I have been looking at ways of earning money from home on the internet. It seems that there are multiple listings for being an affiliate or associate for different companies. As I looked at various websites it seems that most companies offer an affiliate program, but how do you choose the one that is right for you. As I was doing my research I found that there is an affiliate program directory. This proved to be very helpful to me.
The affiliate program directory offers many resources for associates. I found that the affiliate program directory did a nice job of reviewing the different programs that are available. There are listings that place the different programs into categories so that it is easier to find a product, service or organization that fits your interest area. The affiliate program directory also offers tips for associates. This is done through newsletters as well as forums. In the affiliate program directory you can pick and choose without feeling pressured to work for a certain company. This is helpful because it seems that every website that you visit is pushing to sell you on one particular product or program. The comparison over the various one and two tier programs was the most helpful for me.
As I am doing more research into the area of affiliates and associates I am finding that there are many companies that claim you will make huge amounts of money weekly by being an affiliate for their company or product. It is important to ask questions about how much money you have to invest in advertising to get the huge commission checks. I am sure that there are some affiliates that do make large sums of money; however they are also investing large sums in advertising. The affiliate program directory helped me look at this more closely. I did this by joining the forums and posting questions to the different associates. I know that I am relying on the person responding to be honest in their response, however you have to place your trust in something and I am hoping that through the variety of responses I receive someone will be honest with me.
The internet provides a world of opportunities for the person that wants to work at home. The key is finding an honest program that will deliver what they promise. The affiliate program directory is one tool to use to find a program that will match your individual needs and interests.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Google Adwords
I am a blogger. I’m not a very good blogger when it comes to making money and this may be reflected in my miniscule success with Google Adsense. I understand how to make money thorough a blog, I simply choose not to do it. Adwords are mysterious little terms and phrases that are the key to making money through a blog. Here’s a little background for those of you who are interested in creating wealth through blogging.
First of all, don’t expect to make a lot of money. When I suggest that you can create wealth through using the adwords in your blog, I use the term “wealth” loosely. I have read about bloggers who swear that they make thousands of dollars every month through their blogs. They claim that they know which adwords generate the most income per click and they know how to produce enough traffic to the blog to get those clicks.
Using effective language is crucial to your success in creating an income through blogging. Adwords are extremely important and if you do not target certain terms and phrases on your blog, you will not create an income for yourself. One way to find out which terms and phrases to use is by doing a little research through Google. A simple keyword search will lead you in the right direction.
Keywords and adwords go hand-in-hand. Keeping your blog clear, focused and concise will benefit you in the long run. Terms and phrases that you commonly use throughout your blog will be reflected in the adwords that appear on your Google Adsense advertisements.
For example, if you want to focus on jewelry, you will want to post an article about the hottest trends in jewelry today. Let’s say the hot trend is black pearls. Since people are looking to buy black pearls, it is a good idea to write about the topic at least twice each week over a course of time. This will insure that the popular phrase will appear in your adwords.
You have to consider your audience, too. You may find a list of popular adwords that you want to generate in your blog’s advertisements, but you need to stay consistent. You also need to find an audience of clickers. If you want to blog about jewelry, try not to go off on a tangent about your dog, Fido no matter how cute he is.
Keeping your posts on target and concise is very important. The writing should be engaging and natural. It helps if you consider your reader’s point of view. If the reader enjoys the blog and finds your writing compelling, he is more likely to stay and more likely to click on those precious adwords.http://8e8ce5xv2fdrcq86kh0wtms7mf.hop.clickbank.net/Mass Articles Available!
First of all, don’t expect to make a lot of money. When I suggest that you can create wealth through using the adwords in your blog, I use the term “wealth” loosely. I have read about bloggers who swear that they make thousands of dollars every month through their blogs. They claim that they know which adwords generate the most income per click and they know how to produce enough traffic to the blog to get those clicks.
Using effective language is crucial to your success in creating an income through blogging. Adwords are extremely important and if you do not target certain terms and phrases on your blog, you will not create an income for yourself. One way to find out which terms and phrases to use is by doing a little research through Google. A simple keyword search will lead you in the right direction.
Keywords and adwords go hand-in-hand. Keeping your blog clear, focused and concise will benefit you in the long run. Terms and phrases that you commonly use throughout your blog will be reflected in the adwords that appear on your Google Adsense advertisements.
For example, if you want to focus on jewelry, you will want to post an article about the hottest trends in jewelry today. Let’s say the hot trend is black pearls. Since people are looking to buy black pearls, it is a good idea to write about the topic at least twice each week over a course of time. This will insure that the popular phrase will appear in your adwords.
You have to consider your audience, too. You may find a list of popular adwords that you want to generate in your blog’s advertisements, but you need to stay consistent. You also need to find an audience of clickers. If you want to blog about jewelry, try not to go off on a tangent about your dog, Fido no matter how cute he is.
Keeping your posts on target and concise is very important. The writing should be engaging and natural. It helps if you consider your reader’s point of view. If the reader enjoys the blog and finds your writing compelling, he is more likely to stay and more likely to click on those precious adwords.http://8e8ce5xv2fdrcq86kh0wtms7mf.hop.clickbank.net/Mass Articles Available!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Affiliate Marketing Software
Many product marketers have gone to affiliate marketing programs to increase the sales of merchandise. An affiliate, also called an associate by some companies, is someone who earns a commission for sending clicks, leads or sales to the merchant. It is an inexpensive way for companies to increase sales and pay less out of pocket for advertising. Now your company can set up their own affiliate program with affiliate software. It is a great tool to help set up and run an affiliate program. This type of associate programming increases the traffic to your website which ultimately leads to increased leads as well as sales. The affiliate software tracks everything for you.
Affiliate software is set up to track which affiliate has sent a lead to your website through a special link that is given to each affiliate. The affiliate can send traffic your way through text link, image or even a picture of your product. Through this link you can keep track of and reward each affiliate for their work. The affiliate software allows you to customize your commission schedule to fit in the guidelines of your particular product. If your company has multiple products you can program in different commissions for each one and the affiliate software will track this for you. This way if your products differ in pricing or marketability you can reward the affiliates accordingly. You do not have to have a set commission on each product. Affiliates tend to look for and promote higher cost products that will produce a higher pay check for them. The affiliate gets rewarded, you move merchandize and the affiliate software keeps track of all of this for you. With associates increasing your sales you will be able to put a higher commission on harder to move items and the affiliates will work hard for you to move the product to get the higher commission.
The affiliate software will also keep track of the rewards of each affiliate so that you will know which associate is bringing in traffic, leads and sales. This allows you to reward individuals accordingly. Having affiliates selling for you from their own websites will dramatically increase your sales and also reduce your advertising costs and efforts. Each affiliate brings with them their own contacts and leads which greatly increases the exposure that your products have. Increase sales, increase revenue and pay only when an affiliate actually makes a sale, this is a winning solution for everyone. It goes back to the paid by commission only programs that greatly reduces the cost for the company manufacturing the product. The affiliate software allows you to manage this very easily with the unique links and tracking systems.
Depending of which affiliate software program you choose, your affiliates will have the ability to track their commissions on line in real time. This gives them current data to know which products are doing well for them and which ones they may need to promote harder. This up to date information allows affiliates to fine tune advertising campaigns which again means your products, even those that might be difficult to move, will be getting increased exposure on the internet. Associate programs used to be managed by only the larger companies, but now with the affiliate software programs that are available, any size marketer can benefit from this growing trend in internet marketing.Click Here!
Affiliate software is set up to track which affiliate has sent a lead to your website through a special link that is given to each affiliate. The affiliate can send traffic your way through text link, image or even a picture of your product. Through this link you can keep track of and reward each affiliate for their work. The affiliate software allows you to customize your commission schedule to fit in the guidelines of your particular product. If your company has multiple products you can program in different commissions for each one and the affiliate software will track this for you. This way if your products differ in pricing or marketability you can reward the affiliates accordingly. You do not have to have a set commission on each product. Affiliates tend to look for and promote higher cost products that will produce a higher pay check for them. The affiliate gets rewarded, you move merchandize and the affiliate software keeps track of all of this for you. With associates increasing your sales you will be able to put a higher commission on harder to move items and the affiliates will work hard for you to move the product to get the higher commission.
The affiliate software will also keep track of the rewards of each affiliate so that you will know which associate is bringing in traffic, leads and sales. This allows you to reward individuals accordingly. Having affiliates selling for you from their own websites will dramatically increase your sales and also reduce your advertising costs and efforts. Each affiliate brings with them their own contacts and leads which greatly increases the exposure that your products have. Increase sales, increase revenue and pay only when an affiliate actually makes a sale, this is a winning solution for everyone. It goes back to the paid by commission only programs that greatly reduces the cost for the company manufacturing the product. The affiliate software allows you to manage this very easily with the unique links and tracking systems.
Depending of which affiliate software program you choose, your affiliates will have the ability to track their commissions on line in real time. This gives them current data to know which products are doing well for them and which ones they may need to promote harder. This up to date information allows affiliates to fine tune advertising campaigns which again means your products, even those that might be difficult to move, will be getting increased exposure on the internet. Associate programs used to be managed by only the larger companies, but now with the affiliate software programs that are available, any size marketer can benefit from this growing trend in internet marketing.Click Here!
Internet Marketing- Consider?
How many ways can you ponder to use the World-Wide-Web? It seems when it comes to cyberspace, there are simply no limitations or boundaries. We all take advantage of this technology in a variety of different ways. Whether you're signing up for an online bank account, snagging a free email address, or merely surfing the web, net-land continues to offer more and more. Now days people even take their businesses online. Yep, there are a number of online companies that pull in gargantuan profits. With a PC or Mac at your side you can accomplish virtually anything. From simply creating your own website to Internet marketing online, it's all at your fingertips. It's time to take advantage of cyberspace, folks. This is a contemporary vehicle to cash.
Have you ever considered Internet marketing online for a personal business? If you really sit down and do the math, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the possibilities. While marketing your skills or products in the physical world can get a tad redundant and burdensome these days, taking your spiel to cyberspace makes complete and total sense. Just think, with Internet marketing online you can appeal to a much broader audience. Isn't that what everyone with something to sell is after? Access to the Internet is equal to having access to the world. A close friend of mine uses Internet marketing online for his home-based computer hardware business. Although he is based out of California, his cliental is not limited to that area or state. With Internet marketing online he is able to expose his business and products to the entire planet. Can you fathom the difference in revenue? Six billion potential customers is a lot better that six million. It's all about who you can reach. People are always searching for the best products and best deals.
Are you striving to expand your business? Maybe it's high time you considered Internet marketing online. It's imperative to get your product and/or service seen by all. This is the absolute key to earning capital. Hop online today and learn more about Internet marketing online. Get that personal business on track with the help of your home computer. There truly is a sea of opportunities out there. All it takes is a little effort and surfing down the Internet highway.
Have you ever considered Internet marketing online for a personal business? If you really sit down and do the math, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the possibilities. While marketing your skills or products in the physical world can get a tad redundant and burdensome these days, taking your spiel to cyberspace makes complete and total sense. Just think, with Internet marketing online you can appeal to a much broader audience. Isn't that what everyone with something to sell is after? Access to the Internet is equal to having access to the world. A close friend of mine uses Internet marketing online for his home-based computer hardware business. Although he is based out of California, his cliental is not limited to that area or state. With Internet marketing online he is able to expose his business and products to the entire planet. Can you fathom the difference in revenue? Six billion potential customers is a lot better that six million. It's all about who you can reach. People are always searching for the best products and best deals.
Are you striving to expand your business? Maybe it's high time you considered Internet marketing online. It's imperative to get your product and/or service seen by all. This is the absolute key to earning capital. Hop online today and learn more about Internet marketing online. Get that personal business on track with the help of your home computer. There truly is a sea of opportunities out there. All it takes is a little effort and surfing down the Internet highway.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Want to work at home?
So you want to work at home? Are you absolutely sure? Do you have the resources, the endurance, the drive? In one respect, those of us who work at home are the persecuted victims of a harsh reality. But in another respect, the work at home life is the only one we will tolerate.
First, those of us who work at home are not freaks who are incapable of holding down a “real” job in the outside world (as one snotty executive once wrote on a writers’ bulletin board). The work we do in our homes is real; in fact, it is more real in that it requires trusting we can make an income that is not guaranteed in a paycheck on the first and fifteenth of every month.
Next, we who work at home must contend with elements that are outside of the boundaries of the public workplace: the roommate who lives in the bedroom above our workspace jousts furniture, plays tribal music at great, shaking volumes, and slams doors as if angry ALL the time, at EVERYTHING. The 20-something kid next door rarely works, so at home too much he shaves in the bathroom sink, clogging it weekly; he plays God awful disco-throwback music during your work hours, and turns it down only after you cry (turning it back up again so the bass beats a cacophonous to the diastolic and systolic of your industrious and focused heart, or deciding to take a shower in the bath next door, playing the music softly but singing passive-aggressively loudly—and excruciatingly off key--as he bathes); and he slams doors, too, as he is related to the roommate upstairs.
In addition, though you are in a terribly remote area—which you first thought ideal for quiet, creative work at home ambience—the housing development requires dump trucks, cement mixers, and pneumatic drills that only stop during the horrific winter rains…which cause, because you are in a remote area with above-ground wiring that busts, explodes, catches fire, and takes out your power three to five times a week.
Finally, you are on your own to do the actual work, which means you are the service provider, the advertising team, and the accounts payable and receivable desks. And as many nightmares past will account, getting money for work well done is not as dreamy, not as easy as you imagine it will be when you design your business plan.
But in defense of the freelancing lifestyle, despite the fact that there are no built-in laws allowing you to shut up people, blow up machinery, or show up deadbeat clients with a quick lawsuit or bounty hunter enforcement of the laws of the work at home, there are irreplaceable benefits: you have the ability to follow your own rhythms. You can be nocturnal or diurnal or both. You can turn off the phone, mute the answering machine, set your own hours, work as hard or as little as you decide. You can watch (or listen to) TV or listen to music of your own choosing. You can pick and choose what projects you take on and can—if you don’t mind wiping your butt with newspaper, brushing your teeth with baking soda, or filling your gut with leftover gifts of fruitcake and candy canes—pick and choose the people with whom you do business.
You can work at home that is, if you have the innate calling to write or sell or whatever, if you have the steely skin it takes to forge on against the incessantly occurring odds, and if you have a very large, very effective “Do not ^$%$%)##@@=+ Disturb” sign that you use and enforce.
Click Here!
First, those of us who work at home are not freaks who are incapable of holding down a “real” job in the outside world (as one snotty executive once wrote on a writers’ bulletin board). The work we do in our homes is real; in fact, it is more real in that it requires trusting we can make an income that is not guaranteed in a paycheck on the first and fifteenth of every month.
Next, we who work at home must contend with elements that are outside of the boundaries of the public workplace: the roommate who lives in the bedroom above our workspace jousts furniture, plays tribal music at great, shaking volumes, and slams doors as if angry ALL the time, at EVERYTHING. The 20-something kid next door rarely works, so at home too much he shaves in the bathroom sink, clogging it weekly; he plays God awful disco-throwback music during your work hours, and turns it down only after you cry (turning it back up again so the bass beats a cacophonous to the diastolic and systolic of your industrious and focused heart, or deciding to take a shower in the bath next door, playing the music softly but singing passive-aggressively loudly—and excruciatingly off key--as he bathes); and he slams doors, too, as he is related to the roommate upstairs.
In addition, though you are in a terribly remote area—which you first thought ideal for quiet, creative work at home ambience—the housing development requires dump trucks, cement mixers, and pneumatic drills that only stop during the horrific winter rains…which cause, because you are in a remote area with above-ground wiring that busts, explodes, catches fire, and takes out your power three to five times a week.
Finally, you are on your own to do the actual work, which means you are the service provider, the advertising team, and the accounts payable and receivable desks. And as many nightmares past will account, getting money for work well done is not as dreamy, not as easy as you imagine it will be when you design your business plan.
But in defense of the freelancing lifestyle, despite the fact that there are no built-in laws allowing you to shut up people, blow up machinery, or show up deadbeat clients with a quick lawsuit or bounty hunter enforcement of the laws of the work at home, there are irreplaceable benefits: you have the ability to follow your own rhythms. You can be nocturnal or diurnal or both. You can turn off the phone, mute the answering machine, set your own hours, work as hard or as little as you decide. You can watch (or listen to) TV or listen to music of your own choosing. You can pick and choose what projects you take on and can—if you don’t mind wiping your butt with newspaper, brushing your teeth with baking soda, or filling your gut with leftover gifts of fruitcake and candy canes—pick and choose the people with whom you do business.
You can work at home that is, if you have the innate calling to write or sell or whatever, if you have the steely skin it takes to forge on against the incessantly occurring odds, and if you have a very large, very effective “Do not ^$%$%)##@@=+ Disturb” sign that you use and enforce.
Click Here!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Organize Coupons
How to organize coupons, rain checks and weekly store specials for maximum savings at the checkout!
Learning how to organize food coupons is simple, much like using a Rolodex(TM) for business and personal contacts, or a 'tickler file' to remind you when bills are due.
Your first step is to purchase an inexpensive nylon wallet, creating separators for categories, which you can make yourself with index cards. Now, just follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to organize coupons, rain checks and weekly grocery specials for maximum savings.
1.On your next – and all – shopping trips, pick up every coupon from those grocery aisle dispensers. You can pass ones you don't need to a friend, or 'donate' to a coupon exchange bin. The name brand coupons don't usually constitute savings, unless the item is on sale and the coupon gets you a price that's lower than a comparable product. Nonetheless, if you don't use it, you can always pass it on.
2.Online coupons are abundant. Let's say you're loyal to a certain ice cream brand, pricey, but worth it to your taste. Go to the manufacturer's website and see if they have a coupon you can download and print. If not, chances are good you'll be able to find one at one of the coupon specialty websites. To find these, Google 'food coupons' or 'your-brand ice cream coupons'. (You'll doubtless find many other coupons for other products you like.)
3.Make it a habit to go through the weekly grocery sale fliers to collect advertised specials on meats, produce and other normally pricey items to work into your menus. Notice which are 'manufacturer coupons'. The grocer who includes these manufacturer coupons typically prints 'only redeemable at ABC Grocers', or something to that effect. Sure, they want you to redeem it at their store, but the manufacturer doesn't care. Any grocer will accept manufacturer's coupons, so look for the best price in your nearby supermarkets.
4.Now, with all the coupons you've gathered, you're ready to learn the inside secrets of how to organize coupons in a way that won't let these savings slip by, unused. Take your stash of coupons and sort them by category. Go through each pile and, with a highlighter or red pen, circle the expiration dates of those which expire within the next two weeks.
5.Create categories of products, according to your individual household needs. For example, canned goods, dairy products, produce, staples (such as bread, grains, pasta, sugar, coffee), frozen products, beverages and juices, deli items, baby items (such as baby food, diapers and baby shampoo)and household cleaning products are standards on most of our shopping lists. Make a separate index card for each category and slip these cards inside your coupon organizer. Leave one index card at the front of your organizer free, labeled 'use this week'.
Just behind your 'use this week' card, make a card for the soon-to-expire and weekly specials from your grocery flier. Those weekly specials, particularly on items such as meat and coffee, are known as 'loss leaders', items sold close to, or at cost to lure you in to that supermarket. Stock up on these deals, as your budget and freezer space allows. Your food savings will mount up, month after month! File each category of coupons in it's slot.
6.Before you do the weekly shopping, go through your coupons and match them up with items that are on sale, or provide savings on something you need this week. Don't miss rain checks. Inspect the 'soon to expire' coupons for this week's date. Place these coupons in your 'use this week' category, sorting them in roughly the order you'll find the products in the grocery aisles. As you do your shopping, pick up the items with coupons you want to use. Remember, you need to calculate the actual savings on name brands when compared to generic or store brands.
Plan your menus around your coupons. Be imaginative, working every coupon, rain check and weekly special into this week's meals. Think ahead. For example, if you have a coupon for cream of mushroom soup, which you use often, stock up now! In my area of the country, a single can of this soup tops $1.30! Buying 10 cans for 50 cents a piece, with a coupon, you save a whopping $8.00, for the same amount of product.
When you've completed your shopping, donate any unused coupons to a neighbor or the coupon exchange bin and pass the savings on!
Next week, follow the same procedure. It's as simple as that! So there, in a nutshell, is how to organize coupons with a method that ensures you make the most of your shopping dollars.
Learning how to organize food coupons is simple, much like using a Rolodex(TM) for business and personal contacts, or a 'tickler file' to remind you when bills are due.
Your first step is to purchase an inexpensive nylon wallet, creating separators for categories, which you can make yourself with index cards. Now, just follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to organize coupons, rain checks and weekly grocery specials for maximum savings.
1.On your next – and all – shopping trips, pick up every coupon from those grocery aisle dispensers. You can pass ones you don't need to a friend, or 'donate' to a coupon exchange bin. The name brand coupons don't usually constitute savings, unless the item is on sale and the coupon gets you a price that's lower than a comparable product. Nonetheless, if you don't use it, you can always pass it on.
2.Online coupons are abundant. Let's say you're loyal to a certain ice cream brand, pricey, but worth it to your taste. Go to the manufacturer's website and see if they have a coupon you can download and print. If not, chances are good you'll be able to find one at one of the coupon specialty websites. To find these, Google 'food coupons' or 'your-brand ice cream coupons'. (You'll doubtless find many other coupons for other products you like.)
3.Make it a habit to go through the weekly grocery sale fliers to collect advertised specials on meats, produce and other normally pricey items to work into your menus. Notice which are 'manufacturer coupons'. The grocer who includes these manufacturer coupons typically prints 'only redeemable at ABC Grocers', or something to that effect. Sure, they want you to redeem it at their store, but the manufacturer doesn't care. Any grocer will accept manufacturer's coupons, so look for the best price in your nearby supermarkets.
4.Now, with all the coupons you've gathered, you're ready to learn the inside secrets of how to organize coupons in a way that won't let these savings slip by, unused. Take your stash of coupons and sort them by category. Go through each pile and, with a highlighter or red pen, circle the expiration dates of those which expire within the next two weeks.
5.Create categories of products, according to your individual household needs. For example, canned goods, dairy products, produce, staples (such as bread, grains, pasta, sugar, coffee), frozen products, beverages and juices, deli items, baby items (such as baby food, diapers and baby shampoo)and household cleaning products are standards on most of our shopping lists. Make a separate index card for each category and slip these cards inside your coupon organizer. Leave one index card at the front of your organizer free, labeled 'use this week'.
Just behind your 'use this week' card, make a card for the soon-to-expire and weekly specials from your grocery flier. Those weekly specials, particularly on items such as meat and coffee, are known as 'loss leaders', items sold close to, or at cost to lure you in to that supermarket. Stock up on these deals, as your budget and freezer space allows. Your food savings will mount up, month after month! File each category of coupons in it's slot.
6.Before you do the weekly shopping, go through your coupons and match them up with items that are on sale, or provide savings on something you need this week. Don't miss rain checks. Inspect the 'soon to expire' coupons for this week's date. Place these coupons in your 'use this week' category, sorting them in roughly the order you'll find the products in the grocery aisles. As you do your shopping, pick up the items with coupons you want to use. Remember, you need to calculate the actual savings on name brands when compared to generic or store brands.
Plan your menus around your coupons. Be imaginative, working every coupon, rain check and weekly special into this week's meals. Think ahead. For example, if you have a coupon for cream of mushroom soup, which you use often, stock up now! In my area of the country, a single can of this soup tops $1.30! Buying 10 cans for 50 cents a piece, with a coupon, you save a whopping $8.00, for the same amount of product.
When you've completed your shopping, donate any unused coupons to a neighbor or the coupon exchange bin and pass the savings on!
Next week, follow the same procedure. It's as simple as that! So there, in a nutshell, is how to organize coupons with a method that ensures you make the most of your shopping dollars.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Learning how to earn extra money
Times are tough. We all know that we're in the deepest recession in at least 30 years. Some experts even say it's the worst it's been since the Great Depression of the 1930s. So in these tough economic times, we all want to know how to earn extra money. Anything to supplement your salary, or put a little cash away for a vacation later in the season, or pay down those outrageous credit card debts.
Start by going online and searching "how to earn extra money." There's a fair number of how-to guides out there, but beware of the ones that charge a fee. Chances are they'll just be giving you the same advice you could get from any free guide out there, and your goal is to learn how to earn extra money, not how to spend money you don't have!
Some ideas I found were pretty straightforward: Have a sidewalk sale to get rid of your old CDs, or old clothes, shoes, etc. In these tough econonomic times, people are way more willing to buy secondhand instead of finding something new. By doing this you get to earn extra money while they get to save a couple of bucks. It's the free market doing what the market does best.
If you're not into garage sales or flea markets of the like, then maybe try EBay. They wrote the book on how to earn extra money, and are a global multi-billion dollar company as a result. That old coat of yours could get you a couple of bucks if you EBay it, as could that old VCR. Or maybe it's time to sell that collection of baseball cards or Beanie Babies. Whatever you've got hidden away in your basement or attic is something that can potentially be turned into cash.
Another step in figuring out how to earn extra money is figuring out what you're really motivated to do. Are you willing to take your Saturday and Sunday mornings and turn them into profit? If so, then start a local lawn service. Offer to mow lawns, trim hedges, rake leaves, shovel snow - whatever fits you the best. There's nothing wrong with a bit of manual labor, especially if it's the difference between making rent that month and not. Or if it's the difference between keeping your credit score on the good side of the ledger, an issue that's becoming more and more of a concern as banks put the squeeze on more and more people.
One of the great ways to pick up some extra cash if you've got a truck or a pickup is to perform "Man with a van" services. How to earn extra money with this? Well, you'll see this advertised on Craigslist all the time, especially in cities where few people have cars, and professional moving services tend to price gouge. Charge whatever you think is realistic - you can do research on this online - and always be courteous and diligent. Once you've built up a reputation as a prompt and hard worker, you'd be surprised at how much cash word-of-mouth can bring in for you. And that is the point, after all, isn't it?
If you're not the "man-with-a-van" type, you could consider gardening and selling your own home-grown fruits and vegetables. Or having a car wash, or becoming a dog-walker. All of these personal services are in demand, and finding the one that suits you best shouldn't be too hard. Love dogs and exercise? Advertise your services. Grow the best carrots in the neighborhood? Set up a stand downtown and earn a couple of bucks.
The opportunities are there. Just make sure you take the time to look for them!
Start by going online and searching "how to earn extra money." There's a fair number of how-to guides out there, but beware of the ones that charge a fee. Chances are they'll just be giving you the same advice you could get from any free guide out there, and your goal is to learn how to earn extra money, not how to spend money you don't have!
Some ideas I found were pretty straightforward: Have a sidewalk sale to get rid of your old CDs, or old clothes, shoes, etc. In these tough econonomic times, people are way more willing to buy secondhand instead of finding something new. By doing this you get to earn extra money while they get to save a couple of bucks. It's the free market doing what the market does best.
If you're not into garage sales or flea markets of the like, then maybe try EBay. They wrote the book on how to earn extra money, and are a global multi-billion dollar company as a result. That old coat of yours could get you a couple of bucks if you EBay it, as could that old VCR. Or maybe it's time to sell that collection of baseball cards or Beanie Babies. Whatever you've got hidden away in your basement or attic is something that can potentially be turned into cash.
Another step in figuring out how to earn extra money is figuring out what you're really motivated to do. Are you willing to take your Saturday and Sunday mornings and turn them into profit? If so, then start a local lawn service. Offer to mow lawns, trim hedges, rake leaves, shovel snow - whatever fits you the best. There's nothing wrong with a bit of manual labor, especially if it's the difference between making rent that month and not. Or if it's the difference between keeping your credit score on the good side of the ledger, an issue that's becoming more and more of a concern as banks put the squeeze on more and more people.
One of the great ways to pick up some extra cash if you've got a truck or a pickup is to perform "Man with a van" services. How to earn extra money with this? Well, you'll see this advertised on Craigslist all the time, especially in cities where few people have cars, and professional moving services tend to price gouge. Charge whatever you think is realistic - you can do research on this online - and always be courteous and diligent. Once you've built up a reputation as a prompt and hard worker, you'd be surprised at how much cash word-of-mouth can bring in for you. And that is the point, after all, isn't it?
If you're not the "man-with-a-van" type, you could consider gardening and selling your own home-grown fruits and vegetables. Or having a car wash, or becoming a dog-walker. All of these personal services are in demand, and finding the one that suits you best shouldn't be too hard. Love dogs and exercise? Advertise your services. Grow the best carrots in the neighborhood? Set up a stand downtown and earn a couple of bucks.
The opportunities are there. Just make sure you take the time to look for them!
The do's and don'ts of an email advertising campaign strategy
If you've had a website for any length of time, you know that an email advertising campaign is one of the most cost effective advertising methods. However, email advertising strategies require some finesse. Too many website owners us a much too heavy handed approach, which usually results in a greatly reduced ROI, as well as reduced credibility and lots of subscribers canceling. Worst of all, an angry audience may start tagging your emails as spam, before they cancel their subscription. This is not the way to succeed. Here we present some common, but plentifully practiced, email advertising techniques that you should avoid, as well as tips on making your email marketing campaign a winning proposition.
Here's a prime example of what you don't want to do. I once subscribed to a travel writer's newsletter which I ran across in another newsletter's feature article. I clicked through and found a few items of interest, so I signed up for their newsletter. First of all, I soon discovered this website sent a 'newsletter' on almost a daily basis, which was far more than I cared to receive.
Then, I started receiving additional emails from this site, telling a story of how so and so just returned from a trip to Costa Rica, writing a story accompanied by the photos they took on their trip and promptly selling it to a travel magazine. The story was but a couple of paragraphs, which was not especially interesting or informative and a thinly disguised lead-in to the sales pitch that followed. The gist of it was that for a mere $3000, I could attend their next workshop and learn all the tricks of the trade.
After a week or two of perusing the newsletter, it became obvious that they had no information of value. A short editor's note, telling me what she'd been doing that day, was always followed by a long and pushy sales pitch. I canceled. This is the epitome of bad email advertising. Don't take this approach. It's a loser.
Now let's take a look at how to construct an email advertising campaign that does your website traffic and income good. You know the value of an e-newsletter, but as mentioned earlier, the successful email marketing campaign requires finesse. Just as on your website, your newsletter demands quality content. If you don't provide information your readers can use to increase their knowledge, or which is simply entertaining, you're fighting an uphill battle. A single, quality feature article in every issue is a great start to building a loyal readership, some of whom will forward it to a friend, perhaps resulting in a new subscriber and potential customer.
When doing email advertising within a newsletter format, your ads should not comprise more than 10% of the total content. This translates to about 2-3 ads per issue. If you have a particularly outstanding offer, you might put it up front. For example: 'This week I ran across an amazing deal that I wanted to pass on ...' Then tell them why. Use a review style and keep it short and sweet.
If you use the 'special offer' approach, use it judiciously and don't overdo it. It's got to be truly special, time dependent and worthy of sending in a separate email. If the offer doesn't meet this criteria, your credibility will suffer. Readers won't even open these after a while.
One effective email advertising technique is to intersperse ads within freebies and resources at the end of your newsletter. You make this section a regular part of every newsletter, under a title such as 'Freebies, top picks and resources'.
Follow these do's and don'ts of email advertising and see if you're not well rewarded!
Here's a prime example of what you don't want to do. I once subscribed to a travel writer's newsletter which I ran across in another newsletter's feature article. I clicked through and found a few items of interest, so I signed up for their newsletter. First of all, I soon discovered this website sent a 'newsletter' on almost a daily basis, which was far more than I cared to receive.
Then, I started receiving additional emails from this site, telling a story of how so and so just returned from a trip to Costa Rica, writing a story accompanied by the photos they took on their trip and promptly selling it to a travel magazine. The story was but a couple of paragraphs, which was not especially interesting or informative and a thinly disguised lead-in to the sales pitch that followed. The gist of it was that for a mere $3000, I could attend their next workshop and learn all the tricks of the trade.
After a week or two of perusing the newsletter, it became obvious that they had no information of value. A short editor's note, telling me what she'd been doing that day, was always followed by a long and pushy sales pitch. I canceled. This is the epitome of bad email advertising. Don't take this approach. It's a loser.
Now let's take a look at how to construct an email advertising campaign that does your website traffic and income good. You know the value of an e-newsletter, but as mentioned earlier, the successful email marketing campaign requires finesse. Just as on your website, your newsletter demands quality content. If you don't provide information your readers can use to increase their knowledge, or which is simply entertaining, you're fighting an uphill battle. A single, quality feature article in every issue is a great start to building a loyal readership, some of whom will forward it to a friend, perhaps resulting in a new subscriber and potential customer.
When doing email advertising within a newsletter format, your ads should not comprise more than 10% of the total content. This translates to about 2-3 ads per issue. If you have a particularly outstanding offer, you might put it up front. For example: 'This week I ran across an amazing deal that I wanted to pass on ...' Then tell them why. Use a review style and keep it short and sweet.
If you use the 'special offer' approach, use it judiciously and don't overdo it. It's got to be truly special, time dependent and worthy of sending in a separate email. If the offer doesn't meet this criteria, your credibility will suffer. Readers won't even open these after a while.
One effective email advertising technique is to intersperse ads within freebies and resources at the end of your newsletter. You make this section a regular part of every newsletter, under a title such as 'Freebies, top picks and resources'.
Follow these do's and don'ts of email advertising and see if you're not well rewarded!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Affiliate Programs
Since the internet became a pandemic both in the U.S. and around the world, one of the main objectives of just about anyone on the web has been to try and earn some money from using it. As simple as that may sound, making it work is not all that easy. Last year one industry was said to have had over 13 billion dollars – yup, billion, as in bailout’s – both spent and earned in it.
This is the world of affiliate marketing. For those of you that have been on Mars for a bit, affiliate programs are where you join a program, some free – most not, which provides you either with a digital or material product that you then sell on to other individuals or groups for a profit. That’s it. Basically when you’re an affiliate you become a salesperson for that organization. For the amount of money involved, I’m sure we can all understand why these programs are so attractive for product producers, as it takes the lion’s share of sales, production and distribution costs away from the companies themselves and into the hands of ordinary Joe Plumber’s in the street. Lots can be said to knock these affiliate programs, and yet I know (personally) people who have made fortunes with them. It’s definitely not something for everyone, but if you have a large group of contacts (like MySpace, bebo etc.) socially and you don’t mind being seen to be working in sales, this could be a great way for you to make some extra cash. The main things to remember with affiliate programs are that they ARE out to sell you on the product. There’s definitely no free lunch when it comes to these programs, but again, if you’re willing to work at it you will see the rewards – probably not for a couple of months, but it will happen.
Main things to be aware of and to avoid with affiliate programs are those that promise to do it all for you. “We supply your leads” “You never have to speak to anyone” “ We do all the selling for you”. Lines like these scream DANGER to me, because if they do it all for me, what the frak do they need me for? As a tax write off when I fail or what? Other than that, there really are some excellent programs out there that do work – look for digital e-books that you can download and set up to sell automatically on online markets such as Amazon and eBay. Make sure you have an address for the company and like any investment, try and get to speak to someone who’s done this already, so you can quiz them on results, timeframe to make money, etc..
Most importantly, have some fun! It can be.
This is the world of affiliate marketing. For those of you that have been on Mars for a bit, affiliate programs are where you join a program, some free – most not, which provides you either with a digital or material product that you then sell on to other individuals or groups for a profit. That’s it. Basically when you’re an affiliate you become a salesperson for that organization. For the amount of money involved, I’m sure we can all understand why these programs are so attractive for product producers, as it takes the lion’s share of sales, production and distribution costs away from the companies themselves and into the hands of ordinary Joe Plumber’s in the street. Lots can be said to knock these affiliate programs, and yet I know (personally) people who have made fortunes with them. It’s definitely not something for everyone, but if you have a large group of contacts (like MySpace, bebo etc.) socially and you don’t mind being seen to be working in sales, this could be a great way for you to make some extra cash. The main things to remember with affiliate programs are that they ARE out to sell you on the product. There’s definitely no free lunch when it comes to these programs, but again, if you’re willing to work at it you will see the rewards – probably not for a couple of months, but it will happen.
Main things to be aware of and to avoid with affiliate programs are those that promise to do it all for you. “We supply your leads” “You never have to speak to anyone” “ We do all the selling for you”. Lines like these scream DANGER to me, because if they do it all for me, what the frak do they need me for? As a tax write off when I fail or what? Other than that, there really are some excellent programs out there that do work – look for digital e-books that you can download and set up to sell automatically on online markets such as Amazon and eBay. Make sure you have an address for the company and like any investment, try and get to speak to someone who’s done this already, so you can quiz them on results, timeframe to make money, etc..
Most importantly, have some fun! It can be.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
How to save money in a recession without turning blue!
We're all having to tighten the financial belt these days. Incomes aren't exactly increasing, while costs continue to rise. Learning how to save money is not a magic trick, it's simply a matter of self discipline and a realistic and complete budget. Let's see how any one can learn how to save money, even in difficult times.
Begin by making a budget which covers all of your fixed expenses, such as food, clothing, utilities and shelter. Once you've covered the essentials, make entries for non-essential expenses, such as manicures, salon visits, a gym membership or the like. Look your budget over to see if your figures are realistic when compared with both your income, actual practice and personal priorities. Learning how to save money regularly all comes to discipline and priorities.
Let's say you've budgeted $30 a month for entertainment. You go to the movies once a month, rent three movies a week and go out to lunch once a week? These few entertainment occasions can easily eat through that $30 budget in a week and a half. Remember when you were a kid, receiving allowance? That $5 bill looked great, but quickly disappeared in a few sodas and a fast food meal. The point is, that money is much more quickly spent than earned! With your example entertainment budget, don't fool yourself. If these items are a priority for you, allocate the money and don't go over your budget. On the other hand, learning how to save money involves making decisions on which non-essentials are important versus those you could really do without.
For example, if you subscribe to satellite or cable services, but it's really a big hit on your monthly bills, consider alternative ways to have your home entertainment at a lesser price. With a fast DSL line, you kill two birds with one stone. Net surfing is fast and you can watch movies 'on-demand' from one of the online movie rental sites, for a lot less money. Figuring out how to save money requires some 'outside the box' thinking, too.
Once you've covered essentials and luxuries, include a realistic savings amount just as you would any fixed expense. Have a goal for the specific purpose of that savings account. Next year's vacation? Retirement? College fund? Holiday gifts? Emergency stash? Make separate savings accounts for different objectives, if you wish. When you're starting to learn how to save money, this strategy prevents any 'cheating'.
How to save money on groceries? Shop the sales and plan all of your menus around the sale foods. Shop canned good outlet stores and dollar type stores.
Around the house? Check your weatherstripping for leaks, change filters on heaters and air conditioners and turn the thermostat down a few degrees in winter. Reduce the temperature on your water heater by 5-10 degrees.
Simple measures, like remembering to turn off lights and taking public transportation 2-3 times a week instead of driving, all add up to significant savings in a year's time. If you've got young kids, you know how fast they grow out of clothes. For items like jeans, tee-shirts and every day wear, shopping thrift shops and garage sales can save you hundreds of dollars a year. It doesn't matter to the kids – until they're of a certain age – how much you paid for the jeans and tees. In both cases, they will still get spaghetti sauce and grass stains.
Treat your savings account like your phone bill. (It must be paid!) Once you learn how to save money, you'll see how quickly and painlessly it mounts up. Just $10 a week can pay for a great ski vacation next year!
Begin by making a budget which covers all of your fixed expenses, such as food, clothing, utilities and shelter. Once you've covered the essentials, make entries for non-essential expenses, such as manicures, salon visits, a gym membership or the like. Look your budget over to see if your figures are realistic when compared with both your income, actual practice and personal priorities. Learning how to save money regularly all comes to discipline and priorities.
Let's say you've budgeted $30 a month for entertainment. You go to the movies once a month, rent three movies a week and go out to lunch once a week? These few entertainment occasions can easily eat through that $30 budget in a week and a half. Remember when you were a kid, receiving allowance? That $5 bill looked great, but quickly disappeared in a few sodas and a fast food meal. The point is, that money is much more quickly spent than earned! With your example entertainment budget, don't fool yourself. If these items are a priority for you, allocate the money and don't go over your budget. On the other hand, learning how to save money involves making decisions on which non-essentials are important versus those you could really do without.
For example, if you subscribe to satellite or cable services, but it's really a big hit on your monthly bills, consider alternative ways to have your home entertainment at a lesser price. With a fast DSL line, you kill two birds with one stone. Net surfing is fast and you can watch movies 'on-demand' from one of the online movie rental sites, for a lot less money. Figuring out how to save money requires some 'outside the box' thinking, too.
Once you've covered essentials and luxuries, include a realistic savings amount just as you would any fixed expense. Have a goal for the specific purpose of that savings account. Next year's vacation? Retirement? College fund? Holiday gifts? Emergency stash? Make separate savings accounts for different objectives, if you wish. When you're starting to learn how to save money, this strategy prevents any 'cheating'.
How to save money on groceries? Shop the sales and plan all of your menus around the sale foods. Shop canned good outlet stores and dollar type stores.
Around the house? Check your weatherstripping for leaks, change filters on heaters and air conditioners and turn the thermostat down a few degrees in winter. Reduce the temperature on your water heater by 5-10 degrees.
Simple measures, like remembering to turn off lights and taking public transportation 2-3 times a week instead of driving, all add up to significant savings in a year's time. If you've got young kids, you know how fast they grow out of clothes. For items like jeans, tee-shirts and every day wear, shopping thrift shops and garage sales can save you hundreds of dollars a year. It doesn't matter to the kids – until they're of a certain age – how much you paid for the jeans and tees. In both cases, they will still get spaghetti sauce and grass stains.
Treat your savings account like your phone bill. (It must be paid!) Once you learn how to save money, you'll see how quickly and painlessly it mounts up. Just $10 a week can pay for a great ski vacation next year!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Now
Like most people, I've been strapped for cash recently as I try to outlast this recession. My hours at work have been reduced drastically, leaving me to try to make ends meet on lower take-home pay. I'm already draining my savings account to pay my monthly bills, so I need to find legitimate ways to earn money now. I've tried applying for a part-time job at fast food chains and stores like Wal-Mart and Target, but they get so many inquiries these days that they pretty much told me not to count on an interview. That means my only choice is to check online.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
Keep your spirit and cheer up with a positive thought for the day, every day!
We’ve all met those grumpy souls, people who always seem to the worst of a situation. In this life, you’ve got to be able to laugh once in a while, even if only at the sometimes seeming absurdities that fall everyone’s way. You need to cultivate a positive outlook on life. Otherwise, you end up like the grumpy guy. A grouch that’s no fun!
Just like your Mama probably told you, no matter how terrible things seem to be, there’s always someone who’s worse off. Therefore, you always automatically have a positive thought for the day! The real question is, do you take advantage of the fact, to the betterment of you and those around you?
If you tend towards the Eeyore outlook, take a few minutes and search out some of the many websites which have a positive thought for the day, all picked out and waiting for you to gather and give a little thought to throughout the day. Some sites will actually send a positive thought for the day right to your email, with no effort on your part other than signing up for it and then reading it. What could be easier?
So let’s say your email produced a positive thought for the day you’ve already contemplated? What, are there no others left? You just put on your thinking cap. Within a minute or two, something should come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of positive thoughts can be thought provoking indeed. For example, you may have purchased a bag of the most heavenly coffee from a sustainable source. So what’s so great about that, says Mr. or Ms. Grouch?
You’ve spread a little good in the whole scheme of things. Less rainforest is being destroyed and that coffee grower in a undoubtedly poor region of the world is better able to feed his family. Such a simple positive thought for the day can increase your awareness, spur you on to more positive acts and strengthen your compassion. You have a tasty cup of Joe, too.
True, some days are better than others. So much so, that there are days when you’ve really got to reach for that positive thought for the day. If you’re really fresh out of positive thoughts, go for a joke of the day. Maybe the joke of the day will make you laugh. Perhaps you recall the, how many morons does it take to screw in a light bulb, joke. Three. One to hold the light bulb and two to turn the ladder. “Wow, I’m glad I’m not that guy!” See? At least you can screw in a light bulb! A positive thought. They’re everywhere.
Just like your Mama probably told you, no matter how terrible things seem to be, there’s always someone who’s worse off. Therefore, you always automatically have a positive thought for the day! The real question is, do you take advantage of the fact, to the betterment of you and those around you?
If you tend towards the Eeyore outlook, take a few minutes and search out some of the many websites which have a positive thought for the day, all picked out and waiting for you to gather and give a little thought to throughout the day. Some sites will actually send a positive thought for the day right to your email, with no effort on your part other than signing up for it and then reading it. What could be easier?
So let’s say your email produced a positive thought for the day you’ve already contemplated? What, are there no others left? You just put on your thinking cap. Within a minute or two, something should come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of positive thoughts can be thought provoking indeed. For example, you may have purchased a bag of the most heavenly coffee from a sustainable source. So what’s so great about that, says Mr. or Ms. Grouch?
You’ve spread a little good in the whole scheme of things. Less rainforest is being destroyed and that coffee grower in a undoubtedly poor region of the world is better able to feed his family. Such a simple positive thought for the day can increase your awareness, spur you on to more positive acts and strengthen your compassion. You have a tasty cup of Joe, too.
True, some days are better than others. So much so, that there are days when you’ve really got to reach for that positive thought for the day. If you’re really fresh out of positive thoughts, go for a joke of the day. Maybe the joke of the day will make you laugh. Perhaps you recall the, how many morons does it take to screw in a light bulb, joke. Three. One to hold the light bulb and two to turn the ladder. “Wow, I’m glad I’m not that guy!” See? At least you can screw in a light bulb! A positive thought. They’re everywhere.
Smart Goals
One of the biggest difficulties that many people run into in their adult life is setting smart goals. Goal setting is much more difficult than it should be, it seems. Many of us take setting goals for granted, but the way we think about our projects makes a profound difference on what we accomplished and what we do not. If you always set pie in the sky marks for yourself and get used to failing, you will never get there. If, on the other hand, you set goals that challenge you, but that are not beyond your abilities, you will set up a habit of succeeding each and every day. It is up to you. A smart goal is a goal you can reach.
For me, setting smart goals is all about organizing my life. I like to start everything in the morning, and I like to have everything well set out before I start. Every day, I set up a daily calendar. I schedule what goals I have to achieve that day, which ones I have to work on, and which ones I have to plan out for the future. Some of them are rather easy – for example, organizing a spreadsheet, doing the billing, or finishing the wash. Other ones, however, are more difficult. By combining easy goals that I can finish and more difficult projects, I am able to provide myself with reinforcement and then work my way towards my most important goals. Positive reinforcement, after all, is what it is all about.
Just because I set smart goals doesn't mean that I don't get to challenge myself. It does mean, however, that I don't lie to myself about what I am going to accomplish. You can set up smart goals that are indefinite such as “get in shape,” but you have to go back and divide them up into manageable pieces. If not, you can always deceive yourself about whether or not you have accomplished your goal. In my experience, people are either too hard on themselves are too easy on themselves when they do not define their goals correctly. Either way is a mistake. Only through setting goals which are concrete enough that you will know when you are done can you succeed in living your dreams. It is possible to do what you thought was beyond you, but it takes a lot of time and hard work. In order to finish a great project, you need to break it down into small pieces.
For me, setting smart goals is all about organizing my life. I like to start everything in the morning, and I like to have everything well set out before I start. Every day, I set up a daily calendar. I schedule what goals I have to achieve that day, which ones I have to work on, and which ones I have to plan out for the future. Some of them are rather easy – for example, organizing a spreadsheet, doing the billing, or finishing the wash. Other ones, however, are more difficult. By combining easy goals that I can finish and more difficult projects, I am able to provide myself with reinforcement and then work my way towards my most important goals. Positive reinforcement, after all, is what it is all about.
Just because I set smart goals doesn't mean that I don't get to challenge myself. It does mean, however, that I don't lie to myself about what I am going to accomplish. You can set up smart goals that are indefinite such as “get in shape,” but you have to go back and divide them up into manageable pieces. If not, you can always deceive yourself about whether or not you have accomplished your goal. In my experience, people are either too hard on themselves are too easy on themselves when they do not define their goals correctly. Either way is a mistake. Only through setting goals which are concrete enough that you will know when you are done can you succeed in living your dreams. It is possible to do what you thought was beyond you, but it takes a lot of time and hard work. In order to finish a great project, you need to break it down into small pieces.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The few simple but essential principles of your steps to success
Woody Allen famously remarked that 90% of success was showing up. Perhaps Woody's adage is remembered for its simplicity and inherent truth. When you wish to attain a goal, your biggest obstacle is to begin. How many times have you thought about that hall closet which needs cleaning and sorting? Is it done? If not, it's only because you never started. A hall closet may entail a couple of hours work to make it all neat and tidy again. Although this may seem so simple that it doesn't warrant a mention, most failed projects are due to the lack of a beginning.
Your mother probably told you many times as you were growing up, "Just keep plugging along and you'll finish the job." Here is the second of the few, simple, steps to success. Consistency and persistence pay off. No matter how large the project seems, all that's required is that you break the project down into its separate parts, in a step-by-step outline. Begin at the beginning and keep on going. It's similar to mowing a large lawn. You may tire in the middle of the task, thinking, "I'll never get this done!" Just take a break and get back to work. Don't give up in midstream!
The third rule of your steps to success requires that you plan your steps and prioritize your tasks. If you're putting in a vegetable garden, you don't want to purchase your plants in a burst of gardening enthusiasm, only to realize your plot needs tilling and composting. Your lovely plants will wilt and die by the time the ground is prepared.
Learning to delegate is an essential in your steps to success program. Let's use the garden example. You did buy your plants too early. However, you've got a couple of teenagers not getting their quotient of fresh air and exercise. Put them to work! You can put the plants in the garage out of direct light and keep them moist until the ground is worked and ready.
If your project is large, such as painting the house or cleaning out a cluttered, two-car garage, allot a certain amount of time on your calendar each day to the exclusive pursuit of that task. It's best to make the time of day consistent, which helps assure you'll follow through.
You can see that the basic steps to success in any project are really quite simple. Take that first step, be persistent and consistent, plan ahead and organize your work. Then it's a matter of putting one foot in front of the other until you're done!
Your mother probably told you many times as you were growing up, "Just keep plugging along and you'll finish the job." Here is the second of the few, simple, steps to success. Consistency and persistence pay off. No matter how large the project seems, all that's required is that you break the project down into its separate parts, in a step-by-step outline. Begin at the beginning and keep on going. It's similar to mowing a large lawn. You may tire in the middle of the task, thinking, "I'll never get this done!" Just take a break and get back to work. Don't give up in midstream!
The third rule of your steps to success requires that you plan your steps and prioritize your tasks. If you're putting in a vegetable garden, you don't want to purchase your plants in a burst of gardening enthusiasm, only to realize your plot needs tilling and composting. Your lovely plants will wilt and die by the time the ground is prepared.
Learning to delegate is an essential in your steps to success program. Let's use the garden example. You did buy your plants too early. However, you've got a couple of teenagers not getting their quotient of fresh air and exercise. Put them to work! You can put the plants in the garage out of direct light and keep them moist until the ground is worked and ready.
If your project is large, such as painting the house or cleaning out a cluttered, two-car garage, allot a certain amount of time on your calendar each day to the exclusive pursuit of that task. It's best to make the time of day consistent, which helps assure you'll follow through.
You can see that the basic steps to success in any project are really quite simple. Take that first step, be persistent and consistent, plan ahead and organize your work. Then it's a matter of putting one foot in front of the other until you're done!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Now
Like most people, I've been strapped for cash recently as I try to outlast this recession. My hours at work have been reduced drastically, leaving me to try to make ends meet on lower take-home pay. I'm already draining my savings account to pay my monthly bills, so I need to find legitimate ways to earn money now. I've tried applying for a part-time job at fast food chains and stores like Wal-Mart and Target, but they get so many inquiries these days that they pretty much told me not to count on an interview. That means my only choice is to check online.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
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