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How I Built My Home-Based Online
Business
Some friends and other folks are intrigued that I make
my living selling ebooks that I've written, and they
want to know how I do it.
I followed my heart more than a plan, so the road was
longer than necessary. (At this stage, I do
have a plan. What a concept.)
If you skipped
my story of how WorkOptions.com
came about, here's the ultra-short
version of the steps I took here:
Identify a need or go with an interest or
passion
For me, it was both. I needed work-life
balance, and it became my passion to help others
have more time for a life outside of work.
Fill the need. Write about it. Write about it
more. Reach others via the Web where “content
is king.”
At WorkOptions.com, the Flex Success Proposal
Template and the related issues and strategies that
I write about on the Web site fill a need among
time-starved working mothers and others.
Draw Internet traffic with in-demand content.
I studied and applied techniques for getting my
content (Web pages) to rank high on the major search
engines. Google
“flexible work,”
“telecommuting proposal” or
“job sharing” and you'll see. This
attracts both visitors and regular queries from
print media journalists.
Convert visitors into buyers.
People like the useful content on
WorkOptions.com and thousands have purchased Flex
Success Proposal Blueprint. I'm blessed to make most
of my living from the steady sales of
Flex Success
Proposal Templates.
Turns out, this path is a pattern for online
success among home-based entrepreneurs. And it's one you
can follow. How You Can Build an
Online Business, Too First things first: ignore
the hyped-up offers to get rich quick on the Internet.
They're rip-offs.
Instead, follow the path I took—as an online
rookie—with WorkOptions.com:
This sound online business model is from Site Build
It,
by SiteSell, a well-regarded company which provides step-by-step
guidance and tools for non-techie people who want to
build a home-based Web business.
It seems I was unknowingly
following the CTPM sequence to success but...
I followed it in a painstaking,
overly-time-consuming way. (Site Build It wasn't yet
available when I started WorkOptions.com in 1997.)
Now I know
better. And you do, too. Site Build It is a better way
to go.
If I were to do it again, I'd
use Site Build It.
In fact, I am. Let me explain.
In December 2007, a friend-of-a-friend who had no
knowledge of building and marketing a Web site was
interested in earning supplemental income online and
wasn't sure where to start. I was asked to advise her.
In preparation for that, I revisited Site Build It (SBI).
I was surprised and impressed at how far SBI had
advanced in its offerings over the years.
Here's the thing: I've been scouring and devouring
Web marketing information for more than 10 years. With
that, I can confidently say Site Build It has the right
stuff for non-techie people with brains and motivation
to build a successful online business. I even signed on as an affiliate for Site Build It (SBI);
it passed my due diligence test.
Experienced Webmasters find SBI valuable, too.
Including me.
That's right. As of January 2008, I'm using
SBI for
my new Web site, Time Off Tactics for Baby Boomers.
This time, it'll be easier (but not easy) and
quicker (but not quick—building a viable business takes
time).
And cheaper, too. It works out to only $25 a month
(paid annually), yet it includes an entire suite of Web
management and traffic-building tools that purchased
separately elsewhere, would cost a lot more.
Pick a Revenue Model for Your
Online Business
Your time is limited because of work and family
demands. Good news: there are certain passive ways to
“monetize” your Web site as an
“infopreneur.”
That's what I'm doing with my new Time Off
Tactics Web site.
Maybe you like the WorkOptions.com model, i.e., sales
of an ebook.
You can sell ebooks that you
author using Site Build It.
(But remember, I was working part-time, allowing me the
time to write and promote Flex Success. You may want to
restructure your job to part time first.
Telecommuting can also free up several
hours a week.)
Pick a niche, which is a key to small business online
success.
You
can choose almost anything you're passionate about.
The SBI process will tell you if it's a profitable Web
site concept to pursue.
SBI suggests several other revenue models. Learn
about them by clicking the M (for Monetize) in
their
30-minute video tour.
Whether it's sooner or later, (sooner is better
because it takes months to become income-producing), if
you want to build a home-based online business, I
strongly recommend you check out
Site Build It.
Yours for work-life balance and fruitful success,
PS: After all that reading about SBI, you may still
have some specific questions.
You can call SBI until midnight
to get an answer. Toll-free in North
America. Including weekends.
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