Posts
All Comments
Due to issues we are having with blogger comments we have elected to move the blog to our own domain name. You can find it here:http://blog.auctionaddons.com/
If you are subscribed to our feed it will automatically update.
Please come on over and leave your comments for a free goodies! Any old comments are still available on the blog. Look for us to make our new blog "pretty" in coming days!
Thank you for understanding!
Merry Christmas from AAO! To celebrate the holiday this year anyone who comments on this post through Wednesday December 24 can receive a monogram signature FREE!
What you win:
1 monogrammed signature. The background letters in your business initials, foreground your first name. Your monogram will be similar to this example:
How do you win?
Comment below on this post about your plans for the holiday. In your comment also include your 2 color choices and the letters/name for the monogram. Check back on our blog in coming days to right click and save your monogram. Files will not be emailed.
Success in business takes determination. One must be motivated and willing to work hard in order to get a business going strong. Ambition is one of the key factors in how quickly and how much a business will grow.
It takes ambition to even consider starting a business. Those who make their business dreams a reality have already fought and won half of the battle. So when we have doubts as to whether we have what it takes to make it, we simply need to look inside ourselves.
Every Business Has Hard Times
When a business is in the growing phase, there will always be times when things look bleak. Few businesses are overnight successes. It takes hard work and lots of marketing to get things started and going strong.
Growing pains can really take their toll on new business owners. They can make us want to throw in the towel, and some do. But if we can get back the motivation that made us determined to start our businesses in the first place, we can tough it out and come out on top.
How Can I Rekindle My Ambition?
When we're caught up in the negative things that are happening, it can be easy to forget why we're doing what we're doing. Stepping back and analyzing our reasons, goals and achievements can help us get in a better state of mind.
- Think about why you went into business. We all have different reasons. Remembering them can give us the incentive we need to make it work.
- Revisit your goals. If you're not achieving them, figure out why. Did you set them too high, or was there something you could have done differently to meet them? Once you've figured it out, adjust your goals accordingly and move on.
- Make a list of the positive things you have achieved. You may not have gotten as far as you would like by now, but if you're moving forward at all, you're going in the right direction.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup of chocolate chips
4 cups milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 peppermint stick
Instructions:
Place the chocolate chips in a sauce pan. Pour the milk over the chocolate. Place the pan on medium low heat and cook stirring constantly until the chips just begin to melt. Add the cocoa powder and sugar. Stir until incorporated into the melting chocolate. Dump in the peppermint extract. Turn the heat to medium high and stirring continuously cook the mixture until it begins to boil and the mixture is smooth. Pour into warm mugs and garnish with a peppermint stick.
SEO for Firefox is a Firefox extension developed and provided by SEOBook.com. It provides useful marketing data which makes it easy to see what your competition is up to. This of course is a great tool for developing SEO strategy and tactics to improve your page ranking with both Google and Yahoo search engines.
Installing SEO for Firefox
First things first, if you're not using Firefox as your browser, download it and install. Once you've accomplished that the next step is to visit http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/seo-for-firefox.html and follow the directions to install. You'll have to be using Firefox to install SEO for Firefox correctly.
Most likely Firefox will ask you if you want to allow the installation by dropping down a little bar at the top of the page. Click allow and continue. A menu will pop up in the middle of the page - click Install Now.
Next, it will ask you to restart Firefox. Go ahead and do that. Once Firefox restarts go ahead and conduct a Google or Yahoo search on anything that pops into your mind. Search "boutique hair bows" for example. If SEO for Firefox is working, you'll see a menu of information under each search result. The information will contain:
Are you going to be affected by the proposed CPSIA? I encourage you to get involved!
Published with permission from Cool Mom Picks. Please visit the site for more details and information about what you can do to take action!"We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.
With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them."
I can't think of a better Christmas gift for one of your friends or family then Dine Without Whine!! Who wouldn't appreciate a menu planning service which includes a shopping list? I know how much I have appreciated Dine Without Whine myself!
Christine at Dine Without Whine has been so generous in putting together a set of yummy Christmas recipes for you! Download your Christmas sweets handout here with 4 EASY recipes you can make in a flash! (pssst I could even see these on your holiday cookie platters!)
If you are a WAHM, there will probably be some point where a relative, friend, or even a stranger will ask you “so, when are you going to get a real job?” Those kinds of questions can hurt, especially when, in reality, you are working very hard. Here are some suggestions on how to deal with those insensitive comments.
The important thing to remember is that most people have no clue as to how many ways there are to make money from home. If they have never researched the subject, the only time they probably heard about someone working from home is from a report on the television about someone who, unfortunately, got scammed. However mean their words may sound, the person is probably just trying to protect you from getting hurt.
If the person asking you this question is someone that you do not see on a regular basis, you can just try to laugh off the question and change the subject. However, if the person is someone you are close to and have quite a bit of contact with, try to educate them about your business. Explain to them what it is that you do, how much you enjoy it, and why you chose to work at home versus working in a traditional job.
Once your critic understands that working at home is a real option and that you are not involved in a scam, they will most likely be supportive of your decision. They may end up being a little jealous of you and wish they had the courage to leave their job and work from home, too!
Most importantly, never let anyone make you feel "less worthy" because you work from home. It doesn't matter if you work on the highest level of the tallest building or if you work on card table in your living room รป you are still a working mom, you are contributing to your family, and you are a wonderful role model to your children. By keeping your confidence high, you will be more successful in all aspects of your life.
While eBay is a very user friendly vessel to sell your goods, not everything sells. To avoid wasting your time and money, take some time to research what's hot and what's not.
There are a number of options available to find information on hot items. A free tool to use is called eBay Pulse. It contains several dynamically created lists showing popular searches, stores, products, and more. These lists are a great way for you see what is hot in the eBay marketplace.
Of course to maximize your profits you are going to want to go after a niche market! Unsure what a niche market it is? Want to learn more on niche marketing here? Maybe even earn an income from your niche hobby? Check out our 5 day free ecourse here!
Need information related to selling children's clothing? Here Comes The Stork has been online for years and is full of knowledgeable people! It is a great place to start for the novice or the experienced eBay seller!
Maybe you are looking for a more targeted approach to selling boutique clothing brands on eBay. A great source for reliable bargains and hot tips is Boutique Bargains.
Jenni Hunt has published a top selling toy guide for a number of years. It is one of the best resources for ebay toy sellers on the market. She covers everything from finding the toys to common mistakes you can avoid. You should consider the Holiday Toy Guide and see what it can do for you!
The bottom line is research. If you want to find out what's hot and what's not, do your homework first. It will pay off in the end and lead you to the highest profits possible!
AAO Easy Site Builder is giving away 2 site builders in the month of December! But that's not all! We will also include one of Auction Add-Ons website templates* as well!
*Website template can be selected from our limited edition or economy designs, total value $49.99 or less.
You build a site, throw up some banners and links to a bunch of products and eagerly wait for your affiliate sales to start rolling in. A few days later still no sales and you think affiliate marketing doesn’t work and throw in the towel.
Make no mistake, when applied properly affiliate marketing most certainly works and it’s a fantastic way to make money online. Here are a few tips to help you avoid those dreaded mistakes many beginners make in affiliate marketing.
Banner Central: Banners don’t often work as well as text links. Of course, it does depend on your subject and you should test both individually to determine what works best but often times you’re better off sticking to text links rather than turning your website into banner central.
Unrelated Products: You’d be surprised at the number of people who do this. Make sure all offers on your website are related to the context on your site. For example if you have a site about pet care don’t offer baby care products. Sometimes it’s tempting to promote other products but stick to what your target market is looking for.
Missing your Target Market: Before starting any business venture (including affiliate marketing) you should always know who your target market is. To become a super affiliate you’ll need to build a website which speaks directly to the market you are trying to attract and you’ll need to understand the needs of that specific market. So who’s your target market?
Hype, Hype, Hype: Avoid it all costs. People can smell hype a mile away and will run quick with their credit card clutched tightly in their hands. If you review products on your website makes sure those reviews are honest. More importantly, try to take the time to actually use the product (or at least look into it) so that you can genuinely speak about its features and benefits; and don’t forget to add the not so good sides of the product too. If the product is lacking in some way, say so. People will appreciate your honesty and grow to trust you.
Not Tracking Sales: In order to know whether a program is worth you promoting or not, you’ll need to track how well it converts. Try out different things in your promotions and track each one of them.
Voting for the Christmas tree contest is open! I would appreciate any votes for tree #45 on the list. You can vote one time each day, simply leave a comment on the post with tree #45 in it! Vote Here
