The Unvarnished Truth About Home-Based EBiz

Home-Based EBiz: The Unvarnished Truth

A successful business owner always researches what TYPE of business model is the most profitable with the least investment in time and money, and builds a business accordingly. That’s no big revelation; it’s simple common sense.

But common sense seems to fly out the window when people decide to start a business online.

Let’s look at the UNVARNISHED TRUTH about this business, no punches pulled.

If you make the HUGE mistake of listening to the Ebiz Marketers, they’ll have you start an Amazon FBA business using retail arbitrage while also drop shipping from AliExpress and cross-listing your products on eBay, and then start a web site to draw traffic through pay per click advertising to your Amazon and eBay listings that also carries affiliate products and info while building up to private labeling products you import directly from China.

Over time, this utterly counter-productive insanity will cost you tens of thousands of dollars. But they’ll tell you it’s okay to put tens of thousands on credit cards or refinance your house because you’ll make all that money back in just a few months.

Except you won’t. You’ll NEVER make any money that way. The Marketers don’t care. THEY got paid.
Let’s break this down into what works and what doesn’t in the REAL world, and WHY.

AMAZON is a HORRIBLE business model for small business. The profit margins are miserable because you compete against wholesale companies and manufacturers. The rules change on an almost daily basis, so you never know when you’re going to get your listings blocked for reasons you don’t understand. Amazon routinely blocks entire product lines and brand names for their own reasons, and you get stuck with a ton of stuff you can’t sell. If by chance you find something that sells well, Amazon’s algorithm will notice that IMMEDIATELY, and they’ll take over the niche THEMSELVES, cutting you out of the loop.

The point is that Amazon is GREAT for BIG business, but not small business. Big business can live on miniscule profit margins all day because they live on HIGH VOLUME and LOW MARGINS. Small business lives on LOW VOLUME and HIGH MARGINS, and Amazon’s profit margins are far too small.

RETAIL ARBITRAGE is not a real thing. It was made up by junk marketers a few years ago. If you think it’s a good idea to waste all your time, gas, and energy running around to retail stores all week long looking for individual bargain products that you then have to package and ship to Amazon to hopefully get resold on FBA for an artificially jacked-up price (which is cheating your own customers) before Amazon figures you out and suspends your account, then retail arbitrage is for you. If you’re smarter than that, it isn’t.

Arbitrage is a term that refers to COMMODITIES, not retail product. Gold is a commodity. Grain, precious metals, electricity, oil, beef, and natural gas are all commodities.

An Easy Bake Oven that you have to chase all over town to find on sale and then overcharge for on Amazon is NOT a commodity.

EBiz Marketers talk about “DROP SHIPPING” like it’s some kind of unique business system. It isn’t. It’s nothing more than a product delivery method that’s useful when you start out, because you won’t have inventory costs.

However, using AliExpress or Oberlo (which is just AliExpress dressed up for Halloween) for drop shipping is a huge mistake. You’re dealing with drop shippers who CLAIM to be in China, but there’s no way to be sure of that. You’re running a serious risk that those products won’t be delivered to your customers at all, and if they are they can easily be completely different than what was described. There’s no legal recourse for you in China, so if you get screwed, you stay screwed. You’re also dealing with delivery times that can range from 3 weeks to 2 MONTHS or more. If your goal is to piss off your customers and ruin your reputation, this is a good idea. If not, it isn’t. Not ever.

Cross-listing your Amazon products on eBay is just plain silly. eBay has been encouraging wholesale companies to sell on eBay under assumed seller names since 2009, and that level of price-driven competition leaves no profit margins there either.

Starting a web site to drive traffic to Amazon and/or eBay through paid ads or otherwise is just as ridiculous as everything else we just discussed. First, search engine and social media-generated traffic doesn’t translate well to Amazon and eBay for reasons we’ll discuss later in this Workshop. Second, you should NEVER pay for advertising in this business. It’s an utter waste of money. We have a saying here: “People who pay for online advertising are people who don’t know how to market online”. Natural search engine ranking is much more powerful, and we’ll talk about that later in this Workshop as well.

Placing affiliate products on a web site will hurt that site and your business by messing up your Search Engine Optimization. Again, more on that later. Affiliate marketing is also a bad idea because you have to ALL the same work to market an Affiliate site as you would to market a site where you sell the products YOURSELF. As an affiliate, you get a small commission. As an actual product site owner, you keep ALL the profits. For exactly the same amount of work.

Small commission versus full profits. Not hard to figure out.

Private labeling is yet another Ebiz Marketer gimmick. You have to look at this as a BUSINESSPERSON. Companies spend tens of millions of dollars to create BRANDS that are recognized by consumers. Why? Because recognized brands are trusted more and sell much better. What could possibly be the point of spending all the money it takes to grab generic junk from China and slapping an unknown name on it?

That’s the OPPOSITE of branding, and again, it’s just another gimmick that sounds good but doesn’t work.

AND THEN they all talk about importing from China. REALLY? I sent several of my employees to Guangzhou Province in China a while back to explore this idea. Yes, you can get stuff for very low prices when you’re IN China. It’s getting them back to YOUR country that’s expensive.
If you’re going to do that, you have to GO to China. Then, you have to buy in HUGE quantities to get those low prices, so bring a truckload of money. You’ll have to hire an Agent in China to look after your interests. Then it’ll take two or three months to have your products made. Then you pay for ocean shipping because you have to buy in truckload quantities to get those low prices.

When it reaches your Port of Entry in the US, for example, you have to consult the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule to see how much Import Tax you’re going to pay. Then there are Customs fees. Then you have to hire a freight company to transport your stuff to whatever warehouse you’re going to pay for to KEEP your stuff in.

Importing from China sounds good when the Ebiz Marketers TALK about it, but they leave a LOT of stuff OUT of that conversation. Doing this is about as useful as tying wings to your dog. You can do that all day long, but it’ll never fly.

The only thing that DOES make sense is building your own web site, but NOT using paid ads, affiliate programs and sending traffic to the flea markets like eBay and Amazon.

Your own website, marketed properly and selling physical products directly to your customers, is and always has been the most profitable way to make money online. So that’s what we’ll be talking about here.

I COULD teach ALL of that other stuff. I DO know how to do it. But I DON’T do it, because it’s all a waste of time and money and NONE of it is good business practice. It makes money for the MARKETERS, not for YOU.

If you want to learn how this business REALLY works, check out.

https://www.clkmg.com/itun/mana

Do You Know About Website Hosting and Which is Right for You!

What are Website Hosting Services and Which is Right for You?

Website hosting services are basically the plot of internet land that your website storefront sits on. If you have a website, it needs to be on the web, and these hosting services are the landlords that put up your site and keep it running so your customers can access and see it when they type in your URL.

There are different types of web hosting services that cater to the varying types of businesses. Some web hosting companies will build your entire website, while others will just give you the plot of land and the shovel and leave you to it. Depending on your business model and size, you’ll choose a hosting company based on the factors explained below.

How to Choose the Best Web Hosting Company?

Without the best web hosting, your ability to run a successful website is going to be seriously hindered. There is a dizzying array of web hosting providers competing for your business. How can you pinpoint the best one? Start by keeping the following points in mind:

  • Bandwidth

The first thing you need to do when shopping for a web hosting service is to evaluate your disk space and bandwidth needs. If your site features lots of graphics, dozens of pages, and large amounts of traffic, you’re going to need decent bandwidth and disk space. Unlimited plans are available, and they make life easier.

  • Compatibility

Keep compatibility in mind, too. In the excitement of looking for a website hosting provider, you might overlook one critical thing: the type of operating systems that are supported. You’re not going to want to switch operating systems, so double-check this point before settling for a provider.

  • Reliability

Reliability and availability are critical characteristics to consider when shopping around for web hosting. The best web hosting companies offer availability rates of 98 and 99 percent, frequently referred to as “Uptime.”

  • Security

Security is also an essential concern. Choosing a web hosting provider without learning about its available security features is a big mistake. Things like firewalls, daily backups, and user authentication should all be included.

Take a look at how we choose the best web hosting sites in the industry in order to make a better decision about which is right for you.

Hosting Packages and What They Mean to You

The larger or more complex a website, the more comprehensive a configuration package it’s going to need. The main ones are broken down as follows:

  • Shared

Shared web hosting is the basic package that services offer. Your website sits on the same server along with many other websites, so you’re sharing the server, and any other resources, such as memory or CPU. These are good for basic website needs such as email sending, file sharing, and base level ecommerce sites. Shared hosting is the cheapest and therefore smartest option for smaller or startup businesses.

  • VPS

A virtual private server is designated for your direct purposes, more than a shared server. You still may be sharing an actual server, but the service creates a virtual server of your very own. That means all the resources are yours alone, from memory storage to processing power and beyond. This is a safer and much more reliable option that keeps your site separate from the others while still maintaining affordability.

  • Dedicated

Dedicated hosting is already another level. In addition to getting your own server, dedicated hosting lets you take full control over your server. That means you have full administrative access and can set things up the way you like it. This type of package comes with a royal suite of features that may not be necessary for all types of businesses.

  • WordPress

WordPress is a shared hosting service that caters to a more specialized clientele. The servers themselves are optimized differently, and have features that are particularly attractive to WordPress performance such as faster load time, pre-installation, security features that work specifically with WordPress, and WordPress updates. This is useful for businesses that have websites created on WordPress.

Some Top Features When it Comes to Top Hosting Quality

Hosting quality is affected by several factors that are important to weigh during your decision making process. Some of the most significant ones include:

  • Uptime guarantee

We mention this in more detail below, and really it’s one of the most important factors to consider, so don’t skimp on uptime. HostGator has one of the best uptime guarantees at 99.98%.

  • Load time

Load time is also really important. Recent studies show that the average attention span has shrunk over the years to smaller than that of a goldfish! So, if your website takes even a drop too long to load a page, your business is dead before it’s even started. To keep yourself in the running, be sure your hosting service has a fast load time. A2Hosting will deliver a 360ml load time for pages, the fastest in the industry.

  • Customer support

Because having an issue with your website is nothing to take lightly, you want to make sure customer service is available, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. More on this below.

  • Location

The number of servers and location plays a huge part in the speed of your website loading and service. Obviously, the more servers available, the faster the service, but where those servers are found in the world will also affect the quality. Look for servers in substantial locations close to you such as the UK, US, or Israel depending on your location.

The Low Down on Uptimes

If you’re looking into web hosting, you’ll hear the term uptime guarantee a lot. Uptime, which is the percentage of time that a hosting service is up and running, will be guaranteed by various companies with a certain percentage of time to be up. That doesn’t mean they will definitely go down for the other percentage of the time, but they can say without fail that they will be up for at least that amount of time.

This is important is because you don’t want your site constantly being unavailable or unreachable to your customers. Otherwise, why have a website at all? Quality brands like HostGator and Bluehost offer a more than 99% uptime guarantee, and that’s really good for your business.

Top FAQs From Our Readers

We come across a lot of the same questions from our readers. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions along with quick answers for your reference:

About how much does web hosting cost?

The package and type of service you get will determine how much you pay. Prices range anywhere from $2.99/month to around $10/month. For a more in-depth answer, check out the pricing and value section below.

How can I learn more about hosting services?

Review sites like these have done all the work for you and condensed the information you need into short, concise reviews on each brand. Browse these reviews to get the most data in the least amount of time/effort, in order to make a well-informed decision.

Web Hosting Pricing & Value

Some choose web hosting providers based solely on price. While that’s not a great strategy, you should certainly take pricing into consideration. The best providers offer plans for every budget and in some cases, signing up for longer subscriptions will qualify for extra discounts.

Also, leave some room to grow. Choosing a web hosting plan that meets your website’s current needs is great. But, with any luck, your site will grow and expand over time, and your needs may change. Since switching to a new web hosting provider is a major hassle, consider one that offers scalable plans. Along the same lines, you may want to pay attention to how many email accounts are provided. Whether or not you believe you’ll need dozens of email addresses, it’s nice to have the option to create as many as possible down the line.

Investigate Hosting Providers’ Customer Service and Support

Even if you’re a natural at setting up websites, it’s nice to know that help is available if you need it. Confirm that the web hosting provider you choose has 24/7 support and make sure that there are several ways in which to get support, too. The most reliable providers will provide support through email, phone, and online chat, giving you the choice of convenience. The best support includes customer freedom. Review the providers’ policies to ensure that there is a clear, money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the product.

What Extras Are Available Beyond Web Hosting

While providing the basics like bandwidth and disk space are a given, a good web hosting plan will also have at least a few extras. If you’re running an online store, keep an eye out for providers that supply Ecommerce solutions. If you want to be able to implement quick and easy updates, find a provider that offers content management systems.

Conclusion

As tempting as it may be to choose a web hosting provider quickly and just get on with your life, it’s undeniably better to take your time. In doing so, you’ll be able to find a provider you can stick with for the long haul.

“How To Market Your Business Online”

Marketing effectively isn’t all about the size of your budget; it’s about your audience. Even though you may be faced with a shoestring ( or even a nonexistent, one thing you do have is time. You most certainly can market your business on a shoestring, as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort. let’s jump right into it.

Understand Your Audience

Regardless of your budget, understanding your audience is at the core of being able to market your business so that you attract the right audience.

Blog, Blog, Blog

Your blog is the base from which all action should take place. it doesn’t matter whether or not you pay for your blog; everything you do should be on your blog before you post it anywhere else.

Facebook Pages Are A Must

Set up a Pinterest Account

Pinterest is hot right now. if you can find a way to incorporate for each new blog post, you can promote yourself on Pinterest.

Set Up a Well-Made Linkedin.com Profile

Set-up your profile and fill it out completely. Seek to improve it at all times, cross-pollinate information from your blog to linkedin.com. Ask people to recommend you and endorse you. Do the same for others.

use Twitter.com Often

twitter is a social network in which you can post short 140 character updates often, throughout the day, without irritating others like you might by doing the same thing on Facebook. Use ot often to remind people about your blog.

Join Yahoo Groups

There are literally thousands of yahoo groups that you can join. Join groups that are comprised of your ideal audience members.

Use Craigslist to Post Ads

Using a verified email account you can post ads for your business. Choose the right category for your business. Posting between 4pm and 9pm is the best, according to Craigslist.

Make Smart Forum Comments

Find forums where your audience participates and make smart comments that show your knowledge about the topic, letting your signature line speak for itself.

Use Local Media to Get the Word Out

Most of the time local media can’t find enough stories. Be a story-send them a press release about your business and they’ll be glad to cover a local success story.

use Your Website

Your website is already in place, so use it to its full potential by ensuring that it properly represents your business in full.

Become the Expert

People like listening to experts, so become the go-to expert in your niche. before you know it more people will come to you and ask you more questions, which you can use for more blog posts, and to create new products.

Get Involved in Your Community

it will cost you time, and perhaps gas money, but the more involved you are with your local community, the more business you’ll get.

Write Guest Blog Posts

Find niche sites that speak to your audience and offer to write original blog posts for them on a regular basis. All you need in return is a link to your site in your bio.

Publish a Kindle Book

Kindle makes it simple to publish, compile and edit your old blog posts into an eBook for your audience. give it away free or sell it for 99 cents.

Ask Colleagues to review Your products/Services/Books

When you produce something new ask others to review it for you on their blogs and websites.

Have a Contest

use your blog, social media, and/or Youtube.com to pr to promote a contest with the prize being free product. get people to vote on the winner, which will encourage sharing among the participants.

free” can be worth a lot these days. create a great report-such as an overview of your niche and give it away in exchange for email list sign-up.

Add Social Sharing to Your Website/Blog/Newsletter

Make it simple for other people to share your website, blog, or newsletter by adding social share buttons.

Do a regular Q&A on Your Blog

Utilize emails, questions found on forums, and other sources, create a weekly Q&A blog post. You can take just one question at a time and make an entire blog post built around it.

Repurpose Content into Video

Make Your Q&A posts into a video, or make any past “how to” blog into video. Sometimes people like to see things in other forms.

Host a Google+ Hangout on-Air

Do your Q&A on Google+ Hangout On Air. Doing a live event can be scary, but it can also be a great way to get new connections.

Answer Questions on Google+

Search for and answer questions within your niche by people on Google+

Answer Questions on Facebook.

When someone asks a question you can answer on Facebook.

Answer Questions on Twitter.

A lot of people will pose short questions on Twitter-be ready to answer them either in public or directly.

Use Quora to Build Your Business.

Quora is a free service where you choose at least five topics and then contribute to questions and answers that are relevant to the topic.

Join Relevant Forums.

Search for forums about your niche and join those where your audience participates. Then become the resident expert. You don’t have to write all your blog content, you can curate relevant content from others (as long as you link back to their content in full.

Interview Experts for a Podcast

You can use free services like skype to record interviews as a podcast. Post them on your site and iTunes.

Transcribe Expert Interviews into an eBook

Repurpose the expert interviews into an eBook. You can make individual eBooks, and then at the end of the year compile all into a larger volume.

Transcribe Expert Interviews into a Blog Post

Likewise, you can transcribe all interviews into blog posts. Some people would rather read then listen. Give your audience options for how they can get your information.

Host a Round Table with Experts on Google + Hangout On Air

Gather up experts and host a round table on popular topic. While you’re limited to the participants on the round table, the on Air part is unlimited.

Interview people via Skype One-on-One

Skype is a great way to record an interview both in video format and audio format, then later post that recording to Youtube.com, your site, or in some other format.

Do a Weekly Expert Roundup on your Blog

Do you know four or five experts? Sak them to participate in a weekly expert panel where everyone answers the same questions.

Participate in Weekly expert Roundups on Other People’s Blogs

Be the expert answering the questions for someone else’s weekly expert panel.

Check Your Email for Q&A inspiration

if you’re stuck for things to say on your blog, look no further than your email for questions from your clients. You can take one question and turn it into a blog post. Find groups of both your audience and direct competitors and join them on Linkedin.com. Do not self-promote, but be free and open with your answers and questions.

Create Your own group on Linkedin.com

Linkedin.com allows you to create your own groups, so create one in which you can pose and answer the questions you want to, as well as use to promote your blog.

Create Your Own Facebook Groups

On Facebook you can create many type of groups, both private and public. create both so that you can converse with your audience and colleagues.

Join groups on Facebook

Find groups on Facebook that are both networking and marketing worthy. Join them, and participate actively.

Learn Affiliate Marketing

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