Simple Online Marketing Tips & Strategies

Instagram Power Icon Abigail Reveals Her 10 Key Steps to Success

Good people, thanks for stopping by to read what’s cooking in my blog post crockpot FOR 2020!

As always, please “Like” and “Share” if you find this post of value!

I got a social media superstar on tap, Instagram Phenom, Abigail Ratchford in the house to drop some “Gems” on how you can become successful online and establish a “Righteous” presence online like a total “Boss!”

Having a clear goal is the first step to success, and for Abigail Ratchford, that goal couldn’t have been clearer: She wanted to be famous…. well, you can’t get any clearer than that, right or wrong?

It’s reported that she has over 8.8 million Instagram followers, OMG…she’s achieved the famous goal and then some.

This female is a beast. She sells her own branded products on her Official Abigail Ratchford site and just recently launched her own app, which offers exclusive and bonus content.

That’s influence for your A$%^!

The social media megastar reveals her personal roadmap for turning her dream into millions of fans — and then turning that fan base into a mega global business.

Ready for her 10 biggest personal takeaways…

1. Take charge of your life and take a risk.

“This social media model lifestyle sort of started by accident. I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I’m a small town girl. I did a photo shoot with a local photographer and he put the pictures up on his Facebook page. Within a few days, the pictures got picked up by Sports Illustrated and other places. So I started to do more and I realized that I really loved doing it. After about a year of doing that, I realized that there wasn’t going to be many opportunities for me in Scranton, so in 2014 I moved to L.A. I developed a whole blueprint plan for myself. And now here I am.”

2. Good things don’t happen by accident. Plan, plan, plan!

“I wanted to be ready to go once I got to L.A. So I did research on all the best photographers, makeup people, hair people, PR companies, videographers — anything I could think of. And I had it all saved in one album marked ‘L.A.’ I lined up a bunch of photo shoots before I got there, I didn’t want to waste one minute once I got off the plane.”

3. Treat other people’s success as great lessons.

“I was building a following with my photos, and around the same time, Kate Upton went really went big with a viral video. I realized that I needed to not just think about photo shoots, but also come up with some fun, crazy video ideas that would go viral and get my name out there. And sure enough, once I went in that direction, I wound up on TMZ and some other sites and my following basically tripled in like two weeks.”

4. Be nice to people who support you.

“When that first video went viral, I reached out to TMZ to thank them for helping put me on the map. And I’ve kept a really good relationship with them ever since. I’ve become really good friends with a lot of the writers and editors and camera people over there. And these are real friendships, we figure out fun things to do together or just chat and catch up with each other. You don’t want to be some fame-hungry person where every time you call you’re looking for a favor. It is definitely important to build these good relationships and have a good reputation in the industry.”

5. Take time to recognize the big moments.

“The first time I was on TMZ was pretty surreal. But my most ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ momentwas last year when I shot for Kanye West’s Zine. I remember walking in for my fittings the first night, and Kanye was in the hallway on his cell phone. Hung up and he came up to me and introduced himself. Kanye West introduced himself to me. I was beyond starstruck.He was telling me how he liked my page and my videos and I just could not speak. I couldn’t believe Kanye West knew my Instagram page. That was super crazy.”

6. Show your audience love — and ignore the trolls!

“I’m always on Twitter replying to comments and interacting with my fans. It keeps my fans and I connected and helps build a bond. They are so supportive of what I do and I like to give that back. I just really ignore negative comments at all cost. It’s so hard to turn your cheek and ignore them, but it’s kind of a slap in the face to all the people who are saying really nice things if you only react to trolls. You just show that you’re more bothered by negativity than you are flattered by positivity, and that’s not a great message to send to your true fans.”

7. Always try the next new platform, filter or innovation.

“Even though my whole career has been built on social media, I’m just so clueless with new technology and my tendency is to stick to what I know. I used to do a lot of Instagram videos and when Snapchat came out, I was like, what is the point? But people told me how fun it was, so I tried it and just loved it. My presence grew on there pretty quickly, and now if a company wants me to post something on my Snapchat, that’s a new revenue stream for me. So it is worth trying new things!”

8. Learn the Instagram pay scale.

“Once you hit a million followers, you can start to a get $1,000 to $1,500 for a sponsored post. And it climbs from there: $2,000 at 2 million and so on, but there is kind of a capping point. There aren’t a lot of companies that will pay $7,500 for one post, for example. So my rate is $3,500 right now to keep it reasonable. But don’t get me wrong, $3,500 is still a lot of money!”

9. Don’t take just any customer.

“I do a lot of endorsements and I sell a lot of my own branded stuff, like these cool skateboard decks. But I have to like what I’m selling and legitimately think it is cool. I was approached by a tampon company for a post—that was a no. But the best was these things called Dude Wipes. They’re like feminine wipes for men. I was like, no way! You could not pay me enough to endorse Dude Wipes!”

10. Find smart and reliable partners.

“I have a merchandise company that I work directly with that sources products for me, runs my website and does the posters and calendars. I’ve worked with them for the last two years now. They front the costs and then after they recoup, it is a 70-30 split on profits. That’s how it works with us. Looking ahead, I definitely want to get more into beauty stuff. I’ve been hosting a lot of beauty and skin routines to grow my female audience and I hope I can come out with my own line or collaborate with a preexisting line. Girls spend more money than guys will, so that’s my next move.”

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

JL Wilks
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

Original Article – Entrepreneur

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Renewing Your Successful Spirit

Just got back from Las Vegas after a two-week business trip supporting an international client and I must admit, “It was gruelling and tough.”

But, that’s OK. I made it back in one piece and I’m glad you made it to this page. I appreciate it from the heart. I do ask if you find this info of value, please take time to “Like” and “Share” it!

Hey, I did, however, took the time while in Vegas to share my personal affiliate program with several local businesses and independent business owners geared toward helping them generate more leads and sales through the offering of key incentives without increasing their marketing budget.

Alright, let’s get into the subject of this blog post today, “Renewing Your Successful Spirit.”

But first, let me be clear about where I’m going with you on this particular topic. My focus is on your business mindset and what’s deep inside of “You” that keeps you fired up about taking it to the next level, you know what I mean?

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever taken the time to follow some of your business affiliates or leaders around that are absolutely “Killing the game in the business you find yourself associated with?!”

Did you notice the high-levels of energy, enthusiasm, and confidence in their delivery and, most importantly, the value they bring?

They seem to be always “On” when involved in growng their business. Indeed, they love what they do and find a lot of meaning from engaging in it, and totally focused on prospecting and presenting.

It’s called being “All-In.”

Kinda makes you wonder if these “Hype-Types” were naturally born with this level of optimism or they simply learned it over time.

Well, truth be told, most of these professionals started off with the same doubts and concerns you may have right now, but set themselves up toward moving to the next level by developing habits of renewing their successful spirit daily.

How?

They do it by adopting healthty thoughts, working with supportive people, ejecting negative people from their lives, and continue to embrace the ultimate zest from acheiving greatness.

You see if you are just curious and not serious, that mindset just doesn’t equate to being laser-focused on your purpose, but I know I’m just singing to the choir.

At least I hope so…

We all get busy. You may not have an hour or two daily to set aside time for personal development, so creativity is needed.

You can make it a habit to integrate some learning and motivation into your daily lives. These activities don’t have to take up a lot of your time.

- - Watch motivational videos on YouTube
  - Study the lives of inspirational mentors
  - Spend time contributing to a worth-while cause
  - Pray or meditate
  - Listen to CDs while driving or exercising
  - Learn something new each day

If you haven’t already, why not commit today to incorporate one or two of these renewal habits into your daily routine? Top business professional finds ways to make themselve and others feel like “Rock stars” about life.

You must keep dreaming, aspiring, learning, and inspiring those around you. Good leaders don’t zap all the energy from you, they empower and energize his or her base.

They are attractive people who automatically attract others because they are continually renewing their successful spirit.

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared it on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Video will Help

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An Entrepreneur’s Primary Motivation: Freedom

Is the title true? Before you put on your thinking caps, I just want to say, “Thanks” for stopping by to read my post. like always, If you find this post of value please “Like” and “Share” it with your fellow business builders.

I’d really appreciate it.

So, let’s continue. Here’s my thoughts on title above. I’m not always right but I certainly try to keep it as real as possible. Check this out. Most entrepreneurs like building businesses into either small or large enterprises. Not just that, some want to expand into having branch offices and storefronts.

They want buildings named after them, like Trump Tower. Yes, I said it. He was a businessman before President whether you like him or not. And trust me. He’s still building an empire while in office.

Don’t be fooled…

Getting back on track, traditional entrepreneurs want teams of employees to help execute their dreams and desires. You how that is. They want to create generational wealth to pass on to their kids and their kid’s kids.

Well, all the above sounds good. But, for, I ain’t interested in any of that. Well, sharing the wealth, yes. I can work that in to my goals.

But the thought of managing staff, meeting payrolls, and dealing with high A$$^& overhead are just headaches I don’t want to deal with.

Nope…

Heck, if I had to do all the above, I doubt seriously that I’d be financially independent today.

Real talk.

See, all the above cost money and a boat load of time. I know about time. I served my country for over 26 years in the military and made huge sacrifices.

But, I’m also working toward time freedom right now. Hopefully, you are too. Let’s be real…one of the greatest incentives, as a low-speed entrepreneur, is not about the money. It’s freedom, personal freedom.

The ability to come and go as you please. Do what you feel.

Are you tired of the rat race? What about those long commutes, the bureaucracy, terrible bosses who don’t listen to your ideals, and having absolutely no time for your peeps at home, crazy right?

These are some of the reasons why a lot of traditional employees seek out home-based businesses even if it means a drastic cut in pay. It’s that freedom, baby. Yes, they find it a worthwhile trade-off, you know what I mean?

And by the way, a lot of traditional “Brick and Mortar” business builders have gotten rid of office and staff to move their businesses back home for the same reason.

Are you interested in doing the same? Check out one of my income streams and see if it’s a good fit for you by clicking on the banner below right now!

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared it on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Video will Help

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My Biz Opp Is Better Than Yours…WTF?

Ahhh Hell…here we go again. Before I start ranting, I want to say, “Thank You” for stopping by to read another one of my post.

Please “Like” and “Share” if you find it of value. As always, I appreciate your efforts, for sure!

So, what’s this post all about?

Well, you should already know by reading the title….

Some of you may feel like your biz opp is better than someone else’s biz opp.

Do you?

I must be real with you, not sure where you got that %^&* from, but it’s $%^&. It seems to me that you may have sipped some of the Marketing Guru’s Koolaid and now in a F$%^&* trance…

Hopefully, this is not the case..

Could be wrong, but I doubt it…

Listen, I’ve been there…It’s bad being in a noncognizant state of mind whereby you are so mesmerized with your biz opp, products, and services that you become incapable of using the common sense that the “Creator” has blessed you with.

Ready for it?…..your products and services ain’t special….You are. Yep. “You Inc.”

Snap out of that product and services sh$%^…please. The success of any business that you join is based on your individual efforts and the value that you skillfully deliver in being a vehicle for what the product or service solves…the problem and and not the company itself, if you will.

How many people have you seen online, to include Facebook and other social media platforms marketing their company and its products while they, themselves, step back in the d%^& shadows as though they are invisible?

What in the H&* is wrong with this picture? People want you upfront, a person of value and the example, not your company’s products or services.

I’ve seen so many would-be marketers on the net exposing their affiliate links that can be hacked without properly cloaking them, slinging links at people they don’t know without properly establishing relationships, trolling the net with the dreaded response, “Hello” or “Hi.”

If you get the “Hello” or “Hi” and you don’t know them, get ready to be “Pitched.” They think their biz opp is better than your or they don’t give a F&*(). Of course the sneek in the subtle “Friend Request” on you and you accept.

I’m guilty as well.

It’s called “spitting in the wind.” And guess what? My face is soaked! I’m sure some of you have wet faces too…

Hopefully, your mouths were closed….

Honestly, it’s not their fault. People like this have not been properly schooled in the arts of marketing, they run a muck with a product or service superiority complex looking like a d*&^% fool on the net and their team members who may have a better grasp on marketing skills turned a blind eye and allow their craziness to continue.

A commission by any means necessary…bye-bye support, Hell, I just got pa-zaid!

Products and services are what they are. “Products & Services.” If you can’t properly articulate or relay what problem these products and services solve or if you don’t understand who your target market is but Hell-bent on using a “Shot-gun” marketing approach, it’s only a matter of time when you find yourself quitting this biz opp that you thought was better than everyone else’ and potentially jumping on the next “Shiny Object” biz opp and remaining broke as a joke.

Education is the key. I had to learn the hard way, but learn I did. Click here to discover what turned my thought-process around.

Stop acting like a fool online. Build a business and adopt some professionalism. Your biz opp is better than mine? “Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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Are You Playing “Doctor” Growing Your Business?

“I’m not thinking, I’m just acting. It’s almost an animalistic instinct, I just do what I need to do.”
Skt-Faker

Don’t act like the topic above doesn’t apply to you…It does. We’ve all been there… We all have played “Doctor”at least once…trying to grow a business..LOL!

Yep.. I started with Pre-Paid Legal here in Maryland in the 90’s. Recruited 100 Account Managers in 30 Days and earning over $130+ per sign-up while serving in the military full-time.

Guest what? That %^&* was hard as *()_!

I was playing “Marketing” Doctor on a fly.

Remember when you initially decided to jump into a business that you were probably talked into doing by a friend or relative that promised stupid wealth that took place outside of your secure 9-5 gig….

Yes, we’ve all been there…we were “lost in the sauce” with this one, especially when we obviously lacked the required marketing skills to press forward effectively.

Well, for me, that lack of experience directly contributed to ramsacking my finances and putting me in the hole, jumping from one business opportunity to the next way back then.

They call it chasing the “Shiny Object” syndrome.. back in the day. You know, when you ran to one biz opp to another.

I see people still doing that $%^&*.

I was guilty of doing it too.

Lets be real. Some of you who are attempting to build a business right now don’t even have business cards, professsional emails, or a phone number that forwards to your real number (hidden) to reduce the number of crazy people that just want to terrorize you on the phone rather than purchase your product or services.

So, again, are you just playing “Doctor” with marketing right now? Are you on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and not educating yourself on how to do this marketing thing the right way?

Are you dependent on a sponsor to hold your hand verses you learning the business plan and making it on your on?

Well, what I’ve learned is that it comes a time to start working toward getting your Marketing License to effectively market online to your target audience.

Just to be clear about a license…

I’m referring to upping your education. Your marketing education. This is why 97+% of online marketers fail in their efforts to grow a business. But honestly, there is no such thing as failure…merely, feedback, if you will.

Business building is a “Contact Sport!” You need to build relationships and get some marketing materials for your on & offline marketing efforts or people won’t take you serious…

Learn as much as possible if this is a true passion of yours.

I don’t have all the answers for you. But, I learned and became a Super Affiliate with Mike Dillard, Founder of Magnetic Sponsoring and was part of My Lead System Pro at the inception. Because of my affiliation with these two marketing giants, I have made $1,000’s monthly and continue to earn online and offline while approaching my target market. I’m not into the “Shotgun” marketing approach and hopefully, you aren’t either.

Ready to change your lack-luster approach to on and off-line marketing?

–>> Click here for more information

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie L. Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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Generate Traffic With Viral Reports

If you’re a home-based business owner selling products and services online and maybe building a team of distributors, if your business model is network modeling, you could find yourself in the “Hurt locker” results-wise.

Let me explain…

At the end of the day, if all you have to offer your customers or prospects is your product or services, oftentimes you won’t get the results that you are looking for. Let’s not kid ourselves, you, me, and the marketing “Fence-post” wants more leads and more sales.

You see, your customers are looking for value and “Guess what?” …You should be the one offering it up to them!

Are you one of those home-based business owners that bust your assets branding your products, services, and the company your affiliated with? Most do…but who you should be branding is YOU. Yep, “You Inc.”

One way to start building your brand is to offer free information in your niche market that provides a high-level of value to your target market in the form of a report.

It makes you “Stick out” from the competition. You see, reports are great traffic tactics that you can use to generate a flood of traffic to your website and also start branding you as a “Thought-leader” in your industry.

It’s also an exceptional way to build your list. These free reports are designed to be passed on from person to person within the online community.

A few of the reasons why these reports (or even a piece of software or multimedia) becomes viral is oftentimes based on three key elements, in my experience:

Quality content
The price is nice: It’s FREE
The profit motive: distributors make money via re-branding

If you take a closer look at each element, you’ll find that putting these traffic jewels out on the web is not that difficult at all. One of the first things you’ll need to do is create a report filled with high-quality content.

It doesn’t matter if you write it yourself or outsource it, your focus should be on giving folks the kind of content they’d normally have to go into their wallet or purse to pay for.

All you’re doing is providing market relevant information as a information provider. Like I said earlier, you can write the report yourself or hire a free lancer to do it for you.

The topic of your report should be relevant to the product or site that your promoting. At this stage you are simple preselling to your niche market by educating them, motivating them, and raising their interest.

So check this out, imagine that you’re creating a report for one of the affiliate programs you’re involved in, and the product is a $47 piece of software that automates reply’s to Facebook notifications and post in the Facebook Live Feed. Well, a relevant report might cover the following areas:

- Uncover the most common monster mistakes people make when marketing on Facebook!
- Find out the most shocking reasons people fail to get significant traffic from Facebook, and how you can avoid the same fate!
- Discover the top tricks for making the most out of your marketing efforts on Facebook!
- Learn what Facebook visitors really want. (Once you get this right, your success will improve immediately!)

And much more – all within this special FREE report!

I’m sure by now, you get the idea. Just deliver on the information people are really looking for, make them hungry for more of your content – that’s more of it for you.

All day long!

Free, Free, Free…That’s right, viral reports are always free. This is your offering. If you want to get rid of any potential barriers, give away something for free. People love freebies just as much as a “cat burglar” loves stealing.

Keeping your reports free helps to build up your image.

You can’t chase the almighty “dollar” at every turn. This effort has to be demonstrated. You have to show the customer value. Keep doing that and you’ll get paid when it’s time to collect on the product you have for sale.

Lastly, profit motivation, the last element that I mentioned, and the most important. Stay tuned for my next blog release when I get into the true meaning of profit motivation when it comes down to viral reports. You don’t want to miss it!!!

If you want to see how my team and I are growing our businesses and helping business owners online 10x their market growth, increase sales, and generate more leads click on the “EyeBall” below for more details!

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie L. Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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Website Traffic – The Real Conversation…

“You must identify the specific segment of your market that will be most interested in your offer, then generate traffic by advertising to that segment of the market.”
Ewen Chia

Once again, my friends, thanks for taking the time to drop by to “Smell what “JW” is cooking in terms of a new blog post for 2019!

Well, this post is all about traffic, you know…driving traffic to your website, lead generation, if you will.

As always, if you like what you’ve read, please take time to “Like” and “Share.”

I’d really appreciate it!

So, with that being said, lets get this party cracking…

Most of you already know about driving traffic to websites, especially your own if you are online making “profit moves” like most of us, with a focus on placing value at the top of the list when doing so=)

This efforts is no different than attracting traffic into a traditional brick & mortar operation. If no one takes the time to visit or shops in your store, well my friend, you go out of business.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into the last thought..It’s important to note that every potential prospect who does visit your site has an agenda.

Yep….they do. Most of your website visitors who take time to peep your site out already knows what they want. This crop of prospects may purchase or register for your product or offer immediately.

You then have a certain percentage of prospects who may need more time and a bit of “nudging” to make the decision to take action. You’ll have to ultimately go into sales associate mode to assist them. You know how it is….

Finally, you’ll have those prospects who simply walk out the door or turn away from your website once they’ve realized that they are simply in the wrong place.

Don’t take it personal…the most successful of us all have experienced…not the end of the world…Yea, right…

Listen, real talk…you can’t control your prospects’ who visit your site agendas, but you can control the number of prospects or visitors coming to your website who are wide-open to your overall efforts at covering them into potential customers.

Just keep in mind that you are dealing with prospects and potential customers like stated earlier. Every prospect or customer visiting your site, as an Internet Marketer, you need to be aware that they may take action, and they may not.

But here’s some good news… You can boost your sales by generating targeted traffic so that you decrease the amount of “Tire-kickers” or wind-shoppers dropping in on your site, while increasing the amount of immediate customers or potential prospects..Indeed.

So, what’s targeted traffic? It’s a potential prospect or customer who can be identified as a valued member of your target market. See, in order to effectively generate and direct targeted website traffic from your market to your site, you must be able to locate a source of market specific traffic.

As much as you may like to, you “Can’t sell a steak to a vegetarian!”

You’ll need to know this key fact: There’s markets within markets and niches within niches. You must figure out the specific segment of your market that is interested in your offer or product, then generate traffic by advertising to that segment of the market.

This will require you that you conduct some market research but it’s not as difficult as you may think. There are a great deal of online “hideouts” that you must find. And find you will.

Here’s a targeted ad banner of mine. Can you guess who one of my target markets is for this particular exercise?

That’s right…myEcon Reps. One of the things I do is help businesses, like myEcon and business owners grow their market share, generate more leads and double sales. Every business needs more leads and more sales. Click here to find out how I do it!

Here’s a few things to keep in mind with targeted traffic:

Targeting is a must to convert visitors into quality customers
Targeted traffic is traffic coming from a targeted market space
Proper market research will reveal to you who to target and where

Was this post informative or helpful? Let me know what you think in the comments below. Feel free to share this with others!

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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15 Useful Things to Know to Start an Online Business with No Money In Alexandria, Virginia

Thanks for stopping by to check-out what I have in store for your marketing curiosity. “Like” and “Share” if you find it of value. Appreciate your support!

So, let’s get into it!

A lot of people would love to start an online business in Alexandria, Virginia. Unfortunately, not everyone has the capital to go as big as they’d like when setting it up in the “DMV.”

However, many people will start one with having little or no money. All it takes is determination, motivation and a willingness to learn as you go. Make it one of your resolutions.

This isn’t saying that business education is a waste of time. On the contrary, a good education could be worth the investment. However, not everyone has the funds to go back to school let alone start a business. And let’s be realistic, Alexandria, Virginia is not the cheapest area to take this on.

So, what should you know when you’re ready to step up and build a business from the ground up in Alexandria, Virginia without a dime to your name? Well, here are 15 things you might find useful about how to get into an online business when you’re broke. And being broke in Alexandria, Virginia. Let’s count them off…

1. Identify Your Target Market

In 2014, it was discovered that 42 percent of failed startups were from the result of a poor market for products and services. This didn’t mean that the ideas themselves were bad, but that the immediate market had no use for the business. For example, it would be difficult to sell air conditioning units to people living in Alaska.

From the perspective of an online business, this will be more centered around marketing. If you offer a specific service or product, you need to make sure the right people are getting those advertisements. This may take a bit of research as you need to identify who will be the most interested in what you offer.

Thanks to the various marketing tools available on the Internet, this process can be easier than you might think.

2. Social Media is Your Friend

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are excellent platforms for marketing. First of all, it costs nothing to create profiles specifically for your online business. You can start using these immediately to focus on engaging your target market.

Nearly 80 percent of people in the United States have a social media profile of some kind. Depending on the type of online services you offer, you have access to literally millions of potential buyers through these hubs.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll access all of these people instantly. It takes a bit of strategy and planning to get their attention when you post something new on your profile.

3. Know Your Skill Set

It doesn’t take much for anyone to identify a skill that can be offered online. Many freelancers make their living from providing services ranging from filing online documents to writing. If you have a marketable talent to offer, then you don’t need an investment for products.

In 2015, approximately one-third of the entire workforce in the US participated in freelance work of some kind. A large portion of this was due to online business operations. When you don’t need anything but your skills and an Internet connection, it’s possible to develop a degree of success.

The hardest part about offering yourself in such a manner is realizing the amount of competition you’ll face.

4. Crowdfunding May Be a Source of Finances

Crowdfunding is when you post your business idea on sites like Kickstarter or IndiGoGo and receive donations from others. These platforms have helped a lot of people get their projects off the ground. What makes these platforms ideal is that you don’t have to worry about paying back a loan.

Unfortunately, not all projects can reach their goals. For instance, only 28.7 percent of projects on Kickstarter actually reached their monetary amounts. Since most platforms like this will deny a payment if a goal isn’t reached, you can’t assume you’ll have success raising revenue.

On the upside, crowdfunding costs nothing to join and has potential to be a worthwhile venture depending on your idea.

5. Google Analytics Can Be Enlightening

Knowing how people visit your website can help you focus your ideas about the online business. One of the things that makes this tool one of the most used analytical applications on the Internet is the fact that it’s free to use.

If you’re investing in eCommerce, it can show you what products are hot. If you offer various freelance services, you can see what people are more interested in. It all comes down to the data collected by Google Analytics and what you do with that information.

Depending on how the site is set up, you can even identify specific demographics such as gender and location. This can be greatly beneficial when creating a marketing plan later for your Virginia customers.

6. Don’t Underestimate the Competition

Because it’s easy to get the ball rolling for an online business, you need to be aware of the competition. You’re not the only one trying to make a living off of the Internet without an extensive bankroll. In fact, this is often one of the top 10 reasons why many businesses fail according to many experts.

Starting an online company without money doesn’t guarantee failure. It doesn’t guarantee success, either. It’s worth your time to perform your own kind of reconnaissance to discover how the other guys are working. Don’t try to copy the competition, though. Do what you can to make your company better.

7. You Don’t Really Need Staff

While having an extra set of hands would be beneficial in some cases, it’s not a necessity. Don’t worry about trying to pay someone to perform a task that you can do yourself. If you don’t have any money to begin with, you can’t really pay this person, right?

Some owners believe they need to delegate and have a strong workforce in order to be successful. For a startup, it may be putting you on the hook for paying someone when the coffers are limited. Besides, there are many ways to outsource small tasks to other freelancers in the event you are dire for some help later on.

8. Start Small

You don’t have to step into the world of business with an extensive portfolio or a vast array of goods to sell. When you have no money, starting small gives you the chance to build up the company. Some owners started with just a few items to sell out of their basement and expanded into larger facilities.

Again, this centers around how well you market the brand and how much effort you put into the business. Even the smallest of online startups can attract a consumer base with the right ads or the perfect comment in social media. It’s all about building a reputation for excellent service.

Let the income of the business provide its own expansion.

9. Do You Really Need a Business Loan?

For a traditional startup, a business loan may be ideal to get the equipment and products needed for the company. However, not a lot of funding is required when operating an online organization. While you might need a few pieces of equipment to get started, it may take less money than you realize.

If you’re looking to start an eCommerce business and need money for inventory, be smart with it. Essentially, you can run the business out of a room in your house using an old laptop. Keep your expenses as low as possible and you won’t need a hefty loan that will loom over your head for the next several years.

You may be surprised with what you don’t need for the business just by using some of the things you have laying around your house.

10. You Don’t Need a Commercial Office

One of the best things about an online business is that it doesn’t necessarily require a physical location. You don’t have to worry about rent or overhead expenses such as utility bills. In fact, some online businesses can travel with you regardless of where you go.

The home-based business makes up approximately 52 percent of all small businesses in the United States. Should these individuals decide to move to a new part of the country, it’s possible the company can move with them without a hassle.

However, this will also depend on the type of online organization you develop. Something like an eCommerce store may take a bit of effort to move.

11. Don’t Be Afraid to Learn and Grow

If you’re new to starting a business, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a trouble-free experience. There is a great deal to learn ranging from customer service to marketing. A large portion of this education may wind up coming from trial and error. That shouldn’t stop you from learning how to adapt.

Learning is also about keeping your thumb on the pulse of your industry. Things you thought were ideal 10 years ago may be obsolete today. It will be in your best interest to keep up with trends and technologies. After all, it’s safe to assume that your competition is doing just that.

12. Understand the Usefulness of a Business Plan

A business plan is a document that is instrumental in securing loans from banks and investors. However, it can also be helpful to you as a way to visualize where you want your company to be in the future.

Even if you’re starting this venture without a dime to your name, developing this plan can be a great exercise to get you in the right frame of mind. Be realistic with your plan as it will help you keep focused on what you’re trying to accomplish.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate to be used as a positive focal point.

13. Don’t Quit Your Day Job

If you already have a job, you’ll want to keep it. As you’re going into setting up an online business with no money, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to keep your own bills paid. It could be months or even years before you get to a point where you can comfortably quit your regular job.

This shouldn’t dissuade you from trying, though. Some online ventures have been known to deliver quick results depending on the industry. Just make sure your own debts are covered before you cut ties to your current job.

Think of it more like a part-time job that has excellent opportunities for future advancement.

14. Maintain a Good Budget Plan

Once the money starts coming in, you need to set up a comprehensive budget plan. After all, putting money back into the business could increase your income. Focusing more on purchases that can further your business is ideal. Expanding inventory, adding services or even increasing advertising could all be beneficial.

You don’t want your success to become stagnant. You don’t have to set up an extensive research and development section of your online business, though. Put a few extra dollars into something that will boost your success.

According to statistics, approximately 75 percent of business owners stated how marketing was effective. This doesn’t mean you need to put in thousands of dollars in something like Google Adwords. However, it does show how setting up a good budget plan can help your online business grow by setting aside a few dollars for advertising.

15. Be Confident In Yourself

Having confidence plays a major role in just about anything you do. Without being confident in your abilities and decisions, it may be difficult to achieve success. Doubting yourself can influence your decisions.

Don’t think of negative situations as a failure. Instead, view them as a way to learn and grow. If you apply what you have learned today, it can make you a stronger person for tomorrow. It also doesn’t hurt to surround yourself with people who can support you when things look tense. What you may view as bad today may actually turn out to be a blessing later on if you keep a cool head.

Although there is nothing wrong with having a bit of cash to start an online business in Alexandria, it’s not an absolute requirement. Tenacity, exploration and diligence will be your greatest tools when trying to make a mark for yourself.

Keep in mind that more than 14 million people are self-employed in the United States, and not all of them had money to start. Find your own potential to help you discover financial freedom by owning your own business.

Was this post informative or helpful? Let me know what you think in the comments below. Feel free to share this with others!

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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No Such Thing As Web Traffic-Generating Secrets – Don’t Fall For The B.S.

Happy New Year and “Thanks” for stopping by to check out my latest blog post. I truly appreciate it.

If you find this information of value, please take time to “Like” and “Share!”

It’s 2019, and I want to take time today to touch on the subject of web traffic generation. That’s right, traffic generation… most polls reveal that this is one of the top challenges kicking the assets of the average online marketer.

I can understand that, but it’s not difficult to achieve and please don’t fall for the so-called “Gurus” stance who claim to have the secret formula to produce thousands of hungry and eager subscribers madly wanting to breakdown your door to opt-in to your squeeze or capture page.

It’s B.S., literally…

Don’t get me wrong. You must work to generate traffic and you must have a plan. But here’s the deal. The most important thing to realize is that traffic comes down to either time or money.

Correct?..

If you don’t have either one, you maybe in the wrong business. I’m simply keeping this discussion real. It requires work or dollars..

So, to be clear – you can generate traffic by paying for it, or you can generate traffic by putting in the time writing blog post, like this one or articles, submitting press releases, optimizing your web site for natural search-engine results, etc.

This approach is commonly referred to as being content-focused.

So, where does this info take us? Notice the absence of B.S.?

I hope you did…

All traffic generation methods fall into three tight categories of required action:

Buy the traffic
Attract the traffic
Take the traffic or steal it

You can buy traffic using Facebook ads, ezine advertising, classified advertising, twitter, or solo ads, etc. Attracting traffic is simply a matter of generating content.

As stated earlier, some of the methods used to do this include writing articles, submitting press releases, participating in forums and groups, and using viral reports and videos (Web 2.0).

Now, stealing traffic is not what it sounds like. What I mean here is simply leveraging the traffic that other site owners have generated. Some of you have posted comments on blogs considered high-traffic to get links back to your own site. We’ve all done this.

Well, for me guilty as charged.

You can also do joint ventures with other list owners to grab a share of the action from their subscribers. Heck, you can even offer up your own products and reports to other marketers to give away as bonuses on their big product launches.

You see, it’s all about finding creative, but ethical ways to capitalize on other folks resources. Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind on a very serious note. Most of all, you’ll want to focus on mastering one method at a time.

Yep. Pick just one of the tactics and get started on it today. Pay very close attention to the results. Secondly, pay close attention to your conversion rate. In other words, know how many folks (coming from a certain traffic source) become customers or subscribers?

Here’s the standard formula for figuring out your conversion rates.

X sales out of 100 visitors, or X actions taken per 100 visitors. For example, if you make five sales sales out of every 100 visitors to your site, then you are talking a 5% conversion rate.

So, five new subscribers to your list out of every 100 visitors means you’ve got a 5% percent opt-in rate going on.

On that note, the lion share of your efforts should be geared toward getting as many subscribers onto your opt-in list as possible. Subscribers will be your number-one source of repeat sales and traffic.

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook and Twitter

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarektingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

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Getting Linked To LinkedIn – The Door To Social Media Professionalism

I enjoy connecting with people on LinkedIn. As a Government Consultant and Online Marketer, this site has helped me boost my industry credibility and can do the same for you, especially if you’ve set-up your personal profile correctly.

If you need help setting-up your profile on LinkedIn for maximum exposure for online marketing purposes and/or putting your credentials out there to attract top recruiters looking to fill critical job vacancies click on the banner below.

You can also click here to connect and link-up with me.

I’d really appreciate it to the fullest!

Seriously, don’t play around with not using this powerful social media platform.

Over 85 million professionals worldwide hang out at this “social media water cooler” and you should be filling up your cup, as well.

This network opens the door to exchanging information, ideals, and some awesome opportunities. Where else in the social media space can you have your personal profile serves as a resume? There’s no better place to share your expertise and highlight your credentials.

Like I said, earlier, Recruiters are all over LinkedIn actively searching for qualified candidates to fill key positions. As a matter of fact, I was contacted and recruited by a major contractor on LinkedIn two years ago to serve as Senior Advisor, Royal Saudi Air Force, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Dhahran.

I worked in Saudi Arabia for two years returning in 2016 and now I work for another Government Agency and continue to enjoy online marketing and providing value in this space on a part-time basis.

But this post ain’t about me. It’s all about you and how you can take full advantage of the powerful options this site has to offer like creating groups.

Yep.

This social media site allows you to create groups, if you didn’t know it just like Facebook, but on a more professional and focused level.

You see in these groups, you can launch discussions with like-minded professionals or simply participate to gain visibility, make lasting contacts, and more.

Again, this course can help you. Click Here.

Now, if you want to grow your business presence online, well you’re in the right place. On LinkedIn, companies or organizational activities can post a profile so that anyone who may be doing research on them can see who they are, what they do, their services provided, and even who works for them.

Pretty cool, do you agree?

But don’t forget this…on LinkedIn you can multitask. That’s right. On this site you can link to websites, blogs, and get your “Tweet” on connecting to Twitter. You simply add them to your profile.

LinkedIn is no joke when it comes to getting the professional exposure you need if you are serious about business and professional growth. It’s one of the best platforms out there for online marketing bar none.

Did This Post Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared it on Facebook and Twitter.

Respectfully,

Jimmie Wilks, MBA
Managing Director, netMarketingToday.net
Skype: jimmie.wilks
Email: info@netmarketingtoday.net

PS: If you’re looking to generate more leads and sales check out this simple, yet powerful resource that is often overlooked, This Course will Help (and is on Sale)

If you enjoyed this post “Getting Linked To LinkedIn – The Door To Social Media Professionalism,” retweet and comment please!