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

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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

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

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

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

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

analytics

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

your 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

staffing

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

budget

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

be confident

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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Got Three “Vs”? Try This Social Media Strategy Today

When it comes to marketing on social media platforms, some of you want to try to do it all. Well, more power to you, no disrespect. Not me. “I ain’t got that type of time”…

But, what I did do, in terms of throwing content on the social media wall to see what sticks, I found didn’t work for me…It did make me narrow my focus to a few of them. You know, the “Big Three”…Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, but hey, that’s just me.

You can do what you want to do. It’s your marketing techniques, tips, etc., but a little advice never hurt anyone.  At least, I hope not. …..

So, getting back to the real “Meat & Potatoes” of this blog post before I digress.  There’s an overwhelming amount of social media options out there. Pick out your top 2 or 3 favorites and go for it.

At the end of the day, If you truly want success by sticking your big toe in the murky waters of social media marketing it eventually boils down to the three Vs: value, values, and voice.

Yeah, I can see you with a perplexed expression on your face, like “JL, “WTH” are you talking about! LOL….Cool, I’ll see if I can break this down like fractions for you…

Value

I’m going to assume that you know what value means…not trying to be funny, it’s all about getting the message. See, this stuff is important. Social media, as you may know, has got to be bigger than one single person, company, or organization. Now, you can write about yourself, post a bunch of selfies, and focus on yourself, company, or organization…it’s all good.

This effort may keep search engines happy as hell, but the readers are going to look at you as a boring P-O-S….

Just keeping things real here.

Try to deliver great value to the reader. You see, it’s not all about you. Think of how to improve their lives (not by simply selling a product or some service, but by talking about it in a way that it has an impact. A big one).

Do you want your readers to “Stay and Play?” I feel you. Just remember that your content doesn’t have to be profound. But it must have a reason, understand?

I hope so.

Values

Have any principles that you think are important? Well, this is exactly what values mean…. There are a lot of companies and organizations, because of their industry, make the big mistake in believing that using social media must be formal and bland…. no seasonings, a diet version of its formal self.

Wrong….

We’ve all been around the block or two. Yeah, I get the compliance and  regulatory piece on issues and concerns, but these two things shouldn’t dictate that social media marketing must be boring as “Hell.”

As a retired military veteran, I enjoy writing about entrepreneurship principles and strategies, and share some links to other articles to show how other veterans are stepping out on faith and building non-traditional fortunes.

If you’re affiliated with a company selling attraction marketing products, well you can use social media platforms to offer awesome content by sharing you or your company values and experiences about not having to chase friends and family to try to get your prospects into your business opportunity, and how to experience rejection-free outcomes.

Hit the huge issues first, then talk about you and your organization second.

Voice

This last “V” is a beast. It’s serious. It’s about being real when you write or post. Honestly, no one wants to hear that “Take Me To Your Leader” Martian-like voice on paper…so, work this part out. Figure out what your true voice is and write the way you talk.

If you, your company, or organization is in the pharmaceutical industry, well the authentic voice may be more professional and compassionate and geared more toward making readers feel confident in potentially using one of your products or medications to eliminate an illness or condition.

The President of the company may come off as a bit more opinionated, especially on social media. But for you, well you must have a conversation with your readers on issues you care about, and that voice of yours will ring through loud and clear as a bell.

This, my friend, is how you create connections…..through the use of an authentic voice.

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
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)

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Is Your Sales Letter Strong Enough?

Can you avoid not having a sales letter? Well, the simple answer is “Yes, you can”….if you like being broke, that is.  But, If you really want to take your online marketing business to the next level, you’ll need a sales letter.

A strong one.

You have one page to attract a customer; you’ll lose the opportunity if your sole emphasis is on your business. Remember, your customer’s main concern is fulfilling his or her needs and desires, not increasing the balance in your bank account.

Booyah!

Hey, if you suck at writing sales letter, not to worry, just hire someone to do it for you. You can find some pretty decent writers who are great at creating copy on a few freelance websites like http://rentcoder.com or http://elance.com.

If you’ve read a few sales letters that made you want to buy its product or services why not grab some of the verbiage from those particular sales letters and study the crap out of them to learn how the writer used tone, style, pacing, and unique formats to suck you into the overall sales zone?

Here’s a few tips to make sure your sales letter has all the components that line up with a solid copy writing format:

  • A killer headline
  • Focus on benefits over features
  • Great graphics
  • Focus on the “all-important customer”
  • Bonuses with estimated value displayed
  • Powerful closing offer and guarantee

Check out this great resource that I’ve use and still do to get better at creating copy.  Click here to learn more.

Once you’ve finished your sales letter, please make sure you run it through spell-check.

Share it with your friends, relatives, business partners, etc. to review, edit, and provide honest feedback.

They’ll see a few things that you may have missed and tell you just how strong your letter is.

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)

If you enjoyed this post “Is Your Sales Letter Strong Enough?,” retweet and comment please!

Knowing The Value You Provide

Back again, folks, with another value-added blog post to make you think “Outside-the-Marketing-Box!” Thanks for stopping by to read what I have cooking for you. I truly appreciate it to the fullest.

If you like what you’ve read and found it of value, please “Like” and “Share.”

Now, getting into it, this latest post is all about ensuring that you know what value you bring to your target audience, as an online or offline marketer. That’s if you did the ground work to target your idea customer.

Not every marketer does this.

But, that’s another discussion….

So, seriously, do you really know what value you to your company provides to your target market? This is a critical piece of marketing knowledge that becomes an important part in the planning phase if you want to achieve real marketing success.

So, again, you really need to understand the overall value that you or your products, services, and company brings to the marketplace.

In fact, the value you provide is far more greater than the products or services you sell to your best customers. That’s right.  This is one of the biggest misconceptions in online and offline marketing, especially online marketing.

Most newbie marketers think that their target market buys their products or services like mindless zombies without rational thought applied. No…what that target market is really looking for is outcomes.

This is what they purchase.

Most marketers find it difficult understanding this piece of the marketing pie, as well as articulating it to the receiver. I say this because I don’t want this to happen to YOU, as a valued reader.

Listen, I don’t have all the answers, but I have learned the hard way while operating in both the online and offline network marketing space and I have made necessary marketing adjustments, in terms of my own personal approach.

I just want you to learn from some of my mistakes and Folks, I’ve made a lot of them in the past couple of years. But, now I’ve learned from my mistakes.

Check this out. Just imagine a well-known “Child Actor” who is angry for one reason or another. Lets place him in the “Before” state. Yes, this is the “Home Alone Kid”….well, he was…now, he looks like he just wants to be “Left Alone.”

Well..no matter what you’re selling, you are still trying to reach a target audience who are in the “Before” state of mind. Take another look at Macaulay Carson Culkin.

This suggestion was not meant to make you laugh, but did you? ….He does look a little more like “Kid Rock” at this stage of the game, you agree?

Let me provide some insight. No matter what you’re selling, you’re trying to attract a group of ideal customers who are in this so-called Before state.

To really get down into the “Weeds” why not write down some adjectives that actually describe your prospective customer before he or she, not the “Pic” above before he or she experienced the product or service.

What is his or her status? Depressed, Struggling, Sad, Out of shape, Bored, Broke?

OK…you can stop staring at the above actor’s photo. Hey, people change. Well, maybe not as drastic physically, but it happens.

You ready to leap forward? Well, as an online and offline marketer, how many of you have actually sat back and visualized your idea customer after they’ve experienced your product or service?

That’s “Real Talk?”

What’s his or her “After” state? Change is always good. But, how has this product or service changed your target audiences life? Is that same target audience happier? Healthier? More hyped? Saving more?

You see, the shift from the Before state to the After state is what your target audience is actually buying. This is the “Outcome!” Yes, this is the value that you’re business brings to the marketplace.

If you don’t know how to articulate this move from the Before state to the After state, you are missing the boat. This goes for all your distributors, etc, if you are in Network Marketing.

Indeed, this understanding of this transition from the Before to the After state is what allows you to create what is referred to as a Statement of Value. Listen, this statement is highly important because it truly sums up the overall value of your product or service. This is a critical step in your marketing game plan.

If, you aren’t just a hobbyist.

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 thinking about joining or starting an online business, please read this Free Report and watch these Videos first, Both will help

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Is Your Website Serving Its Purpose?

Hey, it’s a fair question, don’t you think? You didn’t post it on the web to take up space did you? Of course not. You want it to deliver a message.

Hopefully, a very strong one. A strategic website’s core purpose is to serve, support, and sell. Now, some of the goals that you are trying to achieve will vary by company or organization.

Some of these goals may include selling products, sharing information, filling out a lead-generation form, downloading technology, picking up the phone, building credibility and more.

Well, to make these things happen, effective websites comes in all types of shapes, sizes, designs, and most importantly, technologies.

Here’s an amazing fact…by the time you finish reading this post, there may be 600 million+ websites on the Web. This can become a very scary thought for most internet marketers.

It’s enough to make marketers wonder, among all that website noise, “how will their websites be able to effectively compete on the World Wide Web?

Let me answer this question for you…YOU must have clear marketing goals and a solid website plan.  At the end of the day, the only constant with website marketing is change.

Website work is a “Gift” that keeps on “Given!”

The work is never finished.  This might seem like a weakness, in fact, the flexible and fluid nature of websites is their greatest strength.

They become the scalable solution (if done correctly) that can expand and grow to support a company’s expansion or “Bottom-line.” Websites truly serve a company or organization’s goals when they serve the people using them first….Whether you are putting together a website from ground floor or optimizing an existing one, some of my future post will shade light on best practices.

Now, you wouldn’t build a house without having a blueprint on site. It’s the same philosophy and it must be applied to building a successful website.

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 Program will Help

If you enjoyed this post “Is Your Website Serving Its Purpose?,” retweet and comment please!