Home Wealth Project
Extensive Research On How To Build Wealth From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
Please consider WEIRD
Nov 23rd
My latest book, We Are All Weird, came out 8 weeks ago, to very strong reviews and gratifying feedback.
It’s likely you haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I hope you’ll give it a shot. (The Kindle edition runs on all computers and tablets and you can read it for free if you’re an Amazon Prime member).
Here’s an excerpt from the beginning of the book:
The mass market redefines normal
The mass market—which made average products for average people—was invented by organizations that needed to keep their factories and systems running efficiently.
Stop for a second and think about the backwards nature of that sentence.
The factory came first. It led to the mass market. Not the other way around.
Governments went first, because it’s easier to dominate and to maintain order if you can legislate and control conformity. Marketers, though, took this concept and ran with it.
The typical institution (an insurance company, a record label, a bed factory) just couldn’t afford mass customization, couldn’t afford to make a different product for every user. The mindset was: This is the Eagles’ next record. We need to make it a record that the masses will buy, because otherwise it won’t be a hit and the masses will buy something else.
This assumption seems obvious—so obvious that you probably never realized that it is built into everything we do. The mass market is efficient and profitable, and we live in it. It determines not just what we buy, but what we want, how we measure others, how we vote, how we have kids, and how we go to war. It’s all built on this idea that everyone is the same, at least when it comes to marketing (and marketing is everywhere, isn’t it?).
Marketers concluded that the more the market conformed to the tight definition of mass, the more money they would make. Why bother making products for left-handed people if you can figure out how to get left-handed people to buy what you’re already making? Why offer respectful choice when you can make more money from forced compliance and social pressure?
Mass wasn’t always here. In 1918, there were two thousand car companies active in the United States. In 1925, the most popular saddle maker in this country probably had .0001% market share. The idea of mass was hardly even a dream for the producer of just about any object.
At its heyday, on the other hand, Heinz could expect that more than 70 percent of the households in the U.S. had a bottle of their ketchup in the fridge, and Microsoft knew that every single company in the Fortune 500 was using their software, usually on every single personal computer and server in the company.
Is it any wonder that market-leading organizations fear the weird?
The End of Mass
This is a manifesto about the mass market. About mass politics, mass production, mass retailing, and even mass education.
The defining idea of the twentieth century, more than any other, was mass.
Mass gave us efficiency and productivity, making us (some people) rich. Mass gave us huge nations, giving us (some people) power. Mass allowed powerful people to influence millions, giving us (some people) control.
And now mass is dying.
We see it fighting back, clawing to control conversations and commerce and politics. But it will fail; it must. The tide has turned, and mass as the engine of our culture is gone forever.
That idea may make you uncomfortable. If your work revolves around finding the masses, creating for the masses, or selling to the masses, this change is very threatening. Some of us, though, view it as the opportunity of a lifetime. The end of mass is not the end of the world, but it is a massive change, and this manifesto will help you think through the opportunity it represents.
View full post on Seth’s Blog
Playing Xbox and 5 More Reasons To Consider College At Home
Nov 9th
How can college at home be worth it? Almost every stereotype about higher education requires us to imagine a sunny multi-ethnic campus, possibly with an out-of-control frat and a vindictive dean. That’s because every stereotype about college misses the point of the place. Universities aren’t meant to be co-ed dance parties where all the education can be taken care of in a quick montage jammed between 90 minutes of extended party scenes. College is about actually learning things, and that is something you can do at home.
Studying from home has a host of advantages. You can set up your environment to work the way you want to, without commuting or queueing or finding that the book you desperately need has been checked out of the library for a month solid because exams are coming up. If you have an Internet connection you have everything you need to complete college at home. You don’t even need a printer – a memory key and a local printing shop will allow you to get hard copies of what you need.
A major benefit of college at home is flexible timing. You’re actually rated on whether you do the work, not whether you were in a certain room at a certain time. Qualifications are all about improving yourself, mentally, financially, or both, so the freedom to fit classes around existing jobs is a major benefit.
One complaint often leveled against college at home is the willpower factor, how you can always drop your work and go play Xbox or sleep instead, but it’s actually a good thing. Just like campus colleges, the most important things you learn while learning are never on the course. It’s the attitude. The mental strength to start something and then know you can finish it, and your college course at home helps you build those intellectual muscles. Because this course is something you want to do. It’s a course you chose, it’s a decision you made, unlike almost all the education you’ve undergone up to now.
You’ll be sitting at home watching something stupid on the TV when you realize “I would rather be learning right now. I would prefer to do a bit of the course, just for a minute.” And whether it’s to assuage the guilt, or because of a deep love of achievement doesn’t matter. Because once you start it’ll become the latter.
Working at your own pace means you always catch your brain when it’s fresh, and can always take a break when you need it. And once you start to make progress, those breaks won’t be throwing down your pen for the night and going to bed – it’ll be a few stretches, or making a pot of coffee, or watching just one TV show that you actually like, then getting back to the work you want to finish. And when you refine that attitude you get better at everything. Because college at home can teach you about law, mathematics, quantum theory or ancient history, but what it really teaches you is how to choose a goal and achieve it.
View full post on Business Pundit
Do You Consider Yourself A Super Affiliate?
Jul 17th
If so, we have what you’re looking for: “leak free” sales page, no opt-in forms, no pop-up discounts, and no phony urgency / scarcity. Great sales copy, fantastic product, and personal & prompt customer support: http://jv.windfallstocks.com
Do You Consider Yourself A Super Affiliate?
Is It Time to Consider an Electric Vehicle for Your Business?
Feb 3rd
For many businesses, vehicle travel produces the largest environmental impact. Think about all those meetings, errands and deliveries.
Automobile usage should be part of any business’s sustainability plan. Transportation accounts for about 30 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. One small SUV, for instance, contributes about 10,000 lbs. of carbon emissions for every 12,000 miles driven. What’s more, some oil industry insiders predict gasoline prices could rise to $5 per gallon by 2012, making fuel efficiency a big financial factor as much as a green factor.
In recent years, many businesses have adopted “green fleets” and bought hybrid vehicles or even turned to biodiesel fuel. But the latest buzz in the auto industry is electric cars (some with zero tailpipe emissions). A few electric car models are currently being sold in the U.S. with several more expected in coming months and years.
Is it time to seriously consider one?
Experts say electric vehicles have the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent in the U.S., since a portion of the U.S. electricity supply is now generated by clean sources, such as wind and solar power, and electricity producers are under pressure to be even cleaner.
However, before you jump aboard, here are some considerations:
Cost: You can potentially save a lot of money long term by going electric, since electricity is a far more cost-effective power source than gasoline. According to FuelEconomy.gov, driving a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle 15,000 miles a year costs $561, compared with $927 for a Toyota Prius and $1,599 for a conventional Honda Civic. (The math depends, of course, on electric kilowatt-hour charges in your area compared with gas prices.)
Electric cars also have lower ongoing maintenance costs, since things such as regular oil changes are needed less often. The financial payback will really depend on how many miles you drive and the vehicle’s price tag, assuming you have no major repair costs along the way. Several online calculators crunch the payback of electric vehicles. The federal government is also currently offering tax credits of up to $7,500 on electric vehicles.
Convenience: The new generation of electric cars is more user-friendly than the old generation in terms of mileage per battery charge. Yet some of today’s electric cars still have limited range: The Nissan Leaf’s battery is supposed to get about 100 miles per charge, though one New York Times tester discovered it was slightly less.
The new Chevrolet Volt, on the other hand, gets about 35 on its charge before a gasoline generator kicks in, allowing it to go up to 375 miles on one trip. Keep in mind that some electric cars require specialty charging equipment, meaning you can’t charge them just anywhere.
Early adoption factor: There are always risks to being an early adopter. The price of electric vehicles could drop substantially in coming years as automakers churn out more models. Today’s “new” electric cars could quickly become outdated, with cheaper yet superior versions majorly denting the resale value of the older models. As with any emerging technology, early adopters are often the ones to hit the potholes.
Is It Time to Consider an Electric Vehicle for Your Business?
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Consider the category of ‘without apology’
Jan 9th
A cop with a Surefire flashlight doesn’t have to say to her partner, “I’m sorry my flashlight isn’t so bright.” It’s made without compromise for people who won’t compromise.
There are high margins in the business of high-end flatware, for people who don’t want to apologize for the lack of an asparagus fork when they have fancy company over.
One of the most vibrant segments of the stereo business is the category of products that are ridiculously expensive (and really good).
Where’s the cell phone headset that will appeal to people who don’t want to apologize for the quality of their cell phone connection?
People will go out of their way to buy and recommend products that don’t require an apology.
View full post on Seth’s Blog
Consider eBay as a Small Business Sales Channel
Oct 5th
Consider eBay as a Small Business Sales Channel
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
Marketing podcast with Lin Shearer (Click to play or right click and “Save As” to download – Subscribe now via iTunes
I spent a significant amount of time with eBay sellers this year as I participated in a four city event called eBay OnLocation. One of the things that became abundantly clear during my interaction with eBay sellers is that the myth that eBay is just a bunch of folks selling stuff out of their attic is just that – a myth.
While there certainly are people that look to eBay for selling the odd treasure, the focus of eBay of late has been on equipping the professional seller – including businesses that are turning to eBay as a new sales channel for their products and services.
One of the nicest services that eBay offers its sellers, that is also available to anyone wanting to start an ecommerce store, is ProStores.
For this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast I interviewed Lin Shearer – Senior Marketing Manager of eBay ProStores.
ProStores is pretty much a turn-key store, with real time payments and tons of interactive functionality with the push of a button. Obviously, eBay data and product feeds integrate easily but, so does any product data or Excel file.
If you’re looking for an easy way to add ecommerce or looking for a way to get started with eBay as a sales channel, ProStores might be one of the best
Like this post? Share it with others
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
4 Things To Consider When Writing Site Content
Aug 19th
Your Web content is your portal to your customers. It’s how you will build interest in your business, tell them about yourself, and put them on the right path for whatever your end goal is. So when you’re writing it, what should you be keeping in mind? How do you make sure your Web content accomplishes everything that you need it to?
Here are four things to consider when writing Web content. Just a little something to get you started.
Your Customers
The main goal of your content is to attract your customers. That’s whose attention and interest you’re vying for. But just because you’re on the Web in front of a global audience doesn’t mean that EVERYONE has no become your customer. They haven’t. Your customers are only the people in your area who would benefit from the product you sell or the service that you provide. When you write your content, you want to be creating information that will specifically benefit them. In order to do that you.
- Who are your customers?
- Why are they on your site?
- What natural questions will they have?
- What are their needs
- What type of language will they understand?
- What will they respond to?
The more you can get your content to resemble your audience, the better you’ll reach them.
Your Goal
What is the goal of your Web site? Is it to build interest in a product that you’re selling? Is it to become the ultimate resource on lawn care so that when someone needs a landscaper, you’re the person they call? Is it to confuse people about the intricacies of search engine optimization so that they just give up and call you when they need help? However you’re defining the goal or conversion point of your site, you want to create content that will put people on that path. If you’re trying to become a resource then you’ll need to produce lots of beginner and tutorial-type content to help people learn about your subject area. If you’re trying to sell a service then you want to populate your Web site with loads of information about what you do and how you’re different from your competitors. Knowing the goal of the site will help you identify the direction of your content.
The Search Engines
You don’t want to write for the search engines, but you do want to keep them in mind, as most of your customers will use a search engine to find you. They’ll type in the keywords they’re interested in and will rely on Google to tell them who is relevant to their query. That means you want to make the most out of your keywords so that you’re coming up for relevant searches. The search engines will use your keywords to get an idea of what your site is about so that they can display it to users when relevant. For them to get the right picture, you have to be feeding them with lots of hints by using your keywords in smart ways.
Where should you use them?
- In your Title Tag
- Meta Description
- Navigation
- Internal Links
- Alt text
And anywhere else that makes sense on your site!
Your Medium
Many times small business owners “write” their Web content by copying and pasting the print brochures they’ve been handing out for years. On some level, this makes sense. After all, it’s content and you already have it! However, Web reading habits greatly different from print reading habits and this should be reflected in how you put together your site.
Some guidelines for writing Web copy:
- Use bullets or lists (keep lists between 7-10 items long)
- Use links
- Keep lots of white space
- Write in short paragraphs
- Use headers and subheaders
- Use bold and italics
- Write like you speak
Keeping your medium in mind will allow you to create content that “works” for your customer. It doesn’t matter how great or informative your content is if someone landing on your Web site can’t great through it.
Those are the four bigges considerations I keep in mind when writing site content. What works for you?
4 Things To Consider When Writing Site Content
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Tips You Should Consider for Affiliate Marketing
Jun 23rd
| Jun 22, 2010 It is harder to find success in an affiliate marketing business, although it is often very easy to start. Truthfully, it takes a lot of… |
|
||||
View full post on Home Wealth Project Riot!
Top Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Online Marketing Agency
May 11th
 |
It is important to consider the contract involved with your chosen Online Marketing Agency. As a business you want to choose a package that… |
|
||||
View full post on Home Wealth Project Riot!
Consider A Soap Making Business As Your Home Based Business | Home Based Business
Apr 1st
 |
Home Based Business Community The soap making business often shows up on lists of possible home based business ideas. For several reasons it makes good… |
|
||||
View full post on Home Wealth Project Riot!
