If you are not an offline business, do you need a business plan?

Let me get you thinking and answering some of your own questions.  You consider your online business a proper business is that correct?

The wikipedia explains a business plan to be a means of tracking business goals.  You can go for something simple if you online, many online businesses may not do venture capital, staff expenditure and office rentals.  However saying this there are expenses and incomes, so if you earn then you need to do tax and so on.

No matter which country you live in, there is a saying that goes like this.  Only two things I am certain of, one is we all die.  The second is taxes, everyone pays taxes.  In New Zealand we have a tax obligation just like everyone else.  So with these parts involved it would be very wise to take notes and really get your concept together so it flows.  If you have had to build a site, you would if you were doing it right include:

• Contact Us
• Terms of Service
• FAq’s
• Content
• Shop (perhaps)

Personally I enjoy getting my teeth into what is working, what is making headway in the Internet space.  Actually

it could help us all.  Many small business owners have a limited budget for traffic, sure there are plenty of ways

to get traffic but however it can be very costly.  You start with one monthly plan then the next before you know it

it will glow out of control. So best to investigate how to use the free sites. What is useful with this type of method

is who google loves, who Alexa loves. Who has a high pr site, as a high pr site means your positioning will also get

a boost.

Doing this analysis serves a few purposes.

Stops you wasting time on low pr (especially if your business is important to you)

Helps you focus on what will work

Creates more strategy

Shows where the trends of large activity are (it could mean where you potential clients/customers are)

Looking for the high sites does not necessarily mean you will use them all, for instance if you love writing then you will

only be interested in the high pr sites that offer a way to publish your written work. Look some of them are Chinese

or Indian if you only speak English, well you would not find much their useful of course. There are a few basic logical

ways to look upon this.

ALEXA TOP 50 LIST

Note: Getting good at one, can also be just as powerful. It is not possible for one person to use all of the 50 correctly

and well executed. Also note many of the top 50 are search engines there it itself is a whole new topic.

Alexa is a very useful tool if PR is important to you. I would suggest you ask contacts that know your work to do a

review on Alexa. This is real human interaction which is kept and used and helps your rankings also. If you have a few

around ask them all, it will not hurt your standing at all. Also if your wanting to rank faster this is just perfect.

Let me show you what is important when your there!  For the sake of this example I will use New Zealand Herald, something we all know well

Site Info 

It should look like this once inserted.

Next click on “Get Details”

It should look like this:  ( lots of statistics)

First line you see Alexa Traffic Rank.

Next is clickable charts, one is called Traffic Stats, Search analytics, audience……….and so on.

If your site gets traffic, then take notes who your audience is and tune into that market.  Learn from this do not be insulted.

NOTE: New Zealand herald has 22,464

Sites Linking In  22464 links.  They rank 7 in New Zealand.  (Not the world just New Zealand).

WITH all the many recommendations tools, referral tools, social media tools like branch out stik, linkedin etc… have you ever had the next predicament?

 Someone asks for a recommendation/referral but you simply do not know them at all. Sure they added you as a friend, by their profile they have something quite impressive going on, but lets get down to basics. 

recommendation n

1. the act of recommending

2. something that recommends, esp a letter presenting someone as suitable for a job, etc.

3. something that is recommended, such as a course of action

Up above we see the basic meaning online through a dictionary. So you have to put yourself in line to help that person. You also maybe used for doing a job, now this means something more serious in the real world.  

The 3rd is quite extraordinary to think we can be asked a recommendation based on an action. So if we are used for a job that would place it on a par with a reference from a job. Do you realise  your recommendation is used for acquiring a real world job now? 

So instead of getting all analytical on you, I took up a task of looking a little deeper with the help of a trusted thesaurus.

Noun1.recommendation – something (as a course of action) that is recommended as advisable

advice – a proposal for an appropriate course of action

referral – a recommendation to consult the (professional) person or group to whom one has been referred; “the insurance company says that you need a written referral from your physician before seeing a specialist” 

2. recommendation – something that recommends (or expresses commendation of) a person or thing as worthy or desirable good word, testimonial congratulations, extolling, kudos, praise – an expression of approval and commendation; “he always appreciated praise for his work” character reference, reference, character – a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person’s qualifications and dependability; “requests for character references are all too often answered evasively”puff – exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes) 

3. recommendation – any quality or characteristic that gains a person a favorable reception or acceptance or admission; “her pleasant personality is already a recommendation”; “his wealth was not a passport into the exclusive circles of society”  passport

characteristic – a distinguishing quality

 So look upon this, advice , referral. I only do those in the real world if someone has impressed me or worked for me. I gave out references for those that I had some form of relationship with. How can we really give a recommendation for someone who we have never had this with : 

A working relationship

a personal relationship

a employer/employee relationship

a knowing of the persons abilities

a knowing of the persons strengths. 

So this would be used for their reputation, it would be used to show others their strengths, ability, praise of something good, build up their character online, as we have no way many times to correspond to offline world, or is that where we are wrong. Are we forgetting that this can be something that can also bring down our reputation? Are we forgetting if we give someone a testimonial and someone reading makes a judgment based on our comment that we have a ethical situation in process? Are you going to recommend someone you only added to your profile or read a few comments of? Are you really going to write a recommendation based on how they look in a photo, as I am suggesting in this paper. Research here is showing that it should produce the following scenario’s 

A recommendation/referral should be given in one circumstance.

You know something about them to be true and can pass a comment on it. 

So think to yourself next time someone asks you for a recommendation or referral. What do I know to be true of them? If you know nothing about them personally really ask yourself, am I giving my reputation a puncture if I say something is good or someone is good before I know it to be true and honest. 

My personal opinion has caused a lot of people getting a little upset with me. I have not known the person enough so cannot pass comment on another. I have met a lot of people, but If I have not got any information from the real world to comment on, I do feel I am putting my reputation on the line. I personally think the internet is merely a tool to assist real life. That is why local marketing works the best online, because it can be verified and supported. Hey I thought it was worth writing about as I think honesty is very important in everything you do.

You see I help people get their businesses on the internet. Just recently I helped get another blog up, I find it extremely rewarding to not only get the process done but actually provide education for the person at the other end. Meaning they come away with knowledge how to do the new tasks for blogging in this case. In this case the knowledge shared was about hosting & blogging.

What I realized when assisting my person with getting their blog up is I took for granted how long it took me to find the sort of hosting I can rely on.

What I needed for hosting was simple:

1. Easy for any person to set up new account
2. Easy for me to use and administer for websites or blogs.
3. Affordable (no over charging like I see so often)
4. Great Support (no support, no sale)
5. Easy to get knowledge if doing something new
6. Bandwidth that I was not buying more of all the time
7. Space so I could upload as many pictures and plug-ins to my site as I wanted.
8. Lets me pay off in chunks of cash.

Once you find a hoster that gives you all of this you have a very rewarding experience with anything on the internet. It becomes an open playing field. No longer expensive, no longer hard to find anything it was such a relief.

Hosting gives you back control of your web properties. Many are of the thought that you can do everything with free, but in no way do I endorse using methods that could be taken away. Fan pages get closed down, so do free sites. The only way I get closed down is if I stop paying.

So simple it was to choose in the end, I ended up organizing my very own side in New Zealand that is New Zealand operated. So anyone I knew from any country could gain reliable hosting.

I am glad that my experience taught me what to look out for. Hopefully I save those around me some compromising times as well.

A great support desk is what everyone needs, that is what you will get with Royal Host Unlimited. If you think it is all about money why this article is here, consider this, we will do a free package to get you acquainted. However I do recommend the $2.95 one to get more account features and awesome software in the cpanel. This is just the beginning for business.

Here is to your web presence.

Purely people power.  So you get mums, dads, retires, kids all sorts.  It is general population.  There in itself is your key.  Lets take a moment and look over Face-book ads.

An ad needs to appeal.

It must not seem like an ad really, you will not put up a ad saying “buy this” or “Buy that” etc… it does not work!

However if you give them something, let us say something they want.  So if it was a child you were trying to attract, (teen) it maybe a cool movie or new free ring-tone.  If it was a retiree, so there is lies your answer.

Do not make it salesy.  Make it appeal to the audience your targetting.  So if you popped an ad with a boating group, you simply would not put waxing kit up.  If you had a ladies cosmetic group, you would not put boating stuff up.

So think of your audience, give what would be perceived as value.  This would be the quickest way to obtain some leverage from this tactic.  There is tracking also and many other dynamics you need to look at, always track everything I hope you know.  Ultimately lets summarise.

Know your audience

Know what your audience perceives as value

Know where to place and attract

Now you have your 3 point ad system for face book.  Sure there are more details, but for a summary this is your most important parts.  Take a look around at advertisements, watch which ones capture your attention.  Look at which ones your friends have clicked on, this will give you some idea of the viral nature and the power behind their system on face book.

Just remember on google ads, it is different.  There is just different ways to obtain leverage with any style.  Make sure you test & track so as not to waste your hard earned money.

It is quite funny as I often see people that just do not get the why of using twitter and I still do not know how to handle those types. What would you say to them.

You see I realise it gives you leverage, it opens you up to so many options, it is ultimate it’s attraction is it is a free method and anyone can do it.

I was wondering, you see I use it daily but how to you see twitter?

I see it as backlinks, branding marketing connections to great people and more, I find the wealth of content is terrific. I keep in contact with contacts and send messages to friends and all sorts.

What do you find, is it a waste of time to you?

It is a sad day in Christchurch.  Today I was looking at a video showing the destruction and it was showing how devastating it has

been to the CBD.  This and Littleton have been affected the most.  I like many people have ones I care about in that city, I was lucky

though I found out they are all okay and ALIVE.

There has been many contributions we can make to this horrific earthquake, the radio today said we could text “555″ for a $5.00 Donation,

also another option is “333″ for a $3.00 donation.

To give those an idea of what happens in a earth quake, it is not just one that hits that place.  This link shows you have many they have had today.

Click the above link to see arial shots & the city destroyed.

CLICK HERE another graph CLICK HERE

Also found a  lot of you tube superstars cashing in on this news, so giving a verified New Zealand source a video display on my blog for reference amongst friends.  I know this brings out the vultures, I hope they stay away but it seems they are attracted to misery.  I would say to everyone, only give through verified charities, do not give anywhere else as you cannot be sure if that money gets there.

Red cross in New Zealand has put out some great bulletins, they said that 5,000 people signed up to volunteer today and give help.  Many of our reporters have been located right in this city.

One trusted online resource is the New Zealand Herald for facts and information, click here

All my friends & family in Christchurch, I am glad your all safe.  Christchurch did not deserve this they just got over the last one and got hit again, but New Zealand is on a fault line, we do have to predict and have procautions and strategies in emergencies, we see it everyday on television.  Just like USA has it’s hurricanes & tornado’s we have earthquakes.

Unfortunately this is a sight we see on TV most nights, one of the many.  It looks like a war zone.

I do not want to be irresponsible with talking about this quake so I am going to include the civil defense recommendations they have been given and so have we so we can best help.

NEW ZEALAND CIVIL DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

I have been impressed how the New Zealand reporters have presented this content, kudos to you guys.   I have also been astounded from our international assistance, I think this is truly wonderful.  I am glad experts can help so we can save lives.  I am going to make a donation on a above number but that link above is good for those out of New Zealand.

Stay Strong Christchurch.  We may not of gone through the quake with you but we dearly care what happens to you and your city.  We hope there is no more loss of life, only survivors.   John Key said it best here

I was overwhelmed, 7 people answered.

Let me share what my friends over at facebook did.

I asked for help, you can see it below. Look at what I wrote.

Facebook friend help

Of course, I have built relationships and know these people, they are good people.  When something is on my site and it is empty it does not look good.  But they know if they ask for the same kind of favour they will get me do the same for them.  (At least I hope they know).

So this is a gratitude post, it is a big thank you to my facebook friends.  It helped me big time and made the gadget I put on used and functional.

The worst thing is when you have  a page and no one comes, so I hope you have learned you can share your work with your friends and get support you just have to ask sometimes.

A big thank you to all my friends, you know who you are.  They say “ask and you shall recieve” so this was true in my case.

There are some guys that I respect quite highly and I used their resources to understand the ins and outs of the business, they were straight up and answered everything with no big dramas.  If you know me you know I avoid dramas like the plague.

When you think about the topic its huge what you need to know about and the whys:

Traffic Exchanges

Articles

Safe lists  (which are worth the time)

Cards

Email safety and effectiveness

List building

Clickbank what it does

Paydotcom what it is and the whys

What traffic I best?

Forum marketing & back linking in forums……

What works guaranteed?

Whats a referral Id?

You get the idea I expect its huge and the topic needs people that know and can put you right.  Lets face it there is way to much to waste money on in this industry and the big players know it, they also can be quite helpful.  So you seek the ones that do affiliate marketing and have done the hard yards and are successful yet still have that authentic nature and accuracy in content.  Finding these type can save years and much money.

Also one tendency is when your learning you are so unsure you dont spend a dime on anything and I was the same.  So I get it.  The Affiliate funnel is the exact place I am speaking of.

Paul Kinder and Tim Rash have brought a new vision to building your business. They have created the perfect sales funnel for YOUR business.  Best of all I did the hard yards, I fought through much rubbish over many years and these guys after 6 years still measure up, now that is saying something.  So if your uncertain and its all new or if you have a piece of the affiliate funnel you need mastered this is the perfect place to start.

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