Top 10 Reasons to Start a Home Based Business

Even with the economy as it is or especially with the current economic situation; an online business allows you develop an income without the headaches and financial expenditure of an offline business. Yes, there are challenges but learning the basic principles on a small scale and building at your own pace will cement your position in the future as the economy recovers.


Here are the top ten reasons to start a home based business online.

1. Statistics say that work-at-home professionals earn more money and enjoy more free time than the general workforce.

2. You get to be your own boss. No one telling you what to do other than you.

3. More free time. Obviously you will spend a lot of time on your business, but it is you who determines your schedule.

4. More time with family. This reason should actually be number one.

5. Tax benefits. I'm not even an accountant, and I could write pages on the benefits extended to a small business. Don't go this alone, seek advice for available benefits.

6. Save money on work expenses usually taken for granted : gas, clothing, dinners, etc.

7. Hands down cheaper than a bricks and morter start-up. No office rent space, little if no inventory, insurance, employee payroles, legal fees, etc., etc., etc.

8. If you fail you can keep trying. Failure is not liable to bankrupt you and you can learn and make adjustments as you progress.

9. Possibility for extreme wealth. Fortunes are being made every day so why not you.

10. Sense of satisfaction and independence. No price can be put on this one.

The 12 Most Powerful Words in Ad Copy

As an online marketer and business practitioner in general I'm always working to develop ways to be a more effective marketer. Often I go back to my sales background to formulate strategy.

About ten or so years ago, I watched a segment on public television about advertising, marketing, and ad copy. I can't remember the name of it, but the production was very basic and rudimentary, but well done. They revealed the most powerful words in the English language regarding advertising and its effect on our psychology.

Recently I found an old legal pad that I actually jotted down some notes from this show. I still to this day keep a pad around for writing notes down and logging items of importance. Listed on this old pad were the most powerful words in ad copy.

This prompted me to do a search online to compare now with then and the results were actually the same. There were a few that weren't on the original list but the results were consistent.

As a buying public we have grown more sophisticated in recognizing when we're being sold and even wary of it, but nevertheless, we are consumers. We even know when our hot buttons are being pressed and many of the tactics used on us.

I'm not sure these words have the same impact they once did, but I thought I would post them anyway, as I feel it is good to know. I'm sure sprinkling a few of these words throughout your ad copy wouldn't hurt matters. We use many of them anyway probably just out of utility and habit.

Here are the 12 words:

1. You
2. Save
3. Money
4. Easy
5. Guarantee
6. Health
7. Proven
8. Safety
9. Discover(y)
10. New
11. Love
12. Results

To these 12 add one more - FREE

Take a Step Toward Action

I was recently told this "blonde joke" and of all the ones I've heard, this one was different and actually has some meaning hidden beneath the humor. Now I know blonde jokes are all kind of passe' and only offer a mild chuckle at most, besides, most of the blondes I've met are pretty smart. For the sake of this story, we'll just call the main character, a "poor soul".


A poor soul was at the end of their rope and was losing all hope. This soul worked and worked and still could barely get by. They had a mortgage to pay, a car payment, a family to feed, shoes and warm clothes to buy for the kids, the light bill, gas to get to work, and a neverending list of expenses.

The poor soul saw no end to this frustration and saw no way out of this predicament. It had been a long time since he prayed, but he was so overwhelmed he fell to his knees and said, "Oh Lord, if you could let me win the lottery, all my problems will be solved, please just let me win the lottery so I have the money to pay my bills."

The poor soul began to feel hopeful, but as the week went on and pressure from the bill collectors mounted he got more and more nervous. Not to mention having to keep his family fed. A week went by and nothing had happened, no big money yet. So he got on his knees again, and this time prayed even harder and louder, "Oh Lord, if you could let me win the lottery, all my problems will be solved, please just let me win the lottery so I have the money to pay my bills."

Well, another week went by and trouble was really closing in. The house payment was overdue, the car was about to be repossessed, the cabinets were almost empty, and the kids needed new shoes and winter clothes. No money yet. So he prayed again, this time even harder than before.

Then another week went by and another, and each week the poor soul prayed harder and harder, there was still no money, and things were really getting desperate. He didn't know what to do or why his prayers had not been answered.

After a few weeks the poor soul worked himself into such a state of worry, fury and desperation he finally got so mad he looked up to the sky, shook his fist and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Lord why can't you let me win the lottery so I can have the money to pay my bills and feed my family, I've been praying with all my might for weeks and nothing, you know I need it, why can't you just let me win the lottery..."

All of the sudden, during all of this stomping, fist shaking, and shouting; the Almighty himself appeared before him. The poor soul froze, then stood there very humbled, quiet, and waiting; and then the Almighty spoke...


" Work with me man... Buy a lottery ticket ! "



Yeah, this was actually told to me as a blonde joke about a single mom with kids and was delivered a little "lighter" than it appears in print. It was funny when I first heard it, but then it kind of made me think, the reality of this is no laughing matter at all, but I do believe there is a subtle message, so I recrafted it into this little tale. Do you detect the hidden message?

This story says to me on some level that if we expect miracles and great things to come our way we at least have to take a step toward making it a reality. Sure the metaphor in this anecdote is a lottery ticket, but that ticket can represent just about anything, especially our goals and desires.

Be it success in your business, starting a new project, penning that novel, composing that song or just making ends meet; it requires more than just wishing and hoping. Having belief and faith are important but action and taking the first steps toward our goals are what's most important.

The longer we procrastinate and put off what we know we must do, the longer it takes to realize our goals. Don't worry about how you're going to get there or if you stumble along the way. Just get started and take action toward something you really want and you'll be that much closer.

To Ning or Not to Ning?

To ning or not to ning? By ning, I'm referring to the Ning network, one of the largest social networks on the web, especially for online marketers. This social networking platform allows you to start your own networking community without having to start from scratch or having to know any coding or pay for any hosting to do so. You can also join many of the preexisting networks that interest you and there is an endless selection of topics.

Once a member of one network in Ning you can easily search for other networks to join or even start your own. It offers many convenient features such as your own built in blog, the ability to upload photos and video, forums and message capabilities. You can also post links and banners to your other websites. Another nice feature is your friends from one network automatically become your friends on the next.

Well,, with all of these features why wouldn't you want to take advantage of such an available and accessible place to network? Well, to put it simply, there is a lot of marketing that goes on within Ning. Like the countless other social networks you can plan on being pitched to and pitched often.

The thing I noticed with Ning however, is the marketing tends to be a little more on the aggressive side. Depending on which network you are in specifically, full out marketing seems to be the norm. This wasn't as apparent to me upon joining my first Ning group, as it was set up as a community and training area for a specific opportunity. However, as time went on and I was invited to join other networks, I began to see a pattern of aggressive marketing.

Don't get me wrong, I am an internet marketer myself and finding creative ways to promote your business is what it's all about. Just be sure you know what you're in for when joining a Ning group. If you can't handle the added influx of friend requests and opportunity pitches to your inbox, then I would think twice before jumping in, but if you realize this is just part of the process, then give it a try.

The Ning network does offer an excellent platform for existing businesses to meet, set up shop, share training, updates, and marketing strategies. In fact, I've gotten some of my best information through my Ning associations. It really depends on who is behind the group that is important. If you find the group you have joined isn't your cup of tea, you can always delete your account.

Overall, I would say it's a fun network to belong to. There are categories for about every kind of interest imaginable. Sure the marketing is aggressive but I'm at a stage where my descretion is pretty good when it comes to fielding pitches. The rules tend to be a little looser as far as the selling goes so be prepared to be pitched. It tends to taper off once you're a member of the same group for a while. I'm interested in your thoughts or experience with Ning. Leave a comment by clicking on "comments" and bookmarks are appreciated.