In the United States the job market has plummeted to canyon like levels. And all of this led to a tumultuous economic landslide. As a result the effects reached around the globe. So how are we doing now?

Frankly the global market is still sputtering and rumors of recovery are just that, rumors. Oh there has been signs of positive improvement but there some of that has been a result of individuals, families, and businesses taking a new look at how to manage money. Yes the old practical approach. And that is not a bad thing.

Now while adjusting our money management procedures is very effective finding solid employment, a supplemental income, and business opportunities is always a step in the right direction. Thankfully the Internet is one of the few areas that has stayed the course even during this economic coma.

Now it is true that the Internet is not a cure all and not everyone is going to be successful with it. Frankly that is not your concern. What? You know what, sometimes you juts have to stick your nose to the grindstone and you ear to the ground and remain focused on your own goals and objectives. The persistent bugger is the one who will have a legitimate chance to cash in on the Internet opportunities.

Not too mention that the rising stock across the Internet business landscape is favorable for many of us to get on board. Yes it is like being a train traveling passenger waiting on the platform at the train station. The next train is coming and it is on time. And the demand has put more trains on the schedule. What am I talking about?

It’s a metaphor my friends. The fact is that the demand for Internet jobs and/or business continues to grow. For example let’s check the stock and pulse of the Internet Research field. Let’s do it.

As we have discussed before one area the demand for Internet research continues to grow is in the entertainment and broadcasting world. Particularly in the sports broadcasting industry.

You see many sports generate enormous revenue. A large percentage of the interest in sports revolve around data. More specifically in the part of sports called statistics. Closely tied with stats is sports history. Frankly many times the 2 are much the same. Both require research to deliver the data and in a timely manner.

For example the other day I was listening to ESPN radio as I was going about my morning routine. Now ESPN, also dubbed the World Leader in Sports, is a juggernaut and on the cutting edge of sports entertainment. Their radio network is no exception, it is a part of their rule.

Notoriously however radio business barometers lag behind television indicators. So keep that is mind with the following note. As the popularity grows, ESPN continues to try and make their product that more desirable. On the ESPN morning radio show they now have a hired Internet gun. Yes they have a guy hired and paid well to perform timely and thorough Internet research. “So what” you say?

Wait, did you just say “so what?” This is not a so what situation. No this is a “that’s cool!” situation. For this is a sign of things to come. For this is one example of how Internet research is becoming a practical need and demand in our world. This means jobs in the Internet research field.

How do we know this? Because as we pointed out the ESPN example is just one of many. In fact it is one of many just at ESPN. Anyhow let’s consider another. The local car dealer.

Oh yes, the Internet has become quite the sales tool in the auto sales industry. As a result most car dealerships are staffing an Internet team. It includes Internet contacts but also people who read customer requests and do the research necessary to respond. And these are becoming reliable and lucrative jobs. And they are popping up in many areas.

Internet research demand continues to increase in the legal and medical fields as well as the sales and entertainment industries. What does this mean for you?

It means that the researcher out there needs to put a good resume together and start canvasing for a job. This also is an invitation for the freelance/independent business mind to offer his or her services in this area. Which would include areas of virtual assistance also. See how this all blends together so nicely?

So? What are you waiting for? The next train is about to arrive!

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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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Many of us recall the early installments of the famous Star Wars trilogy. We enjoyed the film presentation of fictitious fight of good in evil in the intergalactic world. We remember how the story line was about an evil empire that had began dominating and oppressing the known universe using a “dark” version of an ancient indivisible power that existed and was intertwined with all of life.

And then there was the original and good side of this power called the force. Could the good reassert itself and conquer this nefarious dark power? Yes, according to some implied prophecy that foretold of a young man who would possess a higher capacity for the use of this force. But he would have to be protected as a young lad and later trained as a Jedi.

In the stories and in the film the character Luke Skywalker was this so called “one”. Part of the challenge was to teach him that his destiny was not guaranteed and that he could be swallowed up by the evil dark side of the force.

As the story develops the young Skywalker is being trained and he is also being tempted to rush ahead of his present preparedness. Luke is not satisfied with what he perceives as a slow rate of progress. He wants to conquer now!

But his mentor and a wise old Jedi Master warn him of the damaging effect of impatience and unrealistic expectations. What am I talking about? What does some old movies have to do with my life you are asking?

Focus my young apprentice, focus. No, seriously, many of us do not grasp the potential of Internet business and also the gradual development that is involved. While building an Internet business is not rocket science it is not like flipping a coin either.

In a similar vein we need to understand that progress is incremental. It is unlikely and unrealistic to expect that we are going to have instant monster success. It is not wise to assume that you are going to know and fully understand the inner workings and applications of the Internet in a short span of time.

Yes you may even be the brainiac among us. Maybe you are a genius. I mean all know I am. LOL. Remember Luke Skywalker? He was the chosen one, he was born to take the role of redeeming the universe from the hands of evil. And yet he needed to time to master the whole Jedi art.

Okay so that wasn’t real, but it was basically a dramatic metaphor for how life actually works. Honestly rarely, and I mean rarely does anyone just stumble into a speedy success; whether you are a gifted musician, talented athlete, business entrepreneur, or a sheer natural smarty pants or not, it is not your entitlement to be successful. Success is not going to happen through osmosis or from the natural order of nature. In fact even gifted people have to work at their craft to really get anywhere.

Bringing this full circle to the main point of emphasis, don’t get easily frustrated by your perceived lack of success in your Internet endeavors. For one it is always a possibility that you may need to rethink or change your career plans because a percentage of us are not cut out for the Internet business world. But you aren’t going to know that without giving it an honest and reasonable amount of time.

There are in fact many business models that state that you should assume that you need a year until you begin to get a gage of where things are heading. I know when it comes to opening up a restaurant or a retail store there are formulas like this.

When it comes to your Internet business the principle is the same. You need to time to build you business. Until then the returns will be frustrating at times and you will question whether you should continue. What should you do if things are not going well?

Ask yourself how much time do I commit to learning what I need to know to my field? How much time do I spend doing all of the things necessary or seeing to it that those things get done by a qualified and trusted assistant? How competitive is the market I am in? How realistic are my goals? Am I reaching my short term goals? Am I realistic about my short term goals?

You can set a goal to make $500 a month in my first 6 months of business for example. Is that a reachable goal for what you are doing? Are you honest with yourself examination? Am I dedicated to making my Internet business work?

Hey young padawan, my young Luke Skywalker. Take it easy, be patient. You need to keep steady at the wheel and be determined to put in the effort and wait for the rewards in there due time. Trust me many of you will become a Web Master.

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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.

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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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So I’m sitting here humming the old Jackson 5 song “I’ll Be There” again. Seems that every time I think of today’s topic the tune comes to mind. What topic is that you ask? Today’s topic is Internet Consulting.

It’s kind of interesting because Internet consulting is closely related to freelancing. And yet there are differences also. But that is neither here nor there for the purpose of our discussion. And frankly if you are interested in starting a new Internet business you should become thoroughly familiar with the area you decide to pursue. Actually you should do research to decide what field to consider in the first place.

So assuming you have done that to some degree and you have determined you that Internet consulting is for you, and then you should keep reading. Practically speaking, if you are already in the consulting field this article will still be helpful to you.

Naturally Internet consultants benefit from maintaining an Internet presence and an Internet marketing campaign. And we have and will continue to discuss why and how this can be done on this web page. Today however we are going to take a look at how this is being done. As a result you can be motivated and inspired by the success of others.

The purpose of this exercise is not to advertise any specific company or their site but to see an example of some of the things we discuss in word. Yes seeing things does enhance our understanding. So let’s do it.

Without further ado take a look at http://www.wsiconsultants.com/. The Company cleverly calls themselves WSI or We Simplify the Internet. They also have a nice logo. A logo is always good, for if the people at first forget the name of your business, they will likely recall the image or logo.

On the top right of the Home Page on the opposite side of the company logo they provide a site map and a search bar, both of which are valuable and site service friendly for your visitors. Underneath the header is a really cool flash banner featuring their services.

Immediately below is a nice menu offering information on the “Company”, a “Client Showcase”, and a section highlighting their “Internet Consultants”. Under the option of “Our Company” is another menu with further options and informative options. They are:

• What’s New
• Our Approach
• Our Products
• Business Opportunities
• News Room
• Contact Us

All of these options are insightful and relevant. Obviously when you are deciding what to include on your page you should be as selective. They even offer another search tool below those options.

In a section next to the just mentioned menu is a showcase box directed at their consultants. It offers the visitor the option to locate and contact a WSI rep closest to them. This is common I many Internet fields for a site to be group oriented. These sites feature the designated service but also provide opportunity for individuals to offer their independent service in the context of a collective group of your professional peers.

Now checking out another example we go to http://www.spartaninternet.com/. This company site is more a direct site exclusively marketing their professional consulting services. On their home page you will see their logo and title at the top left. To the top right is a commercial slogan. A slogan is always a nice touch.

Below their header page is a tool bar allowing you to learn more about their “Consulting”, “Implementation”, “Experience”, “By the Industry”, “About Us”, and “Contact Us”. Notice again the relevant choices along with the “standard” options most sites should provide.

Beneath the menu tool bar is their banner ad and 3 inviting topics to explore:

1. Get return value on your web site
2. Create a web strategy for success
3. Generate real profits and reduce costs

All of which are common and vital themes in the Internet consulting field. Below and starting on the left is a further breakdown of their consultant offers.

• Website development
• E-commerce
• Web programming

Next to those choices in the 3 box section is a very good feature. They created what they call a performance index. It is an example of the types of things they have to offer regarding web development and performance. This is a spin of a necessary feature that you should provide. Yes, any resume or past references will show potential future clients what you are capable of.

At the bottom of the page you find contact and location information. This is also a user friendly option as some potential clients may prefer picking up over the phone or in person.

Note that both of these sites are purely promotional and a marketing site for their business. They are not using their site for promotion and as a way of earning income through ancillary methods such as affiliate or sponsorship ads. But that is always an option for your web site. Keep in mind though the manner in which you wish to present your company. And also the focus you wish to have on your primary business compared to side ventures.

So all you consultants out there waiting for someone to ask for your help, how are you getting the word out of your services and credentials?

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Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

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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You know the old saying “seeing is believing”? For better or for worse most of us need visual aides to help us comprehend the accumulation of facts and instructions. And realistically there is nothing wrong with that.

With this principle and reality in mind let us apply it to our ongoing review of Internet business. Let’s take a look at some actual examples of web sites that feature aspects of Internet business apps.

No better place to start then with the site you are presently visiting! The Bevyhost Web Master News site. In all practical purposes this site is a professional blog. Let’s do it!

First off, assuming that you are on the page featuring this article in its entirety, take a look at the top of the page. The set up is the same as the Home Page. In the top left you have the options to view the Home, Archives, and Sitemap.

• Home: is self explanatory. This brings you to the Home page of Bevyhost.
• Archives: also probably self explanatory to most. This will bring you to a page that breaks down the visitor’s option by category, articles by month/date, and a selection of most used or popular tags/keywords.
• Sitemap: Features a list or table of contents of posts

Back on our selected article page roll your eyes across the top to the right and you will see a Search bar featuring the Google search engine. Simply type in a topic of interest and it will direct you to pages on Bevyhost that reference that topic. It will also feature some Google ads that are relevant to that keyword or key phrase. This is a very helpful tool to feature on your blog or site.

Under the top “bar” you have a center section of your head section. Prominently featured to the left is the well designed recognizable logo. Every Internet business will benefit from a log that suits your name.

To the right side of the mid header section is a banner ad. We often discuss banner ads here at Bevyhost WebMaster News. A banner ad, is as you can see, a “billboard” style ad that invites people to click on to it for the expressed purpose to visit and read about what the ad is inviting you to see. It may feature another web page of an affiliate partner or another site of your own. It may even just be a shortcut to a specific page on the site it appears on. Many banners also have images within in them but do not have to have them to be effective.

Under the mid header section you have 4 rectangle boxes to choose from.

• Make Money Secrets: A click here and you are brought to a page that features articles designed to earning or increasing your income by way of Internet applications. Like advertising options,etc.
• Web Master Resources: This “box” gives you the option to click on articles or resources linked to 1- Affiliate Marketing 2 – Contest related posts 3 – Domain name Info 4 – On line Marketing articles 5 – Product and Service reviews 6 – Search Engine Optimization and 7- WebMaster Feeds
• Web Master Forum: Bevyhost’s very own forum where Internet, computer, and general topics are discussed in threads that can be fed by anyone who joins or viewed by anyone for their own enjoyment. We will discuss the Forum in a future article.
• The Directory: The Bevyhost directory is like a table of categories and set up like a standard directory overall.

As you take the time to digest the Bevyhost Web Master News page you will see many other goodies. Of course as you scan the right side of each page you will find a collection of notable banner ads. Each ad is featuring an affiliate and even offers you a space to feature your web page.

Also woven in among the pages are carefully placed Google adsense ads. Usually they are a one line tag text that offers a link for you to go to. Very much like a banner ad but simpler and less “in your face” by some peoples standards. On Bevyhost they are blue color and are underlined and let you know they are courtesy of and set up between you and Google.

The Bevyhost Web Master News site is also clever and a good example in other ways. It offers the viewer easy ways to keep up with what is going on by RSS feeds or email alerts. It also invites you to their Twitter site.

And that’s not all! On the bottom of the feature pages you will find 4 handy boxes.

• Making Money Resources: Inviting you to relevant articles designed to help you see the potential for income on the Net.
• Affiliate Resources: Delves into some computer/software topics related to affiliate marketing.
• Recent Comments: Features what some are replying. You can offer comments also, a feature you should have on your site.
• WebMaster Forum Feeds: Lists some of the feeds that are on the Web Master Forum feed page.

As you can see the Bevyhost page is well designed and very simple to follow. It has eye appeal and is helpful to pros and amateurs. It offers a bevy of options and thus is well named.

At the end of the day the point of this close up is to help you see the potential for your web page. You see the variety of what to offer and the simplicity you should seek. Now that doesn’t mean your site needs to be a carbon copy of this site, of course not. Take the concepts and the principles involved and mold it to your needs and desires.

If you follow this “template” or example of a professional blog you will be on your way to success!

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A comedian once told this joke. He said “I was in the store the other day and I asked the guy behind the counter, can I melt dry ice and get wet?” The person behind the counter looks at me and says “I don’t know I better ask my manager Steve”.

Now whether you get a chuckle out of the dry humor it reminds of something we are all familiar with. No matter what situation we are in there is always “that person” someone suggests asking for information. Yes, there are people out there who are the “knower’s” and providers of information.

An example of this in the Internet world is the Internet Research business. Indeed there are many applications for the need of Internet Researchers. Today we are going focus on what I call the information providers, people who make specific information available and offer it via a web site. Sometimes it is free to the web surfer and others are subscription sites. Both are examples to those of you thinking about setting up a site like this.

There are those among us who are very talented at gathering needed and useful information and presenting it in a logical and organized fashion, making life easy for those of us who need such information. You providers have an opportunity to help your fellowman and have a nice Internet business going on. Here are 2 examples.

Oh and remember these 2 examples were chosen by me and not paid ads. I am using them a general examples and not suggesting you use their site or not to use their site. We are strictly interested in how they present their service so we can get an idea of how we could offer ours.

The first one to take a look at is http://www.mapquest.com/. Chances are many of us have used this site. Its primary function is to provide maps and directions.

The Home Page is full of info and choices but not overly cluttered in my opinion, which is good. You don’t want people asking themselves “oh my, what do I do next?” as they are looking at your home page. In fact right at the very top is a tool bar of a few simple choices. One of them is a link to AOL.com which is probably the sponsor for mapquest. A sponsor is a big reason the site is free for you and I to use and a way for AOL to increase their business.

Across the very top to the right is a site search bar, always a good idea. Below the very top line is the mapquest logo and another set of options to choose from in the form of a site menu. You got maps, directions, yellow pages, local, and gas prices to choose from, each providing self explanatory and useful information.

The main section of the site is for directions and maps. To the right of the directions is a prominent banner ad. This is a great revenue maker for your site. This site features this one main one but you may offer more. That is not the only ads and money generators they have however.

Scroll down below the map section and you will see a row of banner/image links. The section is titles Mapquest Tips, Features, and Partners. This is very clever because it mixes presentation of other helpful types of information you can read and it offers a chance to visit some affiliate sponsors. Likely the partners are paying for their presence on the site. Again that is a great way to earn some income by providing ads and links to affiliate partners.

There is also a link to a Mapquest blog and many options at the bottom of the page leading people to other AOL related links. Also demonstrating that you can branch off from your already established Internet business and create a site like Mapquest providing a specific information service and increase promotion for your original business. This is in essence what AOL is doing with mapquest.

Another example is a company providing information for a niche market. Please visit http://beta.beckett.com/. They specialize in the sports collectible arena. For many years the Beckett Company has published magazines for sports collectors to purchase that gives a list of the market value of items such as sports cards. As a result of the massive popularity and the simplicity of the Internet they now offer this member site for the same purpose. It is a paid subscription site.

As you can see on the Home page they also take advantage of advertising. Some of which features items you can purchase from their collectible sales partners. In fact the home page features a prominent banner ad across the top of the page.

Below the banner is a tool bar related to the Beckett site. Parallel to that on the right side of the page is where members can log in or information of how or why you can join. The mid section of the page offers more selections of how to use and benefit from the Beckett site. For example there are message boards and forum type options available. Of course they have a search bar there for your convenience, which is always a must or at least a should.

Now keep in mind however that most of the site is only available to members, which brings us to one quick note. This site is a prime example of how you can turn research and data into a income. Keep in mind that sports collectibles continue to fluctuate in market value and there are always new items put out virtually every day. So they are working behind the scenes to remain up to date with the information and managing the web site by the minute. So part of your member fee is for them to earn money, but also they are working for that money.

So you research gurus out there, maybe this is you gig? Yes Internet research is a job prevalent in the medical and legal fields but it also manifests itself in the form of the examples we have provided today. Beckett offers subscriptions starting at $18 USD a month. So you can do the math and project the potential of what is out there in some niche markets. Now keep in mind there are operating costs. The more involved the site is the more the cost will be to run it. But that is a standard business reality.

Anyway ……. this is something to investigate. Do you have the ability or the access to needed information? Perhaps you can make it available through a free site and earn income through sponsors and ads. Or maybe the information you can provide is worth it to many enough that they would pay a member fee to have it available?

I think you know what you need to do now.

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