How does it work?

There are two ways to sell music online, through a distributor and on an audio community website.

Distribution Services

While these audio communities do sell popular music, most artists prefer to sell their albums using distribution services. For a fee, you can upload your album to sites that offer distribution services to online music stores such as iTunes, Amazon MP3s, Rhapsody, Spotify, Google Music, and more. These distributors often offer a print media option where physical copies of your album are also distributed to retailers such as Best Buy and Newbury Comics. These distributors can also sell your tracks on their own websites for TV and movie production. You’re paid based on royalties and the number of sales you generate.

Audio Communities

It is free to create a profile on most audio communities. Once you’ve created your profile you can submit completed audio files and tracks to sell on the site. Many sites have a team of auditors who listen to your tracks and either approve or reject them. For each rejection, you may receive feedback so you can make adjustments and resubmit your track. Once approved most communities set the price of your file for you to promote a healthy marketplace for all community members.  You then earn a percentage of the sales the site makes on your files. Giving exclusive distribution of a file to one site can give you a higher commission rate. However, depending on the kind and price of the file it may be better to go for higher volume of sales on multiple sites if the profit is greater.

How can I get started?

The first step is to find the sites you’d like to sell on. The following tables show a few popular distributors and audio communities on the internet. Fees and commission schedules are also listed.

Music Distributors

Link pictures to:

http://www.tunecore.com/

http://members.cdbaby.com/

http://www.songcastmusic.com/services

http://vibedeck.com/faqs

http://www.reverbnation.com/main/overview_artist?feature=digitaldistribution

Audio Communities

Link pictures to:

Audio Jungle http://audiojungle.net/wiki/selling/author-selling/author-program/

iStock – http://www.istockphoto.com/participate/contributor-lounge

buystocksound  http://www.buystocksound.com/MakeMoney.html

AudioSparx – http://www.audiosparx.com/alliance/

AudioMicro http://www.audiomicro.com/selling-music

How do I get paid?

The most common way you’ll be paid is through deposits into your PayPal account. Most sites have a monthly or quarterly pay schedule. However, while your account collects money for each sale, payments are usually withheld until you’ve reached a certain quota. For example, AudioJungle will pay each month as long as sales are over $50. For balances less than $50, once the money has been in your account for a year, Audiojungle will allow you to request a transfer of the funds into your PayPal account.

How much can I earn from online music stores like iTunes?

When working with distributors allows you to collect money on music sales and royalties depending on how your song is used. The following table was taken from ReverbNation’s FAQ page. It gives a general estimate of how much money you can make per album and per song on various online stores. The frequency indicates how often payments are made to artists.

How can I be successful selling audio files online?

Once you’ve found the sites and genres you’d like to sell your tracks on, keep creating! As a source of inspiration, look at the top sellers on each of the sites where you’ll be setting up shop. What kinds of tracks seem to be selling? If you can identify the type of audio customers are purchasing from each website, focus your efforts on those genres.

The next step is to advertise for yourself. Be sure your profile is filled out well on the community website, and use graphics to advertise your newest tracks wherever possible. Wherever you have your tracks posted, be sure to mention where it is available to purchase. Use your social media outlets to post new tracks to friends, family, and potential clients. The more sales you get the more chance you’ll have to be a featured seller on these sites.

Finally, keep writing. The more product you have available, the more opportunity you have to sell your work.

How can I be successful selling music online?

Once your music has been distributed, start advertising! Use your social media outlets to announce when your music is available for purchase. If you’re playing live gigs, be sure to let the audience know where they can purchase a copy of your music. Include advertisements on social profiles and your website.

Be sure to look at the marketing tools available on distributor’s websites. Many will provide you with access to ad designs and and placement strategies that have helped previous clients to sell their music. ReverbNation also provides clients with a profile on their site to serve as a website for an artist if you don’t already have one.

So get started today and turn your hobby into a money making opportunity!

Selling Photos through Stock Agencies

Choose a Site

There are a number of sites accepting digital photo contributions for free. Contributors must comply with quality standards and requirements to be accepted. Most sites require photographers to submit sample images which are evaluated according to predefined standards before being approved as a contributor. Once approved, you can then upload your photos which must be properly categorized and tagged so that buyers can easily find them. The photos are usually sold royalty-free to buyers, and contributors earn commission for every download of their image. While rates may vary with each site, it is common to receive a higher rate if your photo is sold exclusively by one site.

Below is a list of some of the most popular stock agencies online.

Shutterstock.com. To become a contributor for Shutterstock, you need to submit 10 photos, 7 of which must pass their review process. When you have been approved, the site recommends submitting photos in batches which could be up to a hundred photos per batch. Contributors’ earnings depend on the subscription plan buyers use to download their images and on rates based on their lifetime earnings. Rates can start from $0.25 to $0.38 per download for Per-Day Subscriptions and $1.88 to $2.85 per download for Multi-Image on Demand or 20-30% of sale price for Single Image on Demand downloads.

iStockphoto.com. Contributors must be members of the site. You can sign up for free then go through the process of applying as a contributor.  Applicants are required to read their online manual and take a quick quiz to learn contributor standards. After passing the quiz, you must submit 3 samples. iStockphoto pays commission rates between 15-20% for each download for non-exclusive contributors and up to 45% for exclusive.

Photodune.net. Similar to iStockphoto’s process, Photodune requires membership and taking an Author Quiz. After the quiz, you need to submit a portfolio of 5-10 images for review. Once accepted you will receive an email and you can start uploading more images. Contributors at Photodune get paid 50-70% of every sale of their photo if they choose to sell exclusively with the site. The rate varies depending on the sales volume achieved with the site. Non-exclusive contributors get paid 33% of every sale.

Upload Your Images

As soon as you are accepted, start uploading your photos. The more photos you submit, the more earnings you can make. Make sure your submissions meet the stock agency’s image requirements and standards so that your photos all make it to the stock. Image requirements include specific file formats and image size while standards on suitability and quality (focus, lighting, noise, etc.) should be followed to a T. When including recognizable models, properties or art in your photo, you will also be required to submit release forms with the image.

Catalog Your Images

Upon uploading, take the time to categorize, describe and tag your photo. When tagging your image, make sure all keywords are directly related to your image. Use keywords that buyers will most likely use when looking for a photo like yours. Most sites recommend a minimum and maximum number of tags to use.

Choose Subjects that Sell Well

Study the images that are identified as top sellers or popular files on each site you register with. Take note of the style and types of images people are buying on the site. By offering images that are similar to a site’s best sellers you are much more likely to be successful.

Advertise your work

Promote your work on your social media outlets. If you have a website or blog, make announcements about new batches of images that are uploaded onto these stock photo sites. Whenever you use one of your images on your site, blog, or social media account be sure to include a link to where viewers can purchase the image.

Selling Photos on Your Own Site

Set up Your Website

Selling photos yourself, directly to consumers, allows you to collect 100% of the profit, and frees you from stock photo site standards. If you don’t already have a website to sell from, it is easy to set up a photo blog using blogger or wordpress. If you’re ready to purchase a domain name, there are many hosting companies that support one click installations of wordpress. Thousands of themes are available for both platforms, so you can find a design that fits your style.

For more help on how to set up a website, see this great site with step by step information and tutorials on how to create a website.

Create a watermark

Be sure to display your photos on your site with a watermark! Otherwise would be customers are free to take your photo directly from your site rather than paying to license it!

Choose a product format

Selling on your own website allows you to sell more than digital files of your photos. Consider selling different size prints or photo books.  There are many online sites that will help you compile your images into a book, but a service called Blurb ill also help you drop ship books directly to your customers.

Choose a Theme

There are many different approaches to selling photos on your own website. Here are a few ideas:

Sell by Category

If you have a large catalog of images you’ve compiled, you may choose to sell your photos according to categories. Create galleries for each category. Many WordPress themes come equipped with features that make image gallery creation simple.

Sell by Project

If you have a photography project you’d like to sell yourself, create a site dedicated to showcasing your work. Be sure to include a purchase link at the top of your navigation with details on how to purchase a single image, as well as a book of the entire collection.

Ballerinaproject.com is a photo project featuring professional dancers and advanced ballet students in various scenes. The photos are sold online but in limited production adding to the value of each photo. The project is a grand display of the craft of photography and dance.

Sell by Daily Posts

Many photographers have thousands of images they’d like to display. By creating a daily photo blog you can showcase one image each day you’re creating a fun environment that brings visitors back over and over again. Offering to sell only the image of the day will also inspire a sense of scarcity that can promote sales.

Topleftpixel.com is a daily photo blog of simple yet beautiful visuals. The photo collection is of everyday scenes encountered by the author each day of the year. Images on the site can be purchased as print or card using Fotomoto, an online print-on-demand service that handles printing, packaging and shipping.

How to Sell Online

Fotomoto will print your images as they are ordered, and then ship them for you to their destination. Their software will allow you to sell product directly on your website, while they take care of the logistics. Click here for more information about selling prints with Fotomoto.

Blurb will help turn your collections of images into fully bound books that can be sold through their online store. By adding a small advertisement linked to your book’s product page you can send interested customers  directly to a page where they can purchase your book. W

If you want to fulfill your own orders, you’ll need a checkout process and payment system. If you are using Blogger or Google Page Creator for your website, you can integrate Google Checkout for a fast and secure process. Paypal is an option that will work with any platform that doesn’t require you to sign up for a merchant processing service.

With your site up and running you can start uploading your photos. Categorize and use keywords as necessary to increase search optimization and sales. With an independent site, a challenge can be in making it more visible and accessible to more buyers. Unlike popular stock agencies which people are already familiar with, you have to do what you can so that your site will rank better in search engines.  Distinguish your site from others by choosing a theme and sticking with it!

So there you have it. Your talent can be your ticket for an online money making opportunity. Enjoy what you do best and earn at the same time, too.

Etsy.com has gained in popularity in recent years. As an online marketplace, Etsy allows users to create their own “online store” where products can be showcased and sold through the Etsy platform. To sell on Etsy you must produce the products yourself, or if you’re collecting and selling vintage items, they must be 20 or more years old. With Etsy, you can have the access to a worldwide market and the advantage of a well established site that people commonly turn to when they’re looking for homemade or vintage products, as well as supplies to create products themselves.

Selling through Etsy is easy. You can join the site for free and simply post your items up for sale. Each item you put up will be charged a listing fee and a transaction fee based upon sale. When you make a sale, you get in touch with the buyer, determine payment and shipping, and facilitate the transfer of goods. Just list, get paid, and ship. You can earn money online without the burden of setting up your own website or webstore.

To help you get started, follow these simple steps to create your Etsy store:

1. Register with Etsy.

Go to Etsy.com. Click register and simply fill out the registration form. You will need a valid email address, a password and a unique username.

Choose your username carefully as this will be your permanent name and can influence how customers will find and recognize you. It would be great to create a username that is relevant to what you have to offer in products and style although what is important is that it is original and can be easily remembered. After the registration process, check your email for a confirmation from Etsy. In that email, click the confirmation button which will direct you back to the Etsy website or copy the URL and paste it into your browser to confirm your account. After this, sign in, update your profile and account information, and get ready to set up shop.

1. Set up your Etsy store.

First thing to do on this step is to upgrade your status as a seller. Click on “Sell” found at the top left side of your screen then click on the “Sell on Etsy” button. Provide your personal and billing info as requested in the following pages.

After this, you can go to Shop Settings and Your Shop > Info & Appearance to start creating the look of your virtual store. Create a shop name, shop title, a banner, and also include a message or any announcement you might want to make to your buyers.

Next determine your payment options. This will include the payment methods and shop currency you accept. You can choose to accept PayPal, personal check, money order, bank transfer and/or  other methods which you should clearly state. Unless you change the shop currency, the default will be listed in US Dollars.

Shipping profiles should also be included. This is where you can provide shipping information and the costs you choose depending on the size, weight and method. You can add or edit shipping profiles anytime.

When that is finished, take the time to create your shop policies. Doing this will save you from a lot of headache in misunderstandings and disputes with buyers later.  Taking the time to learn about the Do’s and Don’ts on Etsy and their seller tips can help you anticipate common concerns.

Don’t forget to save your changes for each of these steps.

1. Start listing your items for sale.

With your store ready, you can now put up your items for sale. You must provide a clear picture, description, details, and price for every item. Including several pictures with different backgrounds, angles, lighting, etc., will customers to fully see and appreciate the item, leading to an easier purchase decision. Provide a clear description full of all the important details about your product to make the buyers see what your item is worth. You can create shop sections to group together similar items and help buyers see the variety of products you have. You can also choose items you want to feature at the top of your Etsy store. All options and features can be edited in Your Shop section.

Etsy will charge your account $0.20 for each item you list. This fee applies to each individual item, even though you may have a few of the same style to sell. Once items sell, you’ll be charged 3.5% of the purchase price (not including shipping or tax). Etsy allows you to pay their monthly invoices by credit card or by using your PalPal account.

It’s that simple. Selling on Etsy gives you access to thousands of customers who enjoy the atmosphere and creativity of Etsy stores. It is truly one of the real ways to make money online, and it is easy and fun too. So start creating and selling and you’ll be on your way to making money online from home.

Create your Blog

Blogger and WordPress both offer free blog platforms you can use to start your blog. Simply sign up and follow the steps to register, create a blog, and start posting. Creating a blog using one of these services will require you to use a .blogspot or .wordpress URL for your blog.

If you’d like to have your own URL, you can find instructions on the web on how to purchase your own domain name and create your own website using WordPress.

Choose a Topic

Teaching a skill can attract visitors to your site and, when you provide them with valuable and reliable information, they will keep coming back to you. To find a topic you’ll be able to continue writing about start by making a list of things you like to do. Here are a few ideas of possible topics to get you started

• Cooking
• Gardening
• Second Language
• Photography techniques
• Home repairs
• Sewing
• Knitting
• Crochet
• Crafts
• Auto Repairs
• Woodworking or Carpentry
• Software tips for Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Prezi, etc.
• Painting
• Ceramics
• Interior Design Projects
• Personal Finance Skills

Once you’ve generated a list of broad topics, start thinking of different audiences within each topic to make your site more specific. For example, if we took cooking as an example, here is a list of several subcategories that are contained within the broader cooking category:

• Kids recipes
• Healthy cooking
• 30 minute recipes
• Baking
• Cakes
• Dinner parties
• Holidays
• Etc

By identifying one of these smaller categories to focus on you’ll make your blog more relevant for people searching for specific ideas. Once you’ve got enough ideas in one of these smaller categories, branch out and tackle another one!

Create Effective and Professional Tutorials

When writing your tutorials, always includes steps. Use numbering or bullet point systems wherever appropriate so your instructions are easy to follow. Sometimes words or text won’t be enough to completely communicate your process. Showing how something is done will make a huge difference. Including images or instructional videos on your tutorial will be the content that keeps visitors coming back for more ideas.

Most cameras and phones have video recording functionality. However, another inexpensive options may be to purchase a webcam to take photos and video. Cnet has a great list of video recording software programs that use your webcam to record video as well as capture still images. You can use software like CamStudio (http://camstudio.org/) or screencasting programs like Jing and Camtasia (http://techsmith.com/) to record your computer screen if you’re doing tutorials involving computer programs.

Keep Your Blog Updated

Choose a schedule for yourself so you keep posting often. Let your readers know when they can expect to see new content on the site. Set aside time once a month to decide what your posts will be about for the next few weeks. That way you can devote all of your post creation time to generating a quality tutorial, rather than figuring out a topic for yourself.

Monetize your Blog

Once you’ve got a great idea and you’re generating content, you’re ready to start making money off of your visitors. There are several ways to do this and you should know that not all may work with any type of blog. You should consider which cash generator is best for your blog and stick to it.

Among the most common ways to monetize a blog is the use of programs such as Google AdSense. Programs like this use content-sensitive web-based marketing systems that show ads that correspond directly to the content on your pages. That way your site’s visitors will see ads for products and services that actually interest them. You make money every time someone clicks on one of the ads on your pages.

For some people keeping a blog is just a hobby but for others, it is a serious online money making opportunity. Try it yourself and see what it can do for you.

How can I get started with freelance work?

The first step is to register and post your profile and/or portfolio on several freelance marketing sites. Popular sites include elance.com, guru.com, freelancer.com, odesk.com, vworker.com, scriptlance.com and many more. Some employers will look at these profiles when hiring for a project and contact potential contractors directly. Employers also post project descriptions including job details, expectations, and budget on these sites. Freelancers interested in being chosen for a specific job can bid or apply for the project. Once a contractor is selected, terms of the project can be discussed via messaging on the site. Once all details are finalized, work can begin on the project.

How much will it cost to join freelance sites?

While you can register with most sites for free, there are sites that charge fees on project bidding, charge a commission on earnings, or require both. Some sites like Elance give out a certain number of free bids per month and offer monthly or quarterly subscriptions which provide additional credits that can be spent to bid on more projects on the site. The following table outlines different cost and fee structures of a some of the most popular freelance websites:

Site	Basic Membership Fee	Membership Upgrades	Other Fees
	Free for 10 bids a month	$10/month for 30 bids $20/month for 40 bids $40/month for 60 bids	8.75% service fee on completed projects
	Free	$9.95 – $45.44/month Depending on industry and type of account	4.5% commission for members, 9% for non-members 2.95% payment processing
	Free	$24.95/month drops commission fee to 3%	$5 or 10% commission – whichever is greater
	Free	None	10% commission
	Free	None	6.5 – 15% commission depending on type of bid and type of work done
	Free	None	$5 or 5% of commission – whichever is greater

How do I get paid on freelance jobs?

Escrow services ensure that you get paid upon completion of a project found on a freelance site. Once you’ve been selected to complete a job the employer will deposit your compensation into an escrow account managed by the freelance site. Once work has been finished to the satisfaction of both parties, the funds in escrow will be released to you.

With so many freelancers in my industry, how do I get selected?

When you sign up with a freelance marketing site, create a profile that attracts and showcases what you can offer. Include your training or experience and accomplishments so that prospective clients can get a feel of what you are capable of doing. When it comes to bidding on projects, clients will usually look at the price and your capabilities (often referring to your profile).  Although they lay out a specific budget, clients don’t just normally go for the lowest bidder but take qualifications and experience into consideration as well. Some sites post a freelancer’s rating or ranking and show feedbacks from previous clients you have worked with. After a transaction, both freelancer and client are required to evaluate each other using the site’s scoring system and leave feedback in order to build up each side’s rating and credibility. You as a provider can be evaluated on how well you respond to the client’s needs, your timeliness, and the quality of your final output. In turn you can also evaluate a client on how well they communicated their expectations and how quickly they paid you. This system helps you win projects in the future, so make sure you do your job well.

If you are new, price can play a factor in attracting clients to you and your services. Some freelancers disclose their status and offer their services at a significantly lower rate. That way they can attract those clients on a tight budget. When they prove their worth with a job well done, they build up their credibility and open opportunities for better projects in the future.

What skills are clients looking for?

Most clients need people with technical expertise to do special projects such as IT-related work but there are also some who need those with the time and resources to do things like data entry and research. Below is a list of some of the job categories employers are posting opportunities in:

• Software programmers (HTML, Java, Joomla, SQL, Windows, etc.)
• Web developers
• Mobile app developers
• Animators
• Designers (web, graphic, logo, etc.)
• Engineers
• Accountants/bookkeepers
• Legal staff
• Data entry/processing experts
• Office administrators
• Event planners
• Writers (web content, blog, speech, business, press release, newsletter, article, etc.)
• Editors (copy, sound, film)
• Translators
• Tutors
• Researchers
• Marketers/Telemarketers
• Music composers

For ideas, you can also check out the categories listed on freelance marketing sites.

Freelance jobs are just a few of the great online money making opportunities out there. Without the constraints of a 9-5 work schedule and the freedom to balance work with the rest of your responsibilities, it is an ideal form of employment for many. For those with steady employment, freelance work can be a great way to make extra money online without conflicting with regular work and for others it can be a source of their primary income with unlimited potential.

For a more complete list of freelance websites see this jobmob post:

http://jobmob.co.il/blog/freelance-marketplaces/

While many people think creating a website is difficult and requires special skills or training, tools now available on the Internet have made it simple to accomplish. Gone are the days when you need to have technical expertise or pay a fortune for a custom website design. There are three basic steps you’ll need to go through to get your website up and running:

1. 1.      Get your domain name.

A domain name is your virtual address on the Internet. It is what your customers will use to search for you and find you online.

Generate a list of possibilities

Start generating a list of possible domain names that meet the following criteria:

• Ends in a .com (There are some exceptions, but it is easiest to rank a .com address on search engines).
• Catchy or relevant to your products/services
• Short and can be easily remembered
• Uses key words you would use to search for your service, blog, or products
• Doesn’t use numbers. (The only exception would be if your brand name included a number).
• Doesn’t use dashes

Check for Availability

Because many domain names have already been purchased, it is important to check the availability of your domain name. There are many online tools that can help with this, but Network Solutions’ WhoIs index is one of the best tools used to check for domain availability. Type your idea for a domain name into the search box and click search. The index will let you know if the domain is registered, and it will suggest other options that are similar to the domain you’re looking into. This may also help generate new ideas for your domain name.

Register the Domain Name

To get your domain name, you will need to register with a domain registrar. There are several domain registrars to choose from, the most popular of which are Namecheap, GoDaddy, Register.com and Network Solutions. Registering your domain name gives you the license to use the name for the specific period you pay for. Annual fees from different registrars range from as low as $5 to as much as $30. Typically, the domain suffix also plays a part on the rates because certain suffixes (.com, .org, .net) are preferred over others as they generally rank better in search engines.  After you’ve gone through the process of registering and purchasing your domain name, it can be ready for use within 24 hours or less.

1. 2.      Set up web hosting.

With a domain name ready, you then need to set it up with a web host. The web host stores the actual files that make up your website, making your website available on the internet. To select your web host, you should consider the following questions as you evaluate a hosting company?

1. What is the monthly hosting fee?
2. Is phone or live chat customer support available? What are the hours?
3. How many email addresses come with the hosting?
4. Is it easy to install WordPress on the server?
5. Are hosting fees reduced if I also register my domain name with the same company?

Companies to choose from include GoDaddy, iPage, Bluehost, Hostmonster, Hostgator, and many more.  Work with the customer support at your new web host to link your domain name to your hosting account.

1. 3.      Create your blog or site using WordPress.

WordPress is a free blogging platform and content management system you can use to create your website. No need to code or create an intricate layout or web design. With WordPress you can easily use templates and tools to setup content and make your website look professional.

Many webhosts have a “one-click install” for WordPress available from your hosting control panel or dashboard. Work with your hosting customer support to install a copy of WordPress onto your hosting.

Once WordPress(WP) is installed, editing or updating content is easy. Everything will be found in your WP Dashboard.  Choose the features you need, add plug-ins, arrange and rearrange widgets and many more to your heart’s content. WordPress.org is full of information and forums to help you create a unique website or blog that fits your business or personality.

Once your site is up and you’ve got a theme you like, start adding content. Editing a page in WordPress is a lot like creating a document in Word. For help with using WordPress, see the articles on the wordpress codex that talk about wordpress features, getting started with logging in etc. If you’re creating a blog, make sure you take advantage of the different monetization options, so you can start making money while sharing your ideas!

Why is that the case? I think it is because even though marketing gurus will tell you universal, unlimited choices is better for the consumer, the consumer really doesn’t want unlimited, universal choices.  The human brain craves familiarity (so much so that people thought they had found patterns in their shuffled playlists) and will want to return to something it has seen before and likes.  Sure, we like change and things that are new, but familiarity makes both of those manageable.  In other words, once a consumer has found a place that meets his needs, he will come back.  This gives you a leg up on the competition and allows you to make the vastness of the internet work for you, instead of against you.

It’s easier to actually see how this works, than to describe it. So, dispensing for just a moment with my normal blogging, let me direct you away my blog to give you an example.  Let’s go to:  http://www.uscity.net/indexsmall.html, now, if you go to uscity.net you’ll notice that they have updated the site, which is great, but to give you a better example, I’ll take you to the classic view so you can get a better idea of what I’m talking about.  At the top, underneath the title of the page, you will see the description, “Internet Business Directory” and in the main area of the page, just above the map, you will see the description “National Web Site Link Directory.” Granted, these are both very vague, but I’m willing to bet that is intentional, because if it were more specific, the site would be very limited in its scope.   But this site intends to give you everything.  In essence, whatever and wherever you’re looking for something, chances are that you will find it on this site. (Just take a look at the bottom of the page, over 1.5 million links are listed!).

Let’s take a quick test drive.  Type the word ‘nutcrackers’ in the search bar on the upper right hand side of the page.  Hit enter, and take a look at the results.  In seconds you are given a list of state specific directories which contain lists of sites with the word ‘nutcracker’ in it.  You can repeat this with any term you want to search.  If you were to make it your home page, both you and US City would win.  You would be getting directed to the right directory, and US City would be getting another confirmed and committed website to be a part of its searching.

The consumer will benefit from the site if it does its job, and then the site will benefit from more and more traffic.  When that happens the site can bargain well with companies to get their pages linked to, indexed, and receive lots of traffic.  It’s a great business model for US City, and the lessons from it are clear.  If you can get people to consistently return to your website by providing the answers to their questions, or by reliably giving them what they are looking for, which should be relatively easy, then your online business will be successful and you can continue working from home.

As you might expect, however, being funny is much harder to do online than it is in person. Think about it, when you are telling a joke to a friend, she will gives you all sorts of cues and other bits of feedback for you to pick up on. (So why is it so much harder when dating?)  It makes it much easier to change your humor to fit the situation.  But when you‘re online, you don’t have that luxury because it is one-sided.  Even with that obstacle, a vast majority of the commercials online, in print, on TV, or on the radio try to use humor and it hardly ever comes off well.  (Most of the time things just come off being awkward or creepy).

You might wonder why the marketers who try to use humor keep trying.  The answer is simple, the potential rewards from using humor are huge.  When humor works well, the ad garners positive attention, good will, and stimulates buying decisions.  When it doesn’t work well…enough said.

On your internet business site, the most surefire way to get it right is to use images, rather than words.  If you know a cartoonist or a graphic designer, and can pay them, you have found yourself a great asset and you can put yourself ahead of the game.  One thing you might want to do is to create a little character who appears on your website as a recurring motive.  You probably won’t want to make the character as developed as the Geico Gecko, that would take up way too much time, money, and effort, but a character who can show people around the website and make it more friendly would be a wise decision.

Another way to bring subtle humor to your website is to develop a mildly self-deprecating tone in your website copy.  (Just a side note for the few who may not know what I mean when I use the word, “copy” in this context, copy refers to your written content in publications).  You shouldn’t put yourself down, but you should also show that you don’t take yourself too seriously. This way you can have a positive website feel and introduce humorous elements, without risking actual humor and the pitfalls that brings.  Now, if you are competing against a website that does use humor well, your site will always be on the loosing end, so it would be worth it to make a longer term investment into humor.  That way you can test things and make sure that what you are using is actually funny.  That way you can have a successful online business and get customers to your website!

How can I be interesting to my customers?

It’s simple, be interested in them.  They are the whole reason that you have an online business and are successful (and if you aren’t successful yet, they are the reason you will be).  Make sure that you take the time to understand and interact with your customers in a positive manner.  This usually involves things like market research and interaction on social media sites.

When customers visit your site, give them the opportunity to give you feedback.  You can either do this by having a comments box, but since that doesn’t allow you to quantify, you should also use an online survey service to get your customer’s feedback.  There are lots of these sites that will allow you to collect data fairly cheaply.  Zoomerang is one of my favorites, but there are several out there. Do a quick Google search and start your research.

Generate Positive Feedback

You will want to do this through the questions that you ask.  These questions will place the customer in a position of authority and will direct them to give you positive feedback, if you word them properly.  As an example, you could ask, “As you have made purchases online, what are some of the most positive things you have noticed?”  Again, you’re giving the potential customer a sense of authority but at the same time you’ve already established a positive tone to the question by asking for positive recollections they’ve had.  You are also limiting the discussion to online purchasing, and that subtle notion will make it easier to think about making a purchase online.  You are also asking the customer for his or her individual wisdom, or advice.  It makes them feel empowered and worthwhile and they will usually reciprocate because you’ve showed an interest in them and let them express their story. (And how many people don’t like talking about themselves and their experiences?)

So as you formulate your questions to elicit positive responses, make sure that you do your best to have the feedback mechanism on your site.  Why?  That will ensure that a customer stays on your site longer and longer.  This will not only get your name to stick with the customer, enhancing your overall name recognition, but it will dramatically increase the chances that the customer will make a purchase.

Incentivize Your Customer’s Feedback

So how do you get the customer to take the time to give you feedback?  I’ve found that the best way to do this is to offer some sort of incentive.  This can range anywhere from a coupon for a purchase on your site, or a bonus offer to compliment a purchase made on your site.  I’d probably go with a discount on the purchase and save the bonus offer for a different type of sale.  Why? If you offer a discount on a purchase they are far more likely to buy soon after they comment, which is the whole reason you have the site in the first place.

Try this tip out if you already have an online business and see how well it works in the next month.  Keep track of the responses and make sure that you take time to analyze and implement the suggestions if they are have substance to them.  If you do this you can make sure that your home based internet business can get customers to your site and keep them coming back, allowing you to make money online!

Well, let’s go back to the Avis strategy that I mentioned in my last post. They were number two and they worked to get business based off of that, by associating themselves with Hertz, the leader at the time, by saying that even though they weren’t the winner, they were close and so they deserved a shot. That might work if you’re number two and have a shot to compete for number one. But what about when you’re not even number 20?

You should disassociate yourself from the top competitors. Sounds hard and kind of counter-intuitive but this works. (Keep in mind that you’ll want to do so in the most positive manner possible for your online business, that will help your site stay fresh and clean). If you sell furniture online, and have an online catalogue (which I strongly recommend that you get), then you can disassociate by emphasizing the low overhead that comes with being small and focus on how those savings are passed on to the customer.

I can’t name the number of times I’ve heard this tactic on the radio recently. Company after company, usually smaller ones, will take up most of their radio spot with emphasis on how their being small helps them better understand and respond to their customers, not to mention how much money they will save. And in today’s economic climate, savings sells big time.

Now it will be up to your discretion about which of these two strategies to choose to make your home based business succeed, but it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. If you are in a relatively small universe, like nutcrackers, then you should probably seek to make yourself the leader. On the other hand, if your universe is a relatively large one (and usually these are filled by products that are used a lot every day), then you’ll want to disassociate yourself and emphasize your uniqueness and ability to assist, and save money for, the customers.