Featured Posts - Blogs - Black Business Women Online

Are you a Money Making Expert or Newbie?

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 29, 2009 at 4:00pm

In a perfect world, we'd all just know how to get online and start making a profit, but it just doesn't work that way. I'm working on a new series of how-to articles for newbies who want to learn how to profit online. You can find these articles on my Sistasense.com Blog (if you go there be sure to subscribe, so you can get email updates on the latest articles). Here is a link to my latest Web Profit Articles, which already seem to be helping quite a few of my readers understand how to start generating profits online. URL: http://tzzwb.tk If you have questions about any of this stuff or would like to share your own insights, you can leave a comment on this page: http://tzzwb.tk If you are currently an expert at profiting online, be sure to share your advice and success stories in the forum and in your BBWO Blog. I am always looking for great posts to feature and all posts get featured on our quickly growing facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/black.business.women.online Quick Blogging Tip: Take 2-3 of you best blog posts and repost them in your BBWO blog to cross-promote your website. Be sure to add a link and/or banner image of your website at the bottom of your article for maximum exposure. LaShanda p.s. Are you my Facebook friend yet? Here's my page: http://www.facebook.com/lashanda.henry

Could You Be At Risk For Diabetes

Posted by Dana Hickles on August 28, 2009 at 12:10pm

Your body naturally gives you many messages. It also tries to alert you in trouble situations, such as symptoms of pre-diabetes. The development of type 2 diabetes is almost always preceded by pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where the body's blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet at the level to qualify for diabetes. If left untreated, pre-diabetes can cause long-term damage to the body, especially to the hear and ciculatory system. This is a serious medical condition; however, if detected in time, it can be treated and possibly reversed.Early detection is very important. If left untreated, diabetes can damage organs throughout the body, causing many serious medical problems such as blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, limb amputations and cardiovascular disease. That makes early detection essential for the millions of Americans who have diabetes and don't even know it. Age, obesity, ethnicity and family history of the disease are some of the warning signs you should know about. If you possess, or someone you know possesses, these characteristics, be sure to ask your doctor for high blood glucose.According to the Diabetes Prevention Program, high-risk adults who follow a low-fat, low-calorie diet and who engage in moderate physical activities such as walking briskly or riding a bike, have a much lower risk of developing diabetes than people who do not exercise regularly. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range. The Diabetes Prevention Program also explains that while some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise together are more effective.

African American's in nonprofit careers

Posted by Dianne Walker on August 29, 2009 at 12:32am

Nonprofit careers are becoming increasingly popular. More african americans are now in more leadership positions then ever. Read my interview with Margaret Ward, Development Manager to her about her experience working in the nonprofit sector.The Landscape is Changing For African American’s in Nonprofits

Do you know the advantages of good copy?

Posted by Jamie Fleming-Dixon on August 28, 2009 at 10:28pm

Many time entrepreneurs and business owners debate whether they should write their own copy or hire someone professional to take care of it.Whether you write your own copy or not, it is a reflection of your business, and it should be well-written to convey your business’ message and its quality.What are some benefits of good copy?·Your business will stand out among others.·Good copy will assist you in gaining an instant connection with potential customers.-It will clearly tell potential customers the advantages of selecting your product or service.·Good copy will promote customer loyalty. Your customer will feel he/she has made a good choice in selecting your business.On the other hand, bad copy can:·Be unsuccessful in getting you noticed.·Hurt your image by making you appear unprofessional.·Make your competitors look better than you.·Allow you to lose money.As a freelance writer, I can help you make sure your copy works to your advantage! I specialize in writing copy for press releases, articles, blogs, brochures and much more.Please check out my website for the $150 special I have going on until September 26, 2009 and to see samples of my work.Feel free to contact me at jamiefleming@mochawriter.com or (706) 436.7982. The initial 30-minute consultation is free!Have a good week everyone!~Jamiemochawriter.com forcoloredgurls.com

Unemployment is difficult but there are moments that we can learn from

Posted by Dianne Walker on August 29, 2009 at 12:41am

As unemployment continues to rise, it's hard to look for the good things. It's important that we realize that unemployment does have teachable moments.What we can learn from unemployment, the teachable momentsI'm interested in finding out what are some of the lesson's that others have learned if they are unemployed. I'm putting together a story for The Network Journal about black women who are struggling with unemployment and what they are doing to make it through.

Self-Awareness

Posted by Rev. Theresa Lister on August 29, 2009 at 2:28am

Self-awareness means just that-you are aware of, and can focus on, yourself. You give top priority to the physical, energetic, emotional, mental, soul-level, and spiritual aspects of your being. Furthermore, you take responsibility for your own safety and growth.To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.Although the question concerning how to find the “perfect partner” is often raised, the answer lies in loving and respecting yourself-first. As you heal your issues and become healthier, you'll feel happier and more attractive. When you feel good about yourself, it sends out positive “vibes” that are appealing to healthier partners. Then, if and when you do choose to relate with another, you'll have a much better chance of developing a rewarding relationship from a solid foundation. As you get to know yourself, you will discover personal, preconceived beliefs about love, romance, and sex. Whether conscious or not, these preconceptions definitely have an effect on your existing relationships and on those you will attract in the future. Consequently, without the necessary self-awareness, healing, and growth, changing relationships can be like changing places of residence. You always end up having more “baggage” than you thought.Your BodyYou can never truly give to another, what you have not accepted for yourself. So, the ability to fully give your body to a partner in sexual intimacy depends upon your ability to completely accept your body. In other words, if you want your partner to accept your body, you must first accept it yourself. You must also see yourself as loveable and worthy of acceptance.If you don't have love for yourself, you can't be loving to others.

BBWO Bloggers Featured on Facebook

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 26, 2009 at 7:37pm

Did you know that when you post in your BBWO BLOG it gets featured on Facebook? URL: http://www.facebook.com/black.business.women.online

Richelle’s 100 Day Challenge is Genius!

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 26, 2009 at 7:00pm

Only $19: My 7 Day eCourse How to Find Customers Online is now only $19. Offer expires 8/28/09

When I come across a good plan I like to share it and of course give credit where credit is due, so when my partner Richelle Shaw told me about her 100 Day Challenge, I thought it was genius. If you don’t already know her, Richelle Shaw is a multi-million dollar Mompreneur and she and I partnered up to create the Women of Color Coaching Program. Long story short, every year Richelle does her own ‘end of year 100 Day Challenge’. It’s a personal challenge in which she sets a series of short-term business goals that she can accomplish in 100 Days and every year she aims to beat her results from the year before! As an entrepreneur, I think this is an absolute genius plan because you always need to motivate yourself to do better, evaluate your business, and try new things. Richelle believes that in September the kids shouldn’t be the only ones to go back to school. While other entrepreneurs remain stuck and stagnant, Richelle takes the last 100 days of the year as an opportunity to create new products, make more money, and plan for the new year. I consider Richelle to be more than my partner, but a true marketing expert, so I am eager to follow in her footsteps and start my own 100 Day Challenge. For the next three months I will be directing all my energy and focus on tapping into passive streams of income. My two core projects are building my new affiliate program and doubling my Adsense revenue. I will keep my Sistasense.com blog readers up-to-date with my progress, so be sure to subscribe to my blog for updates. If you would like to develop your own 100 day challenge, think about what short term goals you can accomplish in 100 Days. Would you like me to create a Sistasense 100 Day challenge? (let me know if you would be interested in that). What I do know is that quite a few of my online followers really want to improve their web skills, which is why I’ve been developing my own extensive series of 7 Day eCourses filled with training videos and eBooks for Newbie entrepreneurs. Add my eCourses to your 100 Day Challenge and commit to improving your online marketing skills so you can discover new ways to increase your online sales.

Only $19: My 7 Day eCourse How to Find Customers Online is now only $19. Offer expires 8/28/09

LOOKING FOR A NEW YOU?

Posted by Michelle on August 25, 2009 at 3:36am

Looking for a New You?Reinvent yourself with Silpada's business opportunity!Earn free jewelry while you are earning income! Part time, full time, your time... You ARE the boss of you!Have you ever thought to yourself, "I would love to go to work and end up at a party! I wonder if I could be a Silpada Designs Representative." Well, now is the time to invest in you because Silpada’s Sterling opportunity just got even brighter!That’s right! In addition to the opportunity to earn over $3,000 in free jewelry through the Fast Start Free Jewelry Incentive, Silpada has decided to offer a Spoil Yourself Sign-up Special, available for new Representatives.Qualify for an additional $200 in free jewelry within days of holding your first qualified Home or Book Show!

Here is an example of the average earnings and free jewelry benefits of simply hosting your first Show as a Silpada Designs Representative:Average Silpada Home Show = $950Representative Profit 30%........$285Hostess Benefits.....................$285Sign-up Special Free Jewelry*...$200Total Profits...........................$285Total Free Jewelry..................$485

* A qualified Show has a minimum of $500 in retail sales and 10 purchasing Guests.So don’t wait another minute to invest in yourself and open the doors to an unbelievable opportunity!I look forward to talking with you soon to answer any questions you might have!Have a Sterling Day!Michelle KoonceSilpada DesignsIndependent Representative(201) 454-8754 (Mobile)(484) 898-4022 (0ffice)michellekoonce@msn.comwww.mysilpada.com/michelle.koonceKnow someone who would be interested in this fantastic opportunity?Remember, you can earn a $100 FREE JEWELRY certificate for every referral who joins my national team of representatives!

Learning How to Support Yourself on Your Weight Management Journey

Posted by Carol Dunlop on August 26, 2009 at 7:22pm

Supportive people may not always be around to offer support at the exact moment when you may need it. Sometimes YOU may need to be the source of your own support. If that is the case, and frankly, it usually is the case, it helps to get out a journal and write down when you need support most of all.

To learn some suggestions for doing getting started, visit my Pound by Pound Weight Management community

How I Made $10,677.33 Social Networking Online

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 24, 2009 at 1:26am

With only 4 months left in the year, I decided to take a quick look back at my online sales thus far. I decided to divide my profits into four categories: web design, ad revenue, private coaching, and social networking. To my surprise, I discovered that I made $10,677.33 just from promoting my digital products and services on social networks! Combined with my other revenue streams, I definitely feel like social networking helped me increase my income online even in a recession. When you are a solo entrepreneur on a small budget, no cost marketing strategies are your best friend and social networking is by far the best no cost marketing solution around. Unfortunately not everybody knows how to make money using social networks, but I can show you how I made $10,677.33 Social Networking Online. Visit my website: http://www.socialmediasistas.com/selling-on-social-networks.php LaShanda Henry Work at Home Web Business Expert http://www.sistasense.com p.s. Have you joined my Affiliate Program yet? I really want to partner with other entrepreneurs who enjoy my products and would love to profit from sharing them with others. Details here: http://www.sistasense.com/partners/

Lessons from ONLINE MARKETING

Posted by Jessica Mutuku on August 21, 2009 at 11:00pm

Whoa!!

Today is the end of my 4th month of working my business online and I must say I have learnt a lot.

Meeting new people online has turned to be the most incredible thing for me. I decided to network online rather than offline because of 3 reasons.

a) I had a baby boy 5 months ago and no way no how was I WILLING to miss any single minute of him. (Just like I left Corporate America 5 yrs ago at 22 to work for myself and NEVER looked back and oh yeah..I intend to KEEP it that way). Working together with our son daily has created such great energy and drive for both myself and fiance who is also home and we are doing INCREDIBLE things online.

b) I wanted a change, no more parties for me, I had enough of the driving and out with the old in with the new.

c) Everyone is HOME and ONLINE now. Can you imagine that we have millions of people connecting online every minute? WE now have jobless people looking for online businesses...So WHY would I not take this opportunity to deliver to the people?

So far.. so new.. so good.

My first 4 months have been great. I was and still am in a learning mode, getting to know how the online world works and also the interaction process.

I have learnt that everyone HAS something they want to SELL. I also know WE ARE ALL SHOPPERS. ( Almost everyday we buy something may it be groceries, fast food, gas..we are buyers period!! whether we have to buy them, need to buy them or just buy them)

NOW HERE IS MY POINT--What I found out after those 4 months is:

a) CREATE AN ONLINE PRESENCE...you know where if someone mentions Jessica they say "Oh yeah I know her the Free Biz Networking Chat lady, the one that sells those Health and Wellness products that so and so used and got great results, felt better, no more pain, slept better, got off her meds" You know what I am saying? I have a list of about 10 women I can say I have built a relationship with (without the desire to sell to them or them to sell to me..purely and sincerely relationship building) and these women ARE definitely part of my shopping MALL since I have decided to support WAHM..no more buying from other retailers the things I can buy online from WAHM.

b) PUT OTHERS FIRST--BECOME A SERVANT-Help others without thinking of the money. Serve the community, be the first to run to help the online community. If someone is needing help with ideas and you have one, share it. I remember Luella Mills giving me a link to 10,000 Free Leads... now guys...this blew me right off the water ( I know some people who would just keep those to themselves in FEAR that if they gave them out those people would buy from the other person)..people share share share..I remember sharing the same leads that I took time to organize with others and GUESS what... and not saying it was the leads but hey one is a client and the other a team member...go out and support without thinking about YOURSELF FIRST.

c) TEAM WORK WORKS--YOU CANNOT DO IT ON YOUR OWN!--Now I am big in creating groups that gear towards the same cause. Lenisa Cooper is a perfect example. She should be applauded for her continuous efforts to REMIND PEOPLE that WE NEED TOGETHERNESS especially at this time. Many times she speaks and blogs about people getting together and getting to know each other AND that in the future leads to CREATING a big ONLINE MALL where you know FROM WHOM TO GET tupperware, candles, dish gardens, business cards, greeting cards, home decor and so forth but wait...if I never met you or even got to hear a presentation from you how will I find you? Day in day out WE MUST allow others to KNOW what we do ( Of course there is a better approach to that lol don't just invade them and bombard them with ALL YOUR SALES AND PROMOS). It is your responsibility.

d) IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD A NAME--Well one time hitting obviously has not worked for MOST of us. Mhhhhhh think about this with me. I meet 10 new people today, pitch my sale and if they don't buy they never hear from me again! What IF maybe at that time those same people, the people or person who needed you was offline on the phone and MISSED your presentation, what if that person DID NOT HAVE MONEY AT that time? Time is critical yes but we need time to build trust, we need time to get to know you so we can be comfortable enough to spend and invest in your product/service or business opportunity. I had to hear a few Send Out Cards presentations by Kim before I embarked on using them, first trying the FREE CARD and oh my WONDERS!!! I am now sold to the service. Invest the TIME to participate in the online world, blogs, comments, biz networking chats, groups and so forth. Be active don't just join to have so many on your belts.

e) LEARN THE SYSTEM--Plain and simple. The online world is easy. Just connect the dots. You can have your site displayed at many different locations in various ways. Some are FREE like backlinks that you can use in your signatures or blogs. You can also place banners in a high traffic site make sure that the pages have a ranking before paying for 10 visitors a day. I mean if you are paying then there better be some eyes right?

f) BE PATIENT---I know..I know sometimes it seems as if the one week campaign is not working and we run off to another campaign failing to realize that we need to assess each individual campaign and see which works and which doesn't and most of the time, TIME will help you determine if that campaign is a go or a drop. Don't get me wrong here sometimes you have had patience and it's still not working, and if this is the case where you have done something over and over again for a substantial amount of time which for me is 6 months (it depends on your perception of substantial amount of time) and it is not working, drop it, change it, fix it, or find a new thing.

Focusing on these 5 things for the last 4 months ONLINE have personally increased my sales and team growth by 50% I am now looking forward to an INCREDIBLE close of the year!

Well, it's 4.09 in the morning..enough of my recollection of what I learnt the last 4 months..

Wishing you success and growth in your business...

See You At The Top!

Jessica
FREE BIZ Networking LIVE Tuesdays 6PM EST!
Are You Sick and Tired And Can’t Sleep!?

How to Make Money Online

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 23, 2009 at 8:32pm

A Guide for Beginners and Newbie Internet Entrepreneurs

I’m a work at home mom who got started online in July 2000, designing and promoting my own websites on a shoe string marketing budget. I can now afford to spend more on marketing my business, but why spend money on your business when you want your business to make money for you. If you are an entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur looking to make money on the internet, your best bet is to find the cheapest and easiest ways to make money online without having to shell out a ton of money in startup costs, coaching, or training material. I’m not into get rich quick stuff and I’ve never been good at telling lies, so I can’t show you how to make money fast and I won’t try to attract your attention with not-true sure-fire get-rich quick stuff. My goal here is to show you the easiest ways to make money online without spending a ton of money in the process. I figure that if I could teach myself how to do this stuff, so can you. Below is a list of articles that I've written on the topic of Making Money Online. I will update this list on a regular basis, so subscribe to this SistaSense.com Blog for email updates on new posts.

Creating and Selling Your Own eBooks Online

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 23, 2009 at 8:27pm

A Guide for Writers and Newbie Internet Entrepreneurs

Selling eBooks (view my ebooks here) is by far my favorite and one of my most profitable ways to make money online. If you enjoy writing, it's easy to do, there are practically no production costs. The best part about creating your own eBooks is that you can make as much money as you want if you know how to write well, market your product, and create the kinds of eBooks that people want to buy. There are some people who believe that eBooks are only good for promotional purposes, but I believe that if your writing an ebook for the right type of person, you could make a decent amount of money from selling ebooks. I'm sure you are wondering, who is the right person and what is the best kind of eBook to write? Generally speaking, for authors of any type of work, I believe that giving your readers the option to purchase your book in eBook form is a great way to diversify your sales, but it's worth noting that most people don't want to read a 200 page novel on their blackberry or their computer. If you want to get into the business of creating and selling eBooks here are a few things to keep in mind: As indicated Alexis Dawes points out in her eBook 'Desperate Buyers Only', the people who really want to purchase an eBook are usually the ones desperate for a specific type of information that they want right away. Furthermore, they don't want to have to sift through pages and pages to find the answer they are looking for, so for this audience small eBooks (20-45 page average) work best. If you currently have an idea that you want to turn into an eBook, is the main goal of your book to solve a specific problem for a specific audience and do you think that audience is willing to spend money to buy your book? If your book has nothing to do with solving a problem or you aren't currently an established author with a fan base, it will be difficult to get your book sold solely in eBook form. I highly recommend that you also look into 'self publishing', perhaps using my favorite print on demand service 'lulu.com'.

Creating and Selling eBooks Online

Write eBooks | Web Tools

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Internet Entrepreneur and Web Business Expert LaShanda Henry is devoted to teaching women entrepreneurs how to start and build successful businesses online. To learn more about attracting customers, take LaShanda’s 7 Day eCourse: How to Find Customers Online, findcustomersonline.com.

How to Drive Traffic and Customers to Your Website

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 21, 2009 at 4:19pm

Stop me, if this story isn’t your story. You’re an internet entrepreneur. You’ve got a business and a website, but no customers. You know about submitting to search engines and you’ve tried a few link exchanges, but still you don’t have any customers. You hear people talking about blogging and social networking which all sounds great, but you’re not quite clear on when all the blogging and networking helps you get customers. At the end of the day, you clearly know that business isn’t business without customers, but you just don’t understand how to drive traffic and customers to your website. I’m a visual learner, so hopefully my explanation works for you. Think of yourself (the entrepreneur) as an actor. Your website is your stage and your business is your play. You know you’ve created a masterpiece, but nobody else knows because you don’t have an audience. Every time you sit in front of your computer, you need to be thinking about how you can create an audience around your business filled with curious browsers and potential buyers. Your goal is simple and so is this point; if you can’t attract an audience online, you won’t have customers online. The easiest ways to drive traffic and customers to your website are as follows:

Search Engine Optimization: If people can’t find you online, you won’t get traffic. Optimizing your website for search engines is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to build your business’ online presence.
Buzz Building: Right now no one knows you online and that’s your biggest problem. SEO is important, but you can’t just sit back and hope the search engines will do all the work. You have to create a marketing plan to promote yourself and your business. Furthermore, the more you promote yourself and build external links to your website, the better your rankings will become in search engines.
List Building: Every business starts off small. Even when you are only getting a small amount of traffic or a handful of customers, you need to get into the habit of tracking that traffic and your current list of customers. Don’t make the mistake of focusing only on attracting new customers. Your business won’t grow overnight, but it will grow overtime if you learn how to consistently build a list of existing customers, new customers, and business associates.

Last but not least, don’t make the mistake of wishing for a magical marketing moment. Even if you’re lucky enough to get a business grant or spotlight promotion from a big name celebrity, you still have to figure out how to use that money and/or publicity to attract customers to your business. If you learn how to find customers online, I guarantee you that more customers will start to find you. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Internet Entrepreneur and Web Business Expert LaShanda Henry is devoted to teaching women entrepreneurs how to start and build successful businesses online. To learn more about attracting customers, take LaShanda’s 7 Day eCourse: How to Find Customers Online, findcustomersonline.com.

Black Business Services Wanted - Post Your B2B Services Here:

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 19, 2009 at 4:31pm

Hey BBWO: As a network of business women, I know many fellow BBWO members are looking for affordable services to help their businesses grow. If you are in the B2B business, today is a great day to post a description of your business and services in the BBWO Forum. Click here to post: http://sistapreneurs.ning.com/forum/categories/sista-to-sista-services/listForCategory ___________________________ Featured Discussion: Is Social Networking Profitable or Pointless? Selling Your Products and Services on Social Networks http://sistapreneurs.ning.com/forum/topics/is-social-networking ___________________________ Are you a Social Media Sista? Do you need to fix your business and learn more about marketing online? Looking to tap into your website's profit potential? Now you can get access to all my Web Business eBooks and Training Videos. Join me on Social Media Sistas: http://socialmediasistas.com/invitation.php More to come! LaShanda Henry Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lashanda.henry

Ten Things Rookie Authors Do To Mess Up Their Non-Fiction Book Success

Posted by CMB Virtual Assistants on August 18, 2009 at 9:00am

First time authors just don’t know what they don’t know. Learn and be better prepared to maximize your potential for book sales and publishing success. Here are the top ten things we find that are most likely to sabotage that first book effort:1. No book development, publishing and market planning – Rookie authors believe they must run when the creative muse calls and ignore the reality of what it really takes to successfully write, publish and market a book. If you want to write a journal or a blog, then keep going down that path. But if you want to write a book that sells more copies than to ten to your family and friends, learn all the steps to the journey to successful author. Besides your time, it takes money, and it takes focus, so to keep from wasting time and money, set out a plan, stick to it, and you will be rewarded for your efforts.2. Writing for themselves, not their audiences – There is virtually no other industry which tries out so many new products each year without any idea of whether they will work or not, no focus groups, no beta testing, just poor sales results as market research. Rookie authors write what they want to write and not what their audiences need and want. There are ways now to research topics, and one of the simplest ways to start is by checking out the bookstore and Amazon.com to see what is out there now, and what should be.3. Confusing us with an unclear message – Again, the muse strikes and authors take off running in every direction at once, generally trying to cover as many random ideas as they can in writing a book. Savvy authors create one, two or three core messages and stick to them, building a case with statistics, stories and examples to prove their points. Knowing what your point is makes it a lot easier to get media interviews, too.4. Inadequate editing and not bothering with a peer review – If you’ve never written a book before, you need a lot more help than you may think to create a polished manuscript. Are there non-fiction books you just love? They have all been generously edited, and your masterpiece should be, too. And after a thorough edit, you must throw yourself to the mercy of your colleagues and ask them to have their way with your book. You need professional feedback, and if you pass muster, then you have a book worth publishing.5. No index – Why would anyone leave an index out of a non-fiction book? Rookie authors get so tired by the time they finish that first manuscript that they just want it out. They forget the reader will need to find what you’ve covered in the book without having to read their pithy sentences from cover to cover. An index is the mark of a pro, and you will reveal your amateur status if you don’t provide one.6. No clear positioning and not even the beginnings of an author platform – Unfamiliar with these terms? A positioning statement helps you see what your audience wants to read on your subject and what else is out there so that you come up with something new and right on target. The author platform is the breadth of your network to sell books, and you should start working on both before you write word one of your book.7. An amateur book cover – Pros can tell a self-published book a mile away. Rookie authors don’t hire real cover designer, but have the neighbor or their best friend do the cover on the cheap. You may save money here, but it will be an expensive lesson when you have hundreds of books boxed in your garage because the lack of professionalism of the cover lead people to the same conclusion about what was in the book.8. No testimonials or endorsements – Books are sold by personal recommendations, and testimonials are your way of proving you have them. Put your testimonials on the top of the back cover where they can’t be missed by potential customers. The only reason a rookie author doesn’t have testimonials is because he or she couldn’t find anyone who was willing to vouch for the book, or because he or she didn’t know enough to ask someone to write one before the book is published. Either way, a serious mistake.9. No database of potential customers – If you want to be published by a traditional publishing house, or want to self-publish successfully you must develop a large (2,000 minimum and 5,000 better) database of people who might be interested in doing business with you and are likely to be the target audience for your book. If you start collecting names on your website a month before your book is to come out, then your book will be old by the time you have a personal way to sell it.10. No online media kit – The New York Times called and wants to review your book in tomorrow’s paper because the subject is exactly the same as their over-the-fold story. But you haven’t figured out that opportunities knock when they knock, not when you’ve had time to plan for them. If your media kit isn’t available online, and packed with just what they need, they will find an author who hasn’t made another rookie mistake.An author's assistant can be a beneficial asset to your team. An author's assistant can help you manage all the activities associated with marketing your book. CMB Virtual Assistants are recognized as an author assistant firm. The experience of working with authors has afforded CMB Virtual Assistants the knowledge and expertise on handling book promotions, getting published, and reviewing the manuscript.Contact CMB VA (info@cmbvirtualassistants.com) to see how the partnership can be beneficial for you and your writing.Information provided by Authorsmart.com, 2006

Logo & Website Design for Small Businesses

Posted by Brandi Starr on August 18, 2009 at 1:23pm

Although my primary business is event planning I also do some website and logo design on the side. If any of you are in need of a new website I have an informational page set up at www.brandistarr.net which also includes links to recent sites that I've done.

MY BOOK! VISIT MY SITE , PREVIEW AND RATE IT! www.lulu.com/yhand

Posted by yve hand on August 18, 2009 at 3:00pm

I LIVE SO I CAN LAUGH THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM MY BOOK. IT IS ABOUT THE BIRTH OF MY 1ST BORN SON. July 5th 1987. It was hot and sticky and I was sooo restless it was crazy. My swollen belly seemed as if it was ready to pop. Anything that touched my stomach hurt like hell. I got up early and began cleaning everything in site. My Grandmother came into my room and told me "you're just about ready to have that baby". I asked her how she knew and she said "because you're cleaning everything". There's something maternal in every mom-to-be that causes them to clean their surroundings in preparation for birth. Animals also start cleaning their nests and dens preparing for the birth of their offspring. When I thought about it, it did make sense. Although everything around me was clean , I was still trying to make sure my baby came home to nothing but cleanliness. I would have blown away a dust bunny with a shotgun if I saw one under his crib. Everything in my room was sacred to me. I often had friends who would visit and immediately pick up his little teddy bears and other baby things. If they knew the rage I felt when they did that, they would have dropped everything and ran the hell out of my room. I was always thoughtful of other people's belongings and made sure I didn't invade their space. I was never one to overstay my welcome either. Howcome they couldn't do the same? As the evening arrived, I noticed that I started having contractions. I didn't think much of them because I had started actually feeling them in my 6th month. They were false contractions. I guess my body was practicing for the real thing. I was early as well. I had at least an entire month more to go. Late that night I tossed and turned. I talked to my son. I sang the ABC's, sang the 123's and other nursery rhymes. I talked to my baby boy and told him that we were going to be ok. I promised him that I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him. If I could have rolled out an ancient scroll and signed it with my blood I would have done so. I knew I was going to give birth to someone that would change the world. Society was already against my baby. He had 3 strikes already before he was even born. He was male, he was black and he was going to be smart as hell if I had anything to do with it. I knew how I would raise him and I knew all the values I would instill in him. I would teach him about the world and all the bullshitters in it and despite what society would say about him , I was going to make sure he wouldn't end up a statistic. The Heavens began to move. It was time. I got up early in the morning, around 5am. My contractions were coming harder and faster. My back was killing me. I had already heard about all the horrors of childbirth so I was trying to prepare myself. I took a cab by myself to the Hospital, they checked me and saw that I was in active labor. I was afraid because I thought it was too early. Please God protect my little man. My cousin showed up. I was glad because I didn't want to go through childbirth alone. I think that is the saddest thing for a mother-to-be to go thru. Giving birth with no one there to help you. I had labor pains in my back. That is the worst kind of labor pain you can have. It felt like someone stuck a knife in my lower back on the left side and continuosly twisted it. That's the only way I could decribe it. I went through 12 hours of labor and decided near the end to get an epidural. When the anesthesiologist showed up with that big ass needle I immediately changed my mind. That needle looked like something out of a horror movie. There was no way I was going to be stuck with that shit. I just started breathing and trying to get through the labor. My Doctor came back in and after a quick exam, said I was 10 cm's. I was happy as hell. Then I was scared shitless. Wait a minute, I gotta push a baby out! Holy shit! I gotta push a baby out! Why hadn't I thought about how he was going to get out? Oh no! I don't think I could do this! It was time to push. How do I push? Push what? After a quick how-to session, I began to push. My heart felt as if it was going to burst out of my chest! I pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed! Finally his head began to crown! That's what the Doctor was saying. My cousin was saying that she could see his hair. I didn't give a shit at that moment, I wanted him out of me! I pushed real hard again and he was half way out. OH MY GOD! Is that MY son? My eyes began to well up with tears. I couldn't believe it! I started crying as the rest of him was birthed. He was so red, like an indian. He had a head full of hair and had my juicy lips. My heart swelled with an unbelieveable amount of love that couldn't be measured in a billion years. Amazingly, there was a knot in his umbilical cord. He was bouncing around in there like crazy. I watched the nurses and Doctors like a hawk. They weighed and measured him and cleaned him up. The nurse asked me if I wanted "rooming in" or if I wanted him to stay in the nursery. I looked at her like she was crazy as hell and answered "rooming in". There was no way I was letting him out of my sight! As I was cleaned up and prepared to go to my designated room the Nurses told me that they were going to take him to the nursery to put him under a light and to perform all the necessary tests for a newborn. I think they saw the look on my face so they elaborated a lil bit more on what they were actually going to do to him. They had to reassure the hell out of me because I wasn't having no bullshit. What surprised me was how protective I had already become. It was scary. I was thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts. I thought about someone trying to kidnap him, I thought about some Nurse playing herself and trying to sell him on the black market and thought of some woman who's child wasn't that cute trying to switch my baby with hers. What ever negativity there could be, I thought of it. As soon as the Nurse brought him back I checked every inch of his tiny body. I looked for his birthmark as well as memorized every hair on his head. I couldn't sleep at all because I was up watching and waiting for someone to come in my room and try something stupid. I was so tired but my fear wouldn't allow me to sleep. I was like a zombie in that bed. I was ready for anything. I kept my eyes on him all night long. I kept kissing the hell out of his face and lips and arms and legs and smelling his breath and hair and just kept checking his fingers and toes and knees and ankles. I couldn't believe he was mine. When I thought of how his fucking Father wanted me to abort him, my rage grew to an all new dangerous level. From that moment on I knew without a doubt that I would kill the first person who tried to hurt my lil man. That fear scared the hell out of me. All of a sudden I started to think about all the craziness in the world and really started to worry. For one brief millisecond I wondered why I even brought him into such a crazy fucked up world. I thought about my past and what had happened to me and was so scared for my baby boy. I knew I had to literally become a superhero of a Mom in order to protect him. I begged God to protect him . I begged like nobody's business. Lord please don't let anyone try and hurt him, I really don't feel like spending the rest of my life in jail. I also knew I had to curb my own temper so I could remain in my lil man's life. Where could I run to If I had to kill someone. I thought of the world and where we could be safe. I was thinking of the future and what it would bring. We were going to travel and go places. I wanted to make sure he never ended up starving or hurt. I already knew what that felt like. I knew I wouldn't allow him around certain family members, so that part was taken care of. I was a Mother bear on the highest alert ever. I was on defcon 4. Red alert. I would have brought down the heavens if something came our way. There would have been a new chapter to the Bible. I left the Hospital with my precious cargo. It seemed as though it was the hottest day of the year. I flagged down a cab and looked at the cab driver with the meanest look on my face letting him know not to try NO SHIT! Most of the cab drivers in NYC were foreign. I had heard about people and kids being kidnapped and taken overseas where their organs were harvested to the highest bidder. We made it home safely and I retreated to my room where I stayed there staring at my lil man. I don't think I slept for a month. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. How could something so precious turn a person into a stark raving paranoid loving lunatic? That was what I had become. Why hadn't my own Mother felt that way about me? What was wrong with some Mothers? I'll never understand that crazy bullshit. The love I felt for my son was u n b e l i e v a b l e. It grew by the second. I couldn't wait for him to understand what love actually was. God I love my lil man. Fuck his Father.

Is it time to Hire an Assistant?

Posted by CMB Virtual Assistants on August 19, 2009 at 9:00am

Are you working every hour of the day, even in your sleep? Are you working odd hours - late into the night or very early in the morning? Are you missing quality family time because you “must” finish this one last thing? Is there simply too much to do and all of it has you feeling a bit overwhelmed?If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to hire an assistant. If you are:1. Spending more than 60% of your day on administrative tasks.You should be focusing on revenue generating activities, instead of pushing paper, making return phone calls, or updating your Facebook or Twitter page. If most of your time is spent on administrative tasks you are not adding value to your business which means your business is not growing.2. You have had to forgo your strategic plan in order to manage the day to day activities.Due to the economy, it is becoming the norm for Executives to play the office manager, the sales manager, and the CEO of their company; however, wearing these hats causes the Executive to lose focus on the long-term projects, which will sustain their business in the long run.3. When was the last time you took a “real” vacation? Are you still thinking? If so, you are overworked and you feel that you can’t take a vacation because you have no one that can handle things while you are gone.You must take time to smell the flowers. An overworked exhausted executive is a hazard to any company. You must take the time to revitalize your mind and body by taking much needed rest periods. Take some time to have fun and come back recharged and ready to grow your business.4. One man show! Be honest - You know you would produce more if you had someone to work with you.You would likely be able to make better decisions because there would be someone there to provide insights and ideas & this will give you the opportunity to delegate some tasks which will increase your time to focus on growing the business.5. You want to spend time with your family and friends and there is simply too much work to do.If any of these situations sound like you or your business, it may be time to consider hiring an assistant. Call CMB Virtual Assistants (206.376.0735) today to set up an appointment to discuss the services that we offer that will help you grow your business through our many levels of administrative support.

Note: this page contains paid content.

A Guide for Beginners and Newbie Internet Entrepreneurs

A Guide for Writers and Newbie Internet Entrepreneurs

Creating and Selling eBooks Online

Write eBooks | Web Tools

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.