Get ready for that question Somebody walked up to me after a recent speech and said, “In 15 words, why should I do business with you?”

You need a good response. After you have created an elevator pitch and are comfortable presenting it, condense it even further. You might come into contact with someone who may have heard hundreds of elevator pitches and wants something even more concise. They may want 15 words. You have to be ready.

The 15-word response I responded, “I can turn your problems into solutions. I’ve been doing this since 1992.” That was 13 words (five seconds). It met his criteria and helped establish a dialog. We ended up talking for another 10 minutes. When you have an answer, you look competent and invite new business. If you don’t have one, you may end up looking inexperienced to a prospect. I am sharing a few more similar responses for your review. They’re all 15 words or fewer:

I can turn your problems into solutions. I’ve been doing this since .
I can turn your problems into solutions. How can I help you today?
I’m a business owner too. This works for me and my business.
My customers are jumping for joy!
I was skeptical at first, but I gave it a shot. It works great!
My product is not the cheapest, but it is the best value.
You won’t have to think about anymore.
Pay me to think about . You’re running a business.
It works. It works right. You won’t have to think about it at midnight.

Embrace one of these or create one of your own. Create a worksheet to help you answer the “Why should I do business with you?” question. Write the date in the left column and your 15-word responses in the right column. Get ready for this question. You may need a 15-word response tomorrow.

Daphne’s Answer I have a friend, Daphne the Dancer. Daphne already has sufficient information for three elevator pitches. She tells me, “I don’t know what to do. I’m working at my 9-5 job, I’m still teaching at the health club, and I’m launching my business. Can I get 90 seconds to recite three elevator pitches in a row?”

“No. That would confuse everybody. Stick with what you are pursuing. That is how you want people to remember you. That is where you’re looking for help, vendors, customers, and referrals. It’s OK to say what you are pursuing as long as you’re not physically at the 9-5 job or the health club when you say that. Keep your separate occupations separate. It’s also OK to tell people you are launching your own dance studio and it won’t happen in a New York minute.”

“OK. I am going with: ‘My name is Daphne Prancer. I dance. I have danced professionally in 10 countries. I have taught dance locally since 2005 and am opening Daphne Dance Company soon. I am looking for dance students of all ages. It’s OK if they’re deaf-I know sign language.’”

“That sounds pretty good. Let’s move on to another item. What will you say when you don’t have enough time for the elevator pitch? You may have someone approach you and say, ‘Why should I do business with you?’ Daphne, you may be surprised by how many people cannot answer that question quickly.”

She replies, “I can see that happening. How about these:

‘I can help you become a great dancer. That is what I do.’
‘My students have had great results.’
‘I’m not the cheapest, but my students appreciate the quality.’

“How will I know how much time I will have? Somebody may give me enough time for an elevator pitch and the next person may ask me, ‘Why should I do business with you?’ How will I know?”

“Ah yes, that could be a toughie. Here’s something I’ve noticed. Folks who want the 15-word response will usually dart across the room to get to you and then they will get in your face. If you see someone make a beeline to get to you and then stare at you like a cat stares at a mouse, they may be too impatient for the elevator speech. Give them a 15-word response.”

Create your elevator pitch and your 15-word responses today. You may need them tomorrow.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Germanos

Networking through the internet has given companies more opportunities than they’ve ever had before. Whether looking for clients or to form strategic alliances, it is now possible to interact with people that may not have had access to the company previously. However, even though dealings are taking place through the internet, networkers are still forced to deal with many of the concerns they would’ve contended with offline. Of these, the biggest issue is the question of how to make sure companies are able to reconnect with each other. Although previously this may have been matter of luck and e-mail more than anything else, businesspeople can now combine the results of offline networking with the convenience of the internet by using digital business cards. Here are four reasons to give them serious consideration.

1. Ramp Up Marketing Efforts

One of the biggest advantages of having a company business card is that it allows representatives to interact with more people. When using the internet, finding and having conversations with people is not hard to do. Digital business cards make it possible for companies to efficiently “finish things off” once that critical first connection has been formed.

2. Stay Professional

There are companies that make every effort to be professional offline while neglecting to do the same online. To a certain extent, this is likely because the internet is decidedly less formal than a face-to-face meeting. As a result is easy to find people walking a fine line between informality and being unprofessional on the internet. In offline dealings, cards have a way of lending credibility. Digital business cards have a similar effect online.

3. Let Prospects Find You More Easily

Although it is certainly possible to use e-mail and other methods to exchange proper contact information, it takes time to do so. So much so that it can become a little bit cumbersome for those who are hoping to make more connections in less time. With digital business cards, it is now a simple matter of handing it over and waiting for that call, fax, or e-mail.

4. Save Resources

Whether considering the possibility of sending cards or simply printing them, there is time and money that goes into that. Having something ready online makes the whole exchange faster and not having to pay for and send printed copies allows for financial savings as well. If time is money then the benefits will become even more noticeable to a company.

Online networking has developed into a legitimate way for companies to acquire more customers and find like-minded businesspeople at the same time. It is an opportunity that cannot be neglected. As such it is essential that businesses do what they can to handle things as efficiently as possible. Digital business cards allow companies to get more from their marketing efforts, maintain a certain level of professionalism, and stay in touch while saving money and time. At this stage, there is no reason for a company to be networking through the internet without making use of them.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Fielding

If you regularly attend business networking events then you probably have a large stack of business cards that you carry with you. Many people just carry them in their pocket which results in them handing out bent and distorted cards – hardly a good impression to set!

For this reason any networker should invest in a smart business card holder or case to house their cards and keep them in good condition. In this article we look at the different types of business card holders that are available and help you choose the right one for you.

Leather card holders

These are probably at the premium end of card holders due to them being created from, or at least layered with, genuine leather. This gives a luxurious feel and due to the natural durability of leather they last a long time.

These make fantastic gifts for friends and colleagues but also help to create a good first impression when you meet somebody at an event for the first time.

Metal card cases

These are often smaller and able to carry fewer cards than other holders but they are still quite stunning nonetheless. Available in a variety of metals from chrome to aluminium, these card cases are very strong and look great.

Rotary card holders

You will recognise these from the desks of cops and office workers in movies from the eighties! These rotary business card holders enable you to quickly flick through your contact list with the aid of index tabs. They often hold hundreds of cards so make a great addition to any office desk.

With the advances in technology however, many people are opting to keep their contacts completely digital and as these rotary systems are not designed to leave the office, their popularity is diminishing.

Savvy business people still have one for cases of technical emergencies anyway, allowing them to find the details of that PC repair guy they met a few months back with ease!

Card wallets

These are usually much larger and are designed to store many business cards for the purpose of presentation. A little bit like a photo album, card wallets provide a great place to put all of the cards you have collected over the months and years in one single place for reference.

These have additional benefits other than simply finding contacts; if you are a fan of innovative design like myself you can use these as a place to store your favourite business card designs and use them for inspiration next time you design a new card.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Saunders

I get lots of questions from different people on “How can all this social media stuff like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Squidoo, Digg, YouTube, Blogs help me?”

So lets first define Social Media, with Wikipedia’s Definition: Social Media is a form of internet marketing which seeks to achieve branding and marketing communication goals through the participation in various social media including writing content that is remarkable, unique, and newsworthy. Lastly Social Media utilizes social networking and user-generated content platforms to promote a product, service or content.

Now that being said…necessary tools for Social Media are bookmarks, blogs, forums, podcasts, networks, communities, wikis. Important and versatile sites are places like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Myspace, Digg, Stumbleupon and Squidoo.

The number one point to remember is this

..Due to Social media marketing being so easy to implement and it being so affordable, it is of significant importance to small businesses.

So where do I start?

By a long shot, Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook were the top four social media tools used by marketers, with Twitter leading the pack. All the other social media tools paled in comparison to these top four. Download Social Media Marketing Industry report.

How do I measure the effectiveness of social media?

A significant 81% of all marketers indicated that their social media efforts have generated exposure for their businesses. Check out Social Media Marketing Report. Improving traffic and growing lists was the second major benefit, followed by building new partnerships. A rise in search engine rankings is also an evident increase, as well as a reduction in your overall marketing expenses. Now that is some GOOD news…if your not involved in Social Media Marketing…then it’s TIME!

StartupNation does make a valid point when it says that many small businesses have failed to embrace the opportunities in social media marketing.

If that’s you, then speak with an Internet marketing consultant or do your own research of how social media marketing can help you. It would be beneficial for you and your company.

Last year in February, an article came out on “Social Media Will Change Your business“

It’s a good read with some great links for blog writing. One of the paragraph talks about “grabbing you by the collar, and shaking you into action” and that was written LAST YEAR! All in all there is some important information for newbies and veterans alike. The story of the google employee that got fired is one of them…because it shows how fast social media can work.

Another way Social Media can help your business is the customer relationship.

As a business you would be interested in creating a dialog, direct and immediate feedback benefits, and to learn directly from your customers on what has been successful and what areas need focus and enhancement. Sharing content is the real power and the advantage of using social media. Businesses can keep their online community up to date with news, events and what the business has to offer.

Ezine @rticles has some great thoughts on Blogging, Relationship Marketing, Customer Voice and Social Marketing. Customer Voice is a huge one this year which is where Twitter or blogs have been the most efficient.

Customers want voice in your business…give you feedback.

Relationship Marketing

Is also top in 2009 as a tool to build loyalty, along with a timely response, or you can have a blog and a Twitter account as these all have interaction with the customer. These also allow you to create a personality for your business as well as develop an image as a forward-thinking company that is responsive. Responses include Tweeting back on Twitter, a FaceBook response, sending a personable card, thank-you card and a quick thinking of you card. A top of the line online card system that is extremely affordable and saves you time and effort is SendoutCards. The fastest, most affordable Relationship Marketing tool online with over 13,000 cards available along with gifts and gift cards. You write it, they print it, stuff it, stamp it and mail it for you. Can’t beat that deal!

Facebook for Business!..

Yes you read that correctly…Facebook for business is very real…read this artlcle: Facebook’s Latest Design Update Helps Businesses part of it reads “With the latest evolution, Facebook makes its service more valuable to businesses.”

Here’s another good one to check out: 30+ Apps for Doing Business on Facebook great read from Mashable The Social Media Guide.

What is LinkedIn? and why should I be a part of that?

If you’re running a small Internet business or have a regular brick-and-mortar business, “knowing” the right people and being able to ask and answer questions significant to your business will help you build your network with contacts. Someone you know in your line of business is already on LinkedIn. You just need to set up a profile, start introducing yourself around, join groups and discussions, start discussions with any questions, or answer discussions with your expertise in your area. What a wonderful way to reach beyond the limits of time and travel to someone else who is like minded and able to discuss important things, answer questions all in a few lines.

Never heard of a Squidoo lens before?

A Squidoo lens is a free web page that states what you are interested in…it could be as simple as a recipe if your a restaurant, to as complex as how to take the perfect picture. Along with links to anyplace you want, you can join groups, be a lens master, create as many pages as you want and get the word out!..

StumbleUpon…great name…what does it do?

Here’s how it works. Install the toolbar, identify some categories you like on the web, then hit the Stumble button. The service takes you to a web page that is popular with people who share your interests. You’ve got the option to give that page a thumbs up, a thumbs down or just leave it by hitting the Stumble button again. Over time the service learns what you like and integrates that into the decisions it makes in sending you someplace new when you hit the button. If you’re a small business with very good content, submit that content to stumbleupon. When these people finally will shop they will shop in their local area and an most of them will use Google to do it. Yes you will stand out with a Stumbler in this sea of 10. Try it…you’ll be surprised!

What has Social Media done for me?

I really enjoy meeting new people, creating new relationships, networking along side people with like interests, and using the tools available to generate opportunities and provide insight to help others. As a business owner, I have enjoyed the benefits of Social Media, it’s simple approach with countless of avenues. I also enjoy presenting this knowledge for others to use as it would benefit them by building relationships with other like-minded businesses and entrepreneurs along with keeping their customer base informed of products, generate better customer relations and service.

Social Media has opened a whole new door for businesses and individuals alike.

Social Media is the solution for your business…have you gotten on board yet?

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corinne_Burkhert

Microblogging is quickly becoming one of the most popular technologies on the Internet with adoption of tools like Twitter growing at an exponential rate.

As the number of people using these technologies grows, the way people take advantage of them is becoming more sophisticated: they are being used more and more as a business tool. This article explains what microblogging is and introduces the most popular microblog sites. It discusses how these are being used from a business and marketing perspective and provides tips on safe and effective use of these forums.

What is a Microblog?

Microblogs are very simple internet technologies that allow users to post short statements or sentences, usually limited to 140 characters on a central site. The post can be made available to anyone or only to a chosen audience. Much like the Facebook status box these services were used initially as a forum to share triviality (like what was for breakfast) with a wide audience but people quickly tired of the banality and now the way microblogs are used is becoming more sophisticated.

Sometimes seen as a factor in the evolution of blogging, micro blogs are, as the name suggests, like mini blogs in that they allow you to post information and streams of consciousness and make these available to the world over the Internet. Unlike a blog, however, a microblog doesn’t have unlimited room for creativity – you are forced to get to the point.

Which Microblog?

By far the largest microblog is Twitter (according to Hitwise in Australia alone the popular microblog grew by over 500% new users in one calendar month this summer). Twitter was founded in 2006 and quickly gained attention by winning a prestigious South by South West Blog award in the spring of 2007. Although the site is growing at a tremendous rate, the user volume is still very small in comparison to social networking behemoths like MySpace. Using a simple clean interface, users can get set up and start Twittering really easily.

Another microblog technology that is growing in popularity is Plurk. Plurk differs from Twitter in that it provides a more visual “timeline” interface showing your “Plurks” and those you are following on a time sheet-style screen. Just launched in May this year, Plurk is a little more complex than Twitter to use but once you get the hang of it, it definitely appeals to those left brained people among us.

The omnipresent Google of course has its own version of a microblog which they obtained in late 2007. Jaiku has since been closed to new users as they beta test the latest version (which seems very visually appealing with a nice map interface). Request a beta invite to try it out.

The other major player in the microblog scene is Pownce. This one is very similar to Twitter in its look and feel but it has more capabilities in terms of being able to share files and events. Also Pownce doesn’t limit you to 140 characters so you can add more detail to your posts.

Newcomers in the field Spoink promote microblogging by phone from wherever you happen to be. Nothing new in that since most of the other offerings allow you to post from your mobile but what is different about Spoink is that it features the ability to podcast from anywhere. This is one to watch.

Microblogging for Business

Now that we know more about microblogs and the tools in this arena, let’s take a look at how companies and individuals are using microblogs to benefit their businesses.

The first thing any company or professional should do is to ask themselves: is a microblog pertinent to my business? are my peers using this service? and, more importantly, are my customers either using or listening (monitoring these forums) to microblogs? The early microblog adopters tended to be the youth market and the tech community but more and more mainstream professionals and companies are becoming active as time goes on. If you decide that your audience is applicable then the benefits of microblogging actively are numerous:

A microblog presence is a stellar way to establish expertise and build awareness of what you or your company does. Build your brand by regularly posting on your subject area. Remember to add your logo and branding to the design of your microblog page and link to back to your blog if you have one so that your microblog contacts are aware of it and can click to read more. Threadless, the T shirt company that has made social media marketing an art form uses Twitter (@threadless) to update their audience regularly in this way.

Microblogs are a great way to expand your network and build your contacts. To do so share neat links and always add value for your followers, if you do this effectively you can sit back and watch your contacts expand.

Microblogs provide a good source for the latest information in your industry – if you’re following the right people, that is. Be cognizant of this as you add friends. Check out posts and look for those that add value, are industry luminaries or are using the forum in innovative ways. Network with peers in your industry to develop your knowledge and to build better partnerships.

Microblogs are shorter than blogs and more concise so if you only have a few moments you can hone in on the juicies more readily. If you don’t have time to blog but still have something pressing you want to share, microblogs are a great way to do this quickly and effectively.

Microblog technology can be used to expand the reach of your service and spread word quickly. An example is the police and fire services using Twitter to get the word out in emergency cases. The Los Angeles Fire Department (@LAFD) uses Twitter to spread fire related Tweets to interested parties.

By linking or announcing new articles or changes to your site from a microblog you can drive more traffic to your site. Twitter is now the 4th largest driver of traffic to the Out-Smarts blog.

Use microblogs for research by monitoring what’s being said about your product or industry so you can keep ahead of the pack. It’s also an excellent medium to elicit feedback on an issue you need more information on or are in the dark about. Tweetscan is a very simple tool that facilitates listening.

Some companies are using microblog technology too collaborate on projects with decentralised participants or colleagues in short blasts. The CBC recently did this to great effect on Twitter during the Canadian federal election and were able to incorporate feedback from Twitterers on the ground in many constituencies.

While direct selling on microblogs is discouraged, many companies use it to bring awareness of the existence/benefits of their products and services to new markets or to provide customer service updates. Whole Foods (@wholefoods), an organic food chain headquartered in Texas does exactly that whilst adding value by Twittering on community events and organic topics too.

Effective Twittering Tips

I have it on good authority that the Twitter microblog site is this year’s web 2.0 tool of choice for net savvy professionals to communicate with and grow their networks. Here are some tips for you to use to tweak your “tweets” and get more out of your Twitter presence:

Add value – don’t just spout off about boring stuff. Nobody is interested in what color shoes you are wearing (maybe your underwear but definitely not your shoes!).

Use TinyURL or a similar url abbreviation tool to shorten the length of url links in your Twitter posts so they fit in the 140 character limit.

Don’t spam or sell.

Friends and Followers – be selective about who you follow. Before you follow someone, check out their recent Tweets to see if they are of interest to you before you add them (they may not be of interest at all). If someone starts following you, don’t automatically add them and follow – take a look at the number of followers they have compared to their following If someone is following way more people than they have followers then it may be best to avoid them. They could be “Follow Spammers” more interested in gaining exposure than in finding interesting Tweets.

Don’t let Twitter suck up too much of your time – it can be very distracting. Instead schedule it in to your week and spend a few minutes each day updating and enjoying.

Limit the number of people you follow to avoid Twitter information overload. If you’re following too many people, you might miss that gem of information.

Use Twitterfeed to feed your blog to Twitter.

Monitor the Tweetosphere and make sure you are aware of anyone who mentions you so that it comes to your attention and you can be ready to counter any adverse Twittering. Use Tweetscan to monitor what is being said about you or your company on Twitter.

Don’t click on a link from anyone you don’t know or trust. Many Twitterers use TinyURL or similar to shorten URLs (I do) but this camouflages the true source so you don’t know what you’re clicking on. These could be disguised links to potentially dangerous sites or viral downloads so be careful.

Read the Twitter blog for updates and information on malware and spam issues.

Secure your Twitter name. Get a Twitter profile in your business name before someone else does.

Use common sense when Twittering and remember that most of these announcements can be seen by anyone and everyone. You don’t really have to announce that you’re away from home.

If someone you’re following overloads you with spam then use the Twitter block at the right of the side panel to block them and let Twitter know too.

Call on the community. If something adverse does happen then make your community aware of it. You will be amazed at the support, advice and action of the collective.

Conclusion

If you decide that your business can benefit from microblogging, participation in these sites can really impact your online marketing efforts, drive more traffic to your site and increase brand awareness. Before you start microblogging, take some time to check out the different offerings to find out which is best for you. Once you choose, schedule time to microblog and grow your contacts and always look to add value and tell your community something they don’t know. If you decide to hold off on microblogging for now, keep this on your radar: with its speedy user adoption rate. It’s only a matter of time before, like social networks, these become mainstream.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mhairi_Petrovic

Look, a soap business can make money. Now if you just want to work out of your kitchen, your potential is limited. But maybe not as limited as you might think. Many people make several hundred dollars a month working out of their homes. Especially during the fall holiday buying season, there is a big demand for handcrafted soap.

Now if you get all distracted about all the licenses and regulations you might have to deal with, you’ll never get started. So don’t let anyone distract you with all that stuff. The first thing you need to do is to learn how to make good soap and how to sell it. As far as I know, our soap business had all the permits and licenses we needed and it wasn’t difficult to do. So it’s first things first.

OK, with a few tools worth about $200, I can make 100 bars of soap in an hour. That’s start to finish.

Two days later that soap comes out of the molds and gets trimmed and put on a shelf to dry.

Four weeks later, I package that soap and it’s ready to go. My total time in making and packaging that 100 bars of soap … 3 hours. It’ll take you longer to start with. I only handle the soap three different times: mix it, take it from the molds and cut and finally package it.

OK, so that’s 100 bars…3 hours to make and package.

Handmade soap will sell for $4 – $6 per bar, depending on where you are. If you’re still with me … do the arithmetic. That’s at least $400 worth of soap you can make in three hours total and then you go sell the stuff. And I can make three batches like that per week with my cheap set-up. Let’s see … 3 times $400… And this stuff almost sells itself if you get in the right places. Can you see the potential of a soap business?

The right places can include many possibilities. I like craft shows with follow-up sales to those who buy at the shows. You can develop a mail order soap business just starting with your sales at the craft shows.

Now if you decide to do a large volume with small equipment this can turn into a lot of work in a hurry. But at a small scale, a soap business can make good business sense.

We sold over 35,000 bars of soap in about four years just working part-time making soap in the kitchen sink. Now think about that. That’s 35,000 bars of soap worth about $4 per bar!

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington

Once you are able to buy a food truck, this means that you are ready to start a business. However a food truck business is not always a bed of roses. You can expect the best outcomes from having this business but you must also anticipate the worst. The worst being, the possibilities of the truck breaking down in the middle of your route. If this happens you will lose a lot of money and will leave hungry customers. In this business you must be able to find a very good and efficient truck and you must maintain its good condition.

Here is a guideline that you can take if you want to buy a food truck:

Identify the amount that you are willing to spend for your business. Once you have made a rough estimate on how much you are willing to spend devise a business strategy and a plan that you think will work best for you. You must also be certain on your decision on what type of truck you will be using. Choose whether you want to invest on a used truck or a brand new truck.

Know the importance of asking the food vending business essentials from people who used to own food trucks. Ask them where they bought their trucks and ask them which companies are the most reliable. Knowing these in formation will help you save a lot of time and money.

If you decide on buying a used truck, it is important for you to have a mechanic that you can bring along when you would like to inspect the truck. There may be defects that cannot be determined by a layman’s eye and that only an expert can decipher. The mechanic can help you examine whether the used truck you wish to buy is still in good condition. If you cannot bring a mechanic along, ask the seller to give you time to have the food truck you intend to buy be examined by a mechanic. Bring the food truck to a mechanic and have the food truck subjected to a general inspection before deciding to buy the unit.

On the other hand, if you think that it would be a wiser move and a more practical decision to buy a new truck, make sure that the truck you buy is warrantied and find out the extent and the coverage of the warranty that comes with the truck. Ask all the necessary questions that you need to ask before paying for the unit.

Take the food truck for a test drive. This will let you know determine whether you can comfortably maneuver the truck. Make sure that all the parts of the truck and you can easily see the back view from its mirrors. This is a safety precaution for you. If you think that the truck is different to maneuver, ask for a different unit. You must take note that although the truck is in good condition, if it is something that is difficult to maneuver then it is not good for your business.

Once you have decided which truck to buy, ask your seller for a good deal on the price. Most sellers would cut the truck’s original price twenty percent less. Take advantage of this. Learn the art of haggling but do not haggle too much. Just like you, these food truck sellers are also in the business and need to profit.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franklin_B._Smith

Working in the usual office setup is the usual scenario to maintain a job and earn a living. But if you want to have a break from your usual nine to five grind, then it is high time to look for options to make money. Here are some online home business ideas that you can try today.

Offer professional services online. Starting an online business at home does not mean that you will completely abandon what you have used to do in the office. The only difference in this situation is for you to present yourself as someone who can do this for your clients instead of doing this for your immediate supervisor. So if you write articles for websites, then you can offer professional article writing service. If coming up with best viral marketing video is your thing, why not offer these to company website owners or internet marketers instead? These are just examples of best online business ideas that you can start today using the same type of work that you have been doing through the years. All you need to do is to create your own website and promote this to get your initial roster of clients.

If you really want to have a complete career change as you create your home business, why not pursue a passion that you have already missed doing in the past? If you really love baking but are not doing it because of rushing to the office everyday, then this is the perfect time to push your baking skills to make money. Also if drawing caricatures makes you happy throughout the day, why not start coming up with samples so you can offer your passion for profit? If that is the case, you just have to prepare your digital camera so you can take pictures of your products to be posted on your website. If you are going to sell your caricatures, you can make a quick video on how you draw some basic ones to share on your site. You can even use these short demo videos to initially build traffic to your website.

Do you want more online home business ideas to consider? You can also try your hand at selling your pre loved goodies on auction sites. If you have organized garage sales before then this is something that you are comfortable doing online as well. Grab some boxes and place those pre loved items that you will sell online. This business hits two goals, that is to clear your house of excess items as well as turning these ones into additional income for your family.

Getting yourself in trying affiliate marketing is another option to make money online. You just have to find some products that you can sell online. These are mostly digital products as opposed to the physical goodies that you will sell on auction sites. No need for you to take care of shipping if you are going to offer these digital products to your customers like electronic books, guides and tutorials to name a few.

Lastly, you can also post about your everyday ideas and make money in the process. You can set up a blog using WordPress, Blogger and Site Build It and then start posting away. If you want to have a central theme on your blog, you can use free keyword tools to research on the specific topic that you want to cover. If you want to talk about general topics that’s fine as well. This is also the best time to learn about some seo techniques so you can promote your website and get more visitors. You can then sell a space on your blog to promote a product that is somewhat related on your site’s topic. For example, if you have a beauty blog, then you can sell ad space to online cosmetic companies for additional income.

These are just five online home business ideas that you can try today. There are some where you can carry over your usual office task to get started while there are some that need you to discover your previous passion to make money. But if you are going to really focus your attention and efforts to it, then you can definitely rely on this to make a sustained income for your family while you are just a chair away from them.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reed_Slidell

The whole point of computerizing a business is to increase profits, save time, and increase efficiency. With a basic understanding of a what a computer can do, you will begin to see the many ways that computerizing can increase the profitability of your business. In the course of this series of articles, I will show you why a good computer system (hardware and software) should earn you at least a 300 percent return on investment annually.

A “Point-of-Sale” (POS) system refers to a computer with specialized software that can act as an electronic cash register, but also maintains and integrates inventory records, sales records, and other data. The beauty of a “Point-of-Sale” system is that all of the information is generated at the sales counter when you ring a sale.

Inventory Records

Computerizing your business means that all inventory updates happen instantly and automatically, and that inventory data can be freely accessed and used. When you sell an item, the on-hand count is reduced. If the customer returns that item, the on-hand count is increased. Using this information, along with past sales history, the computer provides a Reorder Report, which lists merchandise that needs to be reordered. You can then select the items you would like to order, and the computer will prepare a Purchase Order. When the order arrives, the quantities are entered into the computer, and the on-hand counts increase automatically. If any items are backordered, such items remain on order in the system.

Sales Records

A computerized business also means that sales records are immediately stored and organized, and available for evaluation. When you ring up a sale or service, the computer calculates the total cash receipts, credit card sales, sales tax and accounts receivable. At the end of the day, you have a complete list of all transactions and a summary of cash and credit information. The computer is also collecting profit, and commission information. Using this information, the computer provides sales, sales by department or category, profit, margin, markup, accounts receivable, payroll, and commission reports. It also generates account statements and invoices.

Customer Records

Customer records are also maintained in an automated business. The computer stores the transaction information and provides reports that list customer purchase history, merchandise rented, and account charges and payments. You can also print mailing labels and personalized letters. This makes it much less time consuming to send out service reminders, special sale announcements, invoices, account statements, and so on.

Conclusion

This is just a brief overview of what a computer/point-of-sale system is capable of. Such a combination can have a powerful impact on day-to-day business functions. A computer system can simultaneously accomplish tasks such as calculations, record-keeping, organization, and inventory control, in a matter of seconds, where manual record-keeping would require a step-by-step, time consuming approach with much more room for error.

Watch for the next three parts to this series, as I will go into more detail about the benefits of computerizing, including controlling your inventory, policing your profit margins, and more.

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Performance coaching is a term that is used commonly in business. Life coaches can use this approach to when they are dealing with a client that is coming to them for professional coaching services. There are all different levels of professionals that would come to a life coach for their professional coaching needs.

For example, a person might be fresh out of college. They might have practiced scenarios in the classroom about how things will be when they graduate, and they start working in their career fields. They might have even read their books about how things will be. These books have been written by industry insiders. However, the only real way for the college graduate to gain their real world experience, is to show up to work and experience the job and experience life. Because this person is brand new to their career fields, they will have so many questions and they will make so many mistakes. Performance coaching can help them in a couple of ways. First, they can gain feedback about their mistakes and learn how not to make the same mistakes. They can also learn any inside unwritten codes and rules that might apply to their situation.

Performance coaching is great for a person who is making serious plans to get their career going to the next level. They might have thought about taking steps towards a promotion, and now they feel the confidence that they need to make such a move. Of course this person would want to make sure that they are getting everything right, and that they look good in front of management. A life coach in this situation would encourage them, and hold this person accountable to their promotion goals. They would make sure that this person has a checklist to set them on the right path. When this person has reached their goals, the life coach can then celebrate with them, and then get them on the path of growth so that they can fit into their new position smoothly.

Performance coaching can benefit the employee and the boss. A good supervisor will care about not only how he comes across to his bosses, but how he comes across to his employees under him. A good supervisor needs to know how to address and how to inspire his employees. The key for this person is to get his employees to carry out the task and the demands of the job in a way that will make them want to stay employed with the company. A life coach will teach a superior on how to be a boss that people want to work for. By the same term, maybe an employee likes their company, and they want to stay on for a while. Getting performance coaching from a life coach will help the employee know that they are on the right track. At the same time, the employee can know if it’s time to go for a promotion, or if it’s time to leave for another opportunity altogether.

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