Archive for October, 2009

Drop Shipping, Should I Really Use a Drop Ship Directory

October 26th, 2009

Well, either you dislike drop shipping, you’re a drop shipper, you are looking into it, or you don’t have a clue what drop shipping means. No matter what your level of knowledge is, I believe you can always learn something knew. Here’s why you should give drop shipping a chance.

Why Drop ship?

Drop shipping is a great idea for the small businessman who just wants to make a buck on the side. However, unless you have an incredible niche, I wouldn’t suggest quiting your day job to become a drop shipping tycoon. I would suggest drop shipping for anyone who would like to earn a little more spending money.

Drop shipping is also a great idea for the individual who doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of storing inventory on hand at their home or paying to have it stored in a warehouse. With drop shipping, you don’t have to store anything; the supplier will simply send the product to your customer. You could even request blind drop shipping if they do it. Blind drop shipping is when they send out the product but they put your information down as the return address.

There is very low liability with drop shipping. Really, the main thing you need to worry about is following up using good customer service. For example, let’s say you have a contract with a supplier who drop ships banana chairs. This drop shipper sends the banana chair but the customer doesn’t ever receive it. It’s your responsibility, as a reputable company, to make sure that the customer gets their product. Follow up with them. Following up will hopefully increase customer retention.

Why Use a Drop Ship Directory?

Many believe that finding a drop shipper is a piece of cake. Well, they probably haven’t ever had to find a drop shipper. Sometimes it’s a nice idea to recruit some help when starting up your drop shipping business. Having someone find a drop shipper for you can actually speed up the amount of time it takes to get your business running by quite a bit. In fact, some of them even offer instruction on how to continue with your business and what steps to take to have a chance at being successful.

All in all, if you’re looking for a way to get a little extra money, and you like the idea of earning it from the comfort of your own home while you do other things, then drop shipping is right for you.

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Getting Out of the Rut, an Epic Journey

October 20th, 2009

Have you ever felt like you’re in a rut? You know the kind, you try as hard as you can to accomplish something huge only to get high-centered and lose all desire to dig yourself out? You find yourself just parked there, high centered, waiting for someone else to come pull you out. Someone finally comes but, shortly after being pulled out of the rut, you run right into it again only this time you can still drive but you lack the energy to drive out of the rut. Well, it’s time to upgrade to 4-wheel drive.

There are many who feel they have fallen into a life rut, so, you’re not alone. There are a few things you can do to get out of it…most options involve some kind of change, like an upgrade to 4-wheel drive. Everyone has a different kind of 4-wheel drive; it could be your attitude, your surroundings or even your desire to stay in the rut.

Change Your Attitude

My Mom used to tell my siblings and I, as we were growing up, that we needed an attitude adjustment; I honestly believe this is the same today for many people, they just don’t have anyone around to let them know that they need an attitude adjustment. These are the people who walk around with their heads down and their mind set on being unhappy. To them I say, WAKE UP! Life is a wonderful thing and there is so much opportunity. If you don’t like the way your life is now, change it. If you have decided that you could never start your own business and do your own thing, change your mind.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I think there’s a lot of truth in this statement that makes it, though simple, very profound. If you’re not happy; change your mind. You have that ability, use it.

Change Your Surroundings

Sometimes you need to get away, go on a vacation, go to a museum or restaurant that you’ve never been to before, and expand your horizons while you’re there.

If it really comes down to it, you may need to move in order to get out of your rut. Maybe it’s possible to get a transfer to a different city; some people just plain have to get away from it all. In reality though, I think the better option is to start doing something different with your spare time like start your own web-based business. Serve in a soup kitchen or volunteer at a hospital. Whatever it is, do something that will help you feel like you are being of service; I know it will make a difference.

Deciding to Exit the Rut

There are so many people who say that their job is monotonous and they are in a “rut” and can’t seem to get out in spite of their “best efforts”. It’s more of an epic battle of mind over matter and coming to the conclusion that you are not in a rut after all.

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Web-Based Business, An Unemployment Solution

October 13th, 2009

Some say the economy is coming back from the recession that has caused panic in both the employed and the unemployed. However, I have also heard that even after the economy comes back, a reduction in the unemployment rate could take quite some time. With thousands of people looking for work, I felt mighty glum about the idea of the unemployment rate continuing to rise. I have many friends and family looking for full time work right now to no avail. It seems that either a person is over or under qualified for each position. We’ve reached a point where even some fast-food restaurants will not hire a person without having experience flipping burgers or serving customers.

Last night I was talking with a friend of mine, she had been looking for a job and found that without 5-10 years experience, she was pretty much up the creak without a paddle. Her main question is, “how do I get 5-10 years experience if I can’t get a job because I don’t have 5-10 years experience?” It seems that this has been an issue for quite a few people. With the unemployment rate so high, employers don’t have to be in a hurry to find someone, they can take there time. My solution, for the job hunter…why not start your own business in the meantime.

Seriously, I always thought it would cost me a lot of money to start a business. The truth of the matter is that I can do it for almost free. I had a business plan worked out so that I only had to make three sales a month to make up the cost of keeping the web-based business running; the rest would be profit. I had decided that as long as I make those three sales, I won’t be losing anything. In fact, I would be gaining an education in entrepreneurship that could benefit me for years to come. In reality, not every business is going to be successful in a monetary way; however, every business is going to be a learning experience.

Since I live in a condo with very little storage space and three other people I should drop ship the products to my customers. Drop shipping will enable me to have the products shipped directly to my customers so that I don’t need to worry about where to store the inventory. No inventory, yet another way I can save money by starting a web-based business. I don’t have to pay for a lot of products to stock on my shelves, I can simply order the product as soon as the customer purchases it and have it shipped right to the customer. Seems like a good plan to me.

The moral of this story is…no matter if you’re employed or unemployed…what do you really have to lose by starting up a web-based business? Give it a shot and write your own checks!

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Tips on Proper Web Design

October 1st, 2009

When beginning a web business it is very important to have proper design principles implemented on your site. The design principles, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, and flow could keep viewers looking at you website. More time on the site means a greater possibility that the viewer will buy something. Besides, it’s so much more visually appealing to have proper design.

Proximity

Proximity consists of having all related material together. For example, on an invitation, we put the to, from, where, when, what, etc. all in one place because it’s related material.

Alignment

Alignment means that everything on your website (text, pictures, etc.) is lined up with some other element of the website.

Repetition

Repetition occurs when a website has repeated elements. For example, if the logo of the company is circular and made up of various sizes of circles then the website should reflect that same circular pattern. It should also use the same colors that are in the logo. Repetition of the same elements is important to make your website visually appealing.

Contrast

Also to make the web page visually appealing you want to include contrast. For example, there is a lot of contrast between black and white in a black and white photo. You could also add contrast to your site by using different textures.

Flow

Flow on a website is designed to take the viewers attention immediately to the main point of the site. It may start at a featured product and then the design is structured so that the readers eyes move from point to point on the website. The ideal result is to encourage the viewer to view the entire site.

Try these for a while, I can almost guarantee that these principles will increase your sales. Trust me, I’ve been on sites that I haven’t been able to stand. As a result I spend very little time there and never go back again. Visually appealing websites are more likely to draw in customers, keep them there, and get them coming back.

GoGo Dropship encourages you to try this; you will be glad that you did.

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