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[T1109]Top 10 Things To Do Before You Die

by Rich Ness, Ric

1. You will not get rich quick. Contrary to what you read in the hyped up websites and sales copy that are trying to sell you a business opportunity of some sort, it will take time to sell your product or service. Your customers need to find you, so make sure you have a plan so that they find you. Once they are interested in your offer, make sure it is persuasive and you have credibility. Fill your pipeline, keep advertising and know that it will take time to get the sales rolling in. Once the sales start coming in continue your marketing campaign. Just like the saying goes a force in motion, remains in motion!

2. Setting up your website might be time consuming... If you have to create a website, you will have to learn html, find a web host and use templates to create your website. To save time (but not money) you could contact a web designer to build the website for you. Otherwise get ready to learn a new skill, like I did. The good news is it to less than a week for me to learn the basics and get a website going. There are many web hosts that offer website templates. Just fill in your info. But, what are you going to say? I recommend that you write out your web design on paper or in Microsoft word. Then fill in your template. Have your friends and family check it out to make sure it looks ok. Then publish and you're in business.

3. Does the affiliate program provide you're considering provide a free website? You're in luck if they do. Now it is just a matter of marketing. Double check with the person in charge of your affiliate program to see if there might be a hosting fee in the future. With affiliate programs I suggest you learn about cloaking your affiliate URL. This will protect your profits. You can learn about cloaking by search the term in Google. If your an experienced webmaster ask if you can customize you affiliate website. Sometimes, depending on the program, they will not tell you about that.

4. Set a budget. Know up front how much you are prepared to invest in your online business venture. Be prepared to lose that money if the business fails. Use money that you can afford to lose and will not affect your needs. Don't borrow money to fund your project if possible. But working online I know it will be necessary to use your credit card to get things going, but be sure to pay it back. If you have excel, setup a budget/accounting program. Don't take chances or over spend.

5. Have realistic earnings expectations. If you learn about a fabulous business opportunity that will make you so much money... don't believe the hype. Wait until tomorrow or the next day before you make your decision about the opportunity presented to you. If you're presented with the opportunity to make extremely large amounts of money follow, decide if the claim is over stated. Don't think that you can wake up in the morning in your underwear, check your email and see you have made tons of sales, like they want you to believe. Think about what your real earning potential is going to be with your new business. Ask others what they think about it.

6. Start small and make sure that this business is for you. Find a small online business that you can start that has a product many people can use. With this new business, see how you like doing business on the internet. It's not for everybody. But if you like it and want to continue in your new found career, then invest more into your company. If you discover it was not for you, you did not lose too much.

7. Learn online marketing skills now when you are sure about getting series about online marketing, you will need to improve your marketing skills. There is alot to learn. Find out where you can market and use it to your best advantage. This includes the correct way to get listed in search engines, Google adwords and ezine advertising, email marketing and don't send spam. Learn to write articles and keep your website fresh, should help you in the search engines. Be ready to spend hours and hours learning all the techniques for online marketing. Use the easier techniques first.

8. Automate your online business. When everything is setup and ready to go, your online business hopefully will be automatic. When a customer comes to your website, they make their purchase, credit card processor processes it, and if it is a digital product, it's delivered automatically! Otherwise you will have just a little work to do in shipping your product, check email, and make sure everything is running smoothly. There is even a software program that can answer emails automatically. The more automated your online business is, the more free time for you.

9. Write your plan on paper and follow the plan. You know, I'm also a pilot. Before I fly an airplane, I have a flight plan and I follow the flight plan, which leads me to my destination. It works every time! You should do the same with your business. Write out a business plan, it does not have to be fancy, but write something and follow it. If you don't you will fail. Make changes or add to it later, but you must do this in writing. Refer to your plan as you move along in your business to make sure you're on the right course to success.

10. Once you have customers or if you already have a larger database of customers or clients, here's what you need to do. Send them a monthly newsletter that THEY will find useful and enjoyable to read. For example, if you're a plumber, don't send a newsletter with the latest news in plumbing! Send them a newsletter that will make their lives easier, faster and better! Useful tips, make it fun to read, trivia questions, contests and interactive with your company and always include your special offer in each monthly newsletter.

So, exactly how much painting experience do you need to start a painting business of your own? Below are the top 10 things you should know to become a successful house painter.

1. You need to know important things like when and why to use primers.

Example: You cannot paint latex over alkyd (oil base) unless it was a "flat" sheen like wall paint. Otherwise you will get "peeling".

Neither can you paint new alkyd enamels over existing alkyd enamel finishes without priming first with an enamel under coater primer (whew!). Otherwise "chipping" will occur. A common error with older alkyd enamel woodwork.

2. You need a system for getting your prep work done fast.

Example: For instance, when painting walls, I will apply the first coat of paint before I do my common drywall repairs of things like holes, stress cracks, loose tape seams, etc. That way you get to know the walls and the trouble areas show up easier because of the fresh paint.

3. You need to know the best time-saving techniques or speed tips to make the most money per job. Things as simple as having a fan around to quickly dry freshly painted walls and ceilings so you can get going on cutting in the second coat.

4. You want to test which paints are the best to use. Once I find my favorite products I stay with them because I know them well and how they perform. Also, I like to use name brand leaders like Benjamin Moore. Name brands that represent high quality to the homeowner. Cheap paint takes more effort and doesn't make your job look as good afterwards anyways.

5. You need to know how to do basic drywall or plaster repairs. Basic repairs like loose tape lines, fixing water damage, etc. When I fist started my painting business I didn't even know how to fix a hole in the wall caused by a doorknob (a common repair).

6. You need to know about stain blocking. Stains like water spots, ink spots, etc. that permeate through latex finishes. Ignoring stains causes bleed-thru. I use a simple spray product for interior spot priming that stops ink and other spots dead in their tracks. It's called "Krylon Fusion". It dries to touch in just a minute or two, even though it's solvent-based.

7. You need to know about hard to cover colors. Certain colors can take 3 or more coats to cover well and you need to know what you can use to combat this and speed things up. And even when to charge more for this also.

8. You need to know about staining and varnishing. Many painters cannot match stains properly. You can do it easily if you know just one simple trick. Also, staining and varnishing new windows is a snap once you know how.

As a matter of fact, it's easier and more fun than painting the windows and can command higher profits because most people are afraid of staining. (Remember, everyone thinks they know how to paint right?, but staining is another story!)

9. You need to know effective advertising. A new painter cannot afford expensive advertising that doesn't always work well anyways. Placing a Yellow Pages ad can take 7 or 8 months to come out. You need fast, cheap, effective direct marketing secrets and alternative methods that get customers immediately like clockwork whenever you need them.

10. You need to know about estimating. Most new painters wind up eating their jobs and leave a lot of money on the table. Especially on exterior bids. When you know how to effectively estimate all your work you will make a lot of money as a painter, guaranteed.

Article Source : Pg. 15

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Both Rich Ness & Lee Cusano are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Rich Ness has sinced written about articles on various topics from Painting. . Rich Ness's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.

Lee Cusano has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Painting and SEO Search Engine Optimization. Lee Cusano has operated his own successfully since 1991. He has also helped many others to start their own painting bus. Lee Cusano's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.