Rainbow Designs - gifts for the sweet tooth

If there is such a thing!

1. start up the computer and printer

2. turn on the kettle (have to start the day with a coffee!)

3. once orders have finished printing, sort them, confirm payment has been received, write out gift tags (yes we hand write each one) then update order status online (got to keep the customer informed on the progress of their order)

4. make a list of gifts needed so far for the day, groan when you realise you're out of Snakes so need to make a mad dash to the supplier (luckily they're not too far away)

5. go through emails, reply to urgent ones (aren't they all) - highlight ones that can be answered later

6. see what bills need paying today, pay said bills

7. make another cup of coffee

8. deliveries arrive, unpack, check everything is there (ring supplier/courier and chase up missing carton)

9. do orders up plus process new orders

10. check emails again, reply, file, delete etc

11. box and satchel orders

12. update customers order status

13. enter orders into myob then file (or put back in bottom tray for filing later!)

14. make daily trip to Post Office

15. answer final emails

In between this we also, answer the phone, place orders, check advertising, put together newsletters, write blog posts, chasing up delayed customer deliveries, explain to 5 different people that we do not wish to advertise with them, use their Google Adwords program (no we DO NOT wish to be on the front page of Google for a cost of $5/click - anyone can do that!), donate 10 of our gifts to a worthy cause, buy their compatible ink cartridges or look after their $50,000,000 for them!

Yes, anyone can run a business but that doesn't mean it'll be successful, you'll enjoy it, you'll have customers (happy ones even) or that you can just sit in front of your computer and watch the money roll in! Owning and running a business is rewarding but also very demanding, don't make flippant comments about 'being able to watch Oprah, go to the beach everyday, sleep in, go to bed early, go shopping everyday, go on holidays whenever%u2026..) it may look easy but looks can be decieving, money and customers don't grow on trees!

Rainbow Designs - stressful oneday, perfect the next

One-word keywords are highly competitive and harder to rank in the search engines than 2+ keyword phrases. One word keywords are typically broad, and generic, and attract a wide range of audience. Which means some of your website visitors won't be so targeted, and possibly not interested in your product/service. Additionally, most of the time when a visitor types in a one-word keyword, they are not as close to actually buying something, as someone who types in a longer keyword phrase. They are just doing research. As opposed to a searcher that typed in a longer phrase, and lands on an inner page deep withing your site. Typically, that visitor is further along in the buying cycle, and much more apt to convert. So, when optimising your inner pages, think phrases, not single words.

from: Shimon Sandler

Keywords and their relationship to your website are very important, especially in the search engine stakes so reading this little bit of info on keywords was very helpful. If you ever use or plan on using Adwords or the like it is important to select your keywords/phrases carefully and to use the negative feature (stops your ads showing up when particular words are used) so you're not wasting your precious money on people who have no interest in your products or service. Being a lot more specific and targeted when designing your ads and the keywords that go with it. This is the same for your websites content, don't just fill it with individual words use direct phrases that relate to your business and your target market. It's all well and good to put 'gifts' everywhere but this word has so many variations i.e. donations, stawell so you will be attracting non targetted searches and if it's through your Pay Per Click advertising you'll be wasting a lot of money.

Think carefully about your content, headlines, product names and advertising copy if done correctly it can make a big difference in your conversion rate. You may notice a drop in overall hits or visits but the more specific your keywords are the more likely you will attract 'interested visitors' which will in turn create more conversions (that's the theory anyway!).

Trying to get your new business known? Join the very long queue! It is one of the hardest parts of running an online business, how do you let people know you exist? One type of marketing I found, that doesn't cost the earth, is Affiliate Marketing. This entails other websites promoting and advertising your business for you, what a great idea! Why would they do this I hear you ask. Well, like us, to make money! For every sale, sign up, click thru, subscriber (or whatever your objective is) they provide your business with, you pay them a percentage or set fee (whichever suits your business). So if you are an online store you may offer a commission based on a percentage of the sale figure, such as 5%. This will mean whenever an affiliate of yours provides a sales lead which then turns into a sale you will pay them 5% of the order value (i.e. You get an order for a CD valued at $29.95 your affiliate would receive 5% commission or $1.50). It works by placing a tracking code (either in a text link or a banner) on your affiliates site and on your shopping cart page (for sales based affiliate marketing) so everytime someone clicks on this link or banner from your affiliates site it is tracked and will be credited with a conversion once a sale is made. You can specify the length of time this tracking code lasts i.e. 1 month, 6 months, a year etc

If it all sounds a bit complicated don't worry I too almost put it in the 'too hard basket' but then I came across clixGalore which specialises in online affiliate networking. I joined up with them about 6 months after starting up my business and have been with them ever since. To join the basic program there are no setup fees, you pay (deposit) $150 +gst into your account to get you started (this is then used to pay your affiliates). It isn't an instant way of gaining new customer, you need to be patient as it generally takes 3-4 months before you will start to see any results. It takes awhile for your program to be picked up and promoted by affiliates plus the majority of affiliates who join your program (exciting as it is) will not generate any sales for you. I have found that it is only about 1-2% of affiliates who actually successfully promote my site. They may not sound like huge numbers but if you can get just a few great affiliates you will notice an increase in visits and conversions, which is the aim!

For my business I believe it has been one of the best and most cost effective ways of getting my business name out there.

Keep in contact with your affiliates, let them know you're around, tell them of new products, special offers, competitions you maybe running, special events, anything you feel will help them to promote your business. I also recommend visiting your affiliates website to ensure you want them promoting your site, not all may be beneficial or helpful. It's up to you who you allow to join your program or not.

Why is it important to enjoy what you are doing? There are a couple of reasons:

* you actually enjoy your life while working
* you already know and understand a lot about your business (from hobby or your interests)
* you can find new, out of the box, ways to improve your business, because you enjoy working and you know a great deal about it
* you eagerly learn new things about your topic, communicate with other like-minded people
* you can find new natural ways to promote your work

Though it may seem like just another factor for succeeding in business, it is not just a factor. Sometimes, it can be the decisive factor that will push you through the barriers in your start-up. Sometimes, your passion and knowledge will point you in the right direction to market your business more successfully. And, of course, when you enjoy your work, you'll produce high quality product or service or anything you touch. And nothing can beat product quality.

So whether you enjoy your work or not is not a factor. Mostly, it is the difference between a successful business and a failure. But most importantly, it is the difference that makes you enjoy your life while working and it can't be disregarded that easily.

by Yuro Filimonov

The Daily Method of Operation

When you've completed your business plan establish priorities. Spend most time on what provides most benefit. Don't procrastinate. Start with the most difficult task. Keep a time diary for one week. Include everything you do from rising until retiring. This is a difficult task requiring commitment. When accomplished it will pay off. How much time weekly do you spend showering, thinking about what to do, watching TV etc? You will be surprised at where you can save precious time when you analyze this diary. Next plan your day. Write everything to be achieved, allocate a timeframe. You will be amazed at how much you will achieve following a realistic DMO.

Sometimes you need space, space for all of your products, space for your filing, space for your computer and printer but most of all you need space to clear your head. I have found myself drowning because I am not giving myself time to breath. Running my own business is rewarding but it can and often does become all consuming. Every aspect of my life revolves around Rainbow Designs and it has for such a long time that I don't know who I am without it - a bit scary really.

I find myself at a loss without my computer, I feel like I can't function and that a part of me is missing. My computer (which is my business, being totally online) has become such a part of me that I've forgotten how to interact in 'real life'. What a frightening thought!

It got me to thinking that there must be so many people who feel the same (surely it can't just be me!) so what do we do about it?

Firstly, turn your computer off (do you remember how to do that?) and don't turn it back on for 24 hours. It's terrible when that seems such a ghastly thing to do - withdrawals start even before the machine has finished closing but believe me it will pass.

The rest is up to you what you spend your first computer free 24hours with - walking in the fresh air is a great start - no ipods allowed - look and listen to what is going on around you. Smile and say hi to everyone you pass by, buy an icecream, sit in the park, read, write, knit, paint, draw, garden, visit friends (that'll shock them!)%u2026the choice is yours just don't think of work! Let yourself have time off, your business will cope without you for 24hours and you'll feel all the better for it.

This shouldn't be a one off either, it must be part of your weekly schedule just like phoning customers, chasing up suppliers and paying bills. They are all important parts of running your business and running it successfully - don't feel guilty for having some 'you' time, we all deserve it and without it you and your business will suffer.

So, when you write out your to-do list this week (and the next and the next) include your 'you time' activity and make sure you tick it off! You won't know yourself and I bet you'll feel fabulous and your business will boom.

1. Decide exactly what you want in life in each area, and write it down. Make your goals clear, specific and measurable.
2. Specify the most important skill you could develop to move you into the top 10 percent of people in your field. Then do something immediately to begin developing that skill.
3. Identify the major constraint or limiting factor inside yourself or in your world that is setting the speed at which you achieve your most important goal, and begin working on removing that constraint today.
4. Determine your single biggest problem or obstacle in your business or personal life. Then focus all your time and attention on the possible solutions.
5. Make a list of what you would want to be, do and have if you had no limitations and you were absolutely guaranteed success.
6. Accept complete responsibility for your life. From this day forward, refuse to make excuses or blame anyone for anything. Instead, take action to make your goals a reality.
7. Reaffirm and visualise your goals of financial success, excellent health and personal happiness as a reality. Remember, the person you see is the person you will be.

From: The Way to Wealth, Part I: The Journey Begins-Success Strategies of the Wealthy Entrepreneur by Brian Tracy (Entrepreneur Press)

Well for me number 6 is a biggy - "Accept Responsibility" - all too often people blame someone or something else (me included) but I've realised that it is up to me and me alone to decide on how I will react to things. My life is in my hands, no one elses, so I need to start accepting responsilibity for everything I do and for everything that happens in MY life. I need to stop looking out and starting looking in. I need to stop envying others and start recognising my achievements. I need to stop living by other peoples ideals and start living by mine. I need to stop focussing on what I don't have and start looking at what I do have. I need to be ME and stop trying to be who I think other people expect me to be. I need to stop dwelling on the negative and look at all the positives. I need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for MY life.

I have a great business, I have a gorgeous little house, I have a loving family, I have a sexy car, I have great potential, I have a caring nature, I am healthy, I am happy, I can cook and I can SMILE.