Archive for March, 2008

Little details can make or break your business.  For instance, what type of payment methods will you be willing to receive?  Can you take cash, check or credit card?  Merchant studies have shown that cash only businesses miss out on 65% of their client base simply because their payment option for their customers is so limited.  You are probably saying to yourself that taking a check can be risky and credit cards require special equipment and lengthy contracts, but with a little research it really isn’t all that difficult.

If you have your own storefront, taking credit/ debit cards, cash and checks will be expected.  If you are working in another merchants store you still have options.  For instance, if the merchant you are working with takes credit/ debit/ check, you can either open an account through their service provider (and use the same equipment) or you can ask them to process your payments and agree to pay their processing fee for your merchandise.  Beware of signing lengthy contracts with processing companies.

If you do your homework, develop a plan and stick with it, developing a steady flow of customers is one of the easiest and most enjoyable aspects of running a business. Nothing is more satisfying than a happy customer and nothing is better for your business growth than a happy customer who gives you repeat business.

Gaining repeat business requires simple follow-up through telephone calls, referral discounts and customer reminder cards.

After you have exceeded your customers expectations, and created an amazing scrapbook to hold and feature their most precious memories, offering them a special discount on their next one should be a slam-dunk sale.

Also, offering them a discount if they give you a profitable referral is another tool in your chest to gain repeat and new customers. If you are just getting started and need to develop a client base, possibly a home party where the hostess/ host gets a free scrapbook based on the amount of orders you receive at the party. Home parties are a good client base development idea.

I held a quick giveaway for my Scrap Venture Report Content Skills. A congrats goes out to Michelle, and Donelle for posting. Please contact me at vera@veraraposo.com to claim your prize.

Is it really possible to turn your beloved scrapbooking passion into a profitable business? Can passion really mean profits?

The answer is yes!

Thousands of passionate, creative people are beginning to realize their hobbies and passions are indeed worthy of thriving business status!

Victor Hugo once said, “No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come.”

It may seem hard to believe that something you love as much as scrapbooking can evolve into a profitable business. We’re just not wired to think that “work” and “fun” can be synonymous. When you realize passion can take you places you never imagined an amazing entrepreneurial spirit takes over — it’s truly magical.

Nancy Anderson, California-based career counselor and author of Work with Passion writes about a wonderful new trend that has entrepreneurs doing what they love and adding authentic meaning to their lives. Her book also describes and features real people who are letting go of the belief that it is impossible to make money and do what you love.

It makes sense that anyone who is truly passionate about their business is far more likely to succeed. If you’re working with passion it can take you far beyond just making money; it takes you to a level of fulfillment.

Scrap Venture Pro member Barbara Ryan has some exciting news. Barbara has been making money from her hobby at Cherish Collages. She started offering her digital collage skills to other people and is now teaching others how to make money from this craft here DIY Collages.

Here’s what Barbara said after only being a member for one month…

Barbara has made huge strides since that first post I made about her. She now has some new information that I asked if I could share with you.

Barbara says today….

“I joined Scrap Venture Pro the very first month because I hoped it would be a great resource for my existing business and to help me expand into the scrapbooking side of things.

I had been running a home business custom designing photo collages for a few years and now wanted to add to it and knew that it needed to have something to do with scrapbooking, keeping it related to what I was already doing, preserving memories through photographs, but I didn’t really know exactly what it would be.

It’s another Scrap Venture Giveaway and this time we’re giving away an awesome report. We often will go ahead.. start up a website, get the graphics, and then what. You have a super pretty website with no valuable content.

Enter…. “Content Skills - Creating High Value Content That Helps You Sell.”

1. Discover How Web Content Provides Information
2. How To Become The Value Added Content Marketer
3. Focusing On Your Own Web Content
4. Find Out About Constroversial Content
5. Learn to Use Ghostwriters Effectively
6. And a ton more…

All you have to do is enter right here in the comments section, just let me know you want in the draw. The deadline for this giveaway is Friday March 28th at 6pm PST. I will randomly pick 4 winners for this draw and will post the names right here.

Good luck!

Well, I said it was going to happen and now the time has come.

The reports I’ve put together really are very beautifully done with rock solid information on helping you with your online scrapbook business were set at a very low intro price. We have now raised the price to better fit the huge value of each report, the new price is $19.97, which isn’t huge by any means and the reports are easily worth double that price.

I also have new exciting reports that will be added to the site, it’s a one stop for starting your scrapbook business online.

Businesses know that the Internet is a powerful and necessary force in marketing your business. The growth of the Internet is not slowing down, in fact new customers are in all age groups and demographics are flocking to the web daily. Any business that does not understand and use the Internet as a marketing tool is missing out on a huge marketing source.

One thing is certain, Internet marketing is here to stay and has become

Along with the growth of the Internet are amazing and very easy and inexpensive tools to give your business a front row seat in the marketing arena.

Steps for online marketing that works:

It’s all in the name!

Yes, a website is key. However, before you begin any work on your site it’s extremely important to choose a good domain name. Your domain name is the address your business can be found on the Internet. Good domain name are hard to find and take persistence and large doses of creativity as many of the good ones have been purchased over the years.

For creative small business selling at craft fairs is an excellent way to gain business and grow customers. It’s a great way for artists and creative people to connect with a new audience all while having a great time.

Craft fairs are typically inexpensive and allow you to markup your goods to reflect a good profit on what you create. Making money and building customers at craft fairs takes research, planning and a positive attitude.

Tips for Craft Fairs:

Attend Shows

Before you sign up to sell your wares at your first craft show be sure to attend a few first. It’s a good idea to check out who is selling, what kinds of products are featured and selling. Take some time to chat with the vendors to ask questions and get a feel for the environment. Find out which fairs are best for your creations.

Do Research

Gather all the information necessary before you take the plunge. Be sure to find out the cost to have an exhibit and what the expected attendance is. When calculating costs it’s important to factor in travel costs, shipping costs and the cost for your table and display. Determining your potential profit and loss will help you make an informed decision.

Recently my friend Kelly McCausey put out another call for help to a fellow WAHM. The computer died on my friend LaTara and Kelly has once again brought the issue to light and we’re all rallying around her and donating so she can get her computer.

This is THE community I am SO proud to be a part of. I sent in my donation and I’m encouraging anyone here to think about supporting someone else. It feels great to give and know that it will be used for a woman who is making her income through the computer.

You can read about it all here.

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be starting a Scrap Venture Podcast shortly. It will not be on a weekly basis, but will be posted whenever I feel inspired to chit chat about starting your own scrapbook business online. This will launch very soon along with Scrap Venture Start Up, which is just around the corner.

Motivation.  It’s a big word that powerfully guides every part of our lives.  From the smallest action to big business dealings motivation guides us and determines not only our choices but our broader business course.  We are guided, swayed and changed by the powerful force of motivation.

Eckhart Tolle said, “Follow your own particular dreams. We are handed a life by peers, parents and society, you can do that or follow your own dreams. Life is short, be a dreamer…”

Given the power and force of motivation it’s important your motivation be yours and yours alone.  Don’t allow the motivation of others to determine your business motivation.

Your very own brand of personal motivation is key to success in business.  It’s the thing that gets you up every morning and off to work and daily activities.  Motivation starts with you and only you and it depends very much on how you feel about yourself.  If you’re down or experience a failure on a particular day your motivation might wane a bit.

The first rule of personal motivation is to keep going, don’t accept failure! Motivation is what gets you through the tough days and moments.