08.05.04
Posted in Branding at 12:00 am by admin
Don’t Get Caught In the Trap: The BIG Difference Between Personal and Business Branding
By Kim A. Castle
When you’re all alone in the privacy of your home office, surrounded by your
computer, your phone and your business idea, have you ever asked yourself,
“Where’s the line between me in my business and the business in me”?
With hundreds of thousands of home-based businesses starting every year, and few
ever flourishing, the topic of branding has become hot, hot, hot. And thanks to
experts touting the need for a personal brand in sole proprietor businesses the
confusion is growing. It’s no wonder. Business… personal… personal… business–
what IS the big difference any way?
Last week, I was guiding a client (a service-based sole practioner) through the same
step-by-step process that I take every company (sole practioner, entrepreneur or a
business of any size) through to develop their brand and I noticed that as we got
deeper and deeper into the process, she was having more and more trouble coming
up with answers. The very answers that would separate her from other people
engaged the same exact business and distinctly establish her brand.
In the middle of working on the most important step in the branding process– the
brand statement–I asked her the simple question, “Why does she do business she
does?” she burst into tears. Halfway into the box of Kleenex she finally, revealed the
most amazing answer as to why she was in her chosen field in the first place.
Honestly, I think she stunned herself. We both sat silent for over a minute in awe of
the power she had tapped into with her discovery. (Don’t let anyone fool you, this is
from where the true power of branding comes.)
Then doubt reared its ugly head and like a butterfly emerging from a new cocoon, a
series of questions poured out of her: “Is this my business or is it me?” “Is why I do
what I do really that important?” “Why is it so hard for me to stand in the power of
my business and really make something of it?”
You get the picture? You may even be standing in a similar picture, even wrestling
with the same questions yourself. Bless you if you’re not. Let’s look at the
difference between ‘your business’ and ‘you the person’ and see if we can clear up
this question once and for all.
A business: (be it Niketown or Bob’s Shoe Bonanza)
Delivers a product or service to fulfill a customer need.
You:
Deliver a product or service to fulfill a customer need.
A business:
Establishes a certain value that a customer can rely on from every contact with their
product or service.
You:
Establish a certain value that a customer can rely on from every contact with your
product or service. (If not, get on it immediately!)
A business:
Communicates consistently to reach the customers that have a need for their
product or service.
You:
Communicate consistently to reach the customers that have a need for your product
or service. (If not, what are you waiting for?)
A business:
Enjoys a financial reward equal to the amount of customers that it serves, AND a
personal reward for the creator/C.E.O.
You:
Enjoy a financial reward equal to the amount of customers that you serve AND YOU
get to experience the personal reward yourself.
If you look at just these four basic, bottom-line points, the difference between a
business and you as a sole business owner is… nothing; unless you count the added
bonus of you getting a financial AND personal reward.
At the start of every single business, throughout history, there has never been a
separation between the person starting it and the business itself. If you asked any
business figure-head today, Bill Gates of Microsoft, or Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, or
if they took over a company like Meg Whitman for Ebay, or Carly Fiorina for Hewlett-
Packard, they would tell you that there is no difference in who ‘they are’ and what
‘they bring’ to their business. Why? Because there’s no room for a difference. It’s the
alignment that makes it possible to reach the highest of the heights.
It’s challenging enough to make any business succeed. It’s tough enough to make
any business reside in the mind of a customer. Why would you remove the very
power of ‘you’ in every shape and form from your business?! Why not every day do
the thing that moves you the most? You are the only thing that sets your business
apart– you just need a process of tapping into your power, connecting it to your
business, and a systematic way of communicating it to your customers over and
over and over again.
When developing your amazing business as a brand, throw the doors wide open.
Create it as you would if you were reaching millions. You can always decide exactly
how many millions later. Thinking of your brand as just a ‘personal’ one will do the
opposite. Keep it small.
If you work for yourself, be it your own business, network marketing, or even an
agent/broker condition under a corporate umbrella, you are the CEO of
your business. Every CEO brings themselves personally to their business. The great
ones bring every thing they are to their creation, every moment.
The majority of our lives are spent doing what we call work. As an entrepreneur or
business owner, you have the wonderful opportunity to make it more. Make it your
creation. Think of yourself as the Creator of an Entrepreneur Organization. When
you wake up tomorrow, instead of saying to yourself, “I’m going to work” say “I’m
going to create.” And the operative word is I’m. The true power of really making
something in your business will come from investing in it the most valuable
commodity you have– you.
There is no separation on the road to big business success: just because you’re
personally on it. True big business success comes to those who know, it’s not
just business– it’s personal too.
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!
To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13“>http://
http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/
“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”
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Posted in Marketing at 12:00 am by admin
The Silver Bullet For Success: Revealed
By Kim A. Castle
Looking for the magic formula or the whiz-bang approach that will unlock your
business success? Are you willing to pay hundreds for it? How about thousands?
Guess what, you are not alone.
Just as people, for ages, have searched for the fountain of youth, entrepreneurs and
small business owners around the world are looking for the silver bullet for success: that one sure-fire way to achieve the success that they want without doing a thing.
This demand for this magic “success” pill has grown even more desperate and confusing. This need, especially for entrepreneurs, is understandable; time is limited, budgets are not yet created and… lives are at stake… yours.
Well you can rest easy. Your search is over. Are you ready for the answer? There is
no silver bullet…. or is there?
While speaking at seminars around the country with dozens of other experts in their
field, I’m amazed at the amount products that can… and will…help business owners
create more successful businesses. I mean we’re one of them. The plethora of
information available today is astounding and often… overwhelming.
This hit home a few weeks ago while I was speaking at a multi-day seminar for
small business owners. I was honored to be among a select few outstanding experts
speaking about marketing for small business owners. I watched the confusion grow
in the audience as program after program (mine included) was rolled out throughout
the three days, as the business owners tried to determine which product best served
their need at that particular moment.
I watched them. No, I studied them. And, my heart went out to them… mostly
because I’m just like them. I’m just like you– a small business owner with a vision
for my business and looking for help to accomplish it. While some people at this
seminar invested in a product that met their biggest problem at that specific time,
some didn’t at all. Often these purchased products are listened to for a short period
of time; some are even applied… for a short period of time. These tools are often
relegated to a closet or bookshelf– abandoned for another new tool at another
seminar at another time. Thus begins a vicious cycle that leaves the purchaser
feeling empty, without the business power they were looking for in the first place. I
refer to this to as “shelf-help”–serving only the shelf that these products sit on.
Watching and talking to these business owners… no wonder they wanted the silver
bullet.
And even though my business success tool, BrandU, breaks down the powerful
brand development process into a easy to follow step-by-step system, once in a
very blue moon one of my students finds themselves sitting with the power they got
from creating their brand asking “Is this it?” ”Am I done?” “Where’s my success?”
While they carefully chose, and found value in, BrandU what they really wanted
was… yep that’s right… that darn silver bullet.
The bottom line is no matter how much external work you do, learning and
application, emulating and testing, there is no single silver bullet to assist you
reaching your success goals. Success is more like silver buckshot– a shower of
focused impact full hits. These focused efforts can be distilled down to four major
“pellets” or keys of success:
• Deliver Value.
This may sound overtly obvious for most of you, however you must always think of
your customer first and be sure that you are delivering the most helpful and
valuable content.
• Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.
You just can’t get away from this key– and you shouldn’t. Everything you say,
write, show and do must support your vision and your… brand. In your
presentations, your e-mails, your web site, your content, your marketing materials.
The ability for your customer to completely experience your brand depends on
consistent communication from you. Only then, will they value you.
• Finish What You Start.
Once you commit to yourself, a partner, your staff, a client or customer always
follow-through– to a fault. The corollary of follow-through is under-promise and
over-deliver. Set and keep expectations where they belong– calm, reliable and
consistently in-favor of the other party. You will be rewarded.
And finally,
• Own Your Power.
Now for the most misunderstood key. You’ve heard it stated in a number of ways.
To us it means know your power and own the path you travel on and the results you
get from it. If your “inner house” is built on a solid foundation, it is imperative that
your own the power you know you have. No confusion, no avoidance, no
‘victimhood’ and no excuses. Be a voracious learning sponge. Stand strong, watch
for helpers, take bold steps, lovingly adjust and stand ready to reap the rewards!
With these pellets in your shell, your silver buckshot is sure to hit your target.
Come to think about it, the four keys do have one thing in common: they are all
completely in your control. Could that mean there really is a silver bullet for
success after all? There is one true, fail-proof thing that you can depend upon for all
your business success and that thing is… you. Weld yourself wisely; your success
depends on it!
Make a plan that is supported by your vision, surround yourself with the right
people and tools that specifically support that plan and put the silver bullet that is
you in action. You will experience all the success than you can imagine.
See, it all comes down to… you.
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!
To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
“>http://
http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/
“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”
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Posted in Business at 12:00 am by admin
Make More Money Self-Publishing Special Reports
By J. Stephen Pope
1. YOU CAN DO IT! WILL YOU?
You CAN succeed in your own information empire. Self-publishing
valuable, how-to information is in great demand by people
today. In today`s busy society, people are pressed for time.
They need concise, simplified, practical information. They will
pay dearly for it if it will improve the quality of their lives.
Even if you have never written for money before, you can do so
if you apply the information in this report. Lack of formal
education should not deter you. Large sums of cash are not
required. What is required is the application of the
information in this report.
You must have more than good intentions, though. Your strong
desire to succeed, not only in making money, but in making a
difference in other peoples` lives, will motivate you. Then,
following through, you will execute your planned tasks to reach
your goal.
2. WHY IS SELF-PUBLISHED INFORMATION THE PERFECT PRODUCT?
Information can be sold on the basis of its value. For example,
if you could receive a thousand dollar tax-free grant, would you
pay ten dollars for that information? Most persons would.
They`d be $990.00 ahead. Yet, that information might fit on one
printed page. So, the cost of producing the information has
almost no relationship to the value of the information. Thus,
the potential for high markups and profits exist in this business.
Information products (unlike other hard goods like cars,
refrigerators, et cetera) are relatively light and so incur
lower shipping costs. In fact, the post office gives
preferential treatment for shipping books.
You could sell other peoples` products, but then you would not
have control over your business. At any time, your suppliers
could change their commission structure, let your competitors
sell the product, or even discontinue your relationship. If you
own your own proprietary product, your own copyrighted
information product, no one can legally sell it without your
permission. You control its production, promotion, and
distribution.
3. WHY SELF-PUBLISH SPECIAL REPORTS INSTEAD OF BOOKS?
A Special Report (sometimes called a folio) is a written
document of from one to several pages on a specialized subject
of interest to certain readers. It should be concise and
practical information of value to a particular audience. It
might be professionally bound with a cover and personalized for
the reader or it might just be a few pages stapled together or
it may even take the form of a computer file or electronic
book. This publication is an example of a Special Report.
Books and booklets must be produced in certain minimum
quantities. This is fine, when you`re well-established
financially. However, Special Reports can be produced on
demand, one copy at a time, if necessary. This means that if you
receive one order, you can publish it from your home computer by
simply printing a copy of your file.
Even if you have no computer, you could type one copy of your
report and have it photocopied as required. This results in
virtually no money being tied up in inventory. You spend money
only when you receive orders.
Books are lengthier and require more time and effort to
produce. Therefore, it will take you longer to make money from
your efforts. A Special Report, being only a few pages long on
the average, is a product you can develop and produce quickly
and economically.
Many customers will appreciate the concise treatment of a
particular subject in a Special Report. They could pay forty
dollars for a complete book on home-based businesses, but maybe
they just want information on self-publishing.
Perhaps they have already bought books on How To Publish Your
Own Book, but the area of Special Reports wasn`t really
covered. For a few dollars (and often for considerably less
expense than a book), they can get the essential information
they need to accomplish their goal.
If time is money, then your customer will really appreciate your
to-the-point consideration of his selected subject. You are not
being paid by the word; you are being paid for results.
As you write further Special Reports in your area of expertise
and interest, you will find you will have a number of products
to sell, instead of just one. Then, you will have diversified
your income, having developed multiple income sources. Instead
of making money only when you are working, these products could
generate passive income for years to come. While on vacation or
while sleeping, orders could be coming in for these products you
developed.
As well, a series of Special Reports or folios on related
subjects could be combined later to produce a book. If, for
example, you produced twelve different folios on various ways of
making money from self-publishing, they could be combined in a
book on the same subject.
Thus, Special Reports can be used as the basis for creating
other information products, such as books, booklets, audio
cassettes, videos, courses, software, speeches, website content,
electronic books, business kits, and so on. The more products
you have and the more choices you offer your customer, the more
income streams you will generate for yourself.
4. WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE ABOUT?
Of course, it is natural that you would want to write about
something that is of interest to you. However, is what you are
writing about of interest to others? You may be an excellent
poet, but the market is very limited for poetry.
On the other hand, practical and simple “how-to” information
sells. As an example, you presumably bought this report to
accomplish a number of objectives. First of all, you wanted to
make more money. Secondly, you wanted to learn how to create
valuable information of use to others, so that they could pay
you for it.
Is there a market for moneymaking information like this? You
bet there is! Just check out the business opportunity magazines
at the newstands to see that this is true. Use internet search
engines to find moneymaking or other how-to subjects and to
learn about what your competitors are doing.
The key to making money from your self-published information is
to write on a subject that is of interest and benefit to your
reader. There must be a sufficient number of persons interested
in your subject in order for you to justify the time and expense
required to undertake writing about it.
You must be able to reach these persons economically (through
the internet, magazines, or other means). Most important, what
you write should address a concern, want or need of your
reader. Provide the benefits implied in your title and
advertising. Provide good value for the money charged, and your
customers will be happy and buy other products from you.
5. HOW TO PRODUCE A SPECIAL REPORT
It is likely that you already possess information, knowledge,
and skills in areas of interest to others. Meditate on what you
already know. Sometimes we assume that other people already
know what we know. This is not the case. If this knowledge can
help others save money, increase their income, improve their
health, be better liked, improve their happiness, or give some
other important benefit, you can use this knowledge as the basis
of producing your information product.
As well as your own expertise, you can consult other sources to
add to your knowledge. Research at the public library, in
bookstores, on the internet, through personal interviews of
experts, and by taking educational courses on your chosen
subject will all help you develop additional expertise needed to
write your folio.
As for writing ability and skill, practice makes perfect. Get
constructive criticism from others. Have a friend proofread
your report. Check your grammar and spelling. Use simple
sentences. Don`t get too complicated or you`ll lose most of
your readers.
Use of a personal computer will help you immensely. Prepare
your document in text format so that you can use your
information in different formats, such as for your website, in
electronic books, for e-mailing to a printer, et cetera. If you
wish, you may export a copy of the text file you used to prepare
your own Special Report to a word processing program to format
it for printing. Only print the copies needed to fill orders.
Writing any information product requires self-discipline. You
must find a suitable time to write each day. Buy out the time
from less important activities such as TV viewing or idle
conversation. If you have specific goals and stick to them and
your schedule, you are likely to accomplish your objective of
making more money with self-published special reports.
If, for example, your goal is to produce one Special Report per
week, you will need to schedule the required time for research,
then writing, editing and corrections.
Be realistic about your goals. If you can only produce one
special report per month, don`t be discouraged. Adjust your
goals to what reasonably can be accomplished. Just think!
Producing only one Special Report per month would produce a line
of twelve different products in a year and could form the basis
of a newly published book!
6. HOW TO SELL SPECIAL REPORTS
Writing, although hard work and akin to giving birth, is only
part of the battle. Now you need to sell your Special Reports.
Remember, you didn`t just write on any subject that interested
you. You deliberately chose a subject that was marketable. You
wrote a subject others were interested in. Otherwise, you
wouldn`t be able to sell it.
Whether you use a website, magazine ads, direct mail or other
methods of advertising and promoting your Special Reports, make
sure that all your communications stress the benefits to the
target reader. They must be convinced that your folio is a
product that is needed by them and is worth the money.
Don`t forget to take advantage of free publicity for your
products. Send press releases and try to get your publication
reviewed or featured as a new product in appropriate magazines
or other media.
Special Reports can be adapted as articles that you can offer
for sale to magazines. Some consultants and professionals use
Special Reports to promote their own business and to establish
credibility as experts in a certain field.
7. THE BEGINNING OF YOUR INFORMATION EMPIRE
From small beginnings come big things. Your following through
on the information in this report could result in many
benefits. A steady production of appropriate Special Reports
will give you control and ownership of profitable products in
high demand. These products can create income for years after
they are produced. They can also form the basis of other
products: books, audio tapes, videos, courses, internet content,
software, and other salable, unique products. Establish your
credibility as a respected expert in your field.
Don`t delay; follow through. Best wishes to you in building a
profitable and enjoyable information empire!
RESOURCE BOX
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping
clients to earn maximum business profits for over
twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/
Permalink
Posted in Branding at 12:00 am by admin
Branding Is Not Selling Out: IT’S SELLING IN
By Kim A. Castle
Ever see an amazing band perform and wonder why you’ve never heard of them
before? Ever see an astonishing artist on the street and wonder why isn’t their work
isn¹t in a gallery? Ever see an astounding independent film and wonder why people
all over the world don’t know about it?
Me too!
It breaks my heart to know that there are musicians, painters, sculptors, and
filmmakers everywhere starving. Starving… for their art.
Why is a branding expert like me, who mostly deals with entrepreneurs and small
business owners, addressing musicians, artists, and filmmakers? It’s simple. Artists
are the ultimate entrepreneurs.
Think about it. Some create products and look for a market; others look at a market
and create products. Every entrepreneur starts the same way! It’s the notion of
business that often trips artists up.
Creating any piece of music, art, or film, is like creating a product. I’m not
suggesting that all products, art-based or otherwise, are equal. We all know a good
product, or painting, or film or vacuum cleaner when we experience it. Its just with
some artists, imaginary barriers get created. These illusive barriers can keep them
from creating the very success they want.
All creators have the same goals: to make a good product that is useful or
meaningful, have it well liked by many people and to be paid portionally to the
market they reach. Who doesn’t want that? Making music, paintings, sculptures,
photography or film should be addressed like any business with the same attention
to the big picture, IF you want to make a great living from it. But something often
holds artistic creators back from making a great living from their art.
As usual fear is the culprit.
Artists sometimes fear that if they develop the recognition and financial success that
comes from branding from them ’selves’, their peers will think that they’ve ’sold-out’
if they ‘make it’. Fellow starving artists might say that on the surface, but what they
are really saying is that they are envious of the success that you have created. It’s
far easier to put down someone else’s success than to make it them self. What’s
more important: what your peers think OR having your ‘art’ enjoyed by as many
people as possible and having the financial freedom that comes along with it?
Another fear that may prevent artists from taking their craft mainstream is that they
think that they will lose control of it by becoming a business and, heaven forbid, a
BIG business at that. Just like the art you make, what your business becomes is in
your control. If you develop your brand based on your vision of it from the start, you
protect it from becoming something else. Business is not bad - people that run
them can make bad decisions. The power of your business is always in your hands.
The largest fear for some artists is that the very nature of getting paid, and paid
well, for their art will change it. This will then set in motion the loss of creative
connection with the ‘art’ itself. I would argue that those that get lost were not very
centered on their purpose and passion in
the first place.
It’s odd to think that financial freedom, the freedom to do whatever you want, could
cause one to lose their way. In one of our workshops, we were fortunate to have a
successful artist who was ready to take his brand to the next level. When I asked
him what does he do, he answered, ‘Whatever I want.’ Who doesn’t want that?!
With the money you get from branding your craft, you can set up systems so that it
doesn’t interfere with your focus; donate to causes, invest in real estate, create
other products/partnerships. You can even hire the people to manage it all.
Leaving you free to… create.
The bottom line is simple, everyone has control over what they do and what they
manifest, it’s just that most people haven’t been shown how. Commitment to your
‘art’ does not preclude your ability to make money from it. In fact, the more
financial freedom you create for yourself, the more art you can create. A branding
mindset is taking that control into your own hands and owning the future. And it
must truly start from the inside - from your innate talent and your grand vision for
your art. Branding your art comes down to your commitment to yourself and to the
art itself. Branding is not only slogans and TV ads; it’s the power to be who you are
and communicating it to everyone proudly.
The definition of artist:
1. somebody who creates art
2. somebody who does something with great skill and creativity
3. somebody who is very good at doing something
Nowhere does it say you have to starve to make good art or good products.
Remember that the next time a musician, or painter, or sculptor, or filmmaker you
know breaks through to success. Ask yourself, what are you really committed to?
Don’t cheat the world of your gift. Developing a
brand mindset with integrity from the inside out is guaranteed to reach more
people. Period.
If you do something that you really love, you’re really good at it, and people pay you
to keep doing it, then branding it is not selling out, it’s selling in… to you!
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!
To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13“>http://
http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/
“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:00 am by admin
How To Safeguard Against Rape
By Carl Ellis
If you are a female, chances are one in ten that you will be a victim of sexual assault.
An attacker makes no distinction between race, age, appearance, or any other characteristic.
COMMON SENSE is your best defense against attack.
Because every rape is different, there is no one solution for thwarting an attack; however, keep in mind…
The attacker must have the opportunity and privacy to be able to assault you.
Be aware of your surroundings
Walk and talk with confidence
Don’t look or act like a victim
Have a plan in mind of what you will do if ever attacked
If you are attacked, evaluate the situation and look for ways to escape.
Some women have avoided rape by talking their way out of it,
by acting crazy, or by fighting back – A kick in the groin MAY NOT work successfully – you may lose your balance If you do decide to
respond physically, remember that your first priority is to get away
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. Don’t worry about hurting the attacker.
YOUR safety and escape are the ONLY things you should worry about
Act quickly and decisively to throw the attacker off guard in your escape plan
After An Attack
Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention. Do NOTHING ELSE until you do this.
PRESERVE THE EVIDENCE, ie., Don’t change your clothes, wash off, or disturb the scene of the crime.
You call, or have the medical facility call the police immediately.
If the above steps are not available to you, at least Get to a safe place and follow the steps above as soon as you can.
Medical attention is vital!
Many hospitals provide free care for rape victims and offer venereal disease treatment.
REMEMBER: Even if you don’t get immediate help, follow-up tests for venereal disease (VD) are essential.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, be embarrassed to seek help. Though, it might be difficult to talk about, it is vitally important to tell the doctors what sex acts took place so they will know what medical attention is needed
Try to remember, even in the smallest detail, your exact experience, to assist the police.
It is extremely important that you give an accurate and complete description of your assailant.
Your complete cooperation with all authorities may help, not only in more attacks by your assailant, but in a swift capture and justice.
MEDICAL CONTACTS
___________________________________
___________________________________
Carl Ellis operates a home-based publishing company. You may purchase his entire 44-page e-book, “600 Tips & Pointers To Keeping Yourself, Your Home, and Your Loved One’s Safe” for the Special Price of just $9.00 by simply emailing for further details: cellis45308@yahoo.com
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Posted in Business at 12:00 am by admin
Work at Home Business Ideas
By J. Stephen Pope
Here are some excellent businesses that you can
start, operate and grow from your home. All these
work at home businesses have the following desirable
features:
**Low Startup Costs
**Ease of Entry
**High Income Potential
**Home Based and Operated
**Worldwide Sales Potential
**Residual, Recurring and/or Passive Income Potential
1. Consulting
A consultant is someone expert in a field who, for a fee,
advises businesses or individuals on various matters of
concern.
Many times we tend to feel that our knowledge, skills
or abilities are nothing unique. However, many lack
those same assets and would gladly pay us for our
knowledge and services.
Although it is possible to make a living from consulting
with individuals, the big money is in performing services
for businesses.
Do you have knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting, tax or
similar business matters? Some have made excellent money
specializing in small business consulting.
Are you a computer hobbyist with business or internet
experience? You could make money in web design, internet
marketing, search engine optimization, or some other
specialty.
Some lawyers have combined their legal experience with their
love of the Internet and specialized in intellectual
property and computer law.
For further information and resources about consulting,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/consulting.html
2. Finding
A finder is someone who, for a fee, finds something
needed by a business or individual. A finder`s fee
is the amount paid to the finder for locating what
was required.
Finder`s fees are paid for finding money (loans,
equipment leasing, et cetera), equipment (mining,
construction, et cetera), personnel, companies for
sale, locations (fast food franchises, vending
machines, et cetera) and just about anything else
that people are willing to pay for.
Simply match sellers with buyers and you can earn
finder`s fees.
For further information and resources about finder`s fees,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html
3. Auctions
An auction is an event where items are sold to the highest
bidders. An internet auction, online auction or e-auction
is an auction where you can buy and sell items on the
Internet.
Many thousands now make their living or fortune from
selling products and services on eBay and similar auction
sites. So can you!
For further information and resources about auctions,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/auctions.html
4. Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is a method of selling products without
stocking inventory yourself. When you make a sale you
contact the manufacturer or authorized distributor who
ships it to the customer with your invoice and shipping
label. Advantages include no warehousing, shipping, or
inventory costs.
For further information and resources about drop shipping,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html
5. Affiliate Programs
An affiliate or associate program is a method of selling
products on the internet through commission sales. When
someone you refer to a website buys, the company you are
an associate of (or affiliated with) pays you a commission.
In many cases, it is also possible to make money from the
efforts of people that you introduce to the affiliate program.
You can also expand your product line by joining and
promoting more than one affiliate program.
For further information and resources about affiliate programs,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html
6. Webmastering
A webmaster is a an internet specialist reponsible for all
aspects of web sites.
Areas where businesses need assistance include web site
design, logo, banner or graphic design, web hosting,
e-commerce, internet marketing, web programming, scripts,
security, web site maintenance, copy writing, mailing list
management, and many other areas.
For further information and resources about webmastering,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/webmstrbus.html
7. Self-publishing
A self-publisher creates, produces, and sells information
products. Information products may be in the form of books,
booklets, videos, audio cassettes, compact disks (CDs),
electronic books, files, databases, private websites, and
other media.
The information products that you create are unique. You
have exclusive control and ownership of your own products.
For further information and resources about self-publishing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/selfpub.html
8. Instant Publishing
An instant publisher sells information products produced by
someone else who grants them reprint (or resale) rights.
Often self-publishers will sell such products to complement
their own information products.
For further information and resources about instant publishing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/instantpub.html
9. International Trade
International trade involves importing and exporting.
Importing involves buying goods and services from suppliers
in another country. Exporting involves selling goods and
services to customers in another country.
For further information and resources about import-export,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html
10. Mail Order
Mail order is a method of conducting business through the
mail. Goods and services can be sold through direct mail
(and also via catalogues, magazines, newspapers, radio,
television, web sites, and other media). Customers can order
by mail or by other means (fax, telephone, internet, et
cetera). Delivery of orders can be made by mail or alternative
means (such as by courier for physical goods or by fax, e-mail,
telephone, or electronic files for information).
For further information and resources about mail order,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/mailord.html
RESOURCE BOX
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping
clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit:
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/
Permalink
Posted in Marketing at 12:00 am by admin
Mission ‘Statement’ Impossible
By Kim A. Castle
Dant dant da da dant dant da da. Dant dant da da dant dant da da. (That’s the
theme from “Mission Impossible”…)FADE IN.
Your mission, should you chose to accept it is to create a fail-proof proclamation, a
road map, that not only serves ALL your business needs but also provides you an
endless source of fuel so you can thrive in your business. Beware of the well-
intentioned imposter called “the mission statement.” Should you choose to accept
this mission… this article will self-destruct in… you get the point.
If you’ve been is business in any sort of formal sense or have come out of a MBA or
business school, no doubt you have been told to “write a mission statement” to
assure that your business achieves the success that you want for it. So as any good
success-orientated business owners would do, you did as you were told and wrote
one; only to find yourself with a hard earned paragraph (or a page) that’s not giving
you the power you thought it would. Well no wonder, you sent the wrong agent to
do the right job.
The inherent problem with writing a business mission statement is that it’s an
external communication of what your business is about and what it could do. It’s
used to communicate your business’ mission to someone else. This power-zapping
situation has been created because you either:
a) you wrote it because someone told you that’s the way business is done,
b) OR more often than not you wrote it to prove to someone else that you deserve to
get something, usually money or some other assistance for your business. This type
of purpose is easily manipulated to paint a certain picture. Any picture you chose.
Some may teach that doing a mission statement is about communicating your
choice to others, therefore giving you the ‘illusion’ of power. Where’s the power in
the ‘illusion’? Certainly not in you, where it should be!
The mission statement communication point is focused externally on the receiver so
in essence you are giving the receiver the power of your communication. That’s
marketing! Which is all said and good if and only if your internal communication, to
yourself and your team, is built and is solid. If it’s not, creating a mission statement
only is like throwing a huge party in your penthouse when you haven’t even laid in
the concrete foundation of the building.
Don’t worry. It’s an easy fix. It’s as simple as calling that ‘mission statement agent’
back in, saving it for the right job, and training a new agent for the job.
The first and the most important part of developing any business with a big
business vision (a brand) is developing a solid, and I mean bullet-proof, brand
statement — which is your business’ internal reason to be.
in_ter_nal adj
1. located within or affecting the inside of something,
2. involving or existing within the mind or spirit
rea_son n
1. an explanation or justification for something
2. a motive or cause for acting or thinking in a particular way
3. a cause that explains a particular phenomenon
Your brand statement must be concise & clear, anchored in your passion & to your
vision of what you are bringing to the world. It is so completely anchored internally
that it actually becomes the ruler by which you measure every business decision.
(Important distinction to note is that your brand statement is an internal
communication and is not for public use.)
Without your business’ core internal brand statement firmly in place, every time you
communicate your well-intentioned mission statement, verbally or in-print, you will
essentially be giving your power away. No amount of re-phrasing or creating catchy
30-second elevator speech or “round-robins” will change that.
Makes sense doesn’t it? Without really knowing your business’ brand statement,
even shouting your mission statement off Mount Everest will still feel… empty.
I receive dozens of e-mails every day from people who’ve personal and business
lives have changed by working solely on this amazing statement.
So, you can begin today. Focus on your brand statement before of wondering why
your mission statement is serving you. You will be astonished at the power, clarity
and financial success it will bring you.
You and your business will experience the phenomenon known as financial success
when your “internal” house is in order and it provides the foundation for ALL your
external communication.
Good luck on your new mission!
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!
To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
“>http://
http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/
“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”
Permalink
Posted in Business at 12:00 am by admin
Make Your Fortune as a Professional Finder
By J. Stephen Pope
Have you considered the lucrative opportunity in
finder`s fees? You could become a professional
finder and earn a fortune from this alone.
Alternatively, you could supplement your present
income with finder`s fees.
A finder is someone who finds something for a
person or business. The amount paid for this
service is called a finder`s fee.
What is the difference between a finder and a
broker or commissioned salesperson?
A broker or commissioned salesperson gets paid a
percentage of the sale made. Usually, such person
acts as an agent for the owner of the goods or
services sold. He becomes actively engaged with
the sales process, supplying information to
facilitate the sale, negotiates the contract,
arranges financing, and completes paper work.
On the other hand, a finder simply introduces a buyer
to a seller for a fee. He does not become involved
in the sales process and is not an agent acting on
behalf of the seller.
The best areas to earn finder`s fees are those in
which you already have expertise and interest.
For example, if you are an expert on airplanes and have
connections in the aviation industry, you could earn
finder`s fees finding suitable planes for those needing
them.
You can earn finder`s fees in many areas including
equipment (used or new), equipment leasing, finding
locations for franchises or vending, scarce materials,
commodities, financing, et cetera.
Connections are the inventory of a finder. You are being
paid to find something of value by someone who doesn`t know
where (or doesn`t have the time) to find it. Your knowledge
of where and who to get something from is invaluable
information that people are willing to pay for.
Protect yourself with written contracts. Also, document all
efforts you have made to earn your finder`s fee.
Before you introduce a buyer to a seller, have the seller
acknowledge in writing that they have agreed to pay you a
finder`s fee of so much upon successful completion of a sale.
After obtaining a properly executed written contract (which
may be a simple one page letter agreement), inform the person
by written correspondence (sent by registered mail) about the
buyer. Keep all copies of correspondence and other written
documentation in case it becomes necessary to enforce your
rights later. Proper documentation should help you to avoid
any misunderstandings.
Just as the business that sells something pays its sales
staff, likewise the seller generally pays the finder`s fee.
The seller is the one that makes a profit from the sale and
so usually is the one that pays commissions or finder`s fees.
However, if a buyer is particularly anxious to buy something,
he might offer a finder`s fee. Therefore, it is possible
to collect such fees from either the seller or the buyer.
It is possible to find finder`s fees opportunities offered
in magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. You can find
additional opportunities by doing your own research. Use
your contacts, reference and phone books at the library,
the Internet, persons you know (or don`t know) who might have
the information you need, as well as other sources to find what
is needed.
For example, if someone tells you they can`t find a pilot with
an airplane outfitted with geophysical survey equipment,
have you considered talking to airport employees, pilots,
business acquaintances, exploration companies and manufacturers?
Make sure that all your communications and dealings
(telephone, correspondence, letterheads, contracts, et cetera)
reflect the professional nature of your business.
You must be willing to do the necessary legwork and research
required to earn your finder`s fee. As well, you must project
a business-like, professional image and protect yourself with
written contracts and other documentation. Above all, you must
follow through and diligently apply what you have learned. In
that way, you, too, will become a highly paid professional finder.
For further information about finder`s fees, visit:
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html
RESOURCE BOX
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping
clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit:
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/
Permalink
Posted in Branding at 12:00 am by admin
Are You Brand Worthy? Are You Brand Worthy?
By Kim A. Castle
Branding is a one hot topic, although it is wildly misunderstood. To make things
even more confusing, branding is often tossed in the same basket as marketing
which makes its application to an entrepreneur or sole-practioner even more
unclear.
While out speaking on branding, the question that I hear most is “How do I know if
my business or service is brand material?” With businesses opening left and right,
and more and more closing each year, I’m glad there are smart business owners
open to understanding the issue.
If you’ve found yourself asking the same thing, don’t worry you’re not alone.
Perhaps, this can shed some light.
At a recent luncheon, the same question came up again in a different way. I was
seated next to an attorney whose sole practice focuses on elder abuse cases, he
asked me in rapid succession (a manner that showed me he’d be great in court):
“Isn’t branding for businesses that make a lot of stuff?”
“Doesn’t branding apply only if you want to sell a lot of stuff?”
“Isn’t branding pointless for my kind of business?”
Smiling, I fired back, “yes, yes, and… no”.
Yes, branding is most often associated with businesses that make a lot of stuff. Yes,
branding is advantageous if you want to sell a lot of stuff. No, branding is not
pointless because every business makes something (or offers a service) and wants
to sell it. Branding is about making your product or service known to as many
potential customers as possible, consistently, with the most effective use of your
time and money. Branding is about repeat business. Branding is about effortless
referrals. Wouldn’t that be a benefit to ANY business, especially yours?
To help you gain more brand-worthy clarity, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Am I really passionate about what I am doing with my business, service or
product? And I mean REALLY! If not, is there something more you can be doing in it
to turn your passion switch on? It takes an amazing amount of energy and
persistence to make a business take hold in the customer’s mind. With more and
more businesses competing for headspace, it’s imperative that you set yourself
apart. If you are not cooking with the fuel that passion gives you, you’re missing out
on a very crucial element that could mean the difference between thriving and
closing.
2. Do I have a big vision of my business, service or product? Do you dream of
reaching lots of customers in different ways with your product or service? Do you
see a way to deliver your product or service to an increasing amount of people with
less and less effort? Did you create a mindset or special approach in your field that
can be delivered in a variety of mediums, i.e.- speaking, books, audio CDs,
consulting, etc. Do you envision moving beyond an hour-for-hour way of providing
your service? All of these support a big vision. , Not only do we begin from the
inside out, when approaching your brand, we create from where you will be in five
years as if it is now. Small vision does just that, keeps you small. The choice is
always yours.
3. Is my product or service a real benefit to lots of customers? It’s important that
you answer this one as honestly and openly as possible. I was very passionate and
had a huge vision for a career as a mime! (Yes, you read that correctly… a mime.)
However, no amount of passion and vision would make people buy it on a large
scale. Thanks to Marceau Marceau, the mime card had been played out. You may
find that by being truthful with your answers will lead to branding even better
products and services.
4. Am I prepared to surround myself with a team or the knowledge to accomplish
the business success that developing my business as a brand delivers? The plus side
of being an entrepreneur is that you may wear many hats in your business. The
negative side is that you feel like you have to! The truth is, you don’t! You’re an
expert in your field and you need to honor that expertise by supporting it with a
variety of other skill sets to make your indelible mark; logo design, copywriting,
website design, your marketing plan creation and execution, and others. The
important thing is that you realize…you’re in command…because it’s your ship! And
being a commander takes knowing where you want to go, gathering the maps to
make the journey, and the crew to make it happen.
If your answers to these questions are yes, then you have the makings to develop
your business as a brand. You just need the knowledge and practice to do so. If
you’re shaky on some of the questions, find out why. Even if you never develop your
business as a brand, solid yeses to these simple questions will only make your
business more successful and more enjoyable. After all, isn’t that we all want?
© Castle Montone, Limited All Rights Reserved.
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!
To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13“>http://
http://www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13
Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/
“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”
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Posted in Taxes at 12:00 am by admin
Rearrange Your Affairs For Maximum Tax Savings
By J. Stephen Pope
One way to maximize your business profits is by reducing your taxes.
Frequently, income and other taxes could be lowered significantly if
only the taxpayer were willing to plan ahead. By taking some simple
steps to rearrange your affairs, you could save a fortune!
1. Are You Splitting Your Business Income?
You may pay reasonable salaries to spouse or children through your
incorporated or unincorporated business. If you are not doing so,
you may be missing out on some real tax savings.
In the Canadian Federal Budget of February 16, 1999, measures were
introduced to discourage income splitting with minor children through
family trusts. However, these measures do not apply to paying
reasonable wages to family members. Thus, this may be one of the
last ways of legally splitting income left for the small business
person with minor children.
Obviously, the amounts paid must bear some relationship to the work
performed. Of course, all required payroll taxes should be remitted
and proper records need to be maintained.
Why not rearrange your affairs so that family members with little or
no income can perform duties for and be paid by your business? Then,
they can contribute out of their own income towards the operation of
the household. In this way, little or no tax will be paid by your
dependants and you will have successfully shifted taxable income out
of your hands.
2. Should You Register For The Goods And Services Tax?
Even if your business grosses less than $30,000.00 per year in taxable
sales, you may still benefit by registering your business to collect
the Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). If you are not doing so, you
may be missing out on some real tax savings.
For example, you will be paying G.S.T. on many of your business
expenses. If not registered for G.S.T., you must absorb this cost.
If registered, you may deduct the G.S.T. paid on such business expenses
(input tax credits) from the tax collected. Many business persons
expect to pay G.S.T. and it doesn`t really cost them anything since they
deduct such amounts as input tax credits from the G.S.T. they collect
from their customers.
In some cases, the quick method of calculating G.S.T. may actually
allow you to retain more of the G.S.T. collected than you would have
just claiming the G.S.T. actually paid by you.
A factor to consider also: If you are not registered for G.S.T.
in Canada, you are telling your clients that you do under $30,000.00
per year in taxable sales or that you cheat. Is this the image you
want your clients to have?
3. Could You Benefit From Incorporating Your Business?
Although incorporating your business may result in increased
accounting and legal fees (for setup, extra tax returns, and annual
minutes), the advantages of incorporation may justify this added
expense. Not only will you enjoy limited liability by incorporating,
but you may reap significant tax savings as well.
Corporations are often subject to lower tax rates on small business
income. In Canada, sales of shares of qualifying small business
corporations can obtain a lifetime $500,000.00 capital gains
exemption. Certain tax incentives and government programs are only
available to incorporated entities. Additionally, corporations can
be used for income-splitting and estate, retirement, and succession
planning objectives.
4. Do You Engage in Tax Planning Year-Round?
Some people only worry about their taxes during tax season. However,
you will save a fortune in taxes, legally, if you make tax planning
your year-round concern.
Can you make some changes to turn your hobby into a moneymaking
business? Can you use that extra room in your house as a home office for
your business? Can you arrange to use your car more for business
purposes and have you documented your business use mileage? Can you
arrange for more of your entertainment expenses to be business related
and have you listed the business purpose on the back of each receipt?
Do you make business and personal purchases, investments, and other
expenditures with tax savings in mind. Do you document your expenses
well so that you they would survive a tax audit? Whenever you are faced
with a business or personal financial decision, do you consider the tax
consequences?
Make year-round tax planning part of your business management mindset
and, thus, enjoy maximum tax savings. Yes, by rearranging your affairs
to account for tax implications, you will save a fortune in taxes.
RESOURCE BOX
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping
clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit:
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/
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