Americans receiving jobless benefits hits record

Associated Press

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER , 01.29.09, 10:31 AM EST The number of people receiving unemployment benefits has reached an all-time record, the government said Thursday, and more layoffs are spreading throughout the economy.

The Labor Department reported that the number of Americans continuing to claim unemployment insurance for the week ending Jan. 17 was a seasonally adjusted 4.78 million, the highest on records dating back to 1967. That's an increase of 159,000 from the previous week and worse than economists' expectations of 4.65 million.

As a proportion of the work force, the tally of unemployment benefit recipients is the highest since August 1983, a department analyst said.

The total released by the department doesn't include about 1.7 million people receiving benefits under an extended unemployment compensation program authorized by Congress last summer. That means the total number of recipients is actually closer to 6.5 million people.

Businesses continued to hemorrhage jobs Thursday. Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F - news - people ) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $5.9 billion and said its credit arm would cut 20 percent of its work force, or 1,200 jobs. Eastman Kodak Co. (nyse: EK - news - people ) said it's cutting 3,500 to 4,500 jobs, or 14 to 18 percent of its work force, as it posted a $137 million quarterly loss on plunging sales of photography products.

BATS Real-Time Market Data by XigniteIn another sign of the deepening recession, the Commerce Department said Thursday that new orders for durable goods dropped by 2.6 percent last month, even worse than the 2 percent decline economists expected. Orders fell 5.7 percent for the year, the second biggest drop on government records, exceeded only by a 10.7 percent plunge in 2001.

The financial markets fell on the news. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped about 110 points in morning trading. The tally of Americans filing new jobless benefit claims rose slightly to a seasonally adjusted 588,000 last week, from a downwardly revised figure of 585,000 the previous week. That also was worse than analysts' forecast of 575,000 new claims.
The number of initial claims is close to the 26-year high of 589,000 reached in late December, though the work force has grown by about half since then.

The record number of ongoing benefit claims is an indication that laid-off workers are having a difficult time finding new jobs, economists said.

"This highlights the key point that the trend in gross hirings has slowed as abruptly as the trend in gross firings ... has risen," Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist for High Frequency Economics, wrote in a research note.

A year ago, continuing claims stood at about 2.7 million, less than half their current level when the extended unemployment program is included.

Abiel Reinhart, an economic analyst at JPMorgan Chase (nyse: JPM - news - people ), said the report indicates the unemployment rate likely rose this month. January's figure will be released Feb. 6.

The rate jumped to 7.2 percent in December, a 16-year high. Employers cut an average of 510,000 jobs in the last three months of 2008, and may cut a similar amount in January, Reinhart said.

The crush of new and continuing claims has overwhelmed many states' ability to process them all. Electronic filing systems crashed in three states earlier this month, and last week Michigan said it would hire 276 workers and open a fourth call center to handle increased phone traffic.
President Barack Obama's $819 billion economic stimulus package, approved by the House Wednesday and now on its way to the Senate, would provide $500 million to the states to upgrade their unemployment insurance systems. The measure also continues the extended unemployment compensation program, which adds up to 33 weeks of benefits, until the end of the year.

Companies have announced a huge number of layoffs this week as they prepare for an extended period of economic weakness. Economists expect the current recession, which began in December 2007, to be the longest since World War II.

Starbucks Corp. (nasdaq: SBUX - news - people ) on Wednesday said it would cut 6,700 jobs. The coffee company also said it would close 300 underperforming stores, on top of 600 it already planned to shut down.

Time Warner (nyse: TWX - news - people ) Inc.'s AOL division is cutting up to 700 jobs, or about 10 percent of the online unit's work force. And IBM Corp. (nyse: IBM - news - people ) has cut thousands of jobs in its sales, software and hardware divisions in the past week, without announcing specific numbers.

Boeing (nyse: BA - news - people ) Co., Pfizer Inc. (nyse: PFE - news - people ), Home Depot Inc. (nyse: HD - news - people ) and other U.S. corporate titans also have announced tens of thousands of job cuts this week alone.

Companies have announced about 130,000 layoffs in January, according to an Associated Press tally.

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Eldon Beard: How Network Marketing Cures the Linear Income Problem

By: Eldon Beard | Posted: 25-01-2009

What is "linear income" or "residual income", and what does this mean to you? These terms explain the difference between income you make from working a traditional job, and income you receive from your own network marketing business.

Let's take a look at the difference, and what it means to you.

Linear income is what you earn at a traditional job. You only get paid when you are actively working. Regardless of whether you're paid hourly, on commission, or on salary, your income is based on the time and effort that you and you alone put in.

One of the bad things about linear income is that you don't have many options. If you decide to work fewer hours, for whatever reason, your income will immediately drop. In the case of a salaried position, you may not even have an option to work fewer hours. This seriously limits flexibility for parents who wish to spend more time with their kids. If you want more from life that working at a boring job all the time, you'll typically be limited in your choices.

If you're stuck in this rut, you know what frustration is all about. How much you get paid and any raises you get are dictated by your boss, or a board of directors somewhere. Your boss controls your hours, the time you get up in the morning, when you can have a vacation, and in some cases what you do on your own time. You have a job as long as your supervisors like you or think you're useful - no longer.

In recent years, the trend in America has been for companies to cut positions and assign increased responsibilities to fewer workers. How many people do you know that do the same job, by themselves, that two or more people did just a few years ago?

While there is nothing wrong with working hard, and cutting costs to remain competitive, the fact is that employees in many companies now face much longer hours and greater responsibility. Along with this comes increased stress and unhappiness.

How do most people live their life? They go to work day after day, hoping to make it to retirement age so they can get out. Do you know what is really sad? By the time many people reach retirement age, they still find themselves limited in what they are able to do. Many dream of retirement so they can travel, or just sit back and enjoy life.

Unfortunately, far too many retire and then have to re-enter the work force on a part time basis to make ends meet. They most likely will always have to keep a job just to pay all their bills and live comfortably. It just shouldn't be this way.

A lot of people think that there are only two ways to make a "real" living - working a traditional job, or owning a storefront business (such as a franchise). Feeling that they have little choice, they easily slip into a rut. They get up, go to work, come home, then go to bed. The next day, it starts all over and repeats until they reach the weekend. They get two whole days to enjoy themselves, then it starts all over again....get up, go to work, come home, go to bed. Month after month, year after year.

Now, here is the contrast between linear income and residual income.

Let's say I write an e-book called "How to Make Your Cat Obedient". Yeah right. Anyway, I write the e-book and package it up ready to download.

Scenario #1 - I have been hired to write the e-book by an online publisher. The publisher pays me $1000 when I complete the project. That is linear income. I make $1000 one time for my work in writing the e-book, then move on to a different job or project.

Scenario #2 - I write the e-book and put up a web page to promote it. I advertise the e-book and recruit some affiliates to help me sell it. Every time someone buys a copy of my e-book, I make a net profit of $20. This happens every time someone purchases my e-book, for as long as I choose to sell it. Once I have written the e-book and set it up for sale, it makes money for me while I move on to other things. This is residual income.

See the difference?

Linear income equals one project, task, or block of time for your efforts in exchange for a fixed amount of money. You never get paid again for that project, task, or block of your time.

Residual income = one project, task, or block of time for your efforts that pays you over and over.

Perhaps it's time for a change? A network marketing business can change your life. This business can bring you more freedom and flexibility than you've ever known.

If this sounds interesting, are you willing to focus and work hard for 3-5 years establishing your own home business and building a full time income? Consider it seriously - it's a decision that can change your life.

About the Author:
Eldon Beard is an entrepreneur who enjoys helping people start their own network marketing / MLM business, or successfully promote their existing business. He is a recognized leader with Watkins Products, and is ready to help in any way possible.

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-network-marketing-cures-the-linear-income-problem-738134.html

--

Regards,

Charles C. Primas

WWW.CHARLESPRIMAS.COM
WWW.DETROITBUSINESSTODAY.NET

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The Restructuring of American Business

Trend: Jobs will be short-term in the flexible businesses of the future. Employees become independent contractors.

A paper presented by Herb Meyer at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland which was attended by most of the CEOs from all the major international corporations. Meyer served during the Reagan administration as special assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council. In these positions, he managed production of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimates and other top-secret projections for the President and his national security advisers. Meyer is widely credited with being the first senior U.S. Government official to forecast the Soviet Union's collapse, for which he later was awarded the U.S. National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the intelligence community's highest honor. Formerly an associate editor of FORTUNE, he is also the author of several books.

Restructuring of American Business

The restructuring of American business means we are coming to the end of the age of the employer and employee. With all this fracturing of businesses into different and smaller units, employers can't guarantee jobs anymore because they don't know what their companies will look like next year. Everyone is on their way to becoming an independent contractor.

The new workforce contract will be: Show up at the my office five days a week and do what I want you to do, but you handle your own insurance, benefits, health care and everything else. Husbands and wives are becoming economic units. They take different jobs and work different shifts depending on where they are in their careers and families. They make trade offs to put together a compensation package to take care of the family.

This used to happen only with highly educated professionals with high incomes. Now it is happening at the level of the factory floor worker.

Couples at all levels are designing their compensation packages based on their individual needs. The only way this can work is if everything is portable and flexible, which requires a huge shift in the American economy.

The U.S is in the process of building the world's first 21st century model economy. The only other countries doing this are U.K. and Australia. The model is fast, flexible, highly productive and unstable in that it is always fracturing and re-fracturing. This will increase the economic gap between the U.S. and everybody else, especially Europe and Japan.

At the same time, the military gap is increasing. Other than China, we are the only country that is continuing to put money into their military. Plus, we are the only military getting on-the-ground military experience through our war in Iraq. We know which high-tech weapons are working and which ones aren't. There is almost no one who can take us on economically or militarily.

There has never been a superpower in this position before. On the one hand, this makes the U.S. a magnet for bright and ambitious people. It also makes us a target. We are becoming one of the last holdouts of the traditional Judeo-Christian culture. There is no better place in the world to be in business and raise children. The U.S. is by far the best place to have an idea, form a business and put it into the marketplace.

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Business
http://www.charlesprimas.com/

Kirk Bannerman: The Three Main Powers Of Network Marketing

Kirk Bannerman

Network Marketing, MLM, and Multi Level Marketing are all terms that refer to the same type of business model. This industry has had more than its share of scumbag crooks and con artists that have used and abused the concept. However, if you do your homework and get involved with a legitimate network marketing organization, this business model has exceptional income potential.

Network Marketing can produce outstanding results if you know a few simple concepts, the understanding of which is critical to your success.

Network Marketing, MLM, and Multilevel Marketing are unlike franchises or conventional businesses in that they take advantage of all three of the important, yet misunderstood principles of:

1. Leverage of Time and Money
2. Residual Income
3. Geometric Growth Through Duplication

Unfortunately these principles are not well understood by many of the people that undertake network marketing. And thats just one of many reasons why so many fail at network marketing. There are lots of other reasons, and it would take volumes to cover them all. But this is one of the more common ones. Because if you dont comprehend and believe in these principles, its impossible to help others fully understand and appreciate them.

First, lets look at LEVERAGE:

Every successful person or business takes advantage of leverage. There are only 24 hours in a day and no matter how talented you are or how much you get paid per hour, if you dont take advantage of leverage youre limited by the number of hours in a day. As a side note, I have heard of cases where an occasional lawyer was billing more than 24 hours per day…but, I guess that’s another story. By learning to leverage your time, you can also benefit from a percentage of other peoples efforts, and dramatically increase your income while creating more free time for yourself.

The unique and wonderful thing about the Network Marketing business model is that everyone has the same opportunity to become the owner of his or her own business - with a fraction of the investment of time and money of a franchise or traditional business.

In network marketing the people at the top definitely have a vested interest in helping others on their team succeed.

Would you rather receive 100% of one persons efforts, or 5% of the efforts of 100 people

Obviously 100% of one is always only ONE. But 5% of 100 is FIVE.

Not only will the total result with leverage almost always be amplified, but your income is not dependent on only one person. If your income is produced by the activities of many, it is much more dependable. Even if something unexpected or negative happens to one or more of those people, it only has a minor effect on the total production.

Its great to get paid while you're sleeping or away on vacation. That's one of the many advantages of leveraging your time.

Now, lets consider RESIDUAL INCOME:

When someone mentions residual income many people automatically think of actors or musicians.

Residual income is recurring income that you continue to receive long after the work youve done to produce it has ended. There are lots of ways to produce residual income. However, many people dont understand it, and still others have never thought about or been exposed to it.

A very simple example of residual income is interest earned on money in the bank or investments. You continue to receive this income without having to invest any more time to produce it.

Suppose you had the choice of doing a job and earning $1,000 once, or getting paid $50/month for the rest of your life…which would you choose If you chose the $50/month you obviously “get” the concept of residual income.

Clearly, $50/month will surpass a single payment of $1,000 relatively quickly. And if it lasts for a few years, or better yet - the rest of your life - it will really be a blessing.

Residual income is certainly not about “getting rich quickly”, even though with the right opportunity its possible to produce a substantial residual income stream in a relatively short time.

Most people who fail at network marketing either choose the wrong network organization or just give up too soon and quit because they expect overnight results. It is important to recognize that the real beauty of residual income is on the back end, not the front, and that once you build it you have the financial security and time flexibility to do just about anything you desire for the rest of your life!

Last, but not least, lets address GEOMETRIC GROWTH DUPLICATION:

The classic illustration of geometric growth is the frequently used penny-a-day example.

If you save one penny on the first day, and double it every successive day, day two you have 2 pennies and day three you have 4 pennies, and so on how much will you have at the end of 30 days

The answer, to the astonishment of many, is $5,368,708! Amazing, but true.

Thats a simple and dramatic illustration of how networking can work. If I can teach you, Ive doubled myself. If we each teach someone else, weve doubled again. As this duplication or geometric growth process goes on and on, it can produce some amazing results in a relatively short period of time, just like the penny example above.

So there you have it, understand and apply these three principles

1. Leverage of Time and Money
2. Residual Income
3. Geometric Growth Through Duplication

and, given sufficient time and effort, you should enjoy a successful and financially rewarding network marketing experience.

About The Author

Kirk Bannerman operates a successful home based business and resides in California. For more details, visit his website at http://business-at-home.us

Posted on: January 19, 2009

Filed under: Internet Marketing and Online Business

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Starting up: Starting your own business takes courage, but it's well worth it

January 15, 2009

Here are 5 things you should consider if you've ever thought about going from an employee to an employer.

"The owner of my company has no idea what he is doing!"

What's the biggest difference between employers and employees? Experience? Education? Expertise?

The true answer might surprise you: courage.

Most employees are afraid to take the scary financial leap of faith that their boss took. And considering that the overwhelming majority of people aren't willing to make the sacrifices needed to own or run their own businesses, the rank-in-file will naively hold to unfair misconceptions.

As an employer myself, I'd like to let everyone know that gutsy entrepreneurs can succeed, even in today's business climate. Here are a few valuable lessons I've learned along the way:

1. It is extraordinarily difficult to become rich working for someone else. As Americans, we are lucky in that we live in a country with a gross domestic product that exceeds those of the next five countries combined. In December, I traveled across three continents and became aware that no other country offers the same opportunities we have here in the good ol' USA. If you are dedicated and willing to work, consider becoming rich while working for your favorite boss: You.

2. Estimate how much money it takes to run your own business, then double it. Felix Dennis, a famous magazine publisher, described how to get capital: inherit it, steal it, win it, marry it, earn it or borrow it. I certainly don't advocate stealing it (and few of us are lucky enough to marry, win or inherit it), which means most of us must earn or borrow it. But never underestimate the financial requirements of getting a traditional business off the ground. If money is tight, consider a business that needs little startup capital such as a home-based or network-marketing business. Using other people's money means you play by their rules - which leads me to the golden rule: He who has the gold, rules.

3. A partnership is like a marriage without love. While a good business partner can take a business to dizzying heights, a bad partner can send it plummeting to its doom. Draft a solid legal document that clearly states the terms, rules and expectations of the partnership. Nothing clouds the memory like greed and time. Spending $500 with an attorney now can save you years of heartache and precious financial resources in the future.

4. Darling, luck favors the prepared. Thank you Edna "E" Mode for that insight. Luck rarely finds those unwilling to take a chance. Sweat, passion and perseverance are the most important ingredients to "getting lucky."

5. Take a leap and a net will appear. Don't jump without a plan.

But don't wait for every light to be green before you pull out of the driveway.

Owning and running your own business isn't always fun and games. Even the most prepared bosses encounter bumps along the way. But nothing of value comes without sacrifice and effort.

If you've got the courage, I strongly urge you to consider working for yourself. Words can't describe the feeling of watching your business flourish.

Jeffery Boyle is president and CEO of JUS International, a Boise maker of a new antioxidant beverage.

Starting Up is a series published on Thursdays. The columns grew from discussions between the Statesman and local tech and entrepreneurial leaders and are coordinated by Julie Howard, a marketing specialist for the Idaho Department of Commerce. Reach her at julie.howard@commerce.idaho.gov.

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Direct marketing firm flourishes despite economy

Posted at: 01/05/2009 04:57:54 PM

Updated at: 01/05/2009 05:35:51 PM

By: Mark Mulholland

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s729809.shtml

GREENFIELD CENTER - With many sectors of our economy struggling, at least one seems to be flourishing -- direct or home-based marketing. It's called network marketing, and those who are doing it say it's recession-proof. "I kind of saw the writing on the wall and knew there was a really good chance I wouldn't have a job starting January 1st," said Libby Howe, who lost her job last week. Howe, a new mom, was a pharmaceutical sales representative. "Pounding down doors, trying to talk to doctors everyday," is how she described her job. When the company downsized, Howe, with 12-week-old Avery at their Ballston Spa home, had to decide what to do next. "It was either I'm going to have to build my life around my work or I could find a job where I could build my work around my life," she said. Libby chose Arbonne International. She's a consultant, an independent distributor of health and beauty products. Says she likes the idea of doing it on her time. She's not alone. Beth Tooker of Greenfield Center, Arbonne's regional vice president, says since the economy's been struggling her company's been taking off. "Arbonne is exploding and we are so excited to see the growth. One huge reason for that is many people's expenses are rising so much faster than their incomes," Tooker said. A former school social worker, Tooker's income has risen dramatically since joining Arbonne and becoming regional vice president. She says there are thousands of people in her company making six figures and her husband is planning to retire from teaching at 40 because her business is so successful, especially in a down economy. "Many people are looking to improve how they look and feel and when all of the other pieces in their life are falling apart, that's one thing they can control," Tooker said. Tooker says the company had 64 percent more consultants in 2008 than 2007. Typical startup costs are between $500 and $1,500.

3 Deadliest Sins In Network Marketing

Posted by Reyn | January 8, 2009

As a network marketer yourself, you may have come across many temptations and pitfalls that could hinder you from getting your desired outcome.

In this post, I’m going to talk about some of the mistakes most networkers made. All of them are the result of wrong mindset, misinformation and misjudgment.

Here are 3 deadliest network marketing sins that need to be avoided at all costs and how to avoid them.

1. Joining Too Many Programs at the Same Time

   This is the most common mistake networkers make. Dreaming of multiple streams of income, they often end up with drained pocket. If you have more than one programs running concurrently, your focus will inevitably be divided.

   It will be hard if you’re a beginner. You might not know how to run the system yet. In the beginning, your objective is to understand how network marketing works. Start with one program and stick with it. In reality, a lot of network marketing heavy hitters only have one program until the end.

   You don’t have to worry about multiple income streams. The growth of your organization is exponential. It means that after you reach a certain critical level, your team will grow significantly and it’s better to maintain the growth of your current team rather than making a new one.

2. Having a Get Rich Quick Mindset

   The biggest illusion in network marketing is making a lot of money…tomorrow. 97% of network marketers fail because their objectives are not met, but it’s not because of the system that is not working, it’s the objectives that are unrealistic. I’ve come across many people set a very high income goal, tried a few methods, failed to meet their target on the first round, blaming the industry and their sponsor and then quit. All happened after a few weeks…some even after a few days.

   The system of network marketing is effective for making money, but the result won’t come instantly. Network marketing is designed to build residual income slowly but steadily. You won’t be rich by tomorrow. Maybe 6 months, maybe 2 years, maybe 5 years…I can’t guarantee. But it’s definitely faster than waiting for your retirement.

3. Having Doubt in the Nature Network Marketing Business

   Surprisingly, many distributors have serious doubt about the nature of network marketing or MLM. You will know this when you ask them, “is this a MLM program?” To this many will answer, “Uhmm, it’s not really MLM… you just need to recruit new people under you.” Well, then it’s MLM!

   The root cause of this doubt is in the misconception people had about network marketing. In the past, there were many irresponsible people making money fraudulently through pyramid scheme, disguised as network marketing. Pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, usually without any product or service being delivered.

   Pyramid scheme is illegal but I assure you that network marketing is 100% legitimate. Be proud being in one of the most beautiful business models and don’t be afraid to tell your prospects that you ARE a network marketer.

Reyn Aria

Real Life Internet Network Marketer

Internet Marketing Tactics For These Tough Times (From Google and Me!)

Internet Marketing tactics to help you through the tough months ahead. Some tips directly from Google & some tips from a seasoned, full-time online affiliate marketer.

by Titus HoskinsJanuary 09, 2009

As we enter into what many enlightened souls are calling the most dire economic times since the Great Depression, online marketers need all the help they can get - regardless of the source. You have probably heard of Google; but chances are almost 100% certain, you have never heard of me. Lucky you!

Actually, the only thing you need to know about me is that I am a full-time online affiliate marketer and I make a very comfortable living from the web. Last year (2008), was my best year online so far, which left me scratching my head and saying what recession?

But that may be something of a false positive, as I will never know how much I could have made if the economic times had been good instead of bad. Plus, judging from my own limited experience, selling and marketing online may not have been hit as hard as those businesses in the real world in 2008, since consumers are doing everything to save a penny and shopping online has become a much cheaper
alternative for many.

As we enter into these uncertain times, online marketers and webmasters need all the help they can get. Recently, Google mailed a small booklet to its Adsense users; in it Google gives "6 Top Tactics For Tough Times."

It is obviously referring to its Adwords PPC (Pay Per Click) program and clients but Google's advice can be applied to your own general online marketing.

These tactics include: (quoting directly from the Google mail-out)

1. Focus your ads on low prices and savings.

2. Use Value-related keywords.

3. Ensure your ad groups are targeted and relevant.

4. Don't waste money on irrelevant clicks.

5. Make it easy for customers to buy.

6. Focus your money on your high-performers.
(End Quote)

Sound advice and I especially like the idea of focusing your marketing on low prices and savings mainly because people want bargains in tight economic times. I also like the fact that you must make it easy for your customers to buy... something as simple as putting your "order/buy link" above the fold can increase your conversions.

Also, targeting value-related keywords, is a very effective marketing tactic. Relating your keywords to "discounts, bargains, cheap, inexpensive, lowest prices..." will help increase your sales. So too, is catering to phrases that suggest the searcher is in a buying mind-set: gifts, presents, gift ideas, wedding gifts... shoppers searching those words are ready to buy.

Plus, focusing your time and money on your high-performers is solid advice. Sometimes succeeding online is simply finding a market niche that works/performs - then running with it. Once you have found the keywords and products that perform well with your site or sites - focus the majority of your time and energy developing those niche markets.

Now here are some of my most effective marketing tactics that have worked for me and tactics I will be relying on in the coming years - even in these hard times.

o Make Keywords Your #1 Goal

This is the single most important factor for my own online success. You have to make keywords and ranking high for them in all the search engines your main objective if you're marketing online. Might sound obvious, but many beginning marketers don't truly understand how important getting top rankings for your chosen keywords will be in your online success.

Target less competitive long tail (multi-worded) keywords to get started and slowly work your way up to more popular keywords. Center your marketing around getting those first page listings (Top Five) for your keywords. Achieve this goal, (especially in Google) and it will be almost impossible for you not to succeed and make a profit with your online marketing even in bad times.

o Autoresponders, List Building & Online Relationships

Keeping in contact with potential buyers is mission critical. You must use autoresponders to send follow-up messages to build trustful relationships with your potential customers. Establishing this personal contact or trust is very important because the Internet is still a cold distrustful environment for most people.

So building a large contact list is essential. That's why the social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace can be very effective marketing tools for building this online contact and trust. Truth be told, all these social networks are, more or less, just glorified autoresponders and list builders!

o Your Unique Selling Position

You must give potential customers some very good reasons for them to buy from you or your links. Offering special bonuses and discounts works wonders for your sales. Some of my most successful pages simply consists of coupons and discounts offered by different companies. If buyers can save $100's OFF by buying thru your links, they will.

Always remember, besides looking for the best deal or bargain, consumers are also looking for a quality product. If you're into affiliate marketing, only pick top quality products to promote. Picking top brand names also makes it easier to make sales. So too is only promoting popular online merchants like Amazon, can be an effective marketing strategy. Most importantly, always remember consumers are also looking for INFORMATION on the products they are considering buying, give them helpful information and you will succeed.

o Find A Niche You Enjoy

There are millions of profitable niche markets you can choose from - pick one that truly interests you and run with it. Your favorite hobby or something you enjoy doing in your spare-time. Picking a niche market that you like is a key factor, you won't mind spending your time exploring and exploiting it. Just won't seem like work because you will be having fun while you do your marketing.

o Go With The Flow

If you're marketing online, you have to follow what's working for you. Most times you will try countless ideas or tactics - once you have found a process or system that works, really work it or scale it up. Making your first dollar is the hardest, but once you do something that earns you that dollar, just repeat that "something" a thousand times.

Tracking what works is very important so keep a close eye on your site's traffic logs to find where your customers are coming from. Something like Google Analytics is simply priceless for "fine-tuning" your site and your online marketing. It will tell you what's working and what's not.

o Target Recurring or Residual Income

One of my most effective marketing strategies is to promote and sell products and services that give you a recurring or residual income. Make one sale and get paid for years or for the life of that referred client. Concentrate on services like web-hosting, telephone, marketing programs... once customers sign up to these services, they will likely keep them for years. I am still earning income from sales I made five years ago.

Building a large residual income could be the key to surviving in tough economic times. This will be income which will carry you or your business over the rough patches since it is based upon past performance and not on your current selling situation.


o Target the Right Customers And Markets

The biggest advantage of marketing online is you can precisely target your customers and your markets. One tactic I use is to target customers who are likely to buy more than one unit of what you're selling. For example, if you target Corporate Business Gifts, a boss or employer will not be buying just one coffee mug but ten or even hundreds of mugs.

Even in tough times, seasonal markets will still perform... back to school, mother's day, Halloween, Christmas market... things might slow down but these markets will still perform even in tough times.

o Automate Everything

The real beauty of marketing online and using computers... you can automate just about every process in your marketing system. Make it a point of automating everything you do... use autoresponders to follow-up with potential buyers, use automatic check-outs, automatic reporting... just set-up your whole online marketing system that runs itself with little or no supervision from you. This will free up your time to concentrate all your efforts on marketing/promoting your site or product. Besides, nothing beats coming back from a vacation and finding out you have earned the cost of your vacation and then some - all the while you were lying in the sun and miles away from any computer.

o Find The Top Online Marketers

If you're just starting with online marketing, you need to find the top successful marketers and "model" what they're doing. This is relatively a new industry and you have to seek out the experts and pioneers who have set the groundwork. When I first started marketing online, I was quite fortunate to come into contact with some web marketing heavy-weights such as Marlon Sanders, Ken Evoy, Neil Shearing... and SEO experts like Brad Callen and Aaron Wall.

Often it is just a matter of finding the right "mentor" to follow. You need to study their techniques to improve your own marketing. Perhaps my best advice would be this: find the top online marketers and stick to them like glue!

o Make Google Your Friend

Whether you love or hate Google doesn't matter, you just have to make it your number one ally in your online marketing. Google has just about conquered the world-wide search market, Yahoo and MSN are still important, but Google is the deal-breaker when you're selling stuff online. Consumers have enormous respect for Google, a number one listing for a lucrative keyword simply means money in the bank. Marketers must realize Google will play a significant role in their online success and may play an ever increasing role in these tough economic times.

I have found using Google Search, Google Adwords, and Google Adsense have played a more than significant role in the success of my own online sites and marketing. Google tools such as Google Analytics, Google Alerts, Webmaster Tools... all have been invaluable and an enormous help in achieving my "web-based" lifestyle and livelihood. Of course, Google has also driven me around the bend more times than I can count, but no one is perfect.

Besides, when it's all said and done, anyone marketing on the web must truly embrace Google if they want to reach their highest level possible. In good times and especially in these bad times, you must make Google your friend. Your best friend. Even your BFF. When all else fails, trust in Google, forget that other guy. Then again, you better not; for you're going to need all the help you can get in these coming tough times, regardless of the source.


Titus Hoskins

Everyone has a story. Mine is called: "In Search Of The $100 Click or How I Found A Full-Time Online Income And Came To Love The Internet" It's located here: Online Income© 2009 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Titus Hoskins has written 34 articles for PromotionWorld.
View all articles by Titus Hoskins

Job losses stack up as recession deepens

Jan 9, 4:42 AM (ET)

By JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) - Trying to survive a deepening recession, employers are cutting their work forces to the bone, leaving more Americans unemployed and with dim prospects of finding a new job any time soon.

The Labor Department releases a report Friday expected to show the employment market turned worse in December, capping a year when job losses were logged every month.

With employers throttling back hiring, the unemployment rate is expected to jump from 6.7 percent in November to 7 percent in December, according to economists' forecasts. If they are right, that would mark the highest jobless rate in 15-1/2 years.

Nervous employers probably axed another 550,000 jobs last month, economists forecast. That would bring the net number of jobs lost for all of 2008 to 2.46 million. Some however, think the number of jobs cut last month will be higher - 600,000 or 700,000.

If the conservative 2.4 million estimate of net payroll reductions for 2008 proves correct, it would mark the first annual job loss since the previous recession in 2001. It also would be the worst year of job losses since 1945, when employers slashed nearly 2.8 million jobs, though the number of jobs in the U.S. has more than tripled since then.

Employers are chopping costs as they try to cope with dwindling appetite from customers in the United States as well as in other countries, which are struggling with their own economic problems.

The U.S. recession, which just entered its second year, is already the longest in a quarter century, and is likely to stretch on well into this year. The fact that the country is battling a housing collapse, a lockup in lending and the worst financial crisis since the 1930s make the current downturn especially dangerous.

All the problems have forced consumers and companies alike to retrench, feeding into a vicious cycle that Washington policymakers are finding difficult to break.

President-elect Barack Obama says a bold approach is needed to bust through this cycle and revive economy.

"I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible," he said Thursday.

"If nothing is done, this recession could linger," Obama warned. "The unemployment rate could reach double digits."

Obama, who takes over Jan. 20, is promoting a massive package of tax cuts and government spending that could total $775 billion over two years. With add-ons by lawmakers, the package could swell to $850 billion, his advisers say.

Even with a new government stimulus, the unemployment rate is expected to keep rising this year. Some think it could hit 9 percent or 10 percent at the end of this year.

This week alone, drugstore operator Walgreen Co. (WAG), managed care provider Cigna Corp. (CI) (CI), aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. (AA) (AA), data-storage company EMC Corp. (EMC) and computer products maker Logitech International all announced major layoffs to cope with the recession.

State sees downturn deepening

Friday, December 19, 2008

Senate Fiscal Agency reports jobless rate to hit double digits, budget deficit to grow.
Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

LANSING -- The jobless rate in recession-wracked Michigan will climb into double digits the next two years, plunging the state budget $265 million in the red in the coming year and leaving it with a whopping $1.5 billion deficit in 2010, according to a state economic forecast released Thursday.

The unemployment rate, 9.6 percent in November, will average 10.6 percent in 2009 and 11.3 percent in 2010, says the Senate Fiscal Agency report. That assessment, by the financial arm of the Michigan Senate, will be used next month along with similar reviews by the House Fiscal Agency and the Michigan Treasury Department to revise the state revenue picture.
In raw numbers, the state is expected to lose 203,000 jobs, or nearly 5 percent of its work force next year, followed by the loss of another 105,000 jobs, or 2.6 percent of state employment, the following year. The state has lost more than 530,000 jobs since 2000, many in the manufacturing sector as the auto industry restructuring takes a heavy toll.
The forecast is even more pessimistic than the dismal University of Michigan version that came out late last month, which forecast the loss of 123,000 jobs next year and 49,000 in 2010.
Auto sales will total 13.1 million vehicles this year and fall to a low of 10.5 million vehicles in 2009 before rebounding slightly to 11.9 million units in 2010, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency study -- which assumes that the domestic automakers will still be in business the next couple of years. These are also well below the U-M figures, which predicted 12.2 million unit sales next year and 13.6 million in two years.

"These are terrible numbers, once-in-a-lifetime numbers," said Gary Olson, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency. "This may be the worst economic forecast we've put out as long as I've been handling it," which totals 27 years.

Dana Johnson, economist at Comerica Bank, said the forecast appears to be "in the ballpark."
"I expect the national unemployment rate to keep rising to 8.5 percent to 9 percent next year, and to say Michigan's will be a couple points higher is very possible," he said. "It means at least another year of recession for Michigan. The structural problem in the auto industry against the backdrop of a weak national economy makes it very difficult for the state."

The cash-starved state budget is actually about $940 million short in the current budget year, which goes through next September. But a surplus of more than $600 million carried over from last year and $134 million in cuts already enacted by the governor and lawmakers earlier this month trim the deficit to a more manageable $265 million, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency forecast.

The report indicates a $1.5 billion shortfall for 2010 but notes that doesn't take into account a federal stimulus package coming early next year that could wipe out that debt -- should the state decide to use the money to balance its books. The package is being debated in Congress and is expected to win passage in late January or early February, after President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

But Olson warns "we'd only be kicking the can down the road," because the federal windfall is one-time cash that won't be included in Michigan's revenue base when it runs out in 2011.
Robert LaBrant, senior vice president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, underscored that point.

"It's time for the Legislature to stop putting band-aids on the problem and go for substantial and long-term reform," LaBrant said. "Stimulus packages come and go. Michigan has to address its fundamental structural problem."

The Senate Fiscal Agency report is far gloomier than the economic forecast consensus reached in May by the agency itself, the House Fiscal Agency and the Treasury. In that report, it was predicted the state unemployment rate would be 8.3 percent in 2009. But that was before the financial market collapse, the auto bailout attempt and the national recession declaration.
Terry Stanton, spokesman for Treasurer Robert Kleine, declined to comment on Thursday's report, saying its own numbers will be released next month, just prior to the Jan. 9 revenue estimating conference. House Fiscal Agency Director Mitchell Bean also said his report will be out the first week of January.

But in past years, the three forecasts generally have been similar.
You can reach Mark Hornbeck at (313) 222-2470 or mhornbeck@detnews.com.


Find this article at: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081219/METRO/812190342

Home-based business needs a plan

By JOHN R. PULLIAM

The Register-Mail

Posted Jan 03, 2009 @ 10:28 PM

---

GALESBURG —

Another new year is upon us. If last year brought a lay-off notice, here’s a question; is starting a home-based business an option?

Some experts have advice if you think a home-based business may help get your finances back on track.

According to Cher Murphy PR, a public relations agency with offices in Miami and Virginia that focus on small-business PR management, about 10.4 million people in the U.S. are self-employed. Somewhat surprisingly, 5.4 million of those individuals work from home.

The Murphy PR firm offers some suggestions you’ll get from most people. It may seem obvious, but first decide what type of business you want to start. Maybe work experience or even a hobby can be converted into a work-at-home business. For example, an unemployed secretary may start a typing or phone-answering service, or, if bold enough to tap into the high-tech market, a virtual-assistant secretarial service.

Next, create a business plan, which should describe goals and mission. You might be surprised at how many home-based businesses or other small businesses start with no idea why they exist. In this area, Cat Garza, manager of the Western Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, is the man to see about writing a business plan.

What may seem to be common sense can be overlooked when you’re focusing on the “big” ideas. For instance, make sure your business meets all of Illinois’ legal requirements. Do you need a license? Keep your costs as low as possible. This is, according to Cher Murphy PR, another good reason for a business plan. Make a list of expenses you absolutely must have.
Don’t make a tough time tougher by spending money on something that can wait until you are more established.

No business will succeed if no one knows it has opened. Regular readers of this newspaper have seen stories about everything from home-based wig shops to a woman who “declutters” the houses of people who can’t seem to get organized. If you’ve started a new small or home-based business, call or send an e-mail. It may interest us enough that we’ll write a story, which will be read by thousands of people. With the Internet, word will be spread across the country, valuable if you have a service that is as useful in Oneida, Ill., as Oneida, N.Y.

You also can take advantage of the newspaper’s free, new business listing. A form can even be ordered online. Of course, advertising is something you’ll eventually want to look into, although home-based businesses, especially, may first want to get off and running.

“All it takes to get (a home-based business) started and on the road to success is a plan, and putting that plan into motion,” Murphy said.

Some luck doesn’t hurt either, but all the luck in the world isn’t going to lead to success if you don’t lay the foundation upon which your business will be built.

Smart Online, a software company based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, has nine small business predictions for 2009; although not limited to home-based businesses. I predict space will keep me from listing all nine.

Among the suggestions are online networking among small business operators in the same area will become more popular and useful, new supplier relationships will be based on value and trust, more so than price, and, perhaps the most intriguing of all, “Barter makes a big comeback among small businesses as they seek to help each other out.”

Entrepreneurship is one of the Galesburg area’s economic development hopes for the future. Whether home-based, including online, or more traditional storefront small business, this option is likely to become the wave of the future in this area. Do your homework and talk to the experts before spending a lot of money on any idea, but if you’re drawing unemployment and fretting about your financial future, 2009 may be the year to try out your own business wings, especially if bailout plans make credit more readily available. Good luck.

Some small businesses grow and become tomorrow’s major employers.

John Pulliam is business editor of The Register-Mail. Contact him at jpulliam@register-mail.comj or 343-7181, Ext. 215.

Home businesses an option

In tough economy, more people starting up

December 31, 2008 6:00 AM

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are around 10.4 million people in the country who are self-employed and 5.4 million people who work from home. In the current downward economy in which 10.3 million people are unemployed, starting a home business may be their best option for finding suitable work to keep an income flowing into the house.

"Home-based businesses are so ideal because starting one is very cost effective. It keeps the overhead low, which helps increase the business's chances for success," said Cher Murphy, president of Cher Murphy PR, a public relations firm with offices in Miami and Virginia. "However, you can't just jump in without doing some planning first. All businesses need to follow some basic footsteps for success."

Here are a few helpful tips to follow when starting a home business:

Tapping into your talent.

The first thing that you need to do is decide what type of business to start. Most people have talents and work experience that they can easily convert to a work-at-home revenue stream. Make a list of all the experiences and talents you have, to see which one provides the best work-at-home opportunity.

For example, if you are an unemployed secretary, you may want to consider starting a virtual-assistant secretarial service, or a typing or phone-answering service. Alternatively, you could become a representative for another company, but you have to exercise caution in choosing which company to go with, in order to avoid scams.

Create a plan.

Even if it's handwritten, you should have a business plan that describes your goals and mission. This can be re-visited as needed, but setting goals will help you reach them.

Keep it legal.

After narrowing down a business name, be sure to check with your state to see what you legally need to operate. You may need a "doing business as" (DBA) or a business license, depending on what type of service you are offering.

Keep costs down.

In your business plan, include a list of all expected expenses. Try to avoid any that aren't absolutely necessary right then.

Avoid scams.

Remember, if it seems too good to be true, that it probably is. Advertisements making huge promises for easy ways to make thousands from home are most likely not legitimate. The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) offers information on avoiding scams, as well as how to report them if you find them.

Get the word out.

In order to get the news out about your new business, you will have to be proactive. Don't assume that, if you build it, they will come. You should have a professional-looking Web site and work with a public relations specialist to narrow down and tap into your customer base.

Be realistic.

When you set your goals, be sure to have realistic ideas about what you can make from home and what, logistically, you can do. Also, expect the first year to be slow as you work past the bumps in the road and build your customer list.

"Home-based businesses are great because they provide people with the opportunity to make a real living, from the comfort of their own home," said Murphy. "All it takes to get one started and on the road to success is a plan, and putting that plan into motion. For many, this is the right time to turn their dreams of having their own business into action."

MLM-The Perfect Internet Home Based Business

Just because you are searching for an internet home business, doesn't mean that you will find the right one. However, there is a right one and in many cases, the perfect home based business is found in Network Marketing.

December 28, 2008 ( PowerHomeBiz ) - South Carolina, USA -- How many people looking for an Internet home based business find their perfect match? Sadly, not many do. That is such a shame. Just because you are searching for an internet home business, doesn't mean that you will find the right one. However, there is a right one and in many cases, the perfect home based business is found in Network Marketing.

These are tough economic times and more often than not, the decision to start a home based business is not based on the desire to "make a few extra bucks" but instead is driven by the utter need to create a whole new income for the family. As such, the business you become a part of must be first rate-you simply are not in a position to fail.

The fact that you can actually work from home and make a full time income is incredible. Incredible or not, there are probably hundreds of thousands of people doing it right now. In fact, the Internet has many advantages over starting a "brick and mortar" business.

Consider these:

1. Always Open For Business: To start, the Internet is working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you are always open for business. As a result, you can be building your business and generating an income while sleeping. You can wake up in the morning with more clients than when you went to bed last night!

2. Business Partners: Although you can sell products on the Internet, more importantly, you can find business partners there as well. In fact, it is far more profitable to find business partners than it is to sell products retail. Retail sales add to your income, business partners multiply your income. There is a big difference between adding and multiplying.

3. Cost: Let's not forget the cost. Like many, I've put hundreds of thousands of dollars into great businesses only to see them fail and lose all my money, or to see them simply limp along generating no return on my money at all. Now compare that with the cost of starting a MLM business. Generally you can get up and running with only a few hundred dollars in cost. This is simply incredible-in your own business for less than a thousand dollars? Yes.

4. What To Sell?: Information is a great product to sell. Inexpensive information products provide the education that solves problems for people. This is always in demand. And what is the number one type information people are interested in? It is how to make money using the Internet. This fits perfectly with your MLM business because it puts you in a position to educate people on how to make money doing just what you are doing. This results in additional business partners.

5. Traffic: To make money with an Internet-based MLM business you will have to learn to drive traffic to your web page or landing page. How much traffic? You will be a resounding success if you attract as little as 5 - 8 new people a day.

The point I'm trying to make here is that you don't have to have 100 or more visitors a day with an express interest in what you are doing to be a success. In fact in the early days a small number is better than a large number. You need time to learn how to work with your prospects. A modest interest in your business gives you the time to grow. Have you heard the phrase "earn while you learn"? Well that is exactly what you are doing: 1) Spend time with your prospects, 2) convert them to clients, and then 3) coach them to success. That is your agenda for success.

6. The Coach: Now what is the single most important element in making money in a MLM business? It is your coach and his plan for success. The question is simply this: can you reproduce this plan? If the plan is reproducible and you have a coach that will take you step by step through it, then, like your coach, you too will succeed. And this is a fascinating element in Network Marketing, if you are not a success, then neither is your mentor. It is simply in his/her best interest to help you achieve your dreams. By doing so, your mentor is able to achieve his/hers as well. In fact, it is the only way he can do so.

7. You The Person: Keep in mind this important point in your Internet business, it is not easy for people to see you and talk to you. But they need to do that to get comfortable with the idea of partnering with you in your business. So, tell them a lot about yourself. Show them pictures. Add videos. Call them and chat; yes just chat, don't try to sell them anything. Give them an opportunity to get to know and like you. People want to be in business with friendly, honest and knowledgeable people. Be that person.

In summary, an Internet home business is an excellent way to make money, lots of it. Although there are many different ways to make money on the Internet, Network Marketing may be the best of them all.

Resource Information

Author: Ralph E. Bass, Jr.

Ralph Bass is an owner, with his wife, of Digital Transcription Inc. They are also part owners with their son in Kessick.com, a company that designs, sells and installs wine cellars. They are both deeply interested in MLM and in the power of the Internet to build a Network Marketing business. He and his wife have been married for 46 years; they have 5 children and 17 grandchildren.

Beating a bad economy -- from home

StartupNation's Home-Based 100

12/8/2008 12:01 AM ET

While corporate America suffers, the best home-built businesses thrive. StartupNation's Home-Based 100 winners demonstrate the keys to success: Ingenuity and passion.

By StartupNation

The 2008 StartupNation Home-Based 100 list is now in, and one thing is clear: Starting and running a business from home is more mainstream than ever.

The number of contestants in the Home-Based 100 tripled, numbering in the thousands. Votes in support of those businesses increased tenfold, up to a quarter of a million.

Part of that is because our list is becoming better known, of course. But it's also a sign that what home businesses do is of immense interest to more and more Americans, as the do-it-yourself boom expands.

• Slide show: StartupNation's Home-Based 100

Indeed, more than half of all U.S. businesses are now run from kitchen tables, extra bedrooms, basements and garages. Home-based businesses make a $530 billion contribution to the nation's economy each year.

And for many Americans, starting up at home has become a necessity. What appeared to be simply another economic downturn a year ago, when we compiled the first Home-Based 100, has devolved into a far more dire situation. Major economic giants, including Lehman Bros. (LEHMQ, news, msgs), American International Group (AIG, news, msgs) and General Motors (GM, news, msgs), have shown their vulnerability. As corporate titans lay people off by the thousands, many Americans are being forced to find new ways to make a living.

Their criteria? Inexpensive to start. Immediate results.

Enter home-based businesses. Running your own show from home typically requires little more than a skill set and a passion. It has become the stepping-off point for many a newbie entrepreneur.

A recent Wells Fargo study indicated that the average amount of capital required to start a business is approximately $10,000. When you consider that that statistic includes capital-intensive, brick-and-mortar startups, you realize that some home-based businesses can be started on a few hundred dollars.

Just look at 2008 honoree Britt Taylor, who began marketing swords and related merchandise online about two years ago. He threw a few hundred dollars at Google AdWords and has since grown his home-based business to a monthly gross of $30,000, half of which he pockets as profit.

Once again this year, we ranked Home-Based 100 competitors in 10 categories ranging from the serious, such as Best Financial Performers, Recession Busters and Most Innovative, to lighthearted, like Most Slacker-Friendly and Wackiest. The contest has produced a wide-ranging list of entrepreneurs turning their passions into profits -- and here's hoping it inspires a few of you to do the same.

Easier to start every day

Greasing the skids for home-based startups are key solutions that bring home operations to life. Take Home-Based 100 sponsors Microsoft Office Live Small Business and FedEx Office, for example. (Microsoft is the publisher of MSN Money.) They offer free Web site templates and efficient printing and shipping services, respectively, that are optimized for home businesses, and they're among the many companies that have realized the appeal and opportunity the home-based market represents.

Outsourcing plays a role, too, in the growth of home businesses. The ability to outsource certain tasks is simpler than ever. Web design, payroll, accounting services and contract manufacturing, for example, are all available to the at-homer. In many cases, there's another home-based venture that can supply them.

Video on MSN Money

Big battles for small businesses
Small businesses are getting hit especially hard during this economic downturn.

New this year was the priority placed on social media by home-based businesses and their audiences. For the first time, the sense of isolation at home has given way to immense connectivity through online networking.

We've noticed this trend in the blogosphere, which has been lit up with references and links to the StartupNation Home-Based 100, as well as social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg and StumbleUpon, which have driven immense amounts of traffic to contestants' profiles during the competition. This is testimony to the swelling current of conversation that home-based business owners participate in online and the networking and marketing benefits they gain as a result.

You'll see great examples of how home-based entrepreneurs leverage social media by visiting the Highest Vote Getters for 2008.

Continued: A boom among boomers

A boom among boomers

In terms of who is being drawn to home-based business, it's a mix of men and women, young and old. But one group that seems particularly drawn to starting up is the baby-boom generation, as indicated by a huge spike in boomer entries to the Home-Based 100 this year. This group is clearly leveraging skills accumulated during corporate careers and previous entrepreneurial adventures. They're realizing that they can no longer count on long-term corporate careers.

Adding additional impetus, boomers have watched their retirement savings wither with Wall Street, forcing them to figure out ways to replenish their coffers. That helps make the income generated from a home-based business -- whether primary or supplemental -- incredibly appealing to boomers.

For those who are still skeptical about the capacity of a home-based business to generate meaningful income, look no further than the winner of the 2008 Home-Based 100 Best Financial Performers category: a Berkeley, Calif., company called Fetch! Pet Care, which has seen revenue more than double in 2008, to more than $9 million.

Let's talk about passion

But as compelling as the income may be, the winners of the Home-Based 100 confirm again this year that at the center of every home-based business is one driving force: passion.

The opportunity to do what you love, to have proximity to family and pets and the comforts of home while conducting meaningful work, still plays the starring role. Running a business built around a passion adds meaning and direction in life, a welcome antidote to these confusing and disenfranchising times.

For some, this passion is expressed by going green. Fun Photo Guys, the winner in the Greenest category, offering eco-friendly photography services, is a shining example. Kevin Slovick and his partner at the photo business use every extra hour to promote green business practices. He uses his business to influence other business owners and in so doing is creating a better world for the next generation.

One of our Recession Busters honorees has also infused her work with a mission. Karen Conroy created Fundraising for a Cause, which sells cancer-awareness items in bulk so they can be resold at higher prices and the profits then donated to cancer research. It's proving to be far more effective than sticking a hat out for donations.

Our Most Innovative winner, Lee Lonzo and his Kick-Off Program, has followed his passion, too. He's helping freshmen transition into high school more smoothly, a time when statistics show they're vulnerable to dropping out. He's helped more than 100,000 students already.

Also, you'll get a kick out of America's Wackiest and Most Slacker-Friendly home-based businesses.

The startup world shows no signs of slowing down. Whether people join to combat a tough economy, as an alternative to the corporate life or to simply follow their passions, startups are alive and well. Unlike many of the big enterprises out there today, a great number of home-based ventures are still open for business and truly thriving.

This article was reported and written by Rich Sloan for StartupNation.

Network marketing business is one of the most satisfying home based business

December 23, 2008 - 10:11am |
author: fairyjadoo

The network marketing industry has been around now for more than 50 years. It is just simply a direct sale, which is just one of the methods of marketing products and services. In many countries, network marketing is regulated by The Direct Selling Association. It is not same like a scam, scheme, pyramid or ponzi industry.

Network marketing, also called Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) is a rational way of getting product directly to the consumer, and a legitimate way for those doing the marketing to get paid. It is one of the simplest ways to earn an extra income.

Network marketing is also one of the most rewarding home based business opportunities today. The opportunity for success, happiness, wealth and freedom in the foreseeable future is overwhelming. After 50 years the process has evolved and now the new technologies have unlocked the doors to a simpler business model that allows modern communication and e-commerce systems to do a lot of the work for the businessperson. However, even tough network marketing is simple but not necessarily easy.

Network marketing is when you actually recruit other salespeople into an organization or that person becomes your ‘down line’ to sell products. You as well as the recruits get paid on the amount of sales made. The products involved can be anything from physical products such as nutritional products and sports equipments to services such as legal consultant.

The magic happens when you get the snowball effect, and others recruit people too. You can then end up with a large group, so lots of your product is sold.

Nowadays, you generally do not have to handle the product yourself as it can go straight to the customer if you wish. Even better are digital products and online services where there is no delivery is needed at all. The customer gets their products instantly which are very important in this age of instant gratification.

Not to focus only on the negative aspects, however, it is a fact that 95% of newbie who join a network marketing business is doomed to failure. Why is that so? The reasons are they think it is an easy way to becoming rich.

Network marketing is just a simple concept but it is not easy. Those people join a company because they were told that was so easy if you know how to break the ice. To set up, run and maintain the network marketing business definitely consumes lots of your time, hard work, patience, spirit and discipline. However, most people are not ready into the network marketing.

Network marketing business is not easy and lazy methods to start up your own home based business. You will not succeed if you do not have large investment in yourself and your selling. You just can’t be a successful network marketing salesperson with an initial investment of only a few hundreds dollars.

So, what should you do in order to be successful on network marketing business. As we mentioned before, it is not easy but remember it is not impossible too. Do not bother about what you always heard or read except if it makes you aware of the attraction marketing laws and teach you on how to build up your business relationship and branding yourself.

The old methods such as call anyone whom you know, conduct parties or events by inviting your relatives, neighbors, and even co workers, send promotion emails from the list that you bought in bulk are no longer work. You need to know the art of attracting people and this is when it comes the hardest part as you need to develop your skills and keep on practicing. It takes lots of efforts and time.

When you start jump in to network marketing you need to plan such as with whom you want to work with and how your business should look like. A skill is needed to apply strategies that could bring in the people that you are looking for. Sometimes, you do not have to look for them as those people may find you. Then, you can start to build up relationships.

Then this is how attraction marketing laws come to play. In order to attract people to work together with you and buy products from you have to build a strong relationship. You tell them and make them know what is exactly they need and assist them to build and achieve it. Present yourself as nice as possible and gain their trust and make them want you as their leader.

People look for value and whether you can offer value to them for what they need. If you do have, most probably they will listen to you. When you gain more reputation and people are talking about you, people will find you. Therefore, you do not have to go out in order to find prospects anymore.

When these people calling and want to meet you, it is because they are interested to what you have to offer. Then the selling part becoming lesser and easier, as you just need to give further information for something that they already want. So, all you need to do is just close the sale at that moment.

Fortune Hi Tech Marketing - Is It For You?

By jaycep651974

If you have been approached by someone who wants you to join Fortune Hi Tech Marketing (also known as FHTM), there are some important points to consider before signing the dotted line:

1. Who you join under is extremely important. FHTM is a multi level marketing program where your success is determined by your efforts and the efforts of those in your downline whether or not you personally recruited them. At the beginning, your UPLINE is critically important because those will be the people you will need to get yourself trained and get the information you need. Since part of their success will be due to your success, you want to be sure that the person you join under is someone you can work with and can provide you the tools, time and motivation you need.

2. Money can be made in this business in a multitude of ways. You can determine how you want to run your business regardless of how the other members of your upline or downline are running their business. But for ultimate success, aligning with people who share your basic work ethics, styles and commitment levels is beneficial.

3. This program originated in Lexington, Kentucky. There are significantly more agents in Kentucky than in other parts of the country, or world for that matter since FHTM reaches across our borders. FHTM members number less than 100,000. Compare that to Mary Kaye Cosmetics whose representatives exceed 1 million. You haven’t missed the boat. Plenty of opportunities are available.

4. Don’t join FHTM until you are ready to commit to action. While the initial investment in joining the organization is manageable for many people at $299, there are certain milestones that must be achieved before making any money. There is a 60 day window to satisfy the first level requirements. FHTM in many respects sells and promotes customer loyalty to many widely recognized national companies. Everyone who signs on with FHTM should expect and be prepared to be their own first customer.

If you have been hurt by MLM’s (multi-level marketing) in the past, it is worth your time to give FHTM a look. Perhaps your dissatisfaction with MLM’s was because the people you joined with didn’t share your point of view or you really didn’t ask the questions you needed to ask. If you are new to MLMs, this could be the opportunity you are looking for.

This article is the property of barbarakelian.com and you may freely publish it on a website as long as it is not modified in any way.

To ask specific questions, contact Barb Arakelian at barbarakelian@yahoo.com or visit barbarakelian.com.

Elton Beard: What is Residual Income All About?

December 6, 2008 by Eldon Beard

Yesterday, we discussed “linear income“. We talked about some of the long term disadvantages of relying solely on this type of income.

Today, let’s talk about the type of income that a network marketing or MLM business provides - “residual income”. You’ve heard this term often if you’ve been looking at opportunities, because residual income is one of the big benefits of this business.

Residual income is money you earn over and over from completing one job or task. Here is a contrast between linear income and residual income.

Let’s say I write an ebook called “How to Train Your Cat to Obey Commands”. Yeah right. Anyway, I write the ebook and package it up ready to download.

Scenario #1 - I have been hired to write the ebook by an online publisher. The publisher pays me $1000 when I complete the project. That is linear income. I earn it one time for writing the ebook, and move on to another project.

Scenario #2 - I write the ebook and put up a web page to promote it. I do some advertising and set up some affiliate sellers. Every time someone buys a copy of my ebook, I make a net profit of $20. This happens every time someone purchases my ebook, for as long as I choose to sell it. Once I have written the ebook and set it up for sale, it makes money for me while I move on to other things. This is residual income.

See the difference?

Linear income = one project, task, or block of time for your efforts in exchange for a set amount of pay. You never get paid again for that project, task, or block of your time.

Residual income = one project, task, or block of time for your efforts that pays you over and over.

This is why people are so attracted to network marketing and MLM as a home based business. Activities you do today can pay you continuously into the future. In my network marketing business, I make money every month from the efforts of people I sponsored three or four years ago. It’s a great deal!

If you’d like to learn more about how network marketing and MLM work, here is a free movie that explains the concept well. It takes a few minutes to view, but is well worth your time.

Hi, my name is Eldon Beard. After years of seeing all the hype and misinformation used to promote network marketing and MLM, I created "Network Marketing Now" to present a balanced and professional approach to success in our industry. I hope you will find information and tips here that are helpful to you.I have my own successful network marketing business, and would enjoy working with you. Whether you're happy in your current business, or looking for a new business, I'm here to help. Your feedback and suggestions are always appreciated! You can learn more about me here.

Employers shedding jobs as recession deepens

By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa, Ap Economics Writer 1 hr 5 mins ago

WASHINGTON – With the economy sinking faster, employers are giving more Americans dreaded pink slips right before the holidays.

The Labor Department releases a new report Friday that's expected to show the employment market deteriorated in November at an alarming clip as the deepening recession engulfed the country.

After bolting to a 14-year high of 6.5 percent in October, the unemployment rate likely climbed to 6.8 percent last month, according to economists' forecasts. If they are right, that would mark the worst showing in 15 years.

Skittish employers, which have slashed 1.2 million jobs this year alone, probably axed another 320,000 last month, economists forecast. If that estimate is correct, it would represent the deepest cut to monthly payrolls since October 2001, when the economy was suffering through a recession following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Employers are slashing costs to the bone as they try to cope with sagging appetites from customers in the United States as well as in other countries, which are struggling with their own economic troubles.

The carnage — including the worst financial crisis since the 1930s — is hitting a wide range of companies.

Just in recent days, household names like AT&T Inc., DuPont, JPMorgan Chase & Co., as well as jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., and mining company Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. announced layoffs.

Fighting for their survival, the chiefs of Chrysler LLC, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. will return Friday to Capitol Hill to make a pitch to lawmakers for the second straight day for as much as $34 billion in emergency aid.

Worn-out consumers battered by job losses, shrinking nest eggs and tanking home values have retrenched, throwing the economy into a tailspin. As the unemployment rate continues to move higher, consumers will burrow further, dragging the economy down even more, a vicious circle that Washington policymakers are trying to break.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected ratchet down a key interest rate — now near a historic low of 1 percent — by as much as a half-percentage point on Dec. 16 in a bid to breath life into the moribund economy. Bernanke is exploring other economic revival options and wants the government to step up efforts to curb home foreclosures.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the overseer of a $700 billion financial bailout program, is weighing new initiatives, too, even as his remaining days in office are numbered.

President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called for a massive economic recovery bill to generate 2.5 million jobs over his first two years in office. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has vowed to have a package ready on Inauguration Day for Obama's signature. The measure, which could total $500 billion, would bankroll big public works projects to create jobs, provide aid to states to help with Medicaid costs and provide money toward renewable energy development.

The United States tipped into recession last December, a panel of experts declared earlier this week, confirming what many Americans already thought.

At 12 months and counting, the recession is longer than the 10-month average length of recessions since World War II. The record for the longest recession in the postwar period is 16 months, which was reached in the 1973-75 and 1981-82 downturns. The current recession might end up matching that or setting a record in terms of duration, analysts say.

The 1981-82 recession was the worst in terms of unemployment since the Great Depression. The jobless rate rose as high as 10.8 percent in late 1982, just as the recession ended, before inching down.

Given the current woes, the jobless rate could rise to as high as 8.5 percent by the end of next year, some analysts predict. Projections, however, have to be taken with a grain of salt because all of the uncertainties plaguing the economy. Still, the unemployment rate often peaks after a recession has ended. That's because companies are reluctant to ramp up hiring until they feel certain the recovery has staying power.