Is there room online for everyone? Can anyone become successful online?

To be successful online requires that you have to work for success. There are no “push button” methods out there. The only person making money from these methods are the people selling the products.

Success comes from hard work and having the right mindset. Everyone who wants an online business has to know what they are doing and the only way to do this is to follow a system and have a coach/mentor.

Many people buy courses to study and a lot of them are never opened. People find it daunting when they are not sure exactly where they should start. There is so much information now available online that it can be overwhelming. This syndrome is commonly know as information overload.

There are some well known internet marketers that are now teaching online for a very small amount or even better for free. The reason they give is that they want to give something back. If you find a teacher for free, and you like what they are teaching, you are probably inclined to buy their products.

Most people who start online learn the basics in the Internet Marketing niche and this is a very broad niche. Once you have the basic skills you can go into whatever niche you desire. The best niche you can go into is the one where you have an interest and some knowledge. This makes it a lot easier for you.

If I could stress one thing about working online – it is a business – your business and treat it that way. If you have a job in the outside world, you are required to work x amount of hours each week and do the work that is required of you. An online business is the same. To be successful, you have to be prepared to work x amount of hours online – in a structured manner. This requires that you have a written plan of what you want to achieve and you stick to that plan.

Anyone can be a success as long as you follow the plans that you have set for yourself.

To YOUR Success

Sue McDonald

Well we have arrived in 2012 and it is very exciting with all the plans I have made.  What makes some people so successful while others fall behind? Two people can be give the same education, same opportunities and the same lifestyle but one person can far outstrip the other and become very successful. Why is this so?

Again we should all know the answer because I talk about this in several blogs – mindset. Your inner world will create your outer world. The thoughts you think, and the actions you take, are directly responsible for the results you receive.

Anthony Robbins put it very well when he said “in those moments of decision, your destiny is shaped.”

Take the plans you have made for the New Year and chunk them down into manageable parts. I heard on television this morning that the most resolutions revolve about your health. Examples given were:

• You want to lose weight.
• You want to exercise on a more regular basis.
• You want to stop smoking.
• You want to eat a healthier diet and cut out the junk food.

There were several others given but these were the main ones. So, if like the bulk of the population, some of your New Year’s resolutions are similar to these, then we must make our plans on how to do this.

They say if you have bad habits you have to replace them with good habits.

One of my resolutions revolves around my health and that is, not to sit at my computer for long periods of time, and not getting up and walking around. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies here because we keep telling ourselves – just a little longer and I will have finished what I am doing. Wrong, get up and take a break and stretch your arms and legs.

Another thing I want is to create more products. I believe that I can make some good money this year and I want to go on another overseas holiday. I really love to travel and there are still so many places that I have on my bucket list. So I have to take action and make things happen.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

“So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young”

We all recognize the words from the John Lennon classic – ” Happy Christmas.”

How profound are these words – line two is especially important. Let me ask you that question – “What have you done?”

There are so many people who started 2011 with so many goals and plans and have they achieved what they wanted to do? I know the answer before anyone says anything. Not everyone reaches the goals that they set for themselves in their New Year’s resolutions. The reason is very easy – sometimes life just takes an unexpected turn.

Some of the things that could have happened that have changed you entire life include marriage, divorce, loss of a job, death of a relative or close friend or the birth of a child. All of these can be very stressful and can often turn your life in a different direction. There are many other occurrences that can change your life but often any of  these changes can be only temporary.

So this year when you are thinking of your New Year’s resolutions – keep them practical and achievable. What ever it is you want, if you can believe that it is achievable and you are prepared to work, the Universe will work with you and SUCCESS can be yours.

Use affirmations and visualizations to achieve what you want. This must be a habit that you get into. See it in your mind and feel it . Belief and persistence are the two major cornerstones to success. Even if some crisis befalls you, try and remain positive and as soon as you have sorted it out, get back on track.

So I would like to add two quotes from Henry Ford.

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”

                                                                  and

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

There is no such thing as failure only obstacles, in our way, that we must overcome.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

Incoming search terms:

• what do you think about failure : failure is simply the opportunity to begin again

What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization is a method to get your site higher in rankings with all of the search engines. There are two parts of SEO – there is “on page” which accounts for between 20-30% and then we have “off page” which is the other 70-80%.

What benefits do we derive by increasing the ranking of our site? The higher ranking you achieve allows you to get higher in Google and what we are aiming for is page one in our niche. This gives you organic traffic and the more traffic you receive the more product that you can sell.

Some of the “on page” factors for you to consider:

Do some Keyword research

Chose your Domain name and have your main keyword in the domain name

Page title- include your keywords in your page title

Use H1-H6 Header tags

Use Meta tags

Give a Meta description

Content – any content you put on your site has to be original. Google does allow duplicate content but you can only benefit once from that content. This means if the first time you used it on a site and that site has a higher ranking, Google will not take notice of it on the lower ranking site.

Use a Site Map

Use Anchor text.

As I said remember this is only 20-30%. Increasing your ranking with SEO can be very time consuming if you are doing it for yourself. However, it can also be rewarding. All pages on the internet are created equal, but if you know how to use SEO, you have an advantage of getting noticed and ranked by the search engines. Many people think that Google is the only search engine but there are hundreds of them.

The main objective of “off page “SEO” is to get links pointing to your site. The search engines are unaware that you are creating these links and each link acts as a popularity vote for your site in the eyes of the search engine.

Some elements of “off page” SEO are:

Blogging – there are several free platforms that you can use like Blogger, Hub Pages, Squidoo.

Blog commenting – go and check out other peoples blogs and leave a relevant comment.

Forums – find forums in your niche and sign up and ensure that if you are permitted you add a signature block including your site. Each time when you write a post or thread, people see your site and it is possible they will visit.

Free classified – US free ads and Craigs lists are two well know ones

Articles – write articles and post them to various directories like Ezine. Each article should be unique content

Pinging – each time you add to you site or blog, ping it using pingoat.com or something similar

Press Releases –One of the best ways to increase your traffic

Now you can see that this can be time consuming but all of these methods are free. You could pay for advertising but this can be expensive. If you know how to do SEO and put it into practice, every day just doing a little more, you will be able to get your site up in the rankings.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

Today let’s look at how we can be successful in any endeavor we want to try. The first and most important part of success is to believe that it is possible for you to achieve what you are setting out to do. Never allow the old negative thought to try to tell you it cannot be done. If you believe you will achieve your goal – you will.

How do we go about achieving a particular goal? We have to have a written down plan. This plan may include you have to do more study that will allow you to reach your goal. Whatever you believe, it is going to take, include that in your plan – it maybe that you have to save some money each week to reach a goal. Be very clear here on this plan.

With your goal firmly set in your mind, we need to be able to track our progress. You cannot fix what you do not measure. Our measure might be sitting and passing some examinations or it may be watching the bank balance increase. What ever it is, we have to measure it all the time.

Now if you are studying and you believe that things are going slowly for you, you may want to increase the number of subjects you are doing. Word of warning here – remember you probably have other commitments that take a lot of your time so do not overdo it. Some people, who increase their subjects, find it very difficult to fit in everything else they have to do. I personally tried this and I ended up very ill at exam time and I was allowed to sit a post exam one month later. As long as you maintain that positive belief that this is possible – you will reach your goals. Never allow any person sway you from the belief that reaching your goal is possible.

To be successful may take time, but if you plan well and stick to that plan, then you will definitely achieve whatever it is that you set out to do. You may encounter difficulties along the way but like any problem, solve it and move on. Once you solve a problem, you will feel so much stronger to know that you are continuing in the right direction.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

There are some great business ideas out there and you may want some ideas where you can start your own business. Businesses come and go all the time so it is best to study what is successful and duplicate it. The reason to do this is because there are already people wanting to buy the products and the owners are profiting from that business.

So we will examine some of the better business out there.

Going Green

Going green is not just a buzz phrase but it is a way of life that people are embracing. There is a worldwide movement to use products that are “greener” and will not damage our environment and planet. Consider promoting green technology products because a lot of people are now searching for them. People in this industry predict that this could easily be a trillion dollar a year business in the next 10 years. We all know that we must protect our land and oceans if we are going to continue to survive.

Green Products that you may be able to consider that you could sell.

Check out products that have been made from recycled material. These can be from apparel to construction material and all the recycled paper products that are now available. There are several industries that have grown out of recycling. One that is readily springs to mind are the reusable shopping bags. These are going to lessen our carbon footprint because the plastic bags do not break down and are clogging our dump sites and our oceans.

Could you make these from home and sell them on line or at the local markets? What you have to consider is that you would need an industrial sewing machine and some materials. You would need a design that will stand out from the others.This could be a great home business.

The New Type Eco-friendly Car Dealership

Over the last few years, many car manufacturers have designed and produce a range of hybrid cars. These cars will reduce the use of fossil fuel and save the user money at the same time. This is a business that will require a large amount of start up capital but could also be very rewarding.

More people are considering buying or leasing these types of cars.

Selling Organic Products

The sale of organic products is on the rise and we are told that these products are healthier for us. Organically grown fruit and vegetables are a much healthier alternative for us and our environment as there are no chemicals used.

Not only are there organic fruit and vegetables but there is a range of other products as well. The range is ever expanding but some products that are already being made include – skin care products, cosmetics and several cleaning products for your home. Consumers are aware that these products are also good for them as they are hypoallergenic and may help with illness and allergies.

The demand for organic products is on the rise, so if you are interested now might be the perfect time for you to start.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words but if you don’t have your own pictures, you need to know where to go to get them.

There is a great site that a lot of people do not know about – where you can be guaranteed to get Royalty Free photos.

Go to where you can sign into Google.

Click on images first and then Advanced search. You will the be taken to another page.

I have only captured the bottom of this page because these are the most import thing you have to change if you want royalty free photos. The modification feature allows you to actually modify these images.

This is most important that you use the second radio button here and then you tick both for “Commercial Use” and “Modification.” I also like to use the “Strict Filtering” Button.

Then go to the very bottom right hand corner and click “Search Images.”

Type in what you want to search for and as you see, I typed in Traffic, and there are over 30,200 images available.

I believe that you have plenty of images to go through in each category you choose.

Before you download any photos make sure that the words “labeled for commercial reuse with modification” are at the top of your screen.

So if you have found this helpful, leave me a comment.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

A great number of people are attracted to the idea of making a lot of money online. Many people read those testimonials that offer to show you how for a price, you can make money online. The truth is these “get rich quickly” online schemes do not work. There are several people who have made a lot of money online and they are connected to legitimate sources but they have never made their money very quickly in the beginning. To achieve success online takes time. It is the same as any other career path; it requires a lot of time, a lot of work but most importantly you must have a plan.

The planning stage

There’s no better way to work towards your success than planning. Some people fail to plan and they tend to just jump into it. You cannot skip one step when you are planning you must consider your motivations and what risks are involved. If you look at the most successful ventures, whether it is a job or a business, you will see that they have meticulous planning as part of the entire process.

To begin you must identify why you want to work online. Is it because you want additional income? Is it because you really want to leave you 9-5 job? Is it to gain freedom by being your own boss? What ever answer you have, make sure that it is just not a fanciful idea. By being able to know why you want to work online will keep you motivated when the work seems overwhelming. This will keep you focused.

Set your goals. What do you want to achieve? Where do you want to go? How do you intend to get there? Write down your goals and then break them into short and long term. There are times that you tend to draw more big goals than small ones, which can sometimes be quite unrealistic. It’s okay to have big goals, but make sure they are achievable.

Then find out ways to reach those goals. The online community, which of course has become almost like a global community, offers a lot of varied opportunities. You can choose to put up your own online business and start selling, or you can maintain a blog and earn from advertisers. If you feel that you need training to achieve your goals, hire yourself a coach/mentor. Numerous companies are also hiring online workers as web content writer, proof reader, tutor, among many other things. Of course, what you should consider are the opportunities that allow you to do what you enjoy doing. Don’t just fall for those that promise quick and big cash because most likely you will feel like leaving them as soon as you feel exhausted. Doing that brings you nowhere near your goal.

Make sure you carry out a thorough research. If you believe that you have found the right opportunity, find out what is expected of you and how are you going to generate money and see what are the risks. You need to know your potential income. If you do not do this you may fail because this research will show whether it is a genuine opportunity or a scam.

Next step

Having plans alone won’t bring you online success. A lot depends on how well you follow your written down plan. When you work for yourself you usually double your time and effort to reach your goals. If you work towards these goals, success is inevitable.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald

P.S. Leave me a comment and as long as it is in good taste – I will approve it.

Establishing your own home business can be very challenging but also very rewarding. You have to set up you office so that you are able to take care of your business. This will enable to treat your home business as you would if you had to work somewhere else.

Setting up a home office that makes working convenient and efficient for you, there are some essential factors that you will need to put your home office together. Therefore, you have to get all the necessary equipment and furniture that will enable you to set the office up.

Starting Your Home Office Setup

We need to create a plan and see exactly what we have at present and what we need to get. Call it your home business plan. If you do this, you will be able to organize what you need to achieve your goals

Decide exactly where you want to set up your office. The main thing is that is a convenient place for you to be able to carry out your business.

Select the quietest area available to set up your office. You do not want a lot of distractions that will lessen your productivity. This is particularly important if you have very young children at home.

Space Plan

After you have decided what area of the house you are going to use to set up your office, there are a few other decisions to make. Make sure this area gets enough air and light and you away from any noisy area. This enables you to provide a professional environment dedicated to your work.

Since you will be spending a maximum amount of your time every day in your home office, make sure it is a place where you are comfortable. If not, then you can spend a substantial amount of time in decorating your home office to make it suitable for working.

Home Office Equipments

There are certain pieces of equipment that you will need in order to be able to operate effectively. So this is where you know what you have and what extra items you need.

You will definitely need communication equipment and a connection to the internet. When you are conducting business it is important that you can contact other people and they can contact you. When you are running a business from home, always have a separate dedicated telephone line for the business. If you don’t have one set up an email account. There is a free service on Google for this. Sign up for skype – it is free.

The idea of having more than one medium of communication is to be able to provide the most convenient communication method for your business associates as possible.

Other equipments that will be need in your home office include computers (either laptop or desktop), printers, scanners,and a fax machine. You may need to purchase other specialized equipment relevant to your profession.Whether you are a professional setting up your own home business or an internet marketer, all of this applies to you if you want to be successful.

To YOUR success

Sue McDonald