Ready-Made Drop Ship Internet Businesses Offers Step Into Booming Ecommerce Industry

Do you want a business you can work from anywhere while having flexibility? Are you searching for a home business opportunity in a booming industry? If so, you are like I was over 14 years ago, when I started by first ecommerce business. After doing my research I found owning an online ecommerce business was for me! It appealed to me because it gave me the ability to work from anywhere and on a scheduled that worked for my family and me. Plus, the growth potential of the ecommerce is only increasing and what an exciting time to be apart of it!

I grew my first online maternity website into a multi-million business within a short amount of time. Did it take dedication and hard work – it certainly did! I learned so much through the process of setting up my first home-based business; I developed a 10 step consulting process to help other budding entrepreneurs, like you, start their own ecommerce business.

The Pure-Ecommerce Process is designed to help a novice to ecommerce step into the niche retail market you choose, start learning then ultimately start earning. You get to choose your own location and schedule.  It takes time, dedication and the willingness to learn in order to be successful. If I did it – so can you!

Why Ecommerce?

Why choose to start an ecommerce website as your work from home business? Well, ecommerce is seeing tremendous growth as consumers are turning to the ease and convenience of shopping online, they literally can shop anytime and from anywhere! This is evident as eMarketer reports  ecommerce sales worldwide will reach approximately $1.5 trillion this year. This is an increase of nearly 20% over last year. Ecommerce sales are predicted to reach $2.356 trillion by 2018. While in the U.S.Forrester Research also reports e-retail spending is expected to increase 62% by 2016. eMarketer states online retail sales will grow to $434.2 billion in 2017.  There has never been a better time for anyone who wants to work from home to invest in an online business.

How Pure-Ecommerce Can Help You

Pure-Ecommerce has been building ecommerce businesses since 2007 for people with little to no experience in ecommerce.  Our mission is to help any budding entrepreneur who has the desire to rule their life and own their own business. We believe in ecommerce entrepreneurship and we would like to work with you to educate you on the world of ecommerce.  At Pure-Ecommerce we offer you the training and mentoring you need to get started. All you need is the drive and determination to start your own business!

Pure-Ecommerce gives you lots of options when it comes to starting an online business in a popular niche market – from furniture, pets, outdoor adventure, gifts, wedding, baby, maternity, toys and the list goes on. By working with our team you have two options – to go the ready-made website route or build your own custom online store with your own concept. The websites we design are 100% responsive design websites so they look great no matter the devise your customer uses to shop. We do not stop there! We offer our clients 40 hours of step-by-step consulting to help you learn to set up, run, market and grow your business in the first year.

We also set up the initial drop ship vendor relationships and load a designated amount of products to help you get started. By working with drop ship vendors you do not have to hold any bulky or expensive inventory, you can work from any location and you can create your own schedule. This makes the internet businesses we offer a great option for you as you start your home business.

For online business ideas, visit us at www.Pure-Ecommerce.com, call us at 866-511-6257 or email us at contact@pure-ecommerce.com to request our website price lists.

We can’t wait to have the opportunity to work with you as you start your work from home business. Stop dreaming of running your own home business and start doing it!

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10 Things Future Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Infantry School

Military Principles Significantly Complement Business Tactics, Says Straight-Talking Texas Entrepreneur

In many ways, the knowledge gleaned from four years of college does not compare to what a person can learn at infantry school, says successful Texas businessman David M. Smith.

“The Army provided me with more fun and interesting experiences and principles than college. I spent a lot of time in the company of officers and immersing myself in reading military classics,” says Smith, author of “The Texas Spirit.”

“Most students in MBA programs nationwide will never have that military experience, which is why I’ve condensed what I’ve learned into 10 essential principles.”

Smith says the following aphorisms apply to both military and business endeavors.

•  Take the offensive to win. Defense alone never wins. There have been numerous efforts in history to construct some form of “impregnable” defense that will withstand all invaders; ultimately, none were successful. Whether in war, sports or the business world, victory depends upon taking some kind of offensive initiative.

•  When defense is necessary, fall back carefully, with a plan and while firing. Cancer, for example, is a war millions face. If a patient is to survive, he or she must take proactive measures – to fire and fall back – with treatments such as chemotherapy. In other words, your best defense is often your best offense.

•  Be prepared to use your last option to decimate an invader, but only if you must. Infantry officers call it the FPL – final protective line, which acts like an overdrive on a vehicle. An FPL uses all weaponry to fire at once, continuously firing down a single pre-planned, narrow lane. Depending on the stakes, parties at a business negotiation, for example, should know their FPL option.

•  The counterattack … Remember, the easiest time to resume the offensive is immediately. If you’ve been forced off a hill or into an undesirable position, regroup and counterattack!

•  A good general always has enough troops. Whether you’re a general, lieutenant, private or middle manager – make sure you’re marshalling your resources wisely. For the layperson, that might translate to never making a purchase you can’t afford.

•  Never take a weak front. In war, a weak front is often just a lure to tempt the opponent to attack; taking a weak front is like taking the bait in a trap. In business and in advertising, we are confronted with proposals that are too good to be true. Be skeptical of potential weak fronts.

•  Never sleep while on guard duty. At Texmark Chemicals, sleeping, dozing, napping or drifting off is an unforgivable sin for a shift operator, which is the equivalent of guard duty during wartime. Vigilance is the key to surviving and winning war, even during lulls in the action.

•  Do not heed the voices of caution too much. If the general listens mainly to the quartermaster, who is in charge of supplies, the army will never maneuver. While supplies are essential for survival, it is the risk takers who enjoy victory.

•  Have a primary and a secondary objective. In a military unit or in a business team, you should have one clearly defined primary objective, understood by all persons in the unit. If a secondary objective is absolutely essential, it is better to have one preplanned, and not created during the heat of combat.

•  “Clean the lint off the helix.” This quote refers to the screen on clothes dryers that catches lint and frequently needs to be cleared. Cutting corners, like overlooking the helix, can ruin an officer’s uniform – an important part of the military and business community. Little details are often very important; when overlooked they may have large consequences.

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Humanize Your Business to Connect with Customers

 Bagel and Goliath

They closed the bagel store near my house.

That’s right, closed. I showed up for breakfast a few weeks ago – as I have been doing two or three times a week for the past ten years – and the place was shut down cold.

Uh oh, that’s a problem.

And so thinking as clearly as a man without coffee can think, I hopped back in my car and drove around the corner to Panera Bread.

I figured what’s the difference, right? They have bagels, they have coffee … they even have free Wi-Fi and a heart-stopping selection of pastries to choose from.

But you know what? A few things – a few very important things – aren’t right.

It’s not the selection or the price or the convenience. It’s not the quality of the food, the cleanliness of the store, or the accuracy of the order-taking.

The fact is, it’s not any of the things we think we care about when deciding where to eat breakfast.

No, the critical differences between my privately owned, one-off bagel store and the highly automated food factory that is Panera Bread, are both more subtle and more important than any of these objective features…

The bagel store was personalized. They knew my name and I knew theirs. They prepared my “usual” without my having to say anything (sesame bagel with hummus; horseradish on the side; medium, black, dark roast coffee). Sometimes, if they saw me drive into the parking lot, my coffee was already waiting by the time I walked in the door.

The bagel store was consistent. The coffee was always hot, the bagels were always fresh, the people were always friendly.

At Panera, it’s a mixed bag. Sometimes the coffee has been sitting lukewarm in the canister for a couple of hours. Sometimes it takes forever to get your food. Sometimes you get a friendly person and sometimes you don’t.

It’s not that Panera doesn’t care, by the way. It’s just that when you run a huge operation spanning over 1,800 locations in the U.S. and Canada, it’s really, really hard to deliver anything better than a reasonably good experience, most of the time.

The bagel store was a community. I said hello to the same people every day: The high school basketball coach who dressed up on game day; the two elderly sisters who hung onto each other as they came in the door; the bagel baker himself, who left to go home at 9:45 each morning.

There’s none of that at Panera; it’s huge and impersonal. And while I already recognize some now familiar faces, there’s scant chatter or interaction between the patrons. We’re all together, but we’re all alone.

So, why does any of this matter? Good question.

It matters because everything about why the bagel store experience is infinitely more satisfying than the indifferent exchange of money for food at Panera, relates to why you, as a solo professional, can outperform your larger competitors.

You, too, have the opportunity to make the experiences that people have with you and your business more personal, more consistent and more cohesive – and all in a way that differentiates you from the big guys.

How? Here’s a few ideas:

• Do things that don’t scale well. Send handwritten notes; answer the phone when it rings; send unanticipated gifts to clients and colleagues (books are always well received); stop forcing people to fill in a form on your web site in order to send you an email.

Big organizations hate exceptions from the established process – they are hard to manage and they slow down the machine. So do things that machines aren’t good at doing.

• Be more human. Tell stories from your own experience; use real photos of real people on your web site; voice an opinion; speak and write like a normal person (like this – see how easy it is?).

When you tell a story about your visit to a Cuban bakery, tie it into a business lesson and include first-hand photos along the way, you’re doing something that a big company can only dream about.

• Stir the pot. Introduce like-minded colleagues to each other; host a local get-together and invite some friends to join in; tell others about the people and resources that you’ve found valuable.

Here’s the bottom line. No business can succeed without delivering good quality products or services at a reasonable price.

But in a world where pretty much everything you buy is “good enough,” it’s the soft stuff that’s going to make me take notice, tell my friends, and keep coming back.

Sign up for Michael Katz’ free newsletter, The Likeable Expert Gazette, here. 

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15+ Hot Home-Based Internet Businesses

Here are fifteen+ Internet business ideas you might consider in launching your own home-based e-venture.

*Please note: Professional associations are primarily networking organizations and usually do not have start-up information. Include a business-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope with any correspondence.

1. AUCTIONS, ONLINE BROKER

Many people or business owners have collectibles, used items or leftovers they wish to get rid of but do not have the time or know-how to sell these objects online. If you have been successful at selling items on eBay or on other online auction sites, you may want to consider starting an online consignment venture.

Success Tips: Successful online sellers (consignees) are experienced, reputable, and earn commissions from selling others’ items. Use consignment software (see resources) to keep track of the volume of your auction listings, your database of consignors’ information, and your accounts and payments. Most consignment sellers specialize in the items they sell.

Resources:

How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business by Skip McGrath.

Selling Beyond Ebay: Foolproof Ways to Reach More Customers and Make Big Money on Rival Online Marketplaces by Greg Holden.

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/ — online industry news; technology reviews.

2. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY SITES

Teachers, parents, and grandparents search for quality, children’s educational and entertainment toys and products; plus interactive web sites** with ideas for activities they can do with children. People with educational, scientific, and child psychology backgrounds can use their knowledge to launch child-related sites.

**All child-interactive sites, must follow The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule as far as gathering personal information. (SEE the FTC.gov for more information).

Success Tips: Research what is presently available for children in the areas that interest you to find a distinctive niche. Make your site easy for parents or children to navigate and offer information and fun things to do, or products they can buy. Market it with ads in parent, grandparent or educational online or print publications.

Resources:

Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies by Doug Sahlin, Claudia Snell.

Family Fun Magazine — sample of children’s fun activities.

3. DROP-SHIPPING ONLINE

Many entrepreneurs who do not have the money to invest in or the space to store a large inventory of products, have opted to make money through drop-shipping. They set up accounts with distributors who ship manufacturers’ products to the buyers these drop-shippers attract through web sites or online auctions.

Success Tips: Analyze the products you are selling to ensure their quality and profit potential. Research your suppliers and manufacturers to guarantee they are dependable and not swindlers. Follow up sales to ensure your customers have received their products and are satisfied.

Resource:

The eBay Entrepreneur: The Definitive Guide for Starting Your Own eBay Trading Assistant Business by Christopher Matthew Spencer.

4. FOOD, HOMEMADE SPECIALTIES

Due to the popularity of cable television cooking shows, the influx of new foods from other cultures, and a growing concern for healthier eating, many people are buying specialty foods online. If you are considering making and selling a family recipe; growing a new type of produce; or creating a new food product, first research all that is involved: licensing, labeling, cooking, distribution, and marketing.

Success Tips: Learn regulations concerning commercial cooking and transport of produce. Attend food trade shows to talk with other food entrepreneurs for tips. Make sure your product has profit potential. Offer free samples at markets and fairs; hold cooking demonstrations; or sponsor recipe contests.

Resources:

National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFTÒ) — food shows; educational programs; competitions.

From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Gourmet Food Specialty, 3rd ed. by Stephen F. Hall.

http://foodsafety.psu.edu/processor/resources.htm— food entrepreneur resources.

5. ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS: EZINES, EBOOKS & BLOGS

Many people wish to publish their knowledge and experiences within their industry or hobby groups but find it difficult to find a major publisher because their potential readership is too narrow. With affordable technology and print-on-demand companies, these same experts are profiting by selling their know-how directly to interested readers with e-zine subscriptions or e-books that can be downloaded from their web sites. Others have found profits with blogging pursuits by selling advertising space or setting up affiliate programs.

Success Tips: As with any product, conduct market research before writing your e-publication: Who will want to read it and why? What are potential readers willing to pay for it? Market your electronic publications with how-to articles in print and online publications.

Resources:

BookLocker.com – e-book publisher.

The Easy Way to Write and Sell E-Books by Kristina Seleshanko.

6. FITNESS & HEALTH: SENIORS, CHILDREN

Many of our seniors and children need specialized assistance and products to maintain their fitness while staying active and healthy. Your web site could sell exercise equipment, toys or health care products; or offer activities, information, or a combination of these offerings to improve these populations’ health.

Success Tips: You will have more success if you have a background in fitness and health and some experience with children or older adults. Market your web site with articles in related publications and by demonstrating products or activities at health-related trade or medical shows.

Resource:

American Council on Exercise — trainer certification; workshops; publications like, Exercise for Older Adults, 2nd ed., Youth Fitness, and Fit Food.

7. HOME OFFICE TECHNOLOGY

Millions of people work from home performing income-generating tasks and need the right technology to do this. To save time and money, many home workers prefer to buy office and personal technology online. You could launch a web site selling software and equipment for specific industries or professions, or sell quality used equipment on online auction or classified sites.

Success Tips: A background in electronics and technology is necessary to recommend the best new or used equipment for your clients’ needs. You could also offer to set up their home offices with the right equipment and mobile technology for traveling.

Resource:

PC Magazine — print publication covering the latest technology.

8. OUTDOORS HOBBYISTS’ & SPORTS PARTICIPANTS’ USED ITEMS AND EQUIPMENT

Many people have good used sports and hobby equipment they no longer need. If you are knowledgeable in sports like cycling or skiing or with hobbies such as tying fishing flies or photography, consider selling related used equipment at online auctions, on free classified sites, or as a sideline to your existing web site; or launch a site just for that purpose.

Success Tips: Know the resale value of certain items as far as their condition and the demand for them when selling used items either directly to buyers or on consignment. Well-written ads with detailed specifications and photos are needed for successful sales. Market your site at trade shows, competitions, and by listing your web site on all your correspondence.

Resource:

The Business Guide to Selling Through Internet Auctions: A Proven Seven-Step Plan for Selling to Consumers and Other Businesses by Nancy L. Hix, Patrick M. Byrne.

9. RECRUITER, INTERNET TECHNOLOGISTS

Computer-based companies continually search for qualified Internet technologists, and many small business owners want to subcontract with independents to meet their technology needs as their companies change or grow. As a recruiter specialist in this industry, you can refer top applicants and/or independent professionals that fit your clients’ criteria.

Success Tips: Search for skilled technologists through online job ads, canvassing technology colleges and universities, at job fairs, and through referral networks in your industry. Use your web site to recruit qualified job candidates and obtain new clients from all over the world.

Resources:

The Association for Internet Recruiting 

Start Your Homebased Recruiting Business! E-book — The Internet Recruitment Training Manual by Shannan Hearne.

10. RESUMES, ONLINE

No matter what the status of the current job market, well-written résumés will get job-seekers more responses than those written solely from templates. Quality professional résumé writers provide clients with attention-grabbing cover letters and well-written résumés that convince employers the value of hiring them. Many résumé professionals also post their clients’ résumés to specific online job sites that match clients’ skills, and offer interview coaching and additional services.

Success Tips: You should have the marketing and sales skills to help you write well-organized résumés with compelling content to highlight your clients’ best assets. Make use of in-person meetings or telephone conversations to better analyze clients’ skills and job goals.

Resources:

Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches — courses, seminars, certification.

The Overnight Resume by Donald Asher.

www.resumebiz.com — resume and Internet-related articles and e-book, How to Start a Home- or Office-Based Resume Business.

11. SECURITY, ONLINE SPECIALIST

Hackers continually invent new viruses to disrupt many web sites’ operations. You will need the training and expertise to advise your clients on the best software and technology to protect their files or to restore them should they become infected.

Success Tips: To introduce your services, offer to perform a brief security analysis to small or new companies. Conduct presentations and workshops at business conferences to meet potential customers. Post informative articles on your web site, and send out regular e-zine security alerts and tips to existing customers and to new visitors who sign up.

Resources:

Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets and Solutions, 3rd ed. by Joel Scambray

Stuart McClure, George Kurtz. Internet & Intranet Security by Rolf Oppliger.

12. SPECIAL-INTEREST BASED SITES

If there is a movement, cause, or subject you feel strongly about or wish to promote or provide a different viewpoint, you can join the thousands of others who have built web sites to build support and supply information for these purposes. Finance your site with advertising, paid subscriptions, memberships, affiliate programs, or by selling related items.

Success Tips: Research to see what similar sites exist and how yours will stand out. Encourage return visits to your site by providing opportunities for input with message boards and discussion forums; and by offering current news, articles, and resources. Market your site with listings in specialized directories and on major search engines.

Resource:

Membership Websites — Tips, Techniques and Secrets — An Insider’s Guide to Publishing by the Editors of the Subscription Website Publishers Association.

13. TRAVEL AGENCY, SPECIALTY

While people are paying more online for travel, competition is fierce among major sites offering travel bargains. However, travel entrepreneurs who offer travel packages tailored to people’s special needs or requests like those who have disabilities or those who want to travel with pets are more likely to discover lucrative travel niches.

Success Tips: You need training and experience in the travel and tourist industry to build up contacts and resources for potential clients. Use financial and business experts to assist you in writing a travel business plan. Stay current with ongoing trends in the industry and technology to offer your clients the best services and to stay competitive.

Resources:

Special Interest Tourism by Norman Douglas, Ngaire Douglas, Ros Derrett.

Start Your Own Specialty Travel & Tour Business by Entrepreneur Press.

www.homebasedtravelagent.com — publications and resources.

14. WEB DESIGN CONSULTANT

Many entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners who do not have a web site, know it pays to have one, but are unsure of what kind they need and whom to hire. Web site consultants specialize in helping small business owners or those in their profession or industry find web designers and marketers who meet their needs and budgets; or guide clients through the mechanics of building their own site.

Success Tips: You need a combination of web design and marketing skills to advise clients how a web site can best help them promote or start a profitable Internet venture. Market your services with your own web site, articles, and presentations at business meetings and conferences and through clients’ referrals.

Resources:

How to Start a Home-Based Web Design Business, 3rd ed. by Jim Smith.

The HTML Writers Guild — web design training and certification.

15. WEB MARKETING STRATEGIST

Small business owners who have launched their web sites seldom have time to adequately market them. Web marketing strategists can determine which are the most economical and best promotional and strategic marketing methods to attract a steady stream of visitors to their clients’ sites.

Success Tips: Promote your services within your business networks with talks and workshops, focusing on self-employed individuals and owners of virtual enterprises. Post testimonials of satisfied clients on your web site along with helpful marketing articles and e-books to attract potential clients. Offer your satisfied customers rewards for referrals.

Resources:

Online Marketing Success Stories: Insider Secrets, from the Experts Who Are Making Millions on the Internet Today by Rene V. Richards.

Web Digest for Marketers – free weekly e-newsletter.

16. WEB SITE EDITIING

Business owners or organizations lose credibility if potential customers and users find grammar or spelling errors on their web sites; or are unable to comprehend what is posted. As a web site editor, you can offer to proofread and polish online copy, articles, blogs, and other written materials for entrepreneurs and authors.

Success Tips: Having the credentials and experience in English grammar (or in the language that you are editing) will help establish your expertise. Market your services to members of local business owners’ organizations, web site designers, and especially to web site owners that are in industries (e.g., medical, technology, and education) with whose terminology you are familiar.

Resource:

McGraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook by Laura Killen Anderson.

The Internet offers entrepreneurs endless possibilities to explore and succeed in e-commerce with the potential to reach a worldwide market. Why not you? HBM

Priscilla Y. Huff’s wrote Make Your Business Survive and Thrive! 100+ Proven Marketing Methods to Help You Beat the Odds and Build a Successful Small or Home-Based Enterprise (John Wiley & Sons). Questions or comments: pyhuff@hotmail.com.

The Office of Advocacy of the U. S. Small Business Administration revealed that smaller companies (those with fewer than 10 employees) benefit most from being online.

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Strike a Pose to Fund Your Home Business

Start a Part-Time Job You Never Imagined Doing

When I was a full-time college student, I needed a part time job to pay my bills. I had 3 requirements for the job.

1. It had to be one that I thought would be a lot of fun
2. I needed flexible hours so my job did not interfere with my studies
3. It needed to pay a lot per hour since I had limited time for a job.

This part-time job which I did for 2 years, turned into a full-time job that has lasted over 30 years. You can also utilize these part-time job opportunities to have supplement income coming in when growing your home business.

I had no knowledge of this type of work until I began to actually work in the field. It is called Commercial Modeling.

Commercial Modeling Jobs

There are also tons of folks who get hired to be in commercial modeling ads. These are the beautiful and sometimes “real” looking people who get hired to portray the mom, doctor, teacher, real estate agent, plumber, student, grandparent, etc.… You see commercial models in magazine, newspaper and brochure ads. You also see commercial models on billboards, posters, on the side of a bus, on the box of a product and on company’s web sites.

One of the great things about commercial modeling is that it is available to everyone and virtually everywhere. Toddlers to seniors are needed. And unlike the fashion industry, there are no height or size restrictions. Also, the hours are so much shorter than working on film or TV. Typically, photo shoot only last a few hours. Some people can take a few hours off from work, do a commercial modeling job and go back to work. And depending on where you live, you could earn anywhere between $75-$250/hour.

The 3 Steps Actors Need to Take to Get Commercial Print Jobs

1. It is so important that you figure out what types of commercial modeling ads you will believably be able to get cast in. Do you have the look of the CEO or blue collar type, the conservative accountant or Pilates instructor? Once you understand how you will best be cast, then you need to create 3-4 photos that clearly show those looks.

2. Don’t look like a model and just pose for the camera. Make every test shot you take look like an actual ad. Wear the right clothing that enhances the look without it distracting people from looking at you. Bring in props to the shot. Don’t have any logo’s or brand names in the photo, but if you look like you could be a teacher or tutor, you could create a shot with you helping a student who is struggling with a class. You want to make this shot look like an ad for a tutoring company. If so, then make sure you are sitting at a desk with the student and include whatever materials (props) are appropriate – book, paper, pen, lap top etc…

3. Show a variety of expressions and emotions – in a believable way. A huge mistake many people make when creating commercial test shots is to simply smile and pose for every shot. Every photo should show a different believable emotion. This allows industry professionals who cast talent for print jobs see that you have the ability to look different, take direction and show many layers of expressions and emotions.

To Get Commercial Print Jobs

1. Figure out your type
2. Create test shots that look like ad
3. Show a variety of believable emotions
4. Practice creating the right looks
5. Find a photographer to take your photos
6. Find an agent in your area

Get Booked as an Extra on TV Shows, Films and TV Commercials

Are you one of those people who have always wanted to be in a film, TV show, an ad in a magazine or billboard or in a TV commercial? But, you never perused your dream because you had no idea how to get started, don’t live in a large city, never had much if any acting or modeling training, thought you were too old, short and do not have the “perfect body” and you have a full-time job? There are many reasons why people don’t pursue their dreams. Here is something that might be perfect for you.

Most films and many TV shows need extras. These are the people you see walking down the street while the camera is focused on the star. Or those you see in the coffee shop while the principal actors are doing their scene. Sometimes, hundreds of extras are needed.

As long as you can take one day off of work, (or with commercial modeling, a few hours), you could work as an extra. Non-union extras typically are paid a minimum of $75 for the day (which could be 12 hours), but the fees will vary depending on the production.

There are many ways to get hired as an extra. One good way is to visit the web site of the film commission in your state. See if there are any projects being shot locally, and then see who is doing the extra’s casting. Follow their submission instructions and hopefully you will get cast. You can also go to the web site of the local agents in your area as well as the local casting directors. See if they are working on any projects where extras are needed. You can find a listing of agents at www.howtoactandmodel.org.

The days on sets can be long, hot, cold and tedious at times. It can also be an amazing experience that you will never forget. One thing I can guarantee, working on a set will always be something that you will remember for a long long time. It is also possible to get upgraded. That means the director or 1^st assistant director gives you a word or line to say, and now you have been upgraded from an extra to a principal actor.

If you decide to do extra work, you will get an incredible appreciation for how hard so many people work in order to make a project come to life.

Whether you wish to jumpstart your personal brand and become a star, or have steady income through a flexible and enjoyable part-time position, entering the entertainment industry may just be the avenue to take. Who knows, you could even see yourself in the movie or TV show when it is shown.                                                                    

Aaron Marcus: America’s Premier Acting/Modeling Career Coach.

Aaron is the author of How to Become a Successful Actor and Model. Check out his mentoring program for aspiring actors and models.

Office Phone: 410-764-8270

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Mompreneur on a Mission to Help Fellow Parents

She Got Her Start from Amazing.com

After her divorce, Alexandra Wolff found herself with three children under the age of 7, and she knew childcare expenses would take her entire salary if she went back to a regular job. Wolff shares, “I was convinced my best chance to survive, let alone thrive, was to start a business where I could work from home.”

Wolff was previously a police officer, a technical writer, and a database administrator before becoming a stay-at-home mom for 7 years. The mompreneur constantly found herself analyzing every product on how to make it better, safer, and more efficient. She founded A Diva Difference to provide parents with high quality children’s products.

Through advanced training with Amazing.com, Wolff learned how to launch her company, and within six months created two patented products of her own. A Diva Difference’s biggest business achievement was a successful Kickstarter campaign that helped the company make Ouchless Baby Blocks happen.

To promote her business, she writes press releases, stays active in the local media, and shares her business-related knowledge on online sites. She also runs Amazon pay-per-click ads and Pinterest ads, and hired a virtual assistant to help build up social media accounts on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

The self-proclaimed “Baby Enstein’s” primary customers are parents who want the best for their children (and grandparents who want to give the best gifts). No more worrying about stepping on a sharp toy in the middle of the night! “My toys are soft, quiet, textured, and designed to stimulate all the senses, and they encourage children to interact with and explore them,” Wolff says.

Wolff enjoys wearing yoga pants and reducing pollution emissions by working at home. “I can be there for a sick child and can make dinner between emails,” she says. To combat any loneliness, she is part of several online communities that satisfy her social needs. “Oh, and I don’t have to smell microwaved popcorn all day at an office.”

“I look forward to expanding my product line with more innovative toys and solutions that parents and children love,” she says. Wolff recently signed a deal with mentors from The Shark Tank, has world-wide licensing agreements, and is pursuing an IPO next. Visit adivadifference.com. HBM

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Where Do Your Leads Spend Their Time? A Guide to Social Media Networks

It’s a jungle out there and it is full of prospective customers! They are researching, they are sharing and chatting with each other, and they are getting ready to purchase.

These prospects, these potential wild prospects are without a doubt, and statistically confirmed, hanging out on one or the other form of social media. If you can figure out where YOURS are, and how to reach them, you have a tremendous opportunity to engage and connect with them.

Nothing easier than that, NOT! We sat down with Matt Reinan from Buzz360 who runs their social media department and he shared some useful real life insight for small business with us. Here is what he told us:

To start with, there are more social media sites than you can throw a stick at, and who has the time or inclination to check all of them out, much less be active on all of them? You would need a full time person to do just that. But don’t despair, there is good news: the truth is, you don’t need to be everywhere all at once. 30 minutes a day is likely enough to get the job done.

So, let’s look at the 5 major social media platforms. You will see, most likely, you will want to be on a couple of them and that is enough to reach your ideal customers.

Clearly, at first glance, this is just one giant bunch of yarn and makes very little sense. Yet, once you understand the demographics of each of the platforms users, it become a lot easier and obvious very quickly which one or two networks you should be concentration on to reach your target audience.

We have created a short and sweet infographic for you to download and save (FREE!), that will give you a simple road map for marketing on the 5 major social media platforms. Click below to get it now.

The information can help you figure out “where to now?” when you are ready to try a new network for your social marketing. It is also a good guide on the time-commitment needed to get results.

So, lets look at them!

Facebook: The “Super Social Network”

Facebook has 1.44 billion active monthly users! Trust me, your prospects are on it! And here is why:

Facebook users come from all walks of life, and from all over. They are a little more likely to be female than male, and of all age groups. Word is the young people are leaving Facebook, consider that a Pew research study in the spring of 2015 found that of the 18 – 29 year old U.S. internet users 87% had a Facebook account. Not exactly a rapid exodus if you ask me.

Granted, there is a drop in user ship amongst teens, and if that is your primary target group, you need to stay on top of this trend.

Another interesting and fun fact about Facebook, it generates 67% of website referral traffic of all social networks. That means, Facebook users tend to click on links and check out websites. Great tool to increase your own web traffic!

Getting started

Set up a Facebook business Page as your central presence on Facebook.” Important to understand that this is not the same as a Profile, which you and your friends set up to connect with each other. A Business Page is much more powerful and has many business specific features, like:

• Awesome analytics about your reach and the engagement your posts have attracted. Reach, engagement, clicks and any interactions that happen on your page are tracked and shared with you.
• The call-to-action features that let visitors set appointments, send you messages, or take them to your site.
• Also interesting are the options to promote your posts. (We talk more about that later on.)

A look at the Facebook’s Page analytics dashboard.

When creating your Page, you want to be sure to have at the very least a profile picture or your company Logo as well as the header image, maybe a picture of your team or your business or a big event you recently had. You want to give visitors to the site a reason to come back, so post frequently, we suggest at least once a day. (See one of our recent posts on what you should post.   Also, make sure you check into the account frequently and respond to any postings form your audience. This is as important as answering your phone! Your fans and anyone else for that matter can write questions and comments on your wall or send you inbox messages—a prompt response It is critical to establish good relationships and to build a trust with the community.

Recent changes in Facebook’s algorithm make it improbable that your posts will reach all of your Facebook supporters, but frequent posting will help you with your Google search results, in other words, it gives you SEO juice.

Taking it up a notch

Consider Facebook for paid advertisement! The ads are priced so that you can actually make a difference with as little as $5.00 per day.

The easiest step to increase your reach is to “boost” your posts. That means Facebook will show the post to an audience you can define in the Facebook admin panel.

The next option is straight out Facebook ads. They can either be appearing on the side bar or be imbedded in the users feeds.

To take best advantage of Facebook’s capabilities, you want to you’re your target audience well defined. Facebook lets you target people to an incredible level of granularity. For example we ran Facebook ads to sell a home just to the people who lived within a couple of blocs from the location of the home.

If you’re interested in learning more about Facebook advertising, I’d encourage you to contact us for a seminar or to have us run your Facebook ads for you.

Moving at the Speed of Twitter

Twitter is the perfect space for businesses and audiences that move fast. They seem to suggest that just by the ease with which you can set up an account. It gives you a chronological feed so your audience receives updates as soon as they are posted. Discussions often happen in real time.

This has two impacts on how you use the platform:

1. Content gets lost easily. At first that may sound like a problem, but it’s really not. Because of the chronological nature, it’s actually a good idea to repost material a few times a day or even on different days and at different times during a week. On other platforms it would like you were just repeating yourself, kind of like those stories grandma is going to tell again this year at Thanksgiving. On Twitter, it means you have a better chance of reaching your audience since the Tweet might not get noticed with just one post.
2. Discussions are real time. Twitter users are growing used to having conversations with companies. They post complaints or observations and expect a response. It can be more of a time commitment, but it can also build stronger relationships that allow you to delight your current customers. Just keep in mind that the conversation is visible to the Twitter-verse.

The most important thing to remember about using Twitter for your brand or business is that it’s a bit more interactive than most channels. Matt says, users expect a response from brands, so Twitter can be more of a time commitment. Long wait times are going to frustrate your visitors, and they’re going to be able to make that frustration especially visible.

You can save some time by setting up hashtags or executing advanced searches ahead of time. Some apps will also let you monitor different search queries at the same time, allowing you to stay on top of the discussions. That’s the key to Twitter, though. You have to have time for the dialog. Unanswered comments will cause frustration and damage the relationships you were trying to create.

If Twitter is for you, here are some things to keep in mind.

• Plan on only using about 120 of the 140 characters. You want to leave room for others to forward the Tweet with their own hashtags.
• Use your own hashtags so people outside your immediate audience will find your content.
• Use it to announce time-sensitive updates
• Offer freebies for followers, and use the offer to collect email addresses when someone opts in. It can function just like a landing page on your website.
• Find the influential figures in your industry and start conversations with them. Their followers will see the dialog and look at your profile.
• Find out what’s happening in your industry, what your competitors are doing, what your target audience is saying.
• Overall, “keeping your feed relevant to your business is key,” says Matt. “People who follow you care about what your business does and want to learn more.”

 Taking it up a notch

• Twitter does have a paid advertising option, which will push Tweets to a particular audience. You can incorporate this into ongoing marketing campaigns that target your buyer personas.

Google+ (G+): No, it’s not just Facebook’s wimpy brother.

Google+ has been the butt of plenty of jokes. Yes, it’s social media, and yes, they’ve emulated much of what Facebook has done; however, over the last several months Google has worked to position G+ as much more than an alternative to Facebook. It now boasts over 540 million users. It’s less than half of Facebook’s users, but what G+ users lack in number they make up for in activity.

G+ has a small but devoted audience that is very active in certain niche interests. They also have a more active and robust overseas profile. If these traits appeal to your business, it’s probably time to add a G+ page

Getting Started

1. Obviously, set up a G+ page. You might not be able to post on it regularly, but it gives you a presence. It even has its own search value. Your G+ page will pop up in a Google search and give people an easy way to contact you or visit your website. It also helps push you higher in the search results.
2. If G+ does get you the audience you need, it’s time to curate. Post updates and links to other content and create a community. Use that “small, but devoted” distinction to your advantage. You can create discussions within your industry and create interest using pre-sales questions to the community.

Google example of a Google+ page

Taking it up a notch

It may take some time, but the tipping point is 1,000 followers. When you hit that number, it’s time to consider using Google AdWords for a paid campaign. You can also use your G+ account to push posts on other websites using Google’s Adsense program.

LinkedIn: The Place to Talk Shop

LinkedIn has grown past a place for job-seekers and recruiters to network. It has grown to over 300 million users. The majority of LinkedIn users are engaged professionals looking to network, recruit, make connections and learn about other businesses. That means the demographic skews older and has more formal education than the user base for most social platforms.

It’s become the place for professionals. If that’s your target audience or if you’re sales are usually B2B, LinkedIn is the place where you can establish the most credibility.

Getting Started

1. LinkedIn provides you lots of guidance about things to add. It even provides you some meters to know how effective your profile is as well as how well you’re positioned in that particular industry relative to others with the same interests. As you build your company’s profile, pay careful attention to the suggestions the platform makes.

Stay away from industry-specific jargon. Knowing unique terminology isn’t going to give you the kind credibility you’re actually looking for. You’re not looking to sell your widgets to other widget manufacturers. You want people who have no idea about widgets to believe yours are the best, so you need to keep the vocabulary simple.

1. One huge advantage of LinkedIn is the ability to post your own blog articles. You can announce job openings or milestones, and you can also curate articles you find interesting relevant to your business. It helps give you build that relationship with a more informed customer. You can even position yourself as a thought leader with articles on leadership and innovation.
2. LinkedIn also hosts lots of industry-specific discussion groups. These groups help you learn about new trends or reinforce things you’re already seeing. Be warned, though. They are not for self-promotion. That sort of behavior is frowned on. Used wisely, they can help you build a reputation as an expert in your field.

Taking it up a notch

LinkedIn does offer paid advertising opportunities. It is easy to set up, but the cost per conversion is usually higher than on Twitter or Facebook. If you’re a B2B marketer, it can well be worth it. Any conversion you do get will tend to be better informed and more loyal than on other platforms.

Instagram: A Picture’s Worth 1000 Words – Plus some more words

Businesses are just beginning to realize the marketing value of Instagram. It now has over 100 million daily active users sharing over 20 billion photos. The same study that pointed out G+’s “small, but devoted” users noted that Instagram users were 58 times more likely to like, comment, or share a brand’s post, and 120 times more likely than Twitter users.

A brand’s followers on Instagram are more likely to see every post a business makes rather than just the most recent or what they find in a scroll. Other platforms filter posts out or the timeline requires the user to discover them. It could also be because Instagram does not have a reposting function, and unique content tends to attract more leads.

That doesn’t mean Instagram is right for everyone. To connect with your followers on Instagram, you need a visual assets and a clear strategy. Some businesses are perfectly suited for the platform. Wedding planners can show off their talents and improve what they provide. It’s not going to do much for a therapist. If your business has a natural source for quality photographic content, then this is the channel you’re looking for.

Getting Started

Your photos have to be able to tell their stories on their own. You can add some captions, but the comments will come from your followers. “Unlike most social networks, Instagram is completely based on sharing images rather than full-on content in each post,” Matt says. The image will dominate the page.

Instagram also uses hashtags to help with searches. Since words are limited on the platform, you’ll need to know the hashtags that are most popular in your industry.

Taking it up a notch

Advertising on Instagram has been a hurdle for many businesses. Big companies like J. Crew and Lexus could do it, but that was about it. In August it officially switched its advertising API (application programming interface). Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012, and they are aligning it to bring the same well-targeted, focused marketing capabilities as the 800-pound gorilla. Matt predicts this “will help transform it into a major platform for mobile advertising that could rival larger social networks in the future.”

What social network are you currently using for your business? Which platforms that we didn’t cover here do you expect to take off in the future?

Before you leave this page, don’t forget to get your FREE copy of the Social Platforms Short & Sweet Infographic, to guide your marketing. Click below to download it now:

Article by Lisa Schneegans Buzz360

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Top LA Influencers & Entrepreneurs Attend 1st Annual Culver Blogger Brunch

It is always crucial for entrepreneurs to scope out valuable networking opportunities to link up with other business owners for future collaborations. Top Los Angeles lifestyle bloggers and influencers did just that this weekend at the first annual Culver Blogger Brunch. Held at the Culver Hotel and presented by Press Pass LA and The Marshall Plan, the posh affair gave top LA culture writers and influencers the perfect space to mingle, plan projects, and take a private tour of the luxe hotel.

Culver Blogger Brunch featured a spread of scrumptious eats.

The brunch popped off with a riveting speech by Culver Hotel‘s brand new owner, Maya Mallick, who gave attendees a true inside look at the venue’s culture, history, and brand new transformation. Then all of the bloggers and influencers enjoyed a spread of delicious eats (think mouthwatering prosciutto and mozzarella bruschetta) and massages from Larchmont Sanctuary Spa. Throughout the brunch, groups of bloggers had the opportunity to receive a private behind-the-scenes tour of the historic and fashionable Culver Hotel and learn about its eclectic new design changes, courtesy of Maya Mallick. Guests were fascinated by the fact that Charlie Chaplin once owned the hotel but lost it in a bet to John Wayne!

Home Business Magazine gets an exclusive inside look at Culver Hotel.

Attendees also checked out the Mamma Gard breast pillow and engaged in prize drawings with Organic Mixology spirits and La Valencia Hotel. At the end of the brunch, all of the guests walked away with Larchmont Sanctuary Spa gift bags, which were filled with exciting lifestyle gifts like Big Sexy Hair spray, Likuid Art, complimentary cocktails from The Culver Hotel’s classy bar, and gift cards to Beauty Balm Studio.

Guests went gaga over the Culver Blogger Brunch’s gift bags.

The first annual Culver Blogger Brunch was a glowing success, as it truly helped LA’s top opinion leaders and cultural influencers form a tighter community. If you are a start-up looking for a way to link up with other business owners, definitely look for similar networking events in your area. They are the perfect way to band with other business-savvy individuals and work together on mutually beneficial projects.

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Website Growth Techniques to Follow

Clients often ask me for advice on a method, concept, or technique to guarantee growth for their revenue-generating site. The truth is, there is no guaranteed tactic to making money online. But after twenty years in the consulting business, and over 200 websites under my belt, I’ve figured out how to come close to guaranteeing growth on the Internet.

The one thing we do when we go into business with a website is to extract two vital pieces of information:

1. Who is your closest competitor?
2. Can you name some other websites or small businesses in your arena that are bigger than you?

If you can find a site that’s like your site, but twenty times bigger, it will give you a good model to start with. You can then analyze that site’s growth patterns, traffic, and overall construction in order to create your own template.

Think about McDonalds and Burger King. McDonalds came first, and Burger King essentially copied their model to a T. They modeled their locations, menu, and branding after McDonalds. They even went so far as to hire McDonalds employees. Instead of reinventing the wheel, they physically replicated the wheel, so to speak. And they’ve been very successful—arguably less successful than McDonalds, but they’ve been around since 1953 and currently have over 13,000 outlets around the world.

This idea can be translated to the web revenue world. If you can find a website that sells the same thing you’re selling, or planning to sell, you can look at the details of how they do things, right down to the nitty gritty: What sort of navigation buttons do they use? How do they structure their pages? What is their messaging like?

If you already have a website, consider implementing just one idea that your competition has already proven works. Do some analysis, maybe even some split testing, to see how this change effects your traffic and sales.

We call this technique “modeling,” and it’s one of the best ways to get guaranteed growth results for your site. There’s your advice!

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How Self Publishing Saved a Writer’s Life

Ronnie Lee is the author and self-publisher of “The Book of Life: Existentialism, the Will and the Truth” and five other major books.

Achieving More than Ever Expected

Ronnie Lee first wanted to write a book when he was 24-years old working in Hong Kong. He carried this passion through his 20s and 30s. It wasn’t until Ronnie started writing philosophy papers that he realized he could write original poems from his theories.

One day, Ronnie was struck with the creative muse! Twenty minutes later he completed six poems. He started creating websites to

Within a few months, Ronnie’s first book, The Book Of Life: Existentialism, the Will and the Truth was published. He was ecstatic and, just like that, his life changed. For 13 years, Ronnie’s life was a constant struggle to be recognized and appreciated as a writer. Suddenly, he had achieved a goal that had been imprinted in his mind through sorrow and pain in his wonder years: showcase his work. But Ronnie still felt incomplete, unworthy, and sad. His websites and his poems were not well-known, or even publicly available. Even his family and friends were quiet about his writings.

Ronnie realized that he would forever be unhappy and unsatisfied unless he could find an established authority to support his writing and help him share his work with the world. But finding an establishment was difficult. He continued to look as he continued to write. Then in 2006, Ronnie stumbled across Outskirts Press (www.outskirtspress.com) for authors who want to self-publish.

Ronnie’s book was in his hands and available for purchase throughout the world on Amazon.com. It made him feel whole, complete, worthy, revived, excited and motivated to live his life happily, fully and more inspired. Ronnie became more prolific, too, with a renewed zest and love for writing.

Since Ronnie self-published his first book, he wrote and published numerous books with Outskirts Press. He is hoping to self-publish more books, and he is also planning an exhibition with other artists in Hong Kong. “By helping ourselves, we artists and writers can help others in society through inspiration and motivation from our words,” says Ronnie.

For Ronnie, self-publishing has made his life’s work honorable. “Self-publishing can help you live your dream of sharing your information, knowledge and life’s work with the world!” For two free self-publishing guides, visit http://outskirtspress.com/ebook. HBM

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6 Weird But Successful Small Business Ideas

Maximal Exposure provides Online promotions for your business. Using S.E.O., Website, Blog & Social Media accounts; we will take your business to the next level (Blog comes free with website purchase). – See more at: http://maximalexposure.net/#sthash.T5…

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  • Standard YouTube License

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How to Assess an Online Money-Making Business Idea

According to Google, in December of 2012, 1.44 million people searched on some variation of the phrase “make money online.” Maybe you even found this blog post by searching for that phrase yourself. If you’re reading this, you’re at least probably interested in it.

I’ve been in the business of internet revenue generation for years. I’ve done the research myself to see what type of answers Google gives you when you search on such a phrase. Often, the business models that come up with that search promise a lot of money right out of the gate—from a few hundred dollars a month to a whopping $50,000—with the use of this or that platform.

I want to give you a little bit of expert information about the sort of platforms we’re talking about—and some stern advice. The way these platforms work is to provide a product or service that is marketable. Usually, there’s an existing parent company that offers to let you use their product and their platform. In return, you provide the marketing muscle to make the sales.

In the online business world, marketing is almost always about creating an email opt-in list. Email addresses are gold in the internet marketing business, and there are various ways you can go about collecting them, most of which rely on content. You might put out a newsletter with compelling subject matter or create a series of video blogs (vlogs). Content is the lure that hooks those email addresses right onto your list.

Once you have amassed a decent-sized opt-in list, the next step is to send out marketing emails directly about the product you’re selling. With any luck, a certain percentage of those people will bite. Sounds simple, right?

If you read the testimonials of other entrepreneurs who have used the platform you’re considering, they probably sound pretty spectacular. But before you make a commitment, I urge you to do just a little bit of due diligence. Look at the testimonials of other entrepreneurs who have gone down this path before you, and contact two or three of them. Ask them these three specific questions:

1. If you don’t mind sharing, how long did it take you to build your marketing list before you started making money using this platform?
2. How much money did you make each month, once you started to profit?
3. How did you build your list?

The answer to that last question is the most important, because often, entrepreneurs invest in a business like this with an opt-in list already under their belt—one they poached from another company or bought off an email list “dealer.” With this advantage, they may have started making money a lot sooner, and avoided the hard work of building the marketing list.

If, on the other hand, these seasoned pros tell you that they built their own list from scratch, and they’re making decent money, then you know that it’s a good platform with a decent chance of netting you a pretty healthy profit.

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