Not much has improved since my last post with regard to learning the ins and outs and all the features that WordPress has to offer. From what I understand, once familiar with it’s capabilities, WordPress is jam packed with features. In getting started with blogging I choose to use the wordpress hosted blog and had no difficulties. I installed a header graphic, made posts, installed widgets, etc. That being so, I thought, “how different can a self hosted WordPress site be?” Especially since I also put together some beginner websites. Read the rest of this entry

We all know that in order to succeed online you need to get targeted traffic to your website.  While I have tried various methods, I can’t seem to get away from some form of writing.  As of lately, I have been trying to focus on blogging and article marketing.  Neither of which I have found to be as easy as others claim it to be.  I get these ideas and want to write but am never satisfied with what I write.  You have no idea how many times I delete a sentence, word or phrase just to rewrite it another way.  I have been told and read all over the web how blogging is a forum to express yourself freely in whatever style of writing you feel comfortable with.  Yet I continue to struggle!

I’m not sure what I was thinking. I’ve only been blogging for a little over 2 months with less than a dozen posts. Which really isn’t a lot of blogging. I’m having difficulty posting as often as I would like but feeling pretty good with what I’ve done so far . Although, there’s always room for improvement. Yet something inside me kept nudging me towards the total freedom I would have by hosting my own blog. So here I am. Now faced with 2 blogs to post to. Is this insane? Read the rest of this entry

I’m not sure if you can tell by my posts, but I can definitely see a pattern with the momentum of my efforts.  I seem to get on a bit of a roll, produce, work on my marketing and then . . . it comes to a halt!  Not sure why?

In my last post, I mentioned composing some information for a new marketing system I was going to take advantage of.  Well, I’ve been waiting for days for a response from my sponsor regarding the information I sent – or so I thought.  It seems that the original message was never sent.  So here I am patiently waiting, not wanting to be a pain and ask how he’s doing putting it together for me, and all this time it was never sent! UGH!!  I know I wrote it.  Could have sworn I sent it.  Yet it’s nowhere to be found in the sent folder of my mailbox.  Wasted time!!

So I resent it today and hope to be able to get it marketed ASAP.  For the most part I’m happy with my efforts and can feel the rewards of all that I’m doing within reach.  I’m only responsible for putting forth the effort!

In my last post (4 days ago) I committed myself to 4 articles and 3 blogs a week.  My thoughts today – WHAT was I thinking!!  I must have been real pumped up and feeling my oats with regard to writing and marketing.  Or, possibly half asleep.  In looking back, that was a pretty ambitious commitment. 

What have I done so far this week? As  I’m not a total slacker, I did submit 1 article so far and this would count as my first post for the week.  So the way I see it, I have 3 days to post 2 more times (doable) and write 3 more articles (doable but tough).  So to take some of the pressure off of myself, I’m going to lower my numbers till I get the hang of this.  My new goals for each week are, 3 posts and 2 articles.  notice, the posts to my blog did not change.

Okay, now with that off my chest, let me tell you what else I have been working on for my business.  I decided to sign up for a new Hands Free Marketing System created and offered by my sponsor.  With  this new marketing system I need to provide him with certain information so that he can create the personalized webpages that he will be marketing.  So in essence, I wrote 2 more pages of info about myself and started working on my full bio for my WhoIs page.  On top of that, I created and published a webpage for a not for profit organization that I am a member of.  It was basically an under construction page, but I included contact info, privacy statement, short movie clip of an event they hosted, and an opt-in form for further information.  As usual, I’ve read, marketed, read, and read some more.  My brain always feels like it’s on overload. 

As I stated in my last post, working from home isn’t always the best working conditions and self discipline is definitely a plus to having a productive day.   With that being said, on with today’s post.

If you’d been involved with online marketing for any amount of time I’m sure you’ve heard that traffic is what we all seek to drive to our websites.  Without traffic, we don’t stand a chance at a successful online business.  Any business, online or offline, needs traffic/exposure in order to get potential customers.  I’ve never bought or visited the unknown, have you?

Now when you talk about genertating traffic online, there are various methods and techniques.  I’ve tried Traffic Exchanges, Email Marketing, Banners, Paid Marketing Services, and most recently, Article Marketing.  Due to the High Return On Investment (ROI) it is often highly recommended to write articles, blogs, and press releases.   This blog was my start (and a slow one at that) and I’ve “thought” about writing a press release and/or article for quite some time now.

That all changed about a week ago.  I wrote and submitted my first “2″ articles and now I can proudly say I am a published ezine author.  It was a wonderful feeling and pumped me up.  Needless to say, nothing has been written since then.  Not even a blog entry.  So what happened?  From what I’ve been reading and hearing from others, I think too much!  The trick to writing, or so I’m told, is just write.  Pick your topic/keywords, research it if necessary and just write.  It doesn’t have to be Pulitzer Prize material, just quality content that relates to your website and something that people are interested in. 

It has been said by some that articles should be pumped out at a minimum of 2-3 per hour.  With those standards in mind and not to set myself up for failure, I’m setting my goal on 4 articles and 3 posts to this blog a week.  I know that sounds like nothing, but I need to take baby steps with this.  I’m a bit of a perfectionist and a little anal when it comes to writing.  If I find I can overcome some of my writing habits, I’ll gladly up the numbers.

So you want to work out of your home?  Be forewarned, it’s not all peaches and cream and definitely not for everyone.  Yes the commute is shorter and you don’t have to deal with the traffic (except that of family members within the house).  Yes the dress code is at your discretion and you can work in your pajamas, naked, or however you wish.  Yes you can make your own hours and Yes you no longer have anyone to report to. 

The comforts of working from home, ahhhh. . .only if . . .  STOP!  Reality check.  You roll out of bed, over to your computer and you’re at work.  So what’s preventing you from getting started and having a totally productive day?  The phone that keeps ringing?  The dirty laundry that needs to be done?   Errands?  Family and friends calling for favors because they really don’t consider you at work?  Or maybe, it’s ”The Boss” - yes that would be YOU! 

Having to deal with an annoying, demanding boss may be a walk in the park compared to having to listen to your own self defeating thoughts.  That little voice inside your head may very well have to be tamed.  You can not afford to fall prey to common home distractions or your business will suffer.  You have to be able to separate family life from work life even though they’re housed under the same roof.   Setting aside limited structured time to give to your family, personal tasks, and others, will help keep you from deviating too far from the work at hand. 

Work at Home habits definitely differ from that of the office and may take time to establish.  Don’t beat yourself up when you deviate from your work.  Once you realize what you’re doing, get back to the task at hand.  If you want it to work, Don’t give up!  It is possible to make money from a home based business. 

“They” being the majority of ads you see for online businesses.  How many times have you seen an ad claiming: make money working minutes a day, make a 6 figure income in days or weeks, how I went from broke to a multi-millionaire, retire tomorrow using this system, and the list goes on - ENOUGH already!

In many ways, I find it an insult to my intelligence.  Although I’m sure I’m not alone when I admit I’ve been scammed.  Anyone who has seriously tried to make money online and succeeded (or not, but seriously tried) knows that it takes time, effort, and some monetary investments.  The amount of time, money and effort you put into your business will ultimately determine it’s success.  Let me stand corrected, the amount of time, money, and effort you “properly” put into your business will ultimately determine it’s success.  There are definite “dos” and “don’ts” in succeeding with an online business and knowing the difference is key to your success.

For starters, DON”T buy into the hype and pipe dream.  DO do your due diligence in researching the opportunity that interests you.  We’ll probably all agree, that money doesn’t fall out of the sky, grow on trees, or automatically get deposited into your Paypal account.  Yet ads advertising such crap get clicked on daily!! 

Do your due dilligence by researching the opportunity, getting in on conferenece calls, ask/post questions, and probably most important, make direct contact with someone from the organization.  In many respects it is like you are “interviewing” for employment – except you are the one hiring!  You need to find an organization you feel comfortable with that also meets all “your” needs. 

If you believe in luck then I got lucky.  The way I see it,  there are NO coincidences and the teacher appeared when I was ready!!  As stated by Alexander Graham Bell, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”  I was not going to allow uncontrollable circumstances blur my vision and prevent me from seeing the door which was opened for me. 

I did my due diligence by following through with research on the internet, conference calls, and making direct contact with the person who is now my sponsor.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I went with who I felt comfortable with and what they had to offer as far as training and support.  An additional selling point for me was that they were straight forward and honest and did not sugar coat how this business opportunity could make you money.

Well guys, here I was writing away (actually on a roll) when I pushed the save button and right in front of me was a message that something was wrong with the servers (probably Matt’s fault) and I had to reload.  Bye Bye to all that good writing.  Darn you Matt!!

Unfortunately I did not save it and really don’t feel like starting over.  It’s getting late, I’m not the best typist, and I have not gotten much sleep the past few days due to my due diligence on making this online business succeed.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.  Actually, I’ve learned a lot in the past few days and am starting to get a feel of what my priorities are with regard to this business.  So much to learn, So much to do, So little time.  What’s a woman to do?    

Phewww, that was close.  I just went to try and publish this little snippet and got the same blame game about Matt.  Luckily Matt, I learn from my mistakes and saved it before it was lost.  Not a lot to say but I did say.

Shortly after the New Year I returned from a relaxing (no business) trip to the West Coast, finished out the holidays with a festive Three Kings Day celebration with close friends (one of my favs) and then wasted no time getting back onto the training calls and continuing my business and marketing education (always something to learn).

While I haven’t been in the business very long (approximately 2 months), I was pleasantly surprised last week when I wrote to my sponsor giving him an update on my efforts and lack of results.  What he responded to me with was the wonderful news that I had actually made a sale and was now just one sale away from being qualified to make 100% commisions.  What an incentive for me to keep on putting forth any and all efforts.  Even when I’m not producing, the business is working for me!  Just when I was getting a little frustrated with the lack of results from my efforts. . .

I was reminded of a most important lesson – Never give up!  Quitters never win and Winners NEVER Quit!

I could have sat on a pity pot and felt sorry for myself, questioned my decision to make this business work, and bought into the mindset that I don’t have what it takes.  WRONG!  Instead I jumped right back into educating myself about the business, the internet, online marketing, and such.  I am here to utilize the internet to my advantage and make money while doing so.  Stick around and you’ll see me get to the top!