6 Ways to Get More Cash for Your Car

Saying goodbye to your old ride can be easy, if you know how to get the price you want.

At one time, your old car was your new car and perhaps your pride and joy. Now it's time to sell. Maybe another set of wheels has caught your eye, you need a lower monthly payment, or you're just ready for a change.

Whatever the reason, you're probably researching the car you want to buy with more enthusiasm than you're investigating how to sell your old one. But taking time to sell your car the smart way can help bring you the best deal. Here are six ways to get the most money for your old set of wheels.

1. Showcase the Car

It's a given that you should spiff up a car you're trying to sell.

Automotive expert Lauren Fix, known as The Car Coach^®, compares the process to staging a home for the real estate market. People often clear countertops, clean closets and rearrange furniture to showcase their homes. "Stage your car, as well," Fix says. "Clean the floor mats, the stains on the cushions and the engine. Fix the crack in the windshield."

2. Fix What's Worth Fixing

As you evaluate the car's condition, think about:

• Easy cosmetic changes, such as touching up paint or repairing dents.
• Mechanical tune ups. A trusted mechanic can inspect the vehicle for must-do fixes. It may be worth replacing an aging brake system to attract a buyer, but don't sink so much into repairs that it eats into the profit you're seeking.

3. Establish What It's Really Worth

To price the car correctly, know its current value and be realistic about its condition.

Whether you're considering trading in your vehicle or selling it yourself, the USAA Car Buying Service reveals what you can expect to receive for it. Also, you can use other sites such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds.com, and the National Automobile Dealer Association, to help you understand your car's market value.

When using these sites, be sure to factor in the mileage, condition of the interior and minor dings to get a better understanding of your vehicle's worth.

4. Decide Whether to Trade It In or Sell It

"It's generally known that you're likely going to get more for a used car if you sell it to an individual buyer rather than to a dealer or trading it in," says Steven Thompson, assistant vice president at USAA Bank. That's because dealers have to put money into a used car to refurbish it and bring it to market or auction.

So, research trade-in value versus the private-sale value online. Knowing the difference can help you weigh your options. Generally, you have these choices:

• Dealer trade-in. While dealers generally offer wholesale price for a trade-in that is typically lower than if you sell your vehicle on your own, you might find the convenience of a same-day transaction worthwhile. You can leave the old car on the lot and drive away in the new one.
  
  Fix notes that the sales tax credit for the trade-in, offered in many states, can sweeten the deal. In that scenario, you pay sales tax on the new car price minus the trade-in amount. Edmunds.com explains: On a $20,000 new car with a $12,000 trade-in, you'd only owe sales tax on $8,000 instead of $20,000. In a state with 6% sales tax, that's a savings of $720.
• Direct sale to a dealer. Sell to a dealer without buying another car. It's an easy way out and helps you separate the sale of your owned vehicle from the purchase of the new one, but you'll still often times get less than retail.
• Direct sale to an individual. While this can be the best way to get the highest price for your car, this option requires more time and effort. Online sites have made vehicles available to the masses.

And now, on USAA's secure site, you can advertise your car to the USAA community through its private-party selling service. Post your customized ad and field offers from a community of individuals like you.¹

There are also the traditional sales methods: Tape a "For Sale" sign to the window, or buy an advertisement in your local or community newspaper's classifieds. However you advertise, be prepared to negotiate with buyers who have done their research. Keep safety in mind: Meet strangers in a public place, and never give out your home address and other personal information.

5. Get Papers in Order

Like a good soldier shining brass buttons on a dress uniform, your spiffed-up ride may be ready for inspection. But presenting the right paperwork can seal the deal. Here's what you need:

• Service records. "If I see records, I know you cared for your car," Fix says. A car aficionado, she maintains detailed files on every vehicle she owns, with notes and receipts. Also, a simple notebook in which you've jotted down the service and their dates can impress a buyer. If you don't have long-term records, keep the most recent receipts for an oil change or tire purchase.
• CARFAX^® Vehicle History Report. This report, attached to a car's VIN or license tag number, can create good rapport with buyers and offer peace of mind by assuring them the car hasn't been flooded or totaled in a wreck and repaired. USAA members save 20% on CARFAX reports.

6. Be Smart About the Actual Transaction

Fix suggests paying close attention when writing the bill of sale. Include your name, the buyer's name and your signature, and date and keep a copy. Make sure to include these two key phrases:

• Car sold in as-is condition.
• No warranties expressed or implied.

Otherwise, if something goes wrong with the car, an unhappy buyer could come back and demand some money back, Fix explains. Next, transfer the title.

• Since the title-transfer process varies by state, check with your department of motor vehicles and/or county clerk's office.
• Only turn over the keys and title once the buyer's check has cleared.
• When you transfer the title, cancel your car insurance on the vehicle.

This is not my own original work.  If you like the content, then please share!

Click Here to work with me personally on your own economy!

Rob Fraser

You can make an extra $100 a week here without that much work and this will not get in the way of your day job!

How to succeed online?

Posted in Search Engine Marketing | 4 comments

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Only having an amazing look website is not sufficient. Selling your product or service on your amazing website is admirable. We can get a website in a day but getting a customer through website will take lots of efforts.

Following are some basic step for success online.

How to get customer through web site traffic

Normally people think that having a good website is all you need to get tons of visitors. But getting traffic to your site takes hard work and conscientiousness and is not accomplished suddenly. Think about it this way – how are people supposed to know where to find your site if you don’t tell them? read previous article How to get customer through web site traffic

Show off

You need to show what you are selling you are expert in that field. Create a blog. Write articles on your services; educate visitor about your services, participate in forum activity. Join a relevant forum and answer the question of forum members include your website link in your signature. Above are some basic steps for how to show you are expert in your field.

Landing page customization

This is a very important step in which many online businesses have a tendency to forget. A landing page normally called home page is basically a page on your website which visitors go to first before getting to the meat of your product.

You are basically trying to pump up what you’re selling as much as you can before they get to it. This not only will increase sales but will also make sure people are reading what you have to say.

Wring pages should be focused around the keywords in which you are targeting for your specific position. For example, if you want to promote product X on you website highlight product X through your article, banner and it should be focused. Rather than highlight product Y. keep a separate landing page for product Y. don’t confuse your visitor.

Capturing visitor data

You can capture visitor data through following process.

• Product update information newsletter
• Newsletter on your article
• Signup for Promotional offers
• Survey and feedback

If you capture lots of visitor data you can covert that visitor to your customer.

Analysis visitor trends for optimizing your site.

You can use Google analytic to analyze customer trend on your website. You can check in which page customer stay long. Where visitors are exiting your website? What are there geographical locations?

Stability

You need to work on this process regularly if you want to succeed. These basic steps give you output after lots of effort when you give.

This is not my own original work.  If you like the content, then please share!

Click Here to work with me personally on your own economy!

Rob Fraser

P.S.  Starting an internet business isn't easy but it's something that you own, create, control, and can be richly rewarding given your level of persistence!!!

10 Best Ways to Make Money from Home (Legitimate)

1. Freelance Writing: Sell Your Words

I may as well start with something I know well. When I started out as a freelance writer 20 years ago, things were very different. I wrote mostly for magazines, and I had to rely on snail mail to send out drafts and queries. I’d wait weeks for a response from my editors. Not many people had the patience for it, and few stuck around long enough to ever start earning a real income from it.

But the Internet has changed everything. Today, you can decide to become a freelance writer and, if you’re fortunate, get an assignment that very same day. Obviously, the better your skills and training are, the better your projects and freelance writing rates will be.

Today’s freelance writers can choose from a variety of markets. You can write for magazines, either online or in print. You can blog by setting up your own site, or by writing for someone else’s. The market for new articles on the Internet is vast, and there’s plenty of work to go around.

Additionally, book publishers are always looking for the next big book. People need sales letters, white papers, website copy, and e-books. In other words, there’s an ocean of work to do, and if you’re an ambitious writer, you can dive in and profit.

If you want to work from home as a freelance writer, consider this checklist before you get started:

• Samples. You’ll need some samples before you can really begin marketing yourself. Figure out which market you want to approach first, and then find or create some related samples. For instance, if you want to try your hand at blogging, study some successful blogs, and then write a few posts of your own to use as samples. Do this for any and every market you’d want to write for.
• Tools. You don’t need much to work as a home-based freelance writer, but there are some tools that you must have. The most important will be your computer. Get the fastest Internet access that you can afford. It doesn’t matter what kind of computer you get. Just make sure you’re comfortable enough to spend a lot of time with it. Most clients will request that you submit your work as a Microsoft Word document, so make sure that whatever programs you use are compatible. In addition, because you’ll be spending so much time at the computer, make sure that you have a good work area with proper lighting. Some clients will want to be able to reach you by phone or Skype, so have both set up and accessible. You’ll need an invoicing program, such as Freshbooks, and a good bookkeeping system to keep track of sales, orders, and accounts receivables.
• Job Boards. When you’re first starting out, you’ll have to go looking for work, and the best place to do that is on one of the online job boards. Places like Guru, Elance, Freelancer, andoDesk are today’s writers’ best friends. They allow individuals and businesses to post projects, and freelancers to bid on them. Take a look around the sites, sign up for the free access in the beginning, and then begin to place bids on the projects that interest you. It will take some trial and error to find your groove, but once you do, the jobs will start to roll in.
• Persistence and Commitment. You’ll need to have a good amount of persistence while pursuing freelance writing gigs. This business is subjective, and while one person may love your writing, another may not. Do your best to always produce good, solid copy and hold on to your commitment to do the best you can for your clients. Just by committing to do those two things, you’ll be miles ahead of your competition.

2. Classes: Sell Your Knowledge

Another great way to earn money from your home office is to sell your skills or knowledge by teaching classes. For instance, if you’re an exercise guru, you might start an exercise class in a large spacious area in your home. People are willing to pay to learn about many fields of knowledge, from cooking and gardening to soap or candle making. Playing a musical instrument, child birthing, dancing, dog training, yoga, and even foreign languages are all great topics for expert classes.

The key is to make the class sound unique and irresistible. Don’t just teach a cooking class; come up with specialty cooking classes. You might teach a class on how to make artesian breads, or cinnamon rolls that rival Cinnabon. The possibilities are endless, and if you consistently offer educational and fun classes, you’ll have people signing up over and over again.

But being successful at hosting your own classes requires some serious planning and attention to detail. Here is an outline of the things you’ll have to consider:

• Your Idea. It’s not enough to say that you’re going to offer an exercise classes. The people considering your classes will want to know exactly what they are going to get for their money, and it will be up to you to explain it concisely and effectively. Understand that you’re basically giving a sales pitch to potential attendees. You’ll have to really narrow down your topic.
• Your Schedule. Decide in advance how often you want to teach your class, and what times will work for you. If you’re teaching a foreign language, you will want to offer structured classes that meet at the same time every week. But if you intend to offer cooking classes, where one lesson won’t run into another, you can be a little more flexible.
  • Remember that you’re making a commitment that will last weeks or months, and you won’t want to end up canceling classes. Pick a schedule that you can keep.
  • Furthermore, carefully consider your likely attendees, and what schedule would be attractive to them. For example, if you’re planning on teaching a tutoring class, you obviously couldn’t schedule it during school hours. Likewise, a class aimed at mothers of young children will either have to include babysitting services or be scheduled at night, when they’re more likely to have help with the kids. Find the delicate balance of times that fit your prospective students’ schedules as well as your own.
• Your Price. When establishing a price for your classes, start by calling around and finding out what other choices your clients have. If you plan to offer cooking classes, call some commercial establishments and other in-home teachers. Compare your own talent and experience to what they’re offering, and set a price accordingly. You should always come in a little lower than classes offered by commercial establishments as that will be one of your selling points: expert information for less money.
• Your Deals. In addition to establishing a per-class price, also offer packages to entice people to sign up for more than one class. For example, if you intend to host classes on making soap, offer the classes individually, as well as in a group. Someone could take a class learning how to use fresh flowers in homemade soap, or they could buy a bundle that teaches them how to use those, fresh herbs, and plastic toys for kid’s soap. However you decide to price your classes, remember that the buyer will want to feel like they’re getting a lot for their money. If you can provide that in a fun atmosphere, they’ll likely be back time and time again – and they’ll bring friends.
• Your Ads. The key to success will be in your ability to get the word out about your classes. Word of mouth will play an important role in your marketing efforts because taking classes is something that friends like to do together. Don’t just rely on friends and family, though. Post fliers in supermarkets, churches, and school bulletin boards. You’ll definitely want to have an online presence so people who are searching your area for such classes will be able to find you. You can establish one by creating a website, and then using digital media to spread your message. And don’t forget your neighborhood as a source of business. Take some time to visit your neighbors, even if you just visit one block a day, and tell them about your new business.

3. Bed and Breakfast: Sell Space in Your Home

If you have a spare bedroom and bathroom, and a high tolerance for other people being in your home, you may be able to make money from home by hosting people in your home. Overnight travelers are always looking for a comfortable bed and breakfast, especially since frequent travelers are often weary of hotels and motels.

Your home is certainly more attractive than the mainstream sterile environments and run of the mill decor. Savvy homeowners have been taking advantage of their spare space, and they’re making money by offering travelers a one of a kind experience in a warm, friendly environment.

The best part is that people who use bed and breakfasts are more likely to pay more for the experience. The challenge is that there’s a lot of competition in this field, so if you think earning money this way is right for you, you’ll have to set up your home in a way that makes for a memorable experience for guests. Here’s a checklist to get you started:

• Location. The most successful bed and breakfasts are those that are convenient to airports, historic parts of town, or other tourist attractions. That’s because there are two types of guests who tend to frequent B&B’s: business travelers who are tired of sterile hotel rooms, and families looking for a unique experience. That’s not to say that you can’t develop a successful B&B if your home isn’t located in the perfect spot, but you might have to work harder to make it a success if it isn’t.
• Comfort. Perhaps the biggest thing that you’ll need to do in order to create a successful B&B is to make sure that your guests are as comfortable as they can be. Remember, they’re paying more for the experience of being comfortable away from home. As a trial, spend a night in theroom in your house that you intend to rent and view things from a guest’s point of view. Is the temperature comfortable? Is the bath in the room, or at least a comfortable distance away while still being private? Is the bed soft and inviting? The pillows? Is the bedroom interior design, including colors, soothing? Can you hear household noises, or do you feel that you’re in a world of your own? All of these are important questions to ask yourself, but the answers will determine whether or not your guests recommend your place, or come back for another stay. Think about all the minor inconveniences and discomforts that you’ve just gotten used to over the years, and remember that a paying guest might not tolerate those problems for a night. You may need to spend a little money to fix these issues.
• Food. The second word in “Bed and Breakfast” is just as important as the first. Some B&Bs have tried to serve their guests muffins, juice, and coffee in the mornings, but the most successful hosts understand that the breakfast they serve will make a lasting impression on their guests. You can get creative and serve the type of breakfast traditional for the area that you’re in. For instance, if your home is located in the South, then eggs, grits, and biscuits may go over well, while Southwest guests may appreciate a traditional Tex-Mex meal. Whatever you decide, make it memorable and make sure that your guests feel welcome and appreciated. Make it memorable, and they’ll spread the word for you.
• Service. Another key aspect of successful B&Bs is the level of service that the hosts provide. You’re not just offering room and board, but an experience. If they need help planning a day seeing the sites, offer to sit down with them and help them plan their itinerary. If a businessperson needs copies for a presentation, offer to go and make them. Remember, your job as host will be to make your guests’ stays as comfortable and pleasurable as possible. If you succeed, they’ll remember you the next time they travel through your town.
• Advertising. You won’t have any quests until you get the word around about your room. Start locally by putting a sign in your front yard and spreading the word through friends and family. Next, build a small website and make sure that you attract the search engine spiders by using the keywords people would likely search for when looking for a place to stay in your area. In addition, there are sites that specialize in promoting specific areas and their attractions, such as BedandBreakfast.com and Airbnb - your Bed and Breakfast should be listed there.

4. Farmers’ Market: Sell Your Produce and Gourmet Foods

Every Saturday I visit the local farmers’ market, and every time I’m amazed at how wonderful theirfruits and vegetables look compared to the choices in the grocery store.

While I’m a gardener too, I’ve never quite been able to grow such fantastic looking produce. If you’re blessed with a greener thumb than mine and you’re growing mass quantities of fruits, vegetables, or herbs, you just may be able to use those skills to earn some extra income.

Farmers’ markets are rapidly becoming the go-to places for people who want to eat fresh, wholesome foods. Local and organic both sounds great to buyers, and you’re not just limited to selling fruits and vegetables. Just yesterday I bought fresh homemade goat cheese and a roasted tomato pesto that almost brought me to tears.

You’d do most of your work in a home garden, but you’ll have to spend your weekends away from home. If you love the idea of selling your home-grown produce, but can’t swing being out of the house on weekends, consider selling to friends, family, and neighbors instead. Almost everyone prefers the taste of a fresh picked tomato to a store bought one.

While this is a great way to earn extra money doing what you love, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind before you get started:

• Selection. Lots of people will be selling produce, so if you want to be a success, you’ll have to make yours stand out. You might try selling some rare vegetables or hard-to-find herbs, or you might decide to include a special recipe with every variety.
• License. As long as you’re only selling fresh produce, you don’t need a special license. But if you plan to sell gourmet foods, you’ll have to call your local health department and find out the regulations in your area.
• Rules. All markets have different rules that every vendor must follow. You’ll have to file an application with the market for permission to sell your product. Contact the market manager and ask how you can get started.
• Display. Just as in any retail operation, the way you display your wares will greatly impact your sales. Produce should be placed underneath a cover to protect it from the sun, but be sure to allow at least seven feet of head room. Display your prices prominently, and clearly identify the things that make your product special. Personalize your stand with signs to inform your customers.
• Tools. Don’t forget that you’ll need a scale if you sell by the pound, a cash box to organize your income, and bags or boxes so your customers can easily transport your products home.

5. Crafts and Art: Sell Your Creativity

If you have a knack for creating beautiful things, then you were born at the right time to make some serious income from home. The growing trend for vintage and homemade products shows no signs of stopping. Plus, the Internet is chock full of well-known outlets for such wares.

Etsy, for example, is one of the fastest growing sites that gives artists a chance to sell items at a fair price. The site boasts over 40 categories, from gifts to clothes to edibles, with thousands of listings. And the price is right; you can get your own site connected to Etsy for just 20 cents per listing.

Selling on Etsy and similar sites, however, has become an art form itself, and finding success in these marketplaces takes a lot of work and planning. Your art is already a full-time job, but you’ll need to devote plenty of time to being a smart businessperson too. Here are some guidelines to getting started:

• Research. You need to know what others are selling before you decide what wares you will offer. Lots of people sell handmade items, but those who work hard to make their items unique in some way are the ones who truly stand out. After you’ve decided on a product, check out the other sellers on Etsy and find what they’re offering, and then figure out how you can do it differently.
• Commit. People who run successful shops on Etsy say that they do way more than create. They pass out business cards everywhere they go, they blog about their site, and spend all of their free time trying to think of new ways to promote it. In other words, to truly be a success, you have to treat it like a full-time job.
• Photographs. Because your customers won’t be able to touch or hold your items, you need to give them as much of a visual feel for the products as you can. You’ll do it with photographs – but not just any photos. They have to be pleasing to the eye and make the item look fantastic. You’ll have to learn the art of photography, and if you can’t get the hang of it, you’ll have to hire someone to do it for you. Yes, it’s that important.
• Selection. One of the keys to success on Etsy is selection, according to industry insiders. In fact, the goal of most serious shop owners is to have at least 200 items for sale. If you’re creating all of those items yourself, that’s a pretty big time commitment. But the more options you give to your customers, the higher the chances that you’ll make a sale.
• Mentorship. With sites like Etsy, it simply doesn’t make sense to reinvent the wheel when opening a shop. Instead, look to others who have been down the path and have learned the hard way what to do – and what not to do. Blogs like Handmadeology andEverythingEtsy.com offer hints and guidance for artists just looking to get started in this profitable home-based business.

6. Call Centers: Sell Your Time and Voice

If you have a great telephone voice, an ability to organize information quickly, and a quiet place in your home to work, you could make money working for a call center.

What is it exactly? Call centers cater to businesses that don’t have someone to answer their phones 24 hours a day. The calls are routed to a call center, and then sent out to individuals who work from their homes. These workers are equipped with computers and software to be able to answer customer’s questions.

The average pay for these jobs is about $9 per hour, and some companies offer health, dental, even matching 401k plans for their employees. Here are a few characteristics and supplies you should have:

• Diligence. In this industry, the line between scams and honest businesses is blurry, so you need to do your homework before accepting a position. Call the Better Business Bureau in your area to find out if there have been any complaints filed against the company, and do an online search on their name. Alpine Access is a well-respected company in the field, and Call Center Careers is a great place to look for legitimate call centers looking to hire.
• Equipment. You’ll likely have to invest in your own equipment before starting work with a call company. You will need a computer that meets the call center’s guidelines, earphones, an Internet connection, and a landline phone to do the work required. If you don’t already have the equipment, most companies won’t even consider your application.
• Grace. You’ll receive a lot of calls, and you must have the ability to handle them all smoothly. This means that you should have a personality that can multi-task without becoming flustered.
• Ambition. If you prove yourself a good employee, there are opportunities for advancement in the ranks of call center employees. You won’t even have to give up working from home to take a promotion; team leaders, managers, and account managers can all work from home.

7. Sewing and Alterations: Sell Your Handiwork

If you have sewing skills, you have a wide range of options. Just think for a moment about everything service you can provide if you have those skills. You can do alterations and design, and you can make wedding clothes, custom-fit clothes, and special attire.

You can make totes and bags, custom bedding, draperies, and upholstery cushions. You can go so far as to sew the special canvas cushions needed for boats and yachts, or commercial needs like booth and chair cushions.

In short, if you have sewing skills, you’re in demand. But there is more to sewing from your home for money than just hanging out a shingle. Let’s take a look at some of the issues you’ll face:

• Equipment. The largest, and most important, piece of equipment that you’ll need is a high-quality sewing machine. They can range in price from about $2,000 up to $6,000, and you’ll want the best one that you can afford. Other pieces of equipment will vary, depending on what you want to specialize in. For instance, if you intend to make custom draperies, you’ll need a serger, and a drapery steamer.
• Skill. If you’re going to sew for other people, your skills need to be far above average. If you’re a beginner or an average seamstress, wait until you improve their skills before attempting to earn money in this type of business. If people are going to trust their wedding dresses or their favorite sports jacket to you, you must be able to handle them with care and the utmost skill.
• Zoning. Because you’ll likely have a lot of customers in and out of your home, you should check with your local authorities to determine whether or not you need to be zoned for this type of business.
• Advertising. You’ll need to get the word out about your sewing business, and one of the best places to start is with your friends and neighbors. Make sure they are all aware of your services and are willing to pass around your business cards. In addition, you should put up fliers in local fabric stores and get to know the employees so that if someone asks, they’ll be able to refer you. Any business needs a website, and yours will be no exception; you can put up a simple one that outlines what you do, and tells the reader what kinds of prices to expect. Finally, by joining organizations like the American Sewing Guild, you’ll be able to stay in touch with others who are doing the same thing as you.

8. Used Book Sales: Sell Your Old Paperbacks

I was working at an estate sale the other weekend, and a woman came in and asked if there were any books for sale. After I pointed out the collection of books to her, she began to scan them all with a portable bar code scanner. My curiosity got the best of me and so I asked her what she was doing.

She explained that she buys used books from garage and estate sales, and then turns around andsells the books for cash on sites like Amazon, Ebay, Half.com and AbeBooks. She uses the scanner to determine how long it usually takes for a specific book to sell and how much it sells for. She told me that she makes a full-time living doing this.

So, I got the scoop on how to run a business of this type. Here’s what you need to know:

• Finances. You need to be good at quick math and be able to make quick decisions. You have to be careful how much you pay for a book, and then keep careful track of the expenses involved in selling it. For instance, when you sell on a website, they’ll take a commission from the sale. In addition, some sites, like eBay, will charge you a listing fee for each book. If you request that your money be deposited via PayPal, then you’ll be charged a transaction fee per book. If you’re not careful, the fees will quickly negate your profits.
• Storage. Depending on how big your business gets, you’ll need ample room to store the books. You can’t get lazy or disorganized about it, either. You have to keep the books in good condition, and you need to be able to find them when someone wants them. For instance, if you list a book in “like new” condition, and then the pages get smashed during storage, you’ll be in a bind if someone places an order before you realize what happened.
• Shipping. You will only have a few days to ship a book after it sells, and even less time if you agree to include two-day or overnight shipping as part of your options. And since you’ll want to save as much as you can on the shipping, you’ll have to devise a plan. Many people set aside specific days for shipping – say 3 days a week – and then make one big trip to the post office. As long as there isn’t anything else in the package, you can send books via media mail, which is the least expensive option. Finally, your books will need to be packaged in a way that they won’t get damaged in transit.
• Ratings. Whenever someone buys a book from you, they will have the opportunity to give the transaction a rating. This is when they’ll tell other potential buyers whether the book was in the condition that you described, whether it was mailed on time, and if your communications were pleasant and helpful. One bad rating can hamper sales, and a couple of them can downright stop them. Excel at customer service and your ratings will help your company grow.
• Current. It’s important that you stay current in this ever-changing business. You can do so by following some well-known blogs about the topic such as Sell Your Books Online.

9. Consulting: Sell Your Knowledge

Consultants offer their services or advice for a fee. For instance, you may help a new non-profit organization develop a plan for fundraising, and then oversee the process. Or you may help a new company garner media attention by writing press releases and then distributing them to the proper channels.

Individuals use consultants, too. Some people use consultants for tax or financial advice, while others may pay a consultant to teach them how to set up and maintain a garden.

Basically, if you have proven skills in an area, you can market yourself as a consultant and provide your services from home. Breaking in isn’t always easy, though, so consider these topics:

• Experience. Whatever area you want to work in as a consultant, you must be able to show clients that you’re qualified to advise them. If there are organizations related to your field, make sure that you’re a member of them. Similarly, if you can take a course and become certified or registered in your field, do it and then add that to your credentials.
• Work Space. When acting as a consultant, the probability is high that clients will be visiting your home office. Therefore, you need to have a neat, professional home office that is welcoming to guests. Try to locate your work space in a quiet, even secluded, area of the house. A converted garage space with its own entrance works well, giving you a private space for work and adding to your credibility.
• Marketing. When operating as a consultant, you won’t necessarily be marketing your company; you’ll be marketing yourself. You’ll have to “package” yourself in a way that makes people trust you. For instance, if you’re marketing yourself as a financial consultant, ask yourself why someone would trust you with their life savings, and then figure out a way to convey that to potential clients. It might be in the form of a brochure, a portfolio, a sales letter, or all three.

To get the word out about your services, you’ll have to talk to a lot of people. Attend functions where your typical client would hang out. That may mean the local agricultural department’s classes if you’re a gardening consultant, or Chamber of Commerce meetings if you’re a business consultant.

10. Medical Transcription: Sell Your Computer Skills

If you have great computer skills and can type quickly, you might be able to work from home doing medical transcription.

Doctors who make audio notes on patients need someone to transcribe their notes to put them in patient files, but most doctors don’t want to pay a full-time transcriptionist. Instead, they farm out the work, and it’s a great job for good typists with a good working knowledge of health topics and medical jargon.

That means you need to come with a lot of knowledge and follow this checklist:

• Training. To get a gig as a medical transcriptionist, you will have to take specific training. You will have to become proficient in medical terminology, and the best way to do that is to take additional courses in that area. The average course lasts from 9 to 18 months and costs about $3,000. Financial aid programs can help pay for your tuition.
• Breaking In. Many people find that once they’ve completed their training, getting their first job can be difficult because many companies require a minimum of two years experience. Many newbies start out by volunteering to get some history under their belt. It’s not impossible to land a job fresh out of school, but you’ll need diligence and persistence, and probably a little luck.
• Equipment. When you accept a job with a reputable company, they will provide you with all the equipment you need, except for high-speed Internet. Beware of companies that require you to supply your own equipment; that’s a sign of a possible scam.
• Socialize. Especially when you’re getting started, you need to establish contacts who are already immersed in the business. They can act as mentors, keep you up to date on industry changes, and even help you land your first or subsequent job. Look for the local chapter of the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) in your area and join.

Final Word

For some people, work just has to be in an office, factory, store, or any other environment that’s separate from home. Even a second job would have to be in a separate place. For others, a home office is a welcome place for a secondary or even a primary job. If you’re one of those people, you have some unique opportunities, but you also have some very particular challenges of working from home.

Make sure you set a smart schedule that lets you diligently focus on your work, without throwing the rest of your life out of balance. And make sure you always keep your guard up for scams and cheats. When you’re on your own, you might have a little more freedom with your schedule, but you lose the sense of protection that a company can provide.

These ideas are just ten of the great ones for earning money from your own home. While employment opportunities are getting scarcer, isn’t it good to know that your ability to take things into your own hands is getting greater?

Do you make money working from home? What other ideas have you been able to come up with?

This is not my own original work.  If you like the content, then please share!

Click Here to work with me personally on your own economy!

Rob Fraser

P.S.  Starting an internet business isn't easy but it's something that you own, create, control, and can be richly rewarding given your level of persistence!!!

How To Start An Internet Business In 3 Easy Steps (And What Holds You Back)

By Yaro Starak 121 Comments September 17, 2008

It’s not quite as easy as the title makes it sound, but bear with me, this article will explain the three steps that are the foundation of every Internet business, why so many people go wrong and give you some realizations that might just be the key to take your Internet business to the next level…

I’ve been studying resources lately designed to teach Internet business, but not just introductory materials, content that goes beyond beginners and is intended to take you to making making millions online.

In my case I’m interested in advanced topics that I can apply to what I do and fill my current knowledge gaps to take the next step forwards. While hunting for those elusive gold nugget ideas I invariably scan the introductory materials and learn with interest how this particular person or organization cover the basics – how they suggest you get traffic and make sales.

My studies have led me to the conclusion that Internet business is actually quite easy. Explained in simple terms (which I will do in a moment), the structure of a successful online enterprise is comprised of a few components, that when linked together can deliver hundreds, thousands and even millions of dollars in online profits.

Easy As 1-2-3

While we all have different ways of presenting what we do and the tiny details of getting a result vary, most Internet marketing experts teach the same few principles, which are in fact no different from what direct marketers have been doing and teaching for decades.

It goes something like this…

Step 1: Traffic

All online business models rely on traffic of some shape or form, and it’s here where I’m always curious to find what others do to drive attention to their business, as I’m sure you are too. In almost all cases a combination of one, two or all three of the following techniques are the main traffic drivers that fuel the business.

Pay Per Click: Buying traffic from Google’s AdWords is recommended as the quickest, but least forgiving traffic tool. Get this right and you get thousands of visitors instantly at a cost lower than the income they return. Get this wrong and youlose money. It’s a harsh learning curve, but for the winners the pay-off is significant.

Search Engine Optimization: Again Google is a significant component of this traffic source, delivering thousands of visitors to websites that rank well. I was tempted to call this traffic method “content marketing” but let’s keep this as simple as possible. For those who are diligent and learn how to leverage content, search engines offer a steady stream of free traffic – it can just take a while to get it flowing.

Affiliates: Affiliate marketing is the most underutilized traffic source for many Internet businesses and that’s likely because it takes more than mechanical mechanisms to make it work. Relationships are required, but when you get the elements right presenting a winning offer to affiliates results is a huge traffic windfall for you. Affiliate traffic is usually quality traffic, thus has the highest conversion rate and best of all – it only costs you money when you make money, so it’s a low-risk investment.

Beyond these three core traffic techniques there are many other methods that can be used, but if you look under the hood of most Internet businesses you will find that one or two or all three techniques above account for the big chunk of converting traffic.

What Is Yaro’s Best Source of Traffic?

In case you are wondering, my best source of traffic is affiliatesfollowed by search engines. For most blogs search engines will account for the largest chunk and most dependable source of traffic, since good blogs are content driven and search engines love content.

Step 2: Make A Sale

Once traffic is flowing, the next condition required for a profitable business is to make that first sale. A targeted front end offer is the usual suggestion, in most cases a sub-$50 priced information product, although a physical product can work too (many late night TV infomercials use a loss-making front end offer of a physical product that is used to identify and open communication with customers).

The purpose of the front end product is to generate a customer. Profit does not come from sales of the front end product in most cases (it’s hard to get rich off a $27 ebook), rather it is raising the per customer value that results in the big gains (more on this at step 3).

The front end product is important because it opens the door to a potentially long term relationship, which when done right, will result in benefits for the company and the customer. The first sale also creates the window of opportunity for step 3 – upsells and back-end offers.

Step 3: Sell More With A Bigger Margin

The core concept of step 3 is that it is always easier to convince someone who is the process of buying or who has bought previously, to purchase more.

The front end offer at step 2 creates the buying condition and then at step 3, upsells, downsells and cross-sells of digital items, continuity products, coaching, consulting, physical products, seminars, conferences and anything you can come up with that is relevant and valuable to your customers, is where the profit comes from.

While not every customer will take advantage of back-end offers you make, the strategy relies only on small segments of your customers buying your upsells and back-end offers. The margins at this point however are significant, so one back-end sale can result in as much profit as 10, 100 or even 1,000 front end orders.

As I talk about in the Conversion Blogging Video and break down in some depth in the Sales Funnel 4-Part Article Series, the idea here is to filter down to a very small group of people, a subset of all the traffic you generate, who buy everything you offer (or at least something with a high profit margin). It’s these people who benefit the most from your business, but it takes the above three step process to attract and filter down to them.

When you get this process set-up, you can determine how much each customer to your site is worth. You know how much traffic you get, you know how many of them buy your front end offer depending on what source of traffic they come from and you know how many of them buy back-end products and upsells. From there you can calculate how much each customer is worth, on average, to your business.

Do You Know Your Customer Value?

Rich Schefren hammers home the concept ofCustomer Value in hisBusiness Growth System. He really needed to get this principle right because long before he was an Internet business guru, he had physical real world businesses (an hypnosis company and a boutique fashion store in Manhattan, New York).

When you run real world stores your costs are so high that you have to get your numbers right. If you don’t, you lose money – lots of it. In the Internet world things are more forgiving because sunk costs are so much lower, however that doesn’t mean customer value is any less important.

Internet business owners don’t suffer the consequences of not focusing on the key customer metric, instead we can flounder around, test and fail and walk away perhaps bitter and frustrated, but it doesn’t cost us much more than our time. If you were investing ten or twenty or even hundreds of thousands into your business, you would know your numbers from the start.

Raising Customer Value

If you knew, despite selling a $27 front end ebook, that thanks to a strategically timed and optimized followup process, that each customer you convert is eventually worth $300 to your business, could you use that to your advantage?

Of course you could!

You could spend more on pay per click advertising. You could hire search engine and content development professionals. You can pay more money to affiliates. All these things drive more people into your business, result in a huge strategic advantage over your competitors and fuel massive profit growth.

If you have been keeping up with recent launches in the Internet marketing space, nearly all the leading players have been implementing this process recently, and that’s no coincidence. These guys (and a handful of girls) are testing, sharing results and then replicating the process and of course – promoting each other’s launches each time they have something new.

As I outlined above in the three steps, it’s not a difficult concept to grasp once you spend some time studying Internet marketing (and perhaps experiencing the process as a customer of another marketer). However so many things can hinder the outcome that very few get far enough along to realize the million dollar result.

If It Is So Easy – Why Isn’t Everyone Doing It?

The problems lie in the details. While the explanation I provided in this article may present a process that is conceptually easy enough to understand once you get used to the basics of Internet marketing, pulling it off is difficult.

Most fail at step one – traffic. Despite best intentions and some initial hard work, people are sporadic workers at best, and without some kind of immediate gratification, give up long before results come.

Worse still, many begin an Internet business with existing hindrances that plague their ability to perform – things like mortgages, full time jobs, families to support, ingrained self defeating belief systems, unrealistic expectations, poor work habits, an inability to let go of control or hire help when required, inferiority complexes, low self esteem or all manner of roadblocks can get in the way.

For those who persist long enough minor results come there way, yet after such a long journey and so much effort, they are disappointed and discouraged – they expected to be making better money by now.

Take It To The Next Level

Hard workers and people with talent often get the traffic part right and might even make some money with a front end offer or selling affiliate products, but they are working at full steam just to maintain that level. The idea of creating more product to sell for upsells and back-ends, creating sales pages, recruiting affiliates and doing even more seems impossible – the current workload is suffocating enough.

I can vouch for this because, while I’m successful to a degree (certainly above average), I am still not realizing a lot of potential – in fact I’d say I’m only realizing 10% of what I could achieve if I took the next step with my own business.

The advantage I have is I don’t see it as impossible to take the next step, nor do I feel that I am suffocating because I’ve built my business based on freedom before money. However, I do face a choice as to where my business is going to go next.

What Tiny Details Hold You Back?

It’s inevitable if I want my business to grow that I will need to make changes. The greatest potential for growth in any business is removing those things that hold it back, that constrain it. This is such a big issue that Rich Schefren decided to focus his entire new report just on constraints (I’ll get you the download link for the report at the end of this article).

As I stated earlier, it’s the details that stop people from succeeding at all points of the 3 step system for a successful Internet business. In my case, I’m held back somewhere around the step 2 and 3 area, although there is certainly potential to do a lot more at step 1 as well.

Here’s a list of the constraints holding me back -

1. Lack of product to sell: I’ve got a bunch of products that are near complete or merely ideas in my head to be created that I just never get around to implementing. As a result, I don’t have anything close to a fully developed sales funnel with upsells and a back-end.
2. No sales process for new products: Even with products ready to go, I can’t sell them until I have a sales page up and running with my shopping cart to take payment and deliver the goods. Plus you need autoresponders to keep the marketing system going for each new product and let’s not forget the whole “launch process” for each new product.
3. Maintenance of current systems: I spend most of my time keeping the status quo going and there’s very little work on new projects. I blog, support my paying students, promote affiliate products and fix things when they break.
4. I’m traveling: This one is understandable and will change soon enough, but it’s a constraint now because the little details (again with the details!) while traveling suck time too.
5. I’m holding myself back: Ultimately, as a big picture answer – I need to get a whole lot of stuff done that I cannot realistic do myself – I need the help of other people.

I could break each point above into more minute details, all the tiny things that need to get done that constrain my results, but I think you get my point.

Now, how about you?

Every business owner should be able to sit down and relate a series of constraints that hold them back, based on where they currently are with their business and where they want to go next.

I suggest right now you take a look at what you focus on with your business, what the next step is to achieve your next immediate goal and what’s holding you back from getting it done.

Care to share your constraint?

If you are brave – take a few minutes to leave a comment reply to this article and list your present constraints, where you currently sit in the 3-step Internet business system and what needs to get done next.

You Need Awareness Followed By Action

Thankfully, just be reading this article to this point and reflecting on your own business situation you are getting closer to figuring out what is stopping you from successfully implement the oh-so-easy 3-step Internet business plan.

Here’s a process you can go through next to keep the momentum going –

1. Become aware of the need for change
2. Determine what problem has to be solved next
3. Isolate the first step required to move towards solving the problem
4. Collect the required resources to take that first step
5. Execute

Rinse and repeat this to remove every constraint you have and you will be a millionaire. It’s that easy  .

Need More Help Dealing With Your Constraints?

Rich Schefren has just published his latest report – The Uncertainty Syndrome – which focuses specifically on the idea that constraints are what hold us back from succeeding at business to the level we desire.

If you like the ideas discussed in this article you will love his report. You can grab it here for free –

Download the Uncertainty Syndrome Report

What’s Next?

As always, I’ll continue to reveal my entrepreneur’s journey here on this blog as I attempt to deal with my constraints and take the next step with my business.

Whenever possible I’ll report back to you what I’m up to and my results, so make sure if you haven’t already that you -

1. Subscribe to my RSS feed
2. Join my email newsletter
3. And if you are Twitter use, follow my Twitter Feed

Yaro Starak
Taking The Next Step

This is not my own original work.  If you like the content, then please share!

Click Here to work with me personally on your own economy!

Rob Fraser

P.S.  Starting an internet business isn't easy but it's something that you own, create, control, and can be richly rewarding given your level of persistence!!!