Monthly Newsletter : May 2009

A Note From The Editor
 
Last weekend was Mother's Day and I thought it appropriate to focus this month's newsletter on Women!

There is a growing community of women from all walks of life starting their own online business to supplement their income in these difficult times. Creative women who have the creativity and skills 
to offer their products and services to their target audience. 

What they do not necessarily have is the experience or resources available to them to show them how to get started. To advise them on the tools they need to have for their online business to operate, flourish and grow.

The articles in this newsletter will hopefully provide some useful information and advice that might 
help you or someone you know who are thinking of starting their online business and looking for 
some advice. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might find it useful.

To your success,
 
Linda Belan & Team
Your Outsource Solutions
 

 How To Get Started On Your Online Business Venture?
 

 
If you have decided to take the plunge and start off your own online business, there are several things you need to take care of. You have to find out all about your craft or art and how viable it would be as a money spinning venture--something like flower arrangement may be lucrative all round the year, while some trades see more business during a particular season. You must ensure that you have enough financial resources and do your homework sufficiently well to make a success out of your business.

You could ask friends who have some prior experience of starting an online business. Another idea doing the rounds is enrolling for one of the many entrepreneurial coaching membership sites. You could sign up for mentoring and look for resourcesthat would give you a jump start into your online business. Some websites charge you a nominal fee while others are free. Most websites even have forums where you could post your queries and seek solutions to your commerce related issues. Building contacts and networking is another feature that some of these websites provide. If you think you could do better with some communication skills, you could even sign up for online workshops.

While there's no teacher like experience, it would definitely help to avoid the most common mistakes that novices are very likely to make. A list of do's and don'ts are given to you. You could sign up to form a group with other members who are also new into online business. It's more fun and easier to learn the nuances of online business as a group; you could learn from others' and also help them out. These websites advise you on everything ranging from how to dress for your first customer meeting to how to talk about pricing in the most subtle and yet effective manner. You may need some help to ensure that there're no legal hassles when you start your business. If you have entered into a partnership, it becomes all the more important that you aren't being conned during the process.

What some of these websites also offer are regular face-to-face meetings of their members. This is not just a great way to exchange information but interacting with the attendees would also help improve your contacts. You also get to find out about the latest happenings in your field that would help you be one-step ahead of your competition. There would be guest lectures during which you are given tips by fellow businesswomen and this could go a long way in making it easier for you to cut your first deal; many successful women entrepreneurs are more than willing to give free guidance.

Exercise caution when you are zeroing in on the website. As a rule of thumb you must sign up with a place that has been recommended by a friend or a relative. You could even check with the local trade guilds; some of these online centers are authorized and hence you can be sure that you wouldn't be conned. Unscrupulous elements could loot you off your money and hence it becomes vital that you check the credentials of the website before you sign up. With so much help available, starting an online business was never this easy. 


 
Ideas To Start Your Online Business
 

 
Some women who are inclined towards starting an online business don't actually get down to doing it because they are unsure of what exactly they want to do. And even if they know what they would like to get into, they don't know how to go about it. It's important that a woman entrepreneur find something that would not only help her make some extra bucks, but also keep her interested for a long time. While you have to be determined to make your business work, you must be aware of the online options that would just not be convenient. You have to remember that the reason you're starting an online business is not just for the money but also that you get to spend enough time with your family.

Only when you have the passion for something like candle making or crotchet can you see a business opportunity in it. It's important that in addition to the artistic flair, you also have the temperament to sell your craft to people. You must not get into an online business simply because your neighbors are giving it a shot.If you think that the trade may not give you sufficient spare time, then it may not be worth it. Find out if you would like to help the society in any way and still make a business out of it. In case you would like to employ the underprivileged, not only would it be a source of income for them, you would also gain a lot of satisfaction in the process. At the end of the day, you must do what you have always wanted to do but couldn't due to various reasons.

You could also choose something that you would like to learn and then turn it into a business opportunity. Learning yoga or how to salsa or tai-chi would not only prove to be therapeutic for you but you could soon be conducting classes for other students. You must realize that getting into something like this would require you to master the art and only after considerable experience could you turn it into something lucrative. Often, you may not be aware of a hidden skill or talent in you--you may have an eye for interior designing or fruit carving and not really know about it. Ask your friends and family to point out such talents. If you would like to learn something, align the new craft with your interests. It also helps to polish your skills and make the most of it. Language experts are in great demand these days. Translators and interpreters can work from the convenience of their homes, as long as they are available online.

There are online forums for women entrepreneurs. If you aren't certain about the feasibility of your business idea, you can always post a query. The experts who are probably businesswomen themselves would look at your proposition and let you know if you should go ahead with your plan. Ask for suggestions and advice. But as an entrepreneur, you must be absolutely certain and confident of your strategy, even if others fail to recognize it. Be single-minded in pursuing your business dream and you'll soon make it.


 
Linda Recommends
 

 
GoDaddy - Domain Registration, Web/Email Hosting Service

GoDaddy is the best hosting service out there from my personal experience as a user of their service and my experience in working with other hosting services for my clients.

If you are starting a business and need to purchase a domain name, put up a website with a reliable hosting service as well as a reliable email service, then GoDaddy meets all those needs and at a great price! 

Their Customer Service and Technical Support teams are always courteous and helpful when you call and know their product well when you need to troubleshoot problems. Learn more at about what they have to offer at www.GoDaddy.com  



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Linda Belan - Your Outsource Solutions, LLC
Website: http://www.youroutsourcesolutions.com
Email: lbelan@youroutsourcesolutions.com

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