Implementation Plans – SIPs) that will be required to accomplish the Critical Core Initiative (CCI). They may include training, education, leadership development, compensation and benefits etc.

Identifying the CCI’s first is necessary to move on to the next step which is creating SIPs for each CCI.

Step Six— Prioritize the CCI’s and identify individual SIPs for each CCI

A Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) is a set of tasks that supports a Critical Core Initiative and therefore creates fundamental change in the way you do things. SIP work deals with long-term improvement and change, balancing concern for today with concern for the future and is a fundamental task of managerial decision-making. Work against SIPs deals with improving things for tomorrow.

Each Critical Core Initiative is supported by a set of SIPs that contain a sequenced set of tasks, schedules, and named responsible individuals. The creation of SIPs indicates that the chosen area is one that provides a high payoff in terms of innovation and managed change.

Step Seven — Assign sections of the strategy template to be completed by different team members

Developing the strategy document from team homework assignments completed over the previous weeks is a matter of following the template that has been modified to meet your specific company needs.

Step Eight — The accountability process

The key managerial tool to ensure steady, consistent progress on SIP tasks is the formal Operational Review Meeting (ORM). This is the foundation to insure that the strategic plan is successful. The ORM is held monthly. The purpose of the ORM is to:

o Clearly understand the status of your key initiatives.

o Keep executive focus on strategic, rather than just urgent, issues.

o Facilitate communication and support throughout the executive team and the company.

o Formulate emergency responses to company-wide threats or opportunities.

o Leverage all appropriate company resources while maintaining proper accountability for performance.

The ORM should be attended by members of the Strategy Team, executive management and other senior managers. It will follow a formal agenda and discussions will be driven by two objective measurements: performance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and progress of SIP task completion. SIP and action item owners will be held accountable for achieving the desired results by the due date indicated on the plan. The entire team will be held accountable for meeting SIP goals.

Step Nine — Developing the presentation for approval

The strategy team will provide the strategy document to ownership at least one week in advance of the formal presentation. Representatives of the strategy team will present the plan and defend it from a considered corporate challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to ensure that the plan is well thought out and based on a realistic assessment of the company’s risks and constraints. The presentation will also demonstrate the degree of commitment and ownership by the team. The objective of the meeting is to formally endorse the strategy for the company. If necessary, the team will revise and re-present the plan to obtain ownership approval.

Step Ten —- The Roll Out Process

After formal acceptance, the President and two to three strategy team members should schedule meetings to introduce the strategy to the entire management team and all other employees, thus formally launching the strategy. This should be a big deal and should be completed as quickly as possible. In person presentations by executive management and strategy team members is highly recommended.

Strategy Development Overview

Strategic planning is a management tool. It is used to help an organization clarify its future direction – to focus its energy, and to help members of the organization work toward the same goals. The planning process adjusts the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment. Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to support fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does and why it does it, with a focus on where it wants to go and how it is going to get there.

Discipline is a prerequisite to this process because it requires laser like persistence to result in a productive strategic planning initiative. The process raises a sequence of questions that helps planners examine current reality, test assumptions, gather and incorporate information about the present and perform trend analysis on the future industry environment. The prioritization of initiatives and SIPs is an essential step. Although your strategic plan will cover a five to seven year period prioritized SIPs are worked on during the first twelve to eighteen month period based on bandwidth and resources while other CCIs and SIPs are deferred. It is much more effective to completely finish three or four SIPs pertaining to one or two CCI’s than to work on ten or twelve SIPs and accomplish nothing.

Fundamental decisions, actions and choices must be made in order to develop a plan that provides the roadmap to the future. The plan is ultimately no more, and no less, than a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it, when and how to do it. CEO Strategist is in the process of producing a three CD set based on the strategic pyramid methodology for release by 1/1/2007 with a workbook that will walk you through every aspect of the DIY strategic planning process in great detail and provide all the forms and templates necessary for you to successfully complete a strategic plan with your team. E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com to reserve an advance copy of this program. In the mean time, you can request a copy of a generic template or get Rick’s recently published book “Leading the Pack” which has six “end game visions of the future examples” in the appendix.

By: Rick Johnson

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The Magniwork Free Energy Blueprint was developed by Ronald Bronson, a green energy supporter.  Mr Bronson’s DIY renewable energy magnetic generator is a zero point device, which powers itself with magnetic repulsion.  By building the renewable energy magnetic generator you could eliminate your electric bill.  The DIY renewable energy magnetic generator uses new technology to create it’s own energy.

Eliminate your dependence on the energy company.  The Magniwork free energy blueprint is a complete step by step guide to creating a magnetic generator.  The supplies and tools needed are common and readily available at the local hardware store, Lowe’s, or Home Depot.

FEATURES OF THE MAGNIWORK RENEWABLE ENERGY MAGNETIC GENERATOR

The Magniwork free energy blueprint is simple and concise including lots of photographs and detailed drawings. Plans are written so that you have the ability to scale the size of the generator to meet your needs. Anyone can build a magnetic generator. You also get a discount parts list where you can order supplies up to 50% off of retail. Mr Bronson also includes free technical support and product updates. The Magniwork generator contains no harmful or toxic parts, so it is safe around children and pets.

The generator is of compact size and can run in all types of weather. It can also run for years with little or no maintenance. With a low price and a 60day money back guarantee you the homeowner have nothing to loose. The most important feature is the peace of mind that you are doing your part to reduce greenhouse gasses, taking a bite out of the energy crisis and helping the environment.

THE APPLICATIONS OF THE DIY RENEWABLE ENERGY MAGNETIC GENERATOR ARE ENDLESS HERE ARE A FEW

You the home owner could completely or partially power your home or business. Depending on your states net metering laws you could export your unused power to the electric company, you could get a check from the electric company for a change. A portable DIY renewable energy magnetic generator could be used on a remote job sit or a camping trip. Green industry is growing faster than any other industry in the USA, get in on the ground floor and start a business selling magnetic generators.

If you find that you are asking yourself “Why have I never heard of this technology?” The answer is simple. The big power companies DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS! If every home in the USA had a magnetic electrical generator we would not need them anymore. And household independence is a Very freighting concept for them.

By: Christy Corley

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Home based business continues to be an appealing opportunity for full and part time entrepreneurs alike. One of the biggest hesitations most new online business owners have is how to create and manage an online store. If that is your biggest worry, fear no more. That is easily solved with a DIY website builder.

DIY, for those who do not know, stands for do it yourself. The term was coined to apply to not only web hosting, but other things like home improvement and repair, for example.

The term DIY is appealing to many because it signifies a savings in cost due to the fact that you will be performing the activity yourself rather than paying a skilled professional to do it. Professionals cost money, and why should you hire someone when you can easily do something yourself?

You can have an online store in less than a day. You do not have to know any HTML coding or site programming. You can use a quality DIY website builder that basically operates by point and click.

You want to utilize an interface that is easy on the eyes, and laid out in an organized fashion so you can easily locate the components you need. You want to have a DIY website builder that allows you to change out your site graphics with a few simple mouse clicks. Quick graphic change-outs are popular for various reasons, but primarily for those who want to change their storefront appearance for the holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween, or the 4th of July.

If you have ever built websites using HTML coding and page uploading the old fashioned way, you will certainly appreciate the ease of use a DIY website builder brings to the home based business owner when creating and managing an online store.

A high quality DIY website builder costs around $12 a month, and it should include your hosting along with the easy to use site builder interface. This is one of the reasons having an online store is so attractive; imagine trying to sell out of brick and mortar storefront in that price range. You can’t.

The only other thing you need is a domain name, and that costs around $10 a year, which equates to around 80 cents a month.

As you can see, the start up costs for an online business are incredibly reasonable, making it attractive for people to sell their own products or outsourced ones on their website.

If you have thought about selling your crafts or other products online, but hesitated because you don’t know HTML or coding, then do not procrastinate any longer. Your website can be up and running in less than a day on an easy to use DIY website builder. Many companies even install your site for free, all you do is start adding products and having fun managing your new website.

Look for a DIY website provider that offers free technical support, free installation, and a top of the line site builder, and all at an affordable price. You should not have to pay more than $15 a month for this type of package.

Owning and operating an online home based business is very rewarding and a lot of fun. It is also something that families can enjoy doing together. Whether you are a weekend crafter or woodworker, or a product reseller, you can earn a great full time or sideline income selling online.

By: Laura Maness Brown

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A business card is a greeting card for your customers. The design is only limited by your imagination. Many people choose to design and print business cards themselves not for the reason of saving money. Instead they do it for customization and creativity.

Many websites make the design and customization of business cards as easy as a few clicks. The design of a business card online starts with choosing a business card template, change the font size, color, layout, or add additional text if you need, then customize it to your business with title, description, phone number and URL of your website if you have and choose to show it on the business cards. These online sites also give you the option to add your company logo or a photo without having to use their designs. It is a fun and easy way to create your business cards online and can actually save you time and money because you do not have to consult a graphic designer. You are the designer.

As the designer of your business cards, you need to make several decisions: 1) do you want a back-and-white business card, or a color business card; and 2) do you want a horizontal or vertical business card in terms of styles. Black-and-white business cards look professional and are suited for businesses in engineering, manufacturing and scientific fields. Color business cards are suited more for professionals who are in arts, web design and marketing. While horizontal business cards look traditional and conservative when they’re printed in black-and-white, vertical business cards may create the artistic and liberal impressions.

Once you’ve chosen a template, color and style of your business cards, the next step is business card printing. Business cards are often printed on papers. Some business cards are printed on plastic cards or even magnetic cards. A magnetic card is ideal for your customers to keep on their refrigerators so they will not lose your number. Color raised ink will make your company logo or your name stand out on a white background. Plastic business cards resist fading and scratching. Plastic card printing requires specific equipments which are not offered by all business card printing companies.

Business card printing online, as well as design, is fast and easy. You can get the look and feel of the cards instantly before you receiving the real cards. Consumers will likely keep business cards designed with character and printed on plastic cards around even after using your company’s services.

By: Natalie Aranda

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All small business owners know the importance of marketing even if they are not sure how or what needs to be done.

If they are in the start up stage of their small business they may feel that they cannot pay the cost of a marketing consultant Why not try some DIY marketing research first until you start to get into gear.

No matter what your mission statement says, the purpose of your business is to profitably get customers and keep them. With out customers there is no business. To get and keep customers you must be able to answer this question: “If I were the customer, why would I do business with me?”

That is the kernel of all market research. It is surely the most important question you can ask of your business Knowing the customer, knowing the marketplace, knowing the competition, knowing your product/service, if you were the customer, why would you do business or buy from yourself. You must be able to answer the question honestly and factually. If you can, answer in dollar terms. For example, ” If I were the customer I would do business with me because my services can improve his profits by 30% or $1,000 each week” But whatever when you know the answer to that one single question you have a foundation for pricing, advertising, selling, negotiating, and doing business It is not easy to answer this simple question.

The answer requires knowing who your customer is, which is not always obvious.

The answer requires an understanding of your customers profile; Her concerns; her ability to pay; Commitments to other methods; Tolerance to risk; Cultural barriers; Mindsets: And confusions. The answer requires an accurate knowledge of the economic and “feel good” values your customer will get in your product.

The answer is the blueprint for product innovation, for advertising headlines, for market segmentation, for marketing and distribution strategy. the answer is the blueprint for allocating investment, for hiring the right people, for selecting the best locations.

If you were the customer and you can state in ten words or less why you would buy from yourself, maybe the customer will listen to you

By: Kelvyn Peters

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