The top ranked home based businesses change over time. Mail order businesses and the service franchises come to mind. Being recognized as this year’s hottest franchise opportunity or next year’s super hot career to aspire to have always attracted interest in that direction from anyone aiming to be a franchise entrepreneur or the struggling student basing their path on what others think is a super hot career. As far as the top home based businesses, today’s opportunities exist with computers and the internet.Home Based Businesses – Top Picks for 2010SEM/SEO services. Content writers can work with small businesses to improve traffic to their websites using search engine optimization and marketing. There is such an opportunity for home based businesses because the majority of small business owners only know how to operate and run their small business and do not have any time to, first, learn how search engine optimization works and, second, implement it on their website. The market is wide open to SEM/SEO specialists. Since original content rules the web, a website is only as good as the newness of its content. It is not a do it and forget it task.Affiliate Marketing. Being an independent commissioned sales person on the web requires a different skill set than face-to-face sales but the concept is similar. If someone buys a product that you supplied the lead for, you are paid a commission. There are systems to introduce you to products to sell; manufacturers’ provide online marketing materials; and there is no inventory to stock. Find the keyword set that attracts visitors to the products you are trying to sell, get them to buy and you’ve earned a commission. Expect high commissions on digital products and lower commissions on physical products.Drop Shipping. You sell the product to your customer, collect the money, and then place an order for your supplier to ship directly to your customer. The company handles stocking all inventory and shipping all orders. There are plenty of companies willing to drop ship product one item at a time to your customer’s address. Your sales channel can be through online auction sites, your own website, or any other online marketing resulting in sales.Use the skills you already have, the experience in industries you have worked in, the hobbies that you are attracted to and the willingness and desire to create your own home based business to search and learn what will work for you. Just because the three ideas listed above have such a promising future doesn’t mean that it is what you have to do to succeed. Your home based business might have nothing to do with affiliate marketing, drop shipping or working for a small business. You may find that your home based business begins as one type of entity and evolves as time goes on.
Introduction To Fishing
The Thrill Of The Catch
If you haven’t fished before, you don’t know what you’re missing. If you did, you would be a fisherperson.
Not only does it bring you closer to nature, there’s the thrill of the catch. Imagine standing on the bank of a stream on a beautiful day, your rod bending under the weight of a good catch. This one’s a fighter and you take your time, allowing the fish to tire itself out before reeling it to shore. When you finally land it, you realize you’ve just caught the biggest fish of your life. It’s a great feeling and 1 you’ll never know until you give fishing a try.
Learning How To Fish
Now that I have your interest, perhaps you realize that you don’t have a clue how to go about fishing. Well, that’s what I’m here for. If you want to learn to fish, here are 5 easy ways:
* Ask a family member or friend who is an experienced angler to take you along the next time they go fishing — they will be thrilled to have a new fishing buddy
* Research online — there are hundreds of websites with instructions on fishing gear, bait, and fishing tips
* Go to your local library and check out how-to fishing books and magazines
* Check your local conservation or wildlife service — they often hold a fishing day where beginners can learn the basics of fishing.
* If you go on vacation in fishing country (which is darn near anywhere), check with local fishing stores — they often know local professionals who will teach you how to fish.
When To Go Fishing
Anytime is a good time to fish; you never know what you might catch.
Some species are more active near dawn and dusk when they are feeding, while others will bite any time of the day.
Certain times of the year are best for certain species. Fishing is a pastime you can enjoy all year round.
Getting Your License
Fishing licenses are required in most places, which you can buy at fishing tackle stores or Conservation and Wildlife Centers. The cost varies by location. Licenses for children are usually not required.
If you want to fish on private property, be sure to get permission from the owner. Otherwise it is trespassing.
Pack Up And Head Out
If you’ve read this far, it may be a sign you’re getting interested in fishing. Just follow the above instructions and soon you will be enjoying your favorite new hobby.
Five Tips for Selling at Live Auctions
Ah, the old-fashioned country auction! The idea of a country auction conjures up certain images for people. The image of a fast-talking auctioneer offering up an antique table or chair is a popular example.
People who are buying household goods or collectibles are looking to get their items at the lowest price possible. However, the people who are selling their items at auction are hoping for the highest price!
Unless a person is in the business of buying and selling antiques or other items, not a lot of thought goes into how goods are prepared for sale via the auction process. However, if you are one of the growing number of people using auction venues to sell your collectibles or other inventory, there are a few things to learn first about how to sell at auction before you bring a truckload of stuff over to the next event.
Tip 1: Make sure the things you want to sell are a good “fit” for the auction house you’ll be using.
Never bring a load to an auction house without actually having been to one of the previous auctions. It’s important to get a feel for the type of goods that the house sells. For example, at one very rural country auction it was common for the owners to sell live chickens, pots and pans, car parts, and farm equipment.
After close investigation, this would not be the right venue for selling your daughter’s “Hello Kitty” collection. On the other hand, the spare John Deere parts that you bought at last week’s yard sale might be just the right thing for the buying crowd at this auction.
Tip 2: Be sure you clearly understand the terms and policies of the auction house.
Visit with the auctioneer ahead of time. Call to find out what the best days and times are to visit. One of the worst possible times to drop in for an informational visit with an auctioneer is the day of the auction. Call ahead and ask. While you’re at it, find out what are the best days and times to drop your stuff off.
Once you have a little time with the auctioneer, you’ll be able to find out what type of commission he or she takes from consigners (which is you), and what type of paperwork might be needed. Some auction houses send out Form 1099 tax forms at the end of the year. An auctioneer may need to see your identification and have you fill out a W-9. Be prepared.
Find out what happens to your items if they don’t sell. For example, some auctioneers may have a minimum starting bid. If, for some reason, one of your items does not sell, it may be grouped with another one of your pieces. Know the auctioneer’s strategy beforehand so that you aren’t surprised on pay day.
Tip 3: Make sure the auctioneer knows what you’re selling.
It might be perfectly obvious to you that the signed print you are consigning is a rare and valuable piece of art. However, the auctioneer may not know this particular artist. Make a note of anything particularly special about your items, and leave the note with the piece. Be sure to tell the auctioneer about it as well. He or she might determine that this is something to highlight on the company website or in the newspaper listing.
Tip 4: Present your items neatly.
No one likes to have to dig through a box full of grimy and greasy car parts to see what treasures might be in there. Separate the parts and lay them out on a flat, or use more than one box to de-clutter the lot.
There is no need to buy fancy display boxes. It’s easy enough to go to the local convenience store or supermarket and ask if you can have the emptied boxes or flats that they are discarding.
While it’s good to present clean items, take care not to ruin the value of anything by over cleaning. For example, if you find some old cast iron cookware, clean the obvious dirt and grime, but don’t scrub it to its original finish. For many people, this ruins the value of the item. So, clean and tidy and organized is the key here.
Tip 5: Don’t complain to the auctioneer if your stuff doesn’t sell for as much as you’d like.
The phrase to remember here is, “You win some; you lose some.” That’s just the way it is. There are some days where an auction house is loaded with people who all seem to want what you’re selling. There will be other days where the crowd is sparse, and the bidding is simply not competitive.
Remember that it’s in the auctioneer’s best interest to sell your things for the highest possible hammer price. But sometimes, it’s just not going to be a stellar sale. The auctioneer is only human, and is also disappointed if a sale doesn’t go as well as planned.
If you notice that every time you bring a bunch of goods to sell that you’re not realizing as much as you think you honestly should, try another auction venue and compare apples to apples. That is, bring the same types of items to the new auctioneer and compare the results.
Unless the auctioneer is particularly disagreeable or inconsiderate to you or buyers, there is no reason to confront him or her about a sale. If you find you just don’t care for an auctioneer’s style or methods, find another one. Believe me, there are plenty of them out there!
The primary thing to remember as you learn how to sell at auction is that the business is unpredictable at best. You will have good days, some not-so-good days, some great days. The more you sell, the more experience you will gain, and the more enjoyable the business will be.