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Working From Home - What a Mess

It has always been a question of mine as to why companies pay utility costs, building maintenance, mortgages or rent, rental of computers, phone lines, etc... when they could just have people work from home?

It seems simple enough, really. Almost everyone has at least once computer and a cell phone. Most people that are willing to work also have a place to call home, a roof, power, phones, and so on. If a company were to outsource to at home workers, it would certainly save money and increase profits.

I have been looking in to working from home for some time now and I find it appalling. Working from home obviously has its benefits, at least in theory.

A recent webinar I attended had me excited. Finally, a realistic opportunity to work from my home. No commute, set my own hours, have all the luxuries of home to occupy my mind on breaks and at lunch. It sounds great, and indeed it would be, but it seems there are many costs associated with working from home.

You need a POTS, or plain old telephone service to work a customer service job. That isn't a huge investment, but it is an extra expense each month I don't need. You also need a headset that can hook up into a USB port, and an additional noise cancelling headset to hook up to your phone from the wall. How about a background check? An assessment fee? Yes and Yes. Paid Training. I suppose the answer is yes if you're asking does the company you'll be working with require you to pay for training. So far, I have heard nothing about the job opportunities, but the fees are stacking up. I have never had to pay to find a job. I can see paying a fee from each check, which, by the way, is also part of the deal, but having to pay for a test, a background check and training? No, way. The real kicker here is that you have to be available during the training hours for the training you just paid for, and while there are evening training hours, many of us get home from our dead end jobs, tired and worn out. Who wants to train for nothing when they could be catching up on the latest Family Guy on Netflix?

The sundae is topped by the fact that these jobs pay less than what I make at my current job, which paid for my background check, drug screen, training and assessment. So ultimately, the opportunity wasn't worth the 15 minutes I spent listening to this presentation.

I have decided to take a different route by looking into affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is basically like a beehive. You have the main company, the queen bee, then all the drones sent out to gather the honey for the queen. The best part of it is, you get paid when the company gets paid. Not a bad deal when you consider that your paycheck is always a week behind your pay period.

I think working from home is a dream that may never die for me, and the idea that even replacing my current income with hair brained ideas from home would be enough for me. I'm not trying to get rich, but I definitely want to have my own life back.

I will keep researching the work from home ideas like the one I found recently and report back as to how it is going.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Working-From-Home---What-a-Mess&id=6165723] Working From Home - What a Mess

Pendant Lighting - A Hanging Sensation!

Pendant lighting emanates from lights that hang suspended from your ceilings over your rooms. Quite like diamond pendant jewelry on a beautiful woman, they decorate a room gorgeously with their bright illumination and intricate designs. It is relevant to know that light originating from above illuminates the maximum area.

Important Points Regarding Pendant Lighting

* The height at which they hang decides both their functionality as well as fashion. Depending on the height of your ceilings, the size of your rooms and the length of the pendant rods, you can choose an appropriate height that will do justice to their beautiful exterior.

* Your lamps can be ornately designed, making them appear classic as well as contemporary. So whether you wish to decorate simply or elaborately, you can make use of these lights.

Where Can Pendant Lighting Be Used

* It is useful in hospitality and particularly restaurant lighting, where every paying customer will expect uniform lighting across all tables over a large area. So, it not only enhances the ambiance of the restaurant with its luxurious appearance, but also serves the basic objective of providing adequate lighting.

* There are assorted pieces to pick from. You can use individual pendants to light separate spaces like kitchen islands and bedroom corners, or multiple pendant lights to light up your main living areas.

* It would be very apt in narrow corridors. Other forms of lighting might prove too much in such places.

Upside of Pendant Lighting

* An important advantage of pendants is that they need not take up physical space on your furniture or walls or the floors. The fact that they can hang from your ceilings makes them fundamentally practical and resourceful.

* Modern pendant lighting can be operated with batteries. The obvious advantage is that electric lines need not be fixed. Electrical wires can also sometimes look tacky if there isn't an appropriate and proximate connection.

* Light reflected off the pendant glass pieces tends to shine more radiantly than plain bulbs. In addition, you can get lights that suit your mood.

* You can vary the height of the pendants to reduce or increase the amount of lighting in the adjoining areas.

* Since single pendants can be lit even in multiple pendant lights, you save on a lot of energy, especially when compared to chandeliers which are more wasteful.

Other Lighting Fixtures

* Murano glass chandeliers add sparkle and luster to your halls. They speak of the opulence and artistry of a bygone royal era.

* Wall fixtures are subtle and useful when you want the source of your lighting to remain in the background.

Points to Ponder

* Don't buy random pendant lights without considering your environment. If your house is filled with large furniture, choosing petite lights would be jarring.

* The dazzling pieces do not come at discounted rates. Budget in advance to purchase these charming lights.

With modern pendant lights, you can really spruce up or tone down your arrangements. Your lighting provisions will be incomplete without it.

CX Design is a New York-based lighting design company that can meet your [http://www.cxny.com]pendant lights needs. They specialize in glass pendants, chandeliers, table lamps, and wall fixtures that are hand-blown in Italy.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Pendant-Lighting---A-Hanging-Sensation!&id=6163748] Pendant Lighting - A Hanging Sensation!

Points About Online Business Opportunities That Are Worth Noting

Online business opportunities abound in today's world because of the wide availability of the internet to billions of people across the globe. It is not enough to sit at one corner and dream of how successful you could be because many people are creating millions of businesses and succeeding beyond their wildest imaginations. The vital difference is the action and not just merely the ideas. It is much easier for one to succeed in most of the online business opportunities today than the last few years because of the advancement of internet technologies.

Saying that there are huge opportunities is grossly an understatement because at least one billion people log on to the internet from different continents of the Earth, and many of these web surfers usually have need for some information or solution to their immediate problems. Think of a situation where at least a 100,000 are searching for some vital information and you have the opportunity of providing such information to them via the World Wide Web. The resultant effect is quite obvious because you will not only succeed but will be encouraged to look deeper for more opportunities.

One salient point about online business opportunities is that most people jump into the fast-moving train without trying to identify their target market to know the right product or service and how best to present it them. These are very essential because many businesses fail within the first 6 years of operation as a result of directionless approach of the business owner. Saying this is important because most of the online business opportunities require strategic approach and tactical execution of success-oriented marketing plans.

What Do You Need To Tap Into Any Of The Online Business Opportunities?

Just like in any offline brick and mortar business, there is need for adequate knowledge or training for one to succeed in the very lucrative internet business terrain. Anybody that desires to succeed online should be able to always remember that the difference between online and those of the offline counterparts is that the former is carried out through the internet while the later is done through physical representations. Apart from these, the learning curve, challenges and dogged determination to succeed applies to the two versions of business opportunities.

There is no need to argue with the fact that one can easily start an online business after training with less money. Think of how much money and resources that is required to set up local offline businesses. It may interest you to know that the greatest asset you require to set up successful online business is the knowledge and the passion to be at it till you start seeing positive results. The beautiful part of most online opportunities is that you can start a mega online business with just your internet-connected computer and begin to reach the entire world the next day. You wouldn't be paying any extra cost apart from the online marketing tips and other knowledge applications you will be implementing.

One of the weirdest discoveries is that many people that are searching for online business opportunities sometimes look for get-rich routes instead of trying to approach these as plain businesses. This had caused regrets to lots of folks because the result of not studying the online business approach and marketing tact are always failure or unnecessarily delayed success. There is no short cut to riches but with the right knowledge and the willingness to apply such mastery, you will soon join the league of those that are constantly smiling to the bank via many online business opportunities.

Sven Sperling invites you to grab the COMPLIMENTARY OPTIMAZATION SESSION to learn some of the latest concepts and processes to increase your productivity, happiness and your bottom line at http://ConceptTeamInternational.com because "Our Goal is Your Success in real Life!"

Concept Tem International is Your Partner for More Money, More Time and More Fun at Work.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Points-About-Online-Business-Opportunities-That-Are...] Points About Online Business Opportunities That Are Worth Noting

Online Business Success Keys

Online business is increasingly the fallback for people avoiding financial crunch. Many are getting into it each month with dollar signs in their eyes, with the enthusiasm of the gold-hungry settlers in the pioneering days of yore. Like them, only a very few will find a rich vein, some, after having fallen, will give it another try, while the rest just plain give up after having lost time, money and their dreams.

ClickBank, the Internet's largest online store, gathered the opinions of those who have made it, finding the common factors responsible for their success. Here they are:

Desire and dedication:

Desire without dedication is wishful thinking. Both, they are a powerhouse that can propel anybody to success; drive a person from one failure over the next and the next until he succeeds. Somebody once said, "Anything the mind can conceive, the body can achieve. " Conceiving is the desire, making that desire a reality is the dedication.

People who are successful conceived of their success. They felt it, tasted it and embraced it as if they already have it. They believe they can do it and they did.

They followed and system:

You will never catch a rabbit if you chase two at the same time. You will never have the necessary focus to succeed. Focus is the name of the game.

This is going to be difficult with so many business programs one can find in the Internet. Written by well-polished copywriters, they can be irresistible especially for a newbie. It is estimated that only 1 in 30 programs in the Internet are legitimate. To avoid getting into any of them, read my post, "What a Good Affiliate Program Is" in my blog.

You must spend time on it:

Time is the most perishable commodity on earth. The good thing is that we all have an equal amount of it regardless of sex, creed, color, or ethnic group. Yet why do successful people seem to have more of it than those who are not? Because they use their time productively.

According to the Nielsen Company, the average American spends no less than 4 hours in front of the TV each day. Can you imagine how much will you be earning if you spend just half of it promoting your business?

If you are really anxious to succeed in your online business, ask yourself this question, "Have I been doing all I can to make my dream a reality?" If you are uncertain of your answer, then you should either stop before you lose your shirt or do something to be able to buy all the shirts you want.

Joseph Dabon [http://homebizresources.net/]http://homebizresources.net/, the site for those looking for work-at-home job opportunities.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Online-Business-Success-Keys&id=6115941] Online Business Success Keys

How Can I Make Money On the Internet for Free?

In order to make money online, you need to provide value to someone who has it. Plain and simple. So the first thing you need to do when you want to make money online is ask yourself, "What do I possess that would cause someone to fork over their hard-earned dough?" This could be a product or a service. We'll start with products.

Providing Products for Money

You don't have to invent some new device that revolutionizes how we tie our shoes or anything, you only need to provide a product that someone will use or that someone thinks is neat enough to pay for. If you are an artist or a painter, sell your art online. You can sell it on eBay or Craiglist and you can make money online doing what you love, and it's free (well, unless you count art supplies).

Another way is to raid your closet or to ask your relatives to 'donate' items they no longer want to your cause. Then, sell that stuff on eBay. If you're new to eBay, you may have to wait to receive your funds while they test your trustworthiness. But if you've bought and sold on eBay before, you're one old iPod away from a hundred dollars or more.

Providing Services

Can you write? Create graphics? What about videos, can you make those? People will pay hundreds of dollars for an e-book written on a particular subject. And business owners will pay hundreds for web design. And that's not even getting into the thousands you can make by selling your videos to internet marketers and other business owners. Dig deep down inside of yourself and find out what abilities you have and what services you can offer using those abilities.

You don't have to be Hemingway to sell your writing, nor do you have to be Picasso to sell your art. You only need to be professional, consistent and you have to believe in yourself.

But who do you sell your services to? There are quite a few online job boards for freelance writers and web designers and any other freelance profession you can think of. Sending out emails to the individuals and businesses that post these ads is completely free of charge and can yield hundreds or thousands of dollars in potential work.

You can make money online and you can do it quickly, but you must think outside of the box. What do you possess that will cause others to pay you money? That answer is up to you, but it's likely that there are a dozen answers right around you. You only have to look around and see those opportunities for what they truly are.

To learn more about how to make money on the internet for free, visit http://howcaniworkfromhomeandmakemoney.com/ where you can learn about this and much more, including the [http://howcaniworkfromhomeandmakemoney.com/best-make-money-from-home-tips.html]best make money from home tips.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Can-I-Make-Money-On-the-Internet-for-Free?&id=6110326] How Can I Make Money On the Internet for Free?

Inspirational Business Leaders - Part 2

We see ourselves in the mirror each and every morning while we brush our teeth, maybe you look yourself in the eyes, maybe you don't bother, but this just happens to be an intense little private moment for me, so I'm using it as an example here. We have three children in the house, and my wife and I share a bathroom, so I don't get many of these throughout the day. This is my moment I use to challenge myself each morning. I take this opportunity to look myself directly in the eyes and make an internal pact with the soul inside that today I will be better than yesterday, and I will inspire one person in a positive way. This is the part where you might be wondering just what this has to do with being a business leader. When one stops and really thinks on what it means to build a business, you are building relationships! They are one in the same, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can get down to the real work of building something special.

Business on every level must be carried out from a central point, a singularity (for all you cosmologists). That point is the company mission, the sole reason the company exists in the first place. Like most endeavors, these organizations begin with a unifying idea, a belief or core value that brings people together under a single banner. I mentioned this in another article once, but if you go onto the website for any major corporation, company, or organization there will be a link you can follow, probably labeled ABOUT US, or something like it. There you will find their core reason for existing, or mission statement. Not once will you find one that says, "To make money and get rich." Although there is much to be said about turning a profit and making some sort of living out of the business you started, if that is the driving force behind it then do not expect it to gain momentum and longevity. In fact, it probably won't last the year.

Without a Core Value you will not be sustainable and you cannot inspire others to your cause or mindset. People will not take you seriously and you will begin to take on a reputation of the slimy used car salesman and people will begin to avoid all things connected to you and your brand. Remember, people aren't stupid. They want to be surrounded by individuals who teach, share, give value, and inspire; sometimes this is as simple as being just plain honest. In a world in which integrity and character are just words in a book and not reality, inspiration has fast become the new drug, and everyone craves it.

Josh McCracken is an avid writer, ballroom dance instructor, and is a full-time internet marketer from his home in northern New Jersey. He served in the US Marine Corps from '94-'98 and was fortunate enough to garner a great deal of experience through leading others and traveling throughout the world. He met his wife, Lora, through the ballroom dancing industry as she was his competitive dancing coach. They were married in 2006 and still run their dance studio in northern New Jersey. They have three children, two dogs, three cats, seven fish, and a rat named Kirby.

You can find out more about Josh & Lora and apply to gain access to more free training, visit http://www.CCLJGlobal.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Inspirational-Business-Leaders---Part-2&id=6065258] Inspirational Business Leaders - Part 2

The Nitty Gritty On Attraction Systems

Men and women keep searching for the correct attraction system or seduction strategy to no avail. There are literally hundreds of dating systems sold online. Here's a list of the Top 5 things you should keep in mind before and after you purchase your attraction system.

1. Know your Intent

Your intent should be clear in your mind before you begin searching for the right product. This is to avoid getting 'overwhelmed' and 'sold' on useless extras which you don't even need. Plain and simple - You want a partner and are searching for an attraction system or strategy to assist in getting you one ASAP.

2. More use value than you paid

There are many websites that sell their products for outrages prices. Most of them sell 'rehashed outdated information' with a lot of 'flashy useless extras'. You are here to attract the person of your dreams and not to pay for 'bonuses' you wont even use. Ten dollars is around what I recommend you pay for an attraction system in the form of an E-book. Because remember you must get more in quality use value then you pay for in dollar value.

3. The Website's Simplicity Factor

The product's website simplicity should be analyzed, because it is often the simple and direct to the point website that offers the better product. Is the website trying to hypnotize you with long boring sales pages? Flashy words? Outrages offered 'bonuses'? And 'fake' discounts? See through the 'flash' and ask yourself if the website is really out to help you, or just out to get your money in their pocket.

4. Product's Delivery on Promise

As I said before a lot of these dating websites offer 'rehashed outdated information', so once you do make your purchase, check to see if the product delivers on it's promise. Do this by analyzing the system as a whole. Is it a cohesive structured system? Does it build on it's topics? Or is it just a scattered mess of 'old pick-up routines' that are so prevalently sold these days.

5. Originality/Timeless Value

A great dating system should be original and timeless. Meaning that it should work tomorrow or next year, just as well as it worked today. The problem with the 'quick try to fix it now systems' is that they provide 'information' which only seems to work temporarily, until people get wise to them. Assess if your product is a worthwhile system that will keep you satisfied for years to come.

Finally, remember to always purchase a product that comes with a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee, that way you can only gain in the end.

My passion is helping people find their significant other, soul mate or great love. Checkout a simple, unique and powerful way to attract the person of your dreams at http://www.girl21secrets.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Nitty-Gritty-On-Attraction-Systems&id=6081562] The Nitty Gritty On Attraction Systems

Find The Way That Is Right For You And - Just Get On And Do It!

I think we all know this one, and I think it is called procrastination! Yes guilty as charged! How do we super charge our self to finally just get on and do it!

We do this in all areas of our lives, but in the home business, or internet business I am positive it is worse!

There is so much to learn and so many avenues to travel, not to mention how many mentors to follow! We spend far too much time thinking maybe we should try another way, or we need to get this or that in place first! We struggle to learn as much as we possibly can, and we think we need to know about all these different avenues! Wow, when will we ever start?

Let's Get to Grips!

In this business we all do this, usually when we are just starting out. We seem to figure that we need to know everything, and there are not many coaches who will actually tell you that you do not need to know everything! It is overwhelming and mind-boggling! Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot go to school and learn the basics first!

We can see clearly the opportunity and we are so excited, we know that this can work we can feel it! But we cannot decide where to start! It is like being a kid again and going into a sweet shop, how on earth do you decide? They all look so good!

I have to say with my experience I wish someone would create a basic guide for the complete novice and show them just how to get going, and then we can look at other avenues! Don't we remember how to walk before we run?

With hind sight, I think it would be perfect and easy if someone just told us that?

Too much Information!

There is simply too much information out there with no apprenticeship! We run around like headless chickens and end up knowing a little about a lot! Well that will get us no-where! So now what? Now we start again! Yep, we have a little knowledge that gives us a clue about what we think is the best route for us!

So Here's How!

This is only what I believe, and we all learn differently, but if you are new to this game, or you are thinking of venturing in, then this would be my humble advise!

Set yourself some sort of program, kind of difficult when you are unsure of what you have to learn, so set your first target of allowing yourself time to research different ways. Decide that you will do nothing and you will buy nothing until you have made a decision on which path you will take! Watch different videos by different mentors, listen to their ideas, do you think you could learn from them? Do they speak your language? By that I mean, you will not understand how it is all done, but do you resonate with them, do you think you will grasp their method? Do they speak clearly to you? And do you like what they have done themselves.

Do you like writing? Maybe you could choose a program that teaches you about blogging and article writing, perhaps you are more drawn to video's, you could have a video blog. There are many choices, try to pick something that you feel you may be able to do without too much trouble, you can get into the bigger stuff later!

Try to decide on a program or a mentor and make up your mind that you will to stick with it, do not change your mind half way in, see it through to the end, do as you are guided to do and don't be tempted to look at anything else until you have learnt this one way.

Do Not Get Overwhelmed!

If you feel it is all too much, break away, give yourself a rest! This is a brand new thing you are learning, it is a business, you will not learn over night! Give your self a fair chance at this! Take your time and learn one way!

When you decide on your first method, stick with it, don't get sidetracked, stay with it until you have become good at it!

Here's the thing - all the methods work, but you have to apply yourself to it and don't think -"oh this isn't working I need to try something else"! This attitude will always keep you at the starting block!!

In this business, as in life, there is not just one path to success, there are many, find something that you FEEL is right for you and don't stray! What works for one may not work for another.

You will discover with experience that most ways do work if you apply yourself!

There is an easy way, follow my link and find a coach that tells you how! This is alien to most of us when we start out, we need someone to speak plain language that we can understand, video coaching that we can watch over and over again until we get it! And Then we can just get on and do it! Take a look! My Success to you, to all you deserve and desire!

Cheryl Fauv�l http://mindandbodyinhealth.com/work-from-home/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Find-The-Way-That-Is-Right-For-You-And---Just-Get-O...!&id=6042706] Find The Way That Is Right For You And - Just Get On And Do It!

Make Money Writing Articles For Outsourcing Companies

If you can speak English fluently, you can make money writing articles, at least articles for websites. When writing for the web it's not required to be an author or a journalist, because plain and simple English is what is needed on web pages.

The reason for this is that readers searching for information online, tend to only skim through the content so see if they find anything valuable. Then the language needs to be simple and easy and fast to read. You have probably seen all those advertisements telling you that you can make huge amounts of money writing articles online.

This is not one of those advertisements, and no one is going to promise that writing articles will make you rich. Some people have gotten rich from writing, but, that is the exception rather than the rule. What you should know however, is that you can make money writing articles. How much you make will be dependent on your skills and how hard you are willing to work.

Where Can I Submit Articles?

There are a variety of places you can submit articles and receive payment. There are many opportunities on the Internet and you can write for magazines and some newspapers as well. There are even some businesses and even government agencies that pay people to write well researched articles on different subjects. So, there really is no lack of places where you can make money writing articles, it is simply a matter of finding the right place and proving your writing skills.

What Do I Need To Get Started?

Writing articles as a freelance writer really costs next to nothing upfront. If you already have a computer, internet connection and printer you have all the materials you need to start. You may want to invest in a few pens or pencils and a notebook for writing down ideas or making notes. Other than that you are basically ready to start.

Where Should I Begin?

If you have never written and sold articles before you won't have a portfolio of any of your work to show around. So, you are going to need to build a portfolio before attempting to get a job with a magazine or newspaper. In order to do this you might want to start writing a few articles for content sites on the Internet. While these sites don't often pay much, and many are based on the number of people who read your articles, it is a simple way to start to make money writing articles, and the more you write the more money you will make.

If you are planning on becoming a freelance writer and writing for a variety of different clients and sites then again content sites are a great place to start. You can often get your first article published within 24 hours of submission and start earning money immediately.

You will find work on online services that connect companies outsourcing many of their tasks, with writers. Once you are confident in your writing skills then there are a number of job posting sites for writers. Check out these sites and the jobs that are available and try applying for those that sound appealing. Keep in mind that it may take some time until you see any substantial money, because you will have to prove yourself if you want to make money writing articles.

While writing is a great job it is still a job and you need to work hard to become successful. However, by starting with low pay jobs you can improve your skills and eventually charge more for your work as you get experienced and can deliver high quality.

Learn more about how to [http://www.start-online-business-guide.com/freelance-article-writer.html]make money writing articles, about other freelance work, and where to find writing jobs. On Start-Online-Business-Guide.com you will also find information and ideas on how to [http://www.start-online-business-guide.com/index.html]start an online business.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-Money-Writing-Articles-For-Outsourcing-Compani...] Make Money Writing Articles For Outsourcing Companies

Build Your Own Business Website That Benefits Your Brand

Building your own business website is easier than you might think, but unfortunately a lot of the information available is outdated, overly complicated or just plain wrong. The truth is that there are 5 main steps you can follow to create a professional looking website that does what you want it to, whether that be increasing brand recognition or converting more visitors into customers.

Step 1: Planning

Sadly this is a step that is often overlooked, but it can be one of the most important things you'll do. For example think about what sort of site you're building:

Brochure site - includes all the relevant info about your business with no unnecessary bells and whistles
eCommerce site - includes (or just is) an online store
Blog - you can run a standalone blog, or write it as a company blog or news section inside your main website

Once you're clear on what exactly you want, it's time to figure out how you're going to achieve it. 99.9% of you will probably be best off using self-hosted WordPress for your business website, since it's easy to set up, very user-friendly, flexible enough to run a blog section and static pages, and of course completely free.

Step 2: Setup

You'll need to source a domain name and some hosting. The domain name is basically the address people will type in to reach your site, and the hosting is the server space where your website files are saved, just like you'd save personal documents in the space on your computer. Shared hosting packages are great for small business sites, avoid free hosting at all costs.

Depending on your host you may be able to install WordPress automatically through your cPanel, if in doubt just ask them. If not, you can find various tutorials on manual installation a quick Google away.

Step 3: Design

Take care when choosing a color scheme. Use tools like Kuler to find colors that work well together, and avoid any combinations that make text hard to read. As a rule, use 2 or 3 main website colors maximum that tie in with your company logo.

Speaking of your logo, this is one area where it'll pay to bring in a professional. If your budget is low, try searching for "crowdsourcing" sites where you can run a competition and choose from multiple entries. A low quality logo is a huge turnoff for potential customers, and makes a terrible first impression especially if placed on an otherwise well-designed site.

I am not about to suggest that you design a website with no prior experience. Instead, consider picking up a professionally designed theme and just changing colors/your logo. This is a very inexpensive option and will usually turn out much better than hiring an equivalently priced designer.

Bear in mind your goals for the site when choosing a theme, for example if your goal is to showcase one particular product a theme with a minimalistic design, large product image and attractive call-to-action button should be top of your list.

By all means if you have the budget, get a custom design, but otherwise place your focus on professional and effective rather than unique and join the growing number of people using rel=nofollow [http://websiteologist.com]ready-made CMS themes.

Step 4: SEO

Search Engine Optimization is the art of getting your website to rank well in Google et al. There is a lot of information about this online but sometimes the basics can be overshadowed by the lastest fashionable cheat so I'll go over them here.

Page titles: the page titles of every single page on your website should be different, and explain what that page is about. These titles are one of the primary things that can get you ranked in Google, and are worth paying lots of attention to. Bear in mind that the homepage title is of particular importance.

Example:

I'm trying to rank my site for the search phrase "web developer newcastle" so my homepage title might be "Web developer Newcastle | Michelle Dancer". You'll see the description comes first, because that's more important, and only then do I include the site name. I tend to separate them with a pipe because I it's pretty...that bit's up to you!

Follow the same pattern on your internal pages, so a services page might be titled "Web development services Newcastle | Michelle Dancer". The site name is still there, but the more important words are first, and of course I'm fortunate enough to be able to include my desired search phrase too.

Remember the title should always accurately affect the page content, or you'll do yourself more harm than good. If using WordPress, check out the All in One SEO plugin to make setting page titles/descriptions easy.

Content: Sounds obvious, but always remember that using your keywords throughout the copy on your site will help your rankings too. However, don't ever do this at the expense of writing natural, well-formed sentences. The crawler bots are clever, and they will punish you.

Backlinking: Gaining backlinks is a huge subject unto itself but just remember if you do link to your site, don't link the name if at all possible. Link the keywords. So instead of placing my link on the words "Michelle Dancer", I'd place it on "web developer Newcastle" instead.

Step 5: Marketing

If you really want to maximise the traffic to your new site, you'll probably need to put on your marketing hat at some point. Here are some quick tips to help you get started, it's not as scary as it sounds.

Social media: Join Twitter, create a Facebook page, get yourself on LinkedIn and link to your website as much as possible without annoying anyone. This is not the magic traffic-generator that some "gurus" insist it is, but every little bit helps and it's just possible you could create a big following.

Blogging: If you're not already, consider starting a company blog. Customers will find you easier to relate to, you can keep them updated about new products or offers, and if you blog about your industry you'll come to be seen as an expert.

Start a newsletter: There are services like MailChimp that let you start offering a regular newsletter to your customers completely free. This is a great way to keep your brand right in front of them, so you're the first to pop into their mind when they're in need of your services.

Run a competition: This is a great way to launch a site. Publicize your contest on the social sites you just joined, and have people link to you or tweet about you to enter. You can offer a product, a consultation, anything you can think of really!

Conclusion

You'll notice that step 5 is not directly related to building your website, but it's a fact that marketing your new site will take your customer base to the next level so I think it's important for people to be aware of. This outline should give you an idea of the various stages involved in setting up your site, and which order they should be completed in.

I hope this is of use to someone!

Whatever time I can spare is usually spent helping people on forums, Twitter, and my own site about [http://homemadebusinesswebsites.com]building a business website! I like to share.

Not quite ready to set up website yourself? It just so happens I'm a [http://michelledancer.com]freelance WordPress developer, so maybe I can help.

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