Make The Right Decisions With Respect To Flagpoles And Flags For The Residence

If you are looking for a replacement flagpole, you know the ropes already. Looking to install a flagpole for the first time would require careful planning.

Do local laws have any restrictions upon flying flags? We live in intensely political times and some care may be needed to avoid controversies. Living up to the spirit of the Stars and Stripes is absolutely American and something everybody should do. Yet we are aware of the large variety of flags that exist and their symbolic meanings, the materials and prices, all of which need to be considered. Protocol and etiquette do apply since each country and thousands of organisations have designed flags according to their principles, religion or ideology.

The best materials would last many years and be passed down to the new generation! Among Residential Home Flagpole Kits, would it be wall mounted or fixed on the ground that requires far more labor? Size considerations do matter too and that depends upon the building dimensions and open space available. Most flags fly from dawn to dusk though some fly day and night but need to be extremely weather resistant. In any case, the flagpole kit would include every little bit like the pulley ad the nylon rope for the hoisting and lowering process. Installation would cost extra unless it is a DIY job that is so much in vogue nowadays with lots of information available online.
   
Telescopic flagpoles would be the best bet for Residential Home Flagpole Kits since they can be neatly folded away when not in use. Transport would also be a breeze since each bit may be only a few feet long and would comfortably fit in the vehicle. Aluminium or fiber glass is the common choice and aluminium is heavier though. Fiber glass is everywhere and maybe that would be a better bet. 

When it comes to diameter and gauges, it would be best to opt for a heavy duty product that would be very stable amidst strong winds too. Do not forget that the flagpole and flag are exposed to the elements and thus a stronger choice would be best. Flags come in a great variety of materials too, flimsy stuff being best avoided and printed flags too that may lose the colors early.

Porch Mounted Flagpoles, on the deck or the dockFree Reprint Articles, are very much preferred to bring an official ambience to a residential setting that would inspire children and visitors on formal occasions. Fixed on a wall may have some disadvantages of visibility and ambience and the best option would be the installation of Porch Mounted Flagpoles where small meetings may be held on special national occasions.

PLR Articles: How to Choose a Good Service

Private Label Rights (PLR) articles are hot right now. The only problem is that many people have tried them and been very disappointed. I can’t say I blame them. I’ve been disappointed, too.

Oftentimes, the PLR services you may have tried are lacking in several areas. So, what makes a good PLR service and how can you make sure that you don’t waste you money on a bad one?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before investing any money into a PLR package or membership.

1. What topics are you getting?
I mean, seriously, if you are promised 100 articles each month, but you end up receiving a selection on Laser Hair Removal and Divorce, when all your websites are about cooking… You just wasted money.

2. What quality are you getting?
Say you’re lucky enough to get a series of articles on your topic. Take a minute to look at them. Are they pure fluff? I’ve paid for articles that had no original ideas, or worse, were written so poorly that there’s no possible way I’d put them on my website. Make sure your PLR package contains quality articles. Otherwise, you just wasted money.

3. How many other people are getting the exact same articles?
If 1000 other people signed up to get the same articles, are you really receiving any value? Perhaps, if you don’t mind reworking the articles. However, if you’d like more unique articles, then you may consider a more limited PLR service.

4. Does the PLR service give you any extras?
Are they offering training on ways to use their PLR articles? Do they provide you with ways to monetize the articles you’ve purchased? Some PLR sites will include recommended affiliate programs and training on how to use their articles to get the most benefits from their service.

Really assess the value you’re receiving when investing in any PLR package or service so that you don’t end up wasting your money. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

PLR and Ghostwritten Articles: Are they Ethical?

Recently, in an interview, I was asked “Is it ethical to use private label rights and ghostwritten articles?”

Let me step back a moment and explain… Private label rights (or PLR) articles and ghostwritten articles are used by web owners as a method of outsourcing some of their content.

* PLR articles are packages of articles that are pre-written and sold to more than one person.

* Ghostwritten articles are articles that are written by someone else just for you that you can put your name on and are not sold to anyone else.

In both cases, you are allowed to edit the content as much or as little as you’d like and use the articles on your website, blog, or in your newsletter.

So, back to the question. Is it ethical? My answer was, “usually, yes”.

If you’re using the articles and saying “written by me” without changing anything at all, it may bite you in the butt later, when someone else does the same thing. Does that make it unethical? Not really. It’s just not smart. Can you use the article as it is or edited slightly, without saying it was written by you? Of course!

Most PLR packs are written by ghostwriters. Ghostwriters are professional researchers and writers. If you purchase well-written, informative PLR or ghostwritten articles and share them with your readers, don’t you all benefit? Your readers benefit by getting great information. You benefit by saving time. Is it any different than hiring a graphic designer or webmaster? Not in my opinion. Heck, most politicians don’t write their own speeches. They leave that to people who are professional speech writers.

Of course, you’d want to only use top-notch articles and not “sell-out” just to pump out blog posts or web pages quicker. We recommend you research thoroughly before choosing any ghostwriter or PLR service.

Here’s what to look for in a PLR service so you don’t waste your money:
1. Make sure the articles are written well.
2. Make sure that you know what topics you’ll receive (instead of some grab-bag of articles).
3. Be sure that the people running the program have some experience in article writing themselves, so they know what they’re doing.

There’s no point in doing everything on your own, especially if you dislike writing. All successful business people outsource the tasks they are not good at or dislike. Check it out. It might take some pressure off you and allow you to spend more time with your kids. And, that’s definitely ethical.

What Can you Do with PLR Articles?

You may have seen the term Private Label Rights or PLR articles being tossed around frequently lately. PLR articles are articles you can buy (usually in packages or as part of a membership) that you may edit and use as you wish. Unlike free reprint articles, you are not required to link back to anyone else’s website which makes them appealing to many web publishers.

Once you understand the concept behind PLR articles, you can see why they are appealing. Most people can envision the value of adding the articles to their websites. But, did you know there are more ways to use PLR articles than that?

1. Add them to your blog.
Similar to adding PLR articles to your website, you can take excerpts and use them on your blog for fresh content. Whether you take a portion and use it as a “tip of the day” or use the entire article, PLR articles can be a huge time saver for you.

2. Send them in your newsletter.
Need content for your newsletter? PLR articles are an option. Of course, if you’re developing a relationship with your readers, you may wish to edit the articles to make them your own voice. However, you can pull a section from a PLR article – use it as inspiration — and whip out a newsletter in minutes.

3. Start an ecourse
If you purchase a package of PLR articles based on a theme, it’s quite easy to turn them into an ecourse simply by adding them to your auto-responder. Something as simple as “Five Ideas for Kids Lunches” can become a 5 day ecourse to grow a big newsletter list.

4. Use them in your podcast
Take a PLR article and use it as inspiration for a podcast. Add the content and you’re done.

5. Send them in a print mailing
Direct mailing is huge. If you have a list of postal mailing addresses, put together a free report from PLR articles and send it out.

6. Create a special report
Simply bulk together some PLR articles that have the same topic, and make them flow into a special report. Turn it into a pdf file and give it away to your website visitors.

See how easy that is? The only hard part is finding a PLR service that is high quality and fits your niche. Look around. Make sure the PLR package or membership you choose provides you with high quality articles so you can create something you’ll be proud of.

PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?

Content is always in high demand. Right now the focus seems to be on Private Label Rights (or PLR) articles. PLR articles are pre-written and sold in packages to online businesses looking for content. The big selling points of PLR articles are that you may edit the articles and that there is no author bio required (so they don’t have any outbound links).

Compare PLR articles to free reprint articles. Free reprint articles from places like ezinearticles.com or freeaffiliatearticles.com are written by people who have something they’d like to share. (Or, they are sometimes written by people just publishing junk, in the hopes that they’ll get some incoming links. But, good article directories will delete those, so we’ll focus on the good ones here.)

So, which is better? Honestly, each has its place. Sometimes you’ll find an excellent free reprint article that you’ll want to share with your readers and you won’t mind a bit having an outbound link, especially if there is an affiliate program associated with it. The free reprint article added value to your readers, and you didn’t have to write the article. That’s what free reprint articles are all about.

Other times you’ll already have an idea in mind for a topic and you’ll just want a boost getting that section of your website done. If you run across a high quality PLR package on that niche, you’re set to go.

So, how do you know which PLR service or membership to choose? Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Some PLR sites offer a monthly membership where you receive a grab-bag of articles – on any topic. If you already know what you need, this may be a waste of money. Other PLR sites will list topics and you can buy the articles in a shopping cart. That ensures you receive the articles you need when you need them.

2. Are the articles written by professional writers with experience? Or are they outsourced to the cheapest overseas help they can find – no matter the quality? If the articles are going to be a reflection of your business, you’ll want to ensure that the articles are well-written.

3. Who’s running this thing? Is the PLR site run by someone who knows about content or someone who thinks they can ride the content wave and make a quick buck? Make sure you’re hitching your wagon to someone who knows what they’re doing.

Those are just a few tips to keep you from wasting money on a PLR site that you can’t use. Continue to use free reprint articles, but look into PLR articles as well. They can both benefit your website and your business.

Afraid To Take A Vacation? Put Your Business On Cruise Control

“I started my business so that I’d have freedom, but I’ve never felt more trapped….”

I come across a statement like that at least once a day on a forum post or in email. You start your internet business because of the freedom of being your own boss and working on your own schedule and then promptly sit on your hind-end for 12 hours/day EVERY DAY. No wonder you feel burnt out. And no wonder family and friends are feeling neglected when all you can think and talk about is your business.

Freedom sounds pretty miserable to me if it means freedom from fun and the ones that I love.

So, how do you break free?

Start by taking a good look at your business and getting your goals and priorities straight. Don’t worry, it’s not nearly as complicated as it sounds. I’ll walk you through it right now. Ready?

Grab a pen and a piece of paper or open your favorite word processor. Divide your page into four columns.

Now you’re ready to brainstorm. Write everything down as it comes to mind. Don’t overthink this. Just start writing.

First, figure out what is working. Whatever it is. It may be one of your websites, your ecourses, a joint venture, a certain marketing method. Where is the bulk of your money coming from, currently? (If none yet, where do you believe will be the place where the largest profits will come from?) Write those items in column #1 under: “Do More”.

Second, figure out what is not bringing in money. Is it hanging out on forums or posting classified ads to freebie sites? Is it endlessly checking your stats, or email? What are your daily time-suckers? Write those under column #2: “Do less”.

Third, figure out what could work better. Do you have upsells in place? Are your websites designed to bring you cash from every visitor? Make a list of ideas in column #3: “Improvements”. (If you don’t know yet, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to improve your business as you learn and grow.)

Fourth, figure out what can be automated. Which tasks are repetitive and boring, albeit necessary? Many of those types of tasks can be automated with simple tools. For instance, if you’re submitting articles to directories by hand, there are tools and services to do that for you. Add these to column #4: “Automation”.

Now that you’re armed with your list, it’s time to get to work.

Look at your list in Column #1: “Do More”. Those are the tasks that you should focus your energies on. It’s a good idea to tackle one or two of the tasks on that list first thing in the morning – every morning. Believe me, it’s much more productive than checking out your favorite blogs or logging into twitter. And you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done quickly when your mind is fresh.

Look at your list in Column #2: “Do Less”. These activities should be forbidden until after you get your #1 list done, if you do them at all. For instance, hanging out on Twitter is fun, but do not do it until everything in column #1 is finished for the day.

Now, go back to Column #1, 3, and 4. Your “Do More”, “Improvements”, and “Automation” lists.

Look at all of the items that are on those three lists. Now, circle each task that you …

• Can’t Do
• Don’t Have Time to Do
• Don’t Want To Do

Those are the tasks that you’ll outsource.

Freedom means a lot of things. It means freedom to do the things that you want to do. However, it also means freedom to NOT do things that you really dislike doing.

For me, it’s graphics. I have outsourced all of my graphics since 2001. I don’t have the time, patience or inclination to learn how to make my own graphics. I have more important things to do, like write this article and then go on a bike ride with my son. Perhaps when I get back from my bike ride, my graphics will be waiting for me in my inbox.

Now, that’s freedom to me.

Article Writing: Can it Help Me Get More Newsletter Subscribers?

Question: I’ve got a newsletter that just isn’t growing. I’m posting my site on free classified ads and I’m paying for advertising, but I’m just not seeing results. What can I do?
Signed, Nobody Loves Me

Dear Nobody Loves Me,
Let me start by saying you are not alone. I believe you are working hard. Unfortunately, just because you are working hard doesn’t mean you’ll have success. You need to also work smart and invest in long-term ways to grow your list.

Let me tell you about my favorite way to grow your list – giving away articles.

If you’re not familiar with using articles as a marketing method, then you’re in for a big treat. Website owners and blog owners are always looking for content to share with their web visitors. So, there are places called Article Directories (basically a library of free articles) where they can go to find articles that they can use – free.

All of these articles have an Author bio at the end. (See the end of this article for an example.). The author bio is the primo space where the authors get to talk about their business. Their brag space, so to speak.

What does any of this have to do with you? You can write and distribute articles to these article directories, too. And, in your author bio, instead of linking directly to your main page of your site, you can link to a page where you have a signup box for your newsletter. Voila. Everyone who clicks through that link will be taken to the page where you can offer them your wonderful newsletter (with a great incentive they can’t pass up.) Of course your page will lure them into signing up and your newsletter list will grow.

Article Writing: Can it help my E-book Sales?

Question: I wrote an e-book and I have a sales page selling it. Can I use article writing to promote my e-book?
Signed, Where are the Sales?

Dear Where are the Sales,
Absolutely. In fact, I highly recommend it.

It’s a perfect fit. Think about it. You’ve already got the content, and you obviously don’t mind writing since you’ve written an entire e-book. You’re a perfect candidate for using article sharing to get traffic to your website – and sell more e-books in the process.

If article sharing is new to you, you’ll catch on quickly. It’s an easy process, and it’s so effective. Here’s all there is to it.

1. You write an article about your topic of expertise. Or you use a section from your e-book and turn it into an article.

2. Add an author resource box at the end that includes the URL to your website – where you want the website visitors to go. Ideally this would be the sales page for your e-book. (See the bottom of this article for an example.)

3. Submit your article to article directories. These article directories contain thousands of free articles that publishers can freely use on their websites, blogs and in their newsletters.

4. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Every time your article is published, your author bio will be included, giving you exposure for your website.

Now, if you have an affiliate program, there’s even more potential. If you’re smart, you’ll also send the articles to your affiliates and allow them to use the articles – and encourage them to replace your URL with their affiliate link for your program. A smart affiliate will grab those articles in a heartbeat and start publishing them all over the web.

I hope you’ll see the potential of article sharing, and embrace it. If not, you’re really missing out on an easy way to grow your business and generate large amounts of traffic to your website. I look forward to seeing your articles in the article directories.

Article Writing: Can it help my Online Radio Show?

Question: I started an online talk radio show. I have the equipment set up and my guests lined up. But, how do I get listeners? I feel like I’m talking to myself.
Signed, Talking to Myself

Dear Talking to Myself,
First of all, Congratulations! What a big step you took to start a show. You’ve got the equipment ready, the interviews lined up and are ready to roll. I’m assuming you’ve already spent money on equipment so you don’t want to spend more on advertising. What’s a frugal online radio host to do?

Lucky for you, there are many ways to get traffic to your online radio show. One of my favorites is writing and sharing articles. If you’re unfamiliar with this method of traffic generation, it’s actually quite simple. In fact, it’s working right now. You’re reading an article that I’ve written and shared – and you can see at the bottom of the article, my author bio, where I get to share a little bit about me.

If it’s working for me, it can work for you, too. All you need to do is to find some topics, write effective articles with an author bio that works, and submit it to everyone who wants it. And repeat, repeat, repeat.

Not only will you get traffic to your website, but you’ll get more people inquiring about being guests on your show. And, if you sell advertising on your radio show, you’ll get exposure to more potential advertisers as well. Article sharing is definitely a great way to get your name out into the cyber-world.

And, the best part is that every article you send out is working for you for years to come. One article won’t likely get you a flood of traffic, but it’ll give you a ongoing drip. Fifteen articles will get you a trickle, and so on. So, get writing and get your message out there. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Article Writing: Can it Help Grow my Affiliate Program?

Question: I just set up a new affiliate program and have heard I can write articles to promote it. How does this work?
Signed New Affiliate Manager

Dear New Affiliate Manager,
Oh, don’t even get me started on this one! I love this topic.

If you’re new to the concept of article marketing, you can write articles and share them with websites, blogs and newsletters. These publishers are hungry for content and will gladly publish your informative articles on their sites. Every time they do, your author bio, including your website URL and information about your website, is included at the bottom. (See the bottom of this article to see how it works.)

What does this have to do with your affiliate program? Well, it can help you in two ways.

First of all, you can write articles and submit them to the article directories (which are basically libraries of free articles). Then when your articles are published, you’ll get traffic and a portion of those visitors will buy your products and a portion will sign up for your affiliate program (both of which will help your business grow.)

Secondly, you can allow your affiliates to use these articles on their websites with one special alteration. ENCOURAGE them to replace your URL with their link from your affiliate program. The article becomes monetized so the publisher can make money simply by sharing it (and you will, too.) Do you think your articles will be spread like wildfire by enthusiastic affiliates? Oh yes, much faster than you could spread the word alone.

Think about it. The viral aspect of this type of marketing can grow your affiliate program exponentially. All it takes is some research, a little time and some hard work. The benefits? Priceless.

Article Writing: Can it help my Virtual Assistant Business?

Question: I’m a Virtual Assistant. Can I use articles to promote my business?
Signed, Eager VA

Dear Eager VA,
Virtual Assistants are springing up all around the internet. It’s a very viable business option and more work at home moms are jumping on the bandwagon every day. The real go-getters will whip up a “business card” website right away with their contact information, ‘about me’ information, and their rates and services offered.

But, then that website sits and collects dust while they wait for the traffic to roll in. So, what’s a Virtual Assistant to do to generate traffic to their website?

Oftentimes VAs overlook one of the best methods of marketing their websites – article writing. Virtual Assistants can write about all kinds of topics – how to organize emails, customer service, hiring or firing a VA, ways a VA can benefit a business, or accounting among other things. Then, they can share the articles, just like any other website owner to drive traffic to their websites and establish an expert status in their field.

If you’re a VA who’s new to article sharing, it’s actually quite easy. You write a helpful article and include your author bio at the end. (See the end of this article as an example.) Then, you submit your article to Article Directories where hungry website owners, blog owners and ezine publishers eagerly grab your article to publish it on their sites.

Now, there is stiff competition so it’s not quite that easy, but that’s the gist of how article sharing works. And, you know it works because you’re reading my article that I’ve written and shared with article directories. There’s my URL in the author bio and you’ve found my article because someone has published it on their website, blog or in their newsletter. If it works for me, it can work for you, too.

Article sharing is underutilized in the Virtual Assistant field and I hope to see that change in the coming year. Go grab that free traffic and grow your VA business. Not only will your VA business grow, but you can share this method of marketing with your clients and blow them away with your knowledge of internet marketing. Best wishes.

Article Writing: Can it help my Online Store?

Question: My online store can’t make money unless I get traffic, but I can’t afford to keep buying advertising. What can I do? I feel so discouraged.
Signed, Lonely in my Store

Dear Lonely in my Store,
First of all, you are NOT doing anything wrong. Online businesses take time and can get frustrating, especially in the first year.

If your online store is lonely, and you’re watching the dust balls collect, waiting for traffic to come and buy, it’s easy to get discouraged. As soon as the advertising ends, so does your traffic – if you’re even getting any results from your advertising at all.

What if you could get visitors to your website – free? And, not only that, but the visitors keep coming for years? One of the best methods of generating traffic to your website is by writing and sharing articles. This is not ‘get rich quick’ and it’s not a scam. It’s just plain old fashioned marketing with a twist.

Now, even if you aren’t a writer, you can use this method of getting traffic. It doesn’t take a degree in Literature to succeed in article marketing. All it takes is a little time and energy. If you have that – you can get traffic to your website.

So, how does it work? Well, it’s working right now. Look at the bottom of this article and you’ll see … me. I didn’t pay for this advertising, but you’ll see a link to my website right there, plain as day, just for writing and sharing this article with website publishers.

It’s actually quite simple, and it is underused, especially in work at home mom businesses.

All you need to do is write a short, simple, helpful article about something related to your online store. If you sell makeup, then write an article about how to choose a foundation color, or how to care for your skin during the winter. Then, after you’ve written your article, you submit it to the article directories.

Article directories are libraries of free articles. They are collections of articles that website and blog owners can use on their sites for free. The only stipulation is that everyone who publishes your article must include your author bio at the end which is where you include your website URL and some fascinating information about your wonderful online store.

So, now that you see how simple this free method of generating traffic is, I hope you give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose and much to gain.

Article Writing: Can it Help my Direct Sales Business?

Question: How can I get long-term advertising for my Direct Sales website without spending a fortune?
Signed, Direct Sales Mom

Dear Direct Sales Mom,
Very often, people in Direct Sales don’t realize they can benefit from the same methods of internet marketing that other online businesses use. Writing and submitting articles is one of those methods of marketing that is extremely effective for Direct Sales businesses.

If you’re unfamiliar with the way article marketing works, basically, you write and give away helpful, informative articles. Why would you work so hard and give away your information? Look at the bottom of this article. There you’ll see my name and a brief bit of information about what I do. I didn’t pay for that advertising. It’s free.

So, how does it work? You write an article about a topic that you are interested in – usually one that relates in some way to your business. If you sell makeup, there’s no point in writing about forest fires. So, show your expertise and share your love of what you do in a brief article. Then you’ll want to find article directories that will accept your article. You’ll submit your articles to the directories, including your author bio and a link to your website.

Website publishers, blog owners, and ezine publishers will search the directories and find interesting articles to share with their readers. When they use one of your articles, they’ll include your author bio at the end with a clickable link to your website. Voila. You just scored some free traffic.

As long as your company allows you to link to your website, (and I realize that some don’t) – you can use article writing to grow your customer list and your team.

If your company does not allow links to your website, you may be able to set up a lead generation page to get people’s information. Or you can send them to a newsletter sign up page where you can get them on a list where you may talk more freely about your products in your newsletter. Just be sure to check with your company policies and procedures before investing too much time and energy into writing articles.

Now get writing!

Article Writing Tips from SpongeBob SquarePants

Wisdom can be found in the most unexpected places. Today, wisdom bubbled up from a pineapple under the sea. I suddenly realized that everything you’d want to know about writing articles for your website can be taught by SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends.

When you write for your newsletter, blog, or website, which character are you most like?

Mr. Krabs: This crustacean is focused on one thing and one thing only, making more and more and more money. Only a cartoon could actually have dollar signs drawn in his eyes. He thinks of no one, only how he can benefit. Are your articles focused on you or on the reader? Are you providing information or do you have blinders on, thinking only about how you can make money from the article you are writing? If your article reads like an ad or is self-serving or full of affiliate links, you might write like Mr. Krabs.

Plankton: The smallest creature in the sea is also the sneakiest. He’ll do anything and hurt anyone to steal someone else’s work (the Krabby Pattie secret formula). Write your own material. Don’t be Plankton. Don’t copy and paste someone else’s work, edit it, and try to pass it off as your own. You will be caught, and it just isn’t worth it. Take the same amount of effort and work on your own thoughts and ideas. Plankton never gets away with his schemes, either. He’s on Plan “Z” and is still pathetically failing at his attempts to steal the secret formula.

Patrick: SpongeBob’s best friend, the starfish, has a good heart, but isn’t the brightest creature in the sea. Do your articles make you sound like an expert? Are you providing valuable content or just pushing out sloppy articles as fast as you can? Always double check for typos and grammatical errors. If you’re challenged by spelling and grammar, hire a Virtual Assistant or Copywriter to proofread and submit your article for you. Or slow down, set your article aside for a day and then reread it before you click the “submit” button.

Squidward: Squidward is B-O-R-I-N-G. When writing articles, are you a Squidward? Do you just get the words down on paper or are you finding a fun twist to entertain your audience and keep them coming back for more? Take time to make your articles stand out from the thousands of other dull articles out there by including personal stories or just having fun while writing. For instance, this article could be entitled “How to Write a Good Article”, but would it stand out from the hundreds of other articles about article writing? Probably not.

SpongeBob: This little guy always tries to do the right thing, and is a hard worker. He may not always end up getting the results he hoped for, but he bounces back and tackles his work with a renewed vigor. SpongeBob works very hard, he’s a good friend, he always thinks of others, and tries to have fun no matter what he is faced with. Hardworking, friendly SpongeBob is the guy to be when writing articles.

Although this is a silly lesson in article writing, I hope you’ll remember the important messages our underwater friends have taught us.

1. Write articles to help others, not with dollar signs in your eyes.

2. Write your own material. Don’t copy others.

3. Proofread your articles carefully, and provide valuable information.

4. Be entertaining. Not boring.

5. Be a SpongeBob! Hard work and persistence pay off.

Before you know it, you’ll develop a following for having informative and entertaining articles and you’ll be King or Queen of the sea.

How to be Rejected by the Article Directories

Article writing is one of the best ways to increase your traffic and get more sales. You’ve heard it a million times so you decide to finally just do it. You write an article and submit it to the article directories, eagerly anticipating the flow of traffic. Instead you receive the dreaded rejection letter.

What did you do wrong?

1. Did you proof-read your article before you submitted it?

Popular article directory sites receive hundreds of submissions each day. It’s much easier for the owner to click “decline” than to edit your typo-filled or unformatted article. Before submitting, proof the article and proof it again. If grammar and spelling make you sweat, then hire a Copywriter or ask a friend to help you before you click that submit button.

2. Is it an Advertisement or an Article?

Article directory sites are looking for informative, useful content, not press releases or ads. If your submission reads like an ad, it will not be accepted. And, think about it — even if was approved on a fluke, do you think that website owners will be clamoring to publish your 500 word advertisement? Not a chance.

If your goal is to write and submit a press release, then check out places like prweb.com.

3. Did you read the Submission Guidelines?

Each article directory has a different culture. Glance through the Submission Guidelines before setting up an account to make sure your article will be welcome before you submit it. If an article directory is based around a niche like gardening, then please resist the urge to submit your Mesothelioma articles. There are plenty of article directories that want your articles. It’s not an effective use of your time to submit unwanted articles to a niche site.

4. Is your article PG-rated?

Don’t submit sex-related articles, profanity, or general nastiness. Article directories are businesses and, therefore, exist to make money. This means they generally receive income through affiliate sales or advertising. So, if your article includes sex or contains words stronger than “darn”, don’t be surprised if

your article is rejected. Of course, if your article contains nastiness or anything illegal — don’t even bother.

5. Is your Article original and written by you?

Submit only original articles. Please do not copy someone else’s article, edit it, and submit it. That’s stealing and you will be caught. And, do not submit articles from shared content sites. Article directories want original, unique content. Public domain is ‘public’ but think how ineffective article directories would

become if there were 500 versions of the same public domain piece. Instead of wasting your time figuring out how to reinvent other people’s content, just write your own.

Now that you know what not to do, start writing the kind of articles that article directories dream of — and watch your business grow.

How to Outsource Parts of Your Internet Business

One of my favorite topics to discuss is outsourcing.

You’d be amazed how thinking about outsourcing and where to begin outsourcing flummoxes everyone from the newest newbies to the seasoned gurus and everyone in between.

Buy why? Why is it so very confusing? Most of us manage to outsource quite nicely in our day to day lives.

I oftentimes pose these questions to my coaching clients –

When you go to a restaurant, do you head back into the kitchen and cook your own food? (That’s just silly.)

And, if your appendix burst right now, would you go online to find out how to remove it yourself? (Please say “no”.)

Of course not!

But, why do we think it’s ok to do everything ourselves in our businesses?

I can’t figure out what it is, but I think I’m starting to narrow it down.

* Fear of losing control.
* Not knowing who to outsource work to. (Needing a recommendation.)
* Not wanting to take the time to outsource. (You think: “It’s quicker to do it myself.”)
* Costs. (Oftentimes, though, you can get help for a lot less than you think it’ll cost.)
* Lack of confidence in ourselves.
* Lack of confidence in the potential of our business.

No matter which of those it is, there comes a point with all of us, where you HAVE to outsource — at least if you ever want to be able to go on a real vacation where you leave the internet behind and relax with your loved ones.

I know. I know. If you’ve been following me for any amount of time – you’ve heard this song and dance before. BUT! While outsourcing isn’t perfect, it’s a heck of a lot better than putting the chains on your wrists from a job that you’ve created for yourself – one where you can’t escape.
So, my #1 tip for outsourcing is to try it.

Choose something small and work from there.

•     Submitting some articles that you’ve written to the article directories.
•     Finding blogs to guest post on and contacting the owners.
•     Answering some emails regarding customer issues.
•     Graphics to promote your products.

It really doesn’t matter where you start. The big thing is taking that first step so that you can enjoy the FREEDOM that comes with the online lifestyle.

Start small. Don’t go crazy. But, when you find someone who you work well with – build on that relationship so you have access to great people who know your style and who you’re comfortable working with. When I need a project done, I have my own personal rolodex of fabulously skilled people who I turn to on a regular basis. Not only does it save me time – but it also helps me to get great prices because they already know what I like, they know that I’m easy to work with and that I pay on time.

I hope this inspires you to start outsourcing in your business.

Dream of Being a Blogger? The First Thing You’ll Need is a Great Web Domain Name!

More and more moms are getting into the blogging scene. Some for fun, some for profit, and some for both. Why not make money while you’re blogging about your favorite stuff, right?

It’s easier than ever to get started blogging. But the first thing you need before you begin is an idea for your domain name.

What is a domain name?

It’s the “www (dot) SOMETHING (dot) com” that people will type in to get to your blog. It’s like your address.

How do you Know What is a Good Domain Name?

There are some standards for what is a “great” domain name verses one that makes you wonder what on earth that person was thinking!

In order to help you to come up with a great web name that you’ll love for years, here are my unbreakable rules for choosing a domain.

1. No hyphens. Avoid dashes and hyphens. I’ve been there. Done that. Regret it to this day.

2. No numbers. Do I spell it out “seven” or is it the number “7??

3. Avoid words that are difficult to spell. Although I once was really excited about using a domain with the word “catalyst” in it — I found that no one could spell the darned thing.

4. Domain should end in .com. I don’t bother with other endings like .info or .biz. People tend to type in .com at the end of everything, so it’s usually best to stick with a .com ending.

5. Domain must NOT have any copyright names in it. I would not recommend using “Starbucks”, “Disney”, or any other company name in your URL or you may get a “cease and desist” email. Yes, even though you’re starting as a little mom blogger, eventually you might get huge. So, it’s best to plan for success in advance and avoid using trademarks in your URL.

6. If I’m looking to sell your blog down the road, it must be generic enough. For instance, I wouldn’t buy “NicoleKnowsFootball.com” to talk about my favorite football team if I planned to sell the site ever, because I’d have to find someone named Nicole to buy it.

And my big, bad unbreakable rule.

7. It must pass the Oprah test.

What exactly is the Oprah test? Well, I picture Oprah saying it out loud. “Today I have with me, Nicole Dean, author of Blah blah blah and owner of NicoleontheNet.com”. Is it memorable? Easy to spell?

You can’t do that with MyNumber1-BestHome-Remedy-Treatments4New-Mothers.net.

Why is this Important?

A difficult domain is actually wasted opportunity and wasted traffic slipping through your fingers. If you’re promoting via audio or video (maybe on podcasts or on YouTube) – you need a domain that is EASY to remember. It has to make it into the person’s ears and to his brain and stick. Heck, even if you run into an old college friend and say “Stop by my site www (dot) somethingcool (dot) com” – you’ll want her to remember long enough to actually come to your blog, right? So, make it simple. Make it memorable. And you’ll be glad.

Plus, honestly, it’s a credibility issue. Would you really buy something from MyNumber1-BestHome-Remedy-Treatments4New-Mothers.net? I hope you wouldn’t even think of getting out your credit card for a site like that. SCARY. And would you feel comfortable referring it to your friends? Not a chance.

How do you get a domain name of your very own?

You can get a domain at www.MomWebs.com which is also my recommendation for Web Hosting. As you sign up for your domain, you can get hosting at the same time. And… they’ll even set up your blog for you for only $10. Plus, there’s a phone number that you can call if you have any questions.

With all of that help, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up your first blog.

I hope this has been helpful. And, I really look forward to seeing YOU on Oprah!

Small Business Website Design – Determining Your Rates

So you’re ready to provide website design and maintenance as a service – smart move! There are millions of users on WordPress and it’s popularity is constantly growing. That means the opportunity to earn good money providing WordPress services is wide open.

Before you can offer your services for hire you must choose your rates. Here is a checklist to help you decide what rate to charge:

Consider Your Market’s Budget

There’s no point charging a rate higher than your market can afford. It can also be a bad idea to highly under-charge in a market that expects a certain price point. If you are lower or higher than they expect it can cost you in lost clients.

Consider How Much It Will Cost to Reach Your Market

Consider to the cost of reaching your market and build that into the return on investment you need to make through your rates. You’ll need to advertise to reach your market.

Research Your Direct Competition and Their Rates

Of course one of the first places you should look at to determine your rates is your competition. Check out what they are charging and determine where you fit in comparison.

Estimate a Project Start to Finish in Time

You need to understand how much time a project is going to take you from start to finish before you can accurately determine how much to charge. If you’ve never done a start to finish project before it would be a good idea to do some practice runs or even volunteer or do highly discounted projects so you can track the time it takes to complete. Or even trade services to gain the experience.

Consider Additional Costs Such as Graphics & Stock Photos

If you are hiring a graphic designer or buying stock photos, etc for the site design you need to build them into the costs.

Consider Admin Time For Emails, Phone Calls, Etc

Many website designers or freelancers don’t consider the time they’ll spend consulting with clients over the phone or through email. Build these into your rates.

Determine Your Rate Structure: Hourly or Per Project

Will you charge hourly or for a full project. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Interview Potential Clients to Determine What They’re Willing to Pay

Can you connect with people who’ve already paid for the services you want to charge for.

Determine Your Minimum Expected Rates

What is the minimum you are willing to work for – this is your starting point.

Determine Your ‘Beyond Expectations’ Rate

What is your dream rate. What would be a rate that is greatly beyond your expectations. Keep this in mind and go for it in by creating a high value package.

Determine Your ‘Standard Rate’ While Leaving It Open For Additional Services

Some potential clients won’t be able to go for your full package so create a standard rate for those who need a taste of your services.

Determine Your Ideal Client & Create a Questionnaire to Qualify Potential Clients

Don’t forget to figure out exactly who you want to work with. Then create a questionnaire that will allow you to decide what potential clients will be best to work with you. This will help you find your ideal clients and allow you to recognize clients who are not your best fit.

Determining your rates as a website designer can be a frustrating process. Just be aware that you can change them later. Sometimes the easiest way to figure it out is to just get going and test out what works for you.

Did you Love the Movie “Julie and Julia”? You Can Live It!

Have you seen the movie Julie and Julia?

A woman, Julie Powell, decides to dedicate a year of her life to cooking all the recipes in Julia Child’s first book while blogging about the adventure.  Here are a few of my favorite lines from the movie…

Julie: I could write a blog. I have thoughts.

And, another of my favorite lines…

Julie: You’re not a writer unless someone publishes you. See, that’s what’s so great about blogs. You don’t have to be published. You can just go online, press enter and there it is, out there.

What Julie didn’t realize when she started her blog is that you can also make money blogging.

Blogging has become a world-wide phenomenon that is giving many people the opportunity to earn real money online. Blogs are popular for good reason.  They are easy to set up and learn, and the cost is minimal and sometimes even free.  With modern applications, you can get started blogging in less than an hour or so.

The big question now is what should I blog about?

Have you taken recipes and tweaked them just so to make them perfect?  Do you enjoy testing new dishes on your family?  Recipe blogs are very popular with people who are gourmet cooks as well as people who don’t know the first thing about moving around a kitchen, but would like to learn.  Sharing your cooking successes, and failures, is a great way to make money online.  Even if your cooking usually turns out to be stories of woe, like my “never mix cheese and cabbage” disaster, having a way to connect with other people who share your interest is a great way to turn your stories into profits.

There are some simple skills required to start blogging about cooking.  Of course, you have to enjoy cooking.  You don’t have to be a chef, just have an interest in food.  You’ll want to be able to organize your thoughts, and get your recipes in some sort of understandable order so people can follow along.  If you have a digital camera, you’ll be able to include pictures of the dishes you make, but that is not absolutely necessary.  There are many publicly licensed food photos on the internet for you to use.

The main skill you’ll need is patience.  You won’t see a lot of traffic to your blog at first, but don’t worry.  It takes time for people to find out how great your blog is.

Of course, you want to make money with your recipe blog.  By using one or more of the following methods, you’ll have a real home-based business that will start producing income for you and your family.

Make Money by Selling Products: Some people enjoy the retail aspect of their business.  Whether it’s kitchen gadgets or cookbooks, your readers will love to hear what your favorite kitchen tools are. You’ll be sharing your love for cooking, giving your opinion on products, and making money at the same time.  Great idea.

Make Money by Selling Advertising: Once traffic starts coming your way, you’ll find advertising on your blog to be a nice way to generate income.  This is something to keep in mind, but you won’t really hit your stride making money with this method until you start getting readers.  Just file this idea away so you can start making your plans.

Make Money by Selling Your Blog: When your blog becomes popular, you have become a successful blogger, for sure!  If you’re ready to move on to other things, you can consider selling your blog for a big profit.

By focusing your energy on your own unique style of blog, you can find a home for family recipes, regional dishes, cooking disasters and fun stories that your readers will come back to time and time again.  Sharing your knowledge of cooking, your recipes, your successes and failures, all can bring in a nice income if you are ready to learn how.  But, you’ve got to take that first step in order to see your dreams come true.

To learn exactly how to set up your blog and how to create a recipe blog that people love, talk about and come back to, grab the guide “How to Start a Cooking Blog“. You’ll also learn how to get traffic to your blog and make money doing something you enjoy.

Small Business Website Design – How to Choose a Website Template

You’ve made the decision to build your website. You’ve chosen the program you want to build it in. Now comes that agonizing decision of choosing a website template!

How to you choose a small business website design template?

Before you make any template decisions you must know how your website is being built. There are so many ways to build a website, including:

• Software programs like Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expressions
• Website Builders like Weebly
• Online Content Management Systems like WordPress or Joomla

My recommendation is always WordPress. After spending over ten years designing websites in just about every way possible I settled on WordPress because of it’s cost (free!), ease of use, flexibility, variety of looks and customizability.
Let’s get back to the topic at hand – templates!

So you’ve chosen your site design method and now you’re looking for templates. Here are some factors to keep in mind as you do your search:

1. Customization – How much can the template be changed? Some templates are meant to be used exactly as is while others are designed to be tweaked and customized. Find out how flexible your potential theme is so you can decide if it’s right for you.

2. Support – If you run into issues and problems with your template will there be anyone to answer your questions? Having this kind of customer support is usually something you’ll get from themes you pay for and not free ones. So consider if it’s worth it to you to have available support as you need it.

3. Flexibility – Does your template limit your website in any way? Does it allow you to do everything you need to do with your website at the moment and anything you might want to do in the near or even distant future. Try to think long-term with your template and if it will suit your needs over time.

4. Branding – Does the template match the branding and style of your business. If you are starting a business from scratch this may not be an issue but if you are bringing your offline business online you want to consider your brand and keep it consistent. Some things you might not think about initially are matching: fonts, colors, logos and images. Consistent branding builds trust and confidence in your business, allow your potential customers and customers to feel comfortable buying from you.

5. Navigation – Last, but certainly not least is website navigation. Does the template allow ease of use for moving throughout the site? Potentially one of the most important thing about your site is how easily people can find what they are looking for. Make sure any potential templates you choose are not confusing or constricting and allow users to easy find their way to the good stuff.

Now that you have some solid advice on choose your first website template maybe you need clear directions on how to get that site setup from scratch to finish?