6 Steps to an Effective Online Business

Creating and running an effective online business is realistically comprised of several hundred, rather than 6, but this will serve as a guide for the direction of your efforts. Contrary to what you may hear rampantly on the Internet, there is no cookie-cutter, get-rich quick scheme on the web. Not only is every online business different, what works for one person or in one month may not work for another person or in the next month.

The Internet is constantly changing, and the online market is inherently different this year than it was last year. New technological improvements occur monthly, and impact the online business environment. What works for one individual when he is the first to sell a certain product a certain way may not work just six months later when he has sold his idea to 40,000 other marketers, and they all begin to promote it. Traffic generation tactics are significantly different than they were just a year ago, and hardly resemble profitable strategies three years ago.

These 6 Steps are simply the bare-bones skeleton of what has to happen for your online business to be successful. They are foundational, and although the implementation strategies are different today than several years ago, the basic steps remain the same.

1. Develop or discover a product

You must find a product that meets today’s needs. A 5 year old product whose resell rights you can buy for a dollar or get for free probably won’t meet the needs of today’s consumers. You must be willing to pay for the rights to sell a current , useful product, or become an affiliate marketer, where you promote a popular product, and in exchange are paid a percentage of the income from the sale.

2. Determine how the potential customers can view your product and see a sales presentation

If you develop your own product or purchase the rights to sell someone else’s, you will need a website. A few tips here: Rather than accept free web hosting, purchase your own domain name and pay to have your domain name and web site hosted by a professional web hosting company with a reputable history. If your free web hosting company goes bankrupt, they generally take your fledgling business with them.

3. Once you have your web site up and running, unless you are using an affiliate program that supplies a sales page, you must develop a sales script and web copy

Aside from your web hosting decision, this is probably the most important thing you can do. You may be tempted at first to write a sales pitch on your own, but unless you already have a lot of experience in the offline market writing effective sales letters, you need to, absolutely must, invest in a few courses on web copywriting. Be willing to spend some money upfront on learning this skill. Too many marketers try to wing it in this area and after a few months of losing money online, finally break down and purchase the knowledge to write a good sales pitch. Do it the other way around—buy the knowledge first, and start making sales from the beginning. Customers will not buy just because you have a web site—they buy from the web site that does the best job of convincing them it has the best product for their need.

4. You must develop a traffic source that works

When you first begin, you may be on a shoestring, and that is OK. Assuming you have been willing to spend some money on sales letter writing and a decent web host, you may be able to skimp in the traffic arena for awhile, if you have plenty of time. If you do not have money to advertise, nor time to seek out low cost advertising, you probably shouldn’t be attempting an online business. If you do choose to go the low-cost route—know two things up front—the returns are really low and you will spend vast amounts of time on traffic generation. Once you begin to make sales, you must invest your income in paid forms of traffic generation. If you do not, you will run out of enthusiasm for generating the free traffic, and without reinvesting the income from your first sales into advertising, you are sure to fail. Good sources of low-cost, but time consuming traffic are: writing articles and posting them to article directories, low cost classified ads, and ezine ads. You may see hyped-up ads for thousands or visitors for a low cost or millions of banner ads for another reasonable price—both of these methods may have worked 2 years ago, but they are a sure waste today.

5. Once you begin to get traffic to your online business site, you must keep detailed records of where the traffic comes from, and what percentage of visitors from each source are purchasing your product

If you have visitors that cost you $50 per hundred to come to your web site, but on average they only purchase $25 per hundred visitors, the income may feel good, but you are not profitable, and are losing money. By tracking your expenses on each type of visitor and by tracking your revenue on the same sources of visitors, you can determine which campaigns need changes or need to be eliminated and which need to be increased in intensity.

6. No get rich quick mindset

By following this pattern of steps, and by keeping diligent records (there is plenty of good web site tracking software on the market that can help you do that), you can develop a profitable online business. Again, it will not happen overnight, and you will not get rich quick. However, if you build a solid online business with a solid foundation, and are willing to spend some money learning how to do it right, you really can become successful in business online.

 Would love to know what you think about building a profitable business. Please share and comment.

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4 things that you can let go of that will 
make you a happier, more peaceful person by the 
time you hit the sack tonight:

1) Let go of the need to impress others. 

If you're a human being, chances are you care about 
what other people think of you. 

After all - we are naturally social creatures!

But if you find yourself spending too much of your 
time, money or energy trying to impress other people 
and get their approval, you're not being true to YOU.

There's no need to try and be something you're not, 
because who you are right now is FABULOUS!

Focus instead on living the most authentic version 
of yourself. 

When you fully embrace who you are and share it with 
others, you'll find that people will appreciate how 
REAL you are and will flock to you effortlessly. :)

2) Let go of the need to be right. 

Sometimes when we feel we've been mistreated or 
misunderstood by someone, we can get caught up 
into wanting that person to admit they've 
wronged us.

And we want an apology! 

Or at least acknowledgement that we are right and they're
wrong. :)

The problem is that not all human beings see things 
from the same perspective. In your world, you're 
right… but in their world, so are they.

There are definitely times where an apology is necessary. 

But most other times, rather than allowing feelings of 
negativity to take root inside you and start spilling 
over into other areas of your life, it may be best to 
ask yourself this:

"Do I want to be right? Or do I want to be happy?"

Often it's just our ego that keeps us holding on to past 
resentments and upsets. Instead, consider letting go of 
the desire to be right and you'll find you'll instantly 
restore happiness and contentment in your life.

3) Let go of the desire to gossip. 

I've heard it said that gossip is just a cheap way to make 
yourself feel good, and I have to agree. 

We all know that gossiping about other people is… well, not 
so good. 

But when the people around you are doing it, it can be easy to 
slip into doing it too!

Consider though that the quality of your life depends on the 
quality of the conversations you have.

If you want to live a more fulfilling life, start by embracing 
the power of your word. Your voice is powerful! And what you 
have to say makes a difference.

Be committed to having more positive conversations about 
things that matter… not people… and you'll be surprised how 
quickly you'll brighten your outlook on life.

4) Let go of the past. 

It's easy to dwell on the past, especially when the future is 
so unknown! 

Looking to the past can feel safe… we know what has happened 
and we know what we could do to change things… if only we 
had the chance. 

The truth is though that you never will have the chance to 
change the past. 

Not unless scientists finally invent a time machine. ;)

Your past has served its purpose - its brought you to the 
place you are today and made you the person you are now. 
And who you are right now is absolutely perfect. 

Be grateful for your experiences, but know that NOW is all 
you have. So do your best to enjoy each moment. Give 
yourself the gift of being present! 
 

一隻高檔手機,70％的功能是沒用的；

一款高檔轎車，70％的速度是多餘的；

一幢豪華別墅，70％的面積是空閑的；

一大堆社會活動，70％是無聊空虛的；

一屋子衣物用品，70％是閑置沒用的；

一輩子掙錢再多，70％是給別人花的。

結論：生活簡單明瞭，享受人生的30％便好。

 

正處、副處，最後都不知落何處；

正局、副局，最後都是一樣結局；

正部、副部，最後都在一起散步；

總理、副總理，最後都是一個道理；

主席、副主席，最後都會一樣缺席。

 

人生如賽場，

上半場按學歷、職位、業績、薪金比上升；

下半場以血壓、血脂、血糖、尿酸比下降。

上半場順勢而為，聽命；

下半場事在人為，認命！

因此要上下兼顧，兩場都要贏。

沒病也要體檢，不渴也要喝水，再煩也要想通，有理也要讓人，有權也要低調，不疲勞也要休息，不富也要知足，再忙也要鍛煉。

 

人的一生，好比乘坐北京地鐵一號線：

途徑國貿，羨慕繁華；

途徑天安門，幻想權力；

途徑金融街，夢想發財；

經過公主墳，遙想華麗家族；

經過玉泉路，依然雄心勃勃--- 

但這時有個聲音飄然入耳：

乘客您好,八寶山快到了！

頓時醒悟：人生苦短 !!!!!

A lot of studies have been conducted as to the health effects of berries to man. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, and blackberries are chock-full of vitamins and minerals that researchers have dubbed them as ‘super fruits’. They are excellent sources of vitamins A, B6, C and K, potassium, manganese, folate, magnesium, calcium, fiber and antioxidants. If you ever find yourself in a quandary as to what fruit to choose for the table at home, go for berries of any kind. Not only do you get to enjoy the flavor, you also get to enjoy the health benefits.

Here are eight good reasons why you should eat berries:

• They boost your Immune System
  Your health depends on how healthy your immune system is. The immune system is the body’s first line of defense. As soon as the cells of your immune system detect something foreign inside the body, they immediately consider it as an enemy and they launch an all-out attack rendering the pathogen helpless thus allowing you to avoid what was supposed to be an illness. If, however, your immune system is weak, you will be more prone to developing illnesses that can be easily avoided. This is why it is important that you give your immune system a boost.
  The antioxidants found in berries act to boost the function of the immune system by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals cause the body harm and can actually cause disease.
• They help reduce cancer risks
  Cancer is usually triggered when the DNA structure of the cell is damaged or injured, causing it act aberrantly and abnormally. Free radicals are the culprits behind DNA damage in cells. These substances are by-products of the oxidative process and they can cause serious harm to the body. But antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and render them ineffective. There are a lot of sources of antioxidants and the market has grown. What is important is that you choose the right ones.
  A clinical trial conducted at Ohio State University’s College Medicine revealed that rats that were given a diet consisting of berries significantly reduced their risk of developing colon, esophageal and oral cancer by up to 50 percent as compared to rats that were not fed with berries. Researchers concluded that berries have potent compounds that fight cancer – fiber, folic acid, calcium and different phytochemicals.
• They are rich sources of fiber
  Fiber has a lot of health benefits to the human body. For one, it helps normalize and regulate bowel movements, making sure that you do not suffer from constipation. Normal bowel movements ensure that your body is getting rid of toxins and wastes and that they do not accumulate inside your system. Second, fiber helps lower bad cholesterol levels. Fiber sweeps cholesterol and flushes them out of your body. Having high levels of the bad form of cholesterol in your blood stream could cause life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart attack, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Third, fiber helps you lose weight. For people who have been trying so hard to lose the extra pounds, berries can help you achieve your goals. The fiber found in berries actually helps you to feel full for longer periods of time. The longer the time that you feel full, the less frequent you eat.
• They contain potassium
  Potassium is an important electrolyte necessary for proper cellular function. Also, it ensures that the heart’s rhythm remains normal. It prevents arrhythmia, or an abnormal heart rhythm. Additionally, potassium is also a vital mineral that is needed by the body to keep the tissues, muscles, kidneys, brain and heart functioning properly. Potassium deficiencies are often signaled by severe headaches, anemia, heart palpitation, abnormal heartbeat, slow reflexes, muscle weakness and fatigue. In order to get your daily dose of potassium, make sure that you eat foods such as berries.
• They are good for brain health
  Aging certainly affects how the brain functions in such a way that it becomes less efficient. The answer to this is found in berries. The United States’ Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging conducted a study on the health benefits of berries. Investigators found out that the polyphenol content of berries actually promotes brain health.
• They help with weight loss
  As previously mentioned, the berries contain fiber that helps with weight loss. Fiber helps you feel full faster and you don’t go hungry for longer periods. Additionally, berries contain anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant. Anthocyanin has been said to possess the capability to alter your fat cells’ genetic activity thereby making it difficult for you to gain weight if you practice regular consumption of anthocyanins.
• They are good for the eyes
  Healthy vision is important as it allows you to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. If you want to keep your eyes healthy, make sure that you eat berries regularly. Located in the skin of the berries are compounds called lutein. These contribute to the promotion of healthy vision.
• They are good for your heart
  Berries contain folate, fiber and potassium which, studies show, help fight cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure. Folate also acts by lowering homocysteine levels. High levels of homocysteine increases one’s risk for heart disease. Also, the antioxidants found in berries help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Once cholesterol is not oxidized, it cannot stick to the walls of the arteries anymore.

you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. (Recent research suggests that centenarians are 20 times as likely as the average person to have at least one long-lived relative.) Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 11 habits and check out Perls' lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.

1. Don't retire. "Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York Universitystudy showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," says Perls.

[Cancer and Age: Why We May Face a Tradeoff Between Cancer Risk and Aging]

3. Move around. "Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.

“The 4 M’s of Happiness.”  are:

1. Mindset:  The pros and the stars consciously and consistently choose thoughts and feelings of optimism, positivity, gratitude, and appreciation.  They know that a high-energy mindset translates into a great performance.

2. Meaning:  The dancers feel inspired by what they are doing.  They’re focused on something that’s purposeful and meaningful to them.  They always speak about the joy that they experience being on the show.

3. Movement:  Moving the body is good medicine. It produces big doses of happiness chemicals, and counteracts the stress chemicals that produce doubt, fear, and insecurity.  

4. Membership:  All the dancers and all of us watching are part of a like-hearted group of people.  Feeling connected to others, having good relationships, and experiencing a sense of belonging are all fundamental to living in a state of happiness.   

You and I can use the exact same principles to expand our happiness no matter what’s going on in our lives.

Try the 4 Ms of Happiness on:

Mindset:  Check out your mindset.  Are you staying optimistic and positive?  Are you bringing gratitude into your life regularly?  Try setting an alarm on your cell phone (a nice musical one) to schedule “thank you moments” into your day.

Meaning:  What gives you meaning?  Are you doing something every day that inspires you, helps you feel on purpose?  Fill in this sentence:  “My life feels meaningful when I __________,” and incorporate that activity into your life on a regular basis.

Movement:  Are you moving your body?  Stand up right now and stretch. Go outside and get some fresh air a few times during your day.  Dance a little (or at least shake your body) while you’re out there.

Membership:  Are you a member of something?  Connect with people who share your values.  Consider joining a group of like-hearted people – perhaps volunteer at an animal shelter or take an improv class or join a hiking club.

Though you may not get called upon to kick up your heels in front of millions of weekly viewers, when you start minding your 4 Ms, you’ll definitely create more opportunities to smile, enjoy and be happy for no reason.

When you create a spark of hope a chain reaction begins.

•   Our physical bodies respond and begin to create new energy
•   Our brains start creating new ideas and desires
•   We begin to feel a bit more powerful (that maybe we do have the ability to
     create change, no matter how small)
•   The energetic particles in the air around us begin to move and change
•   And unseen forces begin to align with our hope
•   And ALL of this is automatic!

Try to create a tiny spark of hope in one area of your life right now.

All you have to do is keep the spark alive and the other things will automatically
occur.

It is so important to start small.

So many people have big dreams and big ideas (and I love this) –

BUT, as we learn to powerfully create we must start small or our big hopes and
dreams can come crashing down on us and destroy our hope.