Successful Blog

3 Steps to Start a Successful-Online Business

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Danielle Rodabaugh

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Take Charge

If you have a tech-savvy entrepreneurial spirit paired with an old-fashioned hard work ethic, starting a web-based business might be a great option for you. By managing web-based businesses, innovative entrepreneurs can work from home, set their own schedules and take charge of how much they earn each week. But what does it take to start, and then manage, a web-based business that’s profitable?

1. Choose a product or service in a profitable niche.

The first step to starting and running a successful web-based business is determining the products or services you should sell. As with traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, you’ll have to do a great deal of market research before you even think about starting an online business. If you want to make a profit for the long-term, you need to choose a market in which people consistently spend money. Then you need to find a niche audience within that market to specifically target online.

For example, my boss was interested in starting an online insurance company. He soon realized how difficult it would be to build one from scratch when so many national brands had already claimed substantial ownership of the market. So, he zeroed in on a very specific segment of the industry: bond insurance (http://www.suretybonds.com). This allowed him to market his company to a specific online audience that insurance providers had largely been ignoring.

You can determine whether a niche is profitable by researching keywords related to that market. A variety of free and paid SEO research tools can help you determine what your potential clients are looking for online. These tools can also give you an idea of what the competition looks like within the industry as a whole or one of its specific niches. Once you’ve gathered a comprehensive understanding of how your market works and what it’s missing, you’ll be able to develop a brand.

2. Launch a professional website.<.h3>

Once you’ve selected a niche that has the potential to turn a profit, you’ll need to launch a website that features your products or services. Although you could hire a professional web developer to create a fully customized website for your company, you might not want to invest a significant amount of your start-up capital on web design right away. If you want to keep start-up costs down, consider using a template for your website.

Free templates usually don’t offer many ways to customize the look, feel and navigation of a website; however, you can usually purchase a $100 template that offers a great deal of customization. These templates are simple for beginners to install, and many provide user dashboards that will simplify the way you manage your site’s layout, colors and other features.

3. Implement a commanding online marketing strategy.

Simply setting up a website doesn’t guarantee that customers will find your online business (http://www.sba.gov/content/setting-online-business); you’ll have to heavily market your company to garner traffic that generates sales. Paid placement advertising can drive traffic to your site immediately; however, doing so requires a substantial investment upfront. If you choose to use paid placement ads, start with a small budget and test your options before spending a ton of money.

Setting up free profiles on social media sites such as Google+, Facebook and Twitter is one cost-effective way for you to build interest in your business and attract potential customers. When you work with these sites, though, keep in mind that most of your interactions should build trusting relationships rather than promote products or services. You should focus on promoting your company though on-site content development and other SEO marketing strategies.

As a professional who works with entrepreneurs every day, I’m aware that many more factors go into managing a successful web-based business. However, I firmly believe that developing strategies to achieve these three goals from the beginning will give any new business owner a solid starting point.

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Author’s Bio:
Danielle Rodabaugh writes about surety bonds, business licensing and entrepreneurship at SuretyBonds.com. You can find her on Google+ or Twitter @darodabaugh (https://twitter.com/#!/DaRodabaugh).

Thank you, Danielle, for getting us started!!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Ask someone to dance

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Rosemary O’Neill

Ask Someone to Dance

There are so many small business owners and entrepreneurs out there, just plugging away, waiting for someone to reach out and invite them into the social media party. They’re excited, intrigued, and all dressed up, just waiting for someone to notice them.

The Gym is Crowded

The high school gym is sweaty, packed with breathless teenagers of all types. There is a gaggle of jock types over near the punch bowl, a gaggle of cool girls dancing as a group to Rock Lobster, and a slew of hopeful, terrified boys strung along the outer wall of bleachers. On the other side of the gym, against the wall, are clusters of shy girls, furtively glancing toward the other side.

Burning down the House


I have an idea. Let’s light this sucker on fire. Let’s run across the gym, grab one of those shy kids by the hand, and drag them out into the Soul Train line.

  • Pick one of your Twitter followers who has very few followers themselves and give them a FollowFriday this week.
  • Search for one of your customer’s blogs and comment on a post that had zero comments.
  • Know someone who’d be a great speaker? Email them the panel submission form for SXSW or another conference.
  • Ask to do a video interview with one of your colleagues who’s never done it before.
  • Find a way to shine a spotlight on someone who’s working behind the scenes (an IT person, a administrator, a great community manager).
  • Do you know a blogger who’s awesome, but just needs a little attention? Round up your Twitter friends and do a surprise “blog bomb” one day.

Report back, please…who did you ask to dance this week? Was it fun?

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for social strata — a top ten company to work for on the Internet . Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

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Thank you, Rosemary!

You’re irresistible!

ME “Liz” Strauss

Attention Bloggers – Three Laws You Must Understand While Blogging

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Arba Hana

The internet is not governed by any centralized legal body, however, that doesn’t make it immune to laws related to copyrights, defamation and privacy laws. Failing to adhere to any of these laws can land you in hot water, regardless of your location, mainly because online laws are of universal nature. Keeping these laws in mind is both a moral, and in some cases, legal obligation because everything you publish can be read by a global audience and you just cannot afford to offend anyone.

1.) Copyright Laws

Plagiarism is wrong, both ethically and legally. If you can’t write your own content, don’t bother starting a blog. Copying other work will result in some “cease and desist” notice, Google’s penalty, or even worse a legal suite. A copyright law passed in 1978 has declared all work published, doesn’t matter if it’s on paper or in digital form, it is automatically protected by copyright laws and there needs to be no specific mentioning of a “copyright protected” logo on the site that you are copying from. Therefore, bloggers are given automated protection for their original work and with latest software advancements, it’s quite easy to find out who plagiarized content and from where.

If you really want to include a certain passage or an entire article from another source then you must give citation. Don’t be shy of accrediting others for their work, you won’t lose your readers, instead they will appreciate you as someone who shares authentic information with its sources instead of just hogwash.

Not to forget the copyright when you are using images on your blog, stock photography websites are quite active when it comes to finding out people who are using it illegally and sending notices (e.g. Getty images)

So before you start blogging, you should take out some time and spend it on reading about copyright laws and its implications here.

2.) Online Defamation Laws

Online defamation is the publication of the information that directly harms the reputation of an individual or organization. It’s generally published with a malicious intent of invoking harm on to the victim. Even though the internet promotes a somewhat free culture, any site that indulges in publishing false defamatory information can face legal consequences. Religious defamation is the most active form of online defamation with certain regions being harsher than others. If you value your reputation and your life, do not indulge in defamatory activities especially on a global platform like Internet. Unless you are a journalist, a politician or anyone with a hold on verifiable facts and figures, you should steer clear from stating any rumor or false information on your blog.

At the end of the day, blogging should be more about constructive information. You should avoid defaming any individual/organization based on personally formed opinions. And it holds true for other platforms like Twitter as well.

3.) Privacy Policy:

All websites and blogs must have a clearly stated privacy policy. The policy is used to inform visitors about information collected and the sharing of that data with third parties. This could include sensitive information such as visitor name, email address, images and any other related data. You will be directed to publish a privacy policy whenever you are applying for an account at companies like 2checkout.com or moneybookers.com; even Google has made it compulsory for wannabe Adsense publishers to have a privacy policy on their blogs. You can search online for a number of privacy policy samples available for free, but you must give them a read and know your responsibilities as a blogger.

Always make sure your posts and publications are in league with laws and regulations of your country. As a responsible citizen, you are entitled to provide accurate information backed with verifiable facts and stay away from malicious content and activities.

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Arba writes on topics related to laws and regulations.  She’s working for a website that lets you find notary in all parts of US. You can search for the notaries by state or by counties.

How to Be Passionate

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Christine Kane

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Stay Passionate

I have found that it is difficult to stay passionate in this busy world. Our attention changes so frequently that we forget what it is like to focus in on one thing at a time. We forget what it is like to really love what we are doing at the moment, with a single minded attention. We forget how to be passionate.

As a writer, I get burnt out. I have to write about this over here and that over there and research thins topic and find out information and quotes about that one. I just get sick of thinking. I get sick of coming up with new ideas all the time, or regurgitating the old ones in creative ways. I just fry.

That is when I know it is time to take a break. I need a vacation. I need to center and get back to myself. When I am writing not because I am passionate but because I have to, my writing is going to suffer – guaranteed.

But how can you regain your passion? How can you get passion in the first place? Isn’t it something you just fall into or are born with? Well, no, not really. I think of passion like I think of love. True love.

How to Be Passionate

Cultivate passion.

  1. Passion is a choice – Like love, passion is not something you fall into. Yes, you can lust and you can be attracted to a person, just like you can be attracted to certain topics. But to really be ‘in love’ requires that a choice be made. A choice to move beyond “this feels good” to “I will work to make this always feel good”.
  2. Passion requires concentration – Like love, passion requires your attention. Passion will run at the slightest opportunity. It will flutter away the moment you take your eyes off it. Like a lover left alone too long, the passion will flee if left unattended or ignored. Do not get caught up in the distractions of life, the other topics you may be ‘attracted’ to, and forget your love.
  3. Passion requires feeding – Not only do you have to give your passion your regular attention, but you also have to feed it. You have to add more knowledge, growing deeper every day in your topic. Like a lover, you must learn more about them daily. See what they are thinking and feeling, and find out their needs and desires. Only then will the passion stay.
  4. Passion needs a break – This all sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? Well, it is. That is why, sometimes passion needs a break. Like a night out with friends, passion can handle some time apart, as long as it is limited. That does not mean you get to cheat on passion. No finding any other topics while you are away, okay? But you do get to give your body and brain a break and come back refreshed.
  5. Passion changes – Last but not least, passion changes. Like any relationship, nothing stays the same forever. Eventually you will focus on one area of your passion, becoming all the more involved in that. Other parts will fall away and be replaced. You passion can gradually change into something entirely different, and yet still the same. Like growing old with a mate, passion can change and be familiar, can get old and yet be no less loved.

Passion is universal. In love, in friendships, and in writing, passion is necessary to keep things vital and alive. Passionate work is the only work that will stay with you. It is the only work that you will ever really love. Others may not agree, but you know what you have written in passion is the best work you have ever done. Do not let go of that. Cling to passion and keep it lit. That is the way to keep your love for writing.

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Author’s Bio:
Christine Kane is a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about life, writing, and all things web, including internet service and you’ll find her on a variety of blogs.

Thank you, Christine! Great tips for keeping passion in writing and in life.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Rev Up Your Content Marketing with Effective SEO Strategies

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Brad ShorrWith continuous Google algorithm updates, it’s quite an effort for online businesses and bloggers to keep their website content in compliance and in the top ranks in search engines. How can you create content that works for your branding and marketing, while still being search engine friendly?

That’s why we’re glad to have content marketing and SEO copywriting expert (and Sobcon alum), Brad Shorr of Straight North Marketing, join us as guest host for our July Sobcon Twitter chat on July 19. Brad will help us demystify some of the SEO ins and outs as we discuss these questions:

1. Anything in recent Penguin Google algorithm updates that should concern content marketers?
2. What use of keywords and tags raises search engine alarms?
3. Other than keywords and tags, what are some SEO-friendly content strategies?
4. Any analytics that are best to watch in determining SEO effectiveness?
5. Are there tools or methods for checking SEO compliance of content?
6. What is Google Authorship & are there any tips for using it?

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to make your content more Google and SEO friendly.

Join us for our Sobcon Twitter chat on Thursday, July 19, 2012 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Central Time.

How to Fix a Bad First Impression in Business and in Life

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CHANGE THE WORLD

A Bad First Impression Isn’t Good

Change the World!

They say we don’t get a second chance at a first impression. I don’t know if I agree with that. I’ve sure had some wonderful relationships that started on the edge. Some even started completely wrong. .

I know the sinking anxious feeling, that realization that I behaved badly on first meeting someone. It could even be that I know that feeling better than most. Over the years, I’ve devised many forms of the bad first impression.

  • I’ve been overwhelmingly imposing by talking too much.
  • I’ve been under-whelmingly boring because I couldn’t think of a thing to say.
  • I’ve been distracted, bored, aggressive, disinterested, and even argumentative, like a debater.
  • I’ve assumed things about the person I just met.
  • I’ve tried to keep someone engaged when they clearly had to leave.

    • How to Fix a Bad First Impression

    In business, first impressions gone wrong can be costly. They represent jobs not won. Relationships that don’t make into our networks. People who tell their friends that we may not be a good fit with the projects their friends have going on.

    But likewise, in business, some the strongest relationships I’ve enjoyed have started with a problem incident – a bad conversation at a high-level meet and greet, an important first project not finished on time, a speaking gig where the presenter totally misread the audience but kept going on.

    I’ve been on both sides of a bad impression and neither side feels great. What I’ve found is if I focus on the person and the relationship it’s much easier to get to comfortable and common ground where we can start again. If I value that new relationship I need to take my mind off myself and see the other person — no matter which of us made the bad first impression.

    People experience how we make them feel. They might remember what we say, but they’ll never forget how we made them feel. So the best way to a wonderful new experience is to make the person feel how much you value who they are, what they say, how they think.

    Forget the event and focus on the person. Communicate that you care about fixing the situation because you value the relationship.

    It’s not hard to fix a bad first impression. Just care more about what you think about them than what they thought about you.

    We can change the world — just like that.
    –ME “Liz” Strauss

    If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

    Change the World!.