Profitable Archives - GUJRAT INDIA

How to Start Building a Profitable Affiliate Marketing Business

I remember when I first started out online. I had no clue about how to get customers and how to construct a website that would magically pull in cash from the internet. I thought then that it would be as simple as I had been lead to believe. Just click a few buttons and you will have a website, click a few more and you will have so many customers that you will wear out your shoe leather with all too frequent trips to the bank as you cash your affiliate cheques.

Just a quick note on that point. When signing up with affiliate networks, always be sure to have them pay directly to some form of online bank that you have, it saves time cashing cheques.

It is fine to accept US dollar cheques if you live in the UK as all banks will accept dollar payments, however they will charge you a fee.

Affiliate marketing is a great business once you get it right. You can shorten your learning curve and miss out most of the wasted time associated with a poor apprenticeship by following a few guidelines.

Earning money online by affiliate marketing requires three things. You need a product, you need a website and you need customers that are looking to buy what you have to sell.

It is also possible to do what is known as direct linking, in which case no website is needed, however by direct linking to the vendors website that you are promoting you lose the ability to capture the customers email address which means that you will be unable to offer similar products to that client at a later date. By setting up your own websites to capture leads, you are building the foundations to a solid, long term business.

Template websites are all that is required in order to promote most affiliate products and capture emails whilst being flexible enough to allow a newcomer to easily edit it as required.

Starting your online business by building a search engine optimised website is the right way to begin. You will avoid the cash sucking cost per click trap and attract free, organic customers to your site which is therefore 100% more profitable.

Choose profitable affiliate products by carrying out simple research and determining which ones to promote.

You will also need some website editing software, an FTP client and an auto responder package. All of these are fairly simple to use once you get the hang of it. Sign up to various CPA networks and a few article publishers also right away and your affiliate marketing business will begin on the right footing.

How To Choose The Perfect Retail Location And Make It Profitable!

Choose The Right, Retail Real Estate Location! Family Expenditures – And How They Can Guarantee Success!

Location, Location, Location – we’ve all heard that catchphrase! Choosing a great location is of the utmost importance…the correct location is one of the most important factors in a successful retail business.

Family expenditures will greatly increase your chances of selecting the correct area and location for your business. Whether you are starting a new business or increasing the number of stores in your multi-unit retail business, the benefit of evaluating the immediate area through family expenditures is immeasurable.

Firstly, we need to establish an understanding of our product or services, then pick a couple categories which our product/service falls into. Any demographic profiling consultant firm can give you a list of the different categories of products or services which they track or have in their profiling databases.

Secondly, we need to establish a radius or catchment area, which we believe we can draw clients from. For a typical small to medium retailer the catchment/trade area , is typically approximately 3KM surrounding your potential or existing location. When we have finalized our product category or service category and our catchment or trade area we can move to the next stage.

Let’s assume our product is widgets, the category we fit into on the database with our local demographic profiling consulting firm, is general widgets. We have also concluded we can pull customers from up to 3Km’s away; therefore we will use a 1KM and a 3Km radius circle around our potential or existing location; as the parameters for our study. We then produce a map and a list of variables, showing our potential or existing location; firstly the map can show, traffic counts, traffic generators, daytime populations etc, which will help us evaluate the immediate trade area. As well secondly, we produce a list of variables which includes; family expenditures on general widgets. Along with the previous information which also needs to be examined, let’s go into a little more detail on the family expenditures.

The data will show us…how much money is spent within a 1KM radius and a 3Km radius on general widgets within a year period. The data will also show us how much money is spent per household on general widgets within a year period. Now we have some hard data on dollars spent and can begin to establish a sales prediction model. Let’s assume $10,000,000 is spent on widgets within a 1Km radius of our potential location within a 12 month period…we want as much of those dollars as possible for our new potential retail location. A good first step would now be to check out the competition in the immediate 1Km radius and compare their widgets to the widgets you intend to sell. Also the competitions- service, quality of widgets and the look and feel of their stores. Some of the elements we could look also evaluate are the competitions, price point, quality of widget, quality of packaging, merchandising, location, convenience, store hours, store build-out, return policy, delivery service…these are just a few tips, there are many different variables you can incorporate in your comparison.

The next step is to chart the results and compare your location or potential location to the competition. This study and comparison can become very lengthy and detailed or quite simple depending on your needs.Through the evaluation of our chart we can now make a determination of the percentage of sales we can expect from the $10,000,000 of sales of widgets in the 1KM radius. We can then, follow the same procedure for the 3KM radius, if needed. This greatly helps us determine our sales at our new potential location. Which can also help us determine how much rent we can pay, how much staff we can hire, how much stock to order etc. and be profitable. As well, if we are studying an existing location we can set targets for sales based on the numbers we concluded from our study. We can also see which aspects of our existing location are inferior to the competition and resolve those deficiencies, and hopefully surpass the competition on same.

Evaluating family expenditures will greatly enhance our chances of choosing the right real estate location for a retail business. As well, continuing to work with and evaluate family expenditures as they come available year by year, will also greatly enhance our chances of a healthy, successful and profitable ongoing business!!

Family expenditures can do so much more than you ever realized! Want to ensure your success and outsmart the competition? Choose to investigate the world of evaluating family expenditures and open yourself up to a whole new world of possibilities!

Profitable Import/Export Agency Business At Home (With Nothing Down, Low Or No Start-Up Cost)

What is a good way to build up a successful business from nothing and have fun doing it? The import/export business may be your answer. Not only does it require little financial investment to start, but also it offers the prestige of working with clients from all over the world.

You don’t need previous experience in the field, but you should have a good head for organizing. Fulfilling a successful import/export business requires constant attention to little details.

Do you know some local manufacturers looking for ways to increase their market for the goods they make? Or are you planning a trip abroad and want to make some contacts for setting up a business?

If you have ability to sell, and an air of diplomacy, the import/export business might be right for you. All you need is the desire and determination to make it work.

The biggest advantage is the money you’ll make. Once you get the business underway, the commission for setting up sales is very profitable. And after you establish and maintain a number of exclusive accounts, you’ll find the time you spend is highly rewarded with money.

HOW IT WORKS

Of all the manufacturers in the Nigeria, only a small percentage distribute goods outside of West Africa. The goods that do find foreign markets are exports. On the other hand, anything that is manufactured outside the country and brought in for sale is imported.

Although it seems obvious that all manufacturers would want a worldwide market, it is not easy for a company that is limited in its scope and abilities. That’s where you come in.

The market is unlimited and there are hundreds of manufacturers looking for foreign distribution. Processed Foods, Shoes, wares, garments, tools -anything can be readily imported or exported if there is a consumer demand and if you can get the products.

THE BASICS

You can start your import/export business at home with a telephone and an internet connection. You’ll need a file system, business cards, and a Computer to browse the internet. Once you get going, you’ll want a Post office Box to receive samples.

ANALYZE THE MARKET

Keep informed. Read everything you can find about world trade. Look at trade publications, international newspapers, newsmagazines, and financial reports. Who is selling what to whom? Although the market for American-made airplanes is sewn up, there are thousands of medium to small sized manufacturers in every state of the union.

WHERE TO FIND HELP

Establish a good business relationship with a local bank that handles international business. Your personal banker will follow through on the actual foreign transactions, and will help keep your credit afloat. In fact, that is one of the best factors about an import/ export business. Aside from office supplies and correspondence, or possible business trips, you need no personal cash outlay. All you need is good credit and a good reputation.

GETTING THE GOODS

There are hundreds of foreign manufacturers with limited distribution looking for an overseas market. Importing their goods is the place to start your business.

You have many selling qualities for convincing the manufacturers to engage you as the sole export agent. You have local contacts and know the demand for specific goods. You will handle the sale, the paperwork, the money, all shipping, customs, and foreign distribution.

TERMS OF SHIPPING

You will become more familiar with the terms of shipping used in quoting prices and delivering goods as you gain experience. Your responsibilities vary with the terms of the agreements and orders. Check with your freight forwarder to be clear about your responsibilities.

PROMOTION

After you have completed a few sales transactions to establish yourself, you’ll need to promote your import/ export business to get more clients. The first transactions give you the experience to learn the ropes of the business, and to establish contacts and agents both here and abroad.

EXPANDING THE BUSINESS

The profit of the import/export business is in the quantity of the goods traded. The higher the cost of the merchandise, the higher the profit from your percentage. Since you need to go through all the steps for each transaction, having more sales on a continual basis simply adds to profit.

If you are ready to put in the time, sell yourself. Start making inquiries and contacts. Try it on for size. Does it feel good? Then MAKE IT SUCCEED.

Profitable Products To Sell On Amazon

The key word is profit – relatively simple to “sell” products (just sell smartphones or technology products), but your profit margins will be hideous.

What most people don’t realize is that the money you “collect” from business is just part of the story.

“Full” retail purchases provide a gross income. To determine the profit, you need to discount COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) and any extra “administrative” expenses, such as advertising, warehousing and staffing costs.

Whilst the allure of the “digital” realm has encouraged millions to foray into its depths, it is not unique. You still need to account for profit (bottom line) rather than overall gross (top line) in order to maintain your sanity (& viability).

The “online” business world closely mirrors its offline counterpart, which means that if you’re looking to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities created with the likes of Amazon, YouTube, etc – you’ll want to look at how they work… as “markets”.

YouTube is a market for entertainment, Twitter is a market for attention and Amazon is a market for commodity prices. Understanding this puts you in the advantageous position of being able to determine a more effective way to provide solutions to participants in said markets.

Supply/Demand…

The most important thing to appreciate that it’s all about supply & demand – the cornerstone of a “free market”.

Supply/Demand states that if there is demand, supply will surely follow… Over-supply brings “prices” down. Under-supply brings “prices” up.

The most important thing to consider is how demand is created/influenced.

Demand is the cornerstone of whether a “product” will sell, and is why the likes of “technology” products always do well online (because people want to ensure they’re getting the latest & greatest components).

Therefore, when considering what to “sell” on Amazon, you’re basically looking at which products have demand and are under-supplied. The supply situation may not by indicated by high prices, but people will generally either hold back on “non-essential” purchases, or ask for variations of provided solutions.

The important thing to consider is that most people are focused on “supply” (typically over-supply), such as you’d see from products which either have a lot of buyers or a lot of vendors (“smartphones” being a prime example).

By selling a “me-too” product, you may get sales but you’ll almost invariably have no profit. In my own experience in the “tech” space, profits are minimal because volume is so high. Contrast this with the likes of furniture where volume is relatively low, profits can be much higher.

The point is that the “price” you achieve on any of the modern platforms is heavily dependent on the quality and veracity of the solution, rather than whether other companies are already offering it.

To this end, the following are some of the more effective solutions/products to sell through Amazon:

ACCESSORIES For Popular Products
This works especially well for smartphones, computers and video consoles/games. If you find a popular product (especially game), you should be able to source complimentary accessories for it. iPhone cases were very good for this from between 2013 to 2015.

CHEAP-To-Make Kickstarter Products
Kickstarter (crowd funding platform) is a goldmine for the inquisitive Amazon retailer. Not only do you have SPECIFIC listings of products which have been funded (and the actual data to support them), but you have a blueprint for products that a market will actually want. Some of the best categories for this are in the “creative” space – books and board games. Now, obviously the caveat here is to NOT rip-off the products in question – just use them as a point of observation of what you could buy/get made to compliment the demand they have PROVEN to exist.

Boxed VIRTUAL Products
If you can get STEAM codes cheap, why not pay some money to get them boxed? What about if you found several “guides” doing well on ClickBank’s marketplace (there are a TON of game guides for the likes of World of Warcraft Gold etc on there)? A great trick is to find a virtual product that’s already selling and just make a physical copy. Obviously, you CANNOT rip-off the other product. If you don’t have anything of your own to add, just buy their book and rewrite it or something. The point is that you need to provide a unique offer to a new market – with demand ALREADY proven.

Custom / Unique Products You Have Access To LOCALLY
One of the BIGGEST mistakes new sellers make with Amazon is basically just doing exactly the same as everyone else. They’ll even use the same “source” in China (via Alibaba of course). The best people are able to basically “source” their own products locally (or perhaps from their own suppliers) and then offer them as comparable products on the Amazon platform. For example, you may know a local clothing provider who’ll sell you cheap clothes (wholesale) – you’d be able to put them onto Amazon whilst targeting successful clothes that are on the platform already.

Notice all offerings above depend on there being very few other vendors in the market (whilst capitalizing on existing demand).

Whilst I believe the quality of a product is the most important thing, if you’re trying to make a penetration and don’t have resources/expertise to put into R&D, you’ll want to pick up any slack the market may have presently.

This is best done by playing the “demand arbritrage” game – providing products that have been proven in other markets, and offering an improved / comparable version through Amazon.

Alternative / Secret Trick…

To speak from my own experience, the whole supply/demand thing is legitimate for “commodity” products like technology components, clothes, food or generic medical solutions.

… BUT there is another way…

If you’re familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs, the “price” quantifier is important for the stuff that people *need*, but don’t necessarily *want*.

In other words, if you’re playing on “level 1” (psychological) or “level 2” (safety) of the hierarchy, pricing is going to play a major role because people can get the same solutions from most vendors (just look at Android).

This can be seen in almost every market – whereby a company will only provide “cheap” prices due to the generic nature of their solutions. They don’t do much different, and thus end up attracting a fickle crowd (who are price sensitive).

Reality is different. Rather than being a slave to circumstance, the best work higher up the hierarchy – towards belonging (brands/communities), self-esteem (personal development/”big risk”) & self actualization (legacy).

By doing this, they transcend price (although cannot escape it) because of the perceived uniqueness of their offering (often termed “perceived value” in marketing).

They attract buyers who actually *want* to deal with them, and are happy to pay a fair price to take ownership of a solution whose benefit far outweighs its worldly (“tangible”) value.

This is where “premium” and “luxury” companies come from.

The secret is that markets respond to solutions. You take your wares to market, you don’t want to let the market rule you. The potency of your solution determines its demand.

The trick I’ve found works best is to go out and try big, bold experiments on your own and then provide the “solutions” you discovered as packaged products. This can be done both virtually and physically (through Amazon) – and what’s more, it’s entirely dependent on you… meaning that there should be very little by way of “competition” that can affect how successful the products are.

For example, say you’re interested in playing video games. You may like World of Tanks. Posting videos of WoT on YouTube is done by anyone with a capture card, so it’s not likely to give you a huge edge (although it will work quite well if you post good replays) – the real trick will come from running WoT tournaments which you post the results for on you website, YouTube and also through the likes of Twitch.

The part where Amazon plays into this is that it will give you the opportunity to sell the “SECRETS” to successful WoT gameplay, as well as premium vehicles and physical (boxed) versions of any “strategy” guides you created.

The key is that people who enjoy don’t really want to buy your stuff – they only want to get better at the game. Thus, what you’re “selling” is a way to do this.

You attract people by the quality of your replays/tournaments, and you’re able to then offer other products as a result they’re able to replicate.

Likewise with other solutions. Perhaps you went on a trip to Tuscany and found some special clothing pieces, or you took your programming skills and created a custom web based application for users who wanted to enjoy the underlying way in which certain things work. The possibilities are limitless.

Remember, though, the KEY is to have people willing to PAY for the usage of the items you’re offering. Most make the mistake of selling the product – people want the SOLUTION (“results”). They don’t buy acne cream because it’s “natural” – they buy it to get rid of acne… the idea that it’s “natural” is a by-product of this underlying purpose.

Why Soccer (Football) Live Betting is Such a Profitable Business

Sports betting is increasingly becoming an emerging online business. Billions of $$$ are wagered on every match day. Live telecast of matches further intensify the excitement.

Bookmakers’ statistics revealed that soccer betting is the most popular among sports betting. Soccer is the most watched, most played and the highest grossing sport on the planet.

Why Soccer Is The King Of All Sports

Soccer is the King of all sports because it is a simple game so easily understood.

It is No. 1 because it is a sport that can stir up so much passion.

Each game is loaded with suspense… fantastic or reckless finishes, players pushing their human bodies to the limit or playing like zombies. This cocktail of emotions can be experienced in every match – the sickening feeling in the stomach, the anger, the joy, the elation. Its pure entertainment, and it makes the adrenaline flows faster and more intense.

At its best soccer is considered magic, that is why names like Maradona and Pele resonate across the world.

Soccer carries the largest fan base in the world of sports. More and more games are being televised live which means more games are offered for live betting than in any other sports niche.

The Internet and live telecasting of soccer matches have made soccer live betting immensely popular. (*Live betting is also known as in-running betting, in-play betting, in-game betting and running ball).

There is a wide variety of live bets available for punting such as Asian Handicap betting, full time score, half time score, full time over/under, half time over/under, number of corners full time, number of corners half time, etc.

The Odds Tell A Story

Many savvy punters now recognize the main difference between live bets and normal bets. Before the introduction of live betting, punters used past data and analysis to determine their bets. But with live bets, punters can now know how the match unfolds as the odds tell a story. The movement of the odds is an indication of the performance of the teams playing at that time.

Bookmakers adjust the odds by minutes or even seconds according to the level of play of the teams. So the odds movements tell the “scenario” from the bookmakers’ point of view which cannot be far off.

From the odds changes, the punter must be able to identify the odds indicators on the exact time to bet, and also the time to exit the bet, that is, to cut loss when necessary to limit the financial damage.

The ability to ‘decode the odds and read the game’ is the recipe for live betting success.

Profitable Live Bets On Every Match Day

In every match, there are numerous punting opportunities. There are profitable live bets to be made in the first 20 minutes of play, during the course of the game, and the last 10 minutes of the match. You do not need complex technical analysis to find them and profit from them. The key lies in the ability to identify them and profit from these opportunities.

In card games, if you want to win, you have to win the game. But the beauty of soccer live betting is you can still WIN if you have betted on the losing team.

In live betting, the odds indicators are profit opportunities. But the punter must know how to spot them to take profitable actions. It’s all about timing.

Have A Slice Of The Lucrative Soccer Live Betting Pie

Soccer live betting is absolutely insane right now! There’s never been a better time for punters to get in on the live betting bandwagon and have a slice of the lucrative soccer live betting pie.

Think about how many games are being played on every match day during the soccer season. That’s plenty of games begging for your action.

If you have never engaged in soccer live betting experience, you really don’t know what you have been missing.

Home Based Affiliate Business – 5 Secrets Of Mega Profitable Affiliate Businesses

The success or failure of your home based affiliate business depends on what you do with your time and resources (namely money, knowledge, skills, will power etc). What separates the successes and the failures, in any area in life, is down to that. What you do with your time and resources will determine whether your home based affiliate business is a success.

To give you a leg up, here are 5 secrets of mega profitable affiliate businesses that you ought to keep in mind:

Secret #1: Treat It As A Business, Not Just An Opportunity

The most successful entrepreneurs treat their ventures seriously, rather than treating it as just a game or a play thing. Sure, being opportunistic is helpful, but once you have found one opportunity that is proven and that you are confident in, stick with it rather than jumping from opportunity to opportunity trying to find the ‘perfect’ one. Focus on one business, treat it seriously, and the fruits will come.

Secret #2: Build Your Own Database Of Subscribers

The top super affiliates all have their own email lists of subscribers that they can mail out to and promote affiliate products. Having your own list is more reliable than relying on Google or some advertising service that many change its policies overnight and put you out of business. With your own list, your business is secure and you will have product merchants approaching you to promote their products.

Secret #3: Create Your Own Products

Another thing that most super affiliates have in common is they have their own products too. Having your own products in the marketplace increases your brand presence and makes you an expert in your own right. Your subscribers are more likely to purchase affiliate products from you if they trust that you are an expert. And the best thing of all is with your own products, the tables are turned and you can recruit your own affiliates to promote your products.

Secret #4: Network With Other Affiliates

Just like in any other business, networking can give you a real boost in terms of your progress in the industry. Network with other affiliates, form a mastermind group, or do cross-promotions with your list, where you promote their products and they promote yours. Expanding your network of contacts helps to keep you in the loop on the latest happenings and strategies and gives you marketing opportunities as well.

Secret #5: Keep Learning New Techniques

In the fast-changing online business world, you need to keep up with the latest techniques to stay ahead of the curve. Last month’s hot technique can become this month’s marketing dud. Keep learning new techniques and seeking out new information from courses, forums and your networking buddies to stay in touch and get a leg up in your business.

Starting a successful home based affiliate business is like any other business – make sound, considered decisions, never give up and never stop learning. I hope to see you in the winners’ circle sometime!

How To Find A Profitable Niche Online

Regardless of what type of online business you are trying to develop, it’s a good idea to focus on one specific niche.

But picking out a profitable niche online can sometimes be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The internet is a busy place and online business owners need to know that they are entering a worthwhile market before spending time, money and resources on building up a new internet based business.

Here are 7 tips on how to find a profitable niche online.

1. Google Suggests

When you type a word into Google, before you hit enter it displays a list of possible phrases that you may be looking for. This auto-complete feature draws on popular search requests from other users. Because an audience are searching for that item it is likely to be profitable online niche.

2. Amazon

When you’re looking for a profitable niche online business Amazon has already done a lot of the work for you. If a niche market is popular on the world’s largest retailer that will quickly tell you if you have a workable marketplace or not.

3. Magazines And Books

You can also use the offline world to search for a profitable niche online. The publishers of magazines and books do a lot of research before spending money on marketing and printing, so when you see a book or magazine for sale, it’s most likely based on a top niche market.

4. FAQFox.com

FAQFox.com scans online forums and scrapes keywords and phrases based on a word that you enter. It will list titles, links and questions that are relevant to your keyword. When you see a lot of people talking about the same problem, product or service, that shows there is a profitable niche online.

5. Udemy.com

This website shows markets where people are buying courses and education. You can use their information database to see a list of the most popular courses. This is a great way to find out what people are actually paying money for.

6. Ask Technorati

You can search for your niche subject matter on this website. If there are a good number of results, you are probably a profitable online niche.

7. The Competition

If there are lots of businesses in a market that is very competitive, it will be challenging for you to be successful. However, if there is no competition it shows that it is not a viable market. Type your niche name into Google. If there are ads related to the search that’s a good sign. That means companies are profitable enough to spend money advertising to your market. Now you need to focus your efforts on a well-defined segment of that market.

Freelance Writers: How to Develop a Niche with No Experience & Make it Profitable for Years to Come

One of the things I’ve learned in my 19+ years as a freelancer and recruiter in the editorial industry is that freelancers should develop a niche.

“BUT,” you may wonder, “how do you develop a niche with no experience?” It’s actually relatively easy and can be done in three easy steps.

1. Make a list of your experiences, likes, hobbies, etc. Why? Because the first step in developing a niche is to go with your strengths. Even if you have no professional experience in an area, if you like it, chances are you will work to become proficient in it.

For example, in my professional life, I’ve been a real estate agent, a loan officer, a credit counselor, a recruiter and a legal copy editor (among a few other things — but we’ll just stop here). Remember, this is just professionally.

My hobbies are running, real estate investing, reading historical romances, sewing, interior decorating and designing ethnic pottery, among a barrage of other things (I have a very active mind and a hint of ADD!).

Now that you have this list, what do you do with it?

2. Target lucrative markets: Not every interest you have will make a viable niche market. This may be because they are not willing to pay for your services, don’t need your services and/or there aren’t enough of their type to market to.

With your list in hand, choose markets where: a) your services are needed on a continual basis; b) your asking price can be met with relative ease; and c) there are sufficient numbers to market to.

Also, you might want to consider competition; as in, how much/little do you have? While there is always room for one more company to offer a product/service, my thought process is why fish in a crowded pond.

Go after a market that not many others are targeting. Sometimes this market will reveal itself in your list of professional experiences and/or hobbies. Other times, you may have to work harder to find it. Just make sure that however you choose your market, you keep in mind the points mentioned above.

Now that you know who you want to market to, how do you get those all important first few jobs which lead to samples, references, etc.? Simple.

3. Do low-cost/no-cost work: Always try to get paid for any work you do. You can target local charities; do work for friends with businesses; contact start-up companies, etc. Your mission starting out is to get those first 4 or 5 jobs under your belt.

If you’re not having any luck landing paid work, try this. Target a company and do the work without asking them (eg, rewrite their badly worded brochure you received in the mail; rework their ineffective web copy; design their logo; etc.). Then, contact them with their original and your NEW, improved version. Not many businesses will turn down improved work they don’t have to pay for. Just like that, a legitimate credit!

Even if a company refuses, you can still use it in your portfolio. Just change the name of the company to something that obviously reflects that it’s a fictitious company with the caveat that the name has been changed, but the revisions made were to original copy.

Now, you’re on your way!

Why It’s Easier (And More Profitable) to Spend Money When You Set Up Your Online Writing Business

In the quest to make money as an online writer, it’s all too easy to fall for what I call false economies.

This is when you do something to save money but it ends up costing you dearly, in either time or money.

Where this happens most is with learning.

If you want to grow a sustainable online business, you first need to know how to do it, and this can cause you to stumble in 2 ways – buying nothing or buying cheap.

Buying nothing means exactly that.

You want to learn but you buy nothing you need.

Instead you waste your time surfing the Internet for free newsletters, free courses and free eBooks.

And while all these things will help, they won’t teach you everything you need to know.

Why?

Because no one gives away their best information for free. People go online to earn money and they can’t make money if they’re not selling something.

There are, of course, people online who earn money through advertising. Their websites don’t seem to be selling anything through the content, but they do make money from visitors clicking on the ads on their site.

But their content isn’t worth much because they don’t have saleable information.

Free stuff online is helpful, but the people who write it aren’t necessarily experts in their niche.

Likewise only using free software also has its downside because it will never be as good as the stuff you pay for.

Buying cheap is another false economy.

Just because something has a low price it doesn’t mean you’re getting a bargain.

For instance, I’ve seen too many people buy a computer based on price. They start searching by price rather than specifications.

But what’s the point of buying a computer that can’t do all the things you want it to?

When it comes to computers (or anything for that matter) you must look for exactly what you want first AND THEN worry about price. If you don’t have enough money, sell stuff you don’t need or cut back on buying non-essentials until you can afford it.

And if you need to buy a course that will teach you how to do something, then buy it and don’t waste time looking around for a “freebie” or something cheaper.

Likewise, if there’s some software that can help save you time, buy it.

I believe that my time is worth far more than money.

Not only that but I can get much more work done (and earn more money) when my time isn’t taken up with unimportant / slow tasks.

For instance, when I started doing a lot of affiliate marketing, I found it much easier to promote a product if I owned it myself rather than save money by not buying it and hoping and praying that it was a worthwhile investment for my customers, otherwise they’d never trust or buy from me again.

When I wanted to submit marketing articles to an article directory every week, I did a course in how to write articles quickly which not only helped me to write faster, but also showed me how to write better articles AND I went on to write my own course in writing articles in 15 minutes or less. So it was definitely a win-win situation when I invest in the article writing course because I quickly multiplied my original investment by over 1,000%.

And when I had too many websites to keep updating them all by hand, I splashed out and bought the mighty Adobe Dreamweaver Software, and boy does that ever speed up my online work.

I now also outsource jobs I can’t do or don’t want to do because it takes me too long.

I once wasted a whole week trying to edit an MP3 audio recording. I finally had to admit defeat and outsourced the job for $20 and a freelancer returned my edited file in less than 2 hours.

It left me wishing I’d simply outsourced it in the first place.

So if you really want to make a go with your new online business and keep earning money for years to come, AND leave more time for your writing, don’t be a false economising penny-pincher.

The Secrets Of Starting A Profitable Flower Vending Business

I have sold in the retail market, millions of fresh roses and fresh flower bouquets successfully for 32 years. I bought a retail nursery and florist across the street for one of Connecticut’s largest cemeteries, on a busy route that had several thousand vehicles pass every day. I made deals with all the flower wholesalers at first and then I proceeded to undercut the price of all the flower shops in the state. My main objective was to create a customer base that would frequently buy flowers “just because”. My customer service was created with an over friendly staff of a great combination of super personalities and knowledge of the business, which was simply liking people and helping them to satisfy a feeling. My motto to my staff was to let them know that we not only sell roses and flowers but mostly, We sell Love, we sell feelings! My obsession with quality and consumer service was so successful that it spread through out the community and the state.

Wow, I can remember Valentines week with a staff of over 50 wonderful employees wrapping and boxing roses through out the day and nights, get ready the rush of the year. I was so careful with every dozen to prepare each like it was for my mom or wife. We dethroned all the roses, cut them under water, to hydrate them according to the “Chain of Life” procedure. They re-hydrated them in solutions to further guarantee and extend their vase life. Our 4,800 Dozen roses that we sold that week were our best advertising for the rest of the year. Heck, they lasted over 10 days which pleased amazed our dedicated customer’s recipients. What a great feeling to know how many people we made happy.

Selling flowers at strategic locations has become a highly profitable retail business for many enterprising individuals. These entrepreneurs are taking advantage of a market that is, for the most part, impulsive in nature. Many people buy flowers on the spur of the moment, and the presence of a flower vendor is usually their inspiration.

Very often, men on their way to a date will see a roadside flower vendor, and suddenly find the idea of taking flowers with him quite appealing. The same holds true for many men heading home from work. If they’re married, these men will often purchase flowers from roadside vendors for their wives. The flowers are fresh, attractive, and package to sell, not as nearly as expensive as an arrangement from a florist, and the buyer doesn’t even have to get out of his car. Women are also potential customers for flower vendors. A woman will buy flowers to add color and decoration to her house or apartment, or sometimes, just to cheer up a friend. In any case, the purchase is usually made on impulse, brought about by the availability of a flower vendor.

Starting a flower vending business is not difficult. No previous experience is necessary. There’s only a minimal initial investment required, and you won’t need a lot of equipment. What you will need is an adequate supply of fresh, attractive flowers, a good location for selling, and a cheerful disposition. After all, you will be dealing directly with people, so a good disposition is a necessity. You can begin as a home-based operation with an investment of as little as $300. If you live close enough to the market you want to reach, your own garage can serve as storage space as well as your preparation area. Your operating expenses will be minimal, and you’ll have the opportunity to realize a high margin of profits.

Depending on the size of your investment (both time and money) and the size of your trade area, a flower vending business could net anywhere from $20,000 to $175,000 per year. It can be an extremely high profit business, if you choose your selling locations wisely, and offer only fresh, attractive flowers.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Successful operation of any small business depends on several key factors. Perhaps the most important is the ability to be a good business manager. Although no experience is necessary to start-up a flower vending business, some small business management training could give you the edge needed to insure success. Most community colleges offer night school courses in small business management and, if you are unsure about your business knowledge and or management skills, enrollment in such a course would be a good idea.

Here are other basic steps involved in the successful operation of a flower vending business:

(1) Know your market. Proper knowledge of your market will enable you to set-up at the best locations. You’ll need to know the high-traffic areas as well as the time of day traffic is at its peak in order to take advantage of a roadside operation. You’ll also need to investigate other potential locations such as restaurants, malls, local festivals and flea markets.

(2) Obtain a dependable source for fresh flowers. Your business depends on the quality of your merchandise. And since you are selling flowers, they must be fresh and attractive. You should locate a quality wholesaler and establish a sound working relationship. You should also have some knowledge of the types of flowers people are most likely to purchase from a vendor.

(3) Establish a workable preparation area. Ideally, your preparation area should be centrally located within your sales territory. The space needed should be adequate for storing flowers and materials used for the preparation of bouquets, as well as for the preparation itself.

(4) Hire the right help. Unless you plan a one person operation you’ll need to hire some dependable helpers. The people you hire should be outgoing and trustworthy with the ability to deal with customers in a professional and courteous manner. If your flower vending business is to be successful and highly profitable, you’ll probably need to have other people helping you. One example is a successful flower vendor in Washington State who employs young people, pays them minimum wages, and enjoys a brisk business at several key locations.

(5) Advertise and promote your business. Effective advertising and promotion can help generate sales and profits. Knowing how to advertise and promote your business, especially in the beginning, is a key step in the success of any business operation.

All of these steps can be taken with a relatively small initial investment, and your flower vending business can be in operation, and realizing a profit, in just a few weeks. However, prospective entrepreneurs should also be aware of, and comply with, any rules and regulations that apply to this particular business in their area.

Depending on the location(s) of your flower vending business, you may need a license to operate. If you plan to set- up a flower vending stand on a city street, or any roadside operation within city limits, you’ll most likely need to get a permit. The best thing to do is consult a trusted attorney, or contact the business-license department in the city your market covers to find out what licensing requirements you must meet.

If you plan to sell flowers in restaurants and nightclubs, it is usually not necessary to have a license. Also, if your roadside operations fall outside the city limits, you probably won’t need a license because most counties don’t issue them. Again, you should check with your attorney, or the proper licensing authorities in your area before you start selling flowers.

Another consideration for a new business owner and employer is taxes. As an operator of a business you will be responsible for collecting and sending in various state and federal taxes, as well as certain taxes you will have to pay yourself. If you are not familiar with your tax responsibilities as a business owner, consult a qualified accountant or contact your local IRS office to get the information you need.

You should also consult with an accountant as to the type and arrangement of bookkeeping and record keeping best suited for your flower vending business. Records of your business operations are, of course, helpful in the successful management of the business. These records need to be as accurate and permanent as possible in order to ascertain any tax liabilities. They should include business income, deductions, credits, and any employee information. As well as any other information required by federal, state and local regulations.

EQUIPMENT AND INVENTORY

Since a flower vending business does not require an abundance of sophisticated equipment, start-up costs can be kept to a minimum. The basic equipment necessary should not cost more than $200 and can usually be found at a wholesale florist supply house. You can also get your supplies and equipment from several firms that cater to florists. You should be able to find a complete directory of such firms at your local library. You can also contact several florists (not necessarily in your market) and obtain this information.

For the preparation of your flowers and floral arrangements, you’ll need stem cutters and a supply of cellophane or florist’s tissue. You will also need several plastic buckets to keep the flowers in water and fresh while being transported as well as on your selling sites. To prepare the flowers for selling, you will need a preparation area. This area should be cool and shady to help keep your flowers as fresh as possible. As mentioned earlier, a location central to your area of sales is most desirable. If your own garage fits that description, you won’t have the added expense of renting space.

Your preparation area will require several storage containers and a table. Some refrigerated coolers may be necessary, but since most flower vending businesses pick up their flowers on a daily basis, and sell them as quickly as possible, that sort of storage requirement should not be excessive. However, during the summer and winter months, you may need an air-conditioner and portable heater to keep your flowers in salable condition. If you don’t already have these items, you can count them as a business expense and they are tax deductible.

Your inventory will consist of flowers. You can purchase these from wholesalers found in most major cities. You can find these suppliers by looking in the Yellow Pages of your area’s metropolitan phone directory. Look under ‘Florists, Wholesale.’

Since you will probably have some flowers left over after each day’s sales, it is essential that your inventory be fresh when purchased from the wholesaler. You can check the freshness of your flowers by examining the heads of roses to see if they are tight to your touch. Also, if the blossom appears purple around the edges, the flower is probably too old. When buying carnations, look to see if they are firm and heavy-stemmed. If carnations are somewhat discolored, don’t buy them, because they probably aren’t fresh.

The largest part of your inventory will most likely be roses. Roses are the most desired flower, and they are expensive. Prices will vary with the season and area of purchase. Carnations will also make up a substantial portion of your inventory. These flowers, while very attractive and popular, are much less expensive than roses.

Other flowers you may want to add to your inventory are gardenias, tulips, daffodils, and orchids. Some of these flowers are expensive and usually appeal to an older set of customers, so don’t go overboard when dealing with your supplier. Roses and carnations will be your best sellers. Your best sales months will be during the holidays so you will have to make sure you have an adequate supply of flowers. You’ll also want to have a supply of appropriate flowers to match the specific holiday, lilies for Easter, poinsettias for Christmas and so on.

CHOOSING A LOCATION

Once you have a marketable inventory, you will need to set- up in a good location. If you choose the wrong location your business will not be successful. For flower vending, the two best selling locations are restaurants and roadsides/street corners.

Restaurants are good selling locations if they attract large lunch and dinner crowds. Especially good restaurant locations are those with specific themes. French, Italian and Mexican restaurants are usually profitable locations for flower vendors. You’ll also find successful flower vendors in upscale lounges and taverns.

In general, restaurants and lounges with a quiet and romantic ambiance, are usually conducive to flower vending. Many restaurants are attracted to the idea of flower vending at their places of business because it offers an extra ‘romantic’ touch to their service. Usually, the management of a restaurant will charge the flower vendor only a nominal fee. In some cases, the fee may simply be a few flowers to arrange and display throughout the restaurant.

For street-selling locations, freeway exits and stoplights on main streets are preferred. These areas represent the highest amount of traffic therefore, the largest number of potential customers. Ideally, your locations should be along streets, highways and exits that feature a great deal of late afternoon and/or early evening rush hour traffic. These conditions are ideal if you can find an area where the traffic must come to a stop, or at least has to slow down. Your location must be plainly visible so that oncoming drivers will be able to see you in enough time to get out of traffic and pull off the road.

It is important that you stay away from roadside locations that could limit the ability, or desire, of your customers to reach you. Never set-up at dangerous intersections, along steep hills and other areas that could be hazardous. You could lose a lot of business if potential customers don’t stop because they fear getting struck by other traffic.

When selling on city streets the most desirable locations are those that take advantage of both automobile traffic and pedestrians. You should try to find a spot in an area of heavy pedestrian traffic as well as vehicle traffic. Business will usually be better when people are on their way home. If you know which side of the street is the ‘going-home’ side, that’s where you should set-up.

Operating a flower vending business allows you more flexibility than many other businesses have. You won’t have to stay in one location, if it proves unprofitable. You can move around as often as it takes to find the locations that afford you the most success.

You may have to experiment in the beginning. Simply keep a record of the number of flowers sold at each location and the number of hours at each spot. From these records you’ll be able to determine the most satisfactory locations for your business. You will also have a better idea as to the actual inventory you need so you can cut down on the amount of excess that results in spoilage.

HIRING PERSONNEL

In order to be successful in the flower vending business, it may be necessary to hire help. If that’s the case, not just anybody will do. As the owner/manager of the business you will have to hire people who are right for the job of selling flowers. Although this may seem difficult, there are some guidelines that many flower vending businesses follow quite successfully.

Students and people seeking part-time jobs are the most likely candidates for employment in the flower vending business. Your interviews with such prospective help should be designed to ascertain if they are trustworthy and dependable. You also need salespeople who are outgoing, enjoy interacting with other people, and who are well-motivated.

In most cases, if you are selling flowers in restaurants, attractive young women are the best salespeople. Usually these women are dressed in a costume that serves to identify your business. The most basic sort of identifying costume, or dress, would be a white blouse and dark skirt. As the business ‘blossoms’ you may want to invest in more elaborate costumes depending on the image you want for your business as well as the particular restaurant theme.

Usually, an employer can find adequate part-time help simply by placing a catchy ad in the help-wanted section of the classifieds of the local newspaper. The ad should allude to making ‘good money’ for ‘enjoyable’ part-time work. Response to the ad should be such that you can be selective in hiring the help you need. You should also get excellent response with an ad in college newspapers. And you can try placing the ads on school bulletin boards to elicit even more response.

Once you begin interviewing prospective employees, it is imperative that you have them fill out an application form and supply you with at least three references. And don’t just read the references — check them out. You should know as much as you can about your help before you hire them.

Once hired, make sure all employees know exactly what their duties and responsibilities are, as well as their salaries. You should also plan to review each employee’s performance on a regular basis. These reviews, or evaluations, should be shared with your employees so they will know how they are doing and how they can improve, if warranted.

DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS

Operating a flower vending business does not require hours of strenuous physical labor. However, that does not mean flower vendors lead a life of leisure. With any business there are demands that require time and effort. The flower vending business is no exception. You and/or your employees will need to be well organized from the time of preparation until the day’s selling is done.

Preparing flowers for sale is an essential part of a flower vendor’s work day. In order to be salable, your flowers must appear fresh and colorful. Also, every bouquet you plan to sell must be arranged in an appealing fashion. Therefore, you should allow enough time for preparation so that the job is done right. But, don’t overdo it. If you spend too much time on flower preparation, you could be cutting into valuable selling time.

The actual preparation phase should take as little time as possible without sacrificing quality of work. To be as efficient as possible with your preparation time you should organize the process. You can do this in a step-by-step manner.

First of all, you should plan to remove many of the thorns from each rose stem. About half of the thorns, beginning at the bottom of each stem, should be removed. Then, you will need to clip a small portion from the bottom of each stem. This will allow the flowers to absorb water and retain their freshness and color. You can do the clipping with a sharpened knife.

Once you have dethroned and clipped your roses, you will need to place them in relatively warm water. The water temperature should be about 105 degrees. You can leave them in the water for up to two hours and they will be refreshed and colorful when you are ready for the day’s vending. All your other flowers must also be properly cared for and prepared so that your entire inventory is appealing to your customers.

Your preparation process should not involve much ‘decoration.’ People buying single flowers usually won’t expect frills such as ribbons or bows. However, you should have such adornments on hand at your selling location in case some customers request them. It’s also a good idea to supply your sales team with pins, if corsages and/or short-stemmed flowers are part of your inventory.

Any bouquets you sell should be wrapped in tissue or green cellophane. Not only do the flowers keep better wrapped, they also appear more attractive and are more appealing as gifts. Unwrapped bouquets do not have a particularly neat appearance, and they probably won’t stay fresh and colorful as long as they would if wrapped.

How much time should all this preparation take? Well, most successful flower vending businesses spend no more than two to three hours a day buying and preparing flowers. It will probably take a new business a couple of months to become organized and experienced enough to cut buying and preparation time down to two hours per day. That will happen once you learn how to utilize the early morning hours, after the flowers have been purchased from the wholesaler, for preparation of the flowers and organizing your salespeople.

The best times to sell cut flowers, really depends on location. Street corner and roadside vending hours are most successful during the late afternoon and early evening hours when most workers are heading home. Most people are more apt to take the time to make such a purchase as flowers on their way from work than they are on their way to work. Weekends have also proven very successful for many flower vending businesses that operate all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you are selling in restaurants, the most profitable time will be during dinner hours. In some cases, lunch crowds will buy flowers, but usually the evening diners will be your best customers in a restaurant. Your salespeople should plan on up to three seating’s of diners each evening in a popular restaurant.

Between seating’s, your salespeople can canvass the immediate neighborhood for other potential customers, and then return for the next seating at the restaurant. This type of selling will take some practice and experience, but a good salesperson will soon learn how to make the most of his time and inventory.

It is important that you and your sales team be as poised and as professional as possible when selling at any location, especially in restaurants. In restaurants, a low-key approach is much better than an extremely aggressive sales pitch. Be polite and friendly, and utilize flattery as an effective tool. Approach the man in a couple and in a casual and friendly manner ask if he would like to compliment his lady companion with a beautiful flower. Most men will then buy a rose for their dining companions.

ADVERTISING

A flower vending business is unlike many small and part-time businesses in that the usual forms of advertising — newspaper, radio, TV, and so on — are not really effective. Since your selling locations may change from time to time, and since buying flowers from a flower vendor is usually done on impulse, you’ll need a more immediate form of advertising. It should be something that draws attention to your business as your customers approach your selling location.

For street corner and roadside vending, signs are the best form of advertising. All that’s needed is something to let potential customers know you are there, and that you are selling flowers. Seeing your sign, many people will act on impulse and stop to see what you have to offer.

The sign(s) should be hand-made rather than professionally painted. You don’t want to appear like a big business. And a hand-made sign will give the impression of a small, family-type operation which usually means more reasonable prices.

In some cases, a new business can get publicity from a local newspaper. If you are selling flowers at a restaurant, you can try getting such publicity by alerting the local newspaper. Most local newspapers use information of this sort as fill, and it could prove valuable to your business.

If, as part of a special promotion — a grand opening, or a special day such as Valentine’s Day — you will be selling flowers at a business location, send the information to the editor of your local newspaper. You may also want to include a picture of you and/or your sales people. The paper may not decide to run the story, but there’s a good chance they will. Either way, you have nothing to lose, and a bit of publicity to gain.

SUCCESS ANALYSIS

Eight contributing factors are measured on a 1 to 10 basis (with 10 being excellent) based on analysis of this opportunity.

1. Time Investment 7 2. Start-up Costs 9 3. Gross Income Potential 8 4. Net Income Potential 8 5. Income in Relation to Investment 10 6. Stability 8 7. Overall Risk 9 8. Potential for Growth 10 Overall Potential for Success 8.63

POTENTIAL EARNINGS

The profit you can realize from a flower vending business depends on several factors:

(1) The size of your market. Obviously larger metropolitan areas supply the greatest source of potential customers, therefore profits. However, your expenses in these larger markets will probably be greater, because of larger inventory needed and a bigger sales team to cover the market adequately.

(2) Good selling locations. Even if your market has a large selection of potential customers your profits will be, at best, minimal if you are not selling in the best locations to take advantage of impulse buying. You have something that practically everyone likes, flowers. But most everyone who buys flowers from a vendor does so on impulse. To be successful, a flower vending business must locate in areas of high-traffic, increasing the possibility of impulse buying.

(3) Consistently marketable inventory. If you try to sell flowers that are too old, wilted and faded, don’t expect to do much business. Make sure your entire inventory is always flower- garden fresh and attractive. Also, price your flowers at reasonable rates. That way, both you and your customers will be happy.

(4) A professional sales approach. Whether you are running a one-person flower business, with yourself as the only salesperson or have several salespeople, a friendly, low-key sales approach is essential. After all, you are selling flowers, not used cars. Most people who buy flowers from a vendor are buying them for a special person, and a friendly, non-aggressive salesperson has a good chance of making a sale.

(5) The size of your investment. This does not just apply to the amount of money you invest in the business. Your investment also includes the time and effort you expend on making it a success. As a weekend business, or operating on a daily basis, a flower vending business will require a certain amount of your time and effort above and beyond your monetary investment. The amount of success and profits you can realize depends, in large part, on how much you are willing to put into the business. Some flower vending businesses have reported netting as much as $175,000 a year. That kind of income usually requires a sales team of half-a-dozen or more people working in a large metropolitan area.

Smaller markets should expect a net profit of $10,000 to $20,000 per year. The thing to keep in mind is that there is always a large market for a flower vending business because flowers make personal gifts year-round. Obviously, some months featuring special days such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas will be better than others, but this is not a seasonal business. You should be able to realize a healthy profit every month.

Your initial investment can be as low as $300, or as much as $1,500, depending on what you can afford and the size of your operation. It will most likely take several months until you get adequately organized, and until you discover all the best selling locations. But within a year you should be realizing a nice profit with an efficiently operated flower vending business.

SUMMARY

A flower vending business is one of the best small businesses you can get into, if you are short on investment capital. Very little equipment is needed. You can use your own garage or utility room as a preparation area and for storage. And you can sell your inventory on location, from the back of your own car, van or pickup. You may want to invest in a business management course, if you are uncertain about your management knowledge. But no practical experience is necessary to get into this business.

The biggest expenses will be in inventory, which a good month’s sales will recover, any extra personnel you decide to hire, and in any licensing fees you encounter. Advertising costs for a flower vending business are extremely low.

Since flowers have universal appeal, there will always be a sizable market for a flower vending business. If you operate professionally, offering fresh, appealing flowers, establish a good business relationship with dependable wholesalers, find the best selling locations, and hire dependable, competent help, there’s every reason to be confident that a flower vending business can be highly profitable. Remember. You must “do what you love and love what you do!” I will let in to my other secret, my profitable “Rose-Express” drive up flower shops.