Day 5 – Creating a Winning Website

     When you talk about a traditional, “bricks and mortar business,” there’s an old saying:  “A business with no sign, is a sign of NO business.”  In today’s home based business world, we can equate this old saying to the quality and content contained in our business website.

     Let’s begin today’s lesson with some short-cuts and money saving tips when creating your website.  We’ll then cover  the correct way to market a “company provided” website; for example, you’re an independent contractor for company XYZ, and they’ve created a business website for you.  We’ll cover what a hosting plan is, and how it can provide you with all the success tools you need for marketing your business.  Finally, we’ll cover how to plan out your website, before you begin creating.

     Website money saving tips and shortcuts.

1. Many home based business owners feel compelled to hire a webmaster out of the gate.  If you can afford a designer – go for it.  If not, the company you host with can provide you with a user friendly, turn-key templated website.  In simplest terms, it’s considered a “plug and play” site.
2. Preplan what content, links, and pictures you want on your site.  Determine how many pages you’ll be creating.
3. Make sure to optimize your web pages while constructing them, by having keywords, meta tags, etc.  If you need help with this process, click here.
4. Never submit your website domain name to the search engines while under construction.  It is a waste of your time and money to submit, until your project is complete.

     What if your home based business comes with a company provided website?  This is a perk many companys offer their independent home agents, but it’s really no more useful to you than a virtual business card.  If you’re new to the work at home environment, you may be excited at the proposition that you will not have to deal with creating a website.  WRONG!

     Reasons you need your own domain name, and your own business site – Regardless:

1. your company provided site is optimized to benefit “their” company.
2. if you have a long domain, like www.xyzco.com/affiliate?=johndoe, the site visitor is likely to just visit the main site:  www.xyzco.com – and you miss out on receiving credit for the sale.
3. you don’t have the opportunity to really personalize the information.
4. you want to have a way to capture your site visitor’s contact information for logical follow-up.
5. it’s much more realistic to market your domain, because you may change affiliations in the future, but your customers can continue to visit your website, and stay connected to you for future business.

Your Solution:  Create your own, content rich site, and link to the company provided site.

     Let’s assume now, you own your domain, and you need to find a company to hose your site, that offers professional templates, unlimited autoresponders, web based email with unlimited accounts, search engine optimization tools, a virtual meeting room, and more.  As hosting companies go, we’ve found one company we personally use, and endorse.  Their superior technical support and excellent inclusive services far outweigh every other hosting option.  So that you can compare, here are several hosting companies:

• Kiosk **
• Bravenet
• Yahoo Web Hosting

     Now that we have a general plan on our website, it’s time to actually plan it out.  Use the questionaire below to create your website plan:

1. The main information I want to convey to my prospective customers is…..
2. The pages I will include are…..
3. The links I want to include are…..
4. My customers can order directly from my webpage (y/n).
5. The picture files I wish to have on my site are as follows…..
6. I have a layout from a template I will use, or I will create from scratch.
7. My template name is…..
8. My start date on the site is…..
9. My target end date is…..

     Remember, when you’re working on your site, you can edit it as you wish.  The main thing to focus on is getting the site functional and uploaded.  Tweak and improve as necessary, but the sooner your site looks complete, the sooner you can submit it to the search engines.  To submit your site for f*ree and obtain complimentary webmaster tools, click here.

Until next time – Here’s to your Success!

Chris Archer

www.ChrisArcherInc.com – “The Home-Based Business Connection.”

Day 4 – Creating your Marketing Plan

     With your business plan completed, the next step in our process is to create a cutting edge marketing plan, that is sure to put you ahead of the competition.

     To create your marketing plan, answer these questions as in depth as possible.  Remember, marketing is a fun and creative process, so think “out of the box.”

1. I plan to market my business using the following strategies…..(example:  website, newsletter, direct mail, etc.)
2. To quantify and track my marketing eforts, I will do the above strategies, ___ number of times per week.
3. My financial goals are to generate ___________ in sales, per ________.
4. Based on this goal, I will have a marketing budget of ____________ per ______.

     If you’ve taken the time to answer the provided questions, you’ve created a working marketing plan.  Notice I said “working plan.”  As you delve into your efforts to generate profits, you will learn new techniques you may not have previously considered.  Always leave room on your marketing plan for additions.

     Let’s get ready to start putting our plans together, so we can roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Until tomorrow – Here’s to your Success!

Chris Archer 

www.ChrisArcherInc.com – “The Home-Based Business Connection.”

Day 3 – Creating Your Business Plan

     If you’re lucky enough to start a home-based business that comes complete with a turn-key business plan, you’ve saved yourself some time and money.  One of the points I relay to all of my students is having a business plan, and getting intimate with it, and two totally different things!

     For this lesson, we’re going to go through the process of creating a written business plan – even if you already have one.  This is going to enable your brain to really digest the who, what, where, when and why you are engaging in this venture.  As these concepts become second nature to you, you’ll have no problem communicating the benefits of your product or service to prospective clients and customers.  As your business grows, you’ll be able to utilize your business plan to apply for grants and loans for future expansion.

     To construct your business plan, open up your favorite word processing program, and answer each of these questions.  Be sure to be thorough, and fully explain each answer, as necessary:

1. The name of my business is…..
2. The headquarters for my business is located at…..(address)
3. My business will provide a product or service (pick one or both) to (name your target consumer).
4. The purpose of my business is (what type of products or services do you provide)….
5. My mission statement is as follows: (sample:  To provide detailed, custom quilts, made to order, and crafted with only the highest quality cotton fabrics available.)
6. I have researched (__#) competitors, and the price/rates they charge for the services they provide (which are the same or similar to mine) are as follows…..
7. I am differentiated from my competition in the following ways…..
8. I will provide the following guarantee to my customers…..
9. My primary means of marketing my business are as follows…..
10. My short term goals, in terms of number of new clients/$ generated over the next year is…..
11. My long term goal, over the next 5 years, in terms of new clients/$ generated is…..

     Once you have answered thses questions, you can put the information into official report form, by clicking here.

     New home based businesses can fail for many reasons, but by having a solid plan for your company, you’re ensuring it won’t fail because you weren’t prepared.

Until tomorrow – Here’s to your Success!

Chris Archer

www.ChrisArcherInc.com – “The Home-Based Business Connection”

Day 2 – Creating your Fully Integrated Home Office

     Creating the space you will work in can be a fun and exciting process for the budding entrepreneur or work from home professional.  Afterall, this is one of your first opportunities to embrace your new found independence, and create an office the way YOU like it.

     In addition to creating your physical office space, our goal is to create a “virtual office,” so that you will literally have the ability to work from anywhere in the world.  If you’re a “checklist person,” I’ve created a step by step process you can follow, so that you’re office will be up and running in approximately 2 hours.

     First, let’s deal with your physical office space and equipment.  When we talk about a home office, and you’re just getting started, you can create that space with a simple laptop, printer, and cell phone.  In my case, I started out at my kitchen table, but I’ve had colleagues who started with a card table, or even traveled to their local coffee shop or library to start working.  Unless you have a hug amount of money to invest in your physical work space, in your initial start-up phase, all of the additional “want” items can be added at a later date.

     On the other hand, if you have an extra room, or an area of your home that is not in use, why not put in a desk and comfortable chair so you can create a private work space?  When it comes to creating your physical work area, find a place where you can feel at home, yet, remain focused on your work tasks.

     Now, let’s move on to the exciting part of creating a fully integrated virtual office. 

1.  Sign up for a virtual switchboard service, that offers your business the following:

• a “corporate” image.
• enables callers to obtain information, and connect to you directly (follow-me service).
• multiple extensions.

There are two excellent, low cost services we recommend you check out, that are user friendly to set up and administer.

1. Rocket VOIP
2. FreedomVoice Systems
3. Callture  (if you want to use a cell phone, but attach a toll free number)

Set up your service, and be sure to include your new number on your website (to be discussed), business cards, and printed literature.

2.  Sign up for a virtual fax service.  This will allow incoming gaxes to be delivered to your email box, and will save you money, space, (no huge fax machine on the desk), and energy.  You will easily be able to fax information from your computer to customers and vendors – no matter where you are.  Many of the virtual phone providers offer a fax service in conjunction with their phone services.  My experience has found that only the providers who specialize in virtual fax services have proven to be 100% reliable.  The two services we can recommend you check out are:

1. Rapid Fax (this will give you a 30 day f*ree trial)
2. My Fax  (buy 2 months, get the 3rd fr*ee)

*Set up your virtual fax service, with templates for ease of sending.

3.  Order your website domain name, but do not begin constructing your website yet!  Think about the name that best conveys what you do.  When you’re ready to purchase your domain, we suggest the following low cost domain providers:

• Go Daddy
• Yahoo Domains

     One, little known fact regarding domain names is when choosing the right one for your business, you should reserve the name for a period of 3 or more years at a time.  Otherwise, some of the major search engines will view your site as SPAM, and this will ultimately impact your website’s rankings.

     If you’re serious about making a splash in your internet business, spend the extra $25.00, and keep the domain name for at least 3 years.

     Now, it’s time to set up a web based email address, that allows you to also access important documents, your calander, contacts, blogs, etc.  This account will be secondary for you, but is very important to your business – because it will be an alternate means of contact for you and prospective customers.  Call it a “back-up,” if you will.  You will use this account to sign up for everything, including any new accounts, etc.  Go to gmail.com, and sign up for an email account that reads YOURBusinessName@gmail.com. 

     The best part of owning a gmail account, is the fact when you are away from your computer, you can access all of your work related documents and emails via your gmail.  If you have a mobile phone with email capability, or better yet, a Blackberry, gmail is easily accessible. 

5.  Order business cards.  The cheapest prices and best quality available are fine when you’re just starting out.  The company we recommend also offers great prices on direct mailing products that match whichever custom cards you choose.

• Vista Print  (We couldn’t find anyone with comparable prices, whatsoever.)

6.  In an attempt to get started creating our internet prescence, you will sign up for free memberships with the following networking sites:

• Myspace
• Facebook
• Konnects
• LinkedIn
• SalesSpider

     You’re off to a great start today, and we’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow.

Here’s to your success!

Chris Archer

www.ChrisArcherInc.com – “The Home-Based Business Connection”