For those of you that have been following my blog you know that I have been trying to get my E-book publishing business off the ground for quite a while. Honestly, it has been a lot more difficult than others make it seem. Why am I being so honest? Am I afraid that it will make me and my business look like a failure? NO!
Why? Well, because it's the truth and also because I believe my trials and mistakes can help others in their own small business endeavors.
I think that some of the reasons I have found it difficult to get started and go full force are:
Medical reasons which I am determined not to let control my life anymore
Lack of authors
Lack of motivation since as I mentioned above, I have no authors
For a small publishing house, either traditional or E-book, to create a niche and grow, it needs content. Content by quality writers. And this is where I have been stumped. I was mistakenly under the impression that I could "build it and they will come". Alas, this was not what happened.
The reason I believed this is because I when I was the Editor at Duffie Books (now defunct), the owner, Theresa Carnduff was literally batting them away, the authors I mean. I did the same things she did, I posted an open call for submission on my website, I contacted websites that list publishing houses looking for new authors and I even personally contacted people I thought would be a good match for my company.
To date the only viable submission I got was one I had to turn down due to a medical crisis at the time.
So what is different this time? Well, I sat down and thought about ways to build my business and my brand as the go to online publisher for women that want to start a business as well as for women that want to do fabulous things in their lives but are limited by the restraints of very real shoestring budgets. Things like travel and home makeovers and Shopping outside of local thrift stores for Christmas gifts.
Then I brainstormed and realized that there is a literal goldmine of quality content creators at my fingertips every time I log on to the Internet, writers that are not only experts in their chosen niche but also have a solid readership that can translate into sales. Who are these mystery women?
Blogger's of course!
Why didn't I think of this sooner? Well, I thought of it now. And so I am putting this out to all the wonderful blogger's of the world wide web. If you have quality content on your blog and are interested in writing a book, I would love to hear from you. You can visit my website, Boutique Publications to submit your idea, proposal or manuscript. You can also read more about me as well as read our FAQ and submission page.
And if you yourself are not a blogger but know someone who is, please feel free to send them the link to this post.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
How Can I Start a Business Online If I Have no Start Up Money?
A lot of people, especially in this economy, are looking for ways to create or supplement their income with little to no investment on their part. This post is for you if for any reason you have now decided you need to bring in extra cash, these are actual sites that require no money on your part to start a small business. And if you are counting pennies and trying to squeeze every dollar til' it hurts in your budget, there is no way to realistically use money that is precious at this time, to start a business anyway.
There are a lot and I mean, A LOT, of scams on the Internet. Luckily there are just as many blogs and articles dedicated to bringing these scams to light, so please do your due diligence and research any and all opportunities you are considering as a way to make money online.
Through personal experience and through friends that have tried different methods, here is a short list of websites where you can start to make money with no financial investment. Sweat equity is another story. Yes, there are sites you can build a business with for free, but you have to put the time in to realize any success. If you are willing to do this then please read on.
Freelance Writing Business
Associated Content is a site I have used on and off for the past two years. I've recently submitted a few more articles that are awaiting review and payment offers, I am fattening up my Christmas account so I will be submitting more articles as I find the time.
You set up a free account and submit articles on any subject you want to write about, they in turn review it and offer you payment for the right to publish your article, you can accept or deny the offer which is usually in the $3-$20 range. You can submit it as exclusive (selling your rights) or non-exclusive (They will publish it and you may also re-sell to other sites if you wish). Not every article gets an offer but most do.
If you aren't being offered a payment for a submitted article or you have pieces you have previously written for a now defunct blog perhaps or just articles you may have written and never sent off to anyone, you can use these to still make money on Associated Content. They can be posted as "Display Only". You won't get any up front payment but you will be paid for your page views. Why?
Becuase another way you make money with them is through page views. Not much, but hey, every little bit counts. Unless you are a top level contributor you will get $1.50 for every 1,000 page views, so in essence you get paid every time someone reads one of your articles.
How you make money
Let's say in the first month you write 50 articles. And pessimistically, only 35 of the articles come back after review with an offer. And again on the low side of the spectrum, the offers are $3.00 each. That is an extra $150 plus whatever else you make for the life of those articles (plus the other 15 articles should you decide to publish them as Display Only), through page view payments. Payments go to your paypal account.
Now, if you'd like to help me add to my Christmas Gift Account by reading some of my articles (pretty please:) you can find them here!
Retail online
Cafe Press is a site that allows you to create a shop for free and upload graphics, paintings, or rants that you have created and attach them to the pre-existing merchandise they have listed, you can sell t-shirts, hats, baby clothes and even frocks for Fido.
How you make money
They have each item listed at a base price, say $9.99 for a white t-shirt. You then upload your design and price the t-shirt. If you price it at $16.99, then every time a t-shirt is sold they keep $9.99 and you get $7.00. Once an item is ordered they will create it using your uploads, they will handle payment and they will also pack and ship the item as well. How sweet is that!?
There are thousands of shops on the Cafe Press website, so in order to make any money you have to stand out. You can create a blog and while you are entertaining people about the cutest things the kids in your family have said over the last 20 years you can direct them to your shop to buy a shirt or a bib with one of those sayings. You can also list it on your face book, but no matter what topic you choose, remember to: promote, promote, promote. There are hundreds of articles online for how to promote your online retail shops for free, the key is to get the word out there.
Sell other people's products
Click Bank
I am usually not one for affiliate programs but my friend Theresa who was the owner of Duffie Books used clickbank to help her sell her authors ebooks, the author or publisher designates how much of a commission the affiliate gets up to 75%, I believe she used 20%, So I know that you really do get a commission on each sale.. Either way I would suggest you read through the site carefully, then Google and see how much other people, real people, have made with them. Another suggestion is that you only promote books that are relevant to your website or blog. And if you don't yet have a blog? Then write down at least five things you love to talk about and research, then look and see if there are enough ebooks on clickbank for you to promote on your new blog and decide if its something you can see yourself doing.
I hope I've helped offer you and your family a few ways to earn the extra money you are seeking. Thanks for stopping by!
Update I have signed up for Click Bank and am promoting a few ebooks that look interesting, see upper right. I will let you know what happens!
There are a lot and I mean, A LOT, of scams on the Internet. Luckily there are just as many blogs and articles dedicated to bringing these scams to light, so please do your due diligence and research any and all opportunities you are considering as a way to make money online.
Through personal experience and through friends that have tried different methods, here is a short list of websites where you can start to make money with no financial investment. Sweat equity is another story. Yes, there are sites you can build a business with for free, but you have to put the time in to realize any success. If you are willing to do this then please read on.
Freelance Writing Business
Associated Content is a site I have used on and off for the past two years. I've recently submitted a few more articles that are awaiting review and payment offers, I am fattening up my Christmas account so I will be submitting more articles as I find the time.
You set up a free account and submit articles on any subject you want to write about, they in turn review it and offer you payment for the right to publish your article, you can accept or deny the offer which is usually in the $3-$20 range. You can submit it as exclusive (selling your rights) or non-exclusive (They will publish it and you may also re-sell to other sites if you wish). Not every article gets an offer but most do.
If you aren't being offered a payment for a submitted article or you have pieces you have previously written for a now defunct blog perhaps or just articles you may have written and never sent off to anyone, you can use these to still make money on Associated Content. They can be posted as "Display Only". You won't get any up front payment but you will be paid for your page views. Why?
Becuase another way you make money with them is through page views. Not much, but hey, every little bit counts. Unless you are a top level contributor you will get $1.50 for every 1,000 page views, so in essence you get paid every time someone reads one of your articles.
How you make money
Let's say in the first month you write 50 articles. And pessimistically, only 35 of the articles come back after review with an offer. And again on the low side of the spectrum, the offers are $3.00 each. That is an extra $150 plus whatever else you make for the life of those articles (plus the other 15 articles should you decide to publish them as Display Only), through page view payments. Payments go to your paypal account.
Now, if you'd like to help me add to my Christmas Gift Account by reading some of my articles (pretty please:) you can find them here!
Retail online
Cafe Press is a site that allows you to create a shop for free and upload graphics, paintings, or rants that you have created and attach them to the pre-existing merchandise they have listed, you can sell t-shirts, hats, baby clothes and even frocks for Fido.
How you make money
They have each item listed at a base price, say $9.99 for a white t-shirt. You then upload your design and price the t-shirt. If you price it at $16.99, then every time a t-shirt is sold they keep $9.99 and you get $7.00. Once an item is ordered they will create it using your uploads, they will handle payment and they will also pack and ship the item as well. How sweet is that!?
There are thousands of shops on the Cafe Press website, so in order to make any money you have to stand out. You can create a blog and while you are entertaining people about the cutest things the kids in your family have said over the last 20 years you can direct them to your shop to buy a shirt or a bib with one of those sayings. You can also list it on your face book, but no matter what topic you choose, remember to: promote, promote, promote. There are hundreds of articles online for how to promote your online retail shops for free, the key is to get the word out there.
Sell other people's products
Click Bank
I am usually not one for affiliate programs but my friend Theresa who was the owner of Duffie Books used clickbank to help her sell her authors ebooks, the author or publisher designates how much of a commission the affiliate gets up to 75%, I believe she used 20%, So I know that you really do get a commission on each sale.. Either way I would suggest you read through the site carefully, then Google and see how much other people, real people, have made with them. Another suggestion is that you only promote books that are relevant to your website or blog. And if you don't yet have a blog? Then write down at least five things you love to talk about and research, then look and see if there are enough ebooks on clickbank for you to promote on your new blog and decide if its something you can see yourself doing.
I hope I've helped offer you and your family a few ways to earn the extra money you are seeking. Thanks for stopping by!
Update I have signed up for Click Bank and am promoting a few ebooks that look interesting, see upper right. I will let you know what happens!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
New Direction for my Blog
Hey there all,
I was thinking about something a writing teacher once told us. It was "the best way to learn something is by teaching someone else". Couple that with the fact that friends, family and readers of this blog like to ask my opinion and advice on home and small business matters, I made a decision.
Now I do not pretend to be anything more than I am, I am not an expert. However like most everyone else, I have the ability to look in from the outside and give my advice or suggestion with a clarity that comes from a fresh perspective.
And so I have decided that I will go through emails and answer them directly on my blog. I hope to provide a different spin and helpful suggestions and learn a few things myself along the way.
If you have any of your own questions or dillemas that you would like my take on, feel free to email me or leave a comment.
Have a great one!
I was thinking about something a writing teacher once told us. It was "the best way to learn something is by teaching someone else". Couple that with the fact that friends, family and readers of this blog like to ask my opinion and advice on home and small business matters, I made a decision.
Now I do not pretend to be anything more than I am, I am not an expert. However like most everyone else, I have the ability to look in from the outside and give my advice or suggestion with a clarity that comes from a fresh perspective.
And so I have decided that I will go through emails and answer them directly on my blog. I hope to provide a different spin and helpful suggestions and learn a few things myself along the way.
If you have any of your own questions or dillemas that you would like my take on, feel free to email me or leave a comment.
Have a great one!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bye Bye Ms. Canadian Pie
My time at Duffie Books is officially over. Actually though, I had taken a medical sabbatical starting just before the 2008 holidays. However, I was planning on returning this summer. But my dear friend Theresa has found it too expensive to keep the doors at Duffie Books open any longer.
I feel badly for the authors, though they are a very talented group of women and I know they will all be fine. I feel badly for myself because I was ready to get back in there and really soak up the learning experiences that I would then use in my own publishing house. But I mostly feel badly for Theresa. She has had to give up her dream, and she doesn't believe she will attempt another business again.
Does this make me scared in reference to my own business? At first it did, for sure. Now, not so much. There are businesses that open and close every day, I believe that Theresa would have been successful sooner rather than later if she could have cashed flowed it a while longer. Also if she and I could have come up with that great publicity sitch to get and her authors on the map.
I believe in my niche concept, so I don't have tales of doom dancing in my head. And I am planning on 2 years from my "live" date to start to see any real profits. With that in mind, I am still VERY excited about listing my first e-book for sale in just a few short months :)
So adios Duffie Books, thanks for the memories.
I feel badly for the authors, though they are a very talented group of women and I know they will all be fine. I feel badly for myself because I was ready to get back in there and really soak up the learning experiences that I would then use in my own publishing house. But I mostly feel badly for Theresa. She has had to give up her dream, and she doesn't believe she will attempt another business again.
Does this make me scared in reference to my own business? At first it did, for sure. Now, not so much. There are businesses that open and close every day, I believe that Theresa would have been successful sooner rather than later if she could have cashed flowed it a while longer. Also if she and I could have come up with that great publicity sitch to get and her authors on the map.
I believe in my niche concept, so I don't have tales of doom dancing in my head. And I am planning on 2 years from my "live" date to start to see any real profits. With that in mind, I am still VERY excited about listing my first e-book for sale in just a few short months :)
So adios Duffie Books, thanks for the memories.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Where can I go to network with other small and home business owners?
There are a slew of forums that cater to the small and home based business person. My personal favorite is Business Owners Idea Cafe. I have had so many great responses to questions I've posted. It also feels good when I am able to help out a fellow member.
They're best attribute in my opinion is the "cyber Shmooze" section. Here they have specific forums to better guide you in your startup and growth phases. Some are:
Start Up Stew
Biz Ideas
Working From Home
E-Commerce
Marketing Mix
And quite a few more. The people on this forum are real people with home and small based businesses and are eager and willing to take you into the fold and help in any way they can.
The also offer small business grants throughout the year. They grants are usually for $1,000 and the current grant is called the "Idea Cafe's Innovation and Originality Grant". You can also read about past winners and how they have put the grant money to use in their businesses.
You must be a member to ask or answer questions as well as to enter for the grants. It's easy and painless though.
So visit them over at Idea Cafe and start asking those questions you can't seem to find an answer for anywhere else.
Happy Business!
They're best attribute in my opinion is the "cyber Shmooze" section. Here they have specific forums to better guide you in your startup and growth phases. Some are:
Start Up Stew
Biz Ideas
Working From Home
E-Commerce
Marketing Mix
And quite a few more. The people on this forum are real people with home and small based businesses and are eager and willing to take you into the fold and help in any way they can.
The also offer small business grants throughout the year. They grants are usually for $1,000 and the current grant is called the "Idea Cafe's Innovation and Originality Grant". You can also read about past winners and how they have put the grant money to use in their businesses.
You must be a member to ask or answer questions as well as to enter for the grants. It's easy and painless though.
So visit them over at Idea Cafe and start asking those questions you can't seem to find an answer for anywhere else.
Happy Business!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Win a free pendant and earring set!
Hey all,
As you know, I am working with my friend Theresa at her awesome Travel Guide Publishing House, Duffie Books, and this month is the 1st official free draw. You can enter to win a great 925 silver infused glass pendant and earring set, enter now and spead the word! Just visit the site and click on the link that says "FREE DRAW".
Good Luck!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Why should I have a set schedule for my internet/home business?
Schedules are our friends. I admit that up until recently I hadn't thought about a schedule in terms of my company.
Like you, one of the main gripes I have about working a Mon - Fri for someone else is "set hours". I want to be free, free to work when I'm in the mood, so that my work will be at it's best, not when I'm groggy and the end result will suck, blah!
But what I've learned after taking a look back at the last year was that NOT having a schedule has been detrimental to my business. I believe it's one of the main reasons that I have not officially launched my site yet.
On the other hand, I am not saying that I (or you) should continue with a daily grind of 8 - 5 or 9 - 5 either.
You should take an honest look at your personality traits, daily errands, children's schedules (sports, dance etc) and come up with a plan to fit your lifestyle and not the other way around.
Personally I am NOT a morning person and do my best, most creative thinking after 5 pm. So it's natural for me to use my nocturnal hours for projects like writing, creating publicity and marketing plans and networking.
Day hours for emailing, editing and sending out press releases (releases that I create the evening before of course :)
So when I take all of the above into consideration, my schedule (and remember that I am still at my day job until I launch my site officially) looks like this:
Monday
Email Authors
Tuesday
Marketing
Answer Emails
Wednesday
Writing (articles and Blog entries – While dinner is cooking and 9 pm - 10 pm)
Thursday
Input Blog Entries and submit articles (lunch hour)
Marketing
Friday
Email authors
Family Nite
Saturday
10 am – 1 pm and 10 pm to 11 pm
Editing for the wonderful women of Duffie Books
Sunday
Writing 5 pm – 7 pm
Family Nite
I truly believe I will be a lot more productive this way, and I suggest you reign in your wild child and create a schedule as well :)
Happy Business to you all!
Like you, one of the main gripes I have about working a Mon - Fri for someone else is "set hours". I want to be free, free to work when I'm in the mood, so that my work will be at it's best, not when I'm groggy and the end result will suck, blah!
But what I've learned after taking a look back at the last year was that NOT having a schedule has been detrimental to my business. I believe it's one of the main reasons that I have not officially launched my site yet.
On the other hand, I am not saying that I (or you) should continue with a daily grind of 8 - 5 or 9 - 5 either.
You should take an honest look at your personality traits, daily errands, children's schedules (sports, dance etc) and come up with a plan to fit your lifestyle and not the other way around.
Personally I am NOT a morning person and do my best, most creative thinking after 5 pm. So it's natural for me to use my nocturnal hours for projects like writing, creating publicity and marketing plans and networking.
Day hours for emailing, editing and sending out press releases (releases that I create the evening before of course :)
So when I take all of the above into consideration, my schedule (and remember that I am still at my day job until I launch my site officially) looks like this:
Monday
Email Authors
Tuesday
Marketing
Answer Emails
Wednesday
Writing (articles and Blog entries – While dinner is cooking and 9 pm - 10 pm)
Thursday
Input Blog Entries and submit articles (lunch hour)
Marketing
Friday
Email authors
Family Nite
Saturday
10 am – 1 pm and 10 pm to 11 pm
Editing for the wonderful women of Duffie Books
Sunday
Writing 5 pm – 7 pm
Family Nite
I truly believe I will be a lot more productive this way, and I suggest you reign in your wild child and create a schedule as well :)
Happy Business to you all!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Should I spend money on a website designer for my new Business?
NO!
Well, unless you have buckets of cash to throw at your business, please don't make the same mistake I made. Now don't get me wrong, I like my site, I like it a lot actually. However it's been a money drain, it was $500 to get a designer to create it (though the process was fun!) and another total of almost $200 for the domain name and hosting for 2 years.
I was so excited after I made my decision to go into business for myself that I didn't do things in the proper order. I had no product for my site to sell, so really, it's been a pretty advertisement of nothingness. And it will continue to be just that until I find authors and publish their work.
So if you are starting your business on a shoe string budget, find a host that gives you pre-made choices for website designs and layouts. Choose one, you can then make it unique with your content and photos and products. Later on down the line should you decide to upgrade, feel free, but only if you can afford it.
I put the cart before the horse and I'm paying for it. Learn from my mistake, get everything else you need to have to launch your business in order BEFORE you create a website.
I will say this though, you should purchase your domain name as soon as possible, if it's available. Then wait on the site and hosting.
It's your best bet!
Good Luck All
Well, unless you have buckets of cash to throw at your business, please don't make the same mistake I made. Now don't get me wrong, I like my site, I like it a lot actually. However it's been a money drain, it was $500 to get a designer to create it (though the process was fun!) and another total of almost $200 for the domain name and hosting for 2 years.
I was so excited after I made my decision to go into business for myself that I didn't do things in the proper order. I had no product for my site to sell, so really, it's been a pretty advertisement of nothingness. And it will continue to be just that until I find authors and publish their work.
So if you are starting your business on a shoe string budget, find a host that gives you pre-made choices for website designs and layouts. Choose one, you can then make it unique with your content and photos and products. Later on down the line should you decide to upgrade, feel free, but only if you can afford it.
I put the cart before the horse and I'm paying for it. Learn from my mistake, get everything else you need to have to launch your business in order BEFORE you create a website.
I will say this though, you should purchase your domain name as soon as possible, if it's available. Then wait on the site and hosting.
It's your best bet!
Good Luck All
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