During the last couple of weeks I have been reading an excellent e-book about affiliate marketing.
I have been searching for a good resource on this subject for some time and this book is fantastic!
It outlines the process of earning money online with or without a website and provides all the techniques and tools that you will need to get started.
The great thing about this is that you can start out with the aim to supplement your income online and then replace it when you have built up your online business sufficiently. (it's definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme).
I plan to write about this book in more detail later, if you're interested here's the link: Year Of The Affiliate.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Part 1 – Finding Your Niche
We will start by making a list so it would be helpful to have a pen and paper handy, better still a notebook to jot down some ideas and make a few notes as we proceed.
Perhaps you already have some idea of what type of business you would like to start up, if not that’s okay; the following method applies in both cases.
The first thing to do is make a list of your hobbies, interests, skills or abilities, ideas or anything you have knowledge about – note that you don’t need to be an expert, you can always learn along the way.
As an example I will apply the above method to myself, choosing three of my hobbies, interests and skills:
Looking at music first, here is a passion of mine that I have a lot of experience and expertise in as I have worked in the industry as a musical instrument salesman, luthier (guitar repairman), performer and teacher. I could consider starting up a business teaching or repairing guitars but considering I live in a small country town it would not really be viable – just not enough customers, so I’ll keep this one as a hobby.
Next on the list are motorcycles. I grew up with bikes, my father was very mechanically minded and was always in the shed fixing and making things. We had quite a few old motorcycles and I spent a lot of time working on them. This could be a good niche for me as there is no motorcycle repair business in this area and there would be a demand for this type of service from locals and farmers who use motorcycles, four wheelers etc.
The last example is computers and this has been a hobby of mine for quite a few years now. I could consider starting a computer repair business (note how there is a common theme of fixing things where I’m concerned!) Again this is a good niche as there is demand for the service and practically no competition. I’m not an expert but I can certainly learn.
This is in fact the business I started two years ago, with really just a basic knowledge of computers. I have a small area set up on my enclosed back verandah where I work on the PC’s that customers have brought to me to fix. The business has now grown to the stage where I go onsite for a number of clients, including local businesses to repair, maintain and upgrade their networks.
I sure have learnt a lot along the way and when I am confronted with a repair or problem I know little or nothing about I turn to the best tool in my toolbox – the Internet! A search for the specific information I need never fails to get me on the right track.
Now, let’s go back to your list. What we are looking for here is your own little niche.
Let’s look at each of your items and as their viability as a business is determined either tick or cross them off the list. For each business idea ask yourself the following question:
To help you answer these questions, you will need to do some market research.
This simply means checking out your local business directory and community newspaper, talking to people, finding out if there is any interest in your business idea – get some feedback. This will prove to be extremely valuable information and will help you to avoid making a decision based on your idea as a passion instead of it’s viability as a new business.
I’m sure you get the idea here and you should be able to narrow your list right down to make the best choice based on the information you have gathered.
If you have any computer skills you may be considering starting up an Internet-based business and I will be covering this topic shortly as it will be an article in itself.
Next time I’ll be writing about narrowing your short list down to one business idea –
See you then.
Perhaps you already have some idea of what type of business you would like to start up, if not that’s okay; the following method applies in both cases.
The first thing to do is make a list of your hobbies, interests, skills or abilities, ideas or anything you have knowledge about – note that you don’t need to be an expert, you can always learn along the way.
As an example I will apply the above method to myself, choosing three of my hobbies, interests and skills:
- Music
- Motorcycles
- Computers
Looking at music first, here is a passion of mine that I have a lot of experience and expertise in as I have worked in the industry as a musical instrument salesman, luthier (guitar repairman), performer and teacher. I could consider starting up a business teaching or repairing guitars but considering I live in a small country town it would not really be viable – just not enough customers, so I’ll keep this one as a hobby.
Next on the list are motorcycles. I grew up with bikes, my father was very mechanically minded and was always in the shed fixing and making things. We had quite a few old motorcycles and I spent a lot of time working on them. This could be a good niche for me as there is no motorcycle repair business in this area and there would be a demand for this type of service from locals and farmers who use motorcycles, four wheelers etc.
The last example is computers and this has been a hobby of mine for quite a few years now. I could consider starting a computer repair business (note how there is a common theme of fixing things where I’m concerned!) Again this is a good niche as there is demand for the service and practically no competition. I’m not an expert but I can certainly learn.
This is in fact the business I started two years ago, with really just a basic knowledge of computers. I have a small area set up on my enclosed back verandah where I work on the PC’s that customers have brought to me to fix. The business has now grown to the stage where I go onsite for a number of clients, including local businesses to repair, maintain and upgrade their networks.
I sure have learnt a lot along the way and when I am confronted with a repair or problem I know little or nothing about I turn to the best tool in my toolbox – the Internet! A search for the specific information I need never fails to get me on the right track.
Now, let’s go back to your list. What we are looking for here is your own little niche.
Let’s look at each of your items and as their viability as a business is determined either tick or cross them off the list. For each business idea ask yourself the following question:
- Would there be enough people interested in my business?
- Are any other similar businesses already operating near my location? (a little competition is okay)
To help you answer these questions, you will need to do some market research.
This simply means checking out your local business directory and community newspaper, talking to people, finding out if there is any interest in your business idea – get some feedback. This will prove to be extremely valuable information and will help you to avoid making a decision based on your idea as a passion instead of it’s viability as a new business.
I’m sure you get the idea here and you should be able to narrow your list right down to make the best choice based on the information you have gathered.
If you have any computer skills you may be considering starting up an Internet-based business and I will be covering this topic shortly as it will be an article in itself.
Next time I’ll be writing about narrowing your short list down to one business idea –
See you then.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Introduction
Hello, and welcome to a series of articles about starting up a home-based business.
I'm writing these articles to present a clear, simple approach to starting up a new home-based business because there is so much information available on this subject it can be really confusing for someone who has never operated a business at home before. There are so many ideas, strategies, techniques and technical terms used it can be hard to understand, so my aim is to provide information that anyone can put to use.
I started my first business nearly 30 years ago and along the way I've picked up a few things and collected some ideas that I'm hoping will prove useful to you - Why?
Because the benefits of running your own business from home are immense and I would like to pass on what I have learned over the years so that you too can succeed and enjoy those benefits.
I'll admit that at times in the past I've struggled to make a living from my own businesses and I have learned things the hard way, by making mistakes which you eventually learn from. Experience certainly is the best teacher!
As I sit here writing my first ever blog post (there are always new things to learn, I look at them as "honing" my craft and try to have fun at the same time) I can honestly say I feel a sense of achievement in starting my own business, which is becoming busier and busier. I too have become more confident in my business- and myself- as a result.
I mentioned earlier about the benefits of running a business from home. For me these benefits are:
You can always start on a part time basis and work towards being able to leave the work force entirely to operate your new business.
Or maybe you're unemployed as I was, there are ways of starting up here too! (Even if you have very little or no money).
My next post will cover the topic of starting up - where to begin.
See you then.
I'm writing these articles to present a clear, simple approach to starting up a new home-based business because there is so much information available on this subject it can be really confusing for someone who has never operated a business at home before. There are so many ideas, strategies, techniques and technical terms used it can be hard to understand, so my aim is to provide information that anyone can put to use.
I started my first business nearly 30 years ago and along the way I've picked up a few things and collected some ideas that I'm hoping will prove useful to you - Why?
Because the benefits of running your own business from home are immense and I would like to pass on what I have learned over the years so that you too can succeed and enjoy those benefits.
I'll admit that at times in the past I've struggled to make a living from my own businesses and I have learned things the hard way, by making mistakes which you eventually learn from. Experience certainly is the best teacher!
As I sit here writing my first ever blog post (there are always new things to learn, I look at them as "honing" my craft and try to have fun at the same time) I can honestly say I feel a sense of achievement in starting my own business, which is becoming busier and busier. I too have become more confident in my business- and myself- as a result.
I mentioned earlier about the benefits of running a business from home. For me these benefits are:
- Being at home with my family (I'm there for the kids when they get home from school)
- I am my own boss
- Freedom! Control your time (I can do what I want when I want to do it)
- No commuting to work - save money on fuel, wear and tear on the car and help the environment
- Have time for other things (hobbies, renovating the house, going to the movies etc)
- Build your own future (you can't do this working for someone else)
You can always start on a part time basis and work towards being able to leave the work force entirely to operate your new business.
Or maybe you're unemployed as I was, there are ways of starting up here too! (Even if you have very little or no money).
My next post will cover the topic of starting up - where to begin.
See you then.
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