“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!

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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No matter where you are at work or play, there is always that guy or girl who is doing things just a little different. And when they are asked what they are doing they often reply, “I’m doing my own thing”. Maybe you are one of them folks who like to do your own thing or “live to the beat of a different drummer” as they say.

Sometimes it is not so much that you are different as it is you have your own pace of doing things. Or you prefer answering to yourself. Or you work better doing what it is you do best. And there is a market for you.

That is because sometimes people just need what is called a mercenary or a hired gun. They just need someone to complete a specific task for them and that’s it. Over time the world of independent contracting was born. In some fields these contractors are called freelancers.

In the Internet world freelancers are most common in the writing, photography, graphics, design, and programming areas. But whatever the field is, the reality is that the freelancer is already doing it or pursuing it. The more pertinent question is how to promote your services and skills.

Part of what we discuss here is the promotion and application of Internet freelancers. But sometimes seeing is another way to grasp the tips, suggestions, and concepts. So the Close – up series is featuring some sites that are related to the various applications of Internet business. Today we are looking at the freelance world.

Keep in mind, as we look at the examples, we are not analyzing the business on the site but just getting a feel for presentation. We are not endorsing or advertising the company or implying you should not visit this site for their business. It is just an example of how to set up your site of a similar pursuit. And some of the examples we present also may be outlets to utilize for your own venture.

So off we go. Pull up a tab for http://www.ifreelance.com/. Like some Internet businesses, a freelance service is a service that uses the web for advertising and promotion. Ironically you can also use the Net to do your thing. This site is providing a place for people to find freelance services and to offer them.

The Home Page is like a directory. The logo is at the top to the left with the site title iFreelance. Across the top to the right is a tool bar menu where you can seek help and contacts as well as log in. Log in? Yes this site is a member site.

The site is broken into two main categories. Topics inviting “buyers” or people looking for freelance help or “providers” of freelance services. The left column has menu boxes for both and a third menu box for the member. Below that is the valuable search bar. And under that is a banner ad that leads you to an affiliate site. A benefit to your site and theirs.

Two sections in the center/right also feature people from the buyer and provider world. The left section showcases service providers and the right section is presenting jobs looking for providers to complete. They are there for members to bid on or express interest in. The bottom of the home page offers help to freelancers find freelance jobs.

There are other freelance sites set up as a directory that are helpful also. And if you are setting up a directory you should check a couple more out. But what if you want to set up your site to promote yourself?

Honestly the vast majority of freelance providers are offering their services via the directory. Probably because the buyer is trained to look there. Now that is not to say that you can’t set up a simple site that features you and your talents. It is just not going to be as easy to promote your service solely from that site. In fact if you click on some of the freelance providers bidding for jobs posted you will find the company behind the bid.

I randomly picked an example of a gentleman who offers freelance services for animation and music. His name is Dave Poler. His web page is found at http://www.davepoler.com/. Let’s go there for a sample of how he promotes himself and his freelance work from his own web site.

When you get to the first page you find a clever option. Since his work involves more complex work he has things to present that require a flash program. But Dave also knows that many people who search the web are not as up to date as he is. So he offers you the option of a Flash version of his site or an HTML version. Nice touch and one that should be considered if you like the bells and whistles. Remember not everybody can upload a heavy flash site.

The home page for the Flash version is very simple and artsy. He offers video files of his work. He also has a short menu of where you can read his bio, his discography, his live videos, and how to contact him. If you go to the HTML version you get a simple text giving you the same menu options of bio, discography, videos, and contact. And you can try and launch the showcase from there. But if you can’t upload it at least you can still find the pertinent information about Mr Poler and his work. He has quite an impressive resume by the way.

Now it is clear that Dave is not using his site for affiliate income. He does not provide any ads for other sites. This one reason I chose him. Not everybody is interested in the same approach. Dave has his music, his video, and his animation freelance work that he is focused on it appears. This may be your approach as a freelance provider.

Another random example is found at http://www.keynoteonline.com/. This site features the freelance services of Deborah. She has a nice eye catching and yet very simple web site telling us about her and her work. On the Home Page is a nice box that makes it look like we are looking at a page in a book. And if you read the 3 word description of what she does you get the image and it’s connection. She offers Typing, Proofreading, and Editing services.

Under the header words she has a smart little nugget to get you to read the entire site. She invites you to a contest or challenge of sorts. She tells you there is a typing error somewhere on her site and that you will receive $50 of free service if you correctly find it. Contests or offers are always good for a web site. And if you can find a creative way, like her idea, of doing it that is all the more power to you.

She provides a to the point About me page along with Past Projects, and a Contact Me page. She added another cool touch by giving you an Eye/Brain exercise page. It was informative and fun. At the bottom of each of her pages she reminds you that she has been successful at her job for 30 years. This is a good idea. She doesn’t make it look like she is bragging or impressing you but she is telling you she is confident and experienced.

Deborah also is not using her site for affiliate ads. And again she appears to be satisfied with keeping her freelance business as her #1 priority. Both her site and Dave’s I cannot imagine require a huge investment and cost either. Both sites have a subliminal correlation between the appearance of the site and their area of expertise. That is important and another reason why the Close – Up series can be helpful to all of us Internet entrepreneurial freelance tigers.

You know who you are. Freelance guns for hire ask yourself am I maximizing the directories and keeping a solid Internet presence?

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If you ever had a yard sale you know it is much more successful to have a community yard sale. In addition to getting the word out on a larger scale, the fact that there are multiple families hosting a sale is more of an incentive for visitors to stroll by.

Well this principle is not lost in many niche markets. As you surf the web you will find many associations, groups, society, and so on in such markets as songwriting, poetry, and arts/crafts. Today we are going to take a close – up look at the arts and crafts arena.

In order to help us get an idea of how to present and arts and crafts web page we are going to take a look at a couple web sites in the arts and crafts niche. The first site we are going to visit is also an example of the community concept we started our discussion with. So not only is it an example of presentation but it may be an outlet for you to help jump on this community to help boost your own exposure and the arts and crafts market all together.

Let’s visit the Arts and Crafts Society at http://www.arts-crafts.com/. The header is very nice and in the spirit of expression and the arts. The logo of sorts is very inviting and the artsy font is classic. Immediately you are given a tool bar with some interesting options.

• Articles: A variety of topics are discussed and provided.
• Events: Give a schedule and some brief history/description of events.
• Marketplace: Features a chance for crafters to become a part of what they call “the movement”.
• Bookstore:Offers a wide array of publications related to Arts and Crafts.
• Forum: Is an opportunity to share and learn as you have discussions with others like you. (Also FAQ)
• Homes: An interesting twist I thought. This presents arts and crafts homes for sale

On the home page there is a left column that is a menu providing information connected to the web site articles and events concerning the Arts and Crafts Society. In the middle of the page you have a welcome section describing the intentions and mission of the Society and their web site. Following the Welcome, and continuing in the middle the site gets right into articles.

In a column to the right they offer a craftsman spotlight and then tease you with some things available in their bookstore. Nicely tucked in between these 2 features is a link to the site forum.

Okay it is always valuable to offer a mission/welcome statement that explains and gives people a reason to get excited about your page and what it has to offer. Their “Welcome” paragraph is very good, concise, brief, and enticing.

The variety of things the site offers is well presented. None of the pages are overly cluttered and confusing. They walk a nice line between being a society for a genre and offering help and exposure to participants. With that in mind the forum is very beneficial. Yes a forum is helpful to your site and helpful to those who contribute and follow along.

The site is very light in the affiliate ads although selling books and offering artisans exposure is a type of affiliation. But you do not have many banners or ad tag lines.

Now take a look at this site http://www.urbanartsandcrafts.com/ . This is a snazzy looking site that has pages with a scrap book appearance. This site is an on – line supply store that is run by the Urban Arts and Crafts store in Kansas City, MO USA.

The tool/option bar across the top from the right toward the center gives you categories to click on.

• Beads
• Yarns
• Papers
• Ribbons
• Buttons
• Fabrics

They provide their email in a clever tacked on note and offer some gift ideas in a ribbon box. They offer more links on their site under the choices of -

1. Shop
2. Look
3. Learn Something

Overall their use of images and photos in the scrap book style is very innovative and theme related. Each page has more choices that break down the categories for you. There is plenty for the beginner and the expert. The site is also presents the personality of the owner. That offers a fresh and committed touch.

So all you creative people take notice! You are not alone, you have a wonderful community. You have a market of creative consumers who are looking for product already made and people who want to get their hands on. Review these sites and learn from the way they present and work in conjunction with their business aim.

Then cater your site to your needs and goals!

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Who hasn’t uttered the words “if you want something done around here, you got to do it yourself”? Come on, raise your hand and admit it. Practically speaking there are times when that is true and there is nothing wrong with that.

So here in a recent series of articles we have been taking a look at tangible examples of existing web sites that will give us a visual aide of what type of options we have in building our web page. Today we are going to examine the D.I.Y. Options and how a couple of them work.

Before we dive into the deep end we take our traditional moment to emphasize to you that these examples are not endorsements for these sites nor are we telling you not to use these sites. We are simply showing you real life applications that should be helpful to you.

We can start out ravels by pulling up http://build-website.com/index.html. When you arrive at the site the overall lay out is very pleasant and moderately simple. The featured options are very clear and easy to navigate.

The Home Page features a banner ad at the top of the page directing you to hosting services, which you will need to learn about and utilize. They do not present their company tag with a logo but it is quite prominent in the top center of the page. I have always felt a logo is important and that it didn’t have to be complicated. But it does give your potential customer a picture to remember in case the name is forgotten, but it is not the: be all to end all. Obviously this company did not see it as a must.

Right beneath the name of the site and the tag line there is a box offering 4 options. Below this box is a section that offers the same options but offers a brief description of what each option provides. At the very bottom of the page there are options of web site related topics and procedures you will need to learn and apply.

The beauty of these options is they are geared for the beginner, the novice, and the experienced web designer and manager. Now as you click on each option you are brought to a home page of sorts directing you through the various thins you will need to know or applications you can consider. It is very extensive and yet thorough, which is a great combination to have.

Each page also features a couple affiliate banners and a menu guide, also a killer combo. Each page presents plenty of choices and a plentiful supply of information and helpful direction. And yet it is not cluttered. This is a good example for your site.

But hold there! This close – up is also an example of how you can search for web pages like this that help you build and design your own page and seek out your own hosting!

Now if you feel you are not quite ready or up to speed to this undertaking there is another type of option. You could use the services of a host service that provides you with the tools to create and somewhat design your own web page.

Get on your Internet travel machine and now visit http://wordpress.com/. Here we see a whole lot more on the Home Page. And yet at the same time it is relatively easy to navigate. There are a considerable number of banner ads on the right center of the page. On the right are some directions to do it yourself options.

Scrolling down to the bottom of the Home Page there is a couple menus of sorts. Under the heading “On WordPress.com” gives you some do it yourself services to choose from. Next to that and to the right are some other applications to choose from and check out.

Word Press is an interesting option because it offers various levels of do it yourself options but it also provides some of the more advanced parts for you. As a web page it is an example of how you can offer your service or products and maintain a strong affiliate program.

At the end of the day you should take some time to review the options you have to care for your own page needs. At the very least it will be a learning experience and you will understand more of the workings of the Internet. On the other hand you can begin or expand your desire to have your very own Internet business.

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“Dude, you got to try this place out. It was off the hook!” Who hasn’t uttered these words or the basic sentiment? When you did, you were doing some recruiting. Yeah the old word of mouth endorsement is in essence recruiting people to sign on to a place of business.

Of course the world of recruiting is also a bit more than talking people into going to a restaurant or using a certain service. It can be getting people to join the military or to join a member club. It can also be getting highly qualified people to join a company. The fact is: it is a career.

As we have discussed here many times, recruiting also has an Internet presence and the Internet is an integral part of the process. Ironically some recruiting is for Internet applications. For instance getting people to join a member dating site is quite popular. And that is of course something you can do from the comforts of your home.

Here in the Close up series we are taking a look at some web pages that are in an Internet arena and how they present their site to the public. Face it we can read about something and learn a great deal but it is always helpful to see a visual example now and again.

Now this is the part where I remind you that the examples chosen are totally random. We are not endorsing them and we are not telling you not to patronize them either. We are simply pointing out the features of their web page and how it may help you as a guide.

So here we go. While you are reading this article pull up http://www.recruitersnetwork.com/. You will find these types of web sites in many Internet business services. They are sites dedicated to the genre or the niche market in general. It is also a business of its own. This particular site is helpful to recruiters, people who may be interested in a recruiting career/job, and as an overall source of information.

As you first see the Home Page it is very businesslike, which is not a problem of course. Their logo and name are right at the top and to the right. They also have a tag line that gives you a “nutshell” of who and what they are. “The Association for Internet Recruiter” is their tag line. To the right of that they have a banner ad, always a good idea. A banner ad is usually part of an affiliate program. And it is usually more valuable right at the top of the page, meaning you can charge more or receive a higher pay per click compensation.

Under the header is a nice blue tool bar giving you the layout of the site and the choices of areas you can visit. Ironically one of the options is a membership. They are recruiting you. I believe it is free too. Along the left column is a nice menu including a newsletter option to sign up for and a forum. Forums are always a good option. It allows people to ask and discuss things with others and they feel a part of the “team”.

The center section is somewhat of a rehash of the top blue tool bar only with some more specific topics or options to choose from. Along a column on the right is a “must have” item. It is a site search bar. Beneath the search tool is an ad box with some relevant ad sense ads, very easy to set up and a beneficial option. Scrolling down the page you will find some more banner ads made up of affiliates and/or sponsors; always a good choice to offer relevant businesses to your genre or niche market.

Going back up to the blue tool bar at the top of the page: As you scan the cursor over the options you will be given more choices that are related to the “category”. Among them are articles to read and even a jobs section.

Now for examples of the recruiting of on line subscribers that is usually something that is done through an email campaign and/or a social network site. You will find mentions or invites on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace quite often. Keep your eyes open and don’t delete it. No you may not be interested in the site or service but check out the manner in which the recruiter does his pitch. If you are thinking of being that type of recruiter you may appreciate a tip or two. Hey and some of the sites pay up to $30 bucks for a new recruit! That is what my research has found. There may be higher commissions out there that I don’t know about. But I have seen anywhere from $5 to $30 for each new member or subscriber you deliver.

So there we have it, a couple of “see for yourself” tangible examples. The beauty of these type of examples is that not only is it a web guideline but it often offers information of how to get into the field and sometimes helps you to promote yourself in that field. Hey maybe that is your field of dreams!

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