Think about the times when a new product came along and yet it took a while for you to embrace it. As time passed and you finally got used to the new and improved way of doing things, you eventually got a laugh or two out of how you resisted it.

Yes I said resisted it. Maybe not consciously but you definitely failed to change with the times at the rate they were changing. Example?

How about the calculator? Yes if you are old enough you are laughing right now. You, like me, are recalling moments when you were doing your check book going over the numbers with a painstaking attention to details. Checking and double checking to make sure it all “adds up”. And then suddenly ………………….

You look up and there it is sitting on your desk top. It’s that thing they call a calculator. After a big sigh and hand slap to your head you think to yourself “I know, why don’t I use this machine designed to do all of this for me”. And there you have it.

In time, after repeating the above scenario a few times too many, you have your calculator ready to go and with you immediately when it’s time to balance the old checkbook.

Or how about the good old days when you still used your typewriter to work up some documents? And then if and when you needed copies you went to a local store that offered copy services or had a copy machine for your needs. The awkward moment came when you realized how much easier and convenient the word processing program was in your home computer. Not to mention the convenience of a printer connected to that computer.

Yes even in the days of crude processing and a dot matrix printer it was so much faster and easier than the typewrite and copy routine. However, again like me, there were times you were on your typewriter and at some point you thought “why am I not using the computer?” went off in your mind.

Face it we could make a list of things and circumstances like this where it took time before you thought of the latest technology or concept as your first option. In fact it takes some people longer than you would think possible. The Internet is no different.

For instance think about the number of people who still use dial up for their Internet connection. No kidding. While even those among us who are at the back end of the change group consider dial up as archaic and obsolete there are still many who use it nevertheless.

Seriously this happens. Let me give you an interesting comparison. The digital scene burst onto the scene over 20 years ago. By the late 1990’s the idea of a digital only broadcast was inevitable. At one point the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), a broadcaster regulating commission in the United States decided to pick a time when all broadcasting signals would be in digital only. They chose Feb 2009 as the time when all signals would be digital.

This would have a major impact because there were still many people who still had a television that received an analog signal. And an analog TV will not receive and display a digital signal.

Now keep in mind the advent of cable TV had long been established and millions gradually embraced it. Similar to the examples of technology we used as examples earlier in our discussion. However tens of thousands had still not switched over. In fact some people procrastinated so much that the FCC even bumped the deadline back to June 2009 because of such an outcry from the procrastinators.

Just to spice the story up a bit, I should also point out that the US Government offered a $40 voucher toward the purchase of a device that would convert the digital signal so that your old TV could show a digital broadcast. So you didn’t even have to buy a new TV, you could just buy the “box”. The lesson?

There are always many among us that are slow to change or worse yet slow to take advantage of change. Now I am not saying that change for change sake is good. However we all need to learn when change is good. So what should this mean to you?

Ironically there are many, including some really smart people, who are not in full stride with the digital world. Many of us are not thinking of the Internet in the mindset that we should. Some of us are excited about the Internet or except that it is valuable but we are not on full board. And I can’t figure out why.

The million dollar question is not how do you view the Internet, it is does the Internet enter your mind immediately when we are conducting a business?

I address this question first to people who do not consider their business as an Internet business. In your business maybe your terrestrial store, publication, or service demands your approach first, as it should. Frankly in the times we live the Internet aspect should naturally be included. I am still surprised at the amount of businesses that discount the Internet presence.

Case in point I just saw an interview with a famous musical artist from Ireland name Van Morrison. Born in 1945, and getting into the music industry as early as the late 1950’s. George Ivan Morrison became globally know over time and has had some very popular hits. In this interview however he was very uninterested in the Internet aspect of music sales. He even said he had no plans of renewing his contract with download giant I-tunes. Morrison was adamant about “not being a download act”. Whatever that means.

Now he did claim that downloads made up a very small portion of his music sales, which is not a surprise for a few reasons. 1- his attitude tells you he puts absolutely no thought into how to be a download artist and 2 – he sees the Internet as beneath him in some way or that the Internet is evil in some way and 3 – his career was past its peak when the download market exploded

Honestly I believe he is missing the point. Times change Van Dude, you don’t sell much vinyl anymore either but that doesn’t stop you from selling good old fashion records. And you sold 8 track, cassettes and then CD’s featuring your music, what is wrong with taking it to the digital market with the same aggressiveness?

Part of the problem also is apparently as he got older he stopped buying music so he thinks his fans are like him I guess. For in the interview he swore that he only listens to music that predated and/or influenced him, which is clearly his prerogative. But really Van. Lighten up my man and let the youngsters enjoy your tunes in the format they prefer?

In the end, Van can do whatever he wants as any other business person can. And Van has made a nice living despite his wise or unwise business decisions. However you may not want to agree with Van the Man when it comes to the Internet.

The fact is the Internet is prominent and only carving a deeper trench into society. You will have to get on board eventually so why not get on board full steam now?

Yes, take some time and re-examine your Internet approach and your Internet presence. Don’t just gloss it over like many do. The fact is if you are, you are missing the digital impact and potentially the ability to maximizing your market.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

A recent credit card commercial tries to demonstrate the dangers of hidden charges or needless charges from other credit card companies by pretending the card holder is being ambushed by some outlandish form of intruders. For example one features a group of frenzied Vikings attacking an unsuspecting card holder.

Just as the invaders are about to pounce on the unsuspecting victims, the ‘would be’ victims display the advertised brand of credit card and the attackers are foiled. “Good thing they had the “right” card is basically the message.

The tag line at the end is “what’s in your wallet?” Today, in this discussion, we have a similar lesson to learn. And we will pick up our discussion from Part 1 of freelance work to point out that lesson.

Let’s re-visit the commercial again for second however. Part of the underlying message is that most people assume a credit card is just another credit card. Many feel they are all the same. And/or that it doesn’t matter if you look into the details of how each card company handles their accounts. The moral of the story that if you don’t review the contract, you never know what could happen and that you won’t be ready for it.

My friends of the freelance world, guess what? This may be your lackadaisical approach to your services and your Internet freelance business. Is it? Or how do you know if it is or isn’t?

The first way to tell is to answer this question. “What is in your tool box?” No, not the tool box in the garage, the junk drawer in the kitchen, or in the trunk of your car. No, what tools do you have for your freelance business?

For example maybe you are a freelance writer. Do you have the right tools to perform your job in the most efficient and productive manner? Are you aware of what tools are available?

As always we start with recognizing there is a certain value in education and experience. Not necessarily college or special high school courses. Of course those are viable options. However doing some research and study in journalism, storytelling or creative writing could go a long way. Knowledge and then experience = an important tool.

There are of course many article writing software programs available also. These programs will help you learn things beyond the actual writing; how to submit and market your work, for example. However, many of these programs can also help improve our writing.

Do you know of places to submit your work? That is also a basic and valuable tool. Do you have editing abilities or the tools to help you? A real life editor may be your answer also, but by all means understand that you can learn how to use editing tools.

Are you more of a data person? Then are you aware of the software and other tools available to be a top grade data researcher or compiler? Do you have the speed capabilities to help you succeed?

Maybe you are a copy writer? Maybe you are a script writer or a story teller? A blogger? Doesn’t matter. You still need the tools.

You need SEO tips and practices, marketing ideas, as well as using the fancy schmancy applications that go with it. What kind of writing are you interested in or what type of writing would you be willing to do?

As we previously addressed there are many directions you can go. In addition to writing sales, scripts, blogs, or stories there is also journalism, product reviews, tutorial, or informative writing. Again you need a platform for this.

There are tools that help you to locate work or create opportunities for your writing. Just as there are programming tools that can enhance your writing. Including tedious tasks like spelling and grammar. Sometimes the spelling and grammar checks in your “word” or document writer are not very extensive. Not that they are bad or not helpful. If you want to step up your writing however, you should consider a more thorough tool.

Among the tools you acquire don’t forget the business end. You should have items like a letterhead, a nice invoice, contracts, business cards, rates, references, work samples/clippings, phone & fax machine, and a program to maintain your accounts.

I would also suggest that you use something like PayPal to receive and send money. In fact since the Internet is the key to your success and the hub of your work, you could perhaps streamline much of your activity and relegate as much as you can on line to free up more business time on line.

For example order your supplies on line and do as much shopping on line as you reasonably can. While we are on the time subject consider this. Time is another vital tool you need. Make sure you use it wisely in all phases of your operation.

Remember as a freelance writer of any type there is more than writing involved. In fact any type of freelance work is more than just performing the service you offer. You must care for the marketing, billing, accounting, web presence, communication, and so on.

Yes whether you are into freelance web design, development, graphics, photography, video, audio, editing, data, advertising, promotional material, logo building, marketing, illustration, writing, blogging, production, imaging, and the like make sure you have or know of the tools you can use for your success.

What’s in your toolbox?

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

I showed up at the rehearsal with my guitar and rig. My rig consists of my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, my Line6 PODxt, and my Shure58 Beta microphone. My guitar is a 1997 Les Paul Studio. My purpose in being here is to audition to play with a band in need of a temporary guitar player who was in an accident. I am a hired gun.

As I set up and we get ready to play, one of the band members looks at me and asks “dude why doesn’t your guitar have strings?”

Could you imagine if that really happened? Do you think I would get many gigs if I did that?

The fact is you may be guilty of this with your web business. Let’s take the freelance entrepreneur as an example. He may have some knowhow and some ambition but does he have the tools to do the best job possible?

Yes the tools for the Freelancer and his gigs are as important as all the things I mentioned above for a guitar player trying to get some jobs with a band.

Now there are many tools out there. So part of your job is knowing what tools you need. Then it is a matter of getting them and using them properly.

Naturally there is quite a diversity in freelancing so obviously the list of tools is not an exact science and yet there is a general direction in which to head. Just like a keyboard player would not bring exactly the same items as a guitar player. And yet the principle is the same. And as you can see we are breaking it down into a couple parts to cover the basic concept.

So let us throw out a few examples. Let’s say you are a freelance web designer or developer. What’s in your toolbox?

Most likely you are armed with some education and experience. You undoubtedly have created or use a publishing platform. You perhaps are versed in computer language and coding. For example you could have the use of HTML down. You would benefit from any number of software items as well.

You could also make wise use of a variety of plug ins and add ons. Things like macro media flash players for example. This would include graphic tools and applications. You should have a variety of colors and fonts to choose from and use.

Have you ever heard of web design tools like “Fireworks”, “Dream Weaver”, “Adobe Photoshop”, “Panic Coda”, or “Firebug”? Do you know and use “Accessibility tools”? Do you know and use “color tools” and “Cascading Style Sheet tools”? How about “Validating tools” or “Informational Architectural tools”?

How about tools related to linking? What about the use of any of a number of miscellaneous tools that could be classified outside of the categories above. Like an SEO Analysis tool for example?

What if you are a just a freelance artist? Things like Photoshop, or any number of graphic tools would be a must. Good scanning ability would be just the beginning for you. And of course you have many direct illustrating tools available. Yes you can draw on a device that immediately displays your art work on your screen. You thus can skip the scanning phase if you can master the art utensil directly connected to your desk top.

Illustration and art is often linked with skills like animation and other high end graphics. All of which has a market rich with software and accessories to do your thing. Do you have those tools if you perform such services and skills?

Of course we can include freelance jobs like photography, video, and audio specialists in the mix also. These jobs also have some awesome tools at your ready. Along with tools like Photoshop and other magnificent photo programs you have a amazing editing tools for pictures, video, and audio. And so on.

If you are a game designer, a straight up video, or audio producer there is a software “buffet” out there. In a related area this is great news for musicians and recording engineers trying to freelance their skills in the recording business. Just look up a program called Pro Tools. Many if not most professional studios are equipped with this software and the additional tools that go with it.

The intriguing thing in the freelance world is, another valuable tool is one another. Yes often times freelancers are profited and benefited by one another.

Take for example our first example of a web designer. It is not uncommon for a web designer to seek out the assistance of illustrators or photographers. Or perhaps they need some music or video they want to add. You get how this works now? .

As we pointed out this is just part of the freelance world. We can revisit this some more in a future discussion. On the meantime get busy!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

How many times have you watched an infomercial and said to yourself “yeah right I bet that product does that”?

Objectively speaking, the over the type cheezy sales pitch is an attack style ad hoping to influence a compulsive and impulsive buyer to phone an order in immediately. And the philosophy is to “get the sale anyway you can”. And it is often successful.

But when the product falls far short of customer expectations and/or the purchase experience is disappointing, you are establishing a “doomed to fail” scenario for yourself. No one can survive being “less than advertised” over the long haul. Yes you can make some money initially but the lack of professionalism is going to catch up and bite you in the buttocks. Is this what you want?

Sadly it appears you have this type of approach going on in the Internet recruiting scene. For example many subscription or member sites offer recruiters a “finders” fee for getting people to join their site. Of course there is nothing wrong with this. There is often a problem however.

Too often these sites do not meet expectations and leave people very upset and out of a few bucks. The site often makes promises that simply are not realistic or the site has a theme that does not meet the initial description. At times included in this scenario is the difficulty of terminating your subscription. Sadly that’s not all.

Usually linked to these experiences is an unprofessional effort in the recruiting style, everything from false and/or misleading statements to spamming sprees. There are even extreme examples of people resorting to hacking into your Internet server and intercepting your efforts to go to a desired site and sending you to sites that they may be receiving pay per click compensation for. That is obviously sinking to one of the lowest levels possible to recruit people to a web site. And at times the sites are of a racy nature, as in pornographic, which many enjoy but many do not. So it is nice to have chosen the site as compared to being taken there against our will.

But it does not have to get that level to be considered unprofessional as we have already explained. So the question what are your recruiting practices?

There are of course various levels and multiple types of recruiting too. Naturally if you are involved in corporate recruiting you already know how important it is to put your professional foot forward. But it doesn’t hurt to have a reminder and examine our approach to be sure we are doing just that.

So ask yourself “am I” thorough in my research of potential recruits? Do I give the recruit accurate and enthusiastic presentations? Am I aware of the market trends and market values? Do I have creative and unique ways of making recruits feel wanted and needed? Do I call back when I say I am going to? Do I keep appointments? Do I avoid cut throat measures to lure a recruit?

And, for the Internet recruiters trying to sell a subscription to a web page: What do you really know about the site or sites you are trumpeting? Is lying to people or misleading people really worth $20? Is leading people to a frustrating and difficult experience worth making a few bucks? How much do you know about spam? Do you realize how short lived any so called success will probably be? Do you realize that eventually people will know what you are you and whatever limited success you have will dry up?

Now in the cases that we are talking about legitimate sites there is even more reason to be on top of our game. How well do you understand marketing? Do you separate yourselves from the weasel recruiters? Do you offer accurate and exciting information? Do we lay out short and long range goals that are realistically attainable? Do we avoid the lie of you will get rich from this guaranteed? Do we make guarantees that just aren’t likely?

For example let’s say you discuss the site or sites you are recruiting for on a forum. Do you explain the value of a site in a professional manner? Or do you go the lazy infomercial style route of “this is the greatest site ever” or “get rich quick from this site” style? Do you imply people should trust you just because?

Remember people are inundated with dead end proposals so they are rightfully leery of yours if you do not professionally represent yourself and the site or sites. And for those who are not used to the sale pitches out there you have the opportunity to give them the real deal. You can show them the good and professional side of the Internet and the wonderful advantages of the World Wide Web!
Plus don’t you want to make wise use of your time? Don’t you want to try and raise the value of your time? While it is true that the more people you expose to your message may increase the opportunity of a response, the fact is it is more than just numbers. It is a mix of quantity and quality!

Don’t just get “a” message out. Get “the” message out there. A professional message. Build a professional and meaningful reputation. If you do this professionally, then even a simple site will get a loyal following. Of course you have to professionally apply a wise marketing plan along with your professionalism.

So recruiters look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself “am I a pretender or a contender?” Am I a professional? If you continue to tweak and fine tune your professional approach you will be a successful recruiter.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

Picture this. You have been traveling over the hill side and through the winding worn in trails of the forest. Your horses are taking you and your family from your farm to the closest town. As you approach the gate of entry you see people coming and going as life in the town is bustling.

The excitement is now building as you enter the town. Riding through the main street you see crowds of people wondering through the marketplace. They are buying any number of things from the local vendors. Farmers have brought in produce and grains, the blacksmith has horse shoes and furnace tools, some women are displaying quilts and clothing materials, and on and on. People are buying and selling all around you.

In fact from the days currency became a part of society people have been buying and selling things. The amazing thing is however that the Main St or Town Square has grown into a global community all because of the Internet. Add that with the effective delivery capability and you have yourself an open marketplace.

In order to be successful as an e-tailor you also need to maintain a proper degree of professionalism. Even in the picture we painted above those vendors worked hard at earning a reputation of giving good services and offering quality products.

Okay so you have your web page operating and you are selling products on line. How can you be professional?

For starters how does you web page look? Is it easy to follow? Does it show you put some thought into it? Can I tell pretty quickly what you are? Yes a brief description of who are you and what you do is always a professional approach.

Are your products easy to sift through? Do you offer simple descriptions of your products? Is the price clear? Is the information accurate? Too often people find things on line only to find they don’t have it anymore. It is important to keep your site up to date.

Are your delivery methods clearly stated? Are all the options well stated? Are you 100% on top of your deliveries? Do you have top notch and reliable delivery procedures? Will the product arrive when you say it will?

How about your return policies? Are they easy and reasonable? Are you a pleasant experience to deal with?

Are you available for questions or problems? I cannot believe the amount of sites that do not provide email or phone numbers in plain site. Your customer shouldn’t have to waste hours trying to resolve a problem. Of course there is nothing unprofessional about providing an FAQ section on your web page. Oftentimes people can resolve or answer their own question by visiting the frequently asked questions. But some people want to speak to or correspond with the people who sold them the product. And why shouldn’t they be able to?

While many of these things may appear to be common sense the fact is it helps to have a reminder now and again to be a professional and remember what it is like to be a consumer. After all they are giving you there money.

So don’t forget things like having a simple payment procedure and not misrepresenting anything about you or your products. Remember you can form a bond that may lead to many more sales if you are professional and accommodating. Return sales are a significant part of retail in fact. And return sales are largely based on customer satisfaction. So it is undeniably worth giving your site and your business practices the professional touch.

Ironically this will also set you apart from your competition. Because just as sure as we are encouraging you to be more detailed and professional there are many who do not think it matters or that it is important. They will continue to let down their customers and present themselves in a uncaring manner and wonder why they are not doing well. Or they will be too lazy to take a few moments here and there to review our business methods.

But you don’t have to be like that. Hopefully you won’t be. Hopefully this article will motivate you to maintain a professional image. And don’t kid yourself into thinking that it takes an extraordinary effort to follow through with this plan of action. Because it really doesn’t.

In all honesty it usually is a result or mixture of knowledge and caring. Do you possess both?

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

It’s Hammer-Time! Remember Hammer-Time? You music hip-hoppers do!

Known by his mother as Stanley Burrell, he became a famous pop star artistically known as MC Hammer. The height of his career started in the late 1980’s and carried somewhat into the 1990’s.

Aside from his rap style pop music he had a flare for costume style grooming. He was very famous for the flamboyant Hammer pants. They were his version of what was called parachute style pants. To many it was probably ridiculous. Some maybe even were turned off by his act and his dress. However others were obviously attracted by it.

Frankly these types of things are usually calculated by a marketing team. Ironically he likely did it in the beginning “just because”. Stanley was probably just being Stanley. But believe me when he was signed by a label everything he did was reviewed and examined.

You see the fact is any and all type of business has a target market. Sure you would like to appeal to the masses but that is rarely the case. I mean even something as simple as owning a restaurant follows the creed of knowing your market and targeting that market. For example a pizza shop does not try to appeal to the crowd who prefer fine dining. As well McDonald’s doesn’t focus on health food nuts in their ads.

Ironically MC Hammer and his management lost their target somewhere. Because over time his audience changed and he did not change with them. Primarily his music was geared toward the youth, as most music is, but more of a inner city crowd. Often made up of urbanites. More black and Spanish kids at that. This mostly is because it was believed that this audience would be more likely to purchase his music.

Over a course of time however the inner city urbanites were buying a darker and more edgy style rap music that had a different message than that of MC Hammer. His audience meanwhile was becoming a predominantly “white” suburban audience. Now that in itself was not a bad thing. But his sales were dropping because the “white” audience at that time was not as hip on the hip hop. So sales were not up to par. Of course it may also be that his style was just not fresh anymore but that is hard to quantify.

But the fact is he hurt himself by not being on top of his audience or adapting to the changes. To make matters worse, he tried to regain his original audience by becoming edgier and more “street wise”. But it was too late and came across disingenuous by the audience he was trying to get back. And then his new audience was also lost.

What is the lesson in all this you must be asking by now? The answer to that is simple. Don’t make the same mistake that old Stanley and many others make. Be true to yourself but also be aware of your target “audience”.This will lead to the need to be flexible.

Now being flexible can be tricky to some degree. For one thing it is not an exact science. On the other hand there is plenty of margin for error. It in fact can be fun. Hey and sometimes life and business is all about riding the wave as long as we can make it last. So don’t be intimidated or worried about being flexible.

The reality is that your Internet business can have a longer shelf life than a music career. But like music and many other industries, things change. People like the same thing over and over but they also like new additions and fresh ideas. The challenge is maintaining your identity while creating an evolution of development.

It doesn’t have to be drastic nor do you have to reinvent the wheel. The good thing is that this means you are not locked into a box either. You know the old cliché? Think outside the box. Well here is your chance.

Yes being professional doesn’t mean you have to follow a rigid formula or that you cannot take chances. Take the examples we gave earlier. Even MC Hammer rode a big wave for awhile. And during his ride he was a professional in his field while being flexible. He pioneered a look, some dance moves, and provided some entertainment for a whole generation.

Or take McDonald’s. While they are not a health food restaurant they put their fingerprint on franchising and broadened the scope of a fast food eatery all at the same time. And they have stepped out of the box a time or two while doing it!

What about you and your Internet business than? Are you web blogger? Then continue to refine your writing. Do you provide your readers with content they want from you? Do you keep it fresh and consistent?

Are you a web designer? Do you design a web site geared at enhancing the business it showcases? Or do you just build a site that you feel comfortable with? What a web site needs is to reflect the personality of the company or blog that is displaying. You need to provide that in a professional manner. Yet at the same time you need to push the envelope to the degree it works. Nice challenge! And worth every minute of your effort.

Are you a Virtual Assistant, a Freelance Contractor or a Consultant? Again do you know what your target audience needs? Are you always trying to improve your abilities and offer more efficient services? Are you willing to change when change is beneficial?

And the list goes on as well as the questions and challenges do. The principle is not as much what Internet business and service it is that you offer. It is the professionalism that you put into preparation, maintainability, flexibility, and paying attention to your market and its needs.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

“Can you give me a hand?”

Isn’t a great feeling to be able to come to someones rescue? Especially when it is an area of your expertise. And guess what? You don’t have to sit around and hope someone needs your help. Because the landscape is chock full of people who need your help. Especially via the Internet. That is your cue.

Yeah, we live in a do it yourself world and there are plenty of assistance programs. But in the end there is still quite a demand for virtual assistants and independent freelance services.

The fact is that more and more companies are turning to VA’s or contractors. For many this is a way to cut the expense of an in house staff. It also allows for the hiring of someone who specializes in the area of work that needs to be done.

Hiring a VA brings many benefits all around. Overall the bottom line is you usually get a professional result and you do not have all the obligations that go with having an employee. And the fact that VA’s can do much of their work via the Internet opens the market. You can offer your services worldwide for instance. And vice versa, companies can seek VA help from the world over at competitive pricing.

Considering that the VA covers areas from word processing, database management, and Internet research to medical and/or legal transcription gives you an idea of the scope of the business. But that is not all. Many VA’s do things like email marketing, bulk mailings, reminder services, information processing, and the like. And many are adept in web design and development. And then you have VA’s that provide event planning and meeting set ups including Internet meetings.

And there are VA’s that provide desktop publishing, editing, writing, and bookkeeping services. The best part is that if you capsulize all of this together you can see why the demand is growing for most of these services. Yes the stock is up in the Virtual Assistance and Independent Freelancer.

According to some reports I saw, VA’s claim to make an average of $25 an hour. Of course that varies on what services you provide and the area in which you are providing such services. For example a company in New York City will probably be prepared to pay more than a company in Fargo, North Dakota. And it may also depend on you competition to some degree.

For example if a company is Internet savvy and regularly uses Internet VA’s from around the world they will have a broader base to draw from. And people from various countries will desire an income relative to the country they live in.

For instance I have a friend from Florida, USA that uses a Virtual a digital illustrator from Argentina. For starters he is very, very good and he is very reasonable because he is from Argentina. Of course all of this is part of the learning curve of using and being a VA or any other type of independent Internet service provider.

The irony of this business is that the changing and fluctuating economy is pointing a neon arrow into the direction of hiring a VA. And for those who understand what it means to be a professional you will stick out even more so.

Yes the harsh reality is that a percentage of people offering virtual assistance are lazy, unreliable, and have a poor work ethic. This only makes the professional all the more desired and sought after.

Hey don’t take my word on this. Take some time and do a little search engine search of your own. See how the VA market has expanded.

Which leads us to another angle. You successful VA’s out there you may be missing out on an opportunity. Yes do you know there are qualified and top notch workers out there that are bad at finding work. And here you are turning work down because, well, you are just one person. LIGHT BULB!

Why not find some of those valued workers and sub out some work to them. You can make a few greenbacks just for getting them work. And check this out. When you want to take some time off you will have someone or someones to farm out some work to so that you don’t get behind or totally lose out on income! Yeah baby!
You see how all of this comes together? It’s a virtual no brainer. You just need to do your homework and also upgrade your skill set to fit the demand or demands. Oh and there are plenty of places to get the training needed as well as how to learn to market your services.

So giddy up VA’s and get a move on!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

Recently in the USA a wee hour car accident by a global golfing superstar became headline news. Here upon as you were reading the first sentence you immediately knew I was referring to the now infamous Tiger Woods. Likewise some of you were thinking that you are tigered out about all of his whole scandal and wondering why I brought it up.

Lucky for you we are not here to discuss the story. Actually I want to discuss what I see as an even bigger story with a farther reacher impact. The fact is that there is a reason why this story blew up so fast. That is because of a blog! No really.

Thirty Mile Zone is an entertainment web site that was launched on November 8 of 2005. Most of the world knows this site as TMZ. Now regardless of your opinion of what is dubbed as tabloid news the fact is this blog is breaking news stories. Yeah they still have their gossipy treats but just in the last 6 months they have been in the front of the media pack with 2 monster news stories. No kidding!

You bet, not only did they crack the previously mentioned Tiger Woods story but a few months back in July it was this web site blog that was reporting that Michael Jackson had died before anyone else had. Now the point here is not to brag about TMZ and them breaking news or having the scoop before anyone else.

What we are stressing here is the fact that the Internet “blog” industry has grown from the mindless Internet banter to being a part of the mainstream conscience. You can’t watch TV now without some reference to a blog. Whether it is in the plot of a story or quoted as a source of a story.

In essence it has become an integral part of our daily vernacular and people often quote or credit a blog in general conversation. The concept and the acceptance of the blog is also seen in how it is woven into entertainment programming. Face it the blog has evolved into more than a novel idea that is here to stay.

Yes the blog is no longer just an alternative outlet. Indeed blogs are now reviewed and digested as a part of our routine. This should be super-duper news for us bloggers! No doubt the interest of reading blogs is going to continue to rise. Yes the stock is up and rising in the blog world!

That is exactly the reason why blog writers and/or blog developers are tickled pink and upbeat about the opportunity this evolution provides. Yes as the blog is now anticipated that means the blog business is more and more feasible and attractive. No, most of us won’t become as successful as TMZ but that is not the point is it?

The beauty of this is it gives blog operators a new lease on Internet life. You can be small potatoes and still make a nice income. Whether it be a career or supplemental income there is room to grow and flourish. And the market is widening. That does not mean that it is becoming over crowded. No it means it is becoming more diverse.

Let me illustrate. Let’s say you are a musical artist. You have a CD and there are 5 radio stations that play your music. Now say your music is “labeled” as Country. Now in this illustration we are pretending that all the music published is played on these 5 radio stations. Continuing let’s say that you have hundreds of artists showcased and featured on these 5 stations and the stations are succeeding as a result. And everyday there are budding aspiring artists ready to cut their teeth in the market. All of whom are trying to get their music played on those stations.

And while there is opportunity for those artists it is a obviously competitive market. However due to the progress, interest and increasing profit of these stations more radio stations are developed. In addition the established and the new stations become more diverse and begin to design programming based on music genres. You see where we are heading here?

It’s simple. The growth of the industry opens the door for more people to get involved. This makes it more inviting and hopeful for new artists. Not to mention the demand for related work that will require the hiring of people to perform those jobs.

No, not all of the artists will have the same success as others, nor will all the related jobs pay a lot of money. It goes without saying, which is unrealistic, but it does give the market and people who want in on the market a warm and fuzzy feeling. And it should.
This is basically what has and continues to happen to the blog business. One way to sum it up it is to describe it with the old cliché “success breeds success”.

What does all this tell us blog writers and/or operators? It tells you that your investment of time and effort will pay dividends in due time. The interest, applications, and usefulness of blogs are clearly embedded in society and more and more people are embracing it.

This is outstanding news. Now is the time to re-focus on your blog efforts and build a promising following.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” You’ve heard that expression haven’t you? What does that even mean?

In a nutshell it is actually a compliment of sorts. You basically are demonstrating that you picked up on a custom and you jump in on the action. It is kind of like saying “I want to be a part of your experience. So I am sharing in your culture.”

And there are many applications of this old adage as well as some good times had when we apply it. Practically speaking we sometimes pick up on these idiosyncrasies because it is perceived as appealing or perhaps successful and/or beneficial. Sometimes a practice or custom that started in one region can even spread abroad and become universally embraced.

This happens all the time in business. We live in a copy cat world as a matter of fact. Today we are going to consider how this has happened in the E-commerce industry.

How high is the stock now for E-commerce? Oh it’s very strong and rising. Everyone from individuals and their small web store to major retailers and manufacturers are using the Internet. Does that make it big?

Here is the skinny my web friends. In the USA a tradition started many years ago that has been dubbed Black Friday. I am sure most people have heard of it. If not, let me bring you up to speed real quick.

For many years the Christmas shopping season was considered officially started after the Thanksgiving holiday. Every year Thanksgiving is on the 4th Thursday of every November. Many retailers found that on the Friday after the Thanksgiving (the following day) was so successful that it often put there yearly sales in the black in there accounting books! Thus Black Friday marked the beginning of profit making for the commerce world. It blossomed into where stores now traditionally offer unique sales and quirky promotions to kick start the shopping season.

But again this was all predicated by a successful pattern that had been set. Well for the last 2 or 3 years the retail industry in the USA now promotes the Monday that immediately follows Thanksgiving as Cyber Monday. This means that on that Monday special “Black Friday” like promotions are featured for On -line shopping. This season many retailers turned it into a Cyber Week campaign. Honestly it appears as if they made a bigger push for the On line sales than they did for the conventional shopping.

They would not bother if they did not see the success and the potential for even more success. Yes many stores are really benefiting from On line stores. What about for the independent E-tailer?

Make no mistake about it the Indie on line store merchant is also cashing in on this trend toward more on line purchasing. In fact in some ways the Internet helps the little guy not seems as little. You aren’t Wal-Mart but when people surf the web they don’t care how big your store or warehouse is.

Plus the convenience is a major magnet to the Internet for shopping. If your bored or sick at home or taking a break at work the Internet is right there. And we all know how easy it is to type in a search for a specific item. But wait there’s more.

It is also very easy to type in for ideas or suggestions for purchases. For a wedding, party, holiday, anniversary, just for the heck of it, or a “honey I screwed up gift”. And it is so much less stress to search on-line than to be bothered by a sales person in a store.

Think about it as silly as it is many people are guilted or pressured to purchase items they can’t really afford but on line you don’t care. You don’t have to face people and feel like you have to explain why you bought the cheaper model. And travel time is cut out for the shopper!

And taking things back or returning them? No problemo. If it is chain store you can just mail it back or bring it to the local store. If it is an Indie on line store returns are all part of the gig.

So in review what do we have here? Okay I sort of went in and out of the perspective of the shopper and the merchant. However I was trying to give the 360′ degree view of the E-commerce business. The fact is the advantages for the shopper means rising stock in the E-commerce market. The more incentive the shopper has the more people will shop on line and more frequently they will do it.

And you the on line merchant, what can you do? When in Rome do as the Romans do? Learn from established on line stores and use your inner shopper to help develop some shopping incentives. Make it easy as possible and inviting for people to patronize your on line store. Don’t be intimidated by the Big Boys and Girls. Remember on line you can roar just as loud if you want to or execute a sound marketing strategy.

So by all means when selling on line do as the on line sellers do! The stock is up in the E-commerce realm and it isn’t coming down.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

So there you are out on a date with a wonderful woman who frankly is not that physically stunning. She has a cute face, but it’s her bubbling personality and her genuine inner beauty that has captured your heart. As a result she is looking better to you everyday.

At dinner a quiet moment presents itself and you want to compliment her. You have already told her this evening how nice she is dressed and how it enhances her beautiful face. You have swooned her with remarks about her charm and you just want to lay one more solid encouraging note that she can see that you think things are looking up.

Without thinking however and the pressure building you blurt out the words “hey I am amazed at how little you sweat for a fat chick”. Right at that moment you have the look of “oh my lord please tell me I didn’t just say that out loud”.

Ironically to your pleasant surprise she bursts into laughter and says to you “that is incredible how you can feel so good about us that you can joke about my weight!”

Suddenly you realize wow things really are looking up! When it comes to your relationship, your friendship, and your romance your stock is up and it’s rising! And who can’t be inspired and motivated by that?

And the same can be said about any other pursuit in life, can it not? So we are going to take a look at how the Internet Business landscape is also in good shape and the stock is up and rising in markets and fields they may interest you. We will mainly target what we have identified as the Big Ten here at Bevyhost. Not to be confused with the USA Big Ten NCAA athletic Conference. WE ARE PENN STATE! Oh sorry ………… I lost myself there for a minute.

Before we analyze and consider the Stock Up aspect of the Internet business market let’s set the tone first. Recall the fictitious scenario I laid out in the beginning.

We set the premise as things were already going well and you wanted to reassure your gal or guy that things were on the rise for the better. And when it looked like you stuck your foot in your mouth the result was that things were better than even you thought. Imagine the likely direction things would take if that was a real life scenario?

But the story also shows you how perspective, brutal honesty, and seeing the direction things are going is a great motivator in life. Steady improvements and developments keep us focused and heading in the right direction. And if we slip up it is nice to see that when we landed it didn’t hurt as much as we anticipated. In fact whether we suffered a mild set back or not we were anxious to get back on our feet and right the ship as they say. Get back up on the horse. Or whatever metaphor you prefer.

Ask yourself as you get in front of your computer screen am I getting anywhere? Is there anywhere to get? Where is the market heading? Are the trends good and is the foundation still in place? What do I really know about market I chose to pursue? Do I understand the raw numbers?

What are my goals? Is all about the money? Do I enjoy my field of interest? Is my success or failure hampered by my attitude? Can I change that if it is? Do I have reasonable goals and expectations?

These are the types of questions you need to have answers for. These questions are all the more reason we need to see how the stock is up and the trends are looking good. We can then make adjustments or be rejuvenated about our web business and area of pursuit.

Let me emphasize that the purpose of this exercise is not to blow smoke up anyone’s buttocks. We are not going to investigate these angles just to give false encouragement about the state of Internet business. We are not getting paid to endorse any Internet niche, field, or specific on line business model. We are not here to give you a false positive or to manufacture a Tony Robbins style motivation to try our hands in the Internet and its various genres.

No, quite the opposite. We are here to look at reality. The fact is there are things to be encouraged about when it comes to the Internet and what it has to offer. That does not mean there are not flaws or things to beware of. There is no escaping there are some things we will have to adjust too. Remember our happy couple in the outset of our discussion?

The gal in that scenario had some outward negatives such as her weight. But the gentleman who was wooing her decided to take in all the variables and make a decision based on everything this lady brought to the relationship. As a result he saw a bright future despite the few potential obstacles.

This is the bottom line of what we are going to present. No the Internet is not perfect nor is it easy as pie. But the stock is up and things are very encouraging. Check back and check out the good news.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

And the world continues to go round and round. The amazing thing is that technology continues to bring the world closer and closer. The Internet is a prime example of that. Not to mention it is at the forefront of it all in many ways.

In some ways it has exceeded projected predictions. Some of the applications have enhanced more than the area or niche they were targeted at. The Social networks are a classic example of that.

Obviously the key role the social network sites were created to bring social connections to a different level than ever reached before. Of course, in the beginning many have seen it as a crafted teeny or pre teen outlet. An adolescent “web hookup” I some people’s eyes. Making the first and loudest noise was Myspace.

It wasn’t long before it grew from the “kid’s only Net playground” to a viable marketing and social network. Yeah you read correctly, a marketing tool, one worth looking at and learning from.

In the Close up series we are putting our focus on seeing examples of what people are doing with the ideas that we are interested in applying. Today’s example is Myspace. Remember we took a look at Facebook and Twitter in Part 1.

Now this is not to say you have to have a Myspace page, no, but it is a good idea to see what social networks have to offer and how you can use them. So let’s get on it!

In my opinion Myspace is an outstanding outlet for musicians. So as our first example let’s use a random musician and their web page. First up is http://www.myspace.com/katevoegele. Go ahead a pull that up.

Now, one really great thing about Myspace is that it has been around for quite a while now and the do it yourself lay out choices are a plenty. In fact there are sites that have been created to the customizing of Myspace sites. So when we pull up Kate Voegele’s Myspace page we are seeing her touch, or her people’s touch.

One common feature however on every Myspace page is the “Add to Friends”, and “Contact Me/Send Message” options. Now these are very important on a social site as you want to build up your network so many others will then have a chance to learn about you. For a musician like Kate that is paramount. And as a result she has been very successful in promoting her music through Myspace.

You will also see a place to view photos and videos which is very easy and beneficial to do. She also offers a music widget box. That is also a great tool for musicians to promote themselves and their songs. You can also use your widget to showcase other artist’s music that you enjoy.

Notice as you scroll down she features her shows and her own blog. Myspace also allows you to advertise links. You will see how she takes advantage of that and promotes her music and merchandise through banners. This is a valuable tool for you also. Whether you are a musician or have another business, be sure to feature your links and display your links or your affiliate links on your page. This of course works regardless of it is a Myspace page or another social network page.

Just to demonstrate that it is not all about music check out http://www.myspace.com/walmart_myspace. And then you have this example http://www.myspace.com/heinzketchupbottle. Both sites are examples of how a die hard following can lead to big things.

And then you have the official style pages like http://www.myspace.com/gibsonguitarcorp on the corporate level or http://www.myspace.com/appleipodsny on a store level. And then you have “small” businesses at http://www.myspace.com/laptopbaby. Or something like http://www.myspace.com/bobstarwebdesignsis another example.

In fact take a look at the variation of how they use Myspace for their marketing. I thought bobstart had a truly clever and eye appealing delivery, a nice use of flash and imagery. They also give you the adequate link to their main web site. The great thing is they have enough eye candy to deliver the message as well as the right mix of information. It is not too much and it’s not too little, very simple also. All of these are essential and very useful. They are words to live by.

Now with more emphasis on business you also have the social business network sites http://technorati.com/ and http://www.linkedin.com/. A simple example is http://technorati.com/people/BevyHost.

We can discuss some of the specific features of these sites in future articles.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

Okay so the more familiar phrase is climbing the social ladder. But for today’s discussion we are going to review the use and the benefits of the social ladder, more specifically the social network that has exploded on the Internet scene.

From individuals, to celebrities, public figures, to corporations, we have seen the bandwagon of using social sites become a necessity in promotion, marketing, networking, and just getting your “name” out there. And why not? It is very successful. I just got an electronic memo from the creator of Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, saying they have surpassed or reached 350,000,000 users! Kudos to you Mark.

Anyhow the question is: are you using the social network sites? It isn’t just a trendy thing to do anymore you know? Although I am shockingly amazed at the amount of people who ask: “what is Facebook?’, or “Myspace”. Or “what is a Tweet?” Are you one of these people lagging behind a bit? (LOL)

Well our Close – up focus today is going to remedy that. By taking a look at some actual sites on these sites, we are going to examples of what they are and how they are used. It will also give you an idea of what you can do with them.

Disclaimer time: Listen up my friends. Remember this is not an advertisement for anyone. This is simply examples of what people are doing and a “model” that you can learn from. It is also proof that is successful and effective quite frankly.

Anyhow, let’s start by looking at http://twitter.com/bevyhost. Yes our Twitter site. As you take a look see at our Twitter site I want to explain something to those who have never been to Twitter. The use of Twitter and the general lay out is the same for every single Twitter page. Now that does not mean that every Twitter page looks exactly the same. The layout is the same.

You have flexibility with the background and color combinations. Note that the title of your page is prominent and you can, as we have, put your logo or a photo next to the name of your page. Under the main section, basically in the center of the page is a scrolling page. On the left side of the page that you can scroll up or down is a series of brief messages which are called “Tweets”. Each “Tweet” can be a maximum of 140 characters. You can use those “Tweets” to interact with other Twitter members and/or promote your site/business. Which you should be doing if you’re not already!

In the scrolling section and in the right column you will find a brief bio along with a person’s name. That is usually the person managing the Twitter page. Also most pages offer a link to their site of interest. Back to the “Tweet” section on our (Bevyhost) page you will notice that we wisely use a number of our “Tweets” to highlight reasons to visit Bevyhost.com. And other sites we wish to direct people to.

In your case you too would highlight your business and any other affiliate or partner, or maybe just something of interest to you. But you get the general idea. But just to get the flavor check out:

• http://twitter.com/ComcastSports
• http://twitter.com/CALISTATOOLS
• http://twitter.com/WeberChevrolet
• http://twitter.com/walmart_shop
• http://twitter.com/Jonasbrothers

Above I mentioned Facebook and I should clarify that using Facebook for promotion is a little trickier. They do not have a direct business page. In order to promote a business and/or business site you need to have a personal site and create a page link. Then people will have the possibility to access your business link page and become a fan of that page.
An example is this site set up to feature a blog of an American Major League Baseball Team, the Philadelphia Phillies.

• http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Philliesmaniacom/122509288854

If you pull up this example you will see a lay out a little more detailed than you saw on Twitter. Part of Facebook is similar in some ways. It can have the similar purpose but it is more extensive. Let’s take a look at some of the features and ways you can use it for your marketing strategy.

When you visit Facebook you will have these business link pages accessible to you to visit. When you go these pages you will see the name of the business and page and an image/logo also. If the site manager provides it there will be a comment next to the user name of the site. It can be a fun comment or a marketing line or anything in between. The manager and the visitor’s can use the “What’s on your mind?” box to join in or add comments.

Through the middle section are a few options. You have a message “Wall” as one of them. The “Wall” is somewhat like the “Tweet” on Twitter. Only it is not limited to 140 characters. The “Info” option allows the link/page sponsor to give the official URL and an overview and company mission. The “Photo” option is pretty self explanatory. And a 4th choice is “Discussions” in which you can start a thread or a topic, were others can participate. Actually the “Wall”, along with personal messages, is open to visitors to contribute to.

Along the left is a column that provides site related information. You have a box that you can offer a brief description of what your objective is, a section where people can see who your fans are.

On the other side, in a column on the right is as section that offers ad space for other business pages on Facebook.

All in all the interaction between visitor and the site management is always a good idea and successful. The “ongoing” concept is also a great idea because it is an incentive for people to continue to come back to see what you and others are posting.

Another good provision by these 2 sites is you can set it up so that you are updated through an email account of new activity. These social sites also are easy for your “fans” or visitors to pass on your link to their friends, which is always the most reliable source of advertising.

Oh but there are more. As we mentioned earlier you have the well known Myspace and there are others to take a look at. The truth is you can get a fine start and learn a lot by carefully reviewing Twitter and Facebook. And keep in mind regardless of what Internet business and/or Internet presence you are planning to maintain you should be interested in the social network ladder and be prepared to use it.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.