Tag Archives: Business Week

Because I've been running successful online business for some time now, people always ask me how they can achieve a similar level of success. How can I build a high-traffic website? How can I start an e-business online? My series of articles here will outline from a birds eye view how to start in several ways and what the benefits are.

I see how frustrated they get when they spend hours upon hours trying to put together a website that can earn them a full time income so that they can quit their jobs and have financial independence, its tragic to see them always giving up with in the first six months and sometimes even sooner than never getting enough traffic or maybe the idea just was not so profitable after all.

All of the successful E-businesses built by hand all have one thing in common. They are built around a formula that is usually referred to as "CTPM" Which stands for Content> Traffic> Presell> Monetize. Create in demand content, attract targeted traffic, Presell those visitors, and then finally monetize the presold traffic. This is the business model that many successful internet businesses and affiliates follow.

This business model usually will be best paired with a blog centered around a highly targeted subject that can be ever monetized. A website can also do well but the websites do not update with fresh content as often as blogs do. So my advice is to start a blog and fill it with a massive bulk of high value content about a subject you know a lot about and enjoy. This way you will not get sick and tired of it as well as you will not have to constantly be in the grueling process of researching the subject you're bored out of your mind with.

After you have at least forty blog posts or a website with one home page, ten tier two pages and at least two sub tier tree pages in each of those while using high quality high value keywords that traffic will come from than you can start to monetize it through ad sense and affiliate offers. …

Credit counseling is not a very well-regulated industry today. In the past, credit counseling was operated more like a social service rather than as a business designed to make a profit. The industry was known by the general term CCCS (Consumer Credit Counseling Service) and operated under the general guidelines of the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling).

The lay of the credit counseling landscape has changed. As more and more consumers find themselves deeper and deeper in unsecured debt (think credit cards), more and more for profit credit counseling services have sprung up. Some of these services are very good and very fair, but be aware that not all of them are. Some credit counseling services are good, others are bad, and then there are those that are just evil.

1. The debt management service that you choose should be a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau). You can check with the BBB to see if the company has a good record and if there have been any complaints filed by others. Membership in the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling) or AICCA (Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies) is also acceptable.

2. If the debt management service promises you that it will take 20 minutes or less to solve all the financial problems, you need to run as fast as you can. They are referring to THEIR financial problems and not yours. It takes time and effort by a debt management service to help with your financial problems and get you the best deals possible.

3. Be certain that the debt management company can help with all of your unsecured debt and do not just deal with a few companies. Half a fix is ​​often worse than no fix at all. …

With the economy on the skids, many experienced mid and upper level professionals are striking out on their own, leveraging their expertise to build their own future and control their own destiny. For many of these aspiring entrepreneurs, creating a compelling brand name is new territory, a complete and utter mystery. They know it’s an important part of the equation, and they may have even had a full time marketing department at their previous firm. But now it’s “do-it-yourself-time,” and there’s a dearth of information on how to brand a new consulting company successfully. Fear no more. The first step in branding a consulting company is to know your objectives. Here are four key questions to clarify your goals…

1. Do you want your company name to stand out, or fit in? This may seem like a trick question, but there is not a right or wrong answer. Some new consultants are so concerned with gaining acceptance in their industry, they are much more comfortable with a name that sounds established and credible, right from the outset. If that’s the case, try looking up a list of others in your industry on sites such as dmoz.org. You will then gain a sense of the nomenclature used in your field. You may be able to emulate the feel, much like other industries have done (i.e. Microsoft’s Outlook, Apple’s Safari, Netscape’s Navigator, etc.) If want to gain notice, then do just the opposite. Look at the company names in your field and use interpretive naming strategies. For example, if nearly everyone in your category uses proper names (sometimes known as “legacy” names) then go with a metaphor (i.e. Jaguar, Caterpillar, Amazon, Monster, etc.) to convey your company’s attributes. Or try positive connotation words to create an entirely new identity (i.e. RedHat, OnStar, FireDog, etc.) Just make sure you have a rationale that can explain why you chose that name, and one that leads to a deeper dialog about your company.

2. Have you explored all the possibilities? Frequently, new business owners become frustrated and discouraged when naming their new businesses, simply because they’ve attempted only one or two naming strategies. Many times they’ve created a list of literal/functional names, (i.e. Custom Software Consulting) only to find the domain names are gone. Or they’ve attempted some obvious metaphors (i.e. Summit, Pinnacle, etc.) and found dozens of companies with similar names. The trick is to employ several methods. These include…

* Key attributes — For an example, we named one staffing company BrightHire.com based on their desire to attract the most intelligent candidates. You can see this employed with company names such as SirSpeedy, EconoLodge, Priceline and Smart Cuts. Is there an overarching benefit you provide that you can incorporate into your name?

* Invented names — This is a favorite with consultants but proceed with caution. It’s easy to get caught up in with the chase of a new name and gradual twist the spelling and message until it’s unintelligible. It’s okay to …

Like your job? Working for a good organization? Over age 50 and looking over your shoulder? If the answer is yes, maybe you should consider making yourself identifiable. In truth is no one is truly indispensable, but for career growth by working hard at making yourself indispensable, your career will prosper either with your current employer, or you'll be a top candidate for a job with another organization.

First, assess your strengths, weaknesses and your value to your group. What is your competition? Now develop a plan with both long and short-term strategies to boost your value within the operation and improve your career and other skills.

Following are 10 immediate actions you can take to make you more likely to be promoted or make you irreplaceable in the face of downsizing or reorganizing:

1. Take ownership of your responsibilities. View your department as a separate company. Consider your actions as if you were president of your company. Look at the balance sheet on every decision you make. Will the decision be seen as an asset or liability? Try to always see the bigger picture.

2. Take responsibility for your career and personal advancement. Be proactive. What are others in the same position doing in other organizations? What results are they achieving? What can you learn from then? Do you need additional training? Maybe some self-study is appropriate. How can you initiate those actions within your "company?"

3. Maintain a positive attitude. Look for ways, even under stress, to find the positive in everything. Find options to overcome obstacles and do not entertain the thought the situation is impossible. Stay away from the naysayers.

4. Consider outsourcing non-critical functions. Become an expert in this area. Lean organizations become more efficient by outsourcing. Let your management know you can effectively run things with fewer people.

5. Find tasks to do better or something that is not being done. In many organizations, especially those in a downsizing mode, responsibilities slip between the cracks. Propose to your boss that you pick up the slack. If you need extra training see that you are prepared. Do not be bashful about broadcasting the positive results.

6. Let others know what you're doing. As mentioned in # 5 above, if you or your team achieves something important to the organization let others know. Some managers believe if they keep quiet and blend into the background they'll be overlooked when and if the ax falls. Do not believe it. Be wise in spreading the word. It is not bragging if you've done it.

7. Excel in an area your boss is weak in. Look for opportunities in this area. Your boss is a good speaker but weak on material, there's an opportunity. Your boss is great on ideas but weak on financial analysis, there's an opportunity. If your boss is good on people skills but weak on technology, there's an opportunity. You see the trend, keep you eyes open and this is an area in which you …