Be Your Own Boss - The Top 10 Reasons to DO IT!

1. Be there for your family. This is frequently the number one reason for starting a business. Being there for your children, your spouse, or your aging parents.

2. Make yourself wealthy. Why would you continue to work on making someone else wealthy when you can use all that hard work toward your own future?

3. Choose your own hours. Work when you want, where you want, for as long as you want. It doesn’t get any better than this!

4. Write your own paychecks. You don’t ever have to ask for a raise. You work for it. If you need more lncome, you know exactly what you need to do to get it.

5. Tax Benefits. You’ll save thousands in lncome taxes when you know what you can deduct as business expenses. Check with your accountant!

6. No Commute. Actually, you will have a commute - from your bedroom to your home office (which may even be in your bedroom!). The average working American wastes hours per day sitting in traffic on the way to and from work. No more!

7. Live where you want! You no longer have to worry about being close to your employer. City, suburbs, or mountain home … it’s up to you.

8. Eliminate your overhead. You don’t need to rent a big fancy office and furnish it with expensive equipment. It’s called your house! A spare room or just some space in an existing room will do.

9. Vacation days whenever you need them! Need a day off? Take it!

10. You are the best boss you’ll ever work for.

What are you waiting for?

Popularity: 67% [?]

When writing your ads, you need to understand that the Headline is the MOST important part of your advertisement. You’ve got 3 seconds to get someone’s attention. If your headline fails to capture the attention of the reader and your ad fails to speak to the reader in such a manner that will indicate that you have the solution to THEIR problem, the remainder of your ad will be ignored and you won’t make any money.

Your ads must focus on the problem of the consumer, by providing the solution to their problem. Your focus should not be on the product itself.

In order to do so, you need to put yourself in the consumer’s shoes to determine the root cause driving their search for a solution.

In simple terms, you MUST figure out what their problem is and cater to them by providing a solution, and your ad must be strategically designed to let the reader know that you can help them by solving their problem. Only by doing so are you speaking to the emotions of the consumer, which will ultimately dictate their decision to investigate your ad further and make the purchase.

For example, if you are attempting to sponsor others by telling them in your ads that “It’s Great” this is likely why you aren’t making any money.

Telling someone that “It’s Great” doesn’t indicate to the reader that you have a solution to THEIR problem. This person could care less if your offer is simple if what you are offering doesn’t help them eliminate THEIR pain. Let me give you an example by comparing the two ads below. In this instance, the reader’s problem is that they hate their boss and want to quit their job. The sooner, the better.

Which ad do you think is going to pull the better response?

Ad Number 2, without a doubt. Why?

The headline of Ad Number 2 grabs the reader’s attention by addressing the reader’s problem (wanting to walk away from the job yesterday). It makes a statement that the reader will automatically agree with and offers an immediate solution to the problem that the reader has just admitted that he has. It “gets inside the mind” of the reader and connects with THEIR problem and their feelings. Ad Number 2 makes the reader feel that it is about THEM, and not your program or product and is more likely to pay attention to the ad.

Ad Number 1 is “telling.” The headline does not imply that you have a solution to the reader’s problem. It simply tells about what YOU have. For the reader who is in search of a solution to their problem, Ad Number 1 won’t even catch their attention. If they even bother to look at Ad Number 1, they are likely to think “Big Deal. What does that do for the fact that I hate my boss and can’t stomach to look at his face for o ne more day?” and they will just move on without giving your ad serious attention.

The question that comes to mind for most people who are in search of a solution is “HOW?” Your ad needs to imply that YOU have the answer to this question. Then, and only then, will the reader open their mind to looking at what you have to offer.

We must bear in mind that people are on the internet are searching for a reason. They are looking to fulfill a need of their own – not a need of yours. You need to keep this in mind when you write all of your ads. Think about what the person who is reading your ad might want. Here is a hint… most people want more money but they don’t know HOW to get it.

They want to know HOW what you have to offer them is going to result in money in their bank account.

If your ad copy is pathetic, it doesn’t matter WHERE you advertise or how much you spend, you won’t make any money. The tips that I am going to give you are those that I have learned through trial and error, and they work, period.

Juicy, long winded copy should be reserved for the sales page of a website (or an eBook), NOT in your advertisement compelling the reader to visit your website. If your ad is too long and rambling, the reader won’t retain a word that you are saying to them.

Whether I am advertising in a pay-per-click campaign, or I am advertising in an eZine, I rarely use more than a three or four line Google type ad (with only a few exceptions, which I will review later on this page.) I won’t have all day to spend writing rambling ads about how wonderful something is. I quickly gain the reader’s attention with my headline, I tell it like it is, give the reader access to the information that they are seeking so that they can look at it for themselves and make their own decisions.

If your ad’s headline (whether you are advertising on Google, by email, in eZines or any other medium) is boring, you can just forget it. Most people won’t even bother reading the rest of the ad and you will receive very few responses. It’s okay to be outrageous, creative, humorous, blunt, bold and even downright rude if it pulls attention. You might think it’s “not nice” or “politically correct” but I will guarantee you that my “socially retarded” ad will out-perform your “nice” ad any day of the week, hands down. Here are a couple of examples:

People click on ads because they are intrigued by them. They pull attention (even if it is negative attention).

I’m not suggesting that you verbally annihilate people or kick them, but I am suggesting that you make bold, shout-out-loud, attention getting kind of statements in your subject lines, but make them in a matter-of-fact way.

If you cannot find it within yourself to be outrageous, at a bare minimum, you are going to have to peak the reader’s interest in order to get them to read what you have to say and investigate what you have to offer. A proven method of doing so is to ask a question as I did in the example above, because the reader will automatically answer the question to him or herself. If you ask the right questions, the reader answers the question in his or her own mind in the affirmative (such as “Tired of being broke?”) they are more likely to read the rest of the ad. What you have done by creating this kind of “connection” with the reader has significantly increased your chances that he or she will give your ad the attention you are seeking.

When someone is frantically searching the internet looking for an immediate answer to their problem, it is usually because they are in a LOT of pain. They need an answer, and they need it NOW.

Short, sweet and straight to the point does the job every single time!

Mastering the art of effective ad copy takes practice, testing, time, patience and a willingness to make adjustments so that you can repeat the process and gauge your results. Make it fun. There are no “standard rules” as to what works and what does not. Only your results can dictate what is and is not effective. However, the information that I have provided you in this section will let you know what I have found to be effective and what is ineffective…

Popularity: 95% [?]

Whether you are looking for a part-time opportunity or a full-time career change, selecting the right business venture is clearly a major part of your formula for success. Thousands of potential homebased independent distributorships, franchises and network marketing opportunities are being offered in newsstand opportunity magazines, on those spam e-mails you receive regularly, or from friends and relatives who are convinced they’ve found the holy grail to make you both wealthy.

Unfortunately, many people jump at opportunities based on advertising hype or unsubstantiated promises and are quickly disappointed. There’s nothing wrong with a company promoting its opportunity in the best light, or with your friends focusing on the potential benefits available in their own ventures. It’s just that you need to separate facts from illusions, reality from fantasy and true potential from the enthusiastic sales pitch of the people who stand to profit from your involvement. They may have taken a leap of faith themselves without having done their own due diligence. There are many good opportunities for those willing to work and work hard. Any business that offers real opportunity requires real effort. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Here are the six questions you should ask to help you make educated decisions about your time and money investment.

1. How long has the company been in business? If they’ve been around for several years, they’ll have network marketing operators who have already paved the way. Ask for references. And if they won’t give you any, dig deeper to find out why.

If this is a start-up venture, look for signs of financial stability. Are they properly funded to deliver on the promises they promote?

2. Who are the people behind the company? Do they have proven business expertise? Have they had other successes prior to this business that assure you they understand what it takes to succeed? Do they have a successful network marketing background? If not, is a member of their executive team or a consulting organization guiding them?

3. Are the products or services of personal interest to you? You usually won’t do well in a business when you can’t personally relate to the products. Would you buy this product yourself? Would you recommend it to friends even if you weren’t paid to do so? Have you actually tried the product?

4. What type of training is offered in the beginning? You can’t do what you don’t know, so make sure you have access to beginning and ongoing training support.

5. Does the company offer great support tools? Do they provide a time-tested and proven marketing and sales system, as well as tools to help you? Video and audio training or sales presentations, printed literature, catalogs and a strong Web site linked to an online e-commerce catalog are all considered standard sales support. Linking your personal Web site to the company site is a must when marketing branded consumer products–you need this to ensure sales credit for your customers’ online purchases.

6. How do you earn your money? If you’re buying products or services at wholesale and marking them up for your profit, the company should have a suggested formula for profitability. Is it rich enough to return your investment quickly? Is the compensation plan easy to understand? Find out whether the profit percentages are paid on retail sales, wholesale after retail commissions are deducted, or on an amount selected by the company based on product profitability. Don’t judge the plan solely on the promotional copy. Ask questions and make sure you understand when you’ll receive your profits. Also, ask someone you trust who has network marketing experience to evaluate how the money will flow. The company should have a detailed explanation of their plan to help the novice work though the complexities. Good compensation plans can be complex. Don’t let this scare you. Just take the time to understand the reward for your investment.

You can’t afford to make hasty decisions in choosing a network marketing business. Your time is your life. Waste your time, and you waste your life. Making good decisions means seeking out the facts. It’s well worth the effort–it saves you time and money by eliminating the bad choices and finding winners.

One other thing: Sometimes you’ll make your decision based on pure emotion and gut feeling. If the opportunity is recommended by a friend, as is the case with most network marketing programs, look upline several levels from your sponsor to determine the type of support you’ll receive in building your business. You rarely succeed alone. It takes a team effort matched to a good product and support system. But in the end, the dollar bill won’t sprout wings and fly into your mailbox. You have to make it happen.

Advantages
Requires a lower initial fee than a franchise. Although the number of low-investment franchises has increased, the fee to get into a business opportunity is still considerably lower. The FTC requires a $500 minimum investment for an opportunity to be considered a business opportunity, but there are many that fall under this set fee, although most average around $2,000 to $3,000.

A proven system of operation or product. Existing systems serve to maximize efficiency and returns and minimize problems. It’s simply a matter of passing on experience, still the best teacher. Whether they admit it or not, most people like having their hands held once in a while. During crises, the parent company is there to help the licensee over the bumps. Many people like this idea of safety in numbers.

Intensive training programs. In any new business, a lot of time and money are consumed during the learning period. A good business opportunity venture can eliminate the majority of ineffective moves through an intensive training program.

Ongoing counseling. Most business opportunity ventures offer support not only through training but also through counseling from a staff of experts who offer assistance that no independent could afford. Legal advice is available to a certain degree. The most efficient accounting systems—perfect for that particular business—have been designed by experts in the field. Some licensors offer free computer analysis of records, and through comparison with other units can pinpoint areas of inefficiency or loss as well as profitable aspects of the business that are being neglected.

No ongoing royalties. In a business opportunity, unlike in a franchise, there are no ongoing royalties to pay to the seller. The profits are all yours.

Popularity: 43% [?]

Time to get honest with yourself, OK? You are probably reading this because you either hate your job, maybe you’re sick and tired of living paycheck to paycheck, maybe you just don’t have enough time to spend with your family, maybe you aren’t living in the house or neighborhood you’d like to, or maybe you don’t have the funds to take the vacations or travel the way you want to.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all been there at some point.

Here’s an astounding truth you’d better accept right now:

YOU must accept full responsibility right now for your current situation.

You are where you are because of the decisions you’ve made in your life. It’s nobody else’s fault. Those decisions were made based on your belief system at the time. Pause for a moment to honestly reflect and verify the truthfulness of this statement.

Here’s the good news: If you’re not happy where you are, and you’re current situation is a result of your decisions (based on your beliefs), then it’s logical to assume that in order to improve your situation, you must make better decisions, right?

How?

By changing your thinking and belief system through personal development training.

By flushing out all the garbage in your mind that led you to making the decisions that led to your unhappiness. By replacing your poverty conscious thoughts with ones of wealth consciousness.

I know what some of you might be thinking, “This sounds like a bunch of new age garbage; I don’t need anybody to tell me how to think.”

Honestly, that’s what I thought at first, but I soon discovered that the principles of personal development are not new at all, but in fact, have been around forever and are also included in ancient texts as well. Don’t take my word for it:

Personal development training will allow you to persist long after others quit.

It will allow you to develop a “millionaire mindset”. It will allow you to become the leader that others are attracted to and will follow. It will allow you to manifest your desires physical, social, spiritual, material, and monetary. It will allow you to become a better you.

The importance of your own personal development simply cannot be overstated. Without it, you’re doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

In other words:
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”
–Albert Einstein

If you’re not prepared to accept this, you may as well stop reading right now… you’re already beaten before you’ve gotten started.

Here’s a couple of great places to start: “The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel and “The Game of Life and How To Play It” by Florence Scovel Shinn

Popularity: 46% [?]