Make Money Blogging: Building Your Multimillion Dollar Empire

Social media is all the buzz, but you can make money blogging. Many people think that all the money being made is in social media marketing. Although both are equally important, social media sites are more for introducing yourself to people in your target market while a blog will capture their attention and actually usher them to the cash register.

When blogging first hit the scene all those years ago, people did it for fun; as a way of sharing their view of the world with other people online. However, like all things commercial, it didn’t take long before people began to realize they could make money blogging. Several well known internet personalities, like Darren Rowse and Heather Anderson, built entire empires and earn thousands of dollars a month just from blogging.

While you may be using a blog to generate interest in your multilevel marketing program, you should really be taking a long term approach to your blog and your business if you want to maximize your income. There are tons of ways to generate income from your blog besides simply signing people up into your marketing program. And the best thing is they can all fit in with the general theme of your primary business.

EBooks

If you are looking for a way to make passive income that doesn’t require you to trade dollars for hours then writing and selling an EBook is an excellent way to make money blogging. Think about it. People are already showing interest in your business’ products or services. Selling them a supplemental guide that assists them in using the products better or improving their success rate with their business is something you can do without much more effort.

For example, say you are in the health and wellness industry. Writing and selling an EBook that talk about living with or overcoming the health problems the products address is almost guaranteed to generate additional income.

Advertising

Another simple and easy way to make money blogging is to sell advertising on your blog. If you have been to any blog on the internet then you have likely seen the advertisements many of them have in their sidebars. Other companies have paid to show their ads on that particular blog in the hopes of attracting customers.

This can bring you extra cash per month. However, you have to be careful and not get carried away. It is important that you use discernment when choosing advertisers to avoid picking people who are direct competitors to you or who do not offer your web visitors any type of value.

Affiliate Marketing

In this scenario of making money blogging, you operate like a commissioned sales person. You attract people to your blog using a variety of marketing methods and then refer them to a product or service that you think fits their needs. For each person who makes a purchase, you are rewarded with a percentage of the sale.

The nice thing about affiliate sales is that there is no limit to the amount of money you can make. At the risk of sounding cliché, the possibilities really are endless. However, just like advertising, you have to be careful and only promote products and services you can stand behind.

Consulting Services

For some people, an EBook is not enough and the information on your blog may be informative by they really need hands on help. If you enjoy working one on one with people then offering consulting services is another stream of income you can develop using a blog.

Most of the time, people are satisfied with talking over the phone and through email so you don’t have to worry about traveling around the country to meet with your clients. The most important thing to remember is you do have to be present for this work so you should schedule your clients appropriately.

As a business owner, it is important to have multiple streams of income to protect against economic downfalls and similar events. A blog can serve as the launching point to a multimillion dollar business and is definitely worth the investment of time and money. To learn more about how to make money blogging, contact me for a free consultation.

Which Internet Business Is Right For Me?

If you have an internet business or looking for one, the chances are good that you’ve explored a variety of ways to make money online and work from home. In truth, there are so many internet business opportunities out there that it’s almost impossible to tell the best from the rest. And the grim reality is that, while thousands of people launch online businesses in the hope of achieving financial freedom, the majority end up making very little money at all, or worse, paying out more money than they will ever able to recoup.

The good news is that, with the right partnership, you can promote your existing business while multiplying your revenue streams. That way, you don’t have to rely on a single, make-or-break source of income. It’s a bit like planting a garden. It would never cross your mind to plant a single seed in the spring and count on that to feed your family throughout the summer. Instead, you’d plant many varieties of seeds, knowing that one or more will bear fruit as the seasons progress.

The internet business partner you choose should be one that can provide you the one thing that is the downfall of most work from home opportunities: training. All too often, people who intend to succeed come up against their own limitations and fail to properly market their products.

So, make sure to look for a company that provides you with training on topics ranging from online and offline marketing to back office functionality and goal setting. They should also be equipped to provide you with tutorials on a wide variety of powerful marketing techniques. After all, there’s stiff competition on the Internet, and in order to successfully compete, you need to know all there is to know about methods such as article marketing, blogging, email marketing, banner advertising, press releases, pay-per-click advertising, and viral marketing – just to name a few.

At the same time, being knowledgeable about Internet marketing doesn’t mean that you need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, look for an internet business that provides you with tools like a professional website, automated follow-up, and training. Ideally, they should also provide you with highly sought after product, software or system that you can re-sell. This way, you can increase those revenue streams by earning a healthy commission on every sale, and still have the professional infrastructure in place to promote your existing business.

When you know what to look for, it’s not difficult to find the best internet business.

Creating an Effective Sales Funnel for Your Business

One of the things that will contribute to your success as a business owner is the development of a system that takes your prospects by the hand and leads them directly to the cash register. This is known as a sales funnel and can help you make more money while doing less work if you implement it correctly in your business.

What is a Sales Funnel?

A sales funnel is a term that describes the entire sales process people go through from when they first show interest in your product or service to when they actually pull out their credit card and make a purchase. It is called a funnel because you often start with a large number of prospects but only a small percentage of the group actually make it to the checkout line. For example, you may have 100 prospects showing interest in your business but only 5 actually buys something from you.

Why is a Sales Funnel Important?

Understanding and developing a sales funnel for your business is important because it allows you to make more money by tweaking the sales process so that you attract and retain more customers. It also helps keep you organized because you will know where your customer is in the sales process and assists you in identifying where your customers may be losing interest in working with you. With some adjustments, you can even automate a lot of tasks involved in getting your customer from showing interest to actually shelling out cash and free up more of your time.

How to Develop an Effective Sales Funnel for Your Business

The first step to developing and maximizing your sales funnel is in identifying all of the sales opportunities that a customer provides. Many business owners make the mistake of only focusing on the initial sale; for example, an EBook about marketing. However, marketing is a multifaceted subject and one where your clients will need continuous help with. You could offer subscription based online training in advanced marketing strategies or even provide marketing services to clients who would rather someone else take care of that for them.

Once you have a list of sales opportunities a particular customer provides, the next step is identifying all of the actions involved in the sales process for your business. A basic sales funnel may look something like this:

1. Prospect discovers they have a need and begins to search for a solution

2. Prospect comes in contact with your company

3. Initial communication with prospect

4. Evaluation of your products, services, or business opportunity

5. Either negotiation of price or discussion of value vs. price

6. Place an order

The sales funnel for your business may have more or less steps. Each step offers an opportunity for you to capture and sell the customer on doing business with you. Even if they do not buy your initial offering, you can still get them to buy other products if you structure your sales funnel right.

Next, take a good look at each step in the process to determine how you can capture and retain more customers. For example, a lot of your effort will probably go into the first two steps; getting customers to understand they need your product and capturing their attention. However, many of the people you attract to your sales funnel will fall away because they find another product that fits their needs better.

You can still keep these people in your sales funnel by finding a way to keep in contact with them to let them know of new products you have come available that they might want to sign up for in the future. Setting up a newsletter or getting them to sign onto a notification list are two ways you can accomplish this.

Look for ways to automate as much of the sales process as possible. Doing this will allow you to make money during times when you are not actively working your business. One idea is to engage in marketing tactics that produce long term benefits such as article marketing. Another idea is to start a blog that attracts prospects who are searching online for information.

As a last step, find someone you can trust to go through the sales process and tell you what could be better. Sometimes getting another set of eyes looking at your business can expose issues that may be preventing you from making more money.

Taking the time to implement a sales funnel is a challenging but good way to make more money online. If you need help with your marketing sales funnel, feel free to contact me for a free consultation that could help you increase sales and get more free time.

Whether you have started your first home business or you are a veteran entrepreneur, you can have the business you want in 2011 as long as you are willing to invest the time and effort into making it happen. With a new year comes a new opportunity to recreate your life. I’ve compiled a list of 20 online business tips to assist you in taking your business to the next level of success.

Internet Marketing Tips to Find More Customers for your Home Business

1. Find more ways to deliver your sales message. If you’ve been relying on one or two ways to market your site, then you need to drastically increase the number of avenues you are using to reach customers for your home business. Banner advertising, guest posting, video marketing, and social media marketing are other ways you can get your message in front of potential customers.

2. Offer a free training course. Free really speaks volumes in today’s economy. By providing a free informational webinar, EBook, or training course on a subject people in your target market care about, you’ll attract their attention. Once they experience the value you offer, they are more likely to become a regular customer.

3. Start a blog for your home business or personal brand. A blog is a dynamic website where you post information articles on a regular basis. There are multiple benefits to having a blog. The articles you write will help you attract followers. You will be able to demonstrate your expertise. Your positioning in search engines will increase with each article you write which will attract more prospects to you. Starting a blog is very easy. Contact me for more information on a simple way to do it.

4. Consider implementing an affiliate program. You can build an army of commissioned salespeople who will market your program for a cut of the profits. Although you make less money per transaction, you’ll increase the number of customers buying without any extra effort on your part.

5. Ask your current clients for referrals. If they are happy with the products and services you provide, they will be all too willing to send more people your way.

Make More Money by Increasing Sales for your Home Business

1. Increase your prices. An easy way to make more money is to increase how much you are charging your clients. Do some research in your industry to see what other people are charging for the same products and services. You may be surprised to find that you are undercharging.

2. Release additional products. Chances are good that you already have a base of paying customers. A good way to make more money is to release additional products or services your current customers have been asking for. This can be an EBook, web based training, complimentary beauty products, anything that will appeal to both current and new clients.

3. Saving money is a good way to increase your profit margin for your home business. Look for ways to reduce the cost of manufacturing or distributing your products and services without sacrificing the quality. This may include switching to an affiliate marketing model or renegotiating with suppliers for a better price.

4. Work on increasing your conversions. Look at your marketing materials. Are they doing their job selling your home business or product? If not, work with a reputable copywriter to revise it so it does. Are you targeting the right market? Reevaluate who your ideal customer is. If your sales volume is particularly low, you may be targeting the wrong demographic.

5. Make a habit of upselling or switch to a top down approach. Instead of starting with your lowest package, sell customers on the most expensive package and then work your way down. An alternative is to suggest additional products that compliment the one they are buying. You may be losing money in your home business simply because you are not asking your customers to spend more.

Expand Your Network with Social Media for your Home Business

1. Create a Facebook fan page for your home business. Use the page as a platform to share information, special offers, and otherwise reach out to fans of your business and find new ones. There are several plugins you can use to add video, distribute Facebook only coupons, and even maintain a discussion forum where people can ask questions and connect with other fans.

2. Use Twitter directories, like Twellow or WeFollow, to find people in your target market who are on Twitter. Begin a relationship with them by following them and talking to them. Take in interest in what they have to say. Generally, they will be only too happy to return the interest.

3. Take part in groups on social media outlets like Facebook, and LinkedIn. Groups are a great way to learn more about people in your target audience which will help you refine your marketing to attract and convert more people to your  home business. Joining groups also allows you to share your expertise and attract new customers and business associates. The bigger your network is, the longer the reach of your business.

4. Join Twitter Chats to share your knowledge and connect with other likeminded individuals. Participating in them will net you followers who are interested in the value and information you provide. There is a Twitter chat for almost every industry. You can find a list of them on this blog.

5. Step up your social media marketing for your home business. If you only post to Twitter or log onto Facebook a few minutes a day, then you are missing out on a golden opportunity. Make it a goal to network with others on social media sites for at least an hour a day. Although you can automate a lot of your social updating, nothing beats having a physical presence on the site. People prefer talking to other real people.

Improve Your Website for your Home Business

1. Make it easy for your readers to share your content by adding social networking tools to your blog. Most of the social media sites have badges you can add to your posts. If you have a WordPress blog, there are a number of plugins that make integrating those widgets extremely easy.

2. Make 2011 the year you learn about Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. Search engines will continue to be relevant despite the popularity of social media outlets. Learning how to use keywords effectively and optimizing your website so that it ranks high on the search engine result pages is crucial to your home business. I highly recommend SEO Pressor. It has been wonderful and easy for me personally.

3. Organize your site. Websites are just like homes. They tend to get filled up with useless clutter the longer you have it. Take a good look at your site. Are visitors able to find information easily? Is your sidebar crowded with widgets and gizmos you don’t really need? Does it look like a hot mess? Take some time to clean it up. Enlist the aid of web designer who can help you create a professional looking website.

4. If you are still using third party blogging sites like Blogger.com and WordPress.com, then it is time you switch to a self-hosted blog on your own domain. Not only does it look more professional, but you will be able to customize your site the way you want it. Third-party sites limit what you can do on their web property. In addition to that, being on a third party site makes you look like an amateur.

5. Tell visitors what to do. At the bottom of your articles, give your visitors clear direction as to what you would like them to do next. If they read to the bottom of the article then it is obvious they are interested in what you have to say. Put links to related articles, ask them to subscribe to your blog via RSS, or direct them to the products you have for sale. This is an easy way to start them down your sales funnel to learn more about your home business.

For more tips on how you can supercharge your home business in 2011, visit my blog archives. For a free consultation that will teach you how to improve your personal brand and home business, contact me.

Taking the leap from cubicle slave to home based business entrepreneur?

Judging by the statistics published by the Small Business Administration, it would seem that running a successful home based business is an impossible task. After all, only two-thirds of businesses established each year make it to their two year anniversary. If you are one of the lucky ones who survive, then you will only have a 44% chance of still being in business after five years.

But don’t let those numbers discourage you from taking the leap from cubicle slave to entrepreneur. Being in control of your time and income is a worthy reward that far outweighs the risks associated with going out on your own. Here are the five secrets to building a successful home based business that will help you and your business beat the odds.

Tips for Home Based Business Success

Sell Products People Want

Have you ever heard of the Thirsty Dog! Brand of bottled water? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t. It was specially flavored bottled water marketed to dog owners for their pets to drink. The problem was that the majority of dog owners thought buying bottled water for their dog was a colossal waste of money and the product bombed.

One component of building a successful home based business is selling something people want to buy. Before wasting both your time and money, study the market to make sure there is a need for what you have.

Make it Easy for Customers to Buy

People want to buy from you. They really do. They just don’t want to have to jump through hoops in order to do so. Some businesses will scare away customers by throwing up unnecessary roadblocks that interrupt the selling process. These roadblocks can be anything from unfavorable payment terms to a convoluted check out process.

You want the pathway to a customer purchase to be as smooth as possible. The more difficult it is for customers to buy from you, the easier it is for them to walk away; taking your dreams of having a successful home based business with them.

Market Your Business Effectively

Building a successful home based business requires that you have the right kind of customers; people who want to buy. It is important to attract these customers using a marketing strategy designed to get them to come to you with their money.

One effective marketing technique is to give something away for free. For example, if you sell cosmetics, hosting a free class on makeup application benefits you two-fold. First, you’re presented with an opportunity to sell. Second, sharing your knowledge demonstrates your expertise and customers are more likely to buy from professionals who know what they are doing.

Track Your Progress in Your Home Based Business

Monitoring and measuring the results of the actions you take in your business is a great way to ensure that you stay on target. It also helps you to identify trends so you can make valuable changes that benefit you and grow your business.

For example, if you sell organic dog treats and find that you get a lot of orders from veterinary clinics and dog kennels than you do from individual customers, setting yourself up as a wholesaler would probably be a good move.

Develop Multiple Streams of Income

If you look at others who own a successful home based business that have been around for awhile, you will find that the majority of them have developed several ways to generate income. They do this to protect themselves against the natural business cycle where demand for their products may be high one moment and low the next.

Developing multiple streams of income ensures that, if the need for one of your products or services hits a low point, you will still have enough money to support your home based business until demand increases again.

It’s a challenge to build a successful home based business but doing so can be rewarding both personally and financially. Use these five secrets to ensure your business thrives and and sticks around long enough for you to reap the rewards of your efforts.

Visit my archives for more home based business success tips.

Success Depends on Properly Balancing Work and Family

Many articles that give tips for balancing work and family are written based on the idea that you want to keep them separated. But since these two major areas are a big part of your life, why not try to integrate the two rather than segregate them? You may find that you are more motivated and that your business becomes more successful if you turn it into a family endeavor.

When the whole family is invested you can tap into the unique talents of each member and there less chance of resentment developing over the amount of time you are spending building the business. Balancing work and family is not easy but if you work at it, you may be able to create the supportive dynamic you need to build a successful business.

Tips for Balancing Work and Family

Have a Family Meeting

Before starting the business have a family meeting to discuss the idea. Talk about your hopes, how having a home based business will benefit everyone and how balancing work and family is your main goal which is why you are discussing it together. Answer any questions or concerns they may have about the venture.

While you want to talk about the business in a positive light, don’t sugarcoat the truth. Be honest and let them know that in the beginning it will take a lot of work and a team effort to get the business off the ground. Don’t be afraid to solicit suggestions from them about how to make balancing work and family easier.

Let Them Help

There have been many psychological studies done which have shown that the more a person becomes invested in something the more they care about it. For example, a tactic that many marketers use is to help people visualize using the product they are selling. One a person sees themselves using a product they become emotionally invested and are more likely to make a purchase.

Getting the family involved in the business will increase their emotional investment in it. They will care about its success and having your family in your corner rooting you on is the best feeling in the world. So try to find something they can do to help. For example, one way I balance work and family is I get my kids to help me make videos for my online shopping business. Not only do I get to spend time with them but the children love being my little “business partners”.

Share the Rewards

Sharing the rewards of business success with the family is a great way to reinforce the work and family dynamic you have established. Whether it is a financial reward (extra allowance or purchasing something that has been wanted for awhile) or emotional reward (spending more time doing fun stuff because the bills are getting paid) let the family share in the fruits of your combined labors. If they see the rewards, they will be more amendable to supporting the business.

Balancing work and family is a challenge. But if you approach it the right way you can build the successful business you want and have a supportive family by your side every step of the way.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

(photo credit: smallestbones)

For more tips on business development, social media, and balancing work and family, visit my article archives.

Are You Hoarding MLM Businesses?

There is something that has had me scratching my head for awhile and wondering about the thoughts that go through people’s minds. Some business owners I have met are running multiple mlm businesses and sometimes in addition to a full time job. It is one thing to want to maximize your earning potential but how many is too many?

Although it seems like a good idea on paper, running multiple mlm businesses is actually counterproductive. First, you are splitting up your time, energy and resources between multiple projects. That’s like attempting to talk on your home phone and your cell phone at the same time. You can’t really give your full attention to either conversation and you actually spend more time trying to complete both conversations than you would if you focused on having one at a time.

Multiple MLM Businesses Breeds Confusion

Another reason trying to build multiple mlm businesses at the same time is probably not a good idea is because of the possible confusion that may result as you attempt to market yourself. When you meet a prospect how will you determine which business opportunity to pitch to them? If they show no interest in one opportunity will you then launch into a sales pitch about your “other” opportunity? It is already difficult to engage people enough to sit through one sales presentation. It is highly unlikely that a prospect is going to allow you to continue to take up their time with another one.

Are You Allowed Multiple MLM Businesses

Lastly, you may want to check your contract with your network marketing company for possible non-compete clauses. Some of these network marketing companies are competing fiercely with each other and will not tolerate a network marketer concurrently promoting another mlm business in the same industry. Doing so can result in you having both of your mlm businesses taken away by the parent companies and sued for damages. Not to mention the hit to your credibility as you attempt to sell competing products to the same people in your social network.

Now I want to make it clear that I do not oppose owning more than one business. I firmly believe that financial security requires that you have multiple streams of income flowing into your bank account. That way if one stream fizzles out, you have several others that will take care of your needs until you find something to replace it.

However, I also believe in being smart about your business development. Work on building one business to a successful level before jumping into another one. When you are focused 100% on what you are doing, you’ll communicate your vision more effectively, connect better with prospects, and spot opportunities quicker. Which all means you will achieve success much faster.

If you are starting multiple mlm businesses because you are not experiencing the success you want or none of them are providing you with what you need to succeed, then read a few articles on this blog for ideas on what you can do to kick start your business.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your MLM businesses online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

Business Failure is a Fact of Life

This year 97% of all home based businesses will fail. That statistic may seem abnormally high but just because a business does not go bankrupt doesn’t mean it didn’t fail. Much of the home based business failure occurs simply because the owner gives up and goes inactive in their business.

The causes of business failure vary. Between family and a job, some people aren’t able to put in the necessary time. Others are impatient expecting to get rich quickly. When that doesn’t happen usually they quit one program and move onto another they think will generate the millions of dollars they seek.

However, the Main Three Reasons for Business Failure are:

1) Lack of Effective Marketing

I just can’t say it enough. Marketing is the backbone of your company and often determines whether you will experience success or business failure. An average product that is marketed effectively will always outperform a superior product marketed poorly.

Customers have changed the rules of marketing so if you are using outdated methods, such as cold calling and high pressure, then you are basically cutting yourself off at the knees. Customers don’t like to be sold. They would much rather buy and using techniques that attract customers to you will net you better results.

2) Business Failure Caused By a Bad Opportunity

Sometimes the business opportunity itself is doomed from the start. With the number of scams, frauds and fake opportunities on the market today, it is not surprising that entrepreneurs sign up for programs that end up being nothing but money pits. In which case, small business failure is inevitable.

The only way to protect yourself from getting scammed is to become educated on the difference between legit home businesses and scams. Review the compensation plan, look at the marketing plan, check out the products, read reviews of the company. Before parting ways with your money, do your homework. If you don’t like what you find move onto something else.

3) Lack of Commitment

I touched on this earlier but it bears repeating. Unfortunately, what some people are looking for is not a home based business but a get rich quick scheme. It may be that they are smothered in debt or maybe really want to get out of the nine to five grind. Whatever the case, they are setting themselves up for business failure because they are unwilling or unable to commit to doing what it takes to build a business.

Without commitment, you won’t have the fortitude necessary to overcome the obstacles you run into on your way to the top. Building a business is not all rainbows and roses. However, if you are willing to accept that and to put in the time and effort, then you will create a business that will give you the financial and personal freedom you desire.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

For more tips on avoiding business failure, check out the articles in my archives.

As an ecommerce business owner, I know how challenging it can be to increase sales. I also know how frustrating it is when you invest hours upon hours of work into your network marketing business and it still fails to achieve the financial results you want. To help you turn things around in your business, I’m going to show you how to increase sales with a simple but powerful method successful marketers have been using for decades.

You must first understand that your customers only listen to one radio station when considering any product or opportunity; WIIFM, ‘What’s In It For Me’. Now you may be thinking to yourself, “My product is the best thing since mankind discovered fire! It does this extraordinary thing, has these fantastic options and comes in 900 colors. How can my customer not see how horribly inadequate their life is without this product?”

Get people to shop til they drop.

The fact is, your product may have some great features but, in order to convince your customer to buy it, you must translate those features into the tangible benefits they want. Therefore, the secret to increasing sales in your network marketing business is to show your customers how your product fits their needs.

Determine the Features

The first step to using the WIIFM method to increase sales is to list all of your product’s features. For example, I own an online shopping portal that saves people money and time when they use it to make their every day purchases. Two attributes of my shopping website are: it has over 500 major retailers and I offer shopping webinars.

Of course, my shopping website has tons of features and, I’m sure, the products in your network marketing business do too so be sure to list them all.

Detail the Advantages

Next, beside each specific feature, write down the advantage that particular attribute gives to the product. Using my online shopping business again, the advantage to having over 500 retailers means shoppers have a good variety of stores to choose from and the shopping webinars teach people how to make effective use of the site.

Tie Them Together

Lastly, to encourage people to buy and, in turn, increase sales in your network marketing business, you now have to show your customers how your product’s features fulfill their needs. Take some time to think about what is important to your customers and then tie the advantages of your product to what they value most.

My customers all have their favorite store to shop in, so having a lot of major retailers in my internet shopping mall means they are able to shop at the stores they know and love. My customers also like saving money, hence the shopping webinars show them how to find the best deals that puts cash in their pockets.

When you sell the benefits of your products rather than the features, you are almost guaranteed to increase sales in your network marketing business. I make good money selling the ease and convenience of online shopping. Visit Rock Your Business Online to get a FREE home business checklist & to learn more about how you can make money showing other people how to save money shopping online.

(photo credit: ppo @ flickr)