Even local service businesses can thrive.
I've been speaking with several people this week that just don't understand why every business needs to be online. Even if you're a local service provider, there are ways for you to sell online.
Take for instance the business of personal training. Personal trainers work out in a local gym. They get their clients through referals, and through the gym itself. Why would they need a website?
Take a look at
http://workoutsforyou.com/ As a personal trainer, Lynn has taken personal training to the Internet, and creates workout plans that are easily emailed to you - for a fee.
So she can create a program that works for hundreds of people, creates a training program, and works via email with her client.
Sounds like a great business, eh?
She can still work one on one at her local gym (if she wants to, and if she has time). But the money rolls in simply but putting her expertise online.
Can you do the same with your business? No more excuses of "but I'm a service business". Just get out there and do it!
Lori
What do you do in your personal time?
For those of you that have followed my ezine over the last year, you know I've been working towards fulfilling a goal and a dream:
finishing my first triathlon!
(Yep, that's me in the white!) Well this past Sunday, I did it! And what an amazing experience it was. When you step into 70 degree water in a reservoir, and see the middle buoy way off in the distance, the feeling can only be summed up as overwhelm. But as I swam around that buoy, something kicked in and said "Hey, you're going to make this!"
From then on, I turned my 16 mile venture into something I knew I was going to finish.
Though I must admit, I did have to walk 2 of the 3.1 miles (my side hurt too bad to jog), I crossed that finish line with gusto.
And I have the medal to prove it! It's laying here on my desk, and will be a constant reminder to myself that I can do ANYTHING if I put my mind to it.
And now I'm off to train for next year's triathlon. Care to join me?
Lori
What else can you do as a business?
I read in the Wall Street Journal of a new trend: lifestyle planners.
It seems as if people are now too busy to plan out their lifestyles, so they hire people to do it for them. If you want your wardrobe, office, home decor, parties or gatherings to look incredible and up-to-date (in other words, staying iin front of the Jones'), then its time to hire a lifestyle planner.
Now these people differ from an image consultant, interior decorator, or event planner in that they don't get into the nitty gritty of planning it - they help you hire these people. They stay at the top of the trends, and help make sure you're on top of the trends. That way you don't have to worry about reading the latest news to make sure you're not wearing yesterday's fashions.
Amazing!
As a small business entrepreneur, you can literally start any type of business - and make money at it IF you now how to promote yourself correctly. Understanding your marketplace is half the battle. The other half is becoming an expert at it and letting people know you're the expert. Lifestyle planners prove that point well. Where else can you make money helping people stay on top of trends?
So, anyone want to switch careers and become a lifestyle planner?
Can You Make Money Doing This?
I've been doing a lot of research on blogs, and how they will impact future business.
Blogging is big business - and it's getting bigger every day. Where else can you provide instant opinions, and have people receive your ideas instantly?
According to Jim Romenesko, one of the few paid bloggers online today, more organizations and companies will start hiring people to blog. “I think it would be smart for firms to experiment with blogs on their intranets—offer relevant links to employees and the opportunity to comment on them.” (see his full article at
http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/site/notablog/story/romenesko/)
So, is it feasible that large businesses could benefit from hiring bloggers to write about internal issues and the competition? Definitely.
So what about small businesses? Can they also benefit? I think its definitely a way for a small business to get known. Where else can you get your information out to the masses quickly and effectively.
Maybe we'll start seeing more blogs than ever - very soon!
