eVentures Outside the Classified Ads!

I have to say that there are so many fantastic ways to promote your business online for FREE!  I love the free online classified ad sites for just that reason--it is so easy to reach people all across the U.S. with just a mere click of a button (ok, sometimes it takes a little more effort than that). The results you can achieve using online advertising and marketing can be phenominal, but it does take time to learn your way around, and the old adage of "practice makes perfect" defninitely applies! If you find the right training and a willing mentor or two (or a whole TEAM of mentors, like I have with the Freedom At Home Team!), you'll be rolling right along before you know it, and having fun while you do it!

That being said, I decided to take things to a more personal level these past couple of weeks. I have been focusing a bit more on business networking in recent months. I have been participating in online forums, various yahoo groups, and some Q&A bulletin boards. It has been very enriching and rewarding building new relationships with other folks in business, not just in the U.S., but around the world! I have to admit, it has changed my whole perspective of the term "networking". That term had somewhat of a negative connotation for me in the past--it brought to mind a concept of bugging people that you knew in your existing network of friends, family, associates to buy products or join your business.

It dawned on me that I had turned "network" into a VERB, rather than a NOUN. I also changed my focus from "what can I get out of this connection?" to "how can I help the person I am connecting with?"  Once I changed my focus, I was really amazed at how much fun I was having, and people really were appreciative of even the smallest tidbit of advice, or quick instruction on how to do something in a software program. I also came to realize that although I am not an expert by any means, I do have a lot to offer people simply by sharing what I have learned through my experiences over the past 20 years.

A strange and exciting thing happened as I started reaching out to others to help them--as I was building relationships with individuals--opportunties I never expected began to open up for me!  A connection I made through the Bank of America Yahoo Group has opened up an exciting website sponsorship opportunity with a high traffic website (more on that soon!) and I was also able to sponsor a fundraising event for an organization that helps prevent child abuse through connecting with another mompreneur on MomPack forum. I really enjoyed preparing for these activities, and although I am excited about the exposure these things will bring my business, I am actually more excited about the ongoing relationships I am building with the ladies with whom I have made connections.

So be brave--step outside the classified ad comfort zone--and start making connections!

Share

Weekend Warrior

 It's Sunday afternoon, and I am relaxing at my son's band practice (wishing I had earplugs just because it is SO loud!) and just taking care of some details in preparation for the new week ahead. I have been working with some new business partners, and also responding to several interested individuals on Thursday and Friday. Posted a couple more ads Friday afternoon, to refresh my leads for the upcoming week. Saturday was chore day (gotta' keep things in balance, you know), but snuck in some time organizing the goodie bag "stuffing" so I can get them prepared and sent off to a kids' function I'm sponsoring this month. I love the freedom I have to be creative, and think outside the box with my business endeavors (something I find sorely lacking in the corporate world)!  I often felt very stifled because it was the same thing over and over, day in and day out. Not so with Ameriplan--the company provides an awesome umbrella for us as representatives; however, we are free to jump in any ole' puddle we want to and splash to our heart's content!  Doesn't that sound like fun?!

Share

A New Day, A New Challenge

As an independent business owner and single mom with a full-time job, I greet each new day with the same thought: a new day, a new challenge. Most people look at challenge in a negative way, but to me it just means another chance to excel. Challenges excite me, challenges motivate me, challenges stir my creativity, and challenges mean GROWTH.

Now, when I take that concept and stretch it over a 90-day period, as we do on the Freedom at Home Team with our "90-Day Challenge", it means I can expect tremendous growth because in our business, daily growth is COMPOUNDED over time! It makes it even more meaningful because I am sharing the excitement with a whole team beside me. It is that much more rewarding knowing that as I meet the day-to-day challenges, there are so many to encourage, commisserate, and celebrate my success.

As we begin a new Freedom at Home Team 90-Day Challenge, I am supercharged! I am partnered with a fantastic company, I am in league with a team of CHAMPIONS, and I am rejuvenated and ready to stretch myself and my business to new heights! One new day, one new challenge at a time...

Share