Kristie T’s Home Business Blog Fun, mom-geared work-at-home tips and advice on making money on the net.

It’s funny…. people really bust their brains trying to think of what products and services to offer when sometimes the answer is right under their nose. Often the BEST product ideas come just from listening to your customers. What do they need? What are their problems? How could you help them solve them.

Recently this happened for me. In my web design business, I really stive to make sure that in addition to looking great, that their website is making them money. And recently a client said to me, “Kristie, you really should bill me for the time we talk. What you say is so helpful to me. I really appreciate it.” And then about a week later, another client said, “Kristie, let’s talk ‘on the clock’ You give really great adice when we talk.” And then again a couple weeks later, still another client asked to “book some time to talk about his business.”

So a little bell went off and I said, “Hmm, I guess it’s time to start offering coaching!” And so I put up a web page for my marketing coaching. Well let me tell you that word of mouth kicked in. And the great news is that my schedule is filling up with new marketing coaching clients.

Just a little lesson to always keep your ears perked - if you listen, your audience will tell you exactly what they need and how you can help them!

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There’s a cool work at home event I thought you’d want to know about. There’s a terrific line up of speakers, shopping, and networking with some of the coolest work at home moms on the planet! — It’s the Work at Home Expo 2006 on November 6-10.

Topics include getting free publicity, blogging, website selling, life balance, and how to use audio in your marketing.

You’ll get to hear inspiring women like:

- Kelly McCausey, Wahm Talk Radio
- Alice Seba, Internet Based Moms
- Nicole Dean, Show Mom The Money
- and me - Kristie T!

So whether you want to exhibit your products, do a little shopping,learn something new for your business, or just mingle with other moms this is the place to do it.

Best of all, admission is FREE! Reserve your spot at this event now!

Here’s the link to sign up for the Work at Home Expo.

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Recently when I was working on a web design project, the client was having trouble sending me some high resolution graphics he wanted to use. That’s when I stumbled upon this cool little service called Send Space that makes it easy to email big files.

The trouble is that some email programs limit the size of email attachments. SendSpace let’s you can send pictures, video clips, music, presentations, word files and all kind of documents and media for free. All you do is browse to the file, upload, and you are done. It sends an email to the person you want to send the file to telling them where to download the document on their site.

Try out this cool service for sending big files online.

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As I type this I am in the middle of photocopying 3 years worth of my business financial recipts and documents. I had them stored in the basement. The basement flooded last night. And I had foolishly kept my old records in cardboard boxes on the floor.

You need to keep receipts for your business in case you ever get audited. So I am making copies of my soaking wet papers so if the IRS man ever comes, he’ll have the stuff he needs.

So my tip to you is, if you MUST keep any of your business records in your basement, pay the extra money to get plastic containers to store them in.

Just one of those hard learned lessons in business.

So, after I finish copying 2003-2005 of my business, I’m off to Office Max to get plastic containers to hold my old business files in.

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Help! My kids want their toy room back. Will you help me get rid of 2000 books in time for Xmas? I want to make room for the toys that Santa wants to bring them!

Now you probably may be wondering….
“Why does Kristie T have 2000 books in her basement?”

That’s a great question!

When I did my TV media tour 3 years ago, my home business book, I Love My Life: A Mom’s Guide to Working from Home was selling like hotcakes. And I asked my printer, how many should I print on my 2nd print run. They said, 20,000 books. So I listened to them. Now I did sell 8000 books in about 1 year - which is really a bestseller in the book industry. But I still have 12,000 books.

The trouble is that 2000 of these books are in my basement. And my kids really want their basement back since it’s their toy room and Christmas is coming.

So what would you do to get rid of 2000 books fast? I decided to give them away for just $1 each (minimum order of 10 books).

It’s a perfect gift for…
- virtual assistants
- entrepreneurs
- business and life coaches
- moms who want to be at home with the kids
- retired people who need a little extra income
- or anyone who wants to earn a living from home

You could also use them for:
- gifts for your employees
- incentives/gifts for your direct selling downline.
- prizes on your web site
- a bonus when people buy your product
- gifts for your top affiliates
- Heck, you could even sell them on your website Ebay at retail of $14.95 each (that’s retail price!)

Get a clients that people will thank you for!
Contact me to reserve your stack of Holiday Giveaway Books for just $1 each (what a steal!)

Your Happy Holiday Elf…
Kristie T

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I am certain that in your experience as an entrepreneur that you have gotten a note from one of your ezine subscribers who is upset because you have advertisements and product recommendations in your email newsletter or mention affiliate products in your email tips.

I got a note from one such subscriber today. She was a long time advertiser on our Webmomz site. She said that there are lots of home business websites out there that offer great free newsletters that don’t have advertising. Then she really put me down and took a knock at my character for being so low as to be “one of those marketers” and sending product recommendations.

Now I take offense to this. I love helping mom entrepreneurs to be successful in their online business. And I know it’s working because I get lots of feedback from work at home moms who are thankful for the helpful business advice we have given them.

I mean, there are lots of very reputable services that support themselves with ads:

- Yahoo email and Yahoo groups - supported by ads
- Google Gmail - supported by ads
- Read any major magazine - they are supported by ads
- Watch any tv show - supported by ads
- Read any newspaper - supported by ads.
- Listen to the radio - ads there too!

Yes, I love helping moms and would love to do it for free - but I also have a family to feed, bills to pay, a mortgage to pay. So I need to do something that allows me to make money AND help others. Webmomz has been the perfect match for me and helped me to earn a respectable 6 figure salary this year.

Our goal at Webmomz is to offer you the net’s #1 source of mom entrepreneurs tools, advice and information. That means we need a whole team of people to help create content, build web pages, proofread copy, set up our teleseminars, answer the phones, answer your e-mails and let people know we’re here for them. Those people require that we pay them.

I know we are offer tremendous value in our offerings at Webmomz. I get many thank you notes a day that back that up.

What are your thoughts on offering ads in your newsletters? Do you get some newsletters that are more advertising then content? Share your thoughts here.

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Do you know how your clients find you? I do. Everytime I get a new client one of the first questions I ask is, “How did you find me.” Then I added a custom field right into my QuickBooks called “How they found me”. That way I can run a customer report and see in an instant what marketing efforts are working best. You could also easily track marketing results in a spreadsheet.

All small business owners and entrepreneurs should review this information once a year or so.

Here’s how my clients for web design business Branding on the Net found me over the past 10 years:

Percent Method
57.97 % referrals
17.39% networking
5.80% webmomz
4.35% book
2.90% unknown
2.90% search engine
2.90% speaking
1.45% articles
1.45% ezine
1.45% local publicity
1.45% yellow pages

I have been VERY blessed to enjoy a lot of referral business. There’s nothing better than having raving fans spreading the word that you are “the” person to do websites for authors, speakers, and consultants. And I send little “thank you” notes to people who refer me to let them know I really appreciate them.

The 2nd biggest way I get business is through my personal networking. These are people mostly I “ran into” online through teleclasses I have taken, forums I have been a member of, events I have attended etc.

Do you track your marketing? What marketing methods work best for you? Share your marketing results and thoughts here!

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The other day I was at Office Max and saw a customer bring some empty ink cartridges to the register and got a free ream of recycled paper. So after the customer left, I naturally asked the Office Max salesperson what that was about.

Did you know that you can bring up to 10 empty ink cartridges into OfficeMax and you get $3 for each one of them. Or, you can also get a ream of recycled paper for each empty cartridge turned in. You just shop the store, bring your items to the register along with your empty cartridges, and you’ll get the dollars taken off at the register. Neat huh?

So now instead of throwing those empty ink cartridges away, I save them and get free paper instead.

Did you know about this deal with empty ink cartridges at Office Max? Are there any other cool deals like this you have found at office supply stores?

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Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? If you know the answer to odds are that you are a Spongebob Squarepants fan (like me!)
I was watching Spongebob with the kids this morning and they had a fun business theme. I wanted to share the story with you.

Spongebob and Patrick were looking at a magazine called “Fancy Living.” In the magazine they showed this guy that was so rich that he had a swimming pool in his swimming pool. And Spongebob wondered “How does anyone get that kind of money?” Then Squidward said it was because they were entreprenuers.

Of course Spongebob asked, “What are entrepreneurs?”

To which Squidward says, “They sell things to people. The kind of things people want to buy.”

So Spongebob and Patrick decided to become entrepreneurs by selling chocolate bars door to door.

In their adventure they encounter a conman who convinces them that they need to buy velvet lined candy bar holding cases to hold their candy bars in. (Kind of reminds you of attending high price events that are sell-a-thons huh? They convince you that you need this product, that coaching, this tool if you are going to succeed as an entrepreneur)

And of course Spongebob and Patrick reply in unison
“We need them, we need them!” So they bought the candy bar holders went on their merry way to sell chocolate bars and get rich. As they skip off they say, “Fancy living, here we come!”

To which the conman replies, “SUCKERS!”

If there is one thing I have learned in my entrepreneurial journey it’s that you don’t need to buy every ebook out there. It is far better to buy one ebook, and APPLY it. Having a whole library of “the latest” education does you no good if you don’t apply it.

My theme this year is, “less input, more output”. Will you join me? Here’s to a year of APPLYING what we learn and getting awesome results for our businesses.

Are you a Spongebob fan? Have you been suckered into buying marketing stuff you wish you hadn’t? Share your stories here.

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Once in a while you meet someone who from the moment you meet you know that you will be lifelong friends. Michael Angier, the founder of SuccessNet has been one of those friends for me.

About 3-4 years ago I attended his World Class Business event and it was truly a life changing experience for me. It helped me really see the potential I had for myself and my business. And, since then, I have always looked to Michael as a mentor and friend.

And yesterday, October 10th was a very special date. It marked the 10 year anniversary of SuccessNet his personal development organization.

And to celebrate, Michael is doing something really cool. He is offering a decade’s worth of the finest expert programs, systems, reports and courses, all geared toward one thing–your personal and professional success. I wanted to let you know, because these concepts have played such an important role in my life. And I know they will help you too.

This is the biggest sale of online success resources in the past ten years. He is offering incredible packages from all the top experts at pennies on the dollar. The sale will last for 10 days, but the prices go every day starting October 12th.

Take a peak at his SuccessNet 10th Anniversary celebration specials.

In his “vault” of goodies, you’ll find fantastic personal growth items on motivation, prosperity, productivity, business, relationship, goals, focus–and a bunch more!. (My Motherload Success Bundle is in there too!)

So, don’t you deserve a little something just for you?
Or maybe you want to give something special to a friend.

Just wanted you to know.

I am SO proud of my friend Michael. He is an amazing human being. And I want to celebrate the contribution he has made to this world. I’ll hope you’ll join the celebration and check out his fun filled festival for his SuccessNet 10 Year Anniversary.

Hugs,
Kristie T

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