November 7th, 2007
If you like to participate in contests, check out three at b5media’s Sports Cannel, in other words, Play and Win at the Sports Channel.
Three of the blogs are participating, Rackets and Balls, Hockey Beat, and World Poker Tour. Each has a different set of rules. Prizes include teddy bears and other great stuff.
It becoming more and more common for business to offer some kind of contest or prize drawing to encourage customers to stop by, whether it’s a walk-in business or an online one.
*Leaving your business card in a fish bowl for a monthly drawing of free meal, free parking, free car wash, free quilting tool…or whatever is associated with your business…has become quite common.
*Leaving comments on a blog post for a drawing has gained in popularity.
*Writing a slogan for a product or promotion interests some.
*Naming a new product, animal, picture, etc. is another.
*Guessing the number of jelly beans, candy corn, candy hearts or something similar in a jar has been used, too.
What can you come up with to promote interest in your business and create fun at the same time?
Tags:b5media contest home+based+business home+biz+news Home+business home+business+promotion online+home+business online+promotion
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By Mary Emma -- 5 comments
August 31st, 2007
Building vs Buying Home Business Traffic
Home business owners, whether online or offline, need customers/clients. How does one get them? In general the methods vary depending on which type of business you’re operating. However, with more businesses having some type of online presence, online methods are of great interest.
Online business owners often get caught up with buying lists of guaranteed visitors to their site. Cynthia Minnaar, in an article in American Chronicle, How to Drive Targeted Website Traffic to Your Internet Home Business, differentiates between building versus buying home business traffic. Even though buying traffic may seem to be the quicker way, it doesn’t work, Ms Minnaar maintains.
“Building [traffic] takes time, perseverence, persistence and dedication. You can’t cut corners and expect to build your internet home business in a week or month and generate massive targeted traffic and create online income in a short space of time.”
Then she goes on the describe some free ways to build your business traffic.
Tags:book+promotion building+traffic hairdresser home+based+business home+biz Home+biz+notes Home+business home+business+promotion online+business online+home+business online+promotion promotion+tips
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By Mary Emma -- 0 comments
May 31st, 2007
I’ll continue with Part 2 of my interview of Mark Allen, who has developed two online home based businesses using CafePress. (See Part 1 here.) Mark’s businesses are Defying Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey.
(Dog t-shirt an example from The Spanked Monkey.)
MEA: What are the possibilities for others in an online business operated from home?
MARK: Once again, one of the great things about an online business is that the world is your market. In the last two weeks alone, in addition to the United States, I have had visits to my stores from 8 additional countries.
If a person finds the right online business it can be very rewarding and profitable. Just be sure that the business being considered is legitimate and has real potential. The trick is finding the right one and I believe for me, this is it. I see the very real possibility that marketing through CafePress will eventually replace the income of my normal job as I continue to add designs and possibly more stores.
MEA: You have me thinking about possibilities for my writing and book promotion through a medium such as CafePress. (I already have a story in one book, 2 the Heart, People Who Make a Difference, available at CafePress.) Do you have any suggestions?
MARK: I think that, at the very least, you should look at what CafePress has to offer, look at the final cost per book after you have added your markup, and decide if the price is in the range where people will buy. Also, consider that even if your markup isn’t quite as high as previously, it may be worth it if you don’t have to handle the printing and shipping.
Another thing to consider is that, in addition to the sales you are makaing now, which you will still make, you are likely to get additional sales through people who search CafePress. In addition to your writing, there is your artwork that can be put on a great many items.
(Mark knows that I illustrate some of my books. I also do oil and water color paintings which I’ve been trying to produce as note cards and postcards but was baffled when it came to the marketing. He’s got me thinking about the many possibilities for these, too. What about you?)
MEA: Any tips you would like to offer…
MARK: Get started!
MEA: Thanks, Mark, for taking time to share your business tips and the information about your businesses at CafePress. I’m sure you have a number of people thinking about the possibilities for themselves.
Tags:CafePress Defy+Gravity+Apparel home+based+business t shirts home+biz Home+biz+notes Home+business online+home+business The+Spanked+Monkey
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By Mary Emma -- 0 comments
May 30th, 2007
As I mentioned in the previous post, Developing a Home Business Utilizing Cafe Press - Introduction, a number of people are looking for web sites where they can set a business rather than developing a web site on their own.
So I’ve asked Mark Allen a few questions about the development and operation of his two online businesses, Defy Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey.
MEA: Would you describe your businesses and tell us what you do and the general type of products.
MARK: Defy Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey are primarily online stores selling t-shirts printed with designs that I have come up with. Between the two stores you will find different styles of printed t-shirts and sweatshirts, including children’s sizes, hats, mugs, buttons, magnets, tote bags, and more. In addition to the items in my stores, CafePress has many other items available, such as books and magazines, audio and data CDs, stickers, note cards, mouse-pads, and the list goes on.
MEA: Why did you decide to set up an online home business?
MARK: The great thing about an online business is that the world is your market. To date I have had sales in 38 states, England, Ireland, Wales, and Australia. An online business can be run from the comfort of your home and schedule.
MEA: Why did you choose CafePress?
MARK: About four years ago, I had the idea of a series of shirts with “Defy Gravity” as the tagline. At that time I didn’t see how I could follow through coming up with designs, the expense of having a minimum order printed, then finding a way to sell or distribute them. If I opened an online store on my own I would need to handle all the production, orders and shipping.
Then in July of last year, I found an article in a magazine that mentioned CafePress. I had an “AHA!” moment and realized I had found the way to follow through with my idea.
A basic store at CafePress can be opened for free. A Premium Store that is fully customizable is only $6.95 per month if paid monthly or only $5.00 per month if the year is paid up front. The risk is essentially zero. With CafePress I only need to come up with the designs, upload the designs, choose what items to put the designs on, and set the mark-up.
CafePress will make my designs searchable on their site, process orders including credit cards, produce the items as they are ordered (no inventory), and handle all shipping. If there are returns, which are possible since CafePress has a 30-day, 100% money back guarantee, they will take care of that also.
After you have a minimum of $25 profit from your sales, CafePress will send a check. There are a few other companies trying to do the same thing, but CafePress, I feel, is by far the best one for me after all factors are considered.
MEA: I know you have a computer background so do much of your own designing. Does one have to do this, or will CafePress provide designs or designers?
MARK: Although I do not consider myself an artist or graphic designer in any way, I do all my own designing. For some of my items I start with a public domain image and work from that. I figure if you put enough designs, good or bad, in front of enough people, you will get sales.
CafePress does not provide designs or designers. You need to do it yourself or hire someone else to create designs for you.
MEA: Do you see yourself developing in other directions with your business?
MARK: At this time I only see myself going where CafePress does. They have the market knowledge and do the research to know what to offer next.
(I’ll continue a Part 2 of my interview with Mark. There we’ll discuss the possibilities for others in developing an online home business.)
Tags:CafePress Defy+Gravity+Apparel home+biz Home+biz+notes Home+business online+home+business The+Spanked+Monkey
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By Mary Emma -- 8 comments
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