Our spotlight members for July:

Available in a variety of sizes and fabrics, Pillows of Lavender are filled with soothing blends of aromatic herbs destined to help you relax. Usable warm or cold, all Lavender Comfort Pillows are beautifully packaged and make great gifts. Check out the Etsy shop for new and upcoming items from Lavender Delight. (owned by Robin Lemon)

The first issue of the newest resource guide for parents in the Metro area will go to print in August. Don’t miss out on your chance to advertise! Special launch rates offered for this first issue. Contact Marnette to request a media guide, or visit www.metrokidsdirectory.com to learn more. (published by Marnette Cobb)

Picnic 8 is a network of designers & developers just waiting to help with your next project! Print & web design, full-service projects, or simply consulting .. Helping small businesses discover marketing solutions. Check out design by reneep for samples of Renee’s work. (co-managed by Renee Pinter)

Here’s a snippet:

Finding time to relax is one of the best gifts that you can give yourself. Even just 15 minutes each day will make a huge difference in the way you feel. Creating a serene space to enjoy this time will make it even more enjoyable. … My serenity room is my favorite place to center and ground myself. I go into my room several times each day to relax and rejuvenate! I take time each morning to awaken my mind and body in prayer and meditation. This is a wonderful time to set the intentions for the day.

Now that you’re enthralled, head on over to Angie’s web site to learn more!

[photo by Angie]

Step One: Make a list
When the kids are in bed, grab a pen and a piece of paper and write down anything related to your business that you’d like to accomplish before autumn arrives again. This is brainstorming — if it pops into your head, write it down, no matter how unrealistic it may seem at the moment.

Step Two: Prioritize
Now, look over your list. What matters the most to you? It might take you longer to research and decide on packaging for your products than finishing off some other things on your list, but you’ll feel better about yourself afterwards if that’s what meant the most to you. Choose the top three items you’d like to see get done.

Step Three: Divide
Take a look at the three you chose. Are these one-task items, or does accomplishing each one mean completing five separate tasks? Break them down into reasonable steps – individual tasks that you could easily finish in one session.

Step Four: Timeline
Pull out a new piece of paper, fold it in thirds, and write “June,” “July,” and “August” across the sections. Focus on the individual tasks you just identified, and write each one into one of the three separate sections. Keep in mind that some tasks might have to be accomplished in a certain order, and take into account family vacations and other commitments you’ve already made for the next few months. If you’ve already promised to coach t-ball throughout the month of June, you might not have as much time to get your own stuff done.

Step Five: Here goes!
Hang this list on the fridge, if necessary, but keep it somewhere you’ll see on a regular basis. When June arrives, do your best to cross off one item per day until you’ve finished the list for that month. When you’re done, you can either get a head start on July or take a break until then .. but it’s slow and steady that often wins the race, as the tale goes. Plan to get too much accomplished, and you run the risk of getting overwhelmed.

What goals did you make? Let us know in the comments!

[photo by aheram]

There is a meaty article about shopping carts for ecommerce businesses, it’s a must read if you are thinking about adding a cart to your website.

Also May Madness is back and there are a lot of super $5 deals you can snag, don’t miss out.

Click here to view my issue of the MMotivator.

Robin

Here are a few easy tips you can implement right away to start getting more traffic to your website – Fast!

#1 – Become an author. Publishing articles online is a sure way to get traffic to your website. But publishing articles is not just great for getting more website visitors, it also positions you as an expert in your field. Not only will potential customers read your articles and visit your website, they will also view you as an industry expert. This means you build trust and credibility. This is why publishing your own articles is a sure fire way to improve your business.

And if the thought of writing articles sounds daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Web writing is conversational in nature. Simply see it as an extension of your website and put your knowledge into an article format. Then distribute the articles to online article directories as well as trusted, high-ranking websites. The more high-profile websites you can get your articles published on the better.

#2 – Budget for advertising. Advertising doesn’t have to be scary and you don’t need a huge budget to get great results. The key here is to keep in mind that you’re a small business owner. You don’t want to concentrate on building your brand as such (this takes a great deal of money as well as experience to do correctly) but instead you want to gain a little exposure as well as those highly sought-after incoming links.

Incoming links help to build the credibility of your website within the search engines. The more credible a website appears to the search engines, the more traffic it will receive. To make this strategy work for you, advertise on high-ranking websites related to yours. You want to look for at least a 4 or 5 ranking website which receives a sufficient amount of traffic each month. Take a look at Alexa.com to help determine the popularity of a website.

#3 – Write great content. Regularly adding high-quality content to your website is one of the main things you can do to get more traffic. Always think of ways you can help your visitors by adding articles, tips, and helpful information to your website.

Structure the content in a clear order which makes it easy for both your visitors and the search engines to find your website pages. You’ll also want to include a site map to help make things easier for your visitors and the search engines, and to make sure that all your pages are properly optimizes so that your website can be found on search results.

You really can’t go wrong by adding quality content to your website on a regular basis. Not only does it position you as an expert, it also builds credibility and sends more traffic your way.

Getting website traffic doesn’t have to be difficult. It does take time and a little effort but your hard work will be rewarded with long-term results and a profitable, established website.

Need to Build Your Website? Looking for a super easy option to build your web pages? Take the comprehensive website builder at Internet Based Family for a 10-day test trial. You can choose from over 1200 templates and your account includes all kinds of interactive features including: message board, shopping cart, mailing list, coupons and more.

But there are a lot of pitfalls out there, if you don’t study your options first. You could get “trapped” into an expensive service with features you don’t need. Or pour hundreds of hours (not to mention dollars) into building a site that doesn’t attract customers nor convert them into buyers.

Here are my top 15 tips to setting up your online store, and doing so to maximize your potential for profits.

1. Create an irresistible offer

Even before you create you online store, make sure you have an irresistible offer. Find out what your target buyers really want, and make your product or service stand out from your competition.

Craft a compelling USP (unique selling proposition), match it with a can’t-resist price, and ensure your delivery method is fool-proof.

2. Pick a winning domain name

On the Internet, your domain name might as well be your business name. It’s what prospects will remember and associate with your biz. It’s one of the things search engines look at to rank your site, and it’s one of the first things web surfers see.

Make your domain name easy to remember, but make sure it accurately describes what you offer. Some swear by using a verb, such as “growyourhairback.com”

3. Select a website host who will help you succeed

Not all website hosts are created equal. Some are better suited for ecommerce sites than others. Think first of what you need on your site, and then shop around.

A website builder like Internet Based Family makes setting up an online store easy. It has a built-in shopping cart, so you don’t have to pay for one separately, or worry about compatibility.

You won’t be a slave to your webmaster if you build your online store with Internet Based Family, because you can add products and do everything else without any coding whatsoever.

4. Design your site for maximum usability

When think of your site design, do so from the user’s point of view. Is it easy to find what they need? Can they see enough product information to make a buying decision? Is the order button visible?

Think of your own online shopping experience. Learn from biggies like Amazon.com, as well as those online stores you hated and didn’t order from.

5. Make sure your copy converts

Text plays a big role in online shopping. Each page needs a headline which attracts the buyer and compels them to look at the rest of the page. Product descriptions should be accurate and at the same time enticing. Additional copy should address possible objections. And each page should have a clear call to action, such as “click here to order.”

6. Get a shopping cart

Every online store needs a shopping cart to receive and process orders. Many options are available. You’ll want one that’s reliable, affordable, has excellent customer service, and allows you to manage affiliates.
Internet Based Family is a website builder with an integrated, VeriSign Secure Certified shopping cart. That’s one less thing for you to worry about when you build your online store with Internet Based Family.

7. Make sure you have a merchant account, which will grow with your business

To receive payments online, you’ll need a merchant account. For starters, PayPal may be all you need. But you will eventually have to process credit card payments directly. Ask about Internet merchant accounts in your financial institutions.

8. Balance your budget with what you’re willing (or able) to do yourself

The various options can overwhelm you. There are so many choices, with very wide price ranges. Keep your budget and needs in mind. Don’t be tempted to pay more for features you may never need.

9. Optimize your site for the search engines

Since your store is going to be on the Internet, make it easy for search engines to find you and rank you high for relevant keywords.
Internet Based Family has tools and free training to help you site rank well with search engines.

10. Choose a system you can use

Make sure your site uses a system that lets you add or update products easily, as well as receive and manage orders. If you need a webmaster to do every little thing on your site, you’ll soon get overburdened with your online store.

11. Capture leads

Many of your visitors won’t buy your product or service the first time they land on your site. Therefore, you will want to get their contact information – an email address, at the very least – so you can send them information and remind them of your offer once in a while.

12. Keep it simple

Don’t fill your online store with flash animation, graphics and images just because you think they’re pretty. These can make your site load very slowly and make your visitors so frustrated they’ll click away. Minimize the elements that can distract your visitors away from your call to action.

13. Be upfront with all costs

According to Marketing Sherpa, 60% of online buyers abandon their order at the shopping cart stage, because they’re surprised by hidden charges. State all the costs associated with their order so your buyers know exactly what they’re getting into.

14. Keep it interactive

Notice how interactive Amazon.com is? You can submit ratings, reviews and even find out about other buyers. Online shoppers like this interactivity and tend to trust online stores that provide it.

Internet Based Family has features, which make interaction very easy. It’s simple to add a feedback form, guest book and even a message board.

15. Don’t forget marketing

Once your online store is up and running, your work is far from completed. You then have to market your store. Sending press releases, article marketing, video marketing and social networking are some effective ways to promote your online store.

I hope you find these tips helpful when you set up your online store. With the right tools and systems, your biz will be buzzing in no time.

ps-

I used Internet Based Family for my first website  and I would probably still be using it if I hadn’t been so intrigued by learning more in depth website building techniques and such.  There are so many features wrapped up all in one package, it’s perfect for getting your business online.

Around 1 in 150 children or more have autism, and my son Joshua is one of them. I am hoping to use my business with Premier Designs Jewelry to make a big fundraising push in April for Autism Awareness Month. When deciding whom I wanted to help, I figured national organizations get enough exposure already. I wanted to help someone locally.

Some of you may know autism is very expensive and stressful for families. I have decided to make it my goal to purchase memberships to the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village complex for 10 local families touched by autism. That would give them something fun to do with their family, at their autistic child’s comfort level (can stay as long or short as they want without feeling they’ve wasted money).

With that in mind, I am doing two forms of fundraising in April:

1)    I am having a fundraiser on April 19^th from 5-7pm at Total Health Foods in Southgate, Michigan (13645 Northline, 48195). Our fantastic jewelry is affordably priced, so people will be able to order gifts for Mother’s Day, graduations, birthdays, etc. There will be a raffle, too, with great prizes from local businesses.   If you are interested in donating something for the raffle, please contact me. There will also have a Caregiver’s Time Away from 7-8 for parents to relax with a cup of coffee/tea and meet other parents, exchange ideas, etc.

2)    I am looking for people who would partner with me by hosting a jewelry show in April and shooting for $400 in sales, which would provide the funds I need to purchase one family membership. I do the invitations and reminder calls for my hosts, so it’s not hard at all.  A $400 show would get the host $120 in free jewelry, 6 half-price items, and more!

How can you help? You can spread the word for me, if you wouldn’t mind. If you would like a couple of flyers to put up, just let me know.

If anyone you know would be willing to help me, they can contact me at the number below.

Thank you for helping me help others!

Jenny Herman

734-752-7175, jewelryjenny@yahoo.com

Cutting it down to a very basic level, a blog is an online diary. Blog is short for “weblog” and it is a chronological series of entries or posts.

Posts, which used to be content only, can now be audio or video as well.

Online marketers, always looking out for ways to grow their business and connect with their audience, grabbed onto this user friendly, and search engine friendly, technology and added it to their marketing strategy.

How Businesses Use Blogs

To Connect with Your Audience - A blog gives you, a business owner, a tool to connect with your audience on a more personal level and perhaps a more consistent way. RSS technology enables readers the ability to subscribe to content putting your message and information in their email inbox or on their reader.

To Drive Traffic – Optimized content is what you get with every blog post. Search engines love blogs and you can add plug-ins and widgets that capitalize on SEO tactics and social networking strategies. The end result is a boost in traffic and ultimately profits.

To Increase Awareness – In addition to your current marketing strategy, which may include articles, advertising, direct mail, autoresponders, and social networking, a blog increases awareness of your company. This increases your opportunities both to grow your customer base and also your partnership and business opportunities.

Blogging is a great way to build a business whether it’s a standalone blog or as part of your business website. To learn more about blogs, blogging and how to make money with a blog sign up for

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