Steve Jobs' Advice for Entrepreneurs

Why Cash Crate is The Best GPT Site in the Industry

 

Why Cash Crate is The Best GPT Site in the Industry

Word Count:
529

Summary:
While looking for new ways to boost my online income I ran across Cash Crate. Knowing noting about the GPT industry I discounted it as yet another internet scam. But that nagging thought "what if it is for real?" eventually brought me to give it a try. Several weeks and several hundred dollars later, I can confidentially say that Cash Crate is definitely NOT an internet scam.

Keywords:
cashcrate,cash crate,cashcrate review,cash crate review,cashcrate gpt,cash crate gpt,cash crate survey,cashcrate survey,gpt scam,internet scam

Article Body:
When I first set out to find new ways of earning money online, Cash Crate was the first GPT (get paid to) program I came across.  Assuming it was just another internet scam, I skimmed their website and moved on.  But a few days later I couldn't stop wondering about it.  If their claims were true this could be a nice extra income stream for me. Not really expecting much, I went ahead and signed up.  Now, several months and several hundred dollars later, I can tell you that Cash Crate is definitely NOT a scam.  After having a good experience with them, I went on to sign up for several other GPT sites, many of which I have made quite a bit of money at, but Cash Crate remains my favorite for several reasons, which I will address in this review.

What Is Cash Crate?
Cash Crate is a Get Paid To site that allows you to earn money by taking surveys and completing trials and offers.  Companies are always looking for consumers to try their products or services.  GPT programs, such as Cash Crate are hired by advertising companies to provide these leads. Cash Crate gets paid by these companies; they then pass on up to 75% back to us.

How Are You Paid?
Cash Crate automatically sends you a check each month for the previous month's earnings.  All you need to do is earn a minimum of $10 to each month to qualify for payment.  I can't even begin to tell you how easy this is.  I was able to do this within the first few hours of working with Cash Crate.  Within a few days I was up to over $50.

Do You Need to Refer Anybody to Earn Money?
Absolutely NOT.  You can earn quite a bit of money without referring a single person.  If you are like me though and enjoy recruiting new members, there is a very good income to be made this way as well. 

Cash Crate has one of the best referral programs available in the GPT industry.  This is one of the reasons that Cash Crate remains my favorite GPT site.  Cash Crate's excellent referral program makes it not only lucrative, but also easy to refer others to.  In my experience, once people understand the power behind this referral program they are very eager to join. 

Cash Crate pays you 20% of what your referrals earn and 10% of what their referrals earn.  Plus once your referral earns enough to cashout for their first time (only $10) they also give you a $3 bonus.  Once you have 50 active referrals under you they raise your referral commissions to 25%!

I compared Cash Crate's referral system to other GPT sites and this is what I found: Between the high referral rates offered by Cash Crate, their quick crediting, and consistent payment history, Cash Crate holds the most earning potential.  After several months of working with close to 20 different GPT sites, I can tell you that I consistently earn far more money at Cash Crate than any other GPT site.

If you'd like to try Cash Crate for yourself you can get started here

 

A Marketing Lesson From TV's The Apprentice

A Marketing Lesson From TV's The Apprentice

Word Count:
523

Summary:
What happens when smart business people try to be too creative with their advertising and marketing? They often lose sight of exactly what they're trying to accomplish. Yes you can be too creative for your business' good.

Keywords:
marketing, advertising

Article Body:
Advertising and marketing are creative disciplines.  That's one reason I love being a part of the marketing industry. Finding creative solutions to help clients sell their products and services is a fun way to make a living. Having said that, I must also say that too often I see marketers going too far.

In my opinion it is certainly possible to be too creative for your own good. What exactly do I mean by that? Let me share a very public example to explain.

My example comes from the reality television show, "The Apprentice." Okay, so I admit it, I LOVE that show. I'm not much of a reality TV fan, but there's something about watching these teams compete on business challenges week in and week out that intrigues and entertains me.

Quite often they are given marketing-related tasks on the show. Let's face it, marketing is one of THE most important jobs you'll ever have in business. If you can do it well, your business will more than likely do well.  If you can't market well, your business is in trouble. 

In a recent episode of "The Apprentice" the task was to create a TV commercial for Dove Body Wash. The teams were instructed to come up with an "out of the box" 30-second spot to promote the product. The result?

Both teams created garbage! I guess some may argue they certainly did think "out of the box," and both teams tried to justify that's what they did, but in the end, they failed miserably at their number one task: to sell the product!

And that's what I think happens to many marketers who try to be too creative. They lose sight of the fact their job is to sell a product or service. To do that effectively, your marketing has to be one word: relevant.

You can be as clever or creative as you want, but in the end if your marketing is not relevant to the product and to those who are most likely to buy it, you have failed.

Look, I realize we have to be creative to capture our audience's attention. After all we are trying to cut through a sea of marketing clutter. I just wish more marketers tried harder to connect with their audience vs. simply entertain them.

Heck, I sometimes wonder if marketers even know who their audience is. This definitely came into play in The Apprentice with both teams showing men using Dove Body Wash in their commercials. C'mon, it doesn't take a lot of sense to recognize this product is for women! But because they were so focused on being clever, they lost sight of this very basic fact.

If I can leave you with one thought it is this: Identify and know your audience and then aim to connect with them and jump into the conversation they are already having in their head about your product or service.

If you can do this, you will be effective in capturing their attention, AND selling your product or service.

 

Reasons To Use A Franchise Consultant

Reasons To Use A Franchise Consultant

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266

Summary:
A potential business owner that has an interest in purchasing and running a franchise would benefit from the services of a franchise consultant. A franchise consultant can provide expertise and guidance throughout the entire process.

Keywords:
Franchise Consultant

Article Body:
A potential business owner that has an interest in purchasing and running a franchise would benefit from the services of a franchise consultant. A franchise consultant can provide expertise and guidance throughout the entire process. Listed below are 12 reasons that it is advantageous to use this service.

1. The service is free to the franchisee, with the franchiser covering the consulting fees.

2. The service is personal and confidential.

3. The consultant guides the potential franchisee through the entire process of deciding whether to become a franchisee, and how to go about it.

4. A detailed profile including an evaluation of the potential owner's experience, interests, and goals is complied in order to match the new franchisee with the most suitable opportunity.

5. Education is provided on the various types of ownership and investment options.

6. Investigation into the most suitable opportunities that are available is done by the consultant.

7. Initiation of contact with company representatives is part of the service.

8. The consultant helps to verify each company's success and track record.

9. The potential business owner saves time and money by having the experts perform research on various opportunities.

10. The consultant acts as the one-stop shop, answering questions and referring the potential owner to other resources as necessary, such as financial or legal advisors.

11. The consultant works with all types of franchises, including full-time, part-time, new units, and re-sale franchises.

12. Complications and confusion are virtually eliminated by having an expert perform these services.

Overall, a franchise consultant will help you determine if franchising is right for you and if so, what type of franchise opportunities you are most likely to succeed in.

 

Sure-Fire Steps to take the Fear out of Public Speaking

Sure-Fire Steps to take the Fear out of Public Speaking

Word Count:
1231

Summary:
This article reveals 10 simple steps to minimise the fear of
Public Speaking. Find out how to make it so much easier and
do it a whole lot better.

Keywords:
Public Speaking, Fear, Presentations

Article Body:
Do you "feel the fear" when asked to do some Public
Speaking?

Public Speaking is still one of our greatest fears and it
turns grown men and women into nervous wrecks. The mere
thought of it turns our tongue to cotton wool, causes our
internal plumbing to act up and turns our knees to jelly.

Well, there's no need for all of this because help is at
hand. All you need to remember are your P's and Q's. Let's
start with the P's

Preparation -

When you sit down to write what you're going to say, bear in
mind who you'll be speaking to. Will they understand what
you're talking about; will they understand the technical
stuff and the jargon? If in doubt remember the old saying -
"Keep It Simple Stupid".  

Make sure that what you say has a beginning, middle and an
end. Think of some anecdotes that help reinforce your story.
People think visually so paint verbal pictures for your
audience. And always remember, people want to know what's in
it for them - so make sure you tell them!

Place -

Have a look at the venue before the event if you can. It's
not always possible, however, even if you get there half an
hour before, you can check out where you'll be speaking. 

Stand at the point where you will deliver from, imagine
where the audience will be and check that they can see and
hear you. You may even wish to place a glass of water where
you'll be able to find it.

Personal Preparation -

Before any Public Speaking event, think about what you are
going to wear; when in doubt dress up rather than down. You
can always take things off for a more casual look. Men could
remove their jacket and their tie. Women could remove items
of jewellery.

Part of your personal preparation should include some mouth
and breathing exercises. Practise saying some tongue
twisters to give your speaking muscles a good work out. Take
a deep breath and expand your diaphragm. Then breathe out,
counting at the same time; try and get up to fifty and not
pass out.

As part of your personal preparation, write your own
introduction. Write out exactly what you want someone to say
about you, large font, double-spaced and ask the person
introducing you to read it. Believe me they won't object and
will probably be pleased and impressed.

Poise and Posture -

Whenever you're called to speak, stand up or walk to the
front quickly and purposefully. Pull yourself up to your
full height, stand tall and look like you own the place.
Before you start to speak, pause, look round your audience
and smile. You may even have to wait until the applause dies
down. Remember, you want the audience to like you, so look
likeable.

Pretend -

I'm suggesting you pretend you're not nervous because no
doubt you will be. Nervousness is vital for speaking in
public, it boosts your adrenaline, which makes your mind
sharper and gives you energy.

The trick is to keep your nerves to yourself. On no account
tell your audience your nervous; you'll only scare the
living daylights out of them if they think you're going to
faint.

Some tricks for dealing with nerves are:

Before you're called to speak, get lots of oxygen into your
system, run on the spot and wave your arms about like a
lunatic. It burns off the stress chemicals.

Speak to members of your audience as they come in or at some
time before you stand up. That tricks your brain into
thinking you're talking to some friends.

Have a glass of water handy for that dry mouth. One word of
warning - do not drink alcohol. It might give you Dutch
courage but your audience will end up thinking you're
speaking Dutch.

The Presentation -

Right from the start your delivery needs to grab their
attention.

Don't start by saying - "Good morning, my name is Fred Smith
and I'm from Smith Associates."
Even if your name is Smith, it's a real boring way to start
a presentation.  Far better to start with some interesting
facts or an anecdote that's relevant to your presentation. 

Look at the audience as individuals; it grabs their
attention if they think you're talking to them personally.

Talk louder than you would normally do, it keeps the people
in the front row awake and makes sure those at the back get
the message. Funnily enough, it's also good for your nerves.

PowerPoint -

And for those of you who haven't heard of it, it's a
software programme that's used to design stunning graphics
and text for projection onto a screen.

As a professional speaker, I'm not that struck on
PowerPoint. I feel that too many speakers rely on it and it
takes over the presentation.  After all, you're the
important factor here. If an audience is going to accept
what you say then they need to see the whites of your eyes.
There needs to be a big focus on you, not on the technology.

Use PowerPoint if you want but keep it to a minimum and make
sure you're not just the person pushing the buttons.  Why
not get a bit clever at using the faithful old Flip Chart,
lots of professionals do.

Passion -

This is what stops the audience in their tracks. This is
what makes them want to employ you or to accept what you're
proposing. Couple this with some energy, enthusiasm and
emotion and you have the makings of a great public speaker.

Give your presentation a bit of oomph and don't start
telling me - "I'm not that kind of person." There's no need
to go over the top but you're doing a presentation to move
people to action, not having a cosy little chat in your
front room.

That's the P's finished, so let's look at the Q's.

Questions -

Decide when you're going to take them and tell people at the
start.
In a short speech it's best to take questions at the end. If
you take them as you go then you may get waylaid and your
timing will get knocked out.

Never - never - never finish with questions; far better to
ask for questions five or ten minutes before the end. Deal
with the questions and then summarise for a strong finish.
Too many presentations finish on questions and the whole
thing goes a bit flat.

When you're asked a question, repeat it to the whole
audience and thank the questioner. It keeps everyone
involved, it gives you time to think and it makes you look
so clever and in control.

Quit -
Quit when you're ahead. Stick to the agreed time; if you're
asked to speak for twenty minutes, speak for nineteen and
the audience will love you for it. Remember, quality is not
quantity.

One of the most famous speeches ever - "The Gettysburg
Address", by President Lincoln, was just over two minutes
long.

Right, that's my cue to quit when I'm ahead.
Now that you're armed with this information you too can
minimise your fear of Public Speaking.

 

Tips to Help You Market When You Think You're Too Busy

Tips to Help You Market When You Think You're Too Busy

Word Count:
774

Summary:
What if you've taken the time to create a marketing plan but now you're so busy servicing your current clients that you're having a hard time keeping on track with your plan? Is it okay to set the plan aside for awhile?

Keywords:
marketing plan, marketing, how to market

Article Body:
What if you've taken the time to create a marketing plan but now you're so busy servicing your current clients that you're having a hard time keeping on track with your plan?

Is it okay to set the plan aside for awhile? After all you've got enough business to keep you busy. And, you're not sure you could handle additional clients right now anyway.

While marketing may not seem like a necessary activity when your business is going gang-busters, it's only a matter of time before your lack of marketing starts to impact your business.

Staying on top of your marketing plan, even when you're busy, ensures you always have a pipeline full of prospects and clients into your business.

While you may be busy right now, if you stop marketing for the next three months, you may find yourself high and dry when it comes to clients, because you've stopped the flow.

As an independent professional myself, I can totally relate to being too busy to market. It seems the days are never long enough to get everything on my to-do list done.  But as a marketing professional I know I can't afford to NOT get my marketing done.

So what's a busy gal (or guy) to do?!?

Here are 5 suggestions ... these are things I do and recommend to all my clients in my 10stepmarketing System.

(1) If you haven't already, create a marketing calendar. Schedule all of your marketing activities in the calendar according to how frequently you planned to do them in your marketing plan.

If you planned to do something monthly, enter it on the calendar once each month. Weekly? Enter it four times per month. Do this for every planned activity.

(2) Hang your marketing calendar over your desk on a bulletin board or on the wall. Make a habit of looking at it every morning. This way you won't have the problem of "out of site out of mind."

I can't tell you how many clients I've had whose marketing plans have ended up in a file folder in a drawer. You're certainly NOT going to grow your business that way!

(3) Try incorporating your marketing activities into your weekly and daily to-do list.  Enter the activities as to-do tasks in your calendar or PDA just like all your appointments and other business activities.

I do this with all my marketing activities. I use Microsoft Outlook and a Pocket PC and it's the only way I know I'll keep myself on track. If something is on my calendar, I treat it like any other meeting or appointment and I do it.

For example, every Wednesday, a little notice pops up to remind me to write my weekly ezine. If that didn't happen I'd either be writing it on Monday's at midnight, or it wouldn't get done.

(4) Pick one day per month to review your marketing calendar in detail and to look three months ahead. What is coming up that you need to prepare for now? What do you need to transfer into your to-do list or PDA to make sure you don't forget to do it?

I usually do this at the end of the month when I'm doing all my month-end work ... things like running sales reports, doing billing, and updating my marketing tracking reports.

Make it a habit to review your marketing at the same time you do these tasks. After a few months you won't even have to think about it anymore, it'll become a habit.

(5) Consider hiring an assistant or support person to help. If they can take some of the tasks off your plate that really don't require your expertise, it will free you up to focus on what I call "revenue producing activities."

These are things like working with clients, creating products and services and marketing. I couldn't believe the difference it made when I hired some help.

I didn't think I could afford it, but now I don't see how I lasted so long without help!

When you find a way to get back on track with your marketing and you do it on regular basis, it really does become a part of the way you do business.

Suddenly it doesn't seem like marketing anymore. It's just what you do to run your business. That's when it becomes effortless.

And, that's when you know your business will be continue to be busy and profitable for the long-haul.

 

Tips for Mom Entrepreneurs: How to Make and Take Time for You

Tips for Mom Entrepreneurs: How to Make and Take Time for You

Word Count:
498

Summary:
Tips from Mom Entrepreneurs on how to make time for you.

Keywords:
Work at home, entrepreneurs, home-based business, Terilee Harrison, The Business Mom Guide Book

Article Body:
You are busy at both work and at home.  Some days it may seem impossible to find time for YOU.  You may wonder how other busy Mom Entrepreneurs make time for themselves, but you don't have time to stop and ask.  Here are four quick tips:

If it's too late and you are already stressed…

1.  Take a break.
Have you ever been overwhelmed and feel you can't stop for fear you will fall further behind?  When you're in a high-stress situation, your thinking is often cluttered making you less productive.  Michele Dortch, The Integrated Mother, suggests that you take a break when you become stressed.  Whether you choose a 15-minute nature walk or a full day doing activities you love, stopping can actually provide amazing clarity and help you complete your tasks on time.  This may seem counterproductive, but it really works! 

To prevent going on overload, try the following tips on a regular basis…

2.  Take time out to socialize each week.
Alice Seba of Mom Masterminds advises taking time out is invaluable to the Mom Entrepreneur.  Alice makes a point to have a few opportunities to socialize each week—with girlfriends, her partner, or to just have some time alone.  It revives her and makes her more focused when she comes back to being a mom or a businessperson.  Alice says, "All work and no play not only makes you a dull mama, but it makes you a stressed out and ineffective one, too!" 

3.  Take a few "Mommy Minutes" as often as possible.
Ponn Sabra, author of Empowering Women to Power Network, puts herself on "time out" and takes "Mommy Minutes" as often as possible.  Ponn sits in a self-made sauna in the bathroom with the hot shower running or enjoys a favorite goodie (she sometimes hides special ice cream sandwiches in back corner of her freezer where no one, even her husband, can find them.) 

Ponn also insists that "adults need naps, too!"  Whether for ten minutes or forty-five, it is important just to take a nap.  The revitalization you receive from a catnap is very powerful.  If you are unable to nap in the middle of a chaotic day, it is important to take yourself out of the situation to regain focus.  You will have more energy if you meditate and clear your head. 

4.  Go "off duty" regularly.
In Linda Goodman Pillsbury's Survival Tips for Working Moms, she recommends choosing a regular time when you are "off duty."  For example, you might say that after 8:30 every night, the kids cannot bother you with "Where are my blue jeans?"  "I need cookies for a school party tomorrow," etc.  (Of course, you are there for emergencies.)  Children will soon learn to ask for what they need before you go off duty or wait until the morning.  This works on very young children up to teenagers--but you should make exceptions for talking to the kids when they come in from a date!

 

5 Things to Consider Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant:

5 Things to Consider Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant:

Word Count:
765

Summary:
I hear the term "Virtual Assistant" more and more in business. Did you know that you could possibly hire someone from another continent that works while you sleep and maybe for $8 - $12 Dollars. Most of the VA's I work with have degrees and one an MBA in Business Admin. I pay her a pautry $15.00 per hour now thats waht I call a bargain!

Keywords:
virtual, virtual assistant, assistant, work, business, job, give, va, project, need, tasks, means, people, means virtual assistant, virtual assistants

Article Body:
Understanding What a Virtual Assistant Can Do

I hear the term "Virtual Assistant" more and more in business. Did you know that you could possibly hire someone from another continent that works while you sleep and maybe for $8 - $12 Dollars. Mos t of the VA's I work with have degrees and one an MBA in Business Admin. I pay her a pautry $15.00 per hour and what a bargain that is.

With the growth of virtual assistants has also been a change in what it means to be a virtual assistant.  The leaders and founders of this particular entrepreneurial job have made distinctions between what it means to be a virtual assistant, and what it doesn't mean.  When you are explaining your business to others, you want to make sure to keep this standard. 

Being a virtual assistant is becoming a distinct definition of a specific home owned business.  It is expected that the standards will be upheld of a virtual assistant for all others who are working in this profession.  This means that a virtual assistant is someone who provides a variety of services to businesses and individuals following the standard that has become formalized in the past decade.
 
The first angle that is taken towards approaching what a virtual assistant is includes the idea of being virtual. If you are not working out of your home, or remotely, then you are not considered a virtual assistant.  Instead, it is considered to be a temporary job or a telecommuting job.  One of the standards for being a virtual assistant is having the freedom to work where you want.

The second part to being a virtual assistant is the distinction that is made in the job description.  Most virtual assistants will cringe at the idea of being called a secretary or freelance worker.  Technically, a freelance worker is one who only does the job for extra income.  At the same time, a secretary is one who doesn't do the work continuously with only one client.  A virtual assistant is provided in order to create a substantial and long term relationship with a business.
 
Here are 5 things you should consider in a Virtual Assistant?

1. Professionalism. Does the VA answer her or his emails, voicemails and other correspondence in a timely and professional manner? It is important if this person is to work for you has the right skills to not keep you or a deadline waitng. Make sure you give a covert task to her or him to pass that shows comittment to deadlines.

2. Project Management. Juggling tasks nowadays is vital. We now tap out feet in front of the microwave so things need to get done. If a person cannot work with a few projects on the go you might want to move on. I guarantee you will only find out that they have a project management problem when you lose "the big deal".

3. Availability. Many of these people work for several people at the same time. It is not uncommon for you as an employer to be in a funnel system for the VA. You slowly move down the funnel as they take on better contracts from new virtual employers. Be aware that you and your project will get dropped at the most time you least need it. You also need to be lining up new VA's. Try to split your work between 2 or more VA's to combat this problem.

4. Test. Give the VA a mini project before going ahead with a contract.  I also give a minimum of 2 tasks that cost no more than $30 -$40 to complete. I need them done correctly and to my total satisfaction before I even consider this person. It is simple to hire one of the first few people to come along but please shortlist at least 10 and give the tasks to 2 of the 10 you shortlisted. Obviously make sure these tasks are something you actually want doe, dont waste any money.

5. Get References. Can the VA give you a list of people whom you can contact who will tell you about working with her or him?

The main distinction that most virtual assistants will work towards creating is the idea of being in a relationship with a business, and making this their business.  This goes beyond the Expectations of any temporary work or telecommuting job.  It also means that the services a virtual assistant can provide will go outside of job descriptions that are made in the office.  By understanding the standards for being a virtual assistant, you can best approach this in your own relationships with businesses.

 

5 Good Reasons a Self-Employed Professional Should Take Vacation

5 Good Reasons a Self-Employed Professional Should Take Vacation

Word Count:
400

Summary:
So you think you're not justified in taking time away from your business because you're self-employed? Here are five great reasons why you should definitely take a vacation.

Keywords:
business,self-employment,vacation,peace of mind,good business management

Article Body:
So you think you're not justified in taking time away from your business because you're self-employed? Here are five great reasons why you should definitely take a vacation:

1. Physical down time
You work hard to grow and maintain your business. Trying to be superhuman will certainly take its toll if you allow it to. Give your body a break by taking in some R&R.

2. Mental down time
Your days are filled with busy, sometimes even hectic, day-to-day activities related to your business. If you don't allow yourself to get away from it once in a while, your peace of mind and general well-being will most definitely suffer. Get out and play. Your mind will thank you!

3. Spend time with loved ones
Your family and friends see you working, working, working, sometimes rarely coming up for air. Both you and they will appreciate spending some quality time together.

4. See the world (or your own back yard)
The important thing is to do something you enjoy, whether it's traveling or, if that's not your cup of tea or you don't have the budget for it, spend time at home. If you also work out of your home, this could be challenging. The key is to stay out of your office during your vacation time. Try getting creative with this. Make your office "off limits" by closing the door and placing a sign on it. Do whatever it takes to keep your mind off working. How about a hobby or a day trip to the beach? Think of what you can do within your budget that's fun. Or do nothing at all!

5. You have a life
Although this one is a no-brainer, it surprises me how many small business owners don't feel as if they deserve time off. There is too much to do, and not enough hours in the day to get it all done. Well, I've got news for you. It's always going to feel that way! Only you have the power to allow yourself time off. Even if you prefer only to take a day here and a day there instead of a week-long (or longer) vacation each year, that's a whole lot better than never taking time off. Trust me, you'll feel better about yourself and your work if you take regular vacation time. You'll be healthier, too!