What is Stopping You? Have the Business You Have Always Dreamed Of!

Most of us dream of being independently wealthy - we want to be able to take care of our family in style, enjoy the finer things in life. For some it seems like a dream that is unobtainable - one that we put aside as we go to our 9 - 5 job and live pay check to pay check. It doesn't have to be that way - we live in America one of the few places on earth where we have the freedom to make choices to see our dreams come to fruition!


There is nothing more satisfying than blazing your own path - being responsible for your future, and what it holds. Seeing your idea's come to life, if you are passionate about what you do, it will fall into place with the proper tools.

What does it take?

It takes an idea and/or skill, a lot of hard work, a burning desire, stick-to-itiveness and innovation. It is not for the timid or the lazy, and it is certainly not for those that want a handout.

However, there are some pitfalls you need to watch out for and these are major dream killers.

4 Major Dream Killers

1. Picking a Business - There are so many, do you want to become a super affiliate, do you have a service you want to offer, or would you like to sell an amazing product? Perhaps you have a lot of ideas. What do you do? How do you decide?


2. Becoming Overwhelmed - You have decided on a direction - you know what you want to do. You just don't know how to get started. Half of the things you read don't make sense, the other half seemed to be filled with fluff and hype. Where do you turn and who do you trust to give you sound advice?


3. Procrastination - You should get started - you have everything planned out in your mind - but it never quite happens. You know what you should or could do - but you don't do it. You never quite find the right time. After all your favorite TV show is on, your X-Box is calling you. There are always other projects in the way - and people to take care of.


4. Tech Hell - You are as smart as the other guy - so why is it you feel so inept when it comes to the language of the internet? Putting the technical side of things together is driving you insane! Domain names, Host, FTP, Dream Weaver, Front Page, flash, opt-in pages, landing pages, blogs, MySQL, php, shopping carts, Facebook, Twitter and more....

All these situations have simple solutions - and if you honestly sit down and think about it - you could come up with many.

 Follow your passion do what excites you 

Perhaps you want to produce your own product - you are an expert at something that others want to know about - start a blog, corner the niche market - then write an e-book.

On the other hand, perhaps you don't want to create a product yourself - become an affiliate and promote other products and make a tidy little sum. The possibilities are endless - but the key is finding something that excites and motivates you.
Carve out a few hours in your day to work on this project - you don't have to dedicate your whole life to it, if that is not what you want to do.

It does take dedication - but you have to get started sometime. Get your spouse in on the vision you have with this new business. Enlist your families help in achieving your goals.

There is nothing that quite compares to taking an idea building a concept and seeing it come to life. Recruiting your support system to help you is very rewarding - and is important in the whole scheme of things.

Tech hell is a reality at some point for most of us - everyone has to start somewhere. Find a mentor someone you trust that will freely give information. Do research - make sure the person you are trusting is a professional - get referrals and remember you do not need to pay for everything. - Be willing to invest in things that are genuine and will take you to the next level in your business.

Spend money on your business when needed, alternatively you do not want to spend money on things you do not need.


Find the proper fit when finding professionals to work with - people who you feel comfortable with, who will answer your questions willingly and with a smile.

If someone you come in contact with makes you feel foolish for asking a question - then do not work with them and please do not hire them.

Follow you instincts!

Keep an open mind when listening to professional opinions, but remember the old saying "Keep an open mind - but not so open you brain falls out". You do not need to be an expert at everything. I have been in this business a long time and I will never know all there is to know. No-one is an expert at everything - and you are no exception!


For expert advice or a helping hand - give me a call. I love helping my clients bring things to life!!

For help in getting your dream off the ground - email me (or call!) pamela@artistadesign.com

Pamela Jacob - Owner of Artista Design
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Providing Creative Solutions & Valuable Results

Keep Doing What You Are Doing, Keep Getting What You Are Getting.

I was talking with some entrepreneur friends that have been struggling with certain aspects of their business. He and his Business Partner invested a great deal of time and money into a product, that I truly believe if marketed correctly could make this couple multimillionaires.

In our conversation, they shared with me the biggest frustrated that had been haunting them. Sometime ago they had contacted a professional who could be instrumental in giving their product high visibility. They had given literature and samples, had numerous meetings spending a great deal of time. They had been promised things that were never delivered.

Months later they were still trying to contact this person – did not get phone calls returned, when finally reached. She once again promised things that were never given.

“They just wouldn't move on. 

It was painful to listen to."

Why would anyone just do the same thing over and over? I was quite blunt and told them they needed to find another Avenue; this person is not going to help you! It may not be what they wanted to hear, but it was the truth.


As a business owner you need to make sure you do not run on false hopes and beliefs. When you run into someone who promises you something and doesn't follow through, Move on! Sometimes things do happen; if you want to give that person, a second chance that is fine, but no third.


If the person or potential client you are working with does not have the courtesy to be honest and up front with you,  you cannot waste your time. The energy and emotion you put out knocking your head against a brick wall will kill your spirit. When you are constantly being filled with faults hopes, you do not have the energy and vitality it takes to move forward and access the true opportunities that lay ahead.



What is the moral of the story?


To have a successful business, you must deal with the movers and the shakers – not the deadbeats.


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Pamela Jacob is the owner of Artista Design. If you need a website developed or redesigned, project manager, consultant or graphic designer - you have found one. Pamela's specialty is taking an idea and making it come to fruition.

If you want to own an online business that thrives, if you have a passion for something you want to share, if you have an idea that you want to come to life contact me. My initial consultations are FREE.

Attracting Traffic to Your Website.

I am often asked, “what is the best way to drive traffic to my website". There are so many ways to market your website and get results some take a lot of time to cultivate, and some can produce traffic right off the bat.

In order to drive traffic you need to know the options available – and then plan your strategy.

There are free ways – you don’t have to pay money, but you do have to spend time to get where you want to go.

Those of you on a shoe string budget may not have the cash to advertise or use Pay-Per-Click methods.

Remember even the best designed websites will not produce an income, unless there is traffic directed to it…

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Free traffic, as the term suggests, implies that you drive traffic to your website free of charge. If you have more time than money, then this is more than worth you’re while.

The most common method of obtaining traffic involves using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques. This is considered on-site SEO and should be used with other methods. When you optimize your website, search engines view your site as being useful and relevant. This in turn, leads to increase in rankings for your keywords, key phrases.

SEO methods are great for obtaining free traffic in the long term, but it might take as long as six months to a year to see full results.

Blogs

Search Engines love blogs – the fresh content that is placed in the pages will cause the search engines to pay attention, and it will allow you to gain more exposure for your website. Every business knows the best kind of traffic is targeted visitors – that is exactly what you will get from people who visit your blog and go on to access your website...

I would host the blog with your website - it just makes more sense and will bring you up on the search engines. If you use a blog that is hosted away from your website - like blogger make sure you link back to your website and give plenty of links in your article to redirect traffic.

Article Marketing

When you develop a blog, those same articles can be used for article marketing.  It only makes sense to get them published on article directory sites that have high volumes of traffic. This works to bring in organic search engine traffic within a week (targeted the best kind).

Once you quit uploading articles to those directories, your traffic is likely to taper off in two to three weeks.

Writing and publishing articles once a week should keep free traffic to your site from dropping off.

Top 9 Article Submission Sites

1. Ezine Articles

2. Article Alley

3. Go Articles

4. Article Dash board

5. Wryte Stuff

6. Buzzle

7. Article Base

8. Article City

9. Idea Marketers

Social Media Sites

When you do it right Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites can give your blog and website a lot of exposure. You need to post your links, give helpful advice and don’t be afraid to be a giver.

This gives you back links to your website – advertises your business and builds business relationships.

One of the great things you can do to help with time management is to set up your blog article to feed into your social media sites. This shows others (through your articles) that you are a professional it gives you credibility.

Back-links

Having highly positioned sites link to your website will cause Google and other search engines to pull you up higher on the search engine pages – and give greater exposure to your business.

Banner Exchanges

There are also banner exchanges that allow you to post your banner advertisement on others websites when you post one of them on your website. I personally don’t want banners on my website, but if I had a niche site or blog’s that I was using for an affiliate commission I would take advantage of this tactic. You must be careful about this however, Google has started to take notice and may frown upon to many ads above the fold of your website.

Forums

Don’t under estimate what joining the appropriate forums can do, when you join forums that are of interest to your business.

In order to fully take advantage of a forum you must have a signature file – it is important to place a link in your signature file.

Make sure and fully engage with the forum. Ask questions, answer questions – watch posts and engage the people who frequent the forum. This goes for others blog’s as well. Post your comments and they usually always link back to your website.

Contact me - I can help you with all you with all your online (business) needs!

Pamela Jacob - Artista Design