Successful Internet Business

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A successful Internet business
must keep in mind its target
market. I'm referring to any
product or service sold on
the Internet.

Direct your advertising at
your target market.

"Where do I find my target
market?" You tapped
your fingers on the desk.

Find your target market
by researching. Get an
idea about who they are
from forums.

Discuss your idea, part
of it, and see who responds.
The 20--35 year olds, teens,
or senior citizens? The
age group who shows an
interest in your product or
service is your target market.

Don't be afraid to try chat
rooms. It's possible to get
tips, pointers, and a new way
of looking at an old idea.
All, any, information is possible
feed-back. Sift through it to
see what's useable.

Personally, I've found chat
rooms to be a wealth of information.
A few hours spent in a chat room
helped me come-up with new ideas.
I didn't dismiss the old, but held
onto it for future use.

Every e-mail or snail mail should
list your product or service. Every
person is a potential customer.

Person A mentions you, your
product, to person B, and
the second person could become
a customer.

The word-of-mouth advertising
from person A and B spreads
like wild fire. Word-of-mouth
gives you more coverage than
a paid ad.

A happy customer is a repeat
buyer, and loyal. Every successful
Internet business strives to keep
customers informed of new products,
services, and provides information
to help them.

Sponsor contests, no shipping and
handling charge on orders over a
certain amount, promise a free gift
to the first one-hundred customers,
give away free reports, and/or ask
for suggestions to better serve them.

Sales is increased by linking to
another web site(s). Once traffic,
people, visit, your page should
inspire them to buy.

The ordering process must be
easy, and use of a credit card
smooth, secure. Everything on
it is user friendly.

Don't become frustrated,
disappointed, with yourself if
you're not making money. A
successful Internet business
isn't made in a few months.
It takes years. Often, it'll be
five or more years before
seeing a profit.

The successful Internet business
keeps its target market satisfied.
Your line of communication is
always open. E-mail with
updates, special offers, discounts,
and/or information to help them.

Make money by linking to successful
web sites. It gives your target market
options.

Of course, be open to feed-back on
your product or service, and a
successful Internet business will
be yours.

How To Repair Credit

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Recession, rising gas prices,
loss of a job, foreclosure, and/or
illness contributes to a
damaged credit rating.

Most times, you can't control
the circumstances that
lowered your credit rating.

At least, there are ways to
help repair it.

Start by getting copies of
your credit reports. You
have a right to free reports.
You are allowed one a year
from each of the bureaus:
Annualcreditreport.com,
Transunion, or Equifax.

If you're in the UK, and
want to check your credit
report, for free:
http://www.annualcreditreport.co.uk/.

"Why get a credit report?"
Several people asked.

It describes what needs
repairing. Check off any
information that's incorrect.
Start making telephone calls,
writing letters, or take the
necessary steps to get it
repaired.

It takes time. Often, you'll
have to stay on top of it.
Keep pushing until it's
repaired.

Remember, your credit
rating determines if you'll
get some jobs, loans, just
about everything.

It can be emotional, hard,
but think of the results.

Contact creditors to
right bills paid, but not
noted.

If you find you can't pay
incoming bills, don't
panic.

Call the creditor. Let
him/her know you're
having financial difficulties.
You'd like a payment plan.
Will he/she work with you?

Some credit card companies
will reduce interest on your
credit cards. It isn't
automatic, ask about it.

Use the interest rate
reduction to help pay
the debt.

It's a must that you
stop using credit cards.

Spending at this point
makes your situation
worse. It puts stress on
you, because you're
struggling already.

Cut-up the credit cards,
for now. Concentrate on
repairing your credit. With
the credit cards in pieces,
the habit, need, to use them
disappears.

Budget everything. This includes
the amount of water you use,
electricity, etc. Try not to
spend more than is allotted.

End eating out, trips to the
theatre, and using money on
anything that's not a
necessity.

The prepaid credit card gives
you an option. It helps while
you're repairing your credit.

In conclusion, an account,
credit card, that's paid late,
stop using it. Pay it on time,
or make a deal with the
creditor. Cut-up credit cards,
and budget.

Money Scams

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

There isn't one person who doesn't
want to make money. Or, at least,
have more of it coming in than
going out of the door.

So, a few people will take
advantage, of that fact, through
money scams.

Money scams crawl in
through many forms, flavors.
They, all, have one thing in
common, and that's an
emphasis on how you can
make lots of money.

Recession, rising gas
prices, and sky rocketing
grocery bills can make it
harder to resist money
scams. It's just a trick
to steal your money,
pull you in.

Money making schemes
fatten the pockets of
those who thought them
up. The schemes are
appealing, looks
reasonable, profitable.

The scam artists pride
themselves on convincing
you it's harmless, and the
tons of money to be made.

"What can it hurt?" You'll
say. "I only have to put a
little out.

Follow this rule, anything,
anyone, that sounds, appears,
too good to be true, he, she,
or it is.

Move in the opposite direction.
Disconnect yourself from he,
she, or it.

You'll hear someone, here-there,
claim to have made money.
However, that statement doesn't
take into account the thousands
that lost money.

My opinion, chain letters
are a scam too. They are
misleading, and should be
avoided.

The binary scheme from
South Africa is a new one.
It's operated via the Internet.

The basis is a person must sell
a product to two other people.
The two other people repeat
the process. Each new person
keeps the scam going.

The commission is from sales.

It's another Pyramid Scheme
to be avoided.

Con artists have no shame
in stealing your money through
scams. They have come to the
Internet for that purpose. Age,
race, or health will not stop
them. Only, you can.

I've, personally, received
e-mails from scam-mers, and
deleted them.

I've come across people
asking for money to help a sick
family member, deleted. A
few mentioned leaving me money,
deleted.

Why would a stranger leave me
money? How does this person
know me? Why pick me to send
money to? My guess, it was a
ploy to establish communication
with me. Eventually, me sending
money for fees or the like would
have come up. In short, deleted
it.

The best course of action
when receiving money scams
via snail-mail or e-mail is to
trash them.

An Effective Marketing Tool

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

The small business owner has to stay
competitive. He/she doesn't, always,
have access to deep pockets, or a large
advertising budget. Success comes
to the individual who takes what's
available and maximizes its use.

There are many effective marketing
tools like link strategies, ads with
affiliates, or swap ads.

A tool is effective when it reaches
your target market, and they respond.
The target market represents the
people who are interested in, will buy,
your product or service.

"How do I find my target market?"
A few asked.

Visit forums, social networks, and
anywhere else people go online. The
feed-back gives you an idea of how
to improve the product or service.
It, also, answers questions about
how well your product or service
will be received. What adjustments
are needed. Questions, possibly, you
haven't thought of will be answered.

"Which marketing tool is best?"
Several people asked.

An effective marketing tool is e-mailing.
This is an excellent way to keep in
touch with customers. It allows them
to provide you with feed-back.

Feed-back helps you better serve
them. The goal is repeat buys, or
returning customers.

E-mail customers about updates on
products and services. Coupons,
discounts, are easily given to
them through e-mailing.

There is not one customer who doesn't
want to pay less for a product or service
they're already using. A coupon or
discount is an incentive to purchase
more.

A discount can be in the form of
no shipping or handling fee. Or,
order two or more products, and pay
one shipping/handling fee.

E-mail customers newsletters. Keep
them informed of what's happening in
the company. Explain how the new
changes will benefit them.

Loyal customers will want to be
apart, comment, and e-mail you back.
Customers share their opinions
with friends and family, which leads
to additional advertising. It rolls into
more profits. It's a chain effect. Happy
customers share their experiences with
others, bringing you more business.

Every e-mail, snail mail, should wear
your business contact information.
Small business owners must take
advantage of e-mail marketing. Think
in terms of every e-mail, snail mail, as
a possible customer.

E-mail customers the today's special
information. Let them know about
special promotions.

Who wouldn't be interested in an
e-mail that speaks directly to you,
makes you feel special. The e-mail
allows customers in on a promotion.
Usually, members only receive such
information, and it encourages them
to buy.

E-mails can be tailored to your
customers. Be sure their name is
on it. Make it personal.

Some businesses go the extra step of
noting birthdays. A mention could
be enough. Work within your budget.

E-mail is an effective marketing tool,
because it gives instant results, keeps
customers updated, allows you to
remain competitive, and is easy to
use. Yet, it works within your
advertising budget.

Five Business Questions

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

This session answers five questions
people have asked me.

"How do I make money copy-writing?"

The first line in copy-writing, head-line, must
hold the reader's attention. Its job is to stop
his/her eyes from running to someone else's
advertisement. The individual must see a
benefit(s) in that line.

Think about what grabs your attention.
The head-line should be no longer than
six words.

As with all good copy, there's a beginning,
middle, and ending. Don't drag-out the
middle. It'll lose the reader.

Describe how the product or service will
benefit him/her. Urge the reader to buy.
Make it easy to purchase. Perhaps, include
a payment plan. Close.

Check out The Freelance Work
Exchange for copy-writing
opportunities.

"How can I increase sales?" Several
people asked.

The first step is to make sure the customer
is happy, satisfied. If he/she is, you'll get
repeat business.

Arrange easy payment plans. An
installment plan, for example. This
is where the customer pays monthly
until the bill is paid. The customer
receives, wears, flaunts, the product
before it's paid for. It couldn't get
any better for the customer.

Work within a customer's budget.
Show them you're on their side.
E-mail them about discounts,
coupons, and any information to
help them.

This will show you care, and you'll
receive customer loyalty.

Customers will give you free
advertising by telling friends and
family. The word-of-mouth advertising
spins more customers your way than
a placed ad.

"Is there, really, a way to make
money online?"

As with anything, be cautious
when deciding to work with a
plan. The following is a starting
point.

Weblogsinc.com pays you to blog
for them, or you choose a writing
idea.

Reviewme.com allows you to
review, promote, products.

Blogburner.com pays you to
blog, and make money. They'll
split the revenue fifty-fifty with
you.

Textbroker.com is a work-at-
home job. You determine writing
time. The title is Freelance Author,
and payment is up to $20.00 for
500 words.

"How to stop employee turnover?"

Place the right person in a job.
Don't sit Mack in Customer Service
if he has no experience. Employees
should be in areas they excel at.

Encourage a team atmosphere.
Everyone must work toward a
common goal, the organization's
goal. Give credit to the team when
a job has been well done.

Be open to suggestions, questions.
Don't be afraid to interact with
employees. Although, it's,
sometimes, hard due to work
activities. Still, make the time. It
develops loyalty from employees,
and demonstrates 'you're all 'ight'.

Express, applaud, how well an
employee is doing, have done. It
fosters tighter bonds to you, the
organization.

"What are the best businesses
to start?"

Read article in it entirety at:
www.freewebs.com/cr1t1qu3r

Terminate An Employee

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

It's not pleasant to terminate
an employee. Even though,
some employees are rude,
loud, and never follow the rules.
Still, the task of firing him/her
isn't the brighter note in a day.

I propose, if it has to be done,
it should flow as smooth as
possible.

Give an employee a chance
to improve poor performance,
or behavior not becoming.

Other members of the
organization will watch how
it's handled. No matter how
you deal with it, you're setting
the tone. Managers, in the work-
place, will adhere to your decision,
and take similar actions.

There should be guidelines,
in the organization's procedures,
on how to resolve problems. Still,
each occurrence is individual,
unique.

"Can you be more specific?"
You stared at the computer screen.

First, always, be civil. It doesn't
matter if the employee is vulgar.
He/she is on his/her way out of
the door. So, it doesn't matter
what the employee says. However,
if you return anger, it'll be noticed
and noted.

I know, it can be hard to not react,
or say what you really think. Matters
worsen if you, the manager, name
call.

Any, all, relevant documentation
should be in order. A letter
stating the reason(s) for
termination is included.

Schedule a meeting. The person
doing the firing, and two
witnesses should be the only
people in attendance.

State the reason he/she is being
terminated. Be brief. Collect
anything belonging to the
organization. This is the time for
the employee to say his/her last
words.

Some organizations have the
employee sign pertinent papers
before departing.

The employee, for the last time,
is walked out of the building.

Any Business Start-Up

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A business, start-up or not, demands lots
of time, energy and money. You must,
mentally, understand that there's a
possibility of failure. Life goes on after
a debacle.

Pick an area you're passionate about.
Surround yourself with people who feel
success of the business is important.

It wouldn't be wise to have Bill in
customer service when he excels at
accounting. Or, if Bill works in
customer service, he shouldn't do the
books.

Place each individual according to
their skills. Do you need to brush-up
on you managerial skills? Take a
refresher course. Thumb through
business magazines, books, and/or
visit business blogs.

The requirements to a successful
business: Map out a plan. Ask
questions. Will your product or service
be received well? Don't start a business
with a, single, doubt. Set goals for
the business, in two years? Five years?
Do you have enough to finance it? It's
best to have more than the cost of your
business. An emergency fund? Why
are you starting a business?

How are you going to get the word
out? How will you get the attention
of your target market?

Target market refers to the people
who will buy your product or service.

Find your target market through
research.

Research where?" You tapped your
foot.

Try forums. They are free. Mention your
wares, and get feed-back.

Have an informal idea party. This is
where people share ideas. See
how well they're liked, chance of
success.

Don't be afraid to mention your product
or service on the social networking web
sites. There's lots of traffic, potential,
customers.

Survey people you know about a
particular idea. Ask specific
questions pertaining to your product
or service. One question could be, how
much would you pay for...?

Remember, every product or service
should be geared to the customer.
People want to know, see, how a product
or service will benefit them. Dig into,
find, ways to start-up your business.

In conclusion, your business start-up
must be in an area you care, deeply,
about. Do research to target people you
know need, want, your product or service.
Finance it, and you're on your way.