Have you ever wonder just how many articles and blogs are written each day? Honestly no one really knows. I have read that in recent studies some claim perhaps 50,000,000 a day. And I am not exactly sure where the line between blog and article cross or separate.

But the number is really not that important and the fact is the number is gigantic. But how many are being read and how many are having an impact? That too is impossible to measure in some ways, although there are tracking programs that can give you an idea if you were to type in a specific site. So to get a number of each site and the posts that are on it would never happen.

So what does this mean to article and/or blog writers? Well frankly the totality doesn’t matter. What should matter is whether you are being read.

Some may ask however, “if there are so many millions of things to read, doesn’t that affect whether my posts are being read?” Logically speaking, yes that is true. Practically speaking, you can’t worry about that, but, there is something you can do about it though.

“Really?”

Really, really! Regardless of if your writing is a fun hobby, a side job/project, or a job you can do things to help your cause. And it can be summed up in one word: Be Professional.

“I don’t work for a news organization” you say ? Or you may say “I am not qualified to be a professional”.

While in a technical sense this may be true that is not what being professional means in the bigger picture. Yes you may not have a degree in journalism or be an English major. That does not mean you can’t be a professional in your writing and blogging.

Now depending on how serious you are, you may give careful thought to taking writing and writing related education. But that is only part of being professional in your Internet writing and blogging. It is a collective effort and concept.

Being a professional Internet writer and blogger is a matter of doing all the things that are necessary to get your article or blog on line and presenting it in an inviting manner. Of course there are levels of marketing that are important also.

So ask yourself, how thorough am I in seeing my writing all the way through from writing, presentation, to marketing? Do I write the best article I can? Do I review the creativity level, the relevance, and the captivating power of your writing? Do I make an honest effort to use good grammar and proper spelling? Do I work at my craft?

Do I understand the options I have of where to place my writing? Do I know that there options? What do I know about the Internet and putting up a web site? How do you market a web site and/or your article? Where do you learn how?

Do I realize that being professional will make me standout, even among the millions of other writers ? What more can I do to be professional in my Internet writing and blogging?

Remember beyond improving as a writer, focus on consistency, being fresh and current, relevant, accurate, interesting, creative, detailed oriented, do the small things, and stay on top of the entire strategy. While it is perfectly okay and normal to write for your own expression and enjoyment, readers will respond if you do it for them also.

And honestly that is part of the challenge and fun of writing, knowing how to balance the two. You need to look at a potential audience as customers. Your writing is a product. It is a form of entertainment. True people read to gather information they ultimately read to enjoy the experience.

In order for them to enjoy your writing they need to know it exists. That means you need to know how to make that happen. Then they need to be lured in with a pleasing presentation. That can be on your site or another appropriate site. Last but not least the article needs to be well thought out and well written.

You know what? This may seem like a daunting list of boring and arduous tasks but it really doesn’t have to be that way. Being professional is more rewarding than many realize. And you can do it. You will be glad that you did to!

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Remember the old song titles signs? The basic point was not to judge people solely on their appearance. Each verse gave a scenario to help drive home the point.

For example on verse is about a sign that says Help Wanted and that long hair freaky people need not apply for the job. And the fictitious verse continues by saying that a long hair gentleman tucked his long hair up into a hat and went in to apply for the job. He apparently gets hired and then he reveals his long hair, as if to suggest that the company would have not hired the same guy if he did not hide his hair.

There is naturally some truth that you can’t judge people by their looks. However at the same time the song fails to communicate another reality. You cannot deny that we are sending out a message about ourselves by how we present ourselves.

So whether we like it or not people are going to respond to the way we present ourselves to them. The same is true in our Internet business. Regardless of if we are relying on that business for our bread and butter or if it is just a hobby.

Take the making and selling of Arts and Crafts for instance. Clearly there are many people doing this full time but just as clearly as there are many doing this for a hobby. Regardless the question is, what do you want out of it?

Of course it is safe to assume you are looking to have fun. And that is fine. Even if that is the only thing you want out of it. It is likely though that if you have gone to the point of selling your items than you have moved beyond the fun only motive. After all, if it is purely for fun only why bother trying to sell your items?

That said by selling your items it may allow you to get more involved with your hobby or it may turn out to be a nice income. So why not analyze your approach to the whole project. Are you getting the most out of it?

Chances are that many of you could gain so much more just by polishing up your presentation. Yes be more professional. Which by the way, does not mean you have to be a full blown company. It simply means putting a vibe out there that you care about what you do and you are thorough with how you do it.

It means in your case that you will be attentive to what people want. You will try and accommodate orders and have them done when you say it will be done. You will also have no problems getting them their purchase in a timely and reasonable fashion.

It means you are not going to come across like you are doing them a favor and that is really a burden on you to sell them an item. It means you are going to answer questions as well as you possibly can. You will be honest with them also.

For example if you can’t do something for them you will unashamedly tell them you do not feel that you can deliver what they want. Or you could offer a possible compromise or alternative. Nevertheless you will be absolutely sure that you are going to get them something they will want and enjoy.

It goes without saying if you are honest and reliable you will not misrepresent yourself or anything you do. Your web site and web information should be easy to follow and up to date. I can’t tell you how shocked I am at the companies who don’t keep there web site current. And guess what? I don’t buy anything from them. For starters I wonder if that reflects their attitude on other things.

And so it goes with all of these things. Sure there are people who probably don’t care enough to be turned off but why take that chance? Why not separate yourself from the other companies that are lazy and sloppy about there work?

Now some wonder will this suck the fun out of doing it? Does it take away from my personality? If the answer is yes to either of these I would love to hear someone explain how. Be professional is not being robotic or deceptive. Deceptive as in looking the part. Because both of them are unprofessional.

In fact don’t bother putting out the right vibe if you truly are not going to finish the experience. Have some pride in your craft and in your field. The reality is as the rewards increase so will your fun!

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“Can you give me a hand?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So giddy up VA’s and get a move on!

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“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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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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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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