Archive for December, 2009

The first step to getting started in direct sales is choosing a company to represent. When most people think about direct sales companies, names like Mary Kay, Avon and Tupperware come to mind. While these companies are well-known and popular choices, there are also many scrapbooking and rubberstamping companies offering direct sales programs. You’ll find a list of resources at the bottom of this post.

When you join a direct sales company, there will be some fees involved. The company will likely provide you with a start-up kit, product samples, as well as materials such as catalogs and order forms to help you get your business started. Direct sales companies work by paying their salespeople a commission on all items sold. This is quite different than actually being a company employee, as those who work for retailers are generally paid a salary, as well as a commission. With direct sales, the commission rate is substantially higher, but you will only earn money if you are making sales.

When things in your plan need to change, unless necessary, do not make quick decisions. Just as it took time to plan in the beginning, it will take time to change. You want to make sure you are making the right decisions when changes come up. Do your research just as you did in the beginning and then make educated choices.

Quick decisions are unsafe decisions. ~Sophocles

From the food and drink, to decorations and invitations, planning a party or crop takes a lot of time and effort that many people just don’t want to do or have the time for. However, if you enjoy party planning and have a knack for organization and creativity, you can hire yourself out to those who are pressed for time and earn extra money by doing the party planning for them.

When planning parties for others, you should have a consultation with the customer to find out exactly what they want for their party. You will need to discuss with them the approximate number of people attending, any themes or décor ideas, venue choices, speaking/instructor needs and menu options. Be sure to take careful notes and draw up a contract that specifically states the choices made and the services to be provided, to protect you both.

Materials list:

• pearlescent cardstock by Wausau
• Good Tidings paper by Be Blessed Scrapbooking
• EKSuccess Scallop Diamond Edger punch
• Christmas stamps by Inkadinkadoo

Imagine yourself in a canoe with another person.  The day is beautiful.  The two of you are floating along without a care in the world.  Suddenly, ripples of water start rocking the canoe and without proper balance, both of you, along with all your belongings, are thrown into the cold water. It is the same when you strive for success.  You have to find balance not only for yourself but also for others around you.  Balance means providing time away from work for pleasure, working extra hours when required, knowing when a new direction is required, etc.

Take time to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends.  As we enter in to a new year and begin making plans, remember to create a balanced plan.

Balance in your life between work and your personal life is very important. Without balance, you eventually burnout negatively affecting your performance at work. ~Byron & Catherine Pulsifer

Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go
faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.~Brian Tracy

Clickbank is the Internet’s leading retailer for digital products. Boasting over 100,000 active affiliates and 12,000 vendors, not to mention the ease of use, it’s no wonder product sellers are choosing Clickbank to sell their products.

But how do you use Clickbank?

Your Quick and Easy Guide to How To Use Clickbank To Sell Your Products will take you step-by-step through the entire process, so you can get your product set up and start selling.

You’ll learn…

• 6 critical questions you must have answered before you start
• The correct way to use Clickbank
• How to quickly and easily create an account and get your product up and running
• The truth about costs
• How to avoid the 7 biggest sales letter mistakes that could hold you back from a hot selling product
• 12 low/no cost ways to drive traffic to and make the most of your Clickbank sales
• An easy 3 step system for keeping your money safe
• 9 powerful ways to slash refund requests
• …and so much more!

I’ve included a written report plus full audio recording that shows you how to use and get the most out of the Clickbank marketplace.

What if you are only intersted in earning a part-time income with your scrapbooking hobby?

You already possess the ability and passion for scrapbooking, so why not utilize your talent to make a little extra money. There are several ways you can bring in extra cash without sacrificing too much time or expense on a larger business venture.

Online Sales

With the internet, selling online is actually quite easy. If you already have an inventory of your finished items, you can start selling online right away. A great way to get started is through Etsy.com. Setting up a craft store on Etsy is very easy and free. The fees are quite affordable with a small listing fee of 20 cents and 3.5% on each item sold. The listing fee is good for 4 months, plenty of time to get your item sold. Of course, it will take effort and some marketing on your part to get your items noticed. Etsy offers many resources, articles and information on how to effectively sell your items.

Do not burn any bridges in life. Appreciate life, people, everything around you. Learn as much as you can from every person you meet. Do not turn people away just because you do not agree with them. You never know, the very people you turn away may be the very people that come to your rescue during a time of difficulty.

As you wrap up your business for the year, take some time to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends. Appreciate what Christmas is all about!

Any man’s life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day. ~Booker T. Washington

Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it. ~Ralph Marston

Need last minute ideas for your Christmas cards? Whether you are sending cards to family and friends or past customers, this guide will give you plenty of ideas to easily create cards and quickly.

With 50 Card Sketches, you’ll surely find an idea for your Christmas cards.  Save time flipping through magazines for inspiration, just pick a sketch and run with it. And best of all, reuse the sketch by altering slightly for a completely different look.

Business idea: Include a coupon in the Christmas card.  Be sure to make it redeemable after the new year. This will give your scrapbook business a kick start in sales for the new year!

Bonus: If you decide to purchase 50 Card Making Sketches from the link below, you will receive a free gift of your choice from ScrapVenture.com! Simply forward your receipt to me and I’ll give you a list of free gifts to choose from.  Gifts include one of the Sweetie reports, 2 months membership at ScrapVenturePro, and more!

Get Your 50 Card Making Sketches Now… Click here!

When you started your business, you may have started by incorporating fun, but within a very short time, you realize it is hard work and the fun simply falls by the wayside. If you look at some of the most successful people in the world, you will find common threads that run between all of them. First, many started with nothing; second, they are all multi-millionaires many times over, and third, they have fun. They enjoy life, the people around them, and even find enjoyment in the challenges. This one element is often forgotten. Fun is a crucial element for success and should be a part of your plan.

I never worked a day in my life.  It was all fun! ~ Thomas Edison

“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” ~Dale Carnegie

In today’s economy, is now even a good time to start a home-based business? This week’s  guest is Leslie Truex of WorkatHomeSuccess.com.  Leslie answers the above question as well as discusses how to get  a successful start in your home-based business.

Got a question on how to get started scrapbooking?  Be sure to leave a comment. Also any suggestions for upcoming guests you would like to hear.