DIYeStores

Feb. Business of the Month

2012-02-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Business of the Month:

We have updated the Business of the Month section with 3 all new websites. Check it out!

Each month, we will interview a few of our clients and share those interviews with our visitors. This gives you a chance to get to know a little more about their company and the products they carry, as well as learn a little bit of business advice they share.

Check out our Feb. 2012 Businesses of the Month
http://www.diyestores.com/businessofthemonth.html

New Feature - Business of the Month

2011-12-31T17:20:00.000-08:00

We have added a new feature to our website!

Business of the Month:

Each month, we will interview a few of our clients and share those interviews with our visitors. This gives you a chance to get to know a little more about their company and the products they carry, as well as learn a little bit of business advice they share.

Check out our Jan. 2012 Businesses of the Month
http://www.diyestores.com/businessofthemonth.html

DIYeStores.com Winter Hosting Special

2011-12-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce our Winter Hosting Special has been added.

Signup for our quarterly hosting plan and get 2 FREE Months of hosting added to your account. Signup for a our yearly hosting plan and get 4 FREE Months of hosting added to your account.
Coupon Code: WINTER

http://www.diyestores.com/

How To Get Others To Take Your Home-Based Business Seriously

2011-08-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

For years I held an office job, and not just any office job, a really good office job. I worked for a very well-known company, had full benefits, and a pretty decent salary. When someone would ask me what type of work I did, I would just mention the company name and the gushing over what a great job I had would start. What I learned from this experience is that in general, people are way too easily impressed.

The truth of the matter was I hated that job. I couldn’t stand the office politics, the catty coworkers, the mundane tasks, and even the overpriced cafeteria food. I was miserable, and I knew it was time for a change. So, change is exactly what I did. After handing in my notice I began working from home as an eBay seller. I told everyone I knew about my new venture, and almost immediately, the negative comments started flooding in.

I quickly noticed a pattern in the way the people who did comment negatively to me where thinking, and I was able to divide their opinions into one of two main categories. One group assumed this was a phase I was going through and I would soon return to the “real world“, while the second group assumed that my husband must be making killer money so that I could pursue my “hobby” and not have to work for a living. Ha! How more off base could they possibly be?

For awhile I was able to let these comments roll off my back, because I was certain that once I proved how successful I could be running my own business from home that things would get better. Well, in a short period of time, I was already exceeding my income level from my former job, I was happier, healthier, and life was going great. Then one day it happened. I was at the grocery store and ran into an ex-coworker. The first words out of her mouth where “So, are you still doing that internet thing?” Wow, I was in shock. I answered with a simple “yes” hoping to wrap up the conversation and get out of there. No such luck, chatty Cathy had one more bomb to drop on my self-esteem before she made her exit. “You’re so lucky, I wish I could just stay at home all the time with my kids, but some of us have to work for a living.”

I have relived that moment over and over in my head, and have come up with many brilliant responses that would have been perfect in that situation. The problem with that is, that when I was actually in that moment in time, I was very unprepared and was so shocked I said nothing, letting her have the last word. I spent a lot of time after that thinking of ways to make people respect my new career choice. My conclusion is that I can’t actually make anyone respect me or my business, and in all honesty, their opinions don’t really matter anyway. However, what I can do is present my business in a way that makes it seem more professional.

I have been following the tactics below now for about a year. Not only have they cut down the less than flattering comments I was receiving, but they have also helped me improve my own way of thinking.

Set a Schedule
Plan what days and times you are going to work, and more importantly what days you will be off. Make sure that during the times you are working, that you are accepting to personal visitors, or phone calls. Also, avoid personal e-mail and instant messaging communications. If you need to take your phone off the hook or put a sign on your front door stating that you are working, then do it. Make it very clear to friends and family that the time to contact you is outside of your business hours.

Put Your Foot Down
If you are being taken advantage of my friends, families, and/or neighbors, it’s time to say no more! This is a common problem that occurs with working at home. It usually starts off small, perhaps a neighbor asking if a package could be delivered to your home while she’s at work. Sound like no big deal? Well, mark my words it will become one. Before you know it you will be asked to watch their kids, walk the dog, feed the cat, and who knows what else. Just say no!

Look The Part
If you want people to perceive you as professional, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. This doesn’t mean you have to wear a business suit around the house, but it is a good idea to change out of your pajamas. Also, keep business cards on hand, when you run into an acquaintance, write your office hours on the back so they will know when you are available for personal discussions.

Use Business Language
This is my favorite tactic because it provokes some pretty amazing facial responses from the person you are talking to. Make a list of all the things that you do in regards to your business and then come up with a more professional sounding description of the task. Use the same tone and language you would if you where writing a resume. My husband loved when I started doing this because all of a sudden he went from “the guy who takes my packages to the Post Office” to being “in charge of shipping and receiving.”

Isolate Your Business
If visitors come to your house and see evidence of your business in every room, it leads them to believe you are not serious about what you are doing. If you keep stock in your home, make sure it is in a separate location than your living areas (your family will appreciate this too!). If you choose not to follow this advice, don’t be surprised if visitors start requesting items from your inventory for free or at cost.

As your own respect for your business grows, you will be amazed at how those around you will start changing their tune. It won’t happen overnight, you will need to reinforce your new rules repeatedly. Of course, there are some folks that will just never get it. Try not to take this personally, and don’t let it sidetrack you from your goals.

Article by: Heather Crowley, a full-time eBay seller and freelance write.

Hot Summer Hosting Special

2011-06-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

Now is the perfect time to get a Brand New Website and SAVE money by taking advantage of our "Hot Summer Hosting Special"!

Now through August 13th, 2011:

Signup for 3 months of hosting and get 2 additional months absolutely FREE ($40 value)
OR an even better deal:
Signup for 1 Year of hosting and get 6 additional months absolutely FREE!! ($120 value)

Special runs June 13th through August 13th, 2011
Coupon Code: MUST enter coupon "HotSummer" at signup.

New Special From Flying Orange for DIYeStores.com Clients

2011-06-02T08:40:00.001-07:00

To celebrate Flying Orange's new website, we are giving DIYeStores' clients $50.00 off any one of our Custom Design packages (Starter, Intermediate, Advanced).

User coupon code "SUMMER" at checkout!
Expires 6/30/2011.

For more information about the packages, please visit http://www.flyingorangewebdesign.com/diyestores.html

Make Your Website Work For You

2011-05-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Marketing a website can be a challenge. There are millions of websites to compete against and finding your niche place on the web will be a constant work in progress. PLEASE don't expect that your website will immediately bring in traffic and revenue just by setting it up and publishing it. Your website needs to be worked on continuously to grow and gain steam on the Internet.
I've gone through the trials and tribulations of website building over the years. Areas that I personally see that need to be focused on over and over again are:
Content. Content. Content.

If you missed that, I said CONTENT. Good content on your website will be read by search engines. Pictures are great and will break up your text on the page but using only pictures will not benefit your website. Good content utilizes your keywords in the text.
Don't focus on the "pretty" look of your site. Make your site visually appealing but focus on what drives people there using the keywords and content.

Keyword research.

What are the keywords that you want the search engines to pick up on? What are you competitors using for keywords? Are the terms you want generic or do they need fine tuning? A research tool I have used and recommend is Keyword Spy for researching what your competitors are using.

Title tags and meta tags.

While I do not rely as heavy an importance on these as I do content with keywords, they are necessary. Use your keywords in your page titles and descriptions. If your business name utilizes keywords, GREAT! If not, save your business name for the end of the page title. Focus the keywords at the beginning of the page title so search engines see this information first.
The descriptions are used in search engine results and may be the first thing a search engine user has to see about your site and what you have to offer. Be descriptive of the page! Use your keywords and focus on the information that individual pages has to offer.
DO NOT duplicate your title tags, descriptions and keywords. It does not benefit you to use the same information over and over. Mix it up so it is unique to each and every page.

Advertising Do's and Don'ts

Keep advertising for other companies to a minimum on your website unless that is your purpose. Advertising other companies and what they have to offer, especially if they are a competitor, will drive visitors AWAY from your website. You want visitors to stay and buy your product or service, not someone elses.

Marking your website doesn't have to break the bank. I am here to tell you that you do NOT need money to make your website work for you. There are times where funds will be involved of course but you don't have to break the bank. Utilize some of the following options to build traffic to your website:

XML Sitemap (FREE) - A way for you to give search engines information about your website.
Google Base (FREE) - Simply describe your items on Base to make them as easy as possible for people to find when they search.
Newsletter/Mailing List (FREE/$$) - Start a newsletter with a service such as Mail Chimp or Constant Contact. Bring your visitors back on a regular basis to view your product or service. Draw them back to want to buy. Most companies offer a FREE option to get you started and the ability to move up to a Pay For service once needed.
Blogging (FREE) - Utilize a blogging service such as WordPress or Blogger to write about your website and keep followers up to date with what your company is doing. A free service is an inexpensive way to get your feet wet and works!
Twitter (FREE) - A free social messaging utility for staying connected with others in real time. Great for networking with like businesses but also attracting potential customers and clients.
Facebook (FREE) - Be sure to read the terms of service, but utilize options available to market your business on otherwise personal avenues.

Having a website is about trial and error and discovering what works for you. These are NOT the know all/end all solutions to a successful website. I've utilized these various options with success and hope they will help you build a successful website.

Author: Jennifer Strumbel, Flying Orangehttp://www.flyingorangewebdesign.com/

Vacation Notice: May 13th - May 23rd

2011-04-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that Shelly will be out of the office May 13th - May 23rd celebrating her 1 year wedding anniversary. During this time, signups for new websites will be closed. So if you are thinking about signing up, please do so prior to this OR you will need to wait until May 23rd.

Client support will run as usual.

Thank you,

Spring Sale on Advertising on Prim Mart!

2011-04-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

We are running a Spring Sale on Advertising on Prim Mart! Now is a Great time to secure your spring/summer advertising at an affordable cost!

6 Month 468x60 Banner Advertising is on Sale for ONLY $50.00!
That's a TOTAL Savings of $69.94
http://primmart.com/advertising.asp

Marketplace Listing is on Special for ONLY $25.00
Savings of $24.99, PLUS we have switched it to a LIFETIME listing instead of only a yearly listing!
http://primmart.com/listing.asp

Please Note: if you are a DIYeStores.com client, you get the Marketplace Listing fo FREE (see Docs for info). Just another perk of being a client :)

Thanks so much,

DIYeStores.com Partners With Flying Orange Web Design

2011-04-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

DIYeStores.com is proud to announce it's partnership with Flying Orange Web Design. This partnership allows us to offer our clients affordable custom website design services, that work with our "Do-It-Yourself " system.

Flying Orange has been providing custom design services to small businesses, organizations, individuals, WAHM's and non-profit organizations throughout Minnesota, United States and International locations for the past 10 years. They provide clients with a personalized one-on-one design experience to help you feel that you aren't just a number.

Flying Orange Web Design can spice up your website with a fresh and new design. Each and every design is an affordable, custom and unique design made just for your website. Your new design or layout may be custom, but you still can use ALL of the features of our DIYeStores.com program to build and maintain your websites pages, products and more.

If you are need of a custom designed website, browse the affordable packages to find the design that fits your needs: http://www.flyingorangewebdesign.com/diyestores.html

Top Five Reasons Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Start A Business

2011-04-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Turn on the TV and all you'll hear is how the stock market still hasn't fully recovered and how unemployment is still rising, so you might think I'm out of my mind to suggest that now is the perfect time to start a business. But I stand by my statement.

If we look at history, more millionaires were made during The Great Depression than any other time in US history and during our last recession in the early 90s many companies still thriving today were born, like Clif Bar.

There are numerous reasons why starting a business now is advantageous, but these are the top five.

1. Increased Opportunities
Anytime the economy changes or a new technology is introduced it creates opportunities in different fields. While some industries are shrinking, others are exploding. For example, while Chrysler is claiming bankruptcy because their gas-guzzling vehicles have become irrelevant, a San Diego-based company, Jitterbug, who produces simplistic cell phones with extra large numbers on them designed for the elderly is hiring and growing at breakneck speed.

2. Less Competition
In the first two months of 2009 the Department of Labor reported that over 800,000 small businesses closed. I can guarantee that these were businesses that may have been barely making it when the economy was flush and when the recession began they realized they did not have the proper infrastructure, their overhead was too high or their business model was flawed. These closures create a lot of space for smart new business owners to open and serve their customers.

In addition, many companies have cut their advertising budgets to lower costs which can give the public the perception of fewer businesses offering the same products and services as yours. The perception of less competition allows you to stand out and strongly establish your brand.

3. Decreased Trust
Let's face it, the big companies melting down faster than Chernobyl this past year have withered the public's trust. It's become obvious that large corporations are not looking out for their employees and many didn't even look ahead enough to protect themselves. Whenever the big businesses that people have equated with security go belly up, it creates a fear-based marketplace. First, people contract and don't buy at all. Then they start wanting to buy, but look to do business with people they know and trust.

People who purchased their lotions and body wash at the mall are now more open to purchasing from their Mary Kay consultant. It feels good to them to know that the money they spend with someone they know helps out that family.

4. Discounted Resources
With many companies cutting back, businesses want to maintain cash flow so they are often willing to discount their services or products or offer longer payment terms than in the past. These options help a new business owner's startup funds go farther.

One area these discounted resources should definitely be capitalized on is in the advertising market. Several larger companies that ate up available ad space have lowered their ad budgets, not only creating space for smaller companies to come in, but creating open ad space that publications, radio and TV stations need to sell. Many of these outlets will negotiate if asked. One of my clients got two ads for the price of one. These bargains allow business owners to make more of an impact for less money and to stand out while others are fading back.

5. Control of Your Future
Having a job is like putting all your eggs in one basket and then handing it over to a clumsy kid to carry. You have no control over whether you will get laid off, have your pay cut, have benefits taken away, have your hours lowered, etc. You have one line of revenue and if the powers you report to decide to cut that off, there's nothing you can do. No matter how many hours or how hard you work, in most cases your salary stays the same.

None of the above has to be true if you own your own business. You can build a business model that allows for multiple streams of income so if one dries up, you still have the others. You control the amount of income you make because you are in charge of pricing and how much and how hard you work. You create your eggs and then you carry the basket yourself.

(c) 2009, Leah Grant Enterprises LLC. Publication rights granted so long as article and byline are reprinted intact with all links made live. Will you be one of the millionaires who create their success during this recession? You could be! The timing is right. Get the info you need to launch a profitable venture in the New Business Mentor Leah Grant's free success kit including a timely special report and audio Secrets of Successful Business Owners at http://www.leahgrant.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leah_Grant

Seeking New Graphic Artist

2011-04-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

We are seeking new Graphic Artist to join our wonderful team and create websets to be sold to DIYeStores.com Clients. Working in conjunction with our company is a great opportunity for you to increase your graphic sales and gain recognition in the e-commerce industry.

Get a FREE Website, Keep 100% of your Sales!

Click here for complete details.

If you already have your own website where you sell DIY Websets and would like some Free promotion, Click here for details.

10 Ways to Escalate Your Online Presence

2011-04-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

You have decided to start an online business. You have a website ready to go but now you have no idea what to do next. Businesses do not become successful overnight, even on the internet. It takes time, work, commitment, perseverance, dedication and belief in yourself and your products.

One very important thing you need to do is to establish an online presence. This will take time so don’t expect sales to start pouring in by the end of the week! Once you start to create your reputation and build a solid foundation for your business, it will start to grow and sales will increase.

Below are 10 ways you can help accelerate this:

1. Appreciate Your Customers – Customers do not come easy so you need to show them you appreciate them and deserve their trust. Be available to your customers when they have questions or need help. Answer all emails as quickly as you can and as efficiently as you can. Be willing to go the extra mile to make their experience with you more than satisfactory. Customers are not always right but you can make them feel like they are!

2. Join Groups and Forums – Join email discussion groups, message boards and other forums to help build your business. Participate as much as you can. Offer advice, help, guidance, and ask questions as well. Do not just advertise and leave!

3. Blog, Blog, and Blog – Blogs have become very popular in a short amount of time. Blogging is very much like writing a newsletter or ezine. You want to post helpful information, resources and more. Update your blog regularly and make it interactive. Wordpress is a good place to start your blog.

4. User-Friendly Website – Make sure your website is simple, user-friendly and straightforward. Don’t fill your site full of flashy animations, music, and other annoyances. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and let your customers know what your site is about. If your visitors can’t figure out what you offer, they will just close you out. Always have your contact info available for your visitors. Be honest, straightforward and provide a good product or service. Unless you are a casino in Vegas, you don’t need the flash and glitter!

5. Social Networking – We all know the sites: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., but not all of us use them to their full potential. Getting and staying active on these powerful sites are highly proficient ways to expand your contacts, increase your sales, and intensify your online presence.

6. Optimize for Search Engines – Research ways you can improve your site for the search engines. Use relevant keywords, bold headlines, effective meta tags, a site map, and update regularly. All these things can greatly increase your search engine ranking.

7. Article Marketing – The power of article marketing has increased over the years. If you are not yet writing and submitting articles, I would recommend you get started as soon as you can. Writing articles does not have to be hard. You do not have to use big, technical words. Write like you are letting a friend know how to do something. Make your article straightforward and helpful. Once you get an article written (include your resource box at the end), start submitting it to article directories such as Ezine Articles, Go Articles, Idea Marketers and more.

8. RSS Feeds – RSS is a means of letting your subscribers know when you update your site with new information, sales, resources, etc. Your subscribers will receive “feeds” which are short summaries of the updates. This is a great way of getting all these potential customers back to your site. You can do this for free with RSSFeedReader.

9. Your Business is Not a Hobby – So many people start a business because they mistakenly think they will not have to work a lot to make money. When I first started online, I was working 12 – 14 hours a day to build my reputation and online presence. After several years I am able to slow down a bit but I must be sure to always be on top of things and to not let my business grow stale. I know not all of us have 12 – 14 hours a day to work but if you stay committed and treat your business as a business and not a hobby or something to do, than you can make your business a success!

10. Video Marketing – Learning how to market yourself and your business with videos can have a big impact on your online presence. In this day and age, we do not need a complicated camera and crew to make a video. You can simply do this at home. Put a little planning into your video, dress appropriately and brush up on your speaking skills. You want to effectively get your message across and you want people to take you seriously. Once you create your video, post it on your site, blog or social media page and amplify your online presence.

Take some time to research these marketing methods and be prepared to follow through. Rushing into things can sometimes backfire and do more damage than good. So, always be learning, expanding and testing your techniques and you will surely escalate your online presence!

Terri Seymour (also known as “The eBook Lady”) has over ten years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com/ for resources, $1 resell ebooks & software, free tutorials, affiliate programs, free ezine and free business ebook with Master Resell Rights. www.seymourproducts.com/free.shtml

Is It Worth Turning A Hobby Into A Home Business?

2011-04-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Many home businesses start out as being a hobby. People have been saying for years now about turning your passions or interests into a home based business. In most cases it's easier said than done. If your home business isn't planned out well, the hobby you once was very passionate about could turn into a financial nightmare.

Ask yourself these 7 questions before you transform yourself from hobbyist to entrepreneur.

1. Do I have enough knowledge, skills and experience?
You are considered the expert. You will be in many roles from decision making, communicating, marketing, troubleshooting, accounting and so forth.

2. Do I have a product or service that is marketable?
You can have a brilliant idea or a hobby you love doing, but is it something people want or need or is it an answer to someone's problem? Test your market to see if this is a product or service that is in demand.

3. Do I have the capital/finances to start my business?
Some businesses require a lot or little start up costs. Be realistic because you have to put something in to make some money. Also take note how long will it take before you see a profit. You don't want to be struggling with money when you're building your business.

4. What is my business plan?
A written business plan is essential to all entrepreneurs. These are your projections of short-term goals and some long-term goals, strategies, mission statement, specifics of your business and so on. Refer to it often to make necessary changes.

5. How much time can I commit to this?
Starting a new home business takes a lot of time, long hours and commitment. The truth is you will be sacrificing something while you grow your business. How will you balance family and your new business?

6. Who is my competition?
Knowing who your competition is and knowing what their products or services are will help you tremendously in setting yourself apart and what you can do better in your business that will be attracting the same customers as your competition.

7. Do I need to build an online presence?
Even if you're a local home business you want to build an online presence for the reason there's money to be made. It will depend on the type of home business you have. Just think of the potential customers you could be attracting if you can ship your product anywhere in the world. It's also a time saver for you if you have all your business information online accessible to anyone 24/7.

These are just a few of the many questions that require answers before you think of turning your hobby into a successful and profitable home business.

S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, home businesses, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics.

Welcome To Our New Blog

2011-04-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new blog of DIYeStores.com!

We are just starting out so please bare with us. We hope to provide a ton of recourse, tips, suggestions, etc. that will help YOU build a better business!!

So stay tuned for all the exciting stuff that's going to be happening!