Bartering
Search Engine Tips & Techniques
As you are building your site or getting your site built, you need to do as much as you can to ensure higher rankings in the search engines. There are a variety of little tips and techniques you can use to do this.
Meta tags & keywords - Meta tags are included in the section of your site and are read by the search engines. The two most important kind are "description" and "keywords" Description is a description of the content of your site and keywords is a list of keywords relevant to the page.
Research what people are searching for and use those searches (relevant to your site) in your meta tags. A great little keyword search tool is available here: http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/
Find more great info on meta tags here:
http://www.metamend.com/search-engines-meta-tags.html
Site content- Make sure you match your site content with your meta tags. Also, keep updating your site content. Search engines love new content. Try adding articles to your site or doing a blog. Do NOT let your site get old and stale!
Blogging - A blog is basically a journal that is posted on a web site. A person who blogs is a blogger. Blogs are usually updated daily or every other day. Blogs can be used on personal or business websites. Blogs can draw a lot of targeted traffic to your site. You can create your own blog here: http://www.blogger.com/start
Site map - A site map is simply a page that lists all the links on your site. This makes it easy for the search engines to spider your site. A site map page is a good navigational tool for your visitors as well. It contains links to all important pages of your web site and it gives your visitors an overview of your web site structure all in one page.
Take a look at these well designed site maps.
http://www.ireland.com/about/map/
http://www.google.com/sitemap.html
Links page - Having a quality reciprocal links page can benefit your site in several ways. First of all, it gets your site listed in more places on the net which can bring you more traffic. More and more major search engines will rank your pages higher when there are more links to your site. Also, quality links can help the spiders find you more easily each week, therefore keeping you indexed longer and dropped less frequently.
Take a look here for an example of a link exchange page.
http://www.seymourproducts.com/exchange/index.shtml
Articles - Not only do you want to post relevant articles on your site, but writing and submitting them to other sites will help you as well. Posting new articles on your site will keep your content fresh and new so the spiders like your site. It will also keep your visitors coming back for more.
Writing and submitting articles can increase your link popularity and bring you more traffic as well as helping your search engine ranking.
A few places to submit your articles is listed below:
http://webmarketingspecialists.com/articlesubmit.html
http://wahmteam.com/submissionform.shtml
http://www.home-business-tips-newsletter.com/articles/submit.html
http://www.webpronews.com/submit.html
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/submit_article.shtml
Using these techniques and others will greatly improve your rankings in the search engines and bring you more targeted traffic which in turn can increase your sales substantially! For more info on search engine tactics, visit http://www.searchengines.com/
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Find lots more tips, articles, and resources for your home, family & business at www.SeymourProducts.com Terri and her husband Terry also offer a low-cost, wholesale distributorship with unlimited support, and a complete line of one dollar ebooks and software with full resell rights. http://www.seymourproducts.com/ebooks-resell
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The Truth About Online Marketing
I am writing this article in the hopes of letting people know the truth about online marketing and building a home business. I have been in online marketing for almost ten years and have had several successful businesses and a couple not so successful businesses. In that time, I have learned many truths and seen many misleading half-truths.
So many times you will hear how easy it is to throw up a website and then watch the money come rolling in. Sorry folks, it just doesn't happen that easily! We are here to tell you the whole truth - no hype or misleading half-truths.
When you read these ads that say things like:
Make $20,000 Your First Month or All You Have to Do is Send Emails to Make 1000s Weekly!
Delete it or leave the site. Things like this just do not happen. I am not saying it is impossible, but extremely unlikely! So, if you are interested in hearing the basic and honest truth about building a home business, keep reading.
Truth #1
Anyone cannot do it!
It takes a certain amount of self-discipline, commitment, perseverance, strength and a LOT of work. Unfortunately, we do not all possess these qualities. If you feel that you do, then you can do it!
Truth #2
Just build it and they will NOT come!
Putting up a website does in no way guarantee sales, success or an income. Just putting up a site and not promoting it, is like whispering someone's name in a crowd and thinking they will hear it.
You have to work day and night and night and day on promoting your site and getting your name known. And there is much more to it then simply placing an ad here and there. There is also much more to building your own business than having a website to promote.
Truth #3
You will become frustrated and feel like giving up, many times!
I guarantee you will wonder why you even started doing this and it will happen many times. Building a home business can be extremely frustrating and overwhelming at times. That is when connecting with other business builders online and offline can help keep you focused. Join some networking groups so you can talk to others who are going through the same experiences and feelings as you are. Remind yourself why you started your own business in the first place. You can work through these feelings.
Truth #4
You will spend more time than you think working your business.
So many people believe that if they start their own home business they will only have to work a few hours a day or a few days a week. Sorry, but that would be a hobby, not a business. Building a business, at least for awhile, takes many hours a day, and a lot of times, 7 days a week! Be prepared to work, work, and work some more!
Truth #5
You will lose your confidence from time to time.
This still happens to me and I have been in business for almost ten years! If you feel like you are a failure, take a good look at the business you are in or the company you represent. Is this really the business for you? Do you have the passion needed to make this business a success? Don't be afraid to change your business. I had several businesses before finding the one that is truly my niche! You cannot let feelings of failure stop you from making your dreams come true.
Truth #6
Success definitely does NOT come quickly or easily!
As I mentioned before, you will need to work your business 7 days a week. It will be a part of you for the rest of your life and must become a part of your daily routine. I have seen many people quit their business for reasons like problems with their kids, or their spouse losing their job, or financial problems. These are the people that will not become a success. We all have these problems from time to time, but quitting our business is not going to stop them from happening.
Truth #7
You will need to market and advertise offline as well.
So many people mistakenly believe that if they throw up a website, post a few ads here and there, and gab on the email groups all day (call it networking), their business will be a success. That is so far from the truth. Networking is fine if you do not perceive it as chatting all day on the email groups. You need to get away from the computer every day and get out in the real world and market that business!
Join your local Chamber of Commerce, get involved in community events and activities, expand into surrounding communities! Pass out flyers, get business cards made up and hand them out to everyone you meet, talk to everyone you possibly can about your business.
Your website should be an extension of your business, not your entire business!
Truth #8
Building your own successful business is very rewarding.
And I am not just talking money. It builds your character, boosts your self-confidence, gives you a feeling of pride, makes you feel complete, gives you a purpose and much more!
Truth #9
There are a lot of wonderful people online.
One of the things I enjoy most about working online is meeting so many people from so many different places. Without my business, I would never have known these people even existed! Establishing all these online relationships is definitely one of the rewards of online marketing.
Truth #10
I would recommend to anyone who feels they have the qualities needed for success to go for it!
My intentions with all these truths is definitely not to discourage you from starting your own business, but to prepare you for the truth of what lies ahead. Success will not come easily or quickly. It is a long, hard, frustrating journey to success. But, if you want it bad enough and possess the qualities needed to finish the journey, success can be yours!!
And when you finally get there, you will realize that all the places you momentarily got lost or took a wrong turn were very instrumental in helping you reach your final destination! And you will also realize that it was all worth it. Owning your own successful business is very rewarding - personally, emotionally and financially!
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Find lots more tips, articles, and resources for your home, family & business at www.SeymourProducts.com Terri and her husband Terry also offer a low-cost, wholesale distributorship with unlimited support, and a complete line of one dollar ebooks and software with full resell rights. http://www.seymourproducts.com/ebooks-resell
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How to have your own Online Party!
Online parties can be a successful and fun way to build your home business. These parties are similar to home parties except that you do not have to pay a small fortune for refreshments and snacks! ;-)
You can have your party in a free or low cost chat room or you can have your party via email. Be sure and create a relaxed and fun atmosphere for your guests. We would recommend a chat room.
You can either recruit someone to host the party for you or you can be the host. There is also something called "Mystery Host Party". This is where you draw or randomly select a guest to be the "Mystery Host" and receive the host benefits.
You will need to schedule your party. We have found that during the week is best unless it is winter. Then weekends can be a good time also. Give yourself plenty of time to plan and send out invitations.
Plan your specials. You definitely want to have some items on special. Maybe some that tie in with your theme, if you have one. Give a 25% discount on certain items, but make sure you leave enough profit as well. You could also offer a small free gift with all orders over $25, for example.
When it is time to send out the invites, email groups and message boards can be a great place to start. Send out the invitations (follow guidelines on this). Also invite friends, neighbors, co-workers. Let everyone know they can bring a guest or two or however many you like.
Have each guest introduce themselves and tell (type) a little about themselves. This will help bring the guests together.
You also want to make sure you have some fun and interesting games to play. And of course, for each game you will need prizes. Below are some popular party games:
*Scavenger Hunt - make a list of several items and instruct your guests to find them on your site.
*Word Scramble - Pick about 10 words from your site and see who can get them all right in the least amount of time. Let your guests know the words come from your site/business.
*Trivia Questions - Write up a list of questions about your site/business.
There are many more fun, exciting games to play at your party! Make up your own if you like as well.
You, of course, will also want to spend some time presenting your products. If you offer home decor items, share some tips and ideas on home decorating with your products. If you offer aromatherapy items, explain the benefits of your products. Make your presentation fun, informative and relaxed. Let the quests ask questions and always be clear and candid with your answers.
The idea here is to relax, have fun, show your items and make new contacts/customers. If your guests have a good time and enjoy themselves, they will sure to come back to your next party! ;-)
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Find lots more tips, articles, and resources for your home, family & business at www.SeymourProducts.com Terri and her husband Terry also offer a free, wholesale distributorship with unlimited support, and a complete line of one dollar ebooks with full resell rights. Download their Free ebook - Success Tips for Your Home & Biz! http://www.seymourproducts.com/ebooks/success.pdf
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Bartering
So just what is bartering all about? Bartering or trading is the act of exchanging your product or service for another person's product or service without the exchange of money or payment of any kind.
Bartering has existed for hundreds of years. Farmer Brown has extra eggs and milk from his farm but really wants someone to help with his laundry. Widow Jones can use the extra eggs and milk and offers to help with his laundry in exchange.
There are local barter groups where this type of exchange still happens however most bartering today takes on a different form with the existence of the internet and the world wide web.
There are many barter or trading groups online where you can set up exchanges with other members. Go to Yahoo Groups and do a search on barter and you'll be amazed at the number of groups that exist. Or if you find a company you're interested in bartering with, simply send them an email and ask if they're interested in an exchange. Not everyone barters but it can't hurt to ask.
So you've found someone you want to barter with & they're interested. What's the next step? Here are some tips to get you started.
Make note of their correct contact information. Write down their name, street address, email address, website and phone number if applicable so you can contact them when you need to.
Discuss all of the details of your exchange before agreeing to the trade. What are you sending? What are you receiving? Be specific. I will send you one 6 fl oz bottle of jasmine vanilla hand lotion in exchange for one size 7.5 inch patriotic bracelet. I will mail your hand lotion on Saturday, February 19 and you will mail my bracelet on Monday, February 21.
Keep in contact with your barter partner. Let them know the status of your agreement at each stage. If I have special ordered a bead or charm, I let them know when the raw materials have arrived. I let them know when their order is mailed & I let them know when I receive their package. After my delivery confirmation shows the product has been delivered, I follow up with an email confirming they have received the item and making sure they liked what I sent. Communicate at a minimum during these stages: when you ship your part of the barter, when you receive their part of the barter, and a follow up when the trade is complete to make sure everyone is satisfied.
Make sure you discuss how you're handling shipping charges. A bottle of hand lotion will cost more to mail than a bracelet. Will you make up the difference in extra product? If your hand lotion retails for $7.00 and will cost $3.00 to ship and my bracelet retails for $6.00 and will cost $1.00 to ship, I could offer to throw in a book thong retailing for $3.50 to make up the difference in postage costs.
Speaking of shipping, ALWAYS use a traceable method of shipment. I ship every single order whether paid or bartered for with a delivery confirmation number. This costs between .45 and .55 cents depending on how it's being mailed. Federal Express, DHL, UPS and Airborne all offer tracking numbers so your customer can follow the delivery of their item.
Treat your barter partners the same as your paid customers. Don't put off fulfilling your barters if a paid order comes your way. Make sure you enclose a business card or printed invoice so the receiver knows how to contact you when the package arrives. Make sure your package is addressed neatly and has a return address label on it. Make sure you've paid the correct postage. Nothing says unprofessional like having your package show up postage due.
Bartering can be a wonderful way to find new customers and try new products and services. I have had many of my barter customers turn into paying customers and have purchased products from people I have bartered with as well.
Article written by: Ellen LaFleche-Christian, Moonlight Creations Jewelry & Gifts, http://moonlight-creations-jewelry.com
