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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s in your toolbox?

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My dad often tells me how he had some nice shares of some stock that he sold that later went through the roof in the 1980’s & 1990’s. Of course in the late 1950’s and 1960’s most people did not consider the potential of those stocks. Frankly many stockholders did not envision the skyrocketing growth that occurred.

And of course there other variables that prevented him from keeping his investments in hold. At the time he needed the small return that was gained at the time. Which he has no regrets about. But there is a lesson to be learned from all of this and the many similar life experiences that are related to finance and business.

So let’s take the lesson and apply it to our Internet business. In fact the Internet adds a variable or two to the mix. How’s that? Before we get to that let’s review the overall lesson and how it relates to our Internet business.

Using my dad’s story as the object lesson here the message or principle is clear. #1: you must make sound decisions in the present and add #2: consider the realistic potential of the future.

#2 is the part that my dad regrets. Although he made sound decisions in the present he wishes he had spent more time calculating the changes that were ahead. He wishes he had developed a longer range plan to account for the now and the future.

This is important in our Internet business. Regardless of what our niche, market, or area of expertise we clearly need to work for the best immediate results but also have a long range plan. Now some of you are saying right now “no kidding goof ball, who doesn’t know that?”

The reality is my dad said the same thing back when. Yes understanding the concept of planning ahead and planning ahead are two different things. Think about it.

For one there is that point we made about the added variables the Internet brings. Part of the long range plans need to constantly be given contingency plans and/or adjustments. Why? Because the Internet is still evolving. And as much as we try to project what is coming we will never foresee everything that is coming.

That said the more we learn about the Internet and what its capacity is now, the more accurate we can be about where it is heading. With that in mind be ready for the changes as they come. What does all this mean?

What it means is that you should literally write out a series of goal and strategies. You should have a plan for the month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 year, and 5 years out. No really, you should. Notice that you are making goals and strategies. What’s the difference?

The fact is that you will probably not reach all of your goals but you should have a high success rate with your strategy. Yes your goals are things you wish to attain or a level to reach. Your strategy is how you are going to get there and more. Your strategy will also include the grunt work of your business. Yes details are important.

And part of that will include analyzing the present state and the potential future state of the Internet and your business. How can you prepare for the growing Internet? What can you do now to make the transitions seamless?

Successful people are not usually surprised by the future they are usually changing with it. Of course there is a need for patience and practicality. Do not try and manipulate or guess the future. Yes there is always risk with some parts of business. Certainly the example we used of the stock market is proof of that. But the stocks that my dad refers too were very predictable in many ways. I am not suggesting that anyone could have foreseen the extent of the rise in the stock. But there is no question that the companies involved had a clear path of many years of growth in front of them.

Now the Internet is not risky at all. The specific business you are in will have its own degree of risk and gain. You need to figure that out. It really comes down the more you put in the more you get out. But that has the reality of being organized with it.

Just starting out in your Internet business? Have you had a web page for a while and you aren’t happy with the results? Or maybe you have yourself a nice Internet business and you just want to keep it going or develop it more?

Then take time to regularly write out your plans of attack. Again make specific goals and strategies for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years out. And follow them as well as adjust them as needed. Make sure you allow study time for following the trends of your business and the Internet is general. Make note of certain patterns that point to future change and possibilities.

And the end of the day don’t get caught saying “if I only knew then”.

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Have you ever got to that point when you stop and ask yourself “so should I keep doing this or not?” The fact is that everyone has and we all will a few more times in our life. It’s the inevitable “is it worth it” moment.

And what makes this question and the answer to it so important is that we all know that time is of essence. We all know that it has been said that “time is money”.

So what if we are investing our time and perhaps even our hopes of making money on an Internet business? How do we know if it is merely a matter of waiting it out only to fail or if it is an investment? Can we know the answer to that question?

First of all one thing that we do know is that there are many among us out there who are successful in the Internet business industry. And there are certain consistencies that we have to accept and understand. Here are the main ones you should be aware of. To be successful in any Internet Business you must know and apply these methods.

• SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a must. This entails having a working knowledge of the Internet and how to make the most of marketing through maximizing the search engine process.
• Web Site marketing. Going beyond the search engine you can market your web site by other proven methods. It will include applications of concepts like affiliate marketing, traditional advertising, cross promotions, email promoting, on air interview promotions, and so on are some of them.
• Using a variety of Internet tools like HTML. It is not mandatory to use all the technology and methods available but you should know your options and which tools could be most effective.
• Know your business and your target audience.
• Be patient and have realistic goals.

So if you are not doing and applying these applications then you are wasting your time. You are playing a useless waiting game. Very few things in life just develop automatically on their own. Think about it for a moment. Take something as basic as a child growing up.

A child is born and put into the care of preferably his or her parents. The reality is that a child that is born will grow physically without much help from anyone and they will naturally learn some lessons in life from observation and experience. However it is ultimately going to depend on the nurturing and guiding care of those responsible as to what kind of adult this child will develop into. Yes the more patience, loving care, timely discipline, and mature guidance the child receives over there malleable years the more successful the child will become. In the end it will have been an investment and not a cross your finger meaningless waiting game.

Elementary speaking this is the way you need to approach your Internet business. Like it’s your baby! You can’t expect your child to go from birth to walking in a couple days. It takes most children about a year before they start taking their own steps.

Ironically many thriving Internet entrepreneurs will tell you that it will take at least a year before things start to show progress in your Internet business. Let me be clear that is not some kind of rule. Many people have made money fairly quickly and others have taken longer than a year. I just threw that in there because it seems to be an overall average.

The basic point is not to fixate on a date or a specific amount of time however. Nevertheless you should realize that time is needed. Time is part of the investment. Beware! Time can also be wasted if you do not invest the appropriate amount of time into the things mentioned above.

This is where it gets complicated to a small degree. Depending on what type of Internet pursuit you are cultivating you may have to decide if it is worth investing some money in addition to your time. And that is a difficult question to answer. Because the spirit may be willing but the wallet may be weak.

One way to resolve this issue is to realize that all business require some sort of financial commitment. Usually an Internet business doesn’t demand nearly the amount of capital of other small businesses. What if it is a matter of being broke? And we all know what that feels like.

The key is identifying how much resources are needed. It may not be a lump sum. That would be another factor to put into the decision process. Then what?

First of all once you determine a ball park figure of what kind of financial commitment is involved then you have to examine your financial standing. At this point it may be a matter of doing the best you can with the little resources you have, which may be nothing at all. But that’s okay. Do the best you can with the methods that do not cost you anything and pour your heart into it.

Of course in the meantime you can develop ways to earn investing capital or become a better money saver with the goal of putting away some money to apply toward an investment in the future. Maybe you can find sponsors or investors? Nonetheless do not give up or let the lack of money at present to let impatience and discouragement set in. It’s just a matter of investing more time, which by the way will still produce results, again, if you use your time judiciously and efficiently of course. And as you get some money together to invest be prepared to apply it to the most productive use.

Imagine 13 months from now. You have your Internet business going and your web site has been up for some time. Things are going a little slow and the results seem lackluster. Is it really worth it to keep going? Am I wasting my time waiting for something that isn’t going to happen? Or is this part of an investment that is building a rewarding Internet business?

The answer to that can be more than answered. It can be determined by you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Have you ever gone into a small store to purchase a snack and then when you went to pay for it, the cashier was “busy” on their cell phone? Yes it appeared as if you were interrupting them. Even though it is their job to provide service for you, they come across as if it is a burden to assist you.

How does that reflect on the business? Does it make you want to come back? Realistically that is not the way to treat a customer. In fact we should come across as if it is a pleasure to serve the customer. How about you?

When it comes to your Internet business are a professional or are you simply doing a boring job? Let’s take a look at a couple examples and areas that we can improve upon.

Okay then here we go. We are going to assume that you are an independent contractor like a Virtual Assistant or a Freelance service provider. These are both in their very nature a professional business. Companies or individuals are turning to you for your expertise.

However being a professional is more than just performing a service in a satisfactory manner. Remember our cashier? There is no doubt that they know how to ring out your sale and send you on your way. But knowing how to use the cash register is just a part of their job isn’t it?

Likewise if you are a VA, it is safe to assume that you know how to perform the services you provide. For example maybe you offer professional accounting services. Or maybe you are a Freelance web designer? Again the reality is you probably are somewhat reliable at providing such services or you wouldn’t bother offering them.

Your success however, will be determined by far more than your actual work. Your performance will be judged and evaluated on an entire package. By what you do, how well you do it, and the manner in which you do it?

Yes as VA or a Freelance contractor what does your package add up to? Aside from doing the job do you market yourself professionally? Does your web page and any other advertising tell the world who you are and what you are capable of? Do you deliver what you say you can deliver?

Do you provide a timely service? If you say you are going to be done in 2 weeks, are you? Do you complete everything you promised you would? Are you very clear as to what it is you will be doing for your client?

Do you prepare contracts that spell out in detail the services that you will provide and the cost of those services? Does it explain when these services will be finished and so on?

Are you available and accessible to your clients? Do you return messages and/or phone calls in a timely manner? Do you answer all questions in a satisfactory fashion? Do you make your client feel like their concerns are important to you? Customers do not want to feel like you don’t have time for their attention because you have so many other customers. In fact it is more professional if you turn down a project and explain that you would not be able to give them the service they deserve. Of course you would offer them the option of your assistance at a future time. Your professionalism may likely motivate them to wait if it is not urgent.

Taking this a little further you may even be able to take the job and sub contract the job out to another reliable associate or colleague. However, be certain they have the same standards of professionalism that you do.

Continuing in this theme it would be wise to decline a project you are not qualified to do. Of course if you are taking the job with intention of letting a qualified person or team perform the service that would do the trick. Again, as long as it is done professionally, in fact this may be a way that you could learn to perform additional services. Yes combining your continued education with on the job training will help you expand your services.

In all actuality it would be professional to always continue to pursue more education. You should always be up to date. For example some accounting requires knowledge of legal applications. A professional will be on top of all the latest changes in the law. As well as recent upgrades in software and concepts that may apply to other forms of VA or Freelance services. Be willing to learn new things and new options.

In summary the VA and Freelance world is very competitive and yet continues to grow. Those who are successful are taking the professional approach. How about you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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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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