So you have a blog and happily post as often as you possibly can. You write about things that are important to you. You share funny stories about your children, spouse, co-workers, neighbors. Maybe you even use your blog as a way to let off some steam. Unhappy with the customer service you’ve received at your local superstore? Write about it. Your boss is a jerk? Write about him (leaving out his or her name of course). Your husband constantly leaves the toilet seat up or hogs the remote? Share all the irritating details on your blog. There are literally millions of blogs out there in cyberspace so why shouldn’t you be joining in on the blogging fun?
It's Free and Easy
There are many reasons why you should consider starting a blog. Many free blog sites exist so there’s no financial commitment to make. Register, choose a theme and begin posting. It’s as easy as that. As mentioned above, blogging is a good way to share your life with others.
Staying in Touch with Friends and Family via Blogs
Families set up blogs where each member has a chance to post updates to let relatives near and far know what’s going on in their lives. Include photos and videos and it’s almost like being there with your loved ones.
Blogs are a Great Career Move
If you’re looking to change careers or are currently out of work you should consider creating a blog. Include a resume page and links to relevant accomplishments and you can advertise yourself via your blog easily with one click. This is definitely an overlooked free marketing strategy for job seekers.
Blogs as Extensions of a Website
Do you have a business website? If the answer is yes, you should absolutely include a blog on your site. Write articles and how-to’s related to your business field and your customers will appreciate the added information.
Let’s say you own a tree trimming business and you have a business website. You can write articles about types of trees to plant, the best time to trim and prune, known diseases prevalent in certain varieties of trees, how to start a leaf compost bin, and on and on. Inviting readers to leave comments and questions gives you the opportunity to put in a good word for your company.
Affiliate Marketing Opportunities
Blogs can be money makers all on their own. Most, if not all, free blogging sites do not allow advertising on blogs. But if you purchase your own domain you can include money-making ads on your blog. There are numerous pay-per-click and affiliate programs available online. By placing company ads on your blog you make money when a visitor to your site clicks on an ad and/or buys a product from the company. You most likely will not get rich doing this but you get paid for doing very little and that’s a pretty good thing. If you have several ads going on each page of your blog you up the ante that much more.
Submitting Your Site to Search Engines
In order to make money from advertising on your blog you need to bring visitors to your site. Submitting your blog to search engines is key. An often overlooked method to bring visitors to your site is to write articles. There are many article network sites where you can submit articles on literally any topic. Your information, including your website address, appears with the article and that translates to free advertising for your site. I will go into more detail on this technique in future articles.
Blogging can be fun, an expressive outlet, a marketing tool and a money maker. Once you start blogging you’ll begin to look at things in an entirely different light. News reports, radio programs, even a trip to the grocery store can all be fodder for your blog writing. Keeping a small notebook and pen with you at all times helps you remember little tidbits of everyday life than can be written about later. Happy blogging!
Showing posts with label affiliate marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label affiliate marketing. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
5 Small Business Ideas You Can Do From Home
With 13.9 million Americans currently out of work and jobs at a minimum, many people are looking for alternative ways to generate income. Starting your own business is an appealing prospect and for many good reasons. You can make your own hours and be your own boss. If you work primarily out of your home you’ll have little or no overhead expenses. But you should also be prepared for a great deal of hard work. It takes research, a sound business plan, drive and determination. Your first step is to decide what type of business you’d like to start. The following are 5 small businesses that can be started with little or no start up costs.
1. Resume writing service
If you have good writing, spelling and grammatical skills this is an excellent full or part-time business. A computer and an internet connection is pretty much all you need. You can advertise your resume writing business in local papers and on online classified sites like Craigslist. You can begin by developing a detailed questionnaire for clients to complete via email. Following up by phone or Skype interviews will allow you to prepare a professional, detailed resume for your customers. To get started, consider offering to write resumes for friends and family at no cost in order to build your resume writing portfolio.
2. Catering business
Do friends and family often compliment you on your culinary skills? Are you known for your delicious cakes, cookies or cupcakes? You can specialize in ethnic foods, baked goods only, children’s parties or tea parties, just to name a few. Consider starting out by catering small parties and gatherings. Start up cost is minimal. You most likely already have pots, pans and cooking utensils in your kitchen. Superstores like Sam’s Club and Costco have a good selection of bulk catering supplies at reasonable prices. As your business and reputation grows you can cater larger events. Be sure to check with your local health department to find out what rules and regulations are required. If regulations are restrictive, consider teaming up with a local church or organization that will allow you to prepare food in their kitchen facilities.
3. Daycare business
If you love children and have a lot of patience, a daycare business might be a good choice. Finding quality daycare is a huge problem for many working parents and you can fill this void. You’ll need books, toys and some equipment like cribs and play pens but these can be purchased at thrift stores and consignment shops to save money. Each state differs with regards to daycare rules and regulations so be sure to check with your local agencies. Becoming certified or licensed has the benefit of having access to USDA and other programs. Taking CPR and first aid training at your local Red Cross will make your daycare business more attractive to parents.
4. Affiliate marketer
Having your own website has never been easier or cheaper. Basically all you need is a domain name, a hosting site and a website builder. GoDaddy is an excellent one-shop stop for all of this. Once you have a website set up and you’ve added some valuable, interesting content you can sign up with several affiliate programs. Companies pay you to advertise their products on your website. When visitors to your site click on an ad and make a purchase you get paid a percentage of the sale. Some affiliate programs, such as Google Adsense, are pay per click, but many pay when a purchase is made. Either way, it’s possible to make a nice income through affiliate marketing.
5. Flea market vendor
There are flea markets and swap meets in nearly every city and small town across the country. For a minimal fee (often around $20 for a weekend) you can set up a booth and sell just about anything. Used goods, wholesale products, food and handcrafted items can all be sold for a profit. There are many indoor flea markets and antiques malls that are always actively seeking vendors.
1. Resume writing service
If you have good writing, spelling and grammatical skills this is an excellent full or part-time business. A computer and an internet connection is pretty much all you need. You can advertise your resume writing business in local papers and on online classified sites like Craigslist. You can begin by developing a detailed questionnaire for clients to complete via email. Following up by phone or Skype interviews will allow you to prepare a professional, detailed resume for your customers. To get started, consider offering to write resumes for friends and family at no cost in order to build your resume writing portfolio.
2. Catering business
Do friends and family often compliment you on your culinary skills? Are you known for your delicious cakes, cookies or cupcakes? You can specialize in ethnic foods, baked goods only, children’s parties or tea parties, just to name a few. Consider starting out by catering small parties and gatherings. Start up cost is minimal. You most likely already have pots, pans and cooking utensils in your kitchen. Superstores like Sam’s Club and Costco have a good selection of bulk catering supplies at reasonable prices. As your business and reputation grows you can cater larger events. Be sure to check with your local health department to find out what rules and regulations are required. If regulations are restrictive, consider teaming up with a local church or organization that will allow you to prepare food in their kitchen facilities.
3. Daycare business
If you love children and have a lot of patience, a daycare business might be a good choice. Finding quality daycare is a huge problem for many working parents and you can fill this void. You’ll need books, toys and some equipment like cribs and play pens but these can be purchased at thrift stores and consignment shops to save money. Each state differs with regards to daycare rules and regulations so be sure to check with your local agencies. Becoming certified or licensed has the benefit of having access to USDA and other programs. Taking CPR and first aid training at your local Red Cross will make your daycare business more attractive to parents.
4. Affiliate marketer
Having your own website has never been easier or cheaper. Basically all you need is a domain name, a hosting site and a website builder. GoDaddy is an excellent one-shop stop for all of this. Once you have a website set up and you’ve added some valuable, interesting content you can sign up with several affiliate programs. Companies pay you to advertise their products on your website. When visitors to your site click on an ad and make a purchase you get paid a percentage of the sale. Some affiliate programs, such as Google Adsense, are pay per click, but many pay when a purchase is made. Either way, it’s possible to make a nice income through affiliate marketing.
5. Flea market vendor
There are flea markets and swap meets in nearly every city and small town across the country. For a minimal fee (often around $20 for a weekend) you can set up a booth and sell just about anything. Used goods, wholesale products, food and handcrafted items can all be sold for a profit. There are many indoor flea markets and antiques malls that are always actively seeking vendors.
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