WAHS Podcast #106 Jill Hart from CWAHM.com

This week I interview Jill Hart from CWAHM.com and co-author of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

CWAHM.com
So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business

Free Teleseminar – Become the Go-To Business in Your Industry

It’s no secret that personal connections, work-of-mouth marketing, and referrals are the cheapest, most effective ways to build a business. This isn’t just about tweeting, although social media plays a part. Instead it’s about building a comprehensive marketing and customer service plan that keeps your business first and foremost in your clients’ and prospective customers’ mind.

I’ll be hosting a free teleclass on Become the Go-To Business in Your Industry on August 23, 2010 at 9 pm eastern.  In this TeleClass you’ll learn:

- Why connection marketing is replacing old-school marketing tactics.

- What connection marketing is and how it is the most effective form of marketing.

- Free and low-cost online and off-line connection marketing strategies that build loyalty and referrals.

- How to create a connection marketing plan that works for your business.

The teleseminar is FREE. To learn more or register visit GlobalTeleclass.com

Remind Your Customers

Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy

If you don’t remind your customers that you are still in business they may forget. Repeat customers are the lifeblood of any business. Below are three effective strategies you can use to remind your customers that you are still in business and get them to buy over and over again.

1. Ask your customers to subscribe to your free publication. It could be a print newsletter, e-zine, newspaper, journal etc. You could send out the publication weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. The articles in the publication should be informative and helpful to your readers. You can increase repeat purchases by including advertisements of new products and services that you offer.

2. Ask customers to sign-up to an e-mail update that tells them when you have made changes to your web site. Whenever you update your web site send them an e-mail to remind them to visit again. If you’re using this strategy it’s important to update your web site often. Add new content that would be of interest to your customers. You could also add free stuff to your web site like software, online utilities, ebooks etc.

3. Follow-up with your customers. You could follow-up by e-mail, direct mail or by telephone. It’s always important to get their permission to follow-up ahead of time. You could contact them and ask them if they were happy with their purchase. Send them online or offline greeting cards on holidays and birthdays. You could also follow-up with a free gift letting them know you appreciate their business. You can get repeat business from them if you include another product offer or back end product with each follow-up.

In conclusion, any of the three strategies above will increase the number of repeat purchases from your current customers. You can increase their effectiveness by combining all of them into your marketing campaign.

About the Author:

Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy has helped thousands of people in over 200 countries around the world start and run a successful home business. Discover 3 easy steps to start your own home business and subscribe to The Home Biz Guy’s Free Home Business Secrets Mini-Course at: http://www.PlugInProfitSite.com/main-23595

Buying a Business Checklist – What you need to know before you buy!

Did you know that you can start a business today…right now? While building a business from scratch has its own advantages, buying a business is one of the fastest ways to start working from home. There are many advantages to buying a business including brand recognition, working systems, existing customers, available inventory, and support and training. Nevertheless, buying a business also comes with potential problems and issues such as costs, risks, and sometimes limited control such as when buying a franchise.

There are four different ways to buy a business:

1) Buy an existing business that was started from scratch by someone else.

2) Buy a franchise.

3) Buy business opportunity

4) Buy into a direct sales company

All offer a host of advantages and disadvantages, so before signing a contract and paying your money, do your research and get answers to the following questions.

Buying a Business Checklist

Below are a set of questions you should answer before buying a business whether its an existing business, franchise, biz op or direct sales. This is a generic checklist. You can get business type specific check lists such as Franchise Buying Checklist in The Work-At-Home Success Bible.

1. Who is the seller/company? Did he/she start the business and if not, who did?
2. How long has the business been in existence? How long has the seller owned it?
3. Why is it for sale?
4. What is the price? How was the price determined?
5. What does the price include?
6. Is there inventory? What is its value?
7. Are there any equipment or materials included in the sale?
8. Does the purchase include ownership or use of logos and the brand?
9. Is a customer database included? What is the size and purchase history?
10. Does intellectual property rights convey with the sale (trademarkes, patents, copyrights)?
11. Will the seller provide training and support?
12. What is the current financial state of the business? Debs? Assets? Accounts receivable?
13. Does the business/seller have contracts with specific ventors/contractors and will those relationships transfer to you?
14. Is the business required to operate under any laws, franchise or license rules, or other agreements?
15. What is the history and track record? What are the last two years of sales and returns?
16. What current marketing campaigns are running?
17. What is the reputation of the business?
18. What is the quality of customer service?

What is crucial to know is 1) what EXACTLY are you getting for your money. If you buy a business but the sale doesn’t include the brand or customer database, you actually aren’t buying very much. You also want to make sure you’re not buying a business that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Finally you want to know what laws or legal obligations the business is required to work under or uphold.

WAHS Podcast #89 Annette Pelliccio of The Happy Gardner

This week I talk to Annette Pelliccio of The Happy Gardner about starting her business and helping others work at home as well.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

The Happy Gardener

6 Criteria for Choosing a Home Business Opportunity

Did you know that over 21.8 million people in the United States have income producing home offices and that 25% of home businesses today provide 100% of the household income?

While millions of people are successfully working at home, millions more are struggling through the overwhelming amount of information about working at home on the internet. What’s real? What works? What’s legal? What’s risk-free?

Here are six criteria you should consider when looking into a work-at-home opportunity.

1. Stick with home business opportunities that have been around OVER five years. Most businesses that fail, do so in the first five years. Don’t get caught up in the pre-launch or ground-floor hype. The truth is, a good opportunity is good for everyone no matter when they join.

2. Check that the business has third-party credibility. Most businesses you run into on the web have testimonials, but frequently they don’t offer a way to verify they are real. A good business will have credible third-party references that you can check. Is it in the Better Business Bureau? Is it a member with good standing in the Direct Selling Association? Is it financially secure i.e. rated. Has it received awards or recognition from other reputable organizations? Be sure to verify any claims a business opportunity makes.

3. Check that it has a money-back guarantee that is long enough for you to work the business to see if its viable for you. A ten-day money-back guarantee and even a 30-day money-back guarantee are not long enough for you to test if a home business is right for you. The learning curve takes 2 weeks to a month alone. Check that the guarantee covers your start-up costs (kit) and any other products or services that you purchase as well. Read the guarantee carefully (small print). Many questionable programs have limited or restrictive refund policies such as everything needs to be sealed to be returned or you need to prove you tried to work the business.

4. Consider businesses with quality, affordable and commonly used products or services. Many businesses are known for inflating prices or requiring exorbitant purchasing requirements. Who really wants to buy $100 per month of some odd “wonder” product? The more common your product or service is, the easier it will be to find others who will be your customer. Further, consumable or on-going use products and services such as household products or services offer ongoing customer purchases. Finally, choose a company with more than one or a few products or services to insure that you have something for everyone.

5. Understand the compensation plan. Some payment plans are difficult to read. Others, when you actually sit and run the numbers, are not that profitable. Compensation issues to consider are: 1) In a matrix type business, are you penalized for helping someone start the same business who then grows faster than you (breakaways, you don’t want that), 2. Conversely, can you do better than those who came in before you? 3. Are you paid based on products/services (to be legal) and what is that payment (% or flat rate)? Most importantly, is the plan fair and reasonable? Many business opportunities have lots of hype such as “we’ll do the work for you”, “find 3 and its free”, and so on. In having a home business, you need to recognize that work is involved. You can’t get something for nothing despite what the scammers say. On the other hand, if you are putting in effort and getting results, your compensation should be reflect that.

6. Is there personal support? Just about every program says it has support, but too often that support falls short once you join. You should have the name of a personal contact with phone and email that you can call for help. You should attempt to talk to them directly and get a sense of the company. Is it all hype and phony excitement? Is the person genuine and honest? Do they respond to email within a reasonable time? Do they call you back within a reasonable time? Are they invested in your success? Do they offer online training, tools, support, and resources?

The truth is, working at home is not that difficult if you do your research and find an honest, proven, doable home business. If you do that, the only way you won’t succeed is if you don’t work it. So heed the six criteria for a solid home business opportunity and become one of the growing numbers of people who are working at home!

How to Get Paying Customers

Turn Interests Into Income on the Internet

The number of people earning a living online is exploding. Every day people are turning their skills, interests, passions, and even rants into an income. You can too, even if you’re not tech savvy or don’t have a lot of money.

I’m doing a live 3-hour seminar on “Turn Interests Into Income on the Internet” March 6, 2010, 9 am to Noon at Piedmont Virginia Community College. In the course you’ll learn how to:

• Identify the assets you have that are potential money-makers
• Determine the best way to make money from your idea
• Use free and low cost online tools to turn your idea into income
• Develop a plan of action to turn the dream into a reality.
• And more!

To learn more or to register, visit Piedmont Virginia Community College online or call 434-961-5354.

Taking the Fear Out of Sales

The one thing that keeps many from pursuing a work-at-home arrangement is the aspect of sales that comes with most work-at-home opportunities. The word “sales” can bring up images of slick used car salesmen or telemarketers who won’t take “no” for an answer. The reality is that successful salespeople are more like counselors….they listen more than they talk, they ask questions, and only offer information when they can meet the client’s need.

The trick to overcoming sales fear is to change how sales is viewed and done. Everyone has an element of a salesperson in them. In our everyday lives we encourage, convince, and advise co-workers, family, and friends on many different things. So when it is important to us, we can find ways to “sell” our ideas, thoughts and feeling to others.

When selling services or products, it helps to see yourself as offering a product or service that can meet a need. You aren’t begging, coercing, or forcing people to buy your wares. Not everyone will or need the product or service….and that is ok.

The following are some ideas to help make selling second nature. When done successfully, it won’t seem uncomfortable. Instead it will flow as naturally as any other activities you do relating to your work.

Know your product or service inside and out! People are uncomfortable buying from people who are hesitant or unknowledgeable. That doesn’t mean you have to know every single detail but, you should be able to access any answer a potential client may want or need.Be enthusiastic about your product! I am not talking about the forced, obnoxious excitement we see on infomercials. Your belief in your service or product should be genuine. People get excited when you’re excited and they want to be enthusiastic like you….if they believe your feelings are real, not an act. The more genuine and sincere you can be with clients the more receptive they will be to you.

Avoid scripts. You know why! We can all tell when someone is reading or is mechanically reciting a sales script. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write out important features or benefits you want to cover. The best thing to do is have an outline and practice delivering your message over and over until it is second nature. You don’t want to memorize a script because many conversations don’t follow the script’s order. By using an outline of the ideas you want to cover, you can practice different scenarios as well as communicating spontaneously. This is very important. To converse spontaneously, you need to be listening. Clients aren’t going to buy from those who don’t listen to them.

LISTEN! As mentioned above, clients need to know that you are paying attention. Plus, if you are going to meet their need, you need to know what it is! People will buy your goods or service if it meets their need. Have you ever had the experience of going to buy something, you tell the sales person  what you are looking for but the sales person  shows you something not at all close to what you want? Don’t do that!

Ask questions! Instead of listing all the features and benefits of your product or service. Ask questions about what your client wants and needs. By understanding what your client is hoping to gain through your product or service, you are in a better position to present your product or service as meeting their need.

Ask for the sale. Most of us don’t want to seem pushy. After all, if they want what you have to offer, they will ask, right? Not necessarily. There are many ways to ask for the sale. Some suggest coming right out with something like, “How many would you like to order today?”, making the assumption that a sale will occur. Others suggest, “If I can get this product with these features, will you be ready to buy today?” Also, just because a prospect says “no” today, doesn’t mean they won’t buy in the future. Don’t be afraid to find out why they aren’t ready to buy. Perhaps you have a solution.

Follow-up. Successful sales people have relationships with their clients. That doesn’t mean they are best friends but, they do check in with clients to be sure the client is happy with the product, answer questions, address concerns and even make future sales. Many marketing books remind us that it is cheaper to keep a client than it is to get a new one!

Ask for referrals. A happy client will refer your services. Someone who hears about you from a client is more likely to buy from you than someone else. To encourage referrals, offer your clients a discount or gift or another incentive to recommend you.

Sales is like any new skill; practice always makes it easier. Not only do we become more comfortable with doing it, we become more confident. True work-at-home wannabes feel the fear and uncertainty but, do it anyway. And usually they discover that it isn’t that bad particularly when they wake up one day and commute from the bedroom across the hall to the home office!

Best Ways to Make Money Online

The Internet has not only changed how people work and run home business, it has created entirely new income options. With the Internet, making money at home is easy. That’s not to say that internet-based income is automatic or doesn’t require work. Instead, it provides tools that if used correctly, can have anyone making a good income from home. Here are some of the best online income opportunities.

Writing – If you can string words together, there are a host of income options available to you. Businesses are paying writers to create articles, reports, books, ads, sales letters, emails, and blog posts. Many of these companies are posting their jobs online and providing ongoing work for the write writer. Or you can start your own writing business.

Affiliate marketing – This method of making money online is so low cost and easy, but it’s highly misunderstood. Affiliate marketing is a way for you to make money promoting other businesses’ products and services. But success in affiliate marketing, as in any business, is in the marketing. People can’t use your affiliate links if they don’t see them. Most successful affiliate marketers use a website or blog to provide information and promote products in a specific niche.

Virtual Assistance – If you have good office support skills and the needed tools and equipment, virtual assistance work may just be for you. Many businesses are outsourcing tasks they don’t want to do or don’t know how to do. These tasks can include everything from email management, follow up contact with clients, scheduling, website management, ghost writing, web design, research and much more.  Some virtual assistants focus on a target market such as Realtors or authors. Others focus on providing a niche service such as blog management.

Online Storefront- The success of Amazon.com and eBay indicate that people do a significant amount of shopping online. You can take advantage of this by opening your own online store. Options include selling your home-made items, finding used items to sale, or using wholesalers who will provide you with products that you can resale for profit. You can sell your wares at Amazon, eBay or Etsy, or create your own storefront website.

Be an Expert – People go online to find information or support. There are a variety of ways you can provide this information and support, and get paid. Virtual tutoring and coaching are expanding fields. Or you can create your own informational products and training materials to sell online. Another option is to get work as a subject expert at a content-based website like About.com in which you write articles and blog about your area of expertise.

The Internet has everything you need to create a home-based income. You can find virtual work or create your own virtual business, as well as find a host of free and low cost web-based tools and resources to make it happen.   While nothing will work overnight or run itself, working online can be simple and straightforward. All you need is your imagination, desire, and the willingness to do the work.