Need Money for Your Business? Raise It Yourself!

About two weeks ago (beginning of September 2007), I found out about this ingenious way of raising money--for a business, project, or whatever you want. This plan is so simple, I wish I had thought of it first!

This plan came about when the owner of Bedzzz Inn Inc. grew tired of waiting for traditional business financing to come through to get the business "off the ground." So he and several others brainstormed and took matters into their own hands. They ended up raising over $92,000 in 90 days--totally online! Their step-by-step plan, Fundraiser 1.0, is now available to anyone who needs to raise money for a business or any worthy cause. http://shmyl.com/ecpmson

I have added Fundraiser to my "Foundation for Success" because I realize that a number of home-based or small businesses may not be eligible for traditional business financing, or may encounter the same frustrations Bedzzz Inn experienced, and seek an alternative way to fund their businesses.

Foundation for Success

In my previous entry, I shared the business opportunities that I'm involved with. In the following posts, I will be sharing in greater detail the "nuts & bolts" of laying a foundation for online success, and how to make money with the various opportunities and resources I recommend.

Take a look at the "Foundation for Success" overview. This is my simplified business plan. It consists of four basic things needed to make money online--1) a system to build and communicate with your downline; 2) various means to promote your business; 3) establishing your online presence (your own website); 4) and moneymaking opportunities. The first two steps have FREE signups with optional upgrades. Step three is free for seven days, after which you pay $10/month; and the opportunities in step four vary in price. As stated on the overview, the first three steps have optional residual income opportunities, which I would recommend you take advantage of if you are interested and when it's financially feasible.

Search Big Daddy
What started out as a global search engine a year ago has now exploded into much, much more. When you sign up, you get your own search engine portal, plus "Advantage Points" to "purchase" keywords and banners to promote your business. It also has an excellent internal messaging system, so it's a great place build and communicate with your downline. In addition, the SBD network has blog, bookmarking, e-cards, classifieds, and video sites, plus friends & pet friends sites that rival MySpace (you can import your MySpace info into a BigDaddyFriends site). What sets Search Big Daddy apart is their foray into local advertising via local search engine portals. (I will discuss the various elements of SBD in future posts.) All the elements of the SBD network are great for promoting you and your business. Sign up is totally free.

Veretekk
What are the best ways to advertise/promote my business? How do I get leads without spamming? The Veretekk system will answer these questions and more. Veretekk gives you the tools and 'round-the-clock, online training to help you get your business seen in cyberspace. I must admit the system is complex, so give yourself at least six months to understand and setup your advertising machine (this was the advice my sponsor gave me when I first signed up, and I understand why he told me this.). You will get leads as you implement the system. Sign up is FREE, with an optional Gold upgrade ($40/month). I would also advise that you NOT upgrade until you are comfortable with the Veretekk system.

Global Domains International
Establish your own web identity with your own .ws domain. Having your own domain will help you stand out in the crowd. "Test drive" the system free for seven days. You need NO knowledge of html or website design to build a professional looking website.

Whether you have a business or just looking at various opportunities, these first three steps will help you lay a foundation for online success.

My Income Opportunities (Updated 1-18-08)

After being involved with many off- and online opportunities since 1991 (and losing more money than I care to remember), I have finally found two businesses that meet criteria that are important to me. I have always wanted a business that 1) is global, that just about anyone anywhere can get involved in (access to a computer with an internet connection required); 2) is low-cost to join and maintain; 3) the time commitment needed would NOT compete with other things going on in my life; and 4) the average person can earn a good income from the opportunity.

$100,000 This Year
This business is FREE to join. If you can devote one hour a day and follow simple, step-by-step instructions, you can make money online. What I like about the plan is that everything you need to succeed is already provided for FREE. All you have to do is "work the plan." Click the link to get all the details.

My World Plus
How would you like to save money every time you shop? Or even get cash back? MWP discount shopping program allows you to save money when making purchases locally or get cash back when shopping online. In addition, earn commissions when someone enrolls under you! (Hint: Join the "$100K This Year" program, and use your earnings to enroll in MWP!)

I also invite you to check out other opportunities listed in my "Businesses to Watch" list. Also check out the "Promotional Resources." They are either low- or no-cost.

When Your Office is Home

The following article discusses the importance of separating work from personal time when working or running a business from home. Enjoy!
M.

When Your Office Is Home
By Jenna Glatzer

It's easy to get obsessed. Really, it is. With work, with the almighty dollar, with achieving and building your business.

When your office is home, there is no clock to punch, no rush hour drive to get as far away from the madness as possible. No, when you work from home, it's all up to you. You can work as little or as much as you like. Unfortunately, most home-workers fall into the two extremes: those who don't work enough, and those who work too much.

The ones who don't work enough get caught up in the "home" aspect of the home office. Something is always calling them away: a crying baby, the laundry, a trip to the convenience store, a pot on the stove, daytime TV shows. They give in to temptation and never truly put in an honest day's work. Then they come to me and ask how in the world I'm so productive.

It's because I fall into the other extreme category. I’m a full-time writer, and I get caught up in the "office" aspect of the home office. It gets simple to see each minute as a potential dollar, and each day as a new possibility to sell the novel, write the next bestseller, break into the almighty national magazine market.

Know that when you are self-employed, you won't have anyone looming over your desk to keep you on track. Sure, that may sound delicious, but do some real self-assessing: can you handle it?

If no one tells you when and how to work, will you have the discipline necessary to earn a living? Will you ever start your work? Will you ever stop?

When you get hooked into the cycle of never truly leaving office-mode, the point of working from home gets diminished. Sure, you may work in your pajamas, but you wind up putting in more hours than you would have at a day job, and you forget to enjoy the perks of being self-employed.

The single cure for either extreme mode is the same: set goals and meet them. If you're not getting enough work done, set an attainable goal (write a new press release before noon, or make five cold calls before the end of the day), and keep to it, no matter how you have to juggle your life around it. If you're working too much, set that same goal and then STOP. Write those releases, or make those calls, and then get up from that chair, stretch, and do something that doesn't involve work in any manner.

I once read something that has stuck with me (pardon me for not knowing the attribution): At the end of your life, will you regret not putting in more overtime?
As for me, I'll be embarrassed to die until I've achieved a lifestyle with a better balance: One that involves more family and fun time, and less time logged in my computer chair.

Sanity breaks are so important, and if you're going to freelance full-time, you have to set limits. You have to take days off, re-discover your significant other's birthmarks, and just plain enjoy life. Otherwise, why are you working? Remember what it is you’re working toward and why you chose to work at home.

If you're like me, you may work better with a written schedule. On this schedule, write down both your work responsibilities and your "play" responsibilities. Mine sometimes looks like this:

9:00-12:00: Work on new article for XYZ Magazine.
12:00-1:00 Lunch break.
1:00-5:00 Write query and send it to 5 new markets.
5:00-6:00: Cook dinner.
6:00-7:00 Dinner.
7:00-8:00 Exercise.
...and so on.

I keep a daily schedule book that has room for me to write down all of my "to do" list each day. If you lose track of time, you may want to set an alarm clock to remind you when it's time to quit, or you may try setting your computer to "defragmentation mode" at a particular time each day (your "quitting time").

Commit to becoming less extreme. Working from home is a wonderful thing... in moderation.


JENNA GLATZER is the author of Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer and several other books. Visit her at http://www.jennaglatzer.com/ and pick up a free editors' cheat sheet! She is also the editor of http://www.absolutewrite.com/, the most popular online magazine for writers.

A Free Gift for You

This gift is FREE to anyone who will receive it. Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves each of us very much and wants to have a personal relationship with each human being. In the beginning, mankind had an intimate relationship with God. Unfortunately, when Adam & Eve disobeyed the Lord (they sinned), the relationship was broken. There was also a penalty for sin--1) physical death, and 2) eternal separation from God in Hell. Like a disease or genetic code, sin was passed unto ALL mankind, keeping us separated from a holy God. Nothing you or I could do could pay the penalty for sin and restore fellowship with God. So the Lord Jesus himself came to Earth, born of a virgin, born without sin. He became human like us, experiencing everything we would go through in life. At the appointed time, He took on ALL of our sin, sicknesses, addictions, etc., and paid the penalty for sin by suffering, shedding His blood and dying on the cross. The Lord Jesus experienced physical death and the horrendous torment of Hell. But He did not stay dead. Three days later, He arose from the dead. HE GAVE HIS LIFE so that you and I could have a relationship with Him and not end up in the place called Hell. If you want to receive this FREE gift, do the following:

Say this prayer OUT LOUD, believing the words: Lord Jesus, I come to you a sinner. I'm sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me. I believe You paid the penalty for my sins by dying on the cross. I believe You rose again from the dead. I believe this in my heart and confess this with my mouth. I thank You for saving me. Thank You for eternal life.

Then BOLDLY make this declaration: Satan, I renounce you! I renounce every habit, every addiction, every vice that you used to enslave me! In Jesus' Name, THEY ARE BROKEN off of my life! I no longer belong to you! JESUS IS LORD!! JESUS IS MY LORD!! JESUS IS MY LORD!! THE BLOOD OF JESUS COVERS MY MIND!! THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR SAVING ME!! (Now thank the Lord as if someone just gave you one million dollars!! He did something for you much greater than that!)

Next I want you to write me at newlife@myebizops.ws and put "Received God's FREE Gift" (without the quotation marks) in the subject line. I want to rejoice with you and help you get started in your new life in Jesus.

Welcome to my blog!

This is my first venture in blogging. To learn more about me and the opportunities I'm involved in, check out the links below. I will be regularly updating my blog, so come back and visit often.

Search Big Daddy
http://www.bigdaddypays.com/mpbriley

My Ebiz Ops (my main website)
http://myebizops.ws

Prayer Requests
If you need Prayer & Share.
http://templeofdeliverance.org

My Personal Ministry
You can also leave prayer requests here.
http://restorationdeliverance.org