Taking Blogging From Fun To Profit

Have you ever wonder how people blog and make it a business? 

Check out The Blog Workshop as they are giving tips on how to go from being a blogger to being a bloggerpreneur, you are giving tips on how to advertise as well as pitching to brands/advertisers/sponsors, as well as how to handle media and building a relationship. The different things that are touched on will teach you how to take your blog, which may have started out as a hobby and turn it into a part time gig earning you quite a nice profit. 

If you have never been in a workshop about blogging, here is a great opportunity to earn some great discounts and opportunities to learn from some of the best in the industry as well as 10% of your ticket purchase will go to three worthy causes. The conference is $175 and registration ends on May 10^th but if you need a payment plan you need to register no later than March 31^st. The registration includes admission for all three days, 6 sessions, the resource list, conference workbook as well as a conference tee and private access to replay the conference and be able to review info or re-watch at any time.

The great thing about this is if your blog is a part of your business then the registration fee is actually a write off for your taxes!

You can get more information on the workshop via social media sites:

Facebook 

Twitter 

Pinterest 

Youtube

Are You A Trendsetter Or Do You Just Follow The Trend

A friend of mine posted this via his Facebook profile (it is verbatim):

We are all free to run our businesses as we see fit, but I see many small business owners running away from competition instead of using competitive forces to push us to do better. Of the last 17 NASCAR Champions, TWO of them share 9 championships and are often in the top 10 standings for, it seems like, forever. That is Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. These guys trade paint every Sunday, trying to be number one. But Monday through Friday, they work together to have the top two teams on the track. 

Whether you are a hairstylist, photographer, model or any other business, find a driving force to help you get better. Jordan had the Pistons, the Lakers have the Celtics, The Thunder have the Heat. The best competitive drive often come from the friends who want you to do better so THEY can do better. © 2013 Leighton DaCosta

When I read this, it really made me think I began to ask myself if I was being competitive enough in all the business ventures.  One of the problems I run into is with my direct sale business I began to allow myself to believe that the market that I live in is too saturated. Often times it, feels to me that the goals that are required are too hard to meet with such a large population where 1 in every 10 women are direct sales representatives for this particular company. Especially a company that kind of makes you wants to have loyal customers so it is not really frowned upon but it is one of those unwritten rules that you do not try to bribe a customer from another consultant.  However once I really thought about his post I began to realize that I did not need to feel that the population ratio was uneven or even the worry about stealing a customer all I had to do was be different and make buying from me more rewarding and therefore I have a few strong loyal customers.

I say all of that to say this be a driving force in your profession do not let someone else set the trend you should be a trendsetter.

Preparation is based on one driving force for me and that is to be relaxed enough to be able to listen to what the candidates are saying and react appropriately. ~Jim Lehrer

Trends don’t interest me. ~Manolo Blahnik

From A Hobby To A Busienss

Many dreams are those of want to be entrepreneurs who are not able to really see their selves being able to make a living doing what they are passionate about or to establish a company that is operational around their favorite thing to do.  You first have to take in the many considerations when thinking about taking your hobby and making it a business.

You have to always focus on the prize making sure it’s worth the goal of all the efforts that have to be put into because there is no greater joy then being able to start a business from a hobby right out of the box and being link to it to a way that you understand the graphics and concepts of the market.  In essence it gives, you an unfair competitive advantage but it gives you profit.

Explore it and make sure it is a viable business. You have to make sure that there is a clientele for it but also the question is are you reliable because you have to be able to proficiently make your life realistic and acknowledge all of life expectations and know your products or services. Finally and most importantly, get rid of the friends and family discount and charge everyone because you have to make bottom line to see your business flourish.  

If you are dedicated to your hobby enough to push, forward and make it a business then be serious about it and put it into writing and get the proper licenses.  

Dedication is Determination!!

Do You Use Proper Business Etiquette?

In today’s competitive business market, what distinguishes an ordinary professional from an extraordinary one is a clear understanding of business etiquette. When you think of your clients, you should realize that your clients come to you for your expertise, your services, and your products.  They become loyal to you because of your interpersonal skills (the way you communicate with them, thank them, and interact with them outside of business).  They stay with you because of your ability to establish and maintain relationships.

Learning how to specialize in opening doors that look close and sealing deals are only one part to being successful in business. Using some of these ideas can help you secure a deal and do it efficiently and effortlessly:

• You have to know how to create a lasting first impression,
• communicate with courtesy, 
• using the internet to develop relationships,
• phone etiquette,
• dressing for the occasion and for business no matter what
• dining in business,
• networking on and offline and doing it with pose,
• learning how to develop personal skills to position for a lateral move
• and knowing the exact words to put in writing whether it is a business card, thank you note, business letter, or simply a holiday card.

Many small business owners as well as large corporations seem to have forgotten business etiquette due to how digital our lives are.  It is no surprise that these organizations are losing valuable customers due to it.  If you think about it how often, do you walk into a store and no one acknowledges you or says hello or maybe the associate helping you seems so out of place because they are dress for a party rather than work. Your actions are effecting your bottom line because direct connection and business etiquette is a direct correlation to it. 

A few more tips that can be helpful with first impressions. Are you attempting to make an impression on a new client a great way to do that is to constantly use their names in your conversation. Be on time not early and defiantly not late.  If it were a large company then I would say its okay to be at the most five minutes early but no more than that.  Some think being early makes a good impression it really does not because you may be causing a conflict in schedule because no business wants to have someone standing in the middle of their office waiting on one of their executives.

Keep your social life out of your business life especially on social media if you have a personal Facebook page please use the settings it can cause you less stress later.  I’ve had this happen to me I had already landed the job however my trainer had looked up my Facebook page which mind you had not a whole lot of privacy settings set but thank goodness that I’m very selected about what I post and who I allow to post on my page. The cellphone the biggest deal breaker if you can turn it off but at the least silent, it and do not read under the table believe me it is more obvious then you realize. The biggest number one issue never ever publicizes your public views because they do not belong in business and you are bound to lose customers behind it.

There are so many business etiquette ideas and rules that I can go on for days offering you advice but I’ll let you do a little more research or if you need to feel free to reach out to me and I’ll provide advice if you need it.  

Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it and when you fake it make it look good!

Best Regards,

Misherald “Missy” Brown

Apps That Can Make Business Easy

Here are a few apps that I find to be highly favorable and useful for any businessperson…

CardMunch (it is a free app available to LinkedIn members and it is for iPhone only) 

It is a way to keep people’s information in your phone instead of having a bunch of business cards on your desk or in your rolodex. You take a photo of the business cards and it gives you the ability to link up with them on the professional side via LinkedIn.  I have not used it yet but I will be downloading tonight will tell you what I think one I give it a test run for a few days.

Square (iPhone, iPad, and Android)

It is a way to accept noncash payments using a card reader with a charge of 2.75% for each purchase swiped or a flat fee of $270 a month. The reader is free.  The cool thing about this product is Starbucks is one of the companies that have allowed for Square Wallet payments, which is where your money is linked to your bank information.  Square says it has over 2 million users. I am currently using Payanywhere via my iPhone but I have heard nothing but good things about Square.

Payanywhere (iPhone, iPad, and Android)

It is close to Square accept for it does not charge a flat monthly rate it is simply the 2.75% on each transaction.  This allows you to move finances from the account on payanywhere to your bank. I liked the setup process it took less than 2 weeks to get everything and setup of the account was very easy.

MyCounstlant (iPad, iPhone, and Android)

If you’re a direct sales consultant for any company this is a great tool to help you total your customers cost while being able to add in discounts and shipping while still putting taxes into the program properly.  The cost is less than $5.00 but it can cost you from making major mistakes when it comes to being paid.  It’s a god sent and I depend on it heavily.

Facebook Page Manager (android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch)

If you have a personal Facebook profile as well as a profile for your business this is a great tool because it allows you to ensure the right information is being posted in the right places. It is a free program as well. It is also giving you very important statics about your visits as well as the opportunity to make offers.

QR Readers (iPhone, iPad, and Android)

You never know when you may need to scan a QR to get information it’s a great tools as more and more companies begin to use QR barcodes.

SQumible (iPhone & Android)

This is a program built by a close friend of mine Marlon Brown the great thing about this program is you can tell it what you’re wanting, it will make a recommendation, and if there is any coupons offer you the coupons as well.  I adore this program and use it often.

Twitter (all devices)

Twitter is a great program because as a business you want to ensure your using all social mediums to get your name out there.

Dedication is Determination!