Home-Business-Blog.com

What is an Autoresponder?

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:02:00 +0000

An autoresponder is an email marketing tool that sends out emails to your contact list. The best type of autoresponder is an online autoresponder that has a good reputation so that it can get your emails delivered.

An autoresponder is simple to set up and really is the dividing line between online success and wasting your efforts. If you don't have a contact list, as most beginning markerters don't, you may wonder how can an autoresponder help you with your online business. When you get an autoresponder you will also be given a form which you can put on your website or blog and start collecting contacts.

The basic steps to getting started with your autoresponder are:

Get an autoresponder that has a good reputation that can get your messages delivered.
Set up your autoresponder with a letter or a series of letters.
Put your form on your website or blog so you can start collecting contacts.
Send additional mail to your contact list whenever you need to.

Break each step down and take your time with it. If you need to go back and change things you can. Getting an autoresponder and building a contact list is an important step you can take for your online business. I found Traffic Wave to be an easy autoreponder to use, and it has a good reputation for getting emails delivered. Do this step and stay consistent in your marketing efforts. Over time, as you build your list, you will be developing for yourself a valuable long term asset.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo
Home-Business-Blog.com

Site Update: e-mail updates now available!

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:19:00 +0000

The whole point of writing a blog for your business is to build a regular readership. If your site has been found once, then you don't need the obstacle of needing it found again and again. Give your readers an easy way to stay updated.

The most popular choice for blog and website updates is by e-mail. By adding an e-mail form to your website or blog you will be building a list, a valuable commodity for your business. In fact, building a responsive and high quality list can make the difference between success or failure in your online business.

There will be plenty more to come about how to get started with e-mail marketing, list building, business blogging, affiliate marketing and more so you can get started making money online. For now, pick your favorite subscribe method to be sure not to miss all the great information that is coming. There are three choices here, so there is something for everybody. You can even choose more than one.

RSS feed- if your preferred method of keeping up with blogs is by a feed reader then use the RSS subscribe method.

Google Friend Connect- this is a fun one, and a way to let other readers of this blog know who you are.

E-mail update- will inform you of blog updates right to your inbox. You'll also get some extras that will not be on this blog.

With loads of information to come, you are not going to want to miss out.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo
Home-Business-Blog.com

Still think it is hard to start a blog?

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Admit it, you thought about it, but something just stops you. You just can't take that step into blogging. If you are one of those that think you would like to put together a blog to promote your online business, but it just seems like there is too much involved then you are not alone. There are two sides to blogging, the technical part (setting it up and posting) and the writing part, so here we'll cover two quick ways to get started. It is an investment of time you can make for your online business, and you will be glad you did.

First we'll look at the technical side. Here is a short video from Google that explains exactly what to do to get started with a blog from Blogger.com. You will notice that it really is not technical at all. In fact, it is even kind of fun.

Now the creative part. Decide what your blog will be about, a particular program or category of online marketing. It can be as simple and straight forward as My Internet Marketing Adventures. You don't have to be a guru to write a blog about your business. Just be sincere with with your writing. For your first post introduce yourself and say something about what you are going to be doing with your blog. Then take the leap.

That's it folks. Here you can see my first post. Since then I changed the title and removed the navigation bar from across the top of the blog. I didn't go back to edit the post, however, because I want the changes in this blog visible as a record how a business blog can start, change, and grow. It only takes a few steps to get started, then take it one post at a time.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo (article only)
Home-Business-Blog.com

Okay, so what is a blog? And getting started!

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:45:00 +0000

You're on one, so you already have an idea. But if someone asks you what is a blog what do you say? Simply put, it is an online journal. Blogs can cover the entire spectrum of life and events. There are blogs for political statements, personal statements, sports, travel and just about anything you could think of.

We're including a definition of blogs in our beginners' tutorial because blogging is about the easiest way to build an online presence. And if you're building an online business then a presence is what you want to create. It is easy to get started blogging, usually free, and a good way to gain experience in your marketing ventures.

Blogs differ from the static website in that the very nature of a blog is up to date changes. When a standard website is changed and updated the changes may not be so obvious as on a blog where the most recent post is right there in front of you.

Blogs are easy to start. A popular choice that many professional marketers use is to register a domain and buy hosting services. Then there is a process of setting up a blog template before you can begin blogging. Another choice, and one I would recommend especially if you don't want to take on too many new things at once, is to create a free account with Blogger.com.

Blogger.com offers choices of templates and widgets (such as Follow with Google Friend Connect that you see here on this blog). You can start right away or explore the many features they have to customize your blog to make it stand out.

It may seem like a big step to begin blogging for your business, but the hardest step often is just to make yourself get started. That is the point, after all, where most ideas perish. If you prefer, you could create a personal blog first, such as a blog about a hobby, to get familiar with the features and get used to using the interface. After that it may not seem so big a step to start a blog to create a business presence. While you are gaining experience with your personal blog, you can take the time to plan out some ideas for what you would like to do for your business blog.

I chose blogging as the starting point for my online presence, so it does not matter which affiliate programs I happen to be promoting at any given time. I have this blog as a long term asset. Developing a long term asset, such as a blog, is a worthy investment of time and an easy thing that you can do to build and promote your online business.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo
Home-Business-Blog.com

Site Updage: Now Available RSS Subscribe (and what that is)

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0000

What is good sense for anybody using a blog to build a business is to make contact with readers as easy as possible. One way to do that is to make available different means of subscribing.

RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is a popular feed syndication format that makes it easy for people to keep up with their favorite blogs or news feeds. If content is syndicated via a feed then people don't have to visit the blog or website where it originated in order to keep up with new posts. They can subscribe to feeds with feed readers such as Google Reader or Bloglines and keep up with a great many blogs and news feeds easily. Popular blogs can have many thousands of subscribers via feed, so it is one more way you can keep in touch with your readers and build your list.

Subscription via Feedburner is now available for Home-Business-Blog.com. There's plenty more to come so if you prefer to subscribe by feed it's here for you now so you'll never miss an article.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo
Home-Business-Blog.com

In The Beginning There Was HTML…

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:32:00 +0000

This is the first part of a beginners' tutorial covering some simple terms about the internet and internet advertising. It is meant for those brand new to website promotion. These terms lay the groundwork for much of the material covered for promoting a business online. For those already versed in the subject, it may be easy to forget that first steps have to begin somewhere. The terms and the concepts are easy. A basic understanding will give you the foundation for further learning. This first part is about html, what it is and why it's important to us.

Html (spoken as the letters H-T-M-L) stands for HyperText Markup Language. That may not leave much to go on, but a little background can clarify things. You may already be familiar with the term link. You click on a word, usually highlighted in some way, and are taken to another web page or a website that the word is linked to. This simple concept, clickable words that take you to new pages, is called hypertext.

Hypertext, intended as a means of quick and easy information retrieval, was a very simple concept bought to fruition by the dawn of the Information Age. It is the simplest of concepts, however, that may well be the most powerful because by the very nature of their simplicity they can't be disassembled. They give a foundation which, rather than being outgrown, can be built upon. Though hypertext had been around for a while, it was the visionary founders of html who conceptualized the World Wide Web. In hindsight it seems almost an effortless step. You create something sublime, naturally you want to show it off and share it with the world.

To complete the thought, keep in mind that it is not only text that can be hyperlinked, but also images. The linking part is the information retrieval part. By clicking a link, you are able to retrieve the information that the hyperlink is connected to.

So now you know the hyptertext part. You could think of hyper text as the magic part of it, the part of the equation that set the world on fire. Markup language, well, that's the geek part. A markup language is a language of code, universally accepted, that when translated means certain things. It is a collection of letters and symbols, all from the computer keyboard, that in certain combinations create certain results. Html writers call these combinations tags. Tags are used not only for linking but also for formatting the text and images to make up the document, the part that you see.

Html is the foundation of our internet experience. And it is reachable too. Its seeming complexity lies not in complicated equations but rather its layers. With layer upon layer of completely simple commands, it's an example where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. All it takes is a little patience to learn html. Though, one doesn't even have to do that. It's easy enough to pick up pieces of it to use as desired. And there is something satisfying about getting under the hood of a webpage. Not to mention it sounds amazingly smart to be able to say things like, "I altered the code."

So now you have not just a definition of html but hopefully a look into the marvels of it. Keep that mindset on the wonders of these things that make up this world. These are the tools of our limitless opportunities. They are the allies of our potential. Take the mindset of wonder, add you, and your possibilities, and watch what happens. If something as simple as html could change the world, imagine what you could do.

© 2009 Louise Ciofalo

Profile: Wendy's Web Page Design

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Graphic artist Wendy Ward does quality work at bargain prices. Wendy's Web Page Design is a one-stop shop for your internet design needs. Whatever your business is, having a web presence could help you make the most of your image, relay information to your customers, attract new prospects, and generate sales.

While there are plenty of services out there where we can automatically generate our own website, there is no substitute for professionally done work. A case in point is this website, a business blog with a template automatically generated from Blogger. There is a lot one could do with these templates. They're really great and with any amount of creative inclination you could really run to town with them. Of course, that's exactly what I have been doing, and I've been having a ball doing it too. There did come a point, very early on actually, where I knew I wanted some professional work done in order to give my blog a unique appearance. It was time for my brand.

Brand is a word I've been hearing a lot in internet marketing circles. Brand yourself is a common refrain of professional internet marketers. In effect, the theory goes the most successful internet marketers do not promote a product, but rather their brand. Coming from a background of being a musician, this was an easy concept to understand. In music we call it creating your image.

So whether you're going after a brand or an image on the internet, unless you're a graphic artist yourself, you could benefit from the services of one. Wendy Ward is both graphic artist and website designer, which greatly simplifies the process when it comes time to have some work done. Ward takes on a variety of projects and has found a niche with new and advancing marketers whose needs vary greatly. And while she could build you an entire website, she will tell you that no job is too small.

For myself, what I wanted was a header and some matching banners for advertising this blog. After viewing the samples of her work on her website, I e-mailed her explaining the work I wanted done and asked for a quote. Ward works surprisingly fast and, after taking a payment through PayPal, she delivered my work the next day.

Perhaps this may give some insight into Ward's artistry and professionalism. Just brimming with ideas for what I wanted, I sent her a long description of what I was looking for. I told her I wanted something fun on one hand, keeping credibility on the other, that I didn't want something overly formal, and particulars for certain scenarios. So how does an artist deal with the varied and sometimes conflicting needs and desires of clients and come up with something gracious? No problem for Wendy Ward. She understands the creative language. As a professional she knows how to translate clients' needs into visual perfection. She understood what I was looking for without missing a beat.

As an artist, she has a good instinct, a good judgment. Wendy's designs have a unique flavor. Her work does stand out. If you look at her work you will see an artist of versatility.

Here is a smaller version of my header…

Here you can see a scaled down version of one of my matching banners…

You can find more examples of her work on her website. And as you can see, if you are looking to create a look or feel that is your own, you can be confident that is what you'll get. For me, it was a pleasure meeting and doing business with Wendy Ward. Getting some design work from Wendy's Web Page Design was an easy and simple step to create a look to get my business blog noticed. And that's all it takes, folks. Doing the next thing to promote your business really is easy.

Site Update: A New Look With More To Come

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Sun, 31 May 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Besides a new look, I made some html changes so when outgoing links are clicked they will now open in a new window. Take note of this if you are blogging for your business. This is an important site navigation feature that will enable visitors to stay on your site longer. Stay tuned for a future article about the importance of this and simple instructions how you can do it yourself.

A special thanks to Widget Blogger for the code that enabled me to remove the standard Blogger navigation bar from the top of the page. You'll notice a number of changes along the sidebar also, for both aesthetic and navigation purposes.

All this, with more changes to come, you have an example of a work in progress. As with here, you can take steps in the smallest of increments which, over time, create something tangible and lasting.

Special Welcomes

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:13:00 +0000

I would like to welcome the first person who signed up to follow this blog. The first subscriber is a milestone for any blogger. I'm privileged to say he is another home business blogger. He's also a Floridian and a Cool Hand Luke fan, like myself. Glad to have you here.

I would like also to say welcome to the world. My most recent fascination is my hit counter, and it is something special to see visits from all over the globe. So welcome to London, Cairo, Islamabad, Moscow, and the rest of you. So many nations, places and people. I see those small dots on my spinning NeoPlanet and I wonder about the faces and the lives of those passing through. It may be only for a brief moment that our lives touched. But they did. Proof of each other's existence. The internet is a marvelous place.

So you witness here the beginning of a blog. Where it will go who can say. I can say I'm enjoying it. And that, my friends, is what is required of us. Whatever you are doing, make sure you love doing it.

About This Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:51:00 +0000

I wanted to say more about what I'll be doing here. First and foremost we all need to have a little fun, so I'm hoping not to turn out something too dry or technical. Also, there are plenty of high profile marketers telling you how to become rich. They can do their job and I'll do mine, which is I want to give some basic and useful information for those just starting out or are thinking about a home based income venture. Add to that some motivation and inspiration, and there you have it!

So as not to leave anybody out I will be starting with some basic terms. As for those of you who already have successful ventures, know the ropes, or are experienced marketers, I'd just like to say it would be fun if you came along for the ride. There is plenty of room for all, and you certainly are invited. As this blog goes along we'll explore different ideas, so there's going to be some good reading ahead.

If I could break down the goal here it's: autonomy, philosophy and fun. Autonomy, being that's what anyone wants from a home based income. Along with that comes a certain confidence in ourselves and our business. we want to be the masters of our income, not the slaves. Philosophy because knowing the plan behind the plan will help you to streamline your efforts. Why on earth are we doing what we're doing? What is our motivation? Having a clear philosophy will keep us on course as we move along with our ventures. And fun, well…are any of us aspiring to be miserable in our ventures? Might as well be up front about it, we want to make profits, yes, but we want to have fun doing it.

Site Update

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:50:00 +0000

I changed the hit counters early this morning, so we're back again at zero and climbing. I had a generic counter and a 2D map at the bottom of the page. They were nice, but I wanted something snazzier. Now at the sidebar there are two very nice features: a flag counter that's just too cool to be free and the spinning globe NeoPlanet from Neoworx, a company that makes quality premium widgets for your website or blog. If you have a website check them out here.

Also, along the sidebar is now a Follow feature which makes it easier to well…follow this blog.

Welcome To The Home Business Success Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Louise Ciofalo) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the home business success blog. If you're like most people you work hard and deserve more for your efforts. Maybe you are brand new to an opportunity or have tried before only to see your efforts wasted. Maybe you've heard a lot of confusing terms, or you know the ropes but just haven't brought it all together yet. You've probably heard the promises of insane earnings or wild profits without lifting a finger. You want your slice but don't want to get scammed or end up with little to show for your efforts.

Hang around and in the weeks and months to come you may find you are on a very different kind of journey. One where you are confident to let your common sense be the guide, where you comfortably call your own shots like only you can and finally make the money you deserve. If you belong to Blogger click Follow Blog at the top of the page, if not, bookmark this site so you can come back to it. (The website address is: home-business-blog.com ).