Getting Started as a Consultant

So you've decided to start working from home. You are pumped! You are excited! You are maybe a bit overwhelmed and even a bit lost as to where to begin.

Before you are off and running lets run down a few things first.

At this point you should have an idea of what you want to do and likely have found a company to join. If you have not I want you to think about this -how many do you know that sell the same product in your area or your networking circle online? If you do not know, start looking and asking. This will give you an idea of what your competition is. You need to know this from the start. If you know 20 people who sell the same thing, you will have a tough time building a business.

Next see how many would actually be interested in the product you offer. As an example lets say you sell southwest home furnishings. Do you live in a place where this would sell? Being unique does not always mean a good thing. You need to be able to sell it. Just because you feel it is great doesn't mean everyone else will. Do your local research as well.

Are you willing to invest in your business? Many don't realize you will have to invest. This includes advertising, business materials such as business cards and catalogs, demo product, samples. If you aren't willing to invest, this is not the right time to start a business. Create a budget of what you can spend now and sustain over the next 6-12 months. You want to look at up to 12 months because in some cases this is how long it can take for you to turn a profit and not returning it all back into your business.

What are you willing and not willing to do to make your business a go. If you are looking at a party plan but not willing to do parties, this is not the right type of business. Knowing what you are will and not willing to do will help determine a business that is right for you.

Doing a little homework will be very helpful when starting out. You will be more prepared in the long run and better able to take on the challenges you will face.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

WAHM Tip of the Week

Keep tabs your customer's birthdays, anniversaries, and send a card. Along with the card send a small gift or gift certificate. The gesture will be greatly appreciated and creates long lasting customer relationships.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

BOGO Ad Sale

Advertise on Liv's WAHM Blog

Get noticed with a banner ad campaign here on Liv's WAHM Blog. We have a limited number of advertising spots available now at Liv's WAHM Blog

125x125 banner ad
(available at top and under "Our Sponsors" in sidebar)

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Purchase 1 month, you automatically get 2 months advertising! Only $5!
Purchase 3 months, you automatically get 6 months advertising! Only $15 ($2.50 a month)
Purchase 5 months and get a special bonus of 1 full yr advertising! Only $25 ($2.08 a month)

Sale ends November 30 or while ad spots last!

Unlike other blog sites we give you real numbers and real value to your ad space. Instead of adding a flat rate value we evaluate our hits, unique visitors, and return readers. With this information we calculate an average CPM.

Liv's WAHM Blog averages over 7000 (7310) hits per month, averaging 821 unique (brand new) visitors a month. That is over 7000 impressions per month your ad receives.

Our ad rates are competitive with other sites at a low rate of less than $1 per cpm ($0.68 per CPM) for standard ads. CPM is cost per thousand impressions.


Our ad spots are available on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. We do however offer a waiting list so if your preferred ad position choice is not currently available, one will be contacted as soon as your preferred spot becomes available.


How to get your ad placed?

Click on an a "125x125 Banner" and choose your preferred number of paid months. You will automatically get double. Ex. 2 months = 4 month ad campaign.

Once your ad campaign has been paid in full, send an email to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "Banner Ad" in the subject line.

In your email please include:

• Website URL
• Banner URL or attach banner in email
• Email address used to purchase ad campaign
  
• Ad position choice (top or sidebar)
  

We accept PayPal (balance, instant transfer), credit card (processed through PayPal), bank account (through PayPal, where available)

As soon as we receive payment in full and email with required information, we will place your banner in your chosen ad position.

If you have any questions, please contact me at disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "Liv's WAHM Blog Ad Info" in subject line.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Door Prize Drawing

Before a party ends, you want to have everyone's information before they leave. A great way to do so is with Door Prize Slips. After you have collected everyones slip, put them in a box or even a tote bag. Pass this around and make it fun. Start passing this around when guests begin to arrive. As someone says the selected word for the day (purse, handbag, etc), someone passes them the box.

End your show with "Now who has my prize box?" (you started passing this around as guests arrive) This is a box that I have asked the ladies to pass around whenever they hear the word Purse or Handbag. Or you can say, "Okay, now time for a drawing! Has everyone filled out their guest survey sheets?" This gets you past that rare but awkward moment when nobody plays the pass or play game. Draw a name and give a prize!


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Right Click Blockers - A Few Reasons They Make It Tough for Customers

As a graphic artist, I understand the reasoning behind right-click blockers, but as a customer/visitor who has often been frustrated by these when trying to navigate a site, I'd like to share a few reasons NOT to use them.

1. They keep customers from opening up parts of your page in other tabs--which is really useful when you are deciding what items you want to buy. Blocking this feature also forces people to leave your site to visit links you have, rather than just opening these in another tab or browser window.

2. If you advertise on traffic exchanges, the blockers keeps exchange surfers from breaking out of the traffic exchange frames so they can bookmark your site. A site on an exchange I was recently surfing lost me as customer for this reason.

3. If you have an "E-mail Me" link that does not include the actual text of your e-mail, than people with web based e-mail accounts like hotmail or gmail or yahoo can not e-mail you because they can not right-click to copy your e-mail address. An easy fix is to type out your e-mail: Put janedoe@email.com in stead of "e-mail me" so that customers can copy/paste it.

4. If your right-click blocker has a pop-up with a message like "Don't steal my images!" than you offend customers who were merely using right-click for the legitimate reasons listed above and have no intention of stealing your images.

5. Right click only protects your images from people who don't know how get them another way. Anyone can use print screen and a simple graphics program to crop them out of the image, and there are several other ways to get around this. So it's not even an effective protection for your images!

So, my advice? Put a copyright statement on your page, and leave the right-click blocker off. But if you feel like you have to have one, than at least spell out your e-mail so customers can contact you, have a "bookmark this site" link on your page if you use traffic exchanges to advertise, and make sure your pop-up messages are polite.


Gale Langley is part time work at home mom who creates art for t-shirts, greeting cards, and other gift items. You can find out more about her and her artwork on her blog at http://scribbleprints.blogspot.com


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Make Positive Change A Positive Part of Your Life

You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.
You'll always be secure to the degree that you accept change.

True security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.

Recognize and accept that change will inevitably take place. You'll become secure, not by standing still, but by growing, moving, and staying energized.
Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with anything that happens to you.

Have the courage to bet on your ideas.
Take some calculated risks and act on your dreams.

There is no permanent security on this earth, there is only opportunity.

© 2009 Your Daily Motivation


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Floor Game

Give each guest three pieces of paper and ask them to put their name on each piece. Collect all papers and put them in a bag or bowl. On the floor, place three or four small prizes. These can be wrapped, placed in gift bags, or wide open. Use products from your business inventory to get guests excited about winning a product. Start calling names from the bowl. When each name is called the guests have to pick something from the floor. When the items are gone off the floor, they have to take from each other when their name is called. When all the names have been called three times, the guests left holding a prize wins.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com