Home-Based Data Entry Jobs - 'Drop and Deliver' - How to Make It Happen

In a previous article, we talked about the seemingly limitless online data-entry jobs available to you to earn extra money working online from home. With online data entry projects, no one has to actually travel anywhere; nor is any type of hard copy material usually exchanged. All transactions are done online, through the Internet.

As we learned, types of online data entry jobs usually require you, the online worker, to:

Have available specific types of equipment, network capabilities and software.
Set up, describe and maintain a data security and data protection process to ensure that data is kept private and carefully managed.
Demonstrate your capacity for accuracy by providing work history and/or samples that illustrate the quality of your data management work.


An even larger number of data entry and data processing projects can be done from home than can be done online. Now we're going to discuss the 'drop and deliver' type of data entry jobs that you also can do primarily from home.

The difference - these jobs involve the 'dropping and delivering' of hard copy data, or a portable disk of some type, to and from your home. This can happen in a variety of ways, depending upon your employer, you, your location, and the mutual arrangement made between the two of you.

GETTING THE DATA 'TO AND FRO'

If your potential client is local or somewhat close by, you and they can agree upon a mutually convenient time, place, and system for securing the raw data and returning completed work. If you live at a distance, a common carrier, such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, can be safely and securely used to send work back and forth.

Just as was true with the online worker, you still will need an efficient, relatively new computer that is capable of running whatever data entry software the customer requires and uses. And, as with the online worker, you will be able to work at home whenever you'd like, establishing your own on-task schedule. The client will either provide you the software, at no cost to you, or you may be expected to purchase it on your own.

STOP AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

A word of caution if you're required to buy any software up front - beware the scam artist! It is one thing to purchase generally useful software in order to work from home, and quite another to spend significant money on software that only the "so called" client uses.

Ask yourself: "Am I preparing myself in order to take a job that will pay me? OR "Am I purchasing software that may or may not lead to my being able to find work later?"

Some steps you might want to take before you invest any cash in a venture that may or may not be legitimate:

Check with your local Better Business Bureau. If your client is nearby, the BBB should have a track/performance record on file. If your potential customer is at a distance, your local BBB can direct you to the proper source.

Ask for references - any reputable company should be happy to share a roster of other satisfied data entry workers who are earning money working for this organization.

Spend some time surfing the web - usually there is a blog or a user group that posts comments, opinions, and valuable insight about your potential organization.

Do a Google search using the name of the company, and sift through the results for any red flags.

Read the fine print when you agree to the "Terms and Conditions." I know this can be a tedious, and sometimes overwhelming chore. But remember - the company is protecting itself from any liability. You are the only one who is protecting you!


WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY...?

...and what do you have to offer? Before you embark on your home based data entry hunting expedition, make sure you inventory your 'gear.' You'll need the following 'tools' to ensure success:

A reliable vehicle. (Have wheels, can and will pick up and deliver!)
A decent computer and printer.
A fax machine and a scanner are a bonus.
MS Office (and knowing how to use it) is always a tried and true workhorse. In particular, refresh or update your skills using MS Access, the database software.
A reliable phone number and e-mail address.
A resume and portfolio of sample work.
A supply of business cards.


If you are going to be your own business, create your business name, design a memorable logo, and start building your business identity.

Spending an hour on VistaPrints using their preset templates can yield you an amazingly impressive assortment of promotional items, ranging from flyers, business cards, letterhead and brochures, to car magnets, notepads, pens, calendars, and even baseball caps.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR HOME BASED DATA ENTRY JOBS?

Let's start with my personal favorite - Google. I typed in 'Home Based Data Entry' and my first five resulting subheadings were: a) Home based data entry jobs, b) Home based data entry work, c) Home based employment, d) Home based jobs without investment, e) Home based jobs in the USA.

Then I went to another popular source - Craigslist - not to find home based data entry work, but to go through the process of posting my services to perform home based data entry work.

The process is relatively simple, beginning with establishing an account. The good thing about Craigslist is that it's location specific - i.e., it recognizes the general area where you live, so that users can find products and services in their own geographical area. This is of prime importance when you, the home based data entry worker, are seeking jobs. The closer you are to your clients, the more efficiently and economically you can deliver services.

Don't forget local print sources. Each community has one or more weekly 'free advertising' newspapers and fliers where you can post your availability and skills. And often you'll see large bulletin boards in supermarkets, block stores, and even small local establishments where you can post your contact information in the form of a business card and/or a brief description of your skills and services in the form of an eye-catching flyer.

And then there's your personal and professional network---Facebook, Plaxo, LinkedIn. Make professional-sounding announcements about your services and why you would be the best person to handle any data tasks your connections, or their connections, have pending.


I think you're ready! You know where to look, and once you find your clients, you have all the tools you need to begin to earn money as a home based data entry worker! Go for it, and start making money NOW!

Dr. Carolee Duckworth is an online work expert, earning her own living online for 12 years & teaching 1000s of others how. She designed and initiated College-Online.com---providing significant work advancement for tens of thousands of working adults since 1996.

To learn what you need to know to navigate your way to doing [http://www.workonlineandearn.com/articles/work_from_home.html]data entry work from home, go to http://www.WorkOnlineandEarn.com and see how, with a little guidance, you can make the crossover from vague ideas to a clear direction, starting with her FREE e-course and her downloadable eBook, "The Definitive Webworker's Guide: 35 Secrets of How to Work Online and Earn Money."

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Based-Data-Entry-Jobs---Drop-and-Deliver---How...] Home-Based Data Entry Jobs - 'Drop and Deliver' - How to Make It Happen

Filed under  //   a data   contact   craigslist   data   facebook   fedex   google   mail   ups   usps  

Comments [0]

How To Make $216 A Day Running Errands For Seniors

Errand services for seniors is one of the fastest grown service businesses, as more and more baby-boomers turn 65. Errand runners may also help busy working professionals and small businesses with their errand needs, but more and more are finding most of their daily errands are for seniors. Because seniors need help with errands on a regular basis - at least once a week and often every day, they can be a very dependable source of income for any errand service.

There are over 42 million seniors over 65 in the United States and that figure is expected to climb to over 80 million in less than 20 years. That means lots of new customers for a senior errand service.

Why seniors? As people age, they may be less able to run their own errands. Many seniors would rather stay at home instead of doing routine errands such as going to the supermarket or drug store. Some simply can't get about as easily as they used to. They may be home-bound due to an disability, illness or injury, and need help with even the simplest of errands most of us take for granted.

Starting an errand service is easy and quick compared to many other service businesses. There's no need for a fancy office, no inventory to buy and training is "on the job." Successful errand runners confirm that good people skills, the ability to stay organized and multi-task are the skills that make the difference. Most errand services start with just a few hundred dollars and a serviceable vehicle, and charge an average of $27 an hour for errand running. An eight hour day can produce $216, or $1080 a week. That's over $54,000 a year for a simple service business.

In addition to running errands, most errand services offer several related services, such as home checks while a customer is on vacation or "waiting services." Let's say your customer has scheduled someone to repair a washing machine or install cable TV and can't be there when the service call is scheduled. They call you to wait at the house for the service person, and you get paid your regular hourly wait. For many people, the alternative - missing a day of work - is much more expensive.

Most errand runners charge an hourly rate instead of by the job. Rates vary by area, from lower in rural areas and small towns to higher in big cities. According to a recent survey, rates range from $20 to $40 an hour, with a national average of $27 per hour. With the price of fuel steadily climbing, many errand runners add a small per-mile fuel charge as well, just like UPS and FedEx.

Service packages are popular with seniors customers, with fixed prices for a month, such as a five hour package or a ten hour package. Offering packages can give you a better idea of how much work you'll have in the coming month, as well as money upfront for the service package.

Most errand runners charge extra for holiday or after-hours errands or for rush deliveries that need to be handled immediately. Just like any other professionals, a cancellation fee is customary if an errand is cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled time. Without ample notice, it can be difficult to fill a hole in your schedule.

Seniors spread the word quickly among friends when they find a great new business or service - it could be yours. By helping seniors run their errands, you can make a tidy profit and help others. To learn more about starting your own senior errand service, read: How to Start a Profitable Senior Errand Service, available from rel=nofollow http://extraincomebulletin.com.

Craig Wallin is the author of twelve best-selling books about home-based businesses you can start for just a few hundred dollars, and the editor of EXTRA INCOME BULLETIN, an online resource about honest businesses you can start on a shoestring. To learn more, visit: http://extraincomebulletin.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Make-$216-A-Day-Running-Errands-For-Seniors&id=6014398] How To Make $216 A Day Running Errands For Seniors

Filed under  //   as well as   fedex   ups  

Comments [0]

Common Joint Venture Mistakes Marketers Make

Joint venture marketing has been on the scene for many years. The majority of the top Internet marketers know for a fact that in order to reach out to your target audience in the fastest possible way, joint ventures are the way to go. Even though it is possible to concentrate on SEO and PPC, forming a joint venture is really very different. It must be put into action if you want your internet company to be moved to the next level. In this article, we will talk about three errors that you should not do when beginning your joint venture if you plan to be successful.

First, you have to be familiar with your venture partner if you want success. You need to make sure that your partner provides great products and has a good reputation. This is because your joint venture can negative affect your image if you don't possess the right partner. It is a necessity that you recognize how essential it is to get the correct partner. All in all, your image is the most important component, which should be enhanced with wonderful venturing strategies.

You will find your conversions are higher when your customers have multiple ways to pay. Said another way, during a JV deal you want to put as many different ordering options out there as you can.

You can easily accept credit cards using ClickBank and PayPal, and most people will recognize at least PayPal. After all, you really don't want your conversion rate to suffer, just because your buyers didn't find it easy to buy from you. Do not be afraid to switch to a more robust and better provider if you feel you must do that. The smaller businesses on the net do not need the merchant account setup, and you probably will not either.

Last but not the least; when you're contacting your potential joint venture partners to make them an offer, don't just depend on email or fax. You can call them with a listed number or utilize FedEx for mail deliveries. In this day and time, many people ignore emails because of the over abundance of spam in their inboxes. This means that you email can be discarded and not go to the recipient. So in order to grab the attention of your potential JV partner, use other more reliable sources to send your message so that he/she takes your offer seriously and responds back. Basically, this article discusses how you can't make these three mistakes if you want to really benefit from joint ventures. It is of great importance to find the right partners and nurture relationships so that opportunities will exist. In addition, do not forget that joint ventures are a very essential in this process. You must continue looking for more opportunities.

If you like Joint Ventures you will soon realize that a lot of new launches for example [http://www.robselaney.com/reviews/facebook-ads-free/fb-ads-free-review]Fb ads free benefit greatly from this style of marketing.Joint Ventures is by no means, a brand new type of marketing, but it's still extremely effective and new launches like the [http://www.robselaney.com/reviews/facebook-ads-free/fb-ads-free-bonus]Fb ads free launch will be using it.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Common-Joint-Venture-Mistakes-Marketers-Make&id=591...] Common Joint Venture Mistakes Marketers Make

Filed under  //   ads   email   facebook   fedex   joint   mail   must   paypal   reputation   seo  

Comments [0]

The Joint Venture Mistakes You Will Want To Avoid

Joint venture marketing is one of the more effective methods for promoting your product to your targeted group. The reason why joint ventures work so well on the web is because of the ease of communication. With the invention of the internet, it is so much easier to correspond with your future joint venture partners and form a partnership. In the following article we shall be looking into three joint venture mistakes that you should avoid at all costs if you want to be successful in your efforts.

Don't make the mistake of not having an exit plan just in the event that the joint venture does not make it. Even though things may appear to be good with your partner, they could always reverse. The best way to get around this is to be ready in the event that anything happens so that you can just walk away without problems. There are tons of marketers that have serious problems when things don't well with their joint ventures do not pan out. This proves to be expensive.

The second mistake is to select a mailing list that is not related to the product that is being promoted. Using the wrong mailing list will make it much harder for your to get sales. You need to have a balance in everything because your success majorly depends on your mailing list, your offer and then comes everything else. So if you choose an irrelevant list for your offer, setting up a joint venture will be a waste of time.

Last, use other things besides fax and email to contact your potential JV partners. Use FedEx if available or call if the number is listed. Nowadays, emails hardly get any attention or are taken seriously because there's just too much junk filling our inboxes. This means your email can end up in the trash without even getting read. So that your JV prospects will take you seriously and reply to your offers, consider using other sources to get your offers across to them. All in all, venture marketing can be viewed as an advertising plan that can yield tons of dollars in a short amount of time. There are a lot of internet marketers that still need tradition ways to get traffic such as article marketing and video marketing, which are slow for results. Even if you have never been in a joint venture in the past, it won't be an issue. The field is open for you to experiment and learn, so move a step forward and you will soon be prosperous. You might fail in the beginning and you might think it is hard to learn everything, but it will click and work in your benefit.

There are new product launches happening all the time such as [http://www.robselaney.com/reviews/auto-pilot-income-machines/autopilot-income...]Autopilot Income Machines, and nearly them all will take advantage of Joint Ventures. If you're just researching Joint Ventures and wish to see how it may advertise your business a prime example is [http://www.robselaney.com/reviews/auto-pilot-income-machines/autopilot-income...]Autopilot Income Machines.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Joint-Venture-Mistakes-You-Will-Want-To-Avoid&i...] The Joint Venture Mistakes You Will Want To Avoid

Filed under  //   contact   email   fedex   joint  

Comments [0]

Everything You Need To Know About Starting an Internet Business, From Packing Tape to PayPal

If you plan to open an online store, you should do everything you can to prepare before you actually launch. It will make the process run more smoothly and ease some of the stress that might be involved. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to open an e-business. There are certain steps you should take, that will help prevent you from getting overwhelmed.

Work Out a Budget

First, figure out what kind of start-up costs you'll have. They probably won't be very much, and could amount to as little as a couple hundred dollars. Think about what the best platform is for what you're selling. If you're selling electronics, for example, you might consider eBay. You can open a store for as low as $16 a month, or you can skip the store until you've established yourself as a top seller. If you're selling handmade or vintage items, on the other hand, a site like Etsy might serve you better. Both sites allow you to open free accounts, and listing fees are typically very inexpensive. Additionally, both let you use PayPal, which is probably the safest and easiest way for you to receive money and customers to send it. If you prefer to design a shop from scratch, you could use a web page-building site and then buy a custom domain for as little as $10 a year.

Also make a list of what supplies you'll need. Packing and shipping supplies are a must, and you should invest in a scale. In most cases you won't need to list the weight of the items you're selling, but if you know how much UPS or FedEx will charge you you'll be able to list accurate shipping fees. Keep in mind you can never go overboard when it comes to packaging supplies. Your store might be far more successful than you anticipated, and you don't want something like lack of shipping supplies to hold things up; besides, items like boxes and packing tape and bubble paper don't expire -- you'll be able to use them for years to come.

Work Out the Formalities

Write up a Terms & Conditions blurb, as well as a Return policy. If you decide not to allow returns, for instance, make sure that all your descriptions are exact and you take quality photos of the items. Also specify that the buyer is responsible for the cost of returns.

Get the Word Out

Next, work out a marketing strategy. It's a good idea to use sites like Twitter and Facebook to announce the grand-opening of your store a few days prior. Use your own personal accounts, but also create separate accounts for the store to use once it goes live. Have business cards made up; they can be simple to start out with, white with black text, that you can leave in various places and hand out to acquaintances who might be interested. Print out flyers with detachable slips bearing the store's web address.

Follow these steps and you'll be on your way to an easy store-opening in no time. Good luck!

TheBoxery.com is your source for [http://www.theboxery.com/]boxes and packaging supplies, including bubble mailer envelopes and packing tape. If you're looking for [http://www.theboxeryblog.com]packaging and shipping supplies, look no further than TheBoxery.com!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Everything-You-Need-To-Know-About-Starting-an-Inter...,-From-Packing-Tape-to-PayPal&id=5421202] Everything You Need To Know About Starting an Internet Business, From Packing Tape to PayPal

Filed under  //   ebay   everything   facebook   fedex   need   paypal   shipping   that   twitter   ups  

Comments [0]

How to Come Up With Great Business Ideas

Who doesn't have a business idea? Even if you're happy working for somebody else, I bet you have a business idea that you haven't ever told anyone about. And, chances are, in a few years (or months) someone will start the business you've been dreaming about and that's when you'll tell your friends, "I had that same idea two years ago. I knew it would work!" This happened to me so many times! Of course, I can't start a new business every time I have a new idea because that would draft me away from my current businesses. Some people (like me) have at least one business idea each day. Other people struggle, spending days, weeks, months thinking about a great business idea. Why is this?

Don't Look for the "Perfect" Idea

Look at Starbucks. They didn't invent coffee; they created a great way to enhance the coffee drinking experience. Look at McDonald's. They didn't invent burgers; they came up with a way to deliver food fast at a low cost. Look at Zappos. They weren't the first online shoe store, but through amazing customer service (and free return shipping) they became the largest online shoe store.

These businesses didn't re-invent the wheel. They found something that could be done better and did it.

Don't look for the "perfect" idea. There are hundreds of ways you can create a better world and make a lot of money at it.

The "It's Been Done Before" Myth

Every time someone comes to me and tells me they have an idea for a business that "has never been done before", I start to worry. There's a reason some things have never been done before. Let's say you want to sell a square car. It has never been done before. That doesn't mean there's a market for it. Actually, the fact that it has never been done before leads me to think there's no market for square cars.

But the real problem is when people give up on business ideas because they have been done already. Don't do this. Going back to the previous examples, coffee existed before Starbucks, burgers existed before McDonald's and shoes existed before Zappos.

So, How Do You Come Up with Great Business Ideas?

The answer is this: "Keep your eyes open for things that you want and can't get, or things you can't get in a convenient way." I'll give you a few examples:

A friend of mine used to live in an isolated mountain town the US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS wouldn't deliver to. They dropped all the packages at a central location in town and people had to drive 15 miles to pick up their mail. Everyone was annoyed with this fact and started saying that they'd be willing to pay a little extra to get the packages delivered to their homes. My friend listened to them and started charging each family $10 a month to pick up their packages and deliver them daily to their homes. He had 200 clients and paid for his college working two hours a day.
Sara, a woman I know, moved from Costa Rica to the US five years ago. She was craving Costa Rican food and she couldn't get it anywhere. She then realized that the Latino population in the US is huge and those people missed the food they could get in their countries but wasn't available in the US. Sara decided to import Latino foods into the US and sell them online. She does over $2M now.
Last week I got a grill that I had to assemble myself. It was a pain in the butt and made me waste four valuable hours that I could have spent helping my clients. I would have loved to pay someone $50 to put it together for me. That store also had beautiful furniture that I wanted to buy too, but there's no way I'll spend two entire days assembling all those tables, chairs, beds and closets. What if someone approached this store and offered them this service for their clients? The store would increase their sales, the clients would be happier and this person would have a business.

The bottom line is this: Every time you're frustrated about something, think about how you can make it better. Once you automate this process, I guarantee that you'll get at least one great business idea per day.

Zeke Camusio, The Outsourcing Company - Creative Web Design Agency http://www.TheOutsourcingCompany.com

[mailto:info@TheOutsourcingCompany.com]info@TheOutsourcingCompany.com

(1)877-581-3921 (Available 24/7)

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Come-Up-With-Great-Business-Ideas&id=4924772] How to Come Up With Great Business Ideas

Filed under  //   business   fedex   idea   look   mail   mcdonald   starbucks   ups  

Comments [0]

Google Tricks

By now, most of us use search engines to search for people, places, products, and businesses that we are interested in or want to learn about, however, Google offers so much more in terms of searching tools. Are you using them?

Go to Google.com and try out some of the tricks below.

Flight Tracking: Need to know flight details? Type in the airline and the flight number to receive the departure and arrival times as well as the cities and airport codes.

What to type example: American Airlines 1234

Package Tracking: Expecting a package from UPS, USPS, or FedEx? Enter the tracking number into Google for instant package status.

What to type example: 1Z9999999999999999

Weather: Planning an outing and need to determine weather conditions? Enter the word weather and then the city or zip code.

What to type example: weather Raleigh NC

Sunrise and Sunset: Need to know when the sun is going to rise or set today? Enter the word sunset (or sunrise) and the location.

What to type example: sunset Raleigh NC

World Time: Need to know what time it is in another location or timezone? Type in the word time and then the location.

What to type example: time Raleigh NC

Population: Interested in the population of an area? Type in population and then the area.

What to type example: population Orange County, NC

Local Search: Have a craving for pizza and need to locate restaurants close to you? Search the type of food (or other service) with your zip code

What to type example: pizza 27722

Movie Showtimes: Google will display current movie showtimes around your area. Type in movies and your zip code.

What to type example: movies 27722

Definitions: Need to know the definition of a word? Type the word define and then the word you would like defined.

What to type example: define indigo

Cooking Conversions: Making a recipe that calls for ounces but you only have measuring cups?

What to type example: 4 ounces in cups

Unit Conversions: Google will calculate unit conversions as well such as volume, weight, length etc.

What to type example: 17cm in inches

Currency Conversions: Need to know how much your money is worth in another currency? Type in the amount, current currency, and then the currency you need the information for.

What to type example: 100 USD=Euros

Calculator: Google also has a calculating function. To get the answer to a math related question, type in the equation.

What to type example: 7+6=

Advanced Calculator: Google will compute more advanced math equations such as algebra etc.

What to type example: (5*2)+(5-2)/2=

What to type example: sine(49)=

Translation: Type in translate, the word you want translated, the original language, and then the language you would like the word translated into.

What to type example: translate hello English to Spanish

Stock Information: Type in the stock name to get real-time stock quotes and information.

What to type example: GOOG

Marybeth Shanafelt

Business Owner, Consultant, Designer http://leftclickstudios.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Google-Tricks&id=4911301] Google Tricks

Filed under  //   American Airlines   as well as   fedex   google   timezone   type   ups   usps   zip code  

Comments [0]

Online Shopping - Buying From Merchants in Foreign Countries

The internet makes global shopping easy, but what do you need to know about buying from sellers in foreign countries? For a substantial percentage of consumer items purchased from large corporations, you aren't likely to see much difference if you buy from a company overseas than if you buy from one in the United States. And most of those companies will have a U.S. presence anyway, even though the product may actually ship from another country.

When you make a purchase from a company based overseas, you need to keep in mind that it is not governed by U.S. consumer protection laws. Many foreign-based companies are legitimate and want to reach the U.S. market, so they will provide a high level of customer service and voluntarily abide by U.S. rules. But there are always those operators that will provide substandard products and services because they know they can get away with it and they're not interested in long-term customers who provide repeat business.

Before buying from an overseas company, know who you are dealing with. Identify the company's name, its physical address, a telephone number, and an e-mail address. Check to see if the company is affiliated with industry groups, trust and safety programs, or other self-regulatory programs you are familiar with. Next, be sure about what you're buying. Look for accurate, clear, and easily accessible information about the goods or services being offered. If you have questions, contact the company for clarification before you make a purchase. Think about this: if you can't understand the answers you get, it might be a good idea to buy elsewhere. It is a lot harder to get a refund from an overseas seller than a U.S.-based one, so do your best in advance to eliminate the need for a possible refund.

The seller should clearly designate the currency involved so you'll know whether your need to pay in U.S. dollars or another currency. If it's a foreign currency, be sure to figure out the exchange rate before you buy so you know how much you're really paying. All major credit cards can process payments to foreign countries, or you can make the payment through your bank, but you will probably be charged for the service. Again, do your homework to find out ahead of time what fees and other issues are involved.

Be sure you know how the seller is going to ship and when you can expect delivery. Many of the major U.S. carriers--DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.--operate internationally. The seller may also use the local postal system in the country of origin that will then connect with the U.S. Postal Service. Find out about insurance and what will happen if the package is lost or damaged. Depending on what you buy and its value, you may have to pay duty (or tax) to the U.S. government when you import it. A legitimate seller will tell you what to expect. If you're not sure, contact the U.S. Customs office for more information. You may also need import licenses or other permits to bring the merchandise into the United States. Again, the U.S. Customs office or a customs broker can help you.

Jacquelyn Lynn is the editor of Flashpoints newsletter. Flashpoints is a comprehensive information resource for business owners and managers who want to take their operation to the Flashpoint. Visit http://www.theflashpoints.com to sign up for a free subscription to Flashpoints newsletter plus an extra free gift: The Mindset of High Achievers by JK Harris and Jacquelyn Lynn. In addition, Jacquelyn Lynn is the author of more than 20 books, including Entrepreneur's Almanac; Online Shopper's Survival Guide; Make Big Profits on eBay (with Charlene Davis); In Search of the Five-Cent Nickel (with Don Abbott); and 11 titles in Entrepreneur Media's StartUp Guide series. Visit http://www.jacquelynlynn.com for more details.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Online-Shopping---Buying-From-Merchants-in-Foreign-...] Online Shopping - Buying From Merchants in Foreign Countries

Filed under  //   contact   customs   dhl   ebay   fedex   foreign   mail   need   plus   ups  

Comments [0]

How to Start a Duct Tape Wallet Business - The Basics of Shipping

"Yeah, and I need the wallet Overnighted."

Everybody wants their stuff yesterday until they find out how much it it going to cost to make things happen in their royal time frame.

As I write this article in 2010, having a duct tape wallet shipped overnight in the mainland U.S. or Canada is going to cost approximately Eighty U.S. dollars or about four times the retail value of the wallet. Somebody would need to own a duct tape wallet pretty bad in order to pay a "C Note" (one hundred dollars) for one of these babies...

Shipping Is An Odor That Lingers

Many folks (especially salespeople) forget that a sale is not legitimate until the customer accepts and RETAINS the purchased item, none of which can occur until you have made arrangements for the goods to be delivered.

To that end, here are a couple of concepts which can dramatically influence the effect of your shipping policy:

Control Your Customer's Expectation - this advice may sound a bit like cheating but I recommend telling customers that it will take longer than it actually will for them to receive their goods so you set their expectation at one level and then automatically exceed it. While this takes some finesse, it is not very difficult to accomplish because few folks are trying to exceed customer expectations in the first place!
Box Like You Have Golden Gloves - quality products that arrive damaged tend to make the recipients ill. No one likes to see good stuff wrecked but the double edged sword of packaging weight and packaging integrity make this a difficult call. Simply ensuring your wallets are protected with a layer of paper wrapping inside the shipping envelop will eliminate potential damage from friction and handling.
Learn Maximum Sizing - Canada Post uses a plastic template with a slot in it to determine if packaging conforms to a regular size. To qualify for letter size the envelop needs to be no larger than 15" x 101/2" by 3/4" wide and less than 1.1 pounds in weight. We can fit three wallets into this size of bubble wrap envelop which reduces the shipping cost by 50% of what we would normally pay to ship as a package.

Examples of 2010 Canadian Shipping Costs

If you are shipping across international borders you need to consider customs and brokerage fees as well as the delay enhanced security checks sometimes take. All this can be handled efficiently and cost effectively through any major carrier like UPS, FedEx or DHL.

Here are a couple of actual costs to ship wallets around the world.

One wallet (Canada Post) - $ 2.75 arrives 4 - 6 business days
Three wallets (Canada Post) - $4.75 - arrives 4 - 6 business days
One wallet (Canada Post Registered) - $17.00 - arrives 4 - 6 business days
Six wallets (Canada Post) - $18.35 - arrives 4 - 6 business days
One wallet (UPS Overnight) - $79.90 - arrives by 4 pm next day

Ship, Ship, Let Her Rip!

Nobody should be afraid of shipping today because most freight companies have simplified their technology to the mom and pop level of understanding.

Today it is possible to sell anywhere in the world with the confidence that you can get your wallets to wherever they are desired for a very reasonable cost.

Here's hoping you stick to it!

Thank you, friend.

Barry Williams

DuctHide Tough Wearables is the worlds largest handmade duct tape wallet company providing several brands of wallets in more than 750 color combinations. Wholesale and retail orders shipped world-wide. Please visit our website to learn more about how you can earn an income with duct tape wallets. http://ducthide.com/trade-secrets http://www.ducthide.com/ducthide_story.html

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-Duct-Tape-Wallet-Business---The-Basi...] How to Start a Duct Tape Wallet Business - The Basics of Shipping

Filed under  //   as well as   business   canada   dhl   fedex   first place   shipping   ups   wallet  

Comments [0]

Top 10 FAQs About Starting a Courier Business

You'd like to learn more about starting your own courier service business. You have a few questions too. Here are the top 10 frequently asked questions about the courier business:

1. What is a courier?

A courier transports packages or other items across town, quickly and effectively. They provide a service similar to UPS or FedEx, but are set up to do a better job locally and for last-minute deliveries.

2. How much can you make?

The amount you can make as a courier varies based on where you live in the country. Those in big cities make the most, while couriers in smaller towns and rural areas make less. The national average is about $36 an hour.

3. Do you need formal training?

No. There is no formal training or classes required. There is no certification required either.

4. What supplies do you need?

You have to have a reliable vehicle. You also need a computer and cell phone as a way to get jobs and keep track of business records. It also helps to have a day planner or other scheduling device, GPS unit, hand truck for hauling heavy loads and moving blankets for fragile items.

5. What type of vehicle do you need?

You just need something reliable. It doesn't have to be a big van. You need something that won't break down, and can carry whatever it is you're asked to transport. In most cases, your car, mini-van or pickup truck will work just fine.

6. What hours do you have to work?

You don't have to work any set hours. You can work as little or as much as you'd like. Delivering packages can be part-time, full time, or just a way to make extra money. You decide.

7. When will I get the most business?

You will get the most business if you can offer service between normal working hours, such as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. But you could still get good work if you can work later or even earlier than that. Weekends are also be a time to get a good amount of work.

8. Do you have to have a lot of money to start a courier business?

If you have a reliable vehicle, then you won't need to have a lot of money to get started. Chances are you probably have a cell phone and computer too, so after this you'll just need to pay for insurance, licensing fees and the optional supplies that could help your business run smoothly, such as a GPS unit or a day planner. Over all, you won't need a lot of money to start a courier business.

9. Are there free ways to promote your business?

Yes, of course. Write a press release and send it to your local newspaper. Advertise on Craigslist or Backpage.com. Make a web site or blog. And finally, just get out there and talk to people about your business. Networking is still the best way to build a courier business, and it doesn't cost a penny!

10. Who uses a courier service?

Banks, architects, lawyers, medical professionals, shop owners, property managers and more. It's a long list. There is a lot of work available.

Hopefully the answers to these FAQ will help you get your courier business off and running. Before long you could be an all-star courier. To learn all about the courier business, read How to Start a Courier Business, available at: rel=nofollow http://extraincomebulletin.com

Craig Wallin is the author of twelve best-selling books about home-based businesses you can start for just a few hundred dollars, and the editor of EXTRA INCOME BULLETIN, an online resource about honest businesses you can start on a shoestring. To learn more, visit: http://extraincomebulletin.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-10-FAQs-About-Starting-a-Courier-Business&id=46...] Top 10 FAQs About Starting a Courier Business

Filed under  //   business   cell phone   courier   craigslist   fedex   need   ups   work  

Comments [0]

Opportunity

Whether you want to make a little extra cash in your spare time or a full blown six figure income, below you will find what is in my opinion the best internet business idea, SFI.

Click to join SFI, A Home Based Jobs Online.
About ProfitBrite

ProfitBrite is dedicated to researching the best Free work from home business ideas and opportunities, which can help you start an home based business, make money online or grow the one you already have, it's your work from home information portal. All the free work from home business ideas and the opportunities mentioned in ProfitBrite are my way to earn extra money online and you will find even more ideas for internet home business.

Take your first step and subscribe to my FREE Internet Home Business Training and learn how to start an internet home business - Today!

Searching for Internet Home Business Opportunities can be very time consuming and frustrating, but I did all the searching for you. On this site you will find different internet home business opportunities and ideas to help you take the first step and start your own internet home business.

Site Meter