•A Typical Frustration In A Home-Based Business
A Typical Frustration In A Home-Based Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
The source of frustration addressed in his article may be all too familiar if you happen to work at an Internet-based home business which relies on personal relationships and/or teamwork.
I am often contacted by members of my business team with a tale of woe regarding a lack of response from their affiliates. It typically goes something like..."I send out lots of emails to all of them and I very rarely get any response....
•Advertising Your Home Business With Pay Per Click Can Be Risky
Advertising Your Home Business With Pay Per Click Can Be Risky
By Kirk Bannerman
An unfortunate byproduct of the pay per click advertising business is click fraud. Many people with an online business spend large amounts of money on pay per click advertising only to discover that many of the people clicking on their ads weren't really interested in their products or services.
Bogus "visitors" to a pay per click ad represent click fraud. This is a serious scam that threatens the...
•Aiming At The Home Based Business Bullseye
Aiming At The Home Based Business Bullseye
by: Kirk Bannerman
Traffic is one thing, but targeted traffic is everything.
You have no doubt seen dozens of offers similar to "10,000 hits per hour driven to your website!". This type of website traffic is completely untargeted and will undoubtedly result in a very low conversion ratio. It's basically "throw it up against the wall and hope something sticks". The big incoming numbers give the illusion of progress, but you will achieve better...
•An Online Home Based Business Is Not Rocket Science
An Online Home Based Business Is Not Rocket Science
By Kirk Bannerman
A few years ago when I first started my online home business I didn't have a clue regarding how to go about it. I had never done any Internet marketing, and didn't know anything about websites or search engines or any of that other online business stuff...in short, I was a complete rookie. In retrospect, the two major things that really helped me was that I refused to be intimidated and I kept a realistic...
•Dealing With Search Engine Stress In A Home-Based Business
Dealing With Search Engine Stress In A Home-Based Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
As a member of several search engine optimization forums, I have recently noticed (especially since Yahoo recently decided to try their hand at competing with Google) that the stress level of many webmasters has gone way up. This applies not only to webmasters involved in Internet-based home businesses, but to webmasters in general.
Additionally, it seems that many people that are in the business of search...
•Get Real … The Necessary First Step Before Starting A Home Business
Get Real … The Necessary First Step Before Starting A Home Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
I have helped a large number of people start up their own home based businesses using the Internet. Over time, I have come to recognize two of the most important factors for identifying people that should NOT start a home based business. If a prospective entrepreneur says something like…
“I’m broke and need to make some money…fast!”
or,
“I want to start a home business, but I don’t want to spend...
•Google Slavery...Old Habits Die Hard
Google Slavery...Old Habits Die Hard
by: Kirk Bannerman
For the first few months after Yahoo decided to go their own way with natural search (and MSN decided to get serious about the search business), the search results provided by those two could only be described as bizarre. Enough time has now passed that the dust has somewhat settled and there are three main (from a traffic standpoint) sites for quality natural searches.
The term "natural search" is to distinguish true searches, as...
•Identifying Work At Home Success Characteristics
Identifying Work At Home Success Characteristics
by: Kirk Bannerman
Do people that are successful in home based businesses share some common characteristics and, if so, what are the primary ones?
The dictionary defines successful as:
having a favorable outcome, or
having obtained something desired or intended, or
having achieved wealth or eminence
When applied to a home business, I think the definition of the word successful involves a combination of financial gain, time...
•If You Don’t Like The Weather…Just Wait Ten Minutes
If You Don’t Like The Weather…Just Wait Ten Minutes
by: Kirk Bannerman
This old saying which addresses the variability of the weather in Montana is also applicable to the market dynamics for an online business. If there is one thing that is certain about the future of online marketing, it is that it will continue to change.
A generation in Internet marketing seems to last 12 months or less and therefore it is very important for online marketers to reassess their marketing plan frequently....
•It's The Same Deal For Both Search Engines And Real Estate
It's The Same Deal For Both Search Engines And Real Estate
by: Kirk Bannerman
It's all about location, location, location!
In the past...back in the days when Google was IT when it came to natural search results...everyone was very focused (or shall we say obsessed?) on Google page rank.
Now that Google is a public company and the search business has become competitive (most notably due to the serious search capabilities now being offered by Yahoo and Microsoft, via MSN), Google has...
•I’ll Take Quality Over Quantity Every Time
I’ll Take Quality Over Quantity Every Time
by: Kirk Bannerman
In the early days of developing my home business, I went for the numbers instead of focusing on targeting prospects. It took me a while to appreciate the importance of targeting (quality) instead of just going for the big numbers (quantity).
For online marketing, it helps greatly to get your website in front of people who are actually looking for the product, service, or opportunity that you are offering. This refers to the...
•Pay Per Click Search Engines - A Fundamental Overview
Pay Per Click Search Engines - A Fundamental Overview
by: Kirk Bannerman
Forbes magazine reported that pay per click ads accounted for $1.4 billion in 2002 and are expected to increase to $8 billion by 2008. The fundamental core elements of a successful pay per click program are constant monitoring, analysis, and refinement.
Pay per click search engines offer a way to buy your way to the top of search results for any term you wish. With proper management, and a clear focus, pay per click...
•Pull Them, Don't Push Them
Pull Them, Don't Push Them
by: Kirk Bannerman
This article is primarily directed toward people who work at home in a business that happens to involve network marketing.
I am often contacted by members of my business team with complaints regarding a lack of response or lack of action on the part of their affiliates. Their complaints typically go something like..."I send out lots of emails to all of them and I very rarely get any response and it seems like very few of them are taking...
•Quick, Easy Money...And Horse Feathers
Quick, Easy Money...And Horse Feathers
by: Kirk Bannerman
Enter the horse feathers.
Does it ever end? I've been involved with Internet-based home businesses for some time and I continue to be exposed to a seemingly endless barrage of offers (all costing me money, of course) claiming to be "the secret" for making a fantastic income, in a very short time, and with very little effort involved.
I must admit that I may have a slightly self-serving reason for addressing this topic. My...
•Search Engines: The Life Blood of Internet-Based Home Businesses
Search Engines: The Life Blood of Internet-Based Home Businesses
by: Kirk Bannerman
Anyone involved in an Internet-based home business will soon come to recognize the importance of search engines as a vehicle to attract potential customers.
Since the inception of Google in 1998, the popularity of using search engines has increased dramatically. Nielsen NetRatings reports that about 114.5 million Americans, or a whopping 39 percent of the US population, currently use search engines....
•Selecting Your Work At Home Business Opportunity
Selecting Your Work At Home Business Opportunity
by: Kirk Bannerman
I started looking for viable work at home opportunities back in 2001. It was a time consuming process, but in retrospect, I give myself a pat on the back every month when I cash the check from my home based business. The purpose of this article is to perhaps help others make their selection with a little less time and effort than I had to expend.
Having spent many years running traditional "bricks and mortar" type...
•Starting A Home-Based Business
Starting A Home-Based Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
There are numerous reasons why people choose to start a home-based business. Some of those reasons include:
1. Dissatisfied with their present employment situation.
2. Out of work due to being laid off or downsizing by their employer.
3. A need to be home more with young children, an infirm family member, or aging parents.
4. A yearning to be their own boss.
Whatever your particular reason for exploring a home-based business, there...
•Starting Your First Home Based Business
Starting Your First Home Based Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
Over the last few years I have helped thousands of people start their own home based businesses. Many of these folks have become quite successful and others, for various reasons, have failed to achieve success.
People starting out in their first home based business adventure almost always suffer information overload in the early stages of trying to get their business up and running. I often refer to this as the "taking a drink...
•The Biggest Temptation When Working At A Home-Based Business
The Biggest Temptation When Working At A Home-Based Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
From what I have seen and experienced, to quit is the greatest temptation during the first year of working at a home-based business. If smoking was like working at a home-based business, the occurence of lung cancer would be dramatically reduced.
It is a known fact that a majority of the people that undertake a work at home business do not achieve real success. There are several reasons for this, but one of...
•The Three Main Powers Of Network Marketing
The Three Main Powers Of Network Marketing
by: Kirk Bannerman
Network Marketing, 'MLM', and Multi Level Marketing are all terms that refer to the same type of business model. This industry has had more than it's share of scumbag crooks and con artists that have used and abused the concept. However, if you do your homework and get involved with a legitimate network marketing organization, this business model has exceptional income potential.
Network Marketing can produce outstanding...
•Three Key Facets Of Successful Network Marketing
Three Key Facets Of Successful Network Marketing
by: Kirk Bannerman
Network marketing has many aspects, but promotion, persistence, and patience are three key elements which are critical to achieving successful results.
PROMOTION is the lifeblood of network marketing. Whether you are using online methods or offline methods, or a combination of both, you must constantly strive to get your offering in front of a targeted audience.
There are thousands of published sources that deal with...
•We Are Right In The Middle Of A Pay Per Click Baby Boom
We Are Right In The Middle Of A Pay Per Click Baby Boom
by: Kirk Bannerman
No, this baby boom will certainly not swamp the Social Security system (sort of a bad joke for those that live in the United States, but many other countries...most notably Japan...have an even more acute problem), but this baby boom is revolutionizing the way that pay per click advertising is being spread across the Internet.
One of the early participants in this pay per click baby boom was Google, with its...
•Work At Home, But Don't Become A Slave To Your Business
Work At Home, But Don't Become A Slave To Your Business
by: Kirk Bannerman
Although the expressed reasons for wanting to work from home are many and varied, most home based business owners cite the ability to set their own hours as a major factor in their decision to work at home. However, many people that have work at home businesses often fall into a trap that flies directly in the face of their stated desire for time flexibility.
The strong growth in home based business activity...
•Working At Home...Should It Be A Job Or A Business?
Working At Home...Should It Be A Job Or A Business?
by: Kirk Bannerman
You have decided to work at home (either by choice or necessity) and now you are faced with the decision as to whether to pursue a work at home job or to start a home based business. That may sound like a minor distinction, but the differences can be significant.
A general psychological characterization of the entrepreneurial spirit, says they are typically people who have a high energy level, set long-term goals, feel...
•Working At Home: The First Year Revisited
Working At Home: The First Year Revisited
by: Kirk Bannerman
For reasons that escape me now, I kept sort of a diary during my first full year of working at a home based business. It was nothing close to being a complete daily diary, but was more of a collection of scribbles about things that I felt were worthy of note at the time. Since quite a bit of time has passed since then, I decided to revisit these notes.
In no particular order, here are some of the things that I had made note of....
•You Really Can Make Money With Your Words
You Really Can Make Money With Your Words
by: Kirk Bannerman
Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I bring up the subject of writing articles, I often get a response like "I'd rather have a root canal, I just can't write", or "my spelling is horrible and my grammar is not much better". In my view, the first excuse is just a matter of attitude. The latter excuse falls on deaf ears because the major word processing programs have good spelling and grammar checking...
•Your Home Business...Choose It Carefully And Then Really Work It!
Your Home Business...Choose It Carefully And Then Really Work It!
by: Kirk Bannerman
I've had many active and enthusiastic business team members that were their own worst enemies because they exhibited the classic "flea on a griddle" behavior pattern and jumped around chasing one business opportunity today, and then another one tomorrow without ever putting in enough sustained and focused effort to reasonably give themselves a chance to succeed at any of them.
I can really relate to this...
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