The Kid Is Rich

How To Run A Successful Business: Start Building Your Reputation NOW

noreply@blogger.com (TheKidIsRich) — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:23:00 +0000

You're young, so when you first approach a customer, expectations are going to be low.

This is great for you!

In most situations, you have the disadvantage because you're so young. But when you can use their lack of trust to make yourself look more impressive, you are certain to sell them on your idea!

Follow these tips to start building an impressive reputation and prove those stereotypes wrong!

Tip #1: You Gotta Dress For Success
Do you ever see Donald Trump walking around New York with his jeans down to his ankles or a Yankee's cap turned sideways on his head? No? There's a reason for that. People automatically judge you based on your appearance. Yeah, yeah, people always say "don't judge a book by it's cover". Unfortunately, it just doesn't work like that in business. When you dress like you don't care, people will think you don't care and lose respect for you. Studies show that those who dress well are 35% more successful than those who don't. So, lets keep those belts tight and put on our nicest shirts. Dress for the job you want to have!

Tip #2: Have A Rock-Solid Sales Pitch
"So, um, what do you do?" Chances are, you're going to be asked this question multiple times throughout your career. This is why your sales pitch is very important. People don't want to stand around all day listening to your life's story. A sales pitch explains your business in about 30 seconds (130 words or less). Practice your sales pitch and share it with others. When you have delivered your pitch, hand over a business card and ask about meeting up again sometime.

Remember to give your pitch to everybody. Whenever someone asks you about yourself, your pitch should be the answer. You never know who might turn out to be a customer. And besides - the more people who know about you and your business, the better. Perfect your pitch by practicing it on your family or repeating it to yourself in the mirror.

Tip #3: Carry Business Cards
You need business cards with you at all times no matter how old you are or what you do. They present an easy way for potential clients to contact you and remember you. Not only that, but having business cards as a kid will really impress adults. It gives you credibility and shows how serious you are about what you do.

Tip #4: Social Media
Using social media (i.e. FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace, ect), you can connect with people from around the world. Say you're on FaceBook and someone posts, "Looking for a great web designer. Any ideas?" Drop them a link and say, "I'm a freelance web designer. Check out my work and see what you think." If they like what they see, they'll hand you the job. Social media is a GREAT way to connect with clients and spread the word about your business.

Tip #5: Create A Blog

Creating a blog is free and even profitable. A blog is a fantastic way to show off your work. Let's say you're a freelance web designer. On your blog you should provide information about the service you provide, how people can contact you, and include examples of your work. People will visit your blog, be impressed, and hire you to get the job done. Just make sure it looks sharp and is easy to navigate (more info).

Tip #6: Have A Portfolio
Your portfolio is a collection of the work you've done in the past. By showing off your best work, people are able to see how well you can do the job they are looking for. A portfolio is a must in any business. Customers don't want to assume your work is good. They want to be convinced that you are the right choice for them. A strong portfolio is a powerful tool in gaining clients.

Tip #7: Use Testimonials
You like to brag about your business and what you do, but people are less inclined to trust your words than those of your previous customers. Testimonials are just that. When a customer describes how your product or service "changed their life" when they hired you, you can use that as leverage to pull other potential customers in. They see how much your previous clients loved you and they'll consider you for the job. The more testimonials you have, the better.

Hey you! Know any other ways to impress potential customers? Leave a comment below! :)

Ben Weissenstein: From Lemonade To Riches

noreply@blogger.com (TheKidIsRich) — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:21:00 +0000

When he was just 4 years old, Ben was featured on the cover of the Houston Chronicle after "helping" his older brother, Josh, man a lemonade stand.

And ever since, it's been all business.

From pulling weeds out of his grandmother's garden, to starting Ben's Pet Co. (a startup from his childhood that specialized in caring for pets), Ben continued to follow new business opportunities. He even had his own business cards by the age of 9.

However, ambitious as he was, Ben was still waiting for that million-dollar idea to strike.

And it did - when he was just 14 years old.

Ben was away at camp with his sister, so he couldn't help his mom with a garage sale when their house was being sold. His mom resorted to asking friends instead which gave her the idea that Ben could start a garage sale service. Ben's friend (Matt) had been doing very well with selling and (since they could both carry heavy items and both liked talking to people), she figured it was a great opportunity for them to make some money.

This idea led to the creation of Garage Sale Relief (now known as Grand Slam Garage Sales). Working very hard to get local publicity, Ben managed to get lots of jobs and gain a lot of "on-the-job training!"

During his high-school senior year, Ben became a celebrity in the young entrepreneurial world, getting regular appearances in news spots, radio and even on T.V. He was also featured on Entrepreneur Magazine and Dr. Phil!

He's now 20 years old and owns the highest-ranking garage sale business in the world (according to Google)!

Learn more about Ben at http://www.bentheceo.com/

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How To Run A Successful Lemonade Stand For Kids & Teens

noreply@blogger.com (TheKidIsRich) — Sun, 15 May 2011 16:36:00 +0000

It's almost summer. The days are growing hotter and hotter.

Which gives the perfect opportunity to start a lemonade stand.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about starting and running a successful lemonade stand.

Make A Lemonade Stand
The environment your lemonade business provides will be a big part of your sales success. To make a lemonade stand, you will first need a table. Borrow one from your parents or make one yourself.

Next, you need a large sign to tape onto the front of your table. Decorate it however you want - even create a unique name for your business. Write LEMONADE in big, colorful letters and include the price of your lemonade per cup.

Find a tin can or some sort of container you can use to collect pay. Unless you plan to stand the whole time, you'll probably want a chair with you as well.

Make Lemonade
The usual ingredients for lemonade include sugar, ice, lemons, and water. But you can also add other ingredients to set your lemonade apart from the rest. For instance, a 2 liter bottle of club soda costs $0.75 at Publix. Add it to your lemonade and you have sparkling lemonade. Experiment to make sure your lemonade is the best!

What you need:
- A pitcher (to contain the lemonade)
- Ice (to keep the lemonade cool)
- Sugar (lemonade doesn't taste too good without it)
- Dozens of paper/plastic cups
- A trashcan (so that customers can throw away their cups after use)
- Lemons or a lemon mix

You can either sell your lemonade homemade or from a mix (such as MinuteMaid). When using a mix, add it into your empty pitcher along with the sugar. Next, fill it up with water. Mix it all together and finally, add ice. To make it look more natural, take a regular lemon, rinse it off, and cut it into slices. Then add a couple of slices to the lemonade.

Where To Set Up Your Lemonade Stand
Tip: There are creepy people out there. This is why you need to ensure that you have a parent/guardian with you at all times when selling anything to strangers. If you think someone is acting strange or suspicious, ask your parents to serve them for you.

Think about places where there's a lot of foot traffic (i.e. a lot of people are walking around). This could include:

- the park
- outside of a grocery store (get permission 1st!)
- your local farmer's market
- a busy sidewalk

What are some other areas you can think of?

How Much Will You Charger Per Cup?
The usual amount of money to charge for lemonade is around 25 cents. However, you need to be sure that you are charging enough to actually make a profit! Keep in mind: if you charge too much, no one will buy from you. If you charge too little, you'll run out of lemonade and end up making no profit.

Customer Service
Be kind to your customers! They are paying you for a cup of lemonade, but in a way, they are also charging you for a service. Make sure you keep them happy!

First, collect the money. Next, make the lemonade.

If you have long hair, keep it tied back. When adding ice to your customer's lemonade, use tongs or a scooper instead of your hands. Also: keep a plate or a napkin on top of your pitcher when not serving to your customers in order to keep out bugs or dirt. Keep your operation as clean as possible!

After the customer receives their beverage, ask them how it was and make a mental note of any suggestions. Before they leave, tell them "Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week(end)!"

Sell More!
You don't need to just sell lemonade in a lemonade stand. A wider variety suits more customers' needs and ensures more sales which = more success! Some options to keep in mind:

- Cookies
- Tea
- Sno Cones
- Ice Cream
- Brownies
- Cupcakes
- Muffins
- Soda
- Popsicles

The possibilities are endless!

Great Ideas Are Just Thoughts Unless Put To Action

noreply@blogger.com (TheKidIsRich) — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:00:00 +0000

The definition of entrepreneur is literally "risk taker". Entrepreneurs are people who come up with business ideas and risk their money, time and energy on that business with the hope of making lots of profits.

Entrepreneurs are risk takers because they don't think about the odds. They are constantly diving into new business opportunities - they don't care what other people say or think about their ideas. If everyone always listened to the non-believers, we wouldn't have airplanes or IPods. Entrepreneurs are the ones that really make the world different.

Anyone can become an entrepreneur. It's easy to come up with business ideas - putting those ideas to action is the important part. If you have an awesome business idea in mind that you believe in, then go for it. Seriously, if you don't try, then you're just another dreamer.

When two young men just out of college - Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman - came up with the idea to start College Hunks Hauling Junk (a junk-removal service), they were criticized and laughed at. People thought the idea was stupid and tried to talk them out of it. But did they give up? Nope. Their business stands today as a multi-million dollar company and they are constantly looking into expanding their business even further to make more money.

So when you come up with an idea, immediately take action on it. This means buying the business cards, registering the domain, and coming up with a plan to get yourself in business. Figure out why your idea stands out from the rest and use that as part of your sales pitch.

You can't accomplish anything without taking step #1. Go for it.

Fun Business Ideas for Kids & Teens

noreply@blogger.com (TheKidIsRich) — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Billions of people have jobs, but a good percentage of those people don't like them. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is for some people - stuck working for a company they don't even care about.

For years. For some, the rest of their lives (unless they can afford to retire or land a new job doing something they love).

Sounds pretty harsh doesn't it?

That's why starting your own business is so cool. You can do whatever you want - whatever your passion is. As long as there is a need for it, you can turn it into a business.

There are plenty of business ideas out there - thousands. The thing is, while one idea might seem awesome to one person, it could sound completely terrible to another.

That's why you need to think about what you love doing in your own time - something you don't get paid for. If it's making crafts, then you could try selling them. If it's playing basketball, you could teach little kids how to play or even help others in your area improve on their game. If food is your passion, why not start a blog that teaches others how to make your favorite recipes?

If you could make money to have fun, wouldn't it be exciting? Well, you CAN. It just requires a little thinking. Your business can be fun if you incorporate fun into it by doing what you love.

If you could make money doing anything in the world, what would it be? Leave a comment below! :)

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How To Run A Business: 5 Key Factors For Success

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:41:00 +0000

Stay Motivated
Motivation is the energy source for your business. Like a car running on gas - without it, you won't go anywhere. You may know how to make millions of dollars off an idea, but without the drive and vision necessary to succeed, you won't. Stay motivated and stay focused on your goal!

Work - Hard
You will always have to work hard to be successful. Whether you're investing in the stock market, or selling beanie-babies on Ebay, it will require some hard work in order for you to achieve your goals. You miss out on awesome opportunities to make money when you're lazy.

Fail...and Fail Again
Failure is not only a guarantee in life, but it is also a necessity for you to be successful. Failure may seem awful at times, but truthfully, it teaches you things you just can't learn from textbooks. When you make a mistake and fall on your face, you learn how to avoid that problem in the future, thus creating an easier less bumpy road to success. People say there are two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. Here's one for you: failure. Learn from failure, and be better next time.

Don't Procrastinate
When you see a problem, destroy it immediately before it gets worse. Tiny errors can cause mass destruction in the future if you don't get rid of them. Don't let small problems get in the way of your vision.

Be Willing
The difference between winners and losers is will power. You have to be willing to do what it takes to make it to the top. Anyone can take step #1 - but who's willing to take step #2, 3, 4...10? Not many make it that far. The reason can be because of stress, self-doubt, or even laziness. Be willing. Take the next step, believe in yourself, and live your dreams!

What do you believe are some important factors for success? We'd LOVE to hear your thoughts in the comments below! :)

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10 Summer Business Ideas For Kids & Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:55:00 +0000

It's almost time for summer. Yep - the one time of the year where you don't have to worry about school! You know what that means?

Time to think about starting a business.

These ideas are pretty simple, but you can definitely earn a lot of $$$ doing them (at any age). Summer is the best time! No school = 6+ more hours of free time during the day.

Find an idea, start marketing, and start making money!

1. Photography Service
Offer to photograph summer parties/events. Or, become a freelance photographer.
2. Babysit/Mother's Helper
During the summer, you have a lot more time on your hands. Why not try babysitting?
3. Lemonade Stand
Basic, but on days that are hot enough, you're sure to rake in the dough!
4. Lawn-mowing
Winter is over - time to rev up those engines and start mowing!
5. Open Up A Flower Stand
Lots of beautiful flowers in bloom this time of year...try selling them.
6. House Sitting
Lots of families will be going on vacation this summer. Feed the cat, water the garden, and earn lots of cash!
7. Yard/Garage Sale Organizer
Many people would like help setting up/running their yard sales this summer!
8. Moving Service
Rates vary by location, but you could potentially earn around $100 and hour!
9. Party Helper
Set up tables, serve guests, and help with cleaning up afterward.
10. Window Washer
Homeowners usually don't care to clean the outside of their windows. That's where you can come in.

What are your business plans for the summer? Leave a comment below :)

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Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 May 2011 14:03:00 +0000

If you're a teen, then you're likely dealing with some type of challenge causing you to feel overwhelmed and sensitive around your family/friends. With school, hours of homework, activities, jobs, ect, it can seem as though you have no control over your life. It can be hard to juggle responsibility and still make time for you.

You may feel that you're riding an emotional rollercoaster - one that causes you to get into fights with your parents and siblings, and maybe even lose focus on the really important things (family time, grades, ect).

You want to make the right choices, but it can be hard sometimes when you're under pressure or feeling overwhelmed with responsibility.

Growing up, I've loved listening to motivational audiobooks and reading books on making money, being a leader, ect. One of my favorites of all time has been Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.

Sean Covey takes his experiences and the experiences of other teens and incorporates them into a wonderful book that helps motivate kids to make the right choices and still enjoy the time they have to really be kids. He offers great principles and advice to help teens face tough issues and life-changing decisions that many find themselves dealing with everyday.

If you like Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul, then you will love The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Covey shares incredible stories about real teens that have dealt with issues you have - or will - face.

The principles and ideas shared in this (audio)book are those that can be used throughout your entire life. Through humor, amazing stories, advice, and life-lessons, this book will definitely help you change your life.

I loved this book and I recommend it to all teens, even if you don't feel you're struggling through your high-school years. You will learn about achieving your goals and making the most of the few years you have left as a kid (the most important years of your young-adult life!). This is truly the ultimate teenage success guide and I really hope you drop by your local library to pick it up!

Recommended age: 13+

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How To Make and Sell Dog Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Thinking about starting a dog treat business? It's actually a good industry. People pay hundreds of dollars a year to buy little "extras" to give to their pets. Especially if they are training them.

So how exactly would you start a dog treat business?

First, consider your market. Are you marketing big dogs, little dogs, or medium-sized dogs? What will your treats be made from? Do you have a name for your treats? Have you reviewed important laws about making/selling dog treats?

A lot goes into starting a business - sometimes, a lot more than you thought. Follow the guidelines below to start making money!

Getting Started
Figure out who you will be making your dog treats for. Big, small, medium, or a combination of the three(there are different treat sizes for dog sizes)? The amount of money you spend to make your treats will depend on this factor, as well as the ingredients...

What will your treats be made of? Organic/natural treats are high in demand. Keep in mind, some dogs are allergic to certain ingredients (e.g. wheat, corn, ect), and they cannot eat sugar. Ever wonder why hersheys doesn't invest in making chocolate dog treats? It contains caffeine and theobromine - two stimulants which affect the central nervous system and heart muscle. Too much can cause a dog to go into a seizure and possibly die. The thing about dog treats is, they don't have to be sweet. Check out dogtreatrecipes.org for recipe ideas/more info.

Once you figure out who your target market is (dog size) and the recipe, come up with a name for your new business and a logo. Remember: the name should be short and easy to remember. Your logo should fit the name. They need to make sense together and leave an impression on your customers - they will be going on the bags/boxes you're packaging the treats in.

Pricing
A bag of Wet Noses Apple & Carrot Organic dog treats costs around $8. A box of Scooby Snacks costs about $4. You need to make a profit from your dog treats, but keep them fair (to you and your customers) and see if you are able to compete with store prices.

Market Your Business
Start making flyers, buy business cards, and contact friends/family you know who have dogs. Create a blog/website and start selling your treats online. The sky's the limit with this type of business.

Just remember: marketing is very very important. You know what Coca-Cola is. Everyone in America does. Yet Coke continues to advertise with commercials, banners, ect, because they understand how important marketing really is. In fact, that's why people still remember their soda after 100 years.

If you want customers, you have to market.

Regulations
There are important laws and regulations that you need to review before starting a dog treat business:

- The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) states that dog treats must be pure, wholesome, and safe to eat (no harmful ingredients!). Treats can only be produced in clean, sanitary conditions and they must be labeled honestly.

- The State Department of Agriculture (SDA) may have additional rules about making/selling dog treats. Some states require that you make your treats in a commercially licensed kitchen. Get a parent's help to check with your county government to determine this.

- Labeling can be tricky. Treats sold with meat may require a special license and labeling in some states. If treats do not have meat, you have to put "not for human consumption" on your label. Be sure to include that your treats are snacks and do not contain a dog's full daily nutrition.

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Resource: EHow - Regulations For Making and Selling Dog Treats

List of Things For Kids To Sell

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Looking to sell? Whether it's online or offline, you don't have to look hard to find items that you can sell and make a profit from.

Look around your bedroom. Do you have any "junk" you want to get rid of (toys, clothes, games, gadgets, ect)? If it's a few items, ask your parents about Ebay. If you have a ton of stuff, think about opening up a garage sale.

If you're looking to invest your money into a product that you can sell to people in your area, check out local stores that sell hot items at cheap prices. Walmart, for example, is a great place to go because you can buy items at *wholesale prices and below wholesale prices. This gives you the awesome opportunity to buy low, sell high, and ultimately earn a nice profit.

Some Things You Could Sell To Earn $$$
Icecream
It's almost summer, which means it's getting hotter and hotter outside everyday. Just make sure you have a way to keep the icecream frozen!
Candy/Chocolate Bars
I once knew a kid who made hundreds of dollars selling hersheys bars door-to-door in her neighborhood!
Lemonade
Try opening up a lemonade stand - just one of those things that works like a charm during the summer.
Cookies
Yeah - lots of food listed here, I know. People love food. Especially when there's sugar in it!
T-Shirts
CafePress lets you design T-Shirts and sell them online (free and you don't have to pay for shipping!).
Pictures
If you have a camera, you can make money - try freelance photography!
Friendship Bracelets
I used to help my friend sell bracelets when we were in school and we had a lot of fun doing it! Warning: do not sell to other kids in your school without permission from a teacher/principal.

*The sale of goods to anyone other than a standard customer (resource)

Have more ideas? Write them in the comments below! :)

Simple Ideas, Insane Results - Amazing Teen Millionaires

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:05:00 +0000

Ashely Qualls - WhateverLife.com
Ashley was just 14 years old (2004) when she launched whateverlife.com as a personal portfolio of pictures and graphics.

She then started offering free Myspace layouts for teens, as well as tutorials for those who wanted to make their own designs.

In 2007, she gained 7 million individual viewers and had 60 million page views per month, acquiring over $1 million from ads on her site. She was offered $1.5 million and a car of her choice for WhateverLife, which she declined.

Catherin & Dave Cook - MyYearBook.com
Siblings Catherin and Dave Cook were flipping through a yearbook from their new school, trying to figure out a way to get to know their new classmates better, when they came up with the idea to start MyYearBook.com

Catherin convinced her brother, Geoff, to invest $250,000 into the idea, which helped them to launch their new social networking site.

MyYearBook.com raised $4.1 million in 2006 and continually brings in more money with advertisers such as Disney and Neutrogena.

Fraser Doherty - SuperJam
It was in Edinburgh, Scotland at the age of 14 (2002) that Fraser began to make his Grandmother's recipes and sell them door-to-door.

After tweaking the recipes and coming up with a name for them - SuperJam - he quit school at age 16 to work on his business idea full-time.

After outgrowing his parent's kitchen, Fraser rented a factory and was approached in 2007 about having his jams sold in a high end supermarket in the UK. He borrowed $9,000 from the bank and began to produce 3 flavors: Blueberry & Blackcurrant, Cranberry & Raspberry, and Ruhbarb & Ginger.

A company called Tesco added his product to 300 stores across the UK. He's made millions from his business.

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Are Paid Surveys A Scam?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Thousands of websites are pressing kids and adults alike to make money taking surveys. With headlines like, Make $500 A Week Taking FREE Online Surveys! or You CAN get rich! Take Our FREE Surveys Today! it may seem a little tempting.

But are these campaigns legit? Can you really make money taking online surveys?

Companies love to hear your feedback. Surveys present an easy way for them to know more about you and find out whether or not you'd buy what they have to offer.

However, there are many companies exploiting this market and, instead, getting rich themselves.

Usually, registering with an online survey will require some personal information about you (age, gender, ect). They will offer you a certain amount of money per survey or (if you're a kid) sometimes prizes. So, you take the surveys and expect to get money back for the work you put into it.

Sadly, this isn't always the case. While there are a handful of legitimate surveys out there, many others will simply collect the info you shared with them and sell your profile to other companies, spam you, and generally waste much of your time.

There are a lot of surveys out there promising hundreds-thousands of dollars a month for your opinion, yet end up being scams.

Taking online surveys for money is a hit-or-miss. I've never personally met anyone who has made money doing it. It's a dangerous business - one that will probably leave you disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it, yet if you are interested in earning money online, you could try starting a blog or even selling stuff on ebay/amazon. We will be posting more in the future about earning money online. Stay tuned!

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Millionaire Teen Becomes Rich Entrepreneur - You Can Do It, Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Cameron Johnson was 9 years old when he started his first business selling greeting cards and party invitations on a Compaq computer he received for Christmas.

Ever since, he's been go, go, GO - always thinking of ways to make more money.

It wasn't until 3 years later that he started making $50,000 a year selling beanie-babies online. When he was 15, his business started generating sums of $15,000 a day. He made his first million before graduating from high school.

And became an instant hit.

Johnson traveled to Tokyo at age 15 to advise a large corporation where he soon became a celebrity. A mob of cameras swarmed and started taking pictures of the young entrepreneur once his flight landed.

Since then, he's been recognized on the streets of Tokyo and was even in one of his college textbooks. It was then that he decided to drop out of college and pursue his career as an entrepreneur.

"If I'm really going to be in a classroom for four years, look at the lost opportunities I'd have in the real world." He explained.

Since then, Johnson has published his first book (You Call The Shots) which has become a reading requirement in Virginia Tech business classes. He's now working to help motivate kids in education and financial literacy.

If a 12 year-old kid can make $50,000 a year selling beanie-babies, anything is possible. Go after your dreams.

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You Can't Steal Ideas - You Can Only Make Them Better

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:15:00 +0000

There's nothing new under the sun. There are millions of businesses across the world - most are just copies of each other. Starbucks is an awesome example:

Coffee is sold in millions of stores, restaurants - even on the Internet! And Starbucks doesn't exactly sell the cheapest Caramel Mocha Cappuccinos on the planet. So why do millions choose their brand over, say, McDonald's?

Next time you visit a fast-food restaurant, look at the employees. Look at the environment. Is it clean? Are the employees friendly and up-beat? How does it smell? Now, go to Starbucks and compare the two.

Forget about pricing - if both companies suddenly had a "Free Coffee Day", where would you rather go to get your coffee?

For me, it's a no-brainer: Starbucks. The reason? Well, there's actually more than 1 reason: McDonald's employees almost always look really bored and tired. They sound negative and dull. The restaurant usually smells like a mix between grease and someone's old socks. I've been to the playground before - dirt and ketchup droppings everywhere.

Now for Starbucks: love the place. You walk in and are immediately hit with the most wonderful aroma of all: coffee. You step up to the front counter and there is usually a display of pastries either to the left or right of you. They're set up nicely and look like they were made with care (not wrapped up in paper and tossed into a bag).

Employees are friendly, positive, and ready to serve! There's no bored, "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?". The bathrooms are clean, the floors are swept, and you can actually see what people are doing to your drinks.

You have two businesses that both serve the same thing (coffee), and even though one is cheaper (McDonald's), many prefer the other. Why? Because it's well put together. The environment is better - the experience is better.

A lot of people don't try an idea because they think they'd be "stealing" it. Not true. You can take any idea from someone else and turn it into your own business (one that's greater than the other). That's what Coca-Cola did (yeah, there was soda before Coke). It's what McDonald's did (they were not the first fast-food restaurant - though they did invent the drive-through window).

If you have a great idea that you think would compete with another's, then go for it. And remember: you can't steal ideas. You can only make them better.

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Put Down The Nintendo -- Get Serious About Your Business

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:02:00 +0000

Distractions can be disguised in many enticing ways - your IPod, phone, facebook, Nintendo, those basic carbs we call food (think: twinkies), movies...even friends can distract you from your goals.

You really, really want to get your business idea off the floor...oh, but it's been a whole 20 minutes since you checked facebook.

You'll get back to it later...

So, you procrastinate. Eventually, you forget about your business and the whole idea is gone out the window.

And then what are you left with? No business = no money.

Unless you have a job working for someone else, you're broke.

So, how do you get away from those untimely "distractions"? Well, it's not going to start with social networking sites. I can tell you that right now...

Log Out Of Facebook!!!
So many people are wasting their lives away by constantly chatting with their friends on the #2 most popular site on the Internet. I know how addicting it can be. I check Facebook at least once every hour (maybe more). But logging onto Facebook distracts me from what I've been trying to do since I started this blog - write more posts!

This is my third post in three days. My goal: be 14 days ahead. I want to be able to get at least one article out every day. If I have 2 weeks worth of posts, I don't have to worry about my readers thinking I disappeared off the face of the planet should a holiday come around or I'm just feeling like I need a small vacation.

Okay, so maybe Facebook isn't your distraction. Maybe you don't even have a Facebook. I'm sure you have other "devices" to take your mind away from what's really important (ahem...put down that Nintendo!!).

Here's something I've tried from a post here that has helped me to stay focused...

Minimize Your Distractions
Write these questions on a whiteboard or a slip of paper and set it in front of you whenever you are trying to work on your business idea:

Why are you doing that?
Do you really need to?
Really?

Since I work from home (blogging, teaching guitar, ect), my biggest distraction is the Internet. I already ranted about my Facebook addiction. Other time-consuming wastes include Hulu, YouTube and Gmail. While I think I've been doing pretty well steering clear of these sites, I could definitely focus a little more on my goals.

So, I ask myself the questions listed above as much as possible, making sure I am doing what I can to use my time effectively.

Of course, it's always easy to lie to yourself.

Yeah - um, Facebook is totally helping my business. I'm, like, helping my sales skills by...learning how to connect with people better.

This is when the Do you need to? part comes in. You may, in fact, need to do whatever it is you're doing. If so, you keep going (if not, you'll want to think about what you could do to help your business).

Really? Is usually what will help you to see what you should be doing to help your business. Often, we procrastinate without realizing it. These questions will minimize your distractions and keep you on the road to success.

Have FUN
It's important to make time for yourself to have fun. You're not going to want to spend all day every day working like a dog. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. - Unknown. Check out Facebook every once in a while, go to the movies with your friends, play with your IPod...but don't let distractions keep you from achieving your goals and being successful.

And remember: whatever business you decide to take on, it should be fun for you. It'll be difficult sometimes, but overall, it should be something you love and enjoy.

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Business Card Ideas For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Business cards are awesome. They make you look professional (especially at a young age), you can leave them pretty much anywhere, and it presents an easy way for potential clients to contact you.

I have about 250 personalized business cards that cost me around $20 off of vistaprint.com Yet, they also have a deal where you can get the same amount for only $5 (non-premium version), which I think only accounts for shipping.

Business cards are cool because they are usually cheap and can be used in any business.

What Should Go On A Business Card?
If you use a pre-made template (like with vistaprint - see image above), it will already have indicators as to what should go on your card and where. For my guitar business, I have Guitar Academy for the company since (since the actual name wouldn't fit), and Learn. Play. Rock. as the company message. Always include your name and job title.

Add an address if applicable. If not applicable, then replace the address line with a phone number (contact is the most important part of a business card - how will your clients be able to do business with you if they have no way to get in touch?). You may also add an email address and a website (if you have one). Remember: the easier it is for your clients contact you, the easier it will be for you to get sales.

Who Should I Give My Cards To?
You can use your cards effectively in a number of different ways - I think it really just depends on your target clients. For example, if I were to use business cards for The Kid Is Rich, I would think about not only giving them to kids, but also placing them where kids can easily find them if I'm not around.

Here's a cool idea: go to the library and place your business cards inside of popular books. Since my blog is for kids, I would get best results by slipping them inside of popular children's/teen's books. But don't limit yourself to relevance - for instance, if you have a mowing business, you wouldn't want to just place them inside of How To Mow Your Lawn books (or anything similar). People won't be paying you because they don't know how to do it themselves. They'll be paying you because they don't want to do it. Your best bet is to place your cards inside of the books a lot of people like to check out.

Get creative - who are your target clients? Where do they usually hang out? Where could you place your cards and get effective results?

Keep Cards With You 24/7
You never know who you're gonna meet or when a business opportunity might suddenly present itself. Seriously - even if you're just going to the store with your parents, carry a small stack of cards with you in a place where you can easily get to them. A pocket or your purse, for example. Do not place them where they can get bent up or crumpled. A clean crisp card shows profession. If you spend five minutes fishing around in your pockets for a card, only to hand over a bubble-gum stained, crumpled square of paper, your clients will think less of you.

Make Your Cards Look G-O-O-D
Relevance. Profession. Sharp. These are all words that should come to mind when designing your business cards. Triple-check to make sure spelling is right before buying cards (I know vistaprint doesn't fix errors - your card is printed exactly how you wrote it).

Business cards are awesome marketing devices that can expand your business when used in the right way. So get creative, and get dropping!

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Don't Lose Your Change!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:46:00 +0000

Kids generally don't think much of loose change. You buy some candy at the store, hand the cashier a $5 bill, and pocket the change, only to have it get lost in the washer three days from now.

You may not know it, but continuing this bad habit will cost you hundreds of dollars overtime!!

Think of what you could do with hundreds of dollars - buy an IPod, open a bank account...start your dream business?

I'll admit, I haven't always been consistent with saving my loose change. That's why I decided to make a piggy bank. Well, it's not really a "piggy"...it's a bottle I got at the store that I converted into a savings jar.

Fun to make, good for the environment (recycled), and an easy way to accumulate money!

What You'll Need
In order to make a savings jar, you'll need some type of container (a glass bottle, soda bottle, jar, ect) that you can close tightly and poke a hole in the top of, wide enough so that you can insert a quarter into it. I used a "Sweet Leaf" Iced Tea bottle (image to the right).

If you plan to decorate your bottle, you'll need paper, drawing utensils (e.g. markers, pencils, crayons, ect) and tape or glue.

Get Help From An Adult...
When using a bottle like the one I have, it's important to get an adult to help you poke a hole in the top. It can be difficult to cut the aluminum, metal, plastic ect with a knife or pair of scissors, and can be very dangerous if your cutting utensil slips.

Once you've got a hole in the cap, test it by slipping a quarter through the slit. If it fits, you can move on.

Decorating Your Bottle
In order to decorate my bottle, I carefully removed the "Sweet Leaf" label and traced it on another piece of paper. Then, I drew inside of the new label I traced.

You can decorate your bottle however you want - use dollar signs, butterflies, race cars...whatever! Make it look so awesome that you'll be motivated to drop your loose change inside whenever you get it. Trust me, you will be very glad you did.

I wrote The Kid Is Rich at the top of my label so that I would remember my goal to help other kids make money. Then, I wrote Lots Of Money at the bottom so that I could visualize how much money I'll have once my bottle is filled to the brim (roughly $10-$20). Finally, I added a somewhat cartoonish version of Abraham Lincoln (my favorite president!).

When you've finished decorating, cut out your label and wrap it around the bottle. Secure it with a piece of tape (or glue) where the ends of the label meet.

And you've finished your savings jar! Now go find your loose change and start depositing it!

What Do I Do When My Bottle Is Filled?

Create a goal for what you plan to do with your savings. Will you invest it into a business idea? Use it to pay for holiday gifts? When you have a goal, you will be more motivated to get to the finish line.

When you fill your bottle, you can go to the dollar store and buy a package of coin rolls (check image to left). Take them to the bank and trade them in for cash. If you bring your coin rolls to a coin machine at, say, Publix, you get charged a fee for trading your coins in for cash. The bank usually won't charge you anything (as long as your parents bank with them).

After that, start filling up your bottle again! Remember: "A penny saved is a penny earned." - Benjamin Franklin

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Make Money Tutoring

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Are you the class Einstein in school - the teacher's pet? Is learning your passion? Do you think you might work well with kids?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you just might have what it takes to make an income tutoring.

Let's face it - schoolwork doesn't come easy for everyone. And parents don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on Sylvan. Maybe you'll find tutoring to be fun and profitable.

Getting Started
What is your *best* subject? The class where you never fail a pop quiz? This is your money maker - the subject you'll feel most comfortable helping kids with. Remember to have patience with your students so that they can feel comfortable with you, too.

Make a resume. Describe some things you've accomplished (for this example, try keeping it academic-related; something to show off your smarts). Talk about yourself and what you like to do in your spare time. What are your favorite subjects? How are your grades? Include a list of your services - remember to keep it professional!

You will probably want to begin tutoring only a few kids at first so that you don't get burnt out or overwhelmed. Start small. As you get better and feel you can take on more, then do it. But don't kill yourself.

Fees
How much do you want to charge for your service? A lot of people like to charge by the hour or on a weekly/monthly basis. Some make $15-$25/hour, some make $60. Think reasonably and check to see if there are other tutors in your area. If so, do what you can to keep your prices competitive, but fair (to you and your clients).

How will you accept money - cash, checks, or Paypal? Make it as easy as possible for your clients to pay you.

Marketing
Ask teachers at your school if there are any kids they know of who need help with your subject. Let them know that you tutor and ask if they would tell the students' parents about your service. Offer business cards, flyers, a resume or two - something for them to give to parents as a way to learn more about what you have to offer and contact you. Also check out local home school groups and even try talking to friends or family. Put an ad in the local newspaper, post about it online...remember: marketing is one of the most important aspects of any business.

Stay Organized!
Don't let tutoring take over your life - continue to make time for your own studies and personal activities. Keep your priorities straight! You should review your calendar to set up a tutoring time that fits your schedule. If your grades start to slip, it will be harder for you to gain clients.

Have FUN
Don't take up a business unless it's enjoyable. Confucius said: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." As I've pointed out in a previous post, doing something you hate may make your pockets full in the end, but you probably won't feel as satisfied as you would otherwise. That's always something to consider before starting a business.

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Flip Books To Earn Money

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Looking to make some extra money? With Books-A-Million's discount racks, you certainly can.

On a visit to my *favorite* store in the world (yeah - I'm a bookworm at heart), I took notice to the various racks sitting outside the doors displaying books that were on sale.

New books. Ones that would usually sell for around $15 were instead going for $1-$5.

And then I thought: Whoa! What a great opportunity to make some cash!

I've visited this store dozens of times and it took me this long to realize I could be flipping these books on Amazon! It was one of those Well, duh! moments where you feel like smacking yourself.

The cool thing is, these racks are there all the time. So, it would be pretty easy to buy these books on a regular basis and sell them for double (or sometimes triple) what you paid for. Really, it just depends on how much the book originally cost.

Say you buy a book for $2 that would usually go for $12. If it's popular enough, you could easily sell it for $6-$8 (especially if it's new - earning you 3-4 times what you spent!).

Of course, there's more to selling online with sites such as Amazon or Ebay than just listing your items and waiting for someone to buy. You have to market it right, figure out shipping costs (whether or not you're going to charge for shipping costs), get help from your parents with setting up a Paypal account (required for selling with both sites) and quite a few other details.

Sound like work? Hey - it's not called a job for nothing. At least you'll be making a nice profit from it.

Okay, so you aren't going to become a millionaire flipping books...but you could definitely earn well in the 100s range. With enough passion and dedication, you could even make thousands. That's how much Dane Carlson makes a month selling books on Amazon. His article - Can You Make $5000/Month Selling Used Books on Amazon? - describes useful tips on how you can get the most out of selling your books online.

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Versatile Blogger Award

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:16:00 +0000

Coolness! I got awarded The Versatile Blogger award! Thank you sincerely, Glynis from Moms In Venting!!

Award Rules
1. Thank the person who gave you this award and link back to their site in your original post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass along the award to 15 newly discovered bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they got this award.

7 Things You Didn't Know About Me
1. I dream about someday being the lead guitarist in an unbelievable rock band (yes, really!)
2. My favorite food in the *world*: Chocolate!!
3. I love, love, LOVE books on success, entrepreneurship, and other business-related things
4. Global warming and animal abuse are two issues I hope to someday end
5. Thriller movies are my favorite kind (the scarier the better!)
6. I have two sisters whom I LOVE but annoy the heck out of
7. I wish time didn't fly

Congrats to the 15 Bloggers I've Chosen to Receive this Award, Also!
Here they are in random order...

1. Students Saving Bucks
2. Wacky Ways For Kids to Make Money
3. MamaZen
4. Mom By Example
5. Blogs By Kids
6. 2 Boys + 1 Girl = One Crazy Mom
7. Homeschool Messenger
8. Meandering Around The World
9. Sam A. Way
10. Three Silly Chicks
11. i heart baking
12. Time4Mommy
13. Cherie-Fashion
14. Measuring Flower
15. Money $aving Michele

How To Start A Teen Babysitting Business

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Looking to earn some serious cash? If you have the time and the energy (and you don't mind changing a few diapers), babysitting can be a great way to get it.

According to the Census Bureau, there are currently about 10.6 million children under the age of 5 who's mothers work, and about 1.9 million are cared for in daycare.

This leaves a huge opportunity for teens looking to make a lot of money, as there is a BIG market for it.

Getting Started
Have you ever watched any children before? What was your experience like? Have you ever received any special training in child care (e.g. CPR, attended a babysitter course, ect)? Is there an adult or family member nearby in the event of an emergency?

When opting to babysit, you should be prepared to answer questions like these when being interviewed for a job. After all, parents won't let just anyone take responsibility for their children. They want to feel that they can trust you and your ability to keep their kids safe.

Check out this list of questions from about.com featuring questions parents may ask you in an interview. It's a good idea to have a flyer with you that lists these questions along with well-written answers (remember to discuss them with your parents as well!).

Training for the Job
The usual rate per hour (depending on where you live) is around $7-$9. However, you could increase your rates by getting babysitting training and receiving a certificate for doing so. There are many organizations that offer such training. For instance: BabySittingClass.com

This site offers:
- Personal attention and Live Help
- Up-to-Date materials and chapter notes
- Access to The Babysitter's Encyclopedia (offers hands-on solutions to problems babysitters may face)
- A year-long pass (from the moment you register, you have access to the site for one full year)

It costs $17.50 to sign up, but if you can increase your income, it may well be worth it. Becoming a trained, professional babysitter shows that you are serious about your services and you will be more likely to get business.

Transportation & Time
Before you can begin looking for babysitting jobs, you'll need a way to get around. Do you need a system to where your parents can pick you up and drop you off at different locations? You should never walk to locations by yourself at night, even if it's just a street away. Safety is very important.

When are you going to be able to work? Think about things that may prevent you from working during the day/weekdays: school, activities, other part-time jobs, ect. Are you able to work at night? Do parents need to have a curfew? Consider your options and come up with a plan that you can share with your customers.

Fees
As I've mentioned before, the usual rate (depending on where you live) is around $7-$9 per hour when babysitting. However, it's possible to earn $5-$10 per child per hour. Yet you should also take into consideration if there are other babysitting services in your area. If so, you should consider your prices and keep them competitive in order to gain new business opportunities.

If you find that you can only babysit on the weekends, that's alright - you can still earn a tidy sum of cash. But if you want to make *a lot* of money, you'll have to be open to weekdays, as well.

Marketing
Just like with any other business, you'll need a way to advertise your services. This could mean posting about it online or buying ad space in your local newspaper. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of your business; pass out business cards and flyers to random people. Tell all of your friends and family about it. Whatever you can do to get the word out.

Babysitting presents a wonderful opportunity for you to earn money and learn about running a business. It certainly isn't the easiest job on the planet, but the lessons and income you receive will be well worth it in the long run.

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Make Money Selling Erasers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Erasers. The kind you buy at the store and stick on the end of your pencil.

They're awesome. Why?

Who knows. It's just one of those things you remember being "all that" from elementary school. And yet...

I still love em'. I'm just weird like that.

Earlier today when I was browsing Books-A-Million (that place gave me *so* many ideas!), I saw a pack of Easter erasers similar to the one that you see in the image to the left. They were selling for $1.99.

My idea is really simple and sure to bring any kid 12- a nice profit to help save up for that great new toy!

What You'll Need
Hopefully, you have a few bucks for investment money. Those erasers won't pay for themselves, you know! If not, you may want to open up a flower stand to earn your cash (pretty easy and requires no investment money!).

You could also ask you parents to invest in your idea. Promise to pay back the money they give you (if they say "no", try offering interest*). Be sure to also promise that you'll work to pay back the money if for some reason you end up making nothing off of this idea.

How To Do It
Kids love having neat little things like festive erasers. Think about silly bandz: they aren't any different from regular rubber bands. Except for the fact that they're shaped differently (e.g. instruments, animals, ect).

And everyone loves them. The creator has made millions of dollars off of this simple invention - and he's still getting paid!

So, how can you make a profit selling erasers?

Well, let's say you buy the pack in the image above and it costs the same as the pack ($1.99) that I saw at the store. There are a total of 12 erasers. If marketed the right way, you could sell each eraser for 50 cents. If you sell them all, you make $6. That's almost triple what you paid for the pack in the first place!

If you only had enough cash to buy 1 pack, you could take the money you made and invest it into more packs (buy more packs). Sell those erasers and use that money to invest into even more packs.

See the pattern? If you continue to sell erasers, you'll continue to make even more money.

Market Your Erasers
Kids are almost always willing to give up a little lunch money to feel that they're apart of something cool. By selling erasers, it's almost like you're creating a club. The people that have erasers will feel cool because they're involved in something exclusive (not everyone is going to buy from you).

In order to market (advertise) your erasers, you could take a few and use them on your own pencils. Tell your friends how cool you think they are. Don't brag or try to make those who don't have erasers feel bad. Just be excited when you tell other kids about it. When you think you've convinced them that your item really is the "next best thing", offer to sell some.

When you sell erasers, ask your customers to tell other kids about your business when they get the chance. Don't beg and don't make them promise to do so before they can buy from you - it may frustrate them and cause you to lose customers.

Change It Up
If you notice a certain kind of eraser has become boring, buy different packs. They don't have to be Easter-related. They could be race cars, flowers, funny faces, monkey heads...the wider your variety, the more likely you are to sell. You could even buy "stubbies" and draw your own faces on them as shown below:

Don't Have A Books-A-Million Nearby?
Eraser heads aren't only sold at Books-A-Million. I've seen them at Publix, The Dollar Store...pretty much any place that has an area selling office supplies will also be selling eraser heads.

Go For It!
Sometimes, the simplest ideas can have the most value. Not only can you make money off of this venture, but you might also find that you have fun doing it. If that's true, don't stop here. There are always more opportunities to make money. Whether it's an idea from the Internet, or something you come up with on your own, never be afraid to try. Believe in yourself and your abilities.

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*interest - when you can afford it, give them a little more than they give you

Story of Failure Turns to Success: New Coke

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:59:00 +0000

During 1985 (in an attempt to reverse it's 20 year market decline against its rival, Pepsi) Coca-Cola stopped selling their original soft drink and completely changed it's formula, offering it simply as The New Taste of Coke.

And everyone hated it.

Sergio Zyman (the man behind the plan) ended up costing Coca-Cola almost $100 MILLION.

Coca-Cola's original formula had been around for almost 100 years. Everyone loved it - and nobody was happy when it changed.

Robert McMath (Coca-Cola's marketing consultant) referred to this as one of the greatest product failures of all time.

And Sergio Zyman left the company.

Years later, he is asked whether he thinks this blunder was a mistake. His answer...

"No, categorically."

Wait a second. He angered millions of people, cost the company he worked for millions of dollars, and lost his job. How could this not be a mistake? A bust?

Zyman says, "Another word between 'bust' and, uh, something else."

"Now, if you say to me, 'The strategy that you guys embarked on didn't work', I'll say, 'Yeah, absolutely it didn't work.' But the totality of the action ended up being positive."

Yep. Zyman's suggestion to change the Coke formula (though causing a lot of people to get pretty upset) did, in fact, make the company's return stronger in the end as it led to the production of Coca-Cola Classic - a drink that became even more popular. Roberto Goizeuta (late chairman and chief executive of the Coca-Cola company) confirmed this and actually rehired Zyman in 1993.

"Judge the results." Goizueta says, "We get paid to produce results. We don't get paid to be right."

Zyman's plan was a tough one. Using the same brand for almost a century and then just suddenly changing it? The strategy obviously didn't go the way he hoped, but it all worked out in the end. The moral of this story: don't let failure (or the fear of failure) keep you from achieving your goals.

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Resource: Failing Forward (John C. Maxwell)

Make Money Blogging Pt. 2 - Monetize

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:07:00 +0000

So, you want to make money off of your blog? You're not alone.

Thousands of people are able to make a tidy sum of cash off of their blogs - even more dream about someday going for the gold.

The good news is, anyone can make money blogging. How much you make depends on your strive for excellence.

And, of course, whether or not you have the right tools.

How do the pros do it?
Ever been to I Can Has Cheezburger? Maybe this photo looks familiar:

Millions of people enjoy seeing (and even creating) these hilarious photos of cats at their funniest. The blog gets 500,000 to 1.5 million pageviews a day and is estimated to earn $5,600 A MONTH. That's $67,200 a year!

That could definitely cover college expenses.

So, how do they do it? Well, basically, just by using ads. The I Can Has Cheezburger site uses the following programs: BlogAds, Google AdSense, and Adbrite.

For those who don't know, ads work like this: you copy ad code and paste it on to your site. Every time someone clicks on an ad, you get paid. Sound like heaven? With enough traffic, it certainly is (drive more traffic to your site).

But ads aren't the only way you can make money off of your blog. Using affiliate programs, sponsorships and continuity programs are also great ways to earn an income from your blog!

Keep in mind: different blogs earn money in different ways. While ads are the most profitable revenue source for I Can Has Cheezburger, you may find that you make no money at all using them. The only way to figure out what works best for you is by experimenting. For more information, check out this awesome article off of the Problogger site: How Bloggers Make Money From Blogs. Also, see how Darren Rowse does it from his Make Money Blogging post.

Requirements for making money blogging...
There aren't any real requirements for making money off of your blog (other than having a blog - see Make Money Blogging Pt. 1 - Creating Your Blog), though you'll usually need a service such as Paypal to receive money online. If you're under 18, this will require the help of a parent.

You can do it!
It won't always be easy, and it will require hard work if you intend to make a lot of money, but working to earn an income from your blog will definitely be worth it in the end. Blogging is one of those things that can be fun and profitable. A win-win! Here's a little quote for inspiration:

"That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." - Abraham Lincoln

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Make Money Blogging Pt. 1 - Creating Your Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:06:00 +0000

Blogs. Millions of people have 'em. Tens of thousands make an income from them.

And you can, too.

If you're the kind of person that enjoys writing, drawing, taking pictures, or making videos, you can start a blog and make money off of it!

Starting a blog can be free and very easy. All you have to do is create an account with a blogging site (e.g. Blogspot, Wordpress, Tumblr ect) and start posting!

What to think about before getting started...
Your Blog Topic
What is your topic? Do you get excited about it? Do you know a lot about your topic? Can you see yourself still writing on this topic six months from now?

You should consider all of these things before starting a blog. I've failed at this upon starting some blogs in the past. I never continued them because I just wasn't motivated enough to move forward - the topics bored me. Either that, or I kidded myself into thinking that I knew a lot about the subject when I really didn't.

Your readers will be visiting because they're interested in what you have to offer, and if it's clear that you have no idea what you're talking about (or just aren't being serious about it), they'll leave and probably never come back.

Darren Rowse from Problogger put it best when he said, "If you're not interested in your topic, your readers will sense this and your chances for success will fall." So, think about a topic you're fluent in and that you would have fun writing about.

Your Blog Name
Before you can start blogging, you will be asked to create a url for your blog. Your url will most likely be the same as your blog name. For example, this blog's name is The Kid is Rich. The url is: http://www.thekidisrich.blogspot.com/

Your blog name is very important because it is how people will recognize you in business. Say you're a photographer and you feature your photos on a blog. You'll probably want to be sharing your url with people offline. Unless you're handing out business cards or flyers displaying your blog name, it might be hard for potential readers to remember the url.

So, when possible, it's a good idea to keep the url short and catchy. And of course, it must be relevant to what your blog is about. If Bob is blogging about different motorcycle brands, he doesn't want his blog url to be http://www.thepinkfairyprincess.blogspot.com/

It won't make sense and will turn off your readers.

Also keep in mind: with so many blogs on the Internet, great simple url names can be hard to come by. You may want to come up with a list of names you like in case one is already taken.

Creating Your Blog
Now that you have a plan (you know your blog topic and your blog name), you can begin the process of setting up your blog. Today, there are many sites which allow you to create free blogs. Some of the most popular include Blogger (you're looking at it right now), Wordpress, and Tumblr. I have never personally tried Wordpress or Tumblr, but with Blogger, all you need to do is sign up with your email address, blog name, and desired blog url. Next, they ask you to choose a Template from a list that they have created, and then you can either customize how your blog looks or start posting.

If you aren't satisfied with your blog's "look", then go ahead and change it. If you don't like any of the Blogger templates (don't worry - I'm picky about it, too ;), you can always find more (*for FREE*) at btemplates.com. Remember: blogging is not only about content, it's also about the experience. When a template is ugly or hard to navigate, it can cause potential readers to close out of the tab.

Posting
Posting is the most important part of any blog - your content is your blog: what will attract readers and keep them coming back. If your content isn't any good, it will be harder for you to succeed in making money. No one wants to read boring, useless information. You have to show your enthusiasm through your writing. Make it interesting and make it fun! For more info on writing great posts, check out 7 Powerful Ways To Get Your Blog Post Noticed.

Making Moolah
Okay. You have a blog. You've written some posts. And now you're asking the big question...

How do I make cash??

Before you think about monetizing your blog (explained in Make Money Blogging Pt. 2 - Monetize), it's a good idea to start building your reputation. Write a lot of posts - invite friends, family, and other bloggers to come and check out your blog. Interact with other bloggers - comment your opinions (respectfully) on others' posts that you're interested in.

Think about monetizing after you've blogged for a while - a few months or so. Long enough to where you've written quite a few posts and accumulated some followers!

Don't be all about the money. Sure, your goal in the end is to make an income from your blog, but that shouldn't be the only reason you're blogging. It should be fun - something for you to take up as hobby and do in your spare time because you enjoy doing it. People are going to be less inclined to visit your blog if they see that you're only doing it to make a few bucks. It makes you look greedy and your blog loses it's meaning.

More on Blogging
Blogging is a lot of fun and can earn you a LOT of cash! Some adults make so much money doing it that they are able to quit their jobs and work from home. One example of such a success is Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.

"Back in 2002 I stumbled upon an article about ‘Blogging’. I didn’t know it at the time but that moment changed my life. I know that statements like that belong on those cheesy ‘buy my $1000 training program’ sites (don’t worry I’m not selling anything more than a book) but it is actually true."

He currently runs a blog that offers insightful articles on how to successfully earn an income from blogging. In doing so, he makes *hundreds of thousands of dollars* every year! You can also learn how he did it and get tips on improving your own blog by checking out http://www.problogger.net/

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