I kept randomly telling the last guy I dated different things I had on my bucket list, and he’d always reply, “I really need to see this list”. Well, even if he never sees this list now, I figured writing it out may help me attain my bucket list goals by manifesting my dreams. So here goes, in no particular order (and I’m sure I’ll keep adding to the list, last updated 9/23/15)…

1. Eat Pizza in Italy
2. Own Berkshire Hathaway Stock
3. Be a Guest on The TODAY Show
4. Visit Washington D.C.
5. Meet the President of the United States (doesn’t have to be in D.C.)
6. Do mission work in a third world country, preferably in Africa
7. Take an Alaskan Cruise
8. Write a book of fiction
9. Write a non-fiction book
10. Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
11. Be a Guest on The Steve Harvey Show (set to air 9/10/15!)
12. Visit Seattle, Washington
13. Build another new or remodel a house
14. Get over my fear of dogs (I’ve come a long ways and can actually be around dogs now)
15. Sell a website for 6 figures
16. Get married to my soulmate / best friend
17. Vacation at an All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico (booked for January 2016!)
18. Climb the Eiffel Tower
19. Learn to play the piano
20. Learn to replay the guitar
21. Sew a complicated quilt
22. Visit the Opera House in Australia
23. Attend a taping of The Ellen Show (preferably during her “12 Days of Giveaways”!)
24. Visit Asia (China or Japan)
25. Take a European Cruise
26. Visit Bali, Indonesia (from “Eat, Pray, Love”)
27. Ride in a hot air balloon
28. Visit Germany (visit our foreign exchange student)
29. See Running of the Bulls in Spain
30. Attend the taping of a late night show (SNL, Conan, etc)
31. Learn to Snow Ski
32. Road trip across the country (with someone else driving)
33. Attend Sturgis’ bike rally
34. Learn to Water Ski
35. See Niagara Falls (from either US or Canada side)
36. Develop a profitable mobile application
37. Visit Ireland around St. Patrick’s Day (or anytime actually)
38. Eat meatballs at an Ikea store
39. Walk in a AVON 39 walk with Affiliate Marketers Give Back
40. Visit Nashville
41. Own a pair of authentic Christian Louboutin black pumps (I did for one day)
42. Stay the night in the haunted hotel in Estes Park
43. Take a helicopter tour of the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon
44. Attend Tulip Festival in Orange City

Hopefully I can come back to this post and cross off the things I’ve been able to accomplish! What’s on your bucket list?

But the rash never went away; it got worse. I called the doctor right before Thanksgiving, who then prescribed me some Prednisone and Hydroxyzine. But those didn’t help either. And on December 2nd, I woke up covered head-to-toe in hives.

My mom took me to the doctor because my eyes were near swollen shut and I couldn’t stop scratching. The doctor diagnosed me as being allergic to dog dander and put me on more meds (Singulair and more Prednisone). At this point, my brother and his wife (and dog) had been living with me for almost six months.

Ebby, their Boston Terrier is a short-hair dog, so it made sense that I didn’t have symptoms right away as it takes awhile for dog dander to build up. Maybe I never liked dogs because I’m allergic to them?! My brother and sister-in-law found a new place to live temporarily while they are building a house on our dad’s lot, and we’ve been cleaning the house like mad, vacuuming and dusting everyday.

But my hives still continue. I can take my prescription antihistamine four times a day, and I pop one as soon as feel my skin starting to raise and itch. During the night though, the antihistamine wears off, and I wake up covered in hives nearly every morning (and I’ve tried sleeping in different areas of the house).

I took this photo Christmas morning after my friend text me, “Merry Christmas from my family” to which I replied, “Merry Christmas from my hives.” She may have found it more funny than I.

So I only have hives while at home. When I venture out for more than 12 or so hours, I’m perfectly fine (skin-wise anyway). Then the moment I’m back home, my welts return. I have tried nearly everything possible in my house to rid it of the allergens causing my hives:

• Bought two air purifiers
• Installed the highest quality (aka most expensive) furnace filter
• Washed all curtains and bedding
• Vacuumed floors and furniture repeatedly
• Vacuumed bed and put all pillows in dryer

I saw my primary doctor once again who decided to draw blood and recommended I see an allergist.  My Immunglobin E was high (that means I’m allergic to something) and my thyroid activity was low (probably from the urticaria), so the doctor now put me on Levothroxine. Yes, I’m now “that lady” that carries a pill box in her purse.

I can’t get into see the allergist for my chronic hives until next week. Let’s hope he has some insight for me!

St. Sgt. Melvin Synovec, writing to his sister, Mrs. Anton Kouba, tells of life in a German army camp near the Danube river in Austria. He describes the scenery as beautiful, but says the Willow Creek is good enough for him.

He also enclosed two papers, one which awarded him the Bronze star for meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy on April 1.

The other paper was the citation and reads as follows:

Staff Sergeant Melvin C. Synovec: For meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. On April 1, 1945, while serving as platoon leader for his unit near Nust, Germany, Sergeant Synovec’s platoon was point platoon in advance guard. Small arms, mortar, bazooka and other enemy fire had made reconnaissance impossible.

Sergeant Synovec possessed the only map in his platoon, but with clarity of orders and exceptional alertness, he was able to direct his platoon by radio over the intricate road nets.

Sergeant Synovec’s complete devotion to duty materially contributed to the success of the advance. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Sergeant Synovec enter the military service from Nebraska.

Approved: H.E. DAGER, Brigadier General, U. S. A.

Sgt. Synovec went overseas in September, 1944, and as a member of a tank battalion in the 11th Armored Division, was in some of the bitterest fighting in Germany. Her entered service in June, 1941, before Pearl Harbour.

His wife, the former Betty Holmes lives at Foster, where Carolyn Jeanne, the baby daughter born April 22 awaits to welcome the daddy she has never seen and whom she strongly resembles.

He is the son of Mrs. Rose Synovec who lives at Norfolk.

Ever since the medium told me that finding loose change was a sign of my dad showing himself to me, I continue to find change in strange places, and my brother kept finding change at my dad’s house.  I kid you not that every time my brother went to visit the house since Dad died, he continued to find even more change.

Well, now that the house is gone and the basement is dug for Mike to build a new house, he found this treasure: a Frank Miller’s Crown Dressing from New York bottle. The first thing that came to my mind was it was a shot of Crown Royal liquor or a medicine bottle. But research shows it’s actually a container for shoe polish from the late 1800’s. Too bad this antique wasn’t worth an inheritance of some sort. It appears to be valued under $20. Mike better keep on the lookout for more change.

And our Dad’s estate (or lack of it) is still not settled. I get to spend my birthday in a courtroom with my dad’s creditors. Joy joy.

Going…

Going…

Gone.

There is no more 334 East Nebraska Street. When my brother builds, the house will face a different direction and thus have a new house number on a different street with a new address.

I decided to do a drive by and take a few last photos of my dad’s house before it gets torn down this week as it was a house I kept returning to throughout the years.

I first lived there with my mom and dad and little brother. When my parents got divorced, mom moved us kids with her. Then when I ran away from home at age fourteen, I ended up living there with my dad until I graduated high school.

When my (ex)husband got out of the military, him and I and our son all shared my old bedroom with a single twin bed in that very same house with my dad until we got an apartment of our own (my dad was actively searching for a place for us more than we were).

And the last time I “lived” there was temporarily while I was building my house. It seriously was one of the worst months of my life, probably because my dad’s negativity spawned more negatively.

So seeing the house may bring some back bad memories, but at least I knew I was always welcome to stay there.  Now my brother owns the lot and is tearing down the house to build a new house.  But first he had to have the asbestos professionally removed (thus the hole in the kitchen window to vent it). I’m hoping my brother will let me crash at the new place if I ever need a place to stay (like I’m doing for him right now).

*My dad’s name was Richard, Dick for short. His buddies (and us kids behind his back) called him “Dicker”.

Nanu Nanu

I don’t think I’ve ever cried when a celebrity died before. That was until Monday when I heard the news of Robin Williams’ passing while I was in New York City for Affiliate Summit. Man, he made some great movies (some even yet to be released). I choked back tears first when talking with Hunter Boyle about my own family’s battles with depression and then again talking with Missy Ward, who absolutely adored Robin Williams.

Robin Williams and Missy Ward 2013

People don’t “commit” suicide. People die by suicide. I loved this graphic that Rae Hoffman shared entitled “If physical diseases were treated like mental illness” because many people don’t realize just how real and awful depression really is.

If physical diseases were treated like mental illness

And I smiled when I saw Janet Thaeler’s Facebook update, “Has Robin Williams’ death turned us all into armchair psychiatrists?” Now I’m not going to get all preachy on you. I’m just going to share some good reads written after the tragic event:

• The Death of Robin Williams, And What Suicide Isn’t by Elizabeth Hawksworth on BlogHer
• There’s Nothing Selfish About Suicide by Katie Hurley on Huffington Post
• Why Robin Williams’ Suicide Leaves Me Terrified by Scary Mommy
• Robin Williams’ Children, Zak, Zelda and Cody Williams, Break Their Silence After Actor’s Tragic Death on E! Online (I feel terrible for Robin’s children).
• Robin Williams Didn’t Kill Himself on PopChassid
• Robin Williams was battling Parkinson’s, widow says on USA Today

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Rest in Peace Robin Williams.

I’ve spent more time than I care to admit trolling online dating websites.  Do you want to know why I didn’t respond to over 90% of the men that winked, liked and/or emailed me on Match.com? Here’s the lowdown that may help men (and possibly some women) in the future to make their online dating profiles more appealing.

1. Pick your username wisely.  Any name with the word “sex” in it probably isn’t a good idea. That includes you SexPanther1974. I noticed the majority of men also use their birthday and/or graduation year in their name, just like SexPanther1974 did. Not that that’s a bad a thing, but be original by including a hobby or something!  I would be more apt to respond to BigHuskerFan as I would presume they are a Nebraska Cornhusker fan like me.

2. Include a photo.  And not just any photo. It must be recent and not photoshopped. Do not wear a hat, as I want to see your hair (or lack of).  Do not wear sunglasses as I want to see your eyes.  Smile as I want to see your teeth.  There is no need to include any photos of your vehicles or pets, as if I want to look at photos of motorcycles or dogs, I can look outside.

3. Brush up on your grammar skills. If your headline and profile description do not read well (i.e. use no capital letters or punctuation), I will move on. And please take a few minutes to review these grammar goofs to make sure you are using the correct version of their or there.

4. Tell the truth.  If you are only 5’7″, do not say you are 5’9″ (shoes don’t count).  There is also a big difference between being divorced and being separated. Be honest in what you are looking for in a partner as well. And don’t waste my time if our “requirements” for each other don’t match. If you think you’ll change my mind about wanting to have more biological babies, you’ll have to discuss that with my gynecologist.

5. Grab my attention. Want me to check out your profile?  Hopefully you’ve already passed the username, photo and good grammar test.  Emails that ask me intelligent questions are more apt to receive a response.  Asking me if I just want to hook up is not going to cut it. I realize that not everyone agrees with me on this next party, but I’m leery of meeting a total stranger without first emailing to learn about them, then talking on the phone, then video chatting to make sure I’m not being catfished.

Here is an actual email that I recently received via Match.com:

Hi mysery lady.how are youdoin? you seem like an intrieging person.

Oh, I’m intriguing alright, but not sure that being a mystery (or misery?) lady is a compliment.  I’m doing just fine, thank you very much.

After I read Feminista Jones’s article “Suicide is not selfish“, I felt compelled to write a long blog post about my thoughts on suicide.  After sharing it with some close family and friends, I decided to not to make the article public.  If you are a close friend or family member of mine, ask me for the password to read it here.

But I would love to hear anyone’s take on the subject. Do you think suicide is selfish?

Image Source Credit: Flickr

My newly married brother jumped at this opportunity thinking he could remodel and fix up the house and move back here to be around family. But after further inspections, the house’s structure appears to be unstable and not worth fixing.  So until he decides what to do with the property, guess who’s giving up his beautiful house in KC and moving in with me temporarily? Yep, my brother, Mike, his lovely wife…. and their dog?! Oh my.

So Mike rented a storage unit here in town and hauled an enclosed trailer full of furniture up here last weekend. They even picked me up in Omaha on their way as I just got back from a girls’ vacay in Florida. After they dropped me off, they opened the back end of the trailer to see it was on FIRE!  Fire is another one of my fears, next to dogs.

They only totally lost a few things, but the rest of the items are now all covered in black soot and smell terrible of smoke. Some of those items are now in my basement making my basement reek as well. They are lucky that the whole trailer didn’t burn up while driving it down the road!

I’ve already started a “honey do” list for my brother to work on when he moves in. Getting rid of that charcoal smell in the basement is now at the top of that list.

Image Credit: Sweet Clip Art

More than half a million new startup businesses launch in the United States each year. Yet more than half of the new businesses that open their doors annually won’t survive to the five-year mark. These six mistakes represent a big part of what stands in the way of a new startup company’s success.

• Spending too much too soon

Spending too much may mean taking out more loans than a new startup can repay or spending on bells and whistles when basics will do. It could also mean that the business is spending too much on production when there are more efficient ways of running the business. Either way, spending too freely can result in a cash-strapped company that is forced to close its doors.

• Not consulting an attorney first

Not consulting an attorney can create a nearly unending series of problems for a new startup as it grows. An attorney with business startup expertise can advise entrepreneurs on everything from business structure to workplace liability, benefits packages and tax returns. It’s important to work with the experts at Carter West to avoid major legal mistakes with your new business.

• Launching without a business plan

Every single business, no matter how much of a “sure thing” the new owners think it is, needs a business plan. This is because the business plan explains how to turn that sure thing into a sure success, and how to address any obstacles that may arise on the journey.

• Pricing too high or too low for your market

Pricing “just right” for the market is absolutely essential to ensure customers will give a new startup a chance. Market surveys take a look at competitor pricing and help to position the new startup in a “sweet spot” in the marketplace.

• Hiring too many or the wrong folks

Any entrepreneur will be required to juggle many roles. But hiring the wrong folks to handle the rest can hamstring a startup from day one. The same holds true for hiring more employees than payroll can reasonably handle.

• Assuming profits will flow from opening day

Profitability is the universal measure of success, so of course all startups strive for it right from the first day. But the reality is that building profitability can take a year or more, and patience and persistence are both required.

These six mistakes are the reason why many promising new startups fail to realize their potential in today’s competitive global marketplace. By seeking legal counsel early in the process and planning for how to address each of these common mistakes, a new startup can protect its future and plan for its own success.

The post Protect Your Startup: Six Common Mistakes Many New Businesses Make appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

I recently had the opportunity to do a quick interview with Ryan Eagle, infamously known as Birdman, and most recognized for being a cut-throat businessman.

Ryan, what was your first online business?

The first money I ever made online was selling Diablo II virtual items once upon a time. Somewhere around the same time I began building sites with the purpose of generating advertising revenue and I concurrently got my first check from Google Adsense as well. I wouldn’t call it a business at first, it was something I more or less fell into.

I read that you joined the affiliate marketing industry in 2005 (which personally was great year for me before having to compete with corporations). Are you still active in the affiliate marketing industry?

No, I actually left the industry for the most part about two years ago after an affiliate marketing related business ended. I was jaded by the entire experience and quite frankly I wanted to challenge myself to try something new. Making money with affiliate marketing was always very easy for me but I wanted to do something of more value and longevity instead of chasing the quickest dollar. I started Sidago Integrated Solutions and XCell Fund around the same time and focused on those.

 Tell me about Sidago. What exactly is it? And what is your role there?

Sidago Integrated Solutions is a managed outsourcing service provider that helps businesses of all sizes take their company to the next level. We consult with individuals and help them leverage our internal workforce so they can enjoy cost savings while increasing efficiency. For any businesses not leveraging offshoring in this day and age, get in contact with me immediately and I will help your business get the competitive advantage it needs.

Do you have any hobbies offline?

Absolutely! I listen to rap music religiously, I play retro RPG’s, I collect vintage video games, and I have a massive shoe collection that my fiancé made me stop adding to because we didn’t have any room in the house.

Oh my gosh, I so need a photo of your shoe collection! Thanks for the interview Ryan!

The post Interview With Ryan Eagle, Founder of Sidago Integrated Solutions appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

People ask me all of the time what it takes to be a blogger. If you can write, you can blog! Here’s everything you need to know to get your own blog up and running in no time.

Pick a niche

What are you knowledgeable and passionate about? You’ll want to write about something you know a considerable amount about, be it a hobby, a place, a species, a genre or even a disease. The possibilities are endless. And so what if there are several other bloggers in your niche; every voice is unique.

Get a domain name

Do not, and I repeat, do NOT use a free service, like Blogspot or Weeby, to avoid getting your own domain name. You do not own the content when using someone else’s platform. And domain names are cheap for new registrations:

• 1&1 – as low as 99¢ per year
• GoDaddy – 99¢ special offer (I buy most of my domains here)
• Google Domains – I was a Beta tester, but this now open to the public.

Now you need the actual blog!

This is usually the hardest part for everyone with no technical background. It would take me hours to explain how to set up hosting, install WordPress, then add themes, plug-ins, etc. And once you have a blog, you have to do regular maintenance and updates. I had originally wrote how to set up a blog on GoDaddy, but that was before I met Dave Vogelpohl while in New York City for Affiliate Summit last month. Dave is the Vice President of Web Strategy for WP Engine, and I had him explain exactly what WP Engine does and is. He sold me* on using them for blogging!

You can set up a personal blog for only $29 per month on WP Engine. That plan includes:

• 24/7 support – Their customer service will solve any problem you have day or night.
• Easy to use – The interface is basically walks you through everything.
• Dedicated WordPress Hosting – This makes your site load super fast for visitors.
• Automatic backups, updates and maintenance – This alone is worth more than gold. I personally pay way more than this per month for someone to do this to just a few of my sites. I’ve lost whole websites before because a plug-in wasn’t updated, and I didn’t have a backup, talk about frustrating!

If you already have a site hosted elsewhere, they will even help you move your content over (another valuable option).

Plus right now through the end of the month, WPEngine.com is offering 20% off your first month when you apply the code: FASTSITE at checkout! Sign up here!

Now start writing

You need to build up your content before bombarding your visitors with any ads. Your visitors will find you more trustworthy if you don’t try selling to them right away. Leave your blog URL in the comments or contact me, so I can check it out, share and even offer suggestions. And be sure to sign up for my free newsletter to learn different ways to monetize (aka make money) your blog.

*I currently have about 100 websites located on three different hosting platforms. I have no doubt that I would save a ton of time and money if I transferred all of my websites to WP Engine. What am I waiting for? I need to end this post and go….

The post So You Want To Be A Blogger? Here’s How To Get Started Blogging. appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

Mystery Shopping is not a get rich quick opportunity, but it’s a great way to earn some extra cash for doing things you already do while out shopping, going out to eat and/or running errands.

I personally only sign up for mystery shopping jobs that will benefit me and that aren’t out of my way. My favorites are getting free oil changes and free food (i.e. ice cream, cinnamon rolls, candy bars, etc), all from name brand retailers. If I lived in or closer to a metropolitan city, I would probably be able to do a shop every time I was out and about!  The jobs themselves may not pay much, but getting reimbursed for my purchases is a great way to save money!

These are the two companies that I am personally signed up with to do mystery shopping:

• Bestmark – Use my Shopper ID: NE6563 for priority acceptance! Or if you need my email address, it’s kim@shoppingbookmarks.com – they send out a weekly email with available shops for restaurants, retail stores, casinos, hotels, auto service and auto services available in your area.
• Intelli-Shop – I’ve been with this company since 2002 (almost 15 years)!  They use SassieShop as their software system, and you’ll find that a lot of other companies use this same software, so you won’t have to learn to navigate several other platforms.

There are over 175 more mystery shopping companies out there! Check out Elite Mystery Shopper for more info. I normally wouldn’t recommend that someone pay some place to get a “job”, but this is a great resource. You are not only paying for their time to compile the list over 175 companies that hire mystery shoppers (it took me over an hour just write this blog post about two of them), but they also offer tips, benefits and bonuses, therefore I believe this lifetime member access is definitely worth the $29.95.

Or if you prefer a hands-on experience, take a Mystery Shopper Course on Udemy for only $21 (with a 30 day money back guarantee) where you can learn the secrets of mystery shopping from a professional with over 14 years in the industry. Discover who is all hiring, what the companies expect, how you can write great evaluations, how to do tax reporting, how to avoid common scams and more.

What is your favorite Mystery Shopping Company to work for?

The post How To Make Money Mystery Shopping appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

I have helped several merchants launch affiliate programs on the eBay Enterprise Affiliate Network (formerly known as Pepperjam), and the hardest part is always getting the tracking installed. Ebay provides Advanced Integration Instructions, but their instructions are usually too complicated for even the merchant’s webmaster.

I wish Ebay would take some notes from ShareASale*. The first note being that there you can pick your merchant shopping cart platform from a drop-down menu and see the exact HTML code needed and where to install it. You only need to change your PID, copy/paste and voila, you’re done!

I’ve been compiling a list of Ebay tracking HTML snippets for various shopping carts for my own reference. But since I’m always googling for new carts, I figured I’d share what I’ve discovered so far to help save others some of the headaches that I (and my clients) have endured. I will update as I find more (or please share if I’m missing some you know about).

All Tracking Instructions will need to have the Ebay Enterprise Program ID (PID) inserted (found at the top of the page when signed in under the Program Name). All tracking codes below must have the XXX replaced with actual PID.

BigCommerce Instructions for Ebay Enterprise

<iframe src=”https://t.pepperjamnetwork.com/track?INT=DYNAMIC&PROGRAM_ID=XXX&ORDER_ID=%%ORDER_ID%%&ITEM_ID1=1&ITEM_PRICE1=%%ORDER_SUBTOTAL_DISCOUNTED%%&QUANTITY1=1″ width=”1″ height=”1″ frameborder=”0″></iframe>

Magento Instructions for Ebay Enterprise

• eBay Enterprise Affiliate Extension – Magento offers a free extension to add the tracking code.

Shopify Instructions for Ebay Enterprise

Under Settings > Checkout Add the script in the Additional content and scripts box:

<iframe src=”https://t.pepperjamnetwork.com/track?PID=000&INT=ITEMIZED{% assign sub_total = 0 %}{% for line_item in line_items %}{% assign sub_total = line_item.line_price | plus: sub_total %}{% endfor %}{% assign sub_total = sub_total | append: ‘.00’ %}{% for line_item in line_items %}&ITEM{{ forloop.index }}={{ line_item.sku }}&TOTALAMOUNT{{forloop.index}}={% if order.discounts_amount > 0 %}{% assign discount = order.discounts_amount | divided_by: sub_total %}{% assign discount_percentage = 1 | minus: discount %}{% assign afterDiscountPrice = line_item.line_price | times: discount_percentage %}{{ afterDiscountPrice | money_without_currency }}{% else %}{{ line_item.line_price | money_without_currency }}{% endif %}&QTY{{ forloop.index }}={{ line_item.quantity }}{% endfor %}&OID={{ order_number }}” width=”1″ height=”1″ frameborder=”0″></iframe>

Woocommerce Instructions for Ebay Enterprise

• WC eBay Enterprise Affiliates WordPress Plug-In –  Please note this only works with the Advanced Integration and not the Basic Integration (lesson learned the hard way).

*ShareASale is not only way easier to set up a new merchant on (you don’t have to get an IO drew up and signed back and forth first), but it is also less expensive, costing 20% of commission paid out to affiliates versus the 30% that Ebay takes. So, if you can’t find the shopping cart instructions you are looking for Ebay, maybe consider using ShareASale?!

The post Ebay Enterprise Affiliate Network Integration Instructions For Various Shopping Carts appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

If a customer walks into your store, you have a series of strategies for helping them towards a sale. You welcome them, guide them towards the product they’re looking for, answer their questions about the product, and make yourself available if they need further help. In many cases, this personalized approach can help a potential customer commit to a sale they were previously on the fence about.

Even if you lack a storefront or do most of your business online, you can follow similar strategies to help potential customers find the products they want and commit to sales. Read our blog below for tips on using your online presence to draw potential customers to your site, then helping them make purchases once they arrive.

Give a Good First Impression

When customers first arrive at your site, they quickly decide if they want to shop around or navigate away, usually to your competitors’ websites. Most potential customers make these decisions in a manner of minutes, if not seconds. Your website matters even if you do most of your business in-person—most customers will look you up online before they decide whether or not to visit your brick-and-mortar store.

When customers first visit your website, you need to present them with an easy-to-navigate, engaging website that brands your company and shows customers how you can help. On your home page, you should set your company apart, show customers exactly how to find the products they need, and help them connect with you through social media widgets and news feeds.

Connect with Customers through Instant Messaging

When your customers come through your door, you or your employees greet them immediately. You can do the same thing online with enterprise instant messaging. When you welcome your customers and help them browse your site, you can guide them towards a sale or the information they’re looking for.

Most importantly, your instant messaging system helps you deliver better customer service. When your customers ask you real-time questions and get immediate answers, they’ll feel more satisfied with your service overall.

Use Data to Understand Your Audience

Your website makes it easy to gather information about who visits your site and why. Data-gathering tools, site surveys, and customer feedback can give you instant information about your potential customers. With these tactics, you can better understand if your marketing reaches the right audience, or if you need to change your marketing strategy to appeal to a different niche.

Your online presence doesn’t have to hold you back. Instead, follow the three steps above to make the most of your online presence. With a little help, your website can become a major asset as you transform potential customers into loyal clients.

The post Using Your Online Presence To Connect With Potential Customers appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

Working from home is quickly becoming the norm. Whether you are self-employed or working for someone else, designate a spot to be used solely for work. Several aspects should be considered when designing a comfortable and professional home office where you can efficiently and effectively work.

• Space

A spare room that can be converted into an office is the best option. If all the rooms are currently being used for other purposes, a corner or part of another room will suffice. If you use this option, select a room with minimum traffic and noise during the times you work. Let your family know your work hours and get their cooperation in respecting space and time designated for productivity.

• Style

Decorate your office with furniture and colors that define who you are. This creates a comfortable ambiance that gets you in the mood for working. Being comfortable and motivated in your home office will help you get down to the business of work quickly.

• Seating

You probably will be sitting at your desk often, so it is important to have a comfortable desk chair that is designed for the work you do. Select one that has comfort and flexibility, like chairs you can find at Shoplet.com. Leather padding and arm rests are nice extras to consider. It’s important to have proper back support if you will be sitting at your desk all day.

• Lighting

Adequate lighting is a necessity that helps prevent eye strain. It can also add to the atmosphere you are working to create. If possible choose a location that gets some natural sunlight. Decide whether a desk lamp, floor lamp, wall fixture, or a combination of these will best meet your lighting needs.

• Plants

Plants, especially live ones, can enhance the atmosphere in your office. They provide needed oxygen. Some plants, such as weeping figs and peace lilies clean the air as an added benefit.

• Organization

A disorganized office reduces productivity and morale. As you select furniture and decide on its placement, keep organization in mind. Choose an office desk with adequate working space and room to store frequently used items. Wall shelves, bookcases, and file cabinets can also enhance your decor and provide functional storage and organizing space.

As you consider the many options for decorating your home office, remember to make all aspects of your work space functional, organized, comfortable, and professional. You can accomplish this using a combination of space, light and furniture in your personal style. This will provide a working environment that lets you turn out quality work in record time.

The post How Can You Make Your Home Office Comfortable And Professional? appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

These days it is important for any serious business owner to have a strong online presence to really make their enterprise stand out above the rest. Many business operators and owners have to focus their attention on all the other details of running their day-to-day operations. They do not have the time or the inclination to educate themselves about the various complex aspects of building an online marketing campaign. This is why this is a job best suited for companies that specialize in the details of this technical industry.

A Functional Website Is Your First Tool to Success

Before embarking on any digital advertising campaign, you will want to be sure that your business website has been modernized to meet the demands of your site visitors. In recent years, more people have started relying on their Smartphones and other Internet-connected mobile devices to help them make buying decisions on the fly. If you do not have a website that renders correctly on these devices, you are missing out on sales and business opportunities. Professionals at companies like Meredith Broadcast Digital Solutions can help you deploy a web development strategy that is responsive on all screen resolutions, so you never have to let a website visitor down again.

Optimize for Conversions and Sales

Once you have a brilliant looking website that formats correctly on all screens, you need to make sure that you have everything in place to turn your website visitors into qualified leads, prospects and sales. This takes a little bit of art, a little bit of science and a lot of know-how.

When you run paid online advertising campaigns for your website, every detail matters. For best results, you should have components like an Email capture system and a Whitelisted Email sending program in place to collect information and Email addresses of your visitors. It is worth noting that every customer is going to buy on their first visit, so by using Email follow-ups, you can contact these visitors to entice them to come back to take advantage of promotions or special offers. When this is done consistently, you will have a large and responsive mailing list which can be very profitable.

Convey Your Message with Effective Advertising

Effective advertising done in conjunction with a responsive website is one of the best ways to raise awareness about your products and services. When you have solutions consumers want, you will see your sales consistently increase.

The post Building Your Online Presence: How To Effectively Advertise Your Business Online appeared first on Work In My Pajamas.

I believe I got my first paycheck from ClickBank back in the year 2000 – that was 15 years ago! Time flies when you’re having fun with affiliate marketing! That also shows that not only have I been in the affiliate marketing industry for a long time, but so has ClickBank. I’ve seen many networks come and go over the years, so when you see one that’s been around for that long, you can trust them that you’ll get paid. ClickBank pays out every two weeks, unless you do huge volumes, then you can get paid weekly via direct deposit.

I picked up one of ClickBank’s World Tour 2015 t-shirts at the Affiliate Summit East exhibit hall in New York City last month. Their tour cities are listed on the back of the shirt. I wish I could travel along for the tour, as many of those cities/countries are on my bucket list!

ClickBank has over 10,000 digital products for affiliate to promote. Digital allows the consumer to get their purchases right away, and affiliates don’t have to wait for products to ship to get commissions.

Here is a list of the products sold through ClickBank that I currently recommend (and yes, they are my affiliate links).

• Rosalind Gardner’s Super Affiliate Handbook – I have personally read Rosalind’s book and recommend it on my Affiliate Marketing 101 page for newbies to affiliate marketing. I even learned some things as a veteran affiliate marketer. I’ve met Rosalind in person, and she is the real deal and genuinely great gal! Rosalind even has a blogging course available, Affiliate Blogger Pro, that teaches affiliate marketing and blogging in a fun and easy way.
• Elite Mystery Shopper – I would never recommend that someone pay a place to get a job, but this is a great resource that lists over 175 companies that hires mystery shoppers. Plus they offer tips, benefits and bonuses, so I believe this is worth the $29.95. In fact, this has inspired me to write a blog post about how I make extra money doing mystery shopping with just a couple of mystery shopping companies (stay tuned).
• Affilinker WordPress Plug-in – This plug-in for WordPress automatically converts keywords (of your choice) into your affiliate links throughout your blog to make money on old content that receives traffic. I found several other plug-ins available that intrigued me as well, so that may provoke yet another blog post (I wish there was more time in a day to write all of my blog post ideas)!

Thanks ClickBank for the free t-shirt!

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Many people make a decent living by owning small vending businesses. Whether your selling goods out of the back of a truck or have a push-cart that you maneuver through the park, marketing your business is still important if you want to increase your sales. Thanks to the Internet and mobile technology, promoting a business that is mobile in this regard is easier than ever before.

Facebook

Facebook is a valuable asset to have when you’re engaging the local consumers. Not only does this give you the means to announce where you are in real-time, but it can also help drive interest to your business. Thanks to affordable advertising on the social media giant, you can launch an ad campaign tailored to those in your area that you’re trying to attract.

Twitter

Twitter is another form of advertising that allows you to engage possible consumers in real-time. Perhaps you could even add images of your current location to spice up the posts. With a single message, you can provide interested parties with the information needed to find your business easily.

Website Information

Developing a web-presence online can help you more than you might think. Thanks to local parameters of search engines, your information could reach people nearby that are using their smartphones to look for a specific product you might provide. In today’s world, your online reputation is just as valuable as your real-life reputation.

Promotions

Things such as coupons and discounts can help drive a local crowd. Although you cut into your profits from the business each day, it generates awareness of your brand and business. The more people aware of what you provide, the better your local customer base will become. Word of mouth advertising can do wonders for a mobile vending business, especially if you offer something unique to the area.

Flyers

Flyers can be beneficial when you’re advertising where you business is going to be set up during special events. Many venues allow small businesses to hang up these flyers, which can be an incredibly affordable way to generate interest in your product or service.

Whether your operating out of a mall kiosk or you have a lucrative hot dog cart, advertising and promotional campaigns can benefit the business. It’s all about reaching out to the local community and making sure that everyone knows that your business is open. Never underestimate the value of a good advertising campaign; even if you’re business is highly mobile.

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