My Home Business Blog

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2009-08-04T10:11:00.001-05:00

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My Blog Has Moved!

2009-07-07T09:51:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the lack of communication on my part. I have moved my blog over to Wordpress and will be posting most of my information on there. You will find information on the company I am a distributor for, along with information on their products and programs. I have also introduced my own affiliate program for those that have candle, bath, body, and/or beauty product websites/blogs. You'll make 5% on each sale that goes through my retail website at http://www.TastesofHeaven.com.

My new blog address is http://www.LightaMiaBella.com.

For those on my team, you may go to http://www.LearnBurnandEarn.net for training and resources. I will send out occasional e-mails with my own little nuggets of wisdom. If you are not a member of my team, but you would like to be, just go to http://www.LightaMiaBella.info for more information or sign up for our free Candle Business eCourse at http://www.LightaMiaBella.biz.

For Quality Clean Burning Natural Wax Candles and now our NEW Mineral Cosmetics, you can count on me and my team!

Getting Focused

2008-08-04T16:36:00.003-05:00

Are you one of those people that can't seem to focus on one thing and follow through? If that sounds like you, then I'm betting you'll have problems getting your home business off the ground. All of us get distracted sometimes and lose site of our goals. But, let's not let distractions cause us to fail!

It's funny, because as I'm typing this, I remember why I originally signed into my blog in the first place. I wanted to create another blog for my fundraising business only... LOL. Well, now here I am typing about distractions and this post is the perfect example of a distraction. I hope you've learned something from this post, because I know I have!

Multi-Level Marketing or MLM

2008-05-29T21:33:00.002-05:00

So, I'd like to talk about what MLM is and what it is not. MLM (multi-level marketing) is a business model that cuts out the huge advertising cost for those businesses that use it. It is a process of getting their product to the end user. Often, people treat an MLM Business like a pyramid scheme. Now, some MLM companies may not be reputable companies but they are NOT pyramid schemes. An easy way to identify a pyramid scheme would be to look at the company's product. Is it something that can be sold to the public, or is it a product that will only be used by other distributors that you bring into the business? If the product isn't something that can be sold to the public, than Yes it is a pyramid scheme. But, if the company offers a quality product at a competitive price, with a large profit margin, than you've got yourself a winner!

Don't just listen to what others say about the MLM industry. Do your own research and discover the logic and sheer genius of this business model. Go ahead and check out an on-line movie that will give you an overview of the industry in general. It's called Brilliant Compensation.

Starting a Home Business is Like Starting a Marriage

2008-04-26T09:04:00.006-05:00

I like to think of starting a home business in terms of starting a marriage. A man searches for his "soul mate" by doing his research. He talks to woman after woman until he finds the one that he feels is worth investing his time and money in. This is just like finding that product or service you feel is worth investing time and money in.

Now, once the man has found his "soul mate," what does he do? He doesn't just sit around waiting for another man to come and take his discovery away! He goes out, invests his money in the perfect ring, and asks the woman to be his lifelong partner. In much the same way, those who find an amazing business opportunity should not just sit around waiting for someone else to come and take the idea, product, or service from them. If you sit around long enough, the market will become saturated with it and you'll haven't the slitest chance of making your business come out on top. So, once you find your "soul mate," grab hold and don't let go!

It's time to plan the wedding now. What do we need? That's right, money! We ask our family and friends for any help they can give to prepare for this grand occassion. We dig down deep in our pockets to find that gold mine we've got stored away, just so this day will be the greatest day of our lives. We want everyone to know that we've found the love of our lives. Shouldn't we feel the same way when starting a business? We find an amazing product and decide to put it under our bed and hide it from the rest of the world. NO! We want to share it with the world... shout it from the rooftops! And, we shouldn't be afraid to ask our friends and family for help in doing this.

Now, the big day arrives and you're overjoyed. The excitement is mounting up inside you. You look out into the sanctuary and find that there are only 10 people there to see you be joined together as one. What do you do? Do you call the wedding off and say, "Sorry, hun, I guess we're just not ment to be." I would hope not! It's your wedding day, and you're not going to let anything get you down. You proclaim your love and present yourselves to your audience as man and wife. You make the most of the celebration and thank those who came for coming.

Your business should be something you're passionate about. Passionate enough to get through the initial disappointments and bad turnouts. You shouldn't let one event, even the grand openning, get you down. Much like starting a family, you will have your ups and downs. Your passion and love for your spouse will be tested and you must endure in order to see the fruits of your marriage.

Here comes the really tough part. It's the part that everyone dreads after getting married. It's the point at which the passion has started to diminish and you have to come down to earth. Now, I'm not saying that marriage always has to come to this. It doesn't! But, sadly, most marriages do. And, once that happens, it's hard to restore it. Just like a marriage, a home business takes dedication and work. You have to deal with emotional struggles, financial struggles, and physical struggles. Sometimes, you need to seek help if you hope to reach the next level.

Some marriages don't even last past the honeymoon, let alone long enough to see children. Most of those marriages fail for one of the following reasons: lack of commitment, selfishness, unfaithfulness, or there was just some kind of misunderstanding.

Now, think of this in terms of starting a business. Most businesses fail for the same reasons. There are often people who start home businesses without the will to commit. They get started thinking it will be so easy, they come across one barrier and then bail out. And then there are those that get into business for selfish reasons, they run their business selfishly and fail because of it. Nobody wants to do business with a selfish person that cares for no one else but himself. Unfaithfulness is probably one of the top reasons why most home businesses fail. There's just something else better around the corner. Don't let yourself get distracted by other "opportunities" and you won't have this problem (in your marriage or your business.) And the last one is actually quite common in the home business world. A person starts a business on the premis of something another person has told them. However, once they get started, it turns out to be just a scam or something completely different from what they had originally thought. So, if you want your business to succeed, you must be commited, selfless, faithful, and wise enough not to get scammed.

What do I Invest In?

2008-03-28T09:22:00.004-05:00

Of course, if you're one of those people that would rather spend money on unnecessary items, you may want to find an alternative means of funding your business venture. Or, just learn what kind of expenses are necessary to start a business. Here's a list of expenses that I found necessary when starting my business:

1. Business Cards- You can get 250 cards FREE from vistaprint (http://www.vistaprint.com)

2. Samples of your product- If you decide to become an Independent Rep/Distributor for a company, they will usually have start-up packages that are designed to help you get started.

3. Website- You can get a free website, but I recommend investing a bit more to have a professional looking site that will tell your visitors who you are, what you offer, and how to purchase your product/service. You can usually build your own website that will cost you around $10/month in hosting expenses. If you don't know the first thing about building a website, most websites that you can purchase a domain name from also have a free website builder. If you still don't think you can handle it, you may want to hire someone who is more experienced.

*Note: If you've signed up with a company, a website is probably already taken care of for you:)

I have many websites, but I always link back to my company site. For my personal site hosting, I use http://www.mark-5.com. You can view my personal site at http://www.LightaMiaBella.com.

4. Catalogs and Brochures- You can also get quality marketing products from vistaprint. Again, if you've signed up with a company, you'll have professional looking marketing tools provided for you. The company I am a distributor for offers 50 catalogs for $10! We also have the freedom to print our own order forms and brochures if we want to.

5. Advertising! Here's the biggest expense. I recommend, after getting your website up, searching for free advertising online. Many sites offer banner exchanges and affiliate programs. I'll discuss this subject in detail later on, but for now just do some of your own research on advertising.

6. Invest in Yourself! Having your own business can be stressful and it can collapse at any time if you don't believe in yourself. Positive thinking can be tough when you're in the second stage of your business. This is the stage where you've invested your time and your money and are now working on bringing in more customers/clients. It takes time to get the "word out" about your product/service. People aren't going to just flock to your side when you decide you're "open for business." Expect for it to take time and you won't get stuck in a depression. Work on your attitude every day. Plan your days and make goals to keep yourself motivated. Read uplifting books and listen to uplifting music. Learn something new every day and apply it to your life and business. Remember that there are many people who have built successful businesses from home and YOU are going to be one of them!

"Don't just invest yourself, invest in yourself"

Online Marketing

2008-03-15T16:09:00.003-05:00

Are you looking to work your business entirely from your home? Will you be using the internet or running a direct mail campaign? These are questions you need to ask yourself. Run your business in a way that makes you feel happy! But, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to make things happen. Once you’ve got that question answered, you can start doing your own research.

If you’re looking to market your business online, start browsing the internet for sites to advertise on. Look for work from home sites, mom blogs, places to post your free candle drawing, etc (for those on my team). If you’re looking for others to partner with, look for sites that will yield SERIOUS business prospects. Stay at home mom sites will probably yield a high number of interested prospects, but they may not get you the SERIOUS business minded individuals you’re looking for. Be creative and think like you’d want your business partners to think. Go to sites that have a ton of business advice posted, talk to others who are already running their own business, and be prepared to learn as you go. The internet holds many possibilities for those who are looking to build their business online.

For those who have a "crafty" product to sell, go to http://www.craftmall.com/ or http://www.ebay.com and list your products there. Create your own website and shopping cart if you are selling your own creations. If you are a distributor for another company, they normally have a retail site set up for you already. All you have to do is advertise your site to create traffic. Again, you'll want the right traffic coming to your site. So, advertise on sites that are relevant to your product/service.

Your Target Market

2008-03-15T14:51:00.005-05:00

As a GOURMET Candle Business, I would never take our candles to a flea market. Why? Who goes to flea markets? Certainly not people who are looking for a gourmet product! Let’s take a look at the definition of a flea market. A flea market is a place where vendors come to sell or trade their goods. The goods are usually inexpensive and range in quality depending on several factors. The vast majority of flea markets in rural areas sell goods that are second-hand. Many cheep knockoffs or counterfeit items can be found there.

Now, taking a look at the definition we find that most of the goods you find at flea markets are one or more of the following: inexpensive, used, or counterfeit. Now, take a look at the product I market. Our candles are high in quality, which means they are sold at a price that reflects their quality, and they are new, certainly not cheep knockoffs! So, why do many selling similar products feel compelled to sell within markets such as these? Well, it’s simple really. They don’t know how to reach their TARGET MARKET. As a result, they think the product is the problem. They move from one product to the next experiencing the same failure over and over again.

So, how do we find our target market? We research our local market and zero in on our prospects. If it’s events we’re interested in attending as vendors, then the first thing to do is research local events. When I did this, I found quite a few craft shows. But, there was only one event that really stuck out to me and made me think it might be worth my while. There was a Women’s Expo taking place only 45 minutes away from me. Not only was it a Women’s Expo, it had a theme called “The Art of Relaxation.” Well, there you go! There’s a PERFECT example of our target market: Women who are looking to be pampered and wanting to experience products that help them to relax! That was my target market. So, what's yours?

Quality over Quantity

2008-03-12T13:04:00.004-05:00

Another lesson I've learned is that it's not the quantity of customers/prospects you have but the quality. You can have a list a mile long with prospective customers/clients. But, are any of those people really going to be interested in what you have to offer? My point is this; don't go wasting money on ads targeted to a market that's not going to bite.

Here's my story and lesson learned: I decided that I would offer a free sample to those who visited my website. Since I decided to offer this, I also decided to advertise my offer on a website filled with freebies. Mistake number 1. Then, after getting thousands (and I'm not exaggerating) of requests for my sample, I started to answer them one by one. Mistake number 2. What a waste of time!!! The majority of these people didn't care about the product itself. They just wanted something for FREE. After taking my ad off of the website, I proceeded to purge my inbox, and my mind, of all those requests.

Boy did I learn something from that experience! Not only did I learn about the right and wrong way to advertise and how not to get prospective customers, I also learned that I wasn't even prepared for the prospects themselves. I didn't have an autoresponder set up, so I had no way of managing those leads. Plus, I had no idea how to turn those leads into customers. I was a rookie and I needed help!

Here's where I learned the most important lesson! Learn from those who've been there! Ha! So simple, right? But, how many of us are stubborn and just want to do things our own way? I know I can be that way, and I was that way. That is, until I discovered that I had chosen the best business system out there. I chose to start a business under the instruction of other business owners, like myself, that had “been there, done that.” And, it wasn't until I started utilizing this fact that I began to succeed in my business.

The Hard Part About Having a Home Business

2008-03-12T12:41:00.004-05:00

That's just the beginning, though. The hard part comes when you're ready to start. Questions come up, like “How much do I invest to start my business?” Many have no idea what it takes to get a business up and running. For those who have the capital, they're going to struggle with what that money should go toward. Here's where I learned my next lesson. Advertising is your biggest expense during the first 2 to 5 years of your business. Why? Well, how else are you going to get customers/clients? You don't think they're just going to come knocking on your door once you decide that you're open for business!? Not only do you need to advertise, but you need to be prepared for when people respond to those advertisements.

Great ways to advertise online include Google AdWords, Banner Exchanges, and Paid Advertising on Websites related to your product/service. For a website that can help you grow online and find the information you need on these programs, visit http://www.bpath.com/.

Starting My Home Business and a Lesson Learned

2008-03-12T12:39:00.004-05:00

Starting a home business is something that many people have tried to do for one reason or another. Most people are just looking for a way to work from home or wanting a bit of extra money and something to do “on the side.” A business is so much more than that, though. It requires lots of time and usually a significant financial investment in the beginning. A business is risky, but it can provide much more than a financially secure future if you “stay in the game” so to speak.

Looking for a home business opportunity can be daunting. There are so many choices out there today, it may seem that by the time you decide on one your time will be up! Here's where I learned my first lesson. A home business is both a personal thing and a professional thing. So, make it just that. Think of something that you love to do or something that you're really good at and you know a lot about. For example, I loved making candles and knew a lot about them. So, naturally I went searching for a business that I could start by either making my own candles or selling candles that were of equal quality or better than mine.

To Charge or Not to Charge, That is the Question!

2008-03-07T08:55:00.004-06:00

Those who are true business builders will recognize a good business opportunity when they see one and take advantage of it as fast as they can. For example, a hot product that just came on the market can make a lot of businesses rich... in the beginning. If you're a business owner that doesn't keep up with the times, you're not making any money.

Let me just give you an illustration here. Say you're a toy store owner and you're living in the Beanie Baby era. As soon as they hit the most wanted list, you are smart and order hundreds of Beanie Babies to stock your shelves. You're doing great! They sell beautifully and you're getting rich off of their success. But, as we all know, that craze ended after only a few years. Now lets say you become lazy and decide to slow down to sell off more inventory before purchasing any more toys for your store. Now, the Tickle Me Elmo era comes and you decide to pass. Can you imagine how devastating that would be to a toy store in those days? Actually, Tickle Me Elmo has been popular for years now and is still a hot item. Any toy store not carrying a Tickle Me Elmo would have gone bankrupt within a year if they didn't get those in stock. When your in business, there is no good time to slow down. You must always be on top of new trends.

So, why should it be any different for those working their business from home? Once you find that amazing product or service that you know will sell, don't hesitate! Of course, be smart about your investment and plan it out accordingly. But, don't say, "O, maybe next year I'll have the money to start." Trust me, you won't have any more money next year than you have this year with that kind of attitude. So, instead of wasting your money on that new pair of shoes or that Mocha every morning, start budgeting and make it happen! If you've got good credit, you're most likely getting 0% introductory APR offers from credit card companies in the mail every day. Take advantage of that! Sometimes you can get up to 18 months of NO INTEREST! That means you'll have over a year to make your business successful. This will not only give you that much needed capital; it will also give you a deadline that needs to be met. You'll be motivated to move your business forward.

Do I Really Have to Work?

2008-03-05T13:10:00.001-06:00

The truth? No, you don't have to do anything if you don't want to. That's the beauty of life itself. You have the power to make your own choices and determine your own destiny. Of course, God has created us all to have free will. It's the only way for us to learn and grow. So, what does this have to do with running a business from home? Everything!

The NUMBER 1 RULE in having your own business!

#1 If YOU don't do it, NOBODY will!

Don't think you can start a business and you'll just magically be successful. Just like any job, it requires WORK. More work, actually, in the beginning stages. You'll most likely be thinking about your business around the clock. Not everyone is cut out for it, so make a decision right now. Are you willing to work for your success?

The rewards come when you've built a solid foundation and you can finally think about something other than what you're going to do tomorrow to build your business. Working from home is NOT for lazy people! It is NOT for people who are afraid be personable. And, it is NOT for people who want to get rich quick! Running a business from home takes time, money, WORK, talking to customers/clients, and it doesn't happen over night.

Reality check for those who are looking for that magical system that will make them rich over night. IT DOESN'T EXIST! There are tons and tons of people out there that may tell you otherwise, but that's just because they think you're the one who could make THEM rich! Now, I know that I am a distributor for a MLM Company and MLMs have a reputation for doing just that. However, it's not the business system or company that promises riches overnight. It's the distributors within the company that can be dishonest and manipulative. Many people out there will do anything to get you to join their company if it means a quick buck for them.

I encourage you to take a good look into the MLM business system for yourself. Don't judge any company or business system based on speculation or what others claim is true. Go to http://www.freetorelaxmovie.com/. This movie gives you a professional presentation of why a MLM business system is the best business system for those who want to work from home.

And, although an MLM business might make things a bit easier for you in the future of your business, it's not for everyone. I can't imagine anyone not liking the business model, but yet again I can't imagine anyone not liking ice cream. Yet, there are people out there who aren't crazy about it. There are many companies out there still that aren't MLM companies. So, again, just do your research.

Do I Look Like I Have Any Money?

2008-03-04T21:44:00.000-06:00

The hardest part about starting a business from home, or trying to find something you can do to make money from home, is wondering whether or not to invest money. Well, I can say I wasn't looking to spend money. I was looking to MAKE money! So, why did I go and invest in a home based business? To tell you the truth, it made sense. Well, not initially. But, after getting burned by stupid online "surveys" and other "systems" that clammed to make you money from home, I just got smart. *Note: You can ask me about that if you're wondering about those stupid things. There is NO way to make money from home (I mean enough money to call an income) that doesn't require an initial investment.

Now, don't get me wrong. There are companies that hire and train people to do certain things from home. These jobs, however, are very scarce. They usually require experience and some work outside the home in the beginning. My husband is actually going to begin designing websites for Badgerland Marketing on a freelance basis. He is required to go through training in the beginning and must drive to there office an hour away. Although this situation is rare and resembles a job, he will still be a freelancer. He is required to have his own Sole Proprietor set up so that he can submit his own taxes. So, he will have his own business! He is required to have a laptop, work space, and the programs necessary to build the websites. This requires capital, an initial investment in one's business. He has spent well over $2000 on everything needed to make this his full-time "job." We believed this to be a sound investment, because he will only have to design about 15 websites to make up for his investment. Any profit he gets after designing those first 15 websites will go directly into his pocket, after taxes of course.

So, when I started to do my own research a year ago, I had to answer these questions before I started any business from home:

1. What is the Product/Service I will be offering?
2. Is it in high demand or unique enough to really sell?
3. What is the initial investment required to get started?
4. Is there more than one way I can make money (multiple streams of income?)
5. Can I do it from home while taking care of my children?
6. Will I have adult interaction on a daily basis?
*Note: The reason I wanted a business was to be able to keep my brain functioning while being in the early stages of motherhood. Playing with baby and toddler toys all day doesn't exactly challenge me. I also needed adult interaction (preferably other women who were in similar situations.)
7. As my business grows, will I be able to make more money doing less work?
8. Do you have to keep inventory?
*Note: The only storage space I have is in our kitchen pantry
9. Will I LOVE my business?
10. Will I succeed?

These questions are all important in evaluating any opportunity for a work at home business. Let me tell you that I am NOT writing this blog to get you to join the company I joined. I am writing this to help you find the RIGHT business for YOU. Of course, if I'm being honest, I hope that if you decide the right business is a candle business, you'll choose to join our team.

Just to give you an idea of who I am and what I'm all about, I'd like to tell you a bit about myself. I am a wife and mother of two little girls. We are a Christian family that has much to be thankful for. I started a gourmet candle business in August of 2006 and have been learning everything I possibly can about running a business from home.

You may go to http://www.myspace.com/lightamiabella to learn more about me.

Now, to get back to whether or not you should invest in a home business, how much to invest, and where to start. Once you find that product or service that makes you giddy and smile from ear to ear, you must think about how much you can afford to invest. Does the company have a variety of start-up options? The larger the investment, the greater the risk. However, if the product/service is something you believe will sell, then why not make that investment? You'll be able to make your money back right away anyway right? I started my business with $50, and with the help of a few good friends and family, I was able to make enough money to invest another $500. I had such confidence in the product I represented, that I was ready to run with it.

So, do you have something you LOVE that you can make into a business? Are there companies out there that can supply you with that product or training to provide a service? Do your research and then come back and read my next post. There's more to a business than just getting it started. Much much more!

A couple of websites that will help you out in your search are listed below.

Christian Work at Home Moms Website for all you Moms out there! http://www.cwahm.com/
Another Christian Site that has tons of information- Try not to get overwhelmed!
http://www.christianet.com/christianbusinesses/businessopportunities/index.htm
Here's a variety of work at home opportunities, including job opportunities. http://www.worldwideworkathome.com/
And for those who LOVE candles! http://www.LightaMiaBella.info

Remember, find something that will make you smile! You will only succeed from home if you LOVE what you are doing. So, have FUN with your search!