oom-pah-pah.com

Are you neglecting StumbleUpon video strategies? If so, perhaps it's time you gave using video to maximize your Stumble visibility and power a better look.

It can be as simple as creating a video for your site or on YouTube, and submitting it to StumbleUpon.  But there are definitely 3 tips you should pay attention to, as well as other tactics you need to be aware of, to get the most impact for time invested.

1. Don't just stumble videos:  Make one yourself - after stumbling enough that you know what works for you as a searcher (and what doesn't).

2.  Make sure you have a "Stumble" button on your video page!  It allows stumblers who come to it organically through search engines to instantly stumble it, putting it StumbleUpon's database.

3. Don't set your videos to "autorun" when people open your page. Give them the option of clicking "play".  People are more likely to "thumbs down" videos that autorun. When fellow stumblers were polled, sample given reactions went along these lines:

"It feels like a pop-up when they start playing before I can think and decide"

"I don't like being hi-jacked"

"It didn't say how long it was going to run, and I have to watch my bandwidth"

"I like to choose what I click on"

Using Videos As A Strategy on Your Profile

When you click on your "Favorites" page in StumbleUpon, notice there's another horizontal menu bar underneath your 3 "Discover", "Favorites" and "Stumblers" tag. As well as "All", this menu bar includes:

- photos

- videos

- discoveries

- your tags.

Is your video tab empty?

If so, give your potential subscribers one more facet of your online personality to feel enthusiastic about. Be sure to include a few videos of your own.

And start stumbling your videos - and others' - today!

Thanks for reading!

Michael Camire
BizVentures5000

P.S. Sign up for my FREE report  "How Stumbleupon Benefits Your Business" and Find out How You Can Finally Enjoy Social Networking the Way it was Meant to Be - Without Giving Up Facebook or Twitter at http://shortquik.com/stumbleupon/

        

When you join StumbleUpon, make no mistake: You're joining a community. You stumble other users' sites, recommend sites, images or videos you like and make a strong effort to keep your Stumbling focused.

Why, then, do so many people miss the opportunity to take their StumbleUpon experience to the next logical step by making themselves part of a StumbleUpon Community Group? 

The first thing you can do is make the StumbleUpon forum part of your routine. If the official StumbleUpon blog is the first place you'll find news, the forum is the first place you'll find answers to StumbleUpon questions, or solutions for problems.... or be able to submit a question yourself.  (Naturally, they do encourage you to search the FAQ or Help section before asking your Question, but it's a comfort when you can't find an answer - perhaps for something to do with the brand new iPad app - to be able to ask it straight away in the forum.)

The "Get Satisfaction" Forum is also broken into well-organized segments within its front page, to help you easily find answers in your category. No fumbling around through confusing layer after layer of forum posts.

The segments are:

- Frequently Asked Questions

- Ideas Under Consideration

- Common Problems

- Recent Praise

There's also a button beside each query that says either "Solved" or "Needs Solution", as well as showing how many answers have been received.  At the bottom of each segment, there are instant status tabs: "Common", "Solved", "Being Worked On" and other similar status indicators.  The community greets new members, and lists its products and services, including toolbar versions for different browsers that are now available.

StumbleUpon Community Rules

Of course, like any online community, it has its rules. They're the basic, common-sense ones about no spamming, flaming or publishing private content without permission. No personal insults or profanity. (Perhaps the most interesting rule in posting to the forum is "No off-topic or useless posting": Off-topic I can see - but what is their definition of "useless"?)

Sign Up Required

The only minor annoyance is having to specifically sign up for the Forum - but that's easily done in a few seconds. Your welcome email also gives you the standard option to have new replies to your posts emailed to you... and one more useful feature.

It also allows you to check a box that authorizes Get Satisfaction to send you a daily email about anyone new who has added you as a contact. This allows you to thank them, stumble their sites or just check out their profile.

You can add products and companies you like or are interested in under a specific "Add Product or Company" tab. And your Dashboard is also where you can register your App, if you're a developer.

Your Settings page is also a valuable promotional tool. You can customize it with a thumbnail, use your real name or nickname, make it geographically relevant by adding your location, and provide your Twitter ID, Flickr ID and blog or website URL.

Go check out the StumbleUpon forum today at: http://getsatisfaction.com/stumbleupon

Thanks for reading!

Michael Camire
BizVentures5000

P.S. Signupfor my FREE report report "How Stumbleupon Benefits Your Business" andFind out How You Can Finally Enjoy Social Networking the Way it wasMeant to Be - Without Giving UpFacebook or Twitter!

        

Are you working at branding yourself or your business?  If so, consider adding StumbleUpon to your arsenal of strategies.

Within StumbleUpon, branding yourself is the first step. It will help create a strong authority status and make you not only recognizable but a "goto" person your subscribers can feel is firmly on their side.

But branding isn't going to happen unless you have a clear target. Decide who you want to be known as on StumbleUpon; and what for. And thoroughly research your potential audience.

The real trick, however, is not to spread yourself too thin. It's better to be known for one thing you do really well than for your average performance in several areas.

12 Tips for Tailoring Your Branding to StumbleUpon

Once you've got these two areas - who you are and what on StumbleUpon - firmly fixed, it's time to implement your StumbleUpon branding strategy.

Make sure...

- Your profile reflects your brand

- You stumble each entry on your blog (but not all at once!)

- You stand out from the crowd: Speak with your own unique "voice"

- Be friends with fellow Stumblers. Review their pages and sites - but keep it honest and real. (Never do this just to "collect" friends!)

- Visit and stumble only quality sites. Don't mix business with personal, if the personal doesn't enhance the business

- Read reviews to see what people are really thinking and feeling about a site or issue

- Stumble your "competitors" favorites to find out what gaps they've left you

- Factor backlink creation into your branding strategy

- Guest post on your Stumble buddies' blogs.

- Stumble your Stumble friends' posts

- Be consistent in your Stumble life

- Stumble your guest posts!

Once you've decided on a course of action for your StumbleUpon branding strategy, do your best to stick to it. After all, consistency is the most important key to branding. (Think how disoriented you'd feel if Coca-Cola suddenly started producing bright green cans with a rocket ship as their mascot, instead of a polar bear!)

Don't forget to tie your Facebook and Twitter strategy in with StumbleUpon too... And if you're a LinkedIn user, make sure your profile and information on that site reflects the image you're portraying in your other social sites.

Remember that in branding yourself, the most important thing is to create and nurture your own strong, separate - and consistent - identity.

Now sit back and ask yourself - what do you want to be known for?

Signup for my FREE report "How Stumbleupon Benefits Your Business" and Find out How You Can Finally Enjoy Social Networking the Way it was Meant to Be - Without Giving Up Facebook or Twitter!

http://shortquik.com/stumbleupon/

Thanks for reading.

Michael Camire
Biz Ventures 5000

        

You hear people talk so often about being positive. They say things like, “Keep your chin up”, “Look for the silver lining,” and “Look on the bright side.” There are a million sayings and they all say essentially the same thing: there’s a benefit to having a positive attitude. There’s magic in positive language and a positive attitude.

 

Here’s how it works:

 

When you have a positive attitude and use positive language like, “I can save money,” “I can lose weight,” “I can reach my profit goals,” then it just makes you feel better. Certainly better than spending the day focusing on what you can’t do. And it’s been proven that when we believe (or act like we believe) something to be true, it has a better chance of coming true. If we believe, for example, that we can lose 50 pounds, we can lose 50 pounds. The mind is a very powerful thing and our thoughts and the language we use affect our beliefs, actions and even our abilities.

 

A positive attitude helps you get over challenges without even realizing it. When we have a positive attitude, challenges just seem to be less significant. It’s not that positive people don’t have challenges to overcome or get past, it’s just that challenges have less of an effect on their life and their outlook than they do for negative people. If you have a negative attitude, the smallest setback can feel like Mount Everest. If, on the other hand, you have a positive attitude, even major setbacks feel do-able.

 

A positive attitude helps you see opportunities rather than limitations. Opportunities, recognizing them and seizing them, is often the difference between tremendous success and just making a living. When you have a positive attitude, you view the world as a welcoming and friendly place and you expect, recognize and grab opportunities as they come to you. If you’re negative then it’s easy to view the world as your enemy and everything as a problem or limitation. Being positive makes a huge difference in your success.

 

A positive attitude attracts people to you. It makes them want to do business with you and it brings opportunities, business partners, customers and friends to you. You’re able to surround yourself with positive people and success easily.

 

Having a positive, can do attitude, gives you the extra edge to dream big and accomplish your goals. When you believe you can accomplish something, you’re able to make it happen. You’re able to sit down and plan how you’re going to achieve your goals. You’re able to focus on accomplishing the steps it takes to get where you want to go and you’re able to celebrate and share your success with others.

 

How Do You Cultivate a Positive Attitude?

 

We’re not all born with rose-colored glasses, yet this is something you can learn. You can learn to be positive, to use positive language and to look on the bright side. It just takes practice. You’ll want to practice recognizing your thoughts, positive and negative.

 

Once you can learn to recognize or be conscious of your thoughts, then you can begin to eliminate or change the negative thoughts into positive ones. Don’t give up when you find this process difficult, it is and it takes time and practice. However the effort is well worth it. When you’re able to see the world in a positive light, everything changes.

 

To Your Success!

 

 

Michael Camire

Webmaster

  

 

Follow me on Twitter:

> http://www.twitter.com/pratbirdman

 

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> http://www.BizVentures5000.com/?cp=ou14lttb

 

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> Pratbirdman

 

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> http://www.BizVentures5000.com/?cp=ec3p5c4P

 

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> http://www.BizVentures5000.com/?cp=jb3Hvz2v

        

Eventually, if it hasn’t happened already, your business is going to reach a point where you’ll want to make a decision. Stay the size you are and manage your business, or grow your business. If you’ve decided that you want to grow your business, then one key area to look at is building your sales team.

 

Here are five reasons why an effective sales team is important for the success of a business.

 

1. A sales team will multiply your business exposure and awareness. When you have a team of people representing your products or services they have their own audience and website traffic. Whether they’re an affiliate or a direct sales team member, a team member can help you multiply your audience.

 

2. A sales team can bring in sales and profits while you focus on other things. A business owner needs time to plan and grow their business. Your role as the owner is to create strategies and procedures to make your business profitable. If you like to do sales, then by all means continue to do so while you’re also planning your business. However, if you’d rather spend your time on other things - new businesses, new ventures, new products and services for example, then a sales team can be your next best business decision.

 

3. An effective sales team can drive profits. As a business owner it’s likely that you spend a good chunk of time devoted to profit-generating tasks. If for example you are an information marketer, then chances are you spend a lot of time creating these information products. However, if you have a sales team increasing your profits, you have more in your budget to outsource some of these tasks. You can take time off and still have money coming into your business.

 

4. A sales team can and will drive more traffic to your website, thus opening up more revenue opportunities. If you have 1000 visitors a day to your website that’s great; if you have an effective sales team each sending hundreds of visitors to your website, then your traffic increases exponentially. Now you can charge more for advertising, make more from PPC campaigns, make more from affiliate commissions and of course sell more products and services.

 

5. Finally, a sales team can enhance your credibility. A one person sales team is fine but a ten, twenty or one hundred person sales team is a whole new ballgame. 

 

If you’re looking to grow your business and are skilled at managing people and creating marketing strategies and promotions, a sales team is the next big step. 

You can get this sales team at http://www.bizventures5000.com.

Thanks for reading.

Michael Camire
blog.oom-pah-pah.com
www.bizventures5000.com
www.birdbuffetnthings.com
www.exoticbirdtraining.com

        

Ever heard the phrase, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?”  That is how the work from home scams work. As more and more people are attracted to the idea of working from home, more and more scam artists are surfacing to take advantage. In fact, work from home scams are on the National Consumers League's Top 10 Frauds list.

So how do you protect yourself? Learn to recognize work from home scams. Here’s how:

Ask yourself, “what do they really want?” If a position requires you to purchase products from them in order to perform the job, beware. Craft assembly scams, for example, work by having you pay for the equipment up front, you assemble the crafts and are then told you don’t meet their needs. The truth is you could never meet their needs; they’re making money by selling you the craft supplies.

Common work from home scams that utilize this method include:

* Craft assembly scams
* Envelope stuffing scams
* Medical billing scams

In short, if you have to buy equipment up front or pay them to start the business, it should be a huge red flag.

Ask yourself, is it legal? Many scams intentionally involve you in perpetrating a fraud. For example, the old “turn your computer into a money-making machine,”. Well, this one's at least half-true. To be completely true, it should read: “Turn your computer into a money-making machine... for spammers!”

Is it a multi-level marketing or pyramid scheme?  Multi Level Marketing or MLM has received a reputation for being a scam. While there are legitimate MLM organizations, it pays to be extremely careful when it comes to getting involved with them. Many organizations focus on getting more people involved in the pyramid rather than actually representing a quality product or service.

Do your research. Find out if they’re legitimate. The internet provides you with a myriad of tools to research companies. You can Google them to find out if there are any complaints against them, you can check with the better business bureau and you can investigate legitimate work from home opportunities online or at your local library.

Where did you learn about the work from home opportunity? If you received an unsolicited email, it’s almost guaranteed to be a scam.

Legitimate work from home opportunities do exist. Call centers are one example of a generally legitimate work from home opportunity, and you can always start your own web-based business from home. Take your time, do your research and trust your instincts.

Thanks, and, of course, contact me directly with questions.

Sincerely,

Michael Camire
http://vitalviralpro.com/m/12405
pratbirdman@gmail.com
Skype: pratbirdman
About Me

        

Entrepreneurship is a dream for many, and a reality for comparatively few. Though many like the idea of starting a business and becoming their own bosses, it takes a special type of person to succeed as an entrepreneur. You've got to have a high tolerance for risk, a healthy self-esteem, and truckloads of motivation. Not every successful entrepreneur is born with these traits, but all must develop them if they do not come naturally.

 

It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get a business off the ground. That's why it's so important for entrepreneurs to have a strong desire to succeed. When the going gets tough, you can't just call it a day. Few entrepreneurs hit a home run with their first idea. And even those who do invariably experience some bumps in the road before they get off the ground. But they keep at it until they get where they want to be.

 

This intense motivation and determination is good for any startup. And once your business is out of the startup phase, it can keep it running strong. But it can also have some not-so-positive effects. While hard work and intense focus are required to make your business a success, they can also greatly contribute to burnout.

 

Burnout has a way of bringing your progress to a screeching halt. It can cause you to run out of ideas and just get tired of it all. Some entrepreneurs have even given up because of severe burnout. It seems that the harder they try, the less they get accomplished, so they think, “Why bother?”

 

Don't let this happen to you. Of course you're eager to get your business going (or if it's already going strong, to keep it moving forward). But if you're not careful, you could lose momentum just by trying so hard. The good news is that entrepreneurial burnout can be avoided.

 

Symptoms of Burnout

 

If you're just getting started, or have been fortunate enough to have not experienced burnout, it's best to take steps to avoid it in the first place. We'll get to that shortly.

 

Some entrepreneurs are in the throes of burnout and don't even realize it. If you're one of them, it's important to take action to turn it around quickly. Here are some telltale signs:

 

* You have trouble concentrating on your work, and there's no other reasonable explanation for it. Certain health problems can cause trouble concentrating, so if it comes on suddenly or is severe, a trip to the doctor might be warranted. But if it only seems to occur when you're doing something that's business related, there's a good chance that burnout is to blame.

* You long to spend more time with your family or participating in your favorite sport or hobby. We all have certain things that we love to do, and it's understandable to miss them when you're spending most of your time trying to build a business. But if it's all you can think about, it could be a sign of burnout.

* Your business is causing you more stress than joy. There's no doubt that starting and running a business can be stressful. Most entrepreneurs enjoy what they're doing so much that it outweighs the stress. But when the stress becomes overwhelming, it's important to find a way to refocus on the parts of your business that make you happy.

* Your creativity goes south. You have trouble making decisions, solving problems and coming up with new ideas. Everybody hits a bump in the road sometimes, but if it starts to feel like a constant uphill battle, you've got a problem.

 

For some, burnout is glaringly obvious. For others, it can be hard to see. But if you have any of these symptoms, or if something about your business just doesn't feel right, burnout could very well be the problem.

 

Solutions for Burnout

 

The best course of action for an existing case of burnout depends on its cause. But the tips that follow are good rules to live by for any entrepreneur. All of these things can help to keep burnout at bay.

 

Take Some Time for Yourself

 

One thing that many entrepreneurs fail to do is take time out for themselves. For some, the business practically takes up every waking moment. Others take time to take care of their families or other obligations, but they don't participate in any hobbies or activities that they enjoy. In either situation, burnout is virtually inevitable.

 

It's easy to see why so many entrepreneurs fall into this trap. Keeping a business running smoothly takes a lot of work, and business owners often feel that if they don't keep at it constantly, they will lose momentum. Some entrepreneurs also reason that because they love being an entrepreneur so much, they don't need any hobbies outside their businesses.

 

We've all heard the old saying, “All work and no play makes Johnny a dull, dull boy.” Even if your work seems like play because you enjoy it so much, you owe it to yourself to pursue other interests. It you don't, your life will be out of balance.

 

Need some ideas? Here are some activities you might consider:

 

* Get reacquainted with your favorite sport. If you played tennis in high school, grab a friend and hit the court. If you were once an avid bowler, sign up for a league. It doesn't matter if you aren't great at it. The physical activity and opportunity to enjoy the company of others (or in the case of solo sports, have some productive alone time) will do you a world of good.

* Try out a new hobby. It could be sewing, woodworking, or anything else that tickles your fancy. The point is to try something new. If you like it, buy some supplies and be sure to take time out to work at it at least once a week. If not, keep trying stuff until you find something that you enjoy.

* Join a club. Most clubs have regular meetings, so you'll have to tear yourself away from your work to attend them.

* Volunteer. Volunteering is done to help others, but you also gain numerous benefits from it. It makes you feel great because you're making a difference in the world. It gives you the opportunity to meet new people and experience new things. And if you commit to volunteering on a regular basis, it can be very helpful in preventing entrepreneurial burnout.

* Take a class that's unrelated to your business. Whether it's in ballroom dancing or a new language, you'll enrich your mind while taking it off of work for a while.

* Go to the spa or get a massage. If you need a quick pick-me-up, these activities will do very nicely.

 

If your life revolves around your business, you're going to get burned out at some point. Making it a point to regularly do things that you enjoy (and that have nothing to do with your business) will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to get back to business.

 

Stop Trying to Do It All Yourself

 

Most beginning entrepreneurs must wear many hats in their businesses. This is especially true if they're working with a limited budget. Someone has to do the accounting, the marketing, the secretarial work and all of the other things that keep the business going. And when you're the only person in the company, that someone is usually you.

 

The problem is, this mindset of doing it all for oneself tends to stick. Even when the business is off the ground and doing well, some entrepreneurs continue to perform every function on their own. Maybe it just doesn't occur to them that they could hire other people to do these jobs. Or maybe they think they're saving money by not adding anyone else to the payroll. No matter what the reason, these entrepreneurs end up working long hours and doing tasks that they may not enjoy very much.

 

If this sounds familiar, it's time to start thinking about hiring some help. Not only will you save yourself from working so hard, you can also open the door to making more money. That's because if you pay someone else to handle the tasks that do not directly generate profits, you'll have more time to concentrate on the activities that do make you money.

 

When it comes to getting others to do some of the work for you, you have a few options:

 

* Hire an employee. If you've handled things yourself thus far, one employee will likely be able to take care of all of your grunt work. Don't feel obligated to pay someone full-time, though. There are plenty of people who want or need part-time jobs, either working a few hours each workday or just a few full days a week.

* Outsource. Getting professional service providers to take care of certain aspects of your business is not only helpful, it's smart. Consider accounting, for example. You might be capable of handling it yourself, but a CPA is thoroughly trained in how to do it correctly. By hiring one, you reduce your risk of noncompliance with tax laws.

* Get a virtual assistant (VA). VAs can perform a wide variety of tasks for business owners. They can take calls, maintain websites, handle marketing and much more. Different VAs have different skill sets, but there's a high probability that you can find one to handle all or most of the things you need her to. A virtual assistant may work an an employee or as an independent contractor.

* Take on an intern. Interns work for little or no pay in exchange for on-the-job training. For those who really need to watch the bottom line, getting an intern is a good option. But remember that  this will only work if you're hiring someone to do something that you know a great deal about.

 

If you try to take on too many different tasks in your business for too long, burnout will follow. This is especially true if you don't enjoy all of those tasks, and few of us do. But there are people out there who like them, so why not hand the work off to one of those people? It will be good for your business and good for you.

 

Just Say No

 

Entrepreneurs are a helpful lot. They try to accommodate every request, because they want to make a good impression on their customers and potential customers. If that means working longer hours or tackling a project they aren't particularly fond of, so be it.

 

That old adage, “The customer is always right,” is true to some extent. If you don't take care of your customers, you'll eventually end up without any. But if you cater to their every whim, no matter how unreasonable, you'll find yourself resenting them, and by extension your business. That's no way to operate. Sometimes you just have to say no.

 

For instance, there are some customers out there who expect the businesses they patronize to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For a large corporation, that's certainly feasible, but in practice rather rare. Your customers, if they are reasonable human beings, should know that you can't work all day every day. But some might insist on contacting you at all hours of the night, because they perceive their needs as being so important.

 

That's why it's crucial to set specific business hours. That's not to say that you can't work after those hours, or even that you can't communicate with clients outside of them. But it's best to require an appointment for anything that goes on outside of your regular business day or work week. It's also a good idea to maintain a separate phone line for business purposes, so when the work day is over, you can let calls go directly to an answering machine.

 

And then there are clients who expect you to take on any project they see fit to send your way. Maybe you're a web designer, and a client wants you to write content for his site. Or maybe you're a writer, and a client wants you to write on a subject with which you're just not comfortable. In these situations, there's nothing wrong with tactfully saying “no.” By all means, suggest someone else who could handle the request if you can, but don't feel obligated to do these things because the client asked you to. If it's a client worth keeping, he will understand.

 

Saying no to customers can be tough, but sometimes it's necessary. If you do so with respect and help them solve their problems (even if it's by directing them elsewhere), they will in turn respect your boundaries.

 

Reward Yourself

 

One of the most important things an entrepreneur can do is set goals for his business. Goals help keep you motivated and aid in measuring your progress. And when you reach them, it makes you feel great!

 

But if you're not rewarding yourself for reaching your goals, that rush you get from reaching them begins to wear thin. Each victory becomes a little less enjoyable than the last. Pretty soon, you might find yourself wondering just what the point of setting goals is. As a result, you might begin to lose steam.

 

The solution? Reward yourself for a job well done. It's a simple concept, yet surprisingly few entrepreneurs put it into practice. If you have employees or contractors, you know that rewarding them for a job well done encourages more of the same. But as an entrepreneur, if you don't reward yourself, who's going to do it for you?

 

Planning a reward when you set a goal serves two purposes. First, it provides additional motivation. If you know you can expect something you've wanted when you reach a goal, it gives you that much more incentive to do your best. Second, the reward itself can help ward off burnout. Instead of working solely for the sake of building your business, you're also working toward something you desire.

 

In general, the best rewards are not related to your work. Instead, they involve things you enjoy in your personal life. You could reward yourself with a new pair of shoes, a day off, or a trip to the beach. By choosing rewards that have nothing to do with your business, you acknowledge that you're more than just an entrepreneur. And that's very important to your success.

 

Take a Vacation

 

Many of the most successful entrepreneurs don't have to be involved in the day to day operations of their businesses. They've built their businesses to the point where they can delegate most tasks. These entrepreneurs rarely have a problem with taking a vacation.

 

For the rest of us, vacations tend to be less frequent. In fact, some entrepreneurs do not appear to know the meaning of the word “vacation.” They might work set hours each week and even take a day off every now and then, but they never take an extended break from running their businesses.

 

Think about it. If you were working a regular job, you would get some time off each week (usually at least 2 days). And if your employer provided benefits, you would probably get at least a week of paid vacation each year. Even employers that do not offer vacation pay allow workers to take time off without pay, because they know that it improves morale and productivity. As an entrepreneur, you owe it to yourself and your business to take some time off every now and then to recharge your batteries.

 

And don't fall into the trap of thinking that you should work during your vacation. While it's important to be reachable in the event of an emergency, a vacation is meant for getting away from work, not just moving it to a different setting. If you go to the Bahamas and spend the whole time on your laptop, it's not going to do you very much good.

 

On the other hand, don't feel like you shouldn't take a vacation if it's not feasible to go anywhere special. Just taking a week off and spending time with family or having fun in your own hometown can counter burnout, too. Keep in mind, however, that it may be even harder to resist the temptation to work when you're not far from the office.

 

It's rather ironic: One of the main reasons people choose to become entrepreneurs is because it offers more freedom than working for someone else. Yet all too often, they get so wrapped up in their businesses that they don't take advantage of that freedom. If you can't remember the last time you took a vacation, what are you waiting for? Take some time off!

 

Do Some Housecleaning

 

If you've ever thoroughly cleaned your house, you know that it's amazing how much stuff can pile up in a short amount of time. When you clean out the closet, you're bound to find some clothes that no longer fit or just don't suit your tastes any more. Look under the bed or in the basement, and you might find supplies for a hobby that no longer interests you. These things can clutter our homes without us even realizing it, and when we get rid of them, we're amazed at how much space is freed up.

 

As an entrepreneur, you'll find that your business is prone to clutter, too. But it doesn't necessarily come in the form of tangible objects. It could be a service you're providing that isn't well received, or a marketing strategy that isn't working, or a standard procedure that no longer seems to serve any useful purpose.

 

A cluttered business can be very cumbersome to run. When you're bogged down with a bunch of things that just aren't working, it's hard to put enough energy toward the things that are working to reach your full potential. Every entrepreneur should set aside time to take regular inventory of her business in order to identify items that are just wasting valuable energy.

 

Here are some things to look for:

 

* How are each of your product lines/services doing? Are they profitable, and do you feel good about providing them to your customers?

* Do all of your administrative procedures provide value to the business? Each one should fulfill some sort of purpose, whether it's complying with laws or helping you run things more efficiently. Doing things a certain way just because that's how they've always been done isn't very productive.

* Do your advertising campaigns effectively reach and speak to your target market? What worked well a year ago might not be as effective now.

* Are your assets working for you? Some businesses have equipment that's rarely used that they must use valuable resources to maintain. And some have online resources such as domain names that they aren't using and probably never will. Unloading these can save you money and streamline your business.

* Are your employees and/or contractors serving a useful purpose? Sometimes we hire people to do a specific job and then keep them around just because we like their work. But if they're not contributing to your business, it;s time to find a way for them to do so or send them on their way.

* Are you overinforming yourself? Staying abreast of developments in your field and new tricks and techniques is a good thing. But if you spend too much of your time doing so, you'll be less productive and more likely to experience burnout. Don't feel like you have to read every blog or subscribe to every publication that relates to your business.

 

Once you've found the things in your business that aren't working, you need to get rid of them. Don't hold onto them unless there is a legitimate reason that you will likely be able to use them at a later date. Letting go can be difficult, but once you've disposed of the things that are weighing you down, you'll find that your business is much more manageable.

 

Try Something New

 

When business is good, it's easy to get stuck in a rut. You might reason that if things are going well, there's no need to change anything. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

 

So you keep on doing what you're doing, and business continues to flourish. But after a while, doing the same thing begins to be a chore. You find yourself going through the motions, feeling like something's missing, but not sure what it is.

 

Avoiding change is bad for your morale, and it's also bad for business. Your customers' needs are constantly evolving. They might keep coming back for a while, but when someone else starts offering something that better meets their needs, they will likely move on. Just like you, they will get bored with the same old thing.

 

If you find yourself feeling like you're spinning your wheels in your business, it's time to do something different. First, get rid of the things that aren't working as mentioned previously. Then start brainstorming some fresh, new ideas for your current line of products or services, or work on developing something completely original.

 

You don't have to launch something new right away. In fact, it's usually better if you don't. You need to take the time to do some market research and make sure that there's a need for it. But simply coming up with new ideas can breathe new life into your business. And if one doesn't pan out, you'll probably have enough energy left over to try something else.

 

An unwillingness to change can be a cause or a symptom of burnout. Either way, it must be addressed if your business is to succeed.

 

Burnout Isn't a Sign of Failure

 

Some small business owners see burnout as a sign that they aren't cut out to be entrepreneurs, or that they have chosen the wrong type of business. This is rarely the case. Most of the time, burnout comes from overworking yourself or focusing your energy in the wrong areas.

 

It's important to realize that every entrepreneur feels a little burned out every now and then, even those that own highly successful businesses. If you were working for someone else, doing something that you love, chances are good that you would still feel a bit disinterested every now and then. The fact that you're running a business of your own and enjoying the benefits of increased freedom and income potential doesn't make you immune.

 

When you start feeling a little overwhelmed, don't beat yourself up. Do something about it. If you sit down and evaluate your business carefully, the problem areas will reveal themselves. If you're having trouble identifying them yourself, talk to a fellow entrepreneur or a business coach. Someone outside of your business will be better able to look at things objectively.

 

Entrepreneurial burnout is no reason to give up on your business. In most cases, it is easily cured. As long as you don't let it go too long, it won't do irreparable damage.

Sincerely,

Michael Camire
http://vitalviralpro.com/m/12405
pratbirdman@gmail.com
Skype: pratbirdman
About Me

        

It’s been said that “no man is an island” – this couldn’t be more true when it comes to working online. Particularly when you’re working from home; it’s very easy to get into a “lone worker” mentality. Avoid this by using our networking tips to help you expand your network.

 

#1 – Build a support system. Find others in your field or work and build up a support system. These people will not only understand your business but they’ll also be able to support you in a number of ways, such as sending new business referrals your way or recommending a great service provider. Of course, you’ll also want to help them in return.

 

But more importantly, a great support system is just that – support. Your support network will be able to understand the unique issues and dilemmas of your business and may be able to offer advice and a helping hand whenever needed.

 

You can build your support network by joining like-minded mastermind groups or finding local events in your area. A quick search on the internet or asking other colleagues should give you several options.

 

#2 – Go to seminars and events. Especially if you’re working from home you may think that going to a seminar is too difficult or perhaps not worth it. But it’s been said that many great business relationships (and friendships) have been formed at these events.

 

If a large seminar seems daunting, start with a smaller-scale event. You may even be able to find one locally rather than having to fly out to a different area. And keep in mind that no one expects anything from you at these events; you can participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Having said that, this is a great time to network and make new business relationships.

 

#3 – Network online. If you can’t make it to an event or want to find a good networking option in between events, online forums can be a great tool. Visit several and read through the posts before deciding on where you want to spend your time. Forums can be time consuming so you’ll want to choose wisely.

 

A good forum will have members who are courteous and genuinely interested in helping each other and building support networks. Do your part by contributing where you can as well. And do take your time to familiarize yourself with the forum rules and etiquette before joining in – this will help you avoid potentially embarrassing situations.

 

Ask around for recommendations from people you trust. If you can’t come up with recommendations, then a simple online search should bring up several results. Do your homework and go with the one you feel most comfortable with.

 

#4 – Join a mastermind group. A mastermind group is a like-minded group of people who come together to help and support each other. Many great businesses have been built on the mastermind concept. Although these groups will usually cost a certain amount to join, you may make the initial investment back several times over.

 

However, not all mastermind groups are created equal. You’ll want to find a group that will offer support in a positive manner. A good aim is a group of different abilities, including some entrepreneurs whom are more successful than you are – this will ensure that you’re getting great advice from people who have “been there and done that.”

 

Above all, no matter which networking option you choose, it should make you feel good and ultimately help your business. And remember, give back wherever you can as well.

 

 

Sincerely,

Michael Camire
http://vitalviralpro.com/m/12405
pratbirdman@gmail.com
Skype: pratbirdman
About Me

        

As a virtual assistant it’s very easy to fall into the  trap of working around the clock and doing everything all on your own. If you’re getting lots of clients and repeat work, that’s fantastic and speaks dividends about your services. How about now using that to your advantage?

 

Expanding your VA business makes sense on all levels –you’ll have the ability to grow a client base, you’ll have a pool of other VAs to help you on a regular or as-needed basis, and you can slowly make the transition into being more of a manager rather than doing all the work yourself.

 

Here are a few tips to help you expand your business.

 

Don’t turn down clients.

 

If you’re getting so busy that you’re turning down clients, it’s time to expand. Find a VA or two to start which you know provide quality work. Contract work out to them on an as-needed basis. This means that you deal with your clients and they remain your clients at all times, but you sub-contract some of your work out to other virtual assistants. The VA’s deal with you (not the client) at all times and you pay them for their services.

 

The best way to do this efficiently is to systemize the process right from the start. Set up a simple yet efficient billing system so that you pay subcontractors on the same day each month. Ask your subcontractors to submit invoices to you to help make record keeping easier, and keep track of all assignments so that you can check the accuracy of all hours billed.

 

It’s also important you keep efficient records of all projects. You can use an online system like Base camp to help you do this or a simple calendar – it’s really up to you – just make sure that you can easily track all projects. 

 

Drum up new business.

 

As you build up a database of VAs who are available to take on new work, start drumming up new business. Market your services online and offline to gain new clients. Use online forums to let business owners know that you’re available. Advertise your services strategically both online and offline. Write and distribute articles on topic with your business. And basically let potential clients know that you and your team can help them with their projects.

 

A professional, well-laid out website will play an important role in helping you build your business. Include a full FAQ about your business and services. Let clients know that you have a wide pool of assistants that can help with a large number of tasks. And give them a detailed list of all your services. And don’t forget to make contacting you easy –include an email address, postal address and telephone number where possible.

 

Build up a great team.

 

The key to making your expansion a success will be a great team working in the background. To do this, ensure that you treat your subcontractors fairly – offer good rates for their services, be respectful and try to give them new projects as regularly as possible.

 

Communication is also extremely important. Set up a system so that there are no chances for miscommunication. Ask your subcontractors to confirm new projects. Set clear turnaround-times and ask them to notify you in case they can’t meet their deadlines as soon as possible.

 

Building up your VA business is possible. It’s just a matter of thinking “big” right from the start. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Michael Camire
http://vitalviralpro.com/m/12405
pratbirdman@gmail.com
Skype Me: pratbirdman
About Me

        

Marketing is something many virtual workers struggle with. They know that they can do the job at hand but often face difficulty in passing on the message that they are available, ready and willing to do the task.

 

If you’re a virtual assistant, writer, web designer or other virtual worker, these marketing tactics will help you find and keep clients.

 

#1 – Work on what you have. If you currently have a client (or more), maximize what you currently have before looking for new clients. Let your clients know that you’re available for other services. Regularly keep in touch with them and let them know you are happy to help. Often times, you’ll find you email a client to let them know you’re availability and they’ll give you a new project.

 

Business owners are quite busy and often don’t have time to assign new work. By contacting them, you make their job a lot easier and you also stay “fresh” in their minds. In this business “out of sight, out of mind” really means just that. Also, ask your current clients for recommendations and feedback. Use this information to build your portfolio to make it easier to gain new clients.

 

#2 – Spread the work. Clients aren’t going to come to you – it’s up to you to go out and look for them. Use a multi-step approach to gaining new clients by spreading the word about your business in many different media outlets.

 

Visit online forums and participate. Send local clients a letter about your services. Add your name to several online directories for virtual workers. Tell your friends, family and others about your business. Use strategic advertising to drum up new business. Write and distribute articles to get known as an “expert” online. And simply stay on top of always letting people know that you are there, ready and able to do the job at hand.

 

#3 – Be the best. Yes, the best. Get known as THE virtual worker who gets the job done. The person with the “can do” attitude who conducts themselves in a friendly and professional manner – this will help you build a flawless reputation that will not only help you get new business but will also help you keep the current clients you have for the long term.

 

#4 – Be unique. No one wants “just another person” to help them. Get creative with your marketing to stand out from the masses. Speak directly to potential clients on your website. Let them know how YOU can help their business. State your services in a clear manner and give examples of how you have previously helped clients.

 

If at all possible get video testimonials from current clients. Audio or written testimonials will also do the job but video will make you stand out more. Have a thorough FAQ section so that you can answer all of your potential customers’ questions on your website.

 

Finally, present yourself in manner that lets any potential client know that you are the one for the job at hand.

 

Marketing your virtual business is simply spreading the word about your services and being friendly and efficient in everything you do. Constantly make marketing your number one priority and try to dedicate a set amount of time each week to your marketing plan – and you’re sure to see results.

To Your Success!

 

Michael Camire

blog.oom-pah-pah.com

www.bizventures5000.com

Skype me: Pratbirdman

About Me