http://www.businessalone.com/ Home based business resources, strategies and tools for the solo business owner en Copyright 2010 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:52:32 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss One of the most frustrating aspects of web business is trying to figure out problems to customer response rates on your web site. Why are my customers getting lost online? Why are they not responding to my ads? Why are my offers being ignored? The challenge of this puzzle is figuring out what parts of the web site need to be fixed. Is it the offer itself? Are my navigation signals unclear? Is my offering price too high? Is my offer language boring or uninspiring? Is there a problem with my ordering system? You see, it seems that there are an endless number of little variables that could be hindering sales at the web site. Often, trying to figure out where the roadblocks are is a difficult and frustrating exercise. ]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/what_to_do_if_folks_just_dont.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/what_to_do_if_folks_just_dont.html Advertising Business Principles Classified Ads Graphics - Design How to . . . Niche Sites Online Helps Selling Testing and Tracking Web Site Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:52:32 -0700 I'm going to give you the URL (web site address, in case you're unfamiliar with the term) of a great resource for brainstorming small solo business ideas. There are many other nice features and helps at this site, as well, so be sure to browse around and spend some time there when you have a few minutes. There is an index with 27 main categories of small business ideas. You can click on any of those main links to be taken to a more specific targeted business idea. For instance, one of the main categories that might be of interest to a lot of home solo operators is one called "Arts and Crafts." Clicking on "Arts and Crafts" will take you to a new page (two pages actually) that has an index of 74 (at the time of this writing) arts and crafts related businesses. Here are just a few interesting examples: art prints, belt buckles, charcoal portraits, coloring books, hand painted pots, lamp shades, mirror art, seashell jewelry, wall murals, wind chimes and wood carving.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/cant_come_up_with_a_good_busin.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/cant_come_up_with_a_good_busin.html Business Ideas Example Businesses How to . . . Niche Markets Retail Store Start a Business Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:25:04 -0700 I have often been asked about the effectiveness of "buying" customer service in a small solo business. Solo owners want to know if putting forth the extra effort to become stellar at giving outstanding customer service will really increase their business bottom line proportionate to the cost of taking the time to rise above mediocre or "standard" and expected service. There is no doubt that excelling at customer service carries a cost and every business owner must absolutely be keenly aware of all the costs associated with her business. But my feeling has always been that an owner can't afford to decide whether she will choose excellent customer service or not . . . that decision was already made when the owner decided to go into business! You see, customer service is a mindset, a style of doing business, a method of operating that shouldn't be thought of as an added component to a business that can be turned on or off at the owner's whim. ]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/excellence_in_customer_service.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/excellence_in_customer_service.html Business Principles Business in General Competition Customer Service Internet Services Niche Markets Owner Traits Start a Business Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:35:12 -0700 Taking on a business partner is a serious step. Regardless of the project type or business arrangement, you as a business owner should be very cautious that you understand WHY you are trusting your business reputation (and possibly your business health) to another individual. The old phrase "getting in bed with a stranger" is certainly appropriate for your consideration. Family members, friends, old associates, and others that you have some sort of "tie" with are dangerous partners particularly because you will tend to let your guard down when you scrutinize the move to share your business. You may believe that all of these people can be trusted and that they would never do anything that you don't approve. Watch out! Regardless of your partner's intent and innocence, you can't afford to take a chance on letting another human become the master of ship (i.e. your business).]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/are_you_considering_a_business.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/are_you_considering_a_business.html Affiliate Programs Biz Opps - Make Money Business Principles How to . . . Joint Ventures Owner Traits Start a Business Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:24:18 -0700 The type of fraud I'm referring to is credit card or payment fraud as opposed to things like embezzling, tax evasion, or product scams. The Internet presents a special environment for payment fraud because transactions take place all over the globe often without one or even two parties being physically present to inspect or insure that everything happens as it should. Anonymity enables dishonest people to become bold and brazen. Credit card numbers and individual identities are stolen everyday by the unscrupulous. Web sites and shopping carts are hacked in every industry. Abuse of the payment system is commonplace nowadays.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/can_you_prevent_or_avoid_fraud.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/can_you_prevent_or_avoid_fraud.html Automate Your Biz Business Principles Computers E-Commerce Financial Management Fulfillment - Download How to . . . Merchant Accounts Ordering Retail Store Security Selling Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:32:38 -0700 Who hasn't received a mailer that included an offer to purchase a product or try a service with the stipulation that all you have to do in order to activate the offer is peel off a pre-printed label and stick it in the box marked "I ACCEPT" and then send it off in the mail? Direct marketers send millions of these post cards or printed coupons everyday and have been doing so for many, many years. Why? Simply because they get response!]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/have_you_ever_tried_a_bounce_b.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/have_you_ever_tried_a_bounce_b.html Advertising Business Principles Classified Ads E-Commerce Ezine / Newsletter How to . . . Marketing Media Niche Markets Selling Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:13:38 -0700 Often a web site privacy policy is overlooked, thrown together in haste, or altogether omitted as the site owner is anxious to move on to more glamorous and creative aspects of developing a business home on the Internet. Privacy policies are sometimes akin to the "fine print" of most lengthy legal documents - something to be tolerated and considered, but probably there only in the extreme case that the user really cares about such things. I believe, strongly, that the site's privacy policy is very important and something that can greatly enhance the visitor's sense that the site owner really can be trusted - that he/she really does care about the confidentiality of the visitor's personal information.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/does_your_web_site_have_a_soun.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/07/does_your_web_site_have_a_soun.html Blog Business Principles Business in General Computers E-Commerce How to . . . Niche Sites Retail Store Web Site Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:06:42 -0700 One of the most overlooked steps in web site publishing, product creation, and article writing is the "chore" of first doing market research. It's a chore to most people and therefore it is often neglected or shunned altogether because performing the research takes time, a certain amount of "know how" and definitely some amount of your precious time. But the consequences of not first doing research are almost always negative and will certainly cost you time and money in the long run.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/sources_of_help_for_online_mar.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/sources_of_help_for_online_mar.html Backend Products Business Ideas Business Principles How to . . . Information - Content Marketing Niche Markets Products Testing and Tracking Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:28:12 -0700 Yes, bumper stickers have been in use for a very long time. In fact, they continue to be an excellent strategy for small business because the cost of employ this strategy is minimal but the exposure it can give your business can be great! Who doesn't notice and read unique bumper stickers? Yes, there are many boring, ugly, and hard-to-read bumper stickers. The impact that these stickers have can be minimal. But circulate some fresh, eye-catching, humorous, and outrageous bumper stickers for your business and you may just unleash a wonderful branding and marketing campaign!]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/advertising_that_works_bumper.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/advertising_that_works_bumper.html Advertising Competition Freebies - Bonuses Headlines How to . . . Marketing Media Publicity - Releases Selling Web Site Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:28:47 -0700 Today's post is a bit of rambling about a principle that all of us seek and can, at least to some degree realize, regardless of how our business endeavers pan out. Of course, from the title of this post you know the principle in mind is that of SUCCESS. Whether or not you feel that you are a success really depends upon how you define and measure results that you consider to be successful. Whether in business, life, in your marriage, in your relationships with family and friends, or wherever your "counting" takes place, the level of success you reach is often determined by the standards you set.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/success_in_business_as_well_as.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/success_in_business_as_well_as.html Business Principles Business in General E-Commerce Media Mentoring Owner Traits Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:40:49 -0700 Buyer beware! Many a novice business owner has charged into the pay per click advertising world (PPC, for short) with high expectations of mega targeted traffic at small cost and come away with an empty wallet, few or no sales, and a vow never to waste money again in that arena! One of the keys to solving the PPC dilemma remains hidden from many folks view. Usually the campaign owner focuses on keyword strategies and maximizing ad placement.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/if_you_decide_to_use_pay_per_c.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/if_you_decide_to_use_pay_per_c.html Advertising Classified Ads Copywriting How to . . . Keywords Pay Per Click Ads Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:49:27 -0700 The folks over at the Better Business Bureau commissioned a study in 2007 of the adult online shopper's most important issues. It seems that approximately 60% of those surveyed are primarily concerned about two things: (1) that their personal information could be stolen and sold online or reused by someone else, and (2) that their credit card information could be hijacked by some unscrupulous operator (59%).]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/the_folks_over_at_the.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/the_folks_over_at_the.html Business in General Computers E-Commerce Marketing Online Helps Security Spam - Bulk Email Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:00:45 -0700 Of all the tricks and strategies that direct marketing professionals have devised over the years to increase sales and push prospects to take action at crunch time, maybe the ultimate trick is employing the "scarcity" factor to a product or service. When a product is limited (scarce) in availability, it's value skyrockets dramatically. Most of us understand the reasoning behind using this tactic and I can guarantee you that at least 90% of the online product offers and "launches" that you'll encounter will use one or more scarcity tactics in the sales message to get you to buy.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/how_to_force_your_prospects_to.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/how_to_force_your_prospects_to.html Advertising Business Principles Competition Copywriting E-Commerce Freebies - Bonuses How to . . . Information Sales Marketing Products Selling Traffic (Web Site) Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:37:40 -0700 Like most new and innovative things, Internet business for many people seems to be nothing more than a fad, a fancy, a fleeting hot topic that will soon cool off and die in obscurity. Many computer savvy folks have yet to make a purchase online and some still hold to the notion that the dot com era will soon be over for good. They reason that e-commerce online is not secure, too much of a passing fantasy, and something that they can easily do without.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/small_business_on_the_internet.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/small_business_on_the_internet.html Automate Your Biz Business in General Competition E-Commerce Marketing Niche Markets Retail Store Selling Start a Business Web Site Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:06:30 -0700 You know I have often commented that "you are the business." Of course I'm talking about the fact that your business reflects your own personal ideas, traits, quirks, tendencies, and ability to be successful or not. You are the solo creator, the founder, the operator, and only employee of your one man/woman business. Without you, and everything that you know, do, and are, your business is nothing. There is no business if you don't make it so. That can either be a great asset or a debilitating burden.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/is_your_business_looking_like.html http://www.businessalone.com/2010/06/is_your_business_looking_like.html Business in General Niche Sites Owner Traits Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:51:46 -0700