Now and again I offer a token of appreciation for my blog readers. Today I have a few free gifts and a couple special offers. Thank you for making the time to read the Business Opportunity Connection.

Free Offers:

• It’s not spring, but it’s a great time to clean up your business so you’re ready to Maximize the Profitability of Your Online Business at the start of the new year. This giveaway is week 1 in a free 6-week series from Melissa Ingold of Internet Marketing Sweetie. The series will help you figure out what’s working and what’s not, so you can rebuild your business for long term success.

  Click this link for the 1st lesson and find out where to sign up for the rest of the series. (The entire series is free for Melissa’s mailing list subscribers.)
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Special Offers:

• On sale in October: Getting Your New Representatives off to a Strong Start – Help your new team members get off to a great start.
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When the opportunity presented itself it seemed only natural that Annette would embrace a home business that allowed her to combine her direct sales experience, her love of kids, and her desire to include her daughters in the family business. Annette kindly agreed to share a bit of her story and the Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop opportunity by answering a few questions for me.

First I asked her to briefly describe the company and opportunity to which Annette replied:
 
Noah’s Ark Workshops started in 2004 as the first ever traveling “Stuff N Fluff” workshop bringing make your own stuffed animal workshops to children’s events like birthday parties, scout troops, child learning centers and more. Our reps are event entertainers, helping the kids have the greatest time ever at their event and providing a great “friend” for them to bring home afterward. It’s a blast!

I then went on to ask the following questions.
 
How long have you been with the company? How long have you been in direct sales?
I started in direct sales many many years ago doing door to door back in the days when Avon Ladies walked the streets! After college when I was married and staying at home with my kids I started with my first company (Stampin’ Up!) doing the home party routine but when Noah’s Ark caught my eye in 2005 (still brand new) I jumped in right away.

What is your title or rank with the company and how long did it take you to achieve that rank?
I’m a “Senior Captain” which is the top level in our career plan. I reached that level early in my second year with the company.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
Oh wow, that would be hard to pinpoint I think. I can remember at my first company convention being SO nervous about speaking in front of the group during a panel discussion session that I thought I’d throw up and the thought of doing team conference calls gave me hives. Since then that part has gotten easier, though I do still get nervous but it has been a great way to force me out of my little comfort zone. Probably the best “perk” would be the friendships that I’ve made with women across the country through the business. I have some dear friends now that I would probably have never met had I not been in this business.

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
I’ve yet to meet a stuffed animal I don’t like but my favorite of our line is definitely Cubby Bear – our premium white polar bear. He’s so soft and there’s something about his nose that makes me smile. Our best selling product is the Mojo Monkey – both boys and girls just love him!

What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
Working with my team is my favorite part of the business. I have a private team website, a training website and also send out a series of autoresponder training emails to help my team get started in their first month or so. I have recorded conference calls as well as screen capture videos to shorten the learning curve and I tell my direct team that I’m available to them pretty much 24/7 (although I prefer not to receive calls during the middle of the night!) That said, success is definitely defined differently for each person and I don’t force MY goals onto anyone. I try to come alongside and work with people at whatever level they are comfortable in our business.

Which one or two sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
Our business is pretty unique as far as direct sales goes. We don’t have home or catalog parties since we’re really more in the service business. The “sale” is made before the event actually happens. So most of our/my parties are birthday parties, child care centers, girl scout troops and even the occasional senior citizen center! The seniors love the animals almost as much … or maybe more … than the kids do!

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
Like any company, a willingness to work and a realistic picture of what it means to own your own business. This is not a “if I sign up the phone will start ringing” type of business. You have to get out there and market yourself so people know you’re in business. So if you can be consistent, persistent and patient, things will start happening.

I know your children have been directly involved in this business with you. Are they still involved? What have they gained from the experience (aside from monetary gains)? Do they talk about going into business for themselves in the future or are they thinking of other types of careers?
Yes, my girls are still involved somewhat. When we started this they were at the prime ages for this type of thing and when they would come along to our events the little kids just LOVED having older kids be their “teachers”. Both of my girls have used the experience in our business to find their own passions as far as their own business goes and are working on developing those businesses, so their involvement in this one with me has tapered off somewhat. Being involved in Noah’s Ark has helped them tremendously in their interactions with the kids, building business skills and discovering their own passion areas.

As Annette said, I’m sure success requires dedication and hard work, but to me, Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop sounds like a fun, rewarding opportunity. If you are interested in more detail about starting your own home business offering stuffed animal workshops at children’s events, contact Annette by visiting her Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

In addition to helping her team succeed, Annette shares her direct sales and homeschooling expertise through a number of different resources which you can find through AnnetteYen.com

Are you still interacting online with a username that hides your identity or are you using your real name? Have you gone so transparent that everyone knows who you are, what you’re doing, and where you are all day, everyday?

Last week’s release of Facebook Places produced a whole new flurry of discussion about social media and Internet privacy. And frankly, I’m confused.

When I first got started online (more than twelve years ago), most people tried to be anonymous and maintain privacy. I think many were like me – fearful of who would be getting our private information and what they’d do with it. While there are still people whose identity is well hidden online, I think many others have gone way too far over to the other side.

Not only are people using their real names and sharing photos of themselves and their families, but now many are using applications that announce their whereabouts to the world.

Personally I don’t want strangers to know whether or not I’m home, at the coffee shop down the street, or cruising the Caribbean. To me, it’s a safety issue. Did you see the site PleaseRobMe.com? The site no longer post tweets that announce users’ locations; now they are trying to raise awareness of potential dangers of announcing when you’re away from home.

Plus, I just don’t understand the need to tell anyone besides my immediate family where I am.

But that’s me.

At the same time many are sharing their every move online, I think most people would say that they highly value privacy and don’t want their private information shared. Perhaps we have a false sense of security because we use privacy settings to determine who can see what we post. Or perhaps we’ve just given in because the “bad guys” seem to be able to get our information no matter how much we try to protect it.

I’m pretty middle of the road when it comes to what I share online. I use my real name, and I post my picture, and I’m sure other information about me is pretty readily available. But I don’t post much about my family, and I don’t share my exact location or announce when I’m going on vacation.

I’m still of the mind that if you post it online, it’s available to the world. If I don’t want the world to know, I keep it to myself.

How important is privacy to you? How much Internet privacy do you want and how much information are you willing to share?

[Image courtesy of Faithful Chant.]

I have another free gift for you as a token of my appreciation for being a loyal reader. Thank you for making the time to read iRepNetwork’s blog, Business Opportunity Connection.

Melissa Ingold, the Internet Marketing Sweetie is one of my favorite mentors. She always produces high quality, effective business guides and this one is no exception. And her newly released, The Top 10 Words that Say Buy and Why They Work is another great guide.

Melissa lists the top keywords that “make us want to purchase” and explains why they work. If you incorporate these words into your promotions it’s likely that your sales will increase.

Grab your completely free copy of The Top 10 Words that Say Buy and Why They Work. You don’t even have to supply your email address to download it. It’s my gift to you, courtesy of Melissa, to thank you for reading the Business Opportunity Connection.

Click this link to get your free copy.
To view and print this guide you will need a PDF reader. If you don’t have one, you can get Adobe Reader for free here.

Are you new to our blog or did you miss our other gifts? Find them all here.

Thanks again for sticking with us and as always, we welcome your feedback. You can offer your opinions and make requests and suggestions by leaving a blog post comment or by contacting us.

Enjoy!

To view and print this report you will need a PDF reader. If you don’t have one, you can get Adobe Reader for free here.

Note: Every effort has been made to accurately represent this product and its potential. Each individual’s success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire and motivation. As with any business endeavor, there is an inherent risk of loss of capital and there is no guarantee that you will earn any money.

Sorry. This guide is no longer available.

How to Use StumbleUpon to Grow Your Online Business

StumbleUpon operates like a social networking and bookmarking website allowing users to rate and rank pages and share them with fellow users. It also helps users find relevant and useful websites based on the pages they like and share.

As a business owner, StumbleUpon’s unique user driven approach can drive tons of traffic to your website. It’s ranked as one of the thirty largest social bookmarking sites with almost 10 million members and more than 500 topics to search through.

This report breaks down how you can use StumbleUpon to grow your business, step-by-step. And it includes a handy checklist to help keep you on track.

If you’re looking for a direct sales party plan company with a proven track record, Watkins, Inc. may be the perfect choice. Founded in 1868, the “J.R. Watkins Medical Company” originally sold health “remedies.” While the company still sells it’s premier Red Liniment pain reliever, the product line now also includes gourmet food products, natural cleaning products, personal care products, and more.

In addition to their commitment to providing natural products for its customers, the company works hard to protect the environment through responsible manufacturing and recycling programs, and they help the community through charitable programs.

Some of the benefits of becoming a Watkins, Inc. Associate are:

• You’ll be joining a proven, well-known company.
• Consumers are more and more interested in natural products.
• Selling consumable products makes it easier to gain repeat customers.
• You can get started for under $50.
• The company offers rewards and bonus programs.

For more information and to contact a consultant who will help you get started, visit the Watkins, Inc. page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Image courtesy of dan taylor.

Summer is here and many people are looking for temporary work, including teachers, high school students, and college students. Depending on where you live, a summer job may be next to impossible to find. An alternative may be to start your own summer business offering a service. Here are some summer business ideas.

There are always the standard summer services including:

• Lawn mowing and landscaping – competitive pricing and professional service are the keys to success.
• Child care – many parents need babysitting or mother’s helper services for school-aged children during summer vacation.
• Car washing – consider going mobile; wash cars at owners’ homes or place of business.
• House sitting – many people go on vacation and having a house sitter adds some security in addition to keeping the plants watered.
• Pet sitting – an added house sitting service.
• Painting – indoors and out.

If you have a particular skill perhaps you can put it to use for the summer:
• Photography service – take pictures at family reunions, beach parties, and other summer parties and events.
• Tutoring – many parents look for help for their kids to catch up or get ahead during the summer.

Here are a few ideas that aren’t as common:
• Yard sale organizer – many homeowners would welcome the help to set up and run a yard sale.
• Window washer – while many people keep the inside of their windows clean, outside window washing is often a job that homeowners put off.
• Specialty cleaning services – think about specific items that could use a special cleaning like home computers and laptops, collectibles, all the framed artwork and photos hanging in the home.
• Specialty organization service – organize pantries and kitchen cabinets or collections of CDs and DVDs or books.
• Mover – many people move during the summer and need help packing and loading the truck. Or offer your services to help students move in and out of the dorms.
• Party helper – offer your services to help set up, serve guests, and clean up for summer parties.

With a little creativity and advertising you may find yourself very busy and well-paid all summer. Sometimes all it takes is finding that first job and word-of-mouth gets you booked for the rest of the summer. And if nothing else, it’s a great time to clean your own home and sell your unused items at your own yard sale or using an online auction site such as eBay.

Are you running a summer business? Leave a comment to let us know what you’re doing and how it’s going.

Image courtesy of sidewalk flying.

As the school year comes to a close, parents and teens begin looking for ways for the kids to occupy their time off. For many teens a summer job would be ideal, but there are probably very few jobs available. If your teen has the maturity and independence required, a summer business may be the perfect solution to a productive summer.

There are traditional choices such as lawn mowing, car washing, and pet sitting and many other choices for self-starters. Here are some of our previous posts containing business ideas that might work for your teen.

• Teen Business Idea
• Ways Teens Can Make Money Online
• Starting an In-home Pet Sitting Business
• All summer will you be hearing “Mom, I’m bored!” or…”

Some businesses involve a good deal of responsibility, so be sure your teen can handle what they are taking on before allowing him or her to proceed. There may be some risk involved as well, whether risk of physical injury from the tools being used or some “stranger danger” when going to others home to perform work. Be sure your teen understands the risks, knows how to avoid danger, and knows what to do if they are in danger or get injured.

Earning money is just one of the rewards of a summer business. In addition to learning valuable business skills, additional benefits including building self-confidence, gaining more independence, and enjoying a sense of accomplishment.

With a little entrepreneurial spirit, some imagination, and a lot of hard work, the summer can be profitable for a teenager.

Are you a teen (or parent of a teen) with a business or a plan to start one this summer? Please post a comment and tell us about it.

If you’re thinking about joining a direct sales party plan company and you love chocolate, the Dove Chocolate Discoveries opportunity is very tempting. It tempts me and I’m not considering direct sales!

Here are some of the reasons it might be the right choice for you:

• While the direct sales consultant opportunity is fairly new (it launched in 2007) the parent company, Mars Inc. has been in business since 1911.
• The brand is well-known and has a very good reputation.
• Chocolate is a $16 billion a year industry in the United States. Americans eat an average of 10-12 pounds of chocolate per year.
• Since it’s a consumable product you will have repeat customers.
• Earn 25-40% sales commission.
• Sell products at fun tasting parties.
• It’s chocolate. Need I say more?

With increased evidence of and interest in the health benefits of chocolate, the trend towards using it more often in savory dishes, and our love of it as a sweet treat, a chocolate business is likely to be increasingly successful.

For more information and to contact an independent consultant to start your own home business, visit the Dove Chocolate Discoveries page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

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When the first social networking sites started, only very few people used them. However, they’ve gained popularity because they are easy enough for anyone to use. While social networking sites offer more advanced options for the technically savvy user, anyone can learn the basics of these sites with very little time and training. But for many of us, using them to build your business may not seem so easy. The Social Networking Workbook shows you how to make the most of social networking.

Social networks are websites that let people join, find their friends, and share information with each other. Facebook and Twitter are two well-known social networking sites, and there are many others.

Like many people, you may already be using these sites to find friends and stay updated with them in real time. In much the same way, you can use these sites to connect with business partners and customers you already have, and to expand your business. However, successfully using social networking for business does require a different strategy.

The Social Networking Workbook walks you through the steps to take to get the most out of social networking for business. It’s written for the beginner, but if you’ve already tried social networking and feel like it’s a waste of time, the workbook can help you refocus and make the most of the time you spend social networking.

Claim your copy of the Social Networking Workbook for just $2. Also included is a handy checklist to help you stay organized and focused while you develop your successful social networking strategy.