SOLO MOMPRENEUR

Archive for the ‘Following Your Passion’ Category

If you’ve been online for longer than twenty minutes, you’re sure to have grasped the concept that relationship building needs to be your main focus and highest priority.

But are you striking up conversations with the right people?

That’s the TRICKY part.

Just ask Shelly Roberts – she’ll tell you!

I was so impressed and uplifted by the “Open Farewell” post she wrote recently that I just HAD to share it with you.

Talk about a great lesson!

I found myself smiling and cheering and applauding with every word!

When you’re struggling to make real connections online, it can be very easy to find yourself spending lots of valuable time communicating with people who are not really a good fit.

Read Shelly’s post and find out exactly what I’m talking about. She’s a fabulous role model and a true inspiration.

Guest post by Lisbeth Tanz

One of the things I hear most frequently from new freelance writers is that they didn’texpect it to be so hard.

If they had asked me, I could have told them that doing this work isn’t the easiest way to earn a living, at least not initially.

No new business is easy – but when you consider that all you need to start a writing business is a computer, Internet connection, telephone, fax (maybe) and writing talent, it seems like a slam dunk.

However, starting a writing business takes more than just good writing skills. It takes business savvy (or the willingness to develop it), the ability and desire to work hard to get established and an understanding that money won’t start flowing immediately (unless you’re really, really fortunate).

Here are 10 things to consider before you declare yourself in business as a writer:

1. Identify the things you know a lot about and would enjoy writing about.
2. Determine how much time per day you will be able to pursue your writing business dream.
3. Determine the market(s) you want to pursue. Do you want to write for magazines? Newspapers? Web content providers? Your own content? Do you want to create your own products? Do you want to be an affiliate marketer? (You’d be surprised at how much writing is necessary when you promote the products of others effectively.) NOTE:  Each of these markets is different and you may not be able to find work for some of them on the job boards.
4. Analyze (don’t just look at) the top job boards:  guru.com, elance.com and odesk.com. There are others, but these three are probably the biggest. I could write a post or three on just this topic. You’ll want to look for what the most successful bidders are doing and emulate them.
5. Take a stroll over to Craigslist to see what freelance gigs might be posted there. Sometimes I find hidden gems on my local Craigslist.
6. Now that you’ve done some research, you’re better prepared to write down three goals you would like to achieve with your writing business in the next three months, six months and 12 months. Setting goals helps you stay focused.
7. You’ll also want to calculate how much money you must earn to make this venture worthwhile. You can learn how in this post I wrote about calculating your freelance writing rates .
8. If you don’t have any writing examples, create some! You won’t need many, but you will need to create a few that can demonstrate your writing ability.
9. Consider where and when you’ll do your writing. If you have three kids under three, this could be a challenge. But people manage extreme or difficult situations and still make time for writing, so get creative with your planning.
10. If your skills aren’t up to snuff, search for mentors, websites and books that can help you improve your skills.

There are many other things to consider, but these should get you started. You might have noticed that I didn’t talk about coming up with a business name, creating a logo, making business cards, etc. That’s because you will best serve yourself by considering these 10 points before you jump headfirst into a writing business.

Many thanks to Melanie for giving me the opportunity to guest post on Solo Mompreneur!

Lisbeth Tanz is a freelance copywriter and editor. Her business, The Hired Pen, was started on a wing and a prayer in 2004 (before she understood the 10 points above). Since then she’s written and edited for a wide variety of business clients, but focuses primarily on alternative health and wellness, home improvement and pets/animal companion writing. She’s continually amazed at all there is to learn about writing and business and enjoys sharing her newfound knowledge with new and experienced writers at www.savvyfreelancewriters.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn .

Affiliate marketing can be an excellent way to get started in business online or a powerful, profitable addition to a current business.

There are amazing and wonderful products to sell and wonderful product owners to partner with.

Being an affiliate marketer isn’t just about making money, it’s about promoting products that you believe in and are passionate about – this is key to becoming a successful affiliate.

But what if affiliate marketing doesn’t seem to be working for you?

Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid when you are starting out as an affiliate marketer:

1) There’s a disconnect with your visitors

No matter how interesting and informative the content of your site is, most of your visitors won’t stay and browse unless you have injected some of your personality into it.  Add some personal details, perhaps a photo or an about me page, and try to make the content sound as though you are actually talking to your visitors.  Write conversationally, as if you were speaking to your sister or your best friend.

2) All lookers and no buyers

This problem is generally caused by failure to really pre-sell the products you are promoting.  Anticipating the needs of your audience and convincing them that your affiliate product will address that need should increase your conversion rate.  A well designed site will have your customers prepared to buy the product before they even click on the link.

3) Not taking names

Don’t forget to ask your customers for their e-mail addresses, whether that is to receive a newsletter, e-book, audio, video, or a free report.  If you don’t, you are missing out on a great opportunity.  Very few people buy from a site on their first visit.  So capture their e-mail addresses in exchange for something of value so you can gain their trust and confidence and ensure you have future chances to sell to them.

4) Leaving out the human element

Human elements sell better than clever copy every time!  Don’t rely on advertising over testimonials.  Although banner ads in the sidebars on your webpage can lead to affiliate sales, they are not as effective as personal recommendations and endorsements.

Online customers are becoming immune to traditional advertising but the human element of a recommendation can still dramatically increase your sales.  Even though your customers are probably aware that you make a commission from recommending a product, they will reason that you would not endorse something you didn’t believe in because that would damage your reputation and credibility.

Do write a heartfelt enthusiastic endorsement.  It may take some practice, but it will be well worth the effort when the commissions begin to roll in.

5) Tell before you sell

Too much sales-y stuff and too little content turns people off.  Whether you are promoting affiliate products via a website or information products, your customers will want to learn something from you rather than reading a blatant sales pitch.

As a general rule, you should be aiming for 90% high quality informative content and 10% sales content on your site.

6) Repeating the same mistakes

Many affiliate marketers find they are only making a small profit from one product, so they decide to promote a large number of products in order to increase this income.  All you really achieve with this is repeating a formula that doesn’t work very effectively.

If you are not generating much income from your affiliate products, look at different ways to market them.  Having a few well-marketed products is always better than hundreds that get little exposure.  Don’t be afraid to try out some new marketing platforms and strategies.

See you for Part 5 – The Grand Finale!

Many people are making a living from affiliate marketing online – some are doing so well, they’re known as SUPER affiliates!

Here are seven really cool advantages to becoming an affiliate marketer by promoting products and/or programs you believe in and highly recommend:

Low Risk

You’re not ultimately responsible for the product you are promoting and you don’t have to spend your own money or time to create a product.

Proven Market

The products’ creators will already have researched the demand for their product and will have some idea of their target market.

Keep your cash in your wallet

You have very low start up costs.  All you really need to begin affiliate marketing is a website or blog.  You don’t necessarily have to set up a new site, you can use affiliate programs to optimize your income from sites you already have.

No need to become an expert copywriter

Many of the tools you need will be provided for you. The minimum you will be provided with is sales materials such as banner ads and product benefits.  Some affiliates are provided with sales copy, Tweets to post on Twitter, autoresponder emails, sales letters, blog posts, and  even website templates.

Save time and money on operating costs

Affiliate marketers have low overheads. By purely promoting someone else’s product rather than creating your own, you have no inventory to look after, no orders to process, and no customer service function to provide.

Passive income

One of the most enticing benefits of affiliate marketing is that you can earn passive income. This means you stop trading hours for dollars. You can review a product once, place the review on your website, and that review can potentially make you money over and over again. This is passive income and affiliate marketing is one of the best businesses to get into for anyone who likes the idea of passive income.

Flexibility

With affiliate marketing, you can work as little or as much as you’d like – you get back what you put into it. This means that your earnings aren’t limited. If you simply want to work a few hours a week and build a business that gives you extra spending money then you can do so. If you want to work a little more and build a long-term business that gives you complete financial freedom then you can do that as well.

There’s no denying that affiliate marketing offers many benefits!

The best part of affiliate marketing is that you can fit it into just about any niche or topic you’re interested in. If your passion is pets for example, you can create an affiliate website about pets and caring for pets. You can then earn money promoting products that pet owners want.

There’s something very appealing about making money doing something you’re passionate about.

See you for Part 3!

Today I’m going to write what I call a “pigeonhole” post.

After you read the post, use the comment box below to tell me your definition of a pigeonhole post.

On with the post …

When I share a business success formula with my target audience, a quote from Adam Urbanski always sticks in the forefront of my mind.  Adam says, “Your offerings should be ‘pain killers’ versus vitamins.”

My audience is short on time.  They want the most valuable business-building information that’s as concise as possible – consumed and digested quickly.

Here’s the formula I give them:

1) Get to know yourself – Make a list of your attributes (gifts, talents, strengths, life and work experiences)

2) Develop and research your ideas – Find out what others have done in your field, what kinds of problems people are looking to solve, and what they are willing to pay for the solutions.

3) Clearly define your message – Who will you serve?  How will you serve them?

4) Marketing your product or service – Stick with three to five marketing platforms till you have mastered them.  Then start adding more.

The best strategy for business success is to be a good listener.  Listen to your target market and be first in line to answer their questions and provide solutions to their problems.

(I’ll be curious to read what you think a pigeonhole post is!)

It’s better to do both.

Today will begin and end like any other day, with one small exception.

I’ll crank up the morning by walking my dogs, Kona and Maxwell, and then get ready to head off to my first job of the day.  I’m blessed.  I have three jobs and not everybody can say that!

Oftentimes I think about the numbers of people who have been laid off or who have lost their jobs and I only wish I could give them one of mine.

Early on in the day, I give help to new breastfeeding moms at a small community hospital. What I receive in return is beyond measure.  The smiles and thank-you’s I get when I show first-time moms what to do and build their confidence are the greatest gifts in the world.

Lending office support, coordinating the online and offline marketing, and working with patients in an ophthalmology practice is the next order of the day.

Not a day goes by that my co-workers don’t show appreciation for my assistance.  They’re always telling me how happy they are that I came on board.  One of the technicians reminds me all the time that her day would not be “peachy” without me there.  She has a great sense of humor.

In the evenings, I have tons of fun teaching childbirth education classes.

Helping to alleviate the fears, worries, and apprehensions that expectant couples have about labor, birth, and postpartum adjustments isn’t really work – it’s a labor of love.

Teaching is one of my biggest passions in life.  What a gift to end the day with a job that allows me to follow my passion.

By now, you might be wondering what the one small exception is for today.

Today is my birthday.  I’ll be giving and receiving all day long.

What ticks you off?

What makes you want to IMPLODE and EXPLODE at the same time?

Things that bother me

Drivers who don’t use turn signals when changing lanes on the highway, especially when they pull right in front of me and leave about a hair’s width between my front bumper and their rear bumper.

Drawers left open.  I don’t get it.

People who are in the #1 position at a stoplight who don’t GO when it turns green.  They’re probably texting.

Getting slammed in the backs of my ankles with a shopping cart in line at the grocery store.  I’ve found that hungry people can be very impatient.

Broken promises.

Automated phone prompts and mechanical messages on customer service lines.  I may be the exception, but I prefer to converse with human beings.

Note: These are some things that “bother” me, but don’t necessarily make me angry.  Now on to my next list …

Things that make me angry

People who work very hard at their jobs and struggle to pay their bills.

Children left in day care centers and after-school programs because their parents have to work.

Companies who don’t provide benefits to their employees because they can get away with it.

People who are paid far less than what they’re worth.

Dreams and desires that are not being fulfilled.

Passions in life that are being ignored or put on hold for “some day” – which, of course, isn’t on the calendar.

Single parents who miss out on their children’s school activities, plays, performances, and sporting events because they’re the sole bread winners and can’t attend.

A lot of other things make me really angry, too – situations and circumstances that stand in the way of people designing a comfortable and enjoyable life for themselves.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of working my fingers to the bone to make the company and the boss rich.

It’s my turn.  And it’s your turn, too!

Prefer to listen to this post?

I turned a half a hundred seven years ago (all of you math wizards have now figured out my age).  Sorry.  There’s no prize involved.

Let’s just say I’ve “been around the block” a time or two and I have a fair amount of life experience under my belt.  I know the difference between right and wrong and I’ve learned that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

I decided to become an independent business owner and online marketer after spending almost four decades in the offline working world.  That’s okay.  I believe it’s never too late to follow your passion and design a life that’s right for you.

So, if you’re not moving forward in your business or you’re still sitting on the fence about getting started, what’s holding you back?

Is it that you’re not sure how to put together a business plan? (A short and simple plan is all you need).  Or is it that you think you have to spend money to market your business? (Not true! – You can market on a $0 budget).

Maybe you’re resisting because you lack some necessary skills (Don’t worry a bit – there’s lots of resources and easy action steps to follow).

Take it from this old lady …

There’s no better time than today to live your passion and purpose – profitably!

What questions can I answer for you today that will help you get started or move you closer to your goals as a small business owner?

Prefer to listen to this post?

Do you think you could you sell a bathing suit to a fish?

Fish spend all their time in water and do a lot of swimming, right?!

And how about selling shoes to a dog?

Dogs have four feet and do a lot of walking, right?!

But fish don’t need bathing suits and dogs don’t need shoes.

Fish might want a larger aquarium to swim around in, additional fish in the tank to keep them company, or some new exotic fish food to sample.

And dogs might want some doggie treats, a new toy, or a nice comfy bed for all those naps they seem to enjoy every day.

As a small business owner and online marketer, it’s much more savvy to sell people what they WANT, not what they need!

Let’s say you’re an artsy-craftsy kind of person and you’re in the business of sculpting figurines in the shape of cats.

Instead of marketing and promoting your cat sculptures in newspapers, trade publications for artists, or art-related venues online …

Find out where cat lovers hang out and share your expertise! Look for them in forums, groups, on Twitter, or research cat-loving blogs and articles.

Tell cat lovers why you chose this art form, why cats inspire you, what motivates you as an artist, your favorite kinds of cats, big sculpting boo-boos you’ve made along the way, etc.

Cat lovers certainly don’t NEED a cat sculpture, but they sure might WANT one!

Do you see the difference here?  Can you think of some ways you might change your marketing efforts and strategies to get better results and enjoy greater success?

Invaluable PR
This kind of publicity can be priceless!

We all know that awareness and driving traffic to your business is one of the biggest challenges for any business owner. Winners of the Leading Moms in Business Ranking will be part of a very high profile list that will be published and promoted widely in traditional media such as national and local TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines, and on some of the largest, most influential websites on the web. MSN, Bizjournals, ABC News NOW (and StartupNation, of course) have been among media covering the rankings and spreading the word about these enterprising moms.

If you have a mom-owned business, Enter Here

When you arrive on the page to get more details and submit your business, will you please cast a quick vote for me?  Thank You!

I rarely enter competitions such as this.  However, I am making an exception since the competition is being sponsored by “Ladies Who Launch” and “StartUpNation”.  They have a stellar reputation.

While we’re on the subject of Public Relations …

My mentor and colleague, Jessica Swanson, is hosting a complimentary webinar tomorrow evening 5/20 entitled, “Profitable Public Relations”.

Grab your No-cost seat now

I’ll tell you a little secret …

I’ve already seen the webinar and it’s out-of-this-world wonderful!  As a member of Jessica’s Shoestring Marketing Association, I have the joy and privilege of viewing webinars in advance of the general public.

All I can say is DON’T MISS IT!