The Suddenly Rocky Ride in Recession Retirement: Consider Some Smoother Ways to Go

Tammy Roussin earns $100,000 a year as a petsitter and dog walker, according to Parade magazine’s annual feature “What People Earn.” I don’t know what that means as far as the number of canines around her feet every time she’s out walking them, but I’ll be she’s very healthy with all that exercise!

But, you say, if you also read that article, Tammy is only 37. What’s a senior like me supposed to do now that my quarterly retirement fund report keeps showing lots of minuses and no pluses? Or, I want to earn more money, but after years of a boring, paper-shuffling job, I’d like to do something more meaningful. More than ever I want to make a difference in this world, to contribute, maybe even just by creating a smile on someone’s face. Or, my husband worked long hard hours for long hard years doing manual labor on the shop floor. His pension is fixed and it produces less and less purchasing power every year. And his health is not up to looking for even part-time work outside our home.

Help!

Have you always longed to be your own boss? Own your own business? Be an entrepreneur? And now that you have retired, you're ready to go for it?

“Well great, but wait!” says Joan Riley, who earns extra retirement income by writing a “Work for Seniors” column for Senior Wire News Service. “Don't rush into anything hastily. Now is not the time to risk your life savings in a hastily conceived enterprise. Ownership has its downside, too. It’s true you won't have a boss looking over your shoulder eight hours a day, but when you substitute a business for a boss – you could end up working 12 hours. You can't call in sick either, and you've no guaranteed minimum wage. But if this is your dream, there are many sources of assistance out there for the would-be entrepreneur. Go for them!”

One of the most helpful: the government’s Small Business Development Centers located in every state in the country (www.sba.gov) which offer a number of training courses, advice, counseling and other valuable resources.

Finding Expanding Income in a Declining Economy

House/petsitting on the senior scale. I looked up an article by Joan Riley after reading about Tammy the petsitter. “I remember Alice,” Riley wrote, “a well-know citizen in our small town, who was often booked solid for housesitting up to two years in advance, and had some steady customers for years. She retained her own modest apartment to return to between assignments. But more than half her time was spent ‘living it up’ as she put it, enjoying the hot tubs, big screen TVs, swimming pools and other amenities of her clients’ homes. Often there was a pet dog or cat to look after, but she loved animals. She only retired when, shortly after celebrating her 90th birthday, she remarried and moved to Florida.

Trash to treasure. Having lived this many years, seniors are most likely to have the most accumulated stuff (downside), but (upside) a lot of it – including all those once-cherished wedding presents – which may already be considered antique or at least nostalgic. (Was it that many years ago?) You may well realize substantial savings in downsizing to a smaller home, but you can certainly look for some extra income as well in the process. Sell that stuff!

Many communities will limit how many yard sales you can hold to make sure you’re not running an outdoor junk shop, but in recent years eBay auctions have proven profitable for many people. If you think you would like to try that method to supplement your retirement income, you would have a lot of company. But is it for you?

Are you comfortable with a computer? Are you a well-organized person, an accurate record keeper, good at details and math? Do you have the time to invest in “learning the ropes” through study and practice? Do you have the patience to start slowly, learn through trial and error, and persist, while resisting the lures to “invest” in money-making schemes guaranteed to make money for those who want to show you how to?

Working with people while staying at home. Remember Mary Kay Cosmetics and Amway, both organizations now almost 50 years old -- and the grandmother of them all – Avon, now over 100 years old? You likely know someone who was, or still is, earning substantial income with one of these companies. You may have used many of the products over the years, enjoying the personal relationship with your representative far more than purchasing them in an anonymous retail environment.

Also known as network marketing or multilevel marketing (MLM) companies, these venerable giants of the industry have proven track records for supporting individuals in making a comfortable, if not highly successful income from their home-based, entrepreneurial efforts selling the products. But are there pitfalls?

While checking out the possibilities, ask yourself: Many MLM companies require you to maintain an inventory of their products. Would you have room if you live in a small home or apartment? Do you have the facilities or transportation you’d need to hold product demonstration parties or meet with clients in person? Does the company compete with distributors by also selling products online? Do the products offer real value to the buyers?

One that offers genuine, desirable products for direct sale to consumers, for a concrete example, is an online greeting card system that makes it easy to send real printed cards in the mail in just a few minutes on the computer. Such a company can be a natural fit for anyone who likes to bring cheer into other people’s lives, or express their own creativity with personalized greetings, photos, artwork, etc. if they choose. Would the company and its product line you’re considering fit your lifestyle and values?

An MLM can be a good fit for retirees who want to work from home, are motivated to help others while earning extra income, are computer savvy, and willing to expand their horizons.

Beware, however, of the thousands of MLM opportunities advertised -- many are thinly disguised pyramid schemes, that while not technically illegal, skirt the fine line of scams. Just look through that endless cascade of junk email you get each day. Overpriced products (particularly “health” related), eBay starter kits, “type from home” schemes and other way-too-good-to-be-true offers are best left right where they are -- unopened in the junk mail folder.

There are lots of resources to check on the business practices of MLMs. One of the best is www.mlmwatch.org

Retirement can still offer some of the best years of your life. Use those skills you’ve built up through experience to enhance those years – your resourcefulness, strong work ethic, a will to succeed, a desire to give back. Even a recession need not stand in your way to personal and financial fulfillment.

Interested in more income, personal satisfaction, expanding your horizons, or making a positive difference in other people’s lives? Karen Saunders has built a successful home-based business that is truly “ageless.” If you’d like to learn more about how she’s accomplished that and useful tips to meet your goals, call toll-free 888-796-7300 or visit Law of Attraction Career

When Staying at Home Means Business

By: Karen Saunders
Tammy Roussin earns $100,000 a year as a petsitter and dog walker, according to Parade magazine’s annual feature “What People Earn.” I don’t know what that means as far as the number of canines around her feet every time she’s out walking them, but I’ll bet she’s very healthy with all that exercise!

I also don’t know if Tammy is a stay-at-home mom – or SAHM as they say these days in instant messages and tweets -- like you, but you still do have lots of opportunities open to you whether it involves pets or products or people.

A recent Gallup poll found 61 percent of Americans have a preference to be their own boss. Have you always longed to be your own boss? Own your own business? Be an entrepreneur? And now you're ready to go for it?

If so, I think you’re in an enviable position – being able to enjoy and care for your children at home, avoiding the rat-race of daily commuting while still having a fulfilling career – and creating additional income for your family!

But wait a minute, a lot of moms I’ve coached have important questions and concerns. Aren’t a lot of work-at-home schemes really scams? What about my time? I need to be able to choose how many hours I can devote to a business and still stay flexible. My children come first. Would I need lots of office equipment? Where would I get the money to start up with the current lousy economy? Would I make enough income to make my time worthwhile? What could I do to make a real difference in other people’s lives, which is really important to me. I truly want to contribute to others outside my family circle.

All excellent questions. Let’s look at some possibilities.

Finding Expanding Income in a Declining Economy

Day care: Loving, capable day care is a constant need for working families and single parents, and in fact, is a growing need as the recession often means both parents have to work. Since you are already tuned in to the needs of children, their developmental stages, and especially parents’ concerns, expanding your expertise to other children might make sense. You probably already have some of the special furniture – crib(s), changing tables, child-sized furniture, and so forth that you’d need. Perhaps you’re not ready for all-day caretaking, but could help parents who need someone for just a few hours while they are in class, or volunteering, or for after-school hours.

Special considerations: Check into your community’s licensing requirements for health, safety, and other issues such as size of home, play equipment, food storage and preparation, and so forth. Are your own children likely to enjoy having others around to play with or will they be jealous that they no longer have Mom’s full attention? What will the costs be to accommodate whatever modifications you might have to make to your home or to purchase necessary items?

Home crafts: It seems every week I discover an enterprising, creative mom who has built her special talents for cooking, or crafting, or her curiosity for how to make life easier for moms and kids into a thriving business. For example, a hands-free carrier to snuggle babies close to your body while still having your arms free to do your work. With the current emphasis on “green” living as well as the scares of hazardous materials recently found in children’s toys, many moms – and dads – are designing and selling healthy, safe, environmentally sound toys, clothing and other children’s products. Or perhaps you cook your own organic children’s food and treats – or for adults too. Your friends always enjoy receiving it – why not build a business on it?

Special considerations: Because of all the recent food and toy contamination scares, new regulations are cropping up daily to regulate these items. While totally commendable and necessary, a lot of the rules will force small businesses to close because the legal requirements for registration and regulations are formidable and expensive.

Working with people while staying at home. You’ve grown up hearing about Mary Kay Cosmetics and Amway, both organizations now almost 50 years old -- and the grandmother of them all – Avon, now over 100 years old. You may know someone who is, earning substantial income with one of these companies. You may have used some of the products, enjoying the personal relationship with your representative far more than purchasing them in an anonymous retail environment.

Also known as network marketing or multilevel marketing (MLM) companies, these giants of the industry have proven track records for supporting individuals in making a comfortable, if not highly successful income from their home-based, entrepreneurial efforts selling the products. But are there pitfalls?

While checking out the possibilities, ask yourself: Many MLM companies require you to maintain an inventory of their products. Would you have room if you live in a small home or apartment? Do you have the facilities or transportation – and time -- you’d need to hold product demonstration parties or meet with clients in person? Does the company compete with distributors by also selling products online? Do the products offer real value to the buyers?

One that offers genuine, desirable products for direct sale to consumers, for a concrete example, is an online greeting card system that makes it easy to send real printed cards in the mail in just a few minutes on the computer. Such a company can be a natural fit for anyone who likes to bring cheer into other people’s lives, or express their own creativity with personalized greetings, photos, artwork, etc. if they choose. (What a great way to show off those beautiful children and your lovely family!) Would the company and its product line you’re considering fit your lifestyle and values?

An MLM can be a great fit for moms who want to work from home, are motivated to help others while earning extra income, are computer savvy, and willing to expand their horizons.
Beware, however, of the thousands of MLM opportunities advertised -- many are thinly disguised pyramid schemes, that while not technically illegal, skirt the fine line of scams. Just look through that endless cascade of junk email you get each day. Overpriced products (particularly “health” related), eBay starter kits, “type from home” schemes and other way-too-good-to-be-true offers are best left right where they are -- unopened in your junk mail folder.

There are lots of resources to check on the business practices of MLMs. One of the best is www.mlmwatch.org

Your personal satisfaction and ability to earn income for your family didn’t need to stop when that first baby came into your life. Explore your options; build for your future; fulfill your potential – and appreciate the opportunity to have the life you love.

Interested in more income, personal satisfaction, expanding your horizons, or making a positive difference in other people’s lives? Karen Saunders has built a successful home based business that is particularly suited to those who don’t want to sacrifice time with their families. If you’d like to learn more about how she’s accomplished that and useful tips to meet your goals, call toll-free 888-796-7300 or visit Law of Attraction Career

How to brand your business and launch your brand online . . .

. . . without losing your money or your mind

By Karen Saunders

A great idea can hit you anywhere. It can wake you at 2:00 a.m., so compelling that you jump out of bed, put on a pot of coffee, and begin outlining your business plan.

Remember, though, in the heady rush of dreaming up the business, to build a launching pad for it. In other words, a presence on the Internet. Because in today’s buzzword search-engine climate, a website is the most powerful marketing and sales tool available to any company, large or small, cottage industry or inspired solopreneur.

You don’t need to be a cyber-genius to go online and get results. But unless you have a clear business objective and message, you could waste a lot of time and money without accomplishing much. Here are seven steps to guide you in developing your website. Use this system as a clear roadmap, so you don’t find yourself wandering in circles. Don’t lose your mind — just grab a grande latte, sit down and think things through; ask yourself questions you probably already know the answers to.

Step 1: Strategize

Talk strategy with your website designer — clarify how your business goals and objectives translate to a website. You can’t create an effective website design if you don’t know what you want the website to do for you.

Step 2: Define Your Target Market and Niche

What overall customer base do you serve? — that’s your target market. Who are they? Any particular field or industry? What characteristics, interests, or needs do they have in common? Within that customer base, find a smaller group that’s a more specific fit for your product or service, and which may not be served by your competitors; or both — that’s your niche. If your target market is people in job search, for instance, your niche might be people in job search, over 50, who don’t just want to change jobs, they want to change careers.

Why do you need to define your target market and niche? Because: (1) you can’t be all things to all people; (2) you and your customer base need to find one another; and (3) the more specific you get, the more your niche will feel you understand them and can serve their specific needs.

Step 3: Position Yourself

If you’ve done your homework, then you’ve researched the competition. Who are they? What sets you apart in terms of customer base, quality, service, and other aspects? What makes you unique? Look for gaps in the market that aren’t being served – those gaps will help you position yourself and define your niche. Plus, it’ll help you hone your offerings, making you the expert who is sought out for your know-how.

Step 4: Describe “What” and “How”

Whether you’re selling a product or a service, what you’re offering has to solve something or offer something for your customers. How it does that is key to making them choose you — delivering the goods. If you can’t describe the “what” element, your customers won’t know you have a product or service that might benefit them. If you can’t describe the “how” element, your customers won’t be clear that it is doable, usable, and of value. The “how” element also gives, in precise terms, the ways in which the product or service will provide the results customers want. It is a descriptive roadmap from Point A (their need or want) to Point B (the results or benefits).

Step 5: Brand Yourself

Let’s say you’ve already named your business. Now you need images, words, feelings, to make it distinctive. To make it a brand. Branding involves several elements:

· Perception — How do you want your customers/clients to think about your business? How would your customers describe you and your business? What value do your products/services provide, and how do you want the world to perceive that value?

· Logo — Clarify your message based upon the perception you want your customers to have about your business, your niche, and how you want to position yourself. Distill that into an image that will be the visual representation of your company: your logo.

· Tagline — Then translate that into a powerful, compelling tagline. Keep it brief (3-7 words). Make it memorable. Be sure it fits your business. The best taglines are evocative, meaning they conjure images, thoughts, and feelings.

· Graphics — Choose visuals that best express and integrate with your logo and tagline. Support your message with every visible aspect: colors, typeface, styles, and other graphic elements.

Step 6: Create Your Website

The nature of your business will drive and designate your website by topic — e.g., content, features, directions, contact info, blogs, links, biography, photos, itineraries. Then start writing your copy, making sure its tone fits the website design. State the key benefits clients will receive, the key values you deliver, the key concerns you share.

What topics your does website needs to cover? — use that list to create your website pages. For example, a lecturer or public speaker may need a:

* Home page

* About page

* Who We Serve page

* Presentations/Keynotes page

* Workshops, Classes, and/or Retreats page

* Products (books, CDs, DVDs) page; Shopping Cart

* Meeting Planners page; Contact page

* Blog page; Resources page; E-zine; Special Reports

* Media page/Press room

Design and develop your site using your visual branding elements (logo, color). Review and test it before going live, to make sure everything works, error-free. Offer a free report or e-zine that provides value to website visitors, while building your list at the same time.

Subscribe to an auto-responder program, to make it easy to follow up with prospects and send out broadcasts to your clients. Then go live and do a final testing to ensure accuracy on all platforms.

Step 7: Optimize, Market, and Network

First, identify your search engine optimization (SEO) goals and your return on investment targets. Hire a specialist to do foundational search engine optimization with meta-tags and images. With your specialist, set up monthly, robust search engine optimization strategies, driven by your specific goals.

Next, establish search engine marketing (SEM). Set up pages on and participate in social networking sites. Post comments on blogs that relate to your business, customer base, and overall market. Write and publish articles offline and online for inbound links.

These seven steps aren’t simple, and they take work, but they generate results and this year you just might watch your business take off. With a powerful brand, backed up by a website that delivers.

Are YOU ready to create a powerful brand and produce a website that delivers? Karen Saunders leads an outstanding team of professionals who can lead you through her integrated 7-step branding and website launch system. Visit her website to receive a FREE 60-minute audio “Put the Bling Into Your Brand” and to learn more about her extraordinary branding, graphics, and website design services: www.BrandingAndWebsiteDesign.com

Polish Your Book Interior with These Proven Typesetting Techniques

(Source: www.Macgraphics.net) Written by: Karen Saunders

 
Choose Appropriate Fonts

A quick look on your software reveals myriad choices of fonts and you can always find more! But like shopping in a candy store, you have to make judicious selections.

It is important to select appropriate fonts to communicate your message to your readers, particularly when dealing with titles and headlines. Why? Because specific fonts can evoke a certain attitude and feeling that reinforces your intended message.

Fonts for Headlines

Choose a bold font with the right personality for your book. After all, fonts (like people) have personalities, and different designs will appeal to people of different ages and backgrounds. Some common bold fonts are Helvetica Bold, Gill Sans Bold, Eras Bold, Univers Black, and Franklin Gothic Demi. Steer away from fonts that are so stylized and decorative that they are difficult to read. 

Typically book designers use a 13-, 14-, 16-, or 24-point size for headlines and subheads. Avoid using all capital letters for your heads, subheads, or table of contents, because they're difficult to read.


Fonts for Body Copy

The font you use for your body or text copy can have some personality, but make sure it is readable. Some easy-to-read fonts that are good choices for body copy are Garamond, Caslon, Goudy, Stone Print, New Century Schoolbook, and Janson Text. Typically, book designers use a 10-, 11-, or 12-point size for body copy. If your readers are either very young or senior citizens, then choose a simple, well-designed font in a larger size (13- or 14-point) so the font can be read without strain.


Paragraph Alignment

Most books are set with full-justified body copy, because the reader's eye can move more quickly across copy that has a consistent column width. Full-justified copy means the type is spaced in a way that both the left and right margins are straight and all lines are the same length. Using justified type makes a page look full and creates a tighter, more formal appearance than type that is not full justified (for example, text that is set ragged-right).

Set your column width to allow for at least a 1" to 1.25" gutter, and a .5" border for top, bottom, and outside edges. The larger measurement for the gutter allows the reader to see the entire layout without having to open the book to a point where the spine cracks and is damaged. 

Word Spacing

Proper word spacing creates greater legibility and is also more pleasing aesthetically. Make sure there is neither too much space nor too little space between words. Too much space creates vertical "rivers of white" coursing through the pages, which is often seen in newspapers that have narrow columns. Page layout programs provide accurate controls for adjusting word and letter spacing (kerning).

Leading

Leading is the space between lines of type. Your choice of font, type size, word spacing, and length of line all affect the amount of leading you will need. Some visual judgment comes into play. 

Length of Line (Column Width)

Reading many long lines of type causes fatigue. And lines that are too short break up words or phrases that are generally read as a unit. The length of line depends on the size of the type. Smaller type works best at shorter line lengths, while a larger type size is readable in a wide column length. A good rule of thumb is to set the line length between 40 and 65 characters long. 

----------------------------
What if YOU could know more secrets from an award-winning graphic designer that would help you create amazing marketing materials in a few hours, would you want to know how? Find out now at www.BuyAppealMarketing.com

Karen Saunders is the author of Turn Eye Appeal into Buy Appeal: How to easily transform your marketing pieces into dazzling, persuasive sales tools! Hundreds of business owners have used her simple do-it-yourself design system to create stunning marketing materials that really SELL their products and services! To learn about this indispensable book, click here: www.BuyAppealMarketing.com

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What Do You Need to Know Before You Design Your Own Logo?

(Source: EzineArticles.com)
Everyone's got 'em. You likely see the "Nike swoosh" logo everywhere you go. And you know the Texaco station at the corner by its distinctive "star." So, you're thinking, "My company needs a logo, too." Maybe you want to design your own logo too.

Why create a logo for your company?
Because a logo:
-- visually represents your company in a graphic form (a picture is worth a thousand words, remember?)
-- instantly communicates your company's essence: what it does and what it stands for
-- complements your company's ongoing identity package so your customers can recognize it year after year.

But not just any logo will do. A good logo is simple yet sophisticated. Don't be fooled that a logo design that looks simple (like the Texaco "star") has been easy to create. Less is better, but getting to "less" requires a process of combining symbols, colors, typography, negative and positive space into a compact unit. Once these elements have been combined, they have to be refined and the best one selected. That's why designers present several preliminary designs (called comps) for decision-makers to analyze, modify, and then accept.

What should you know about creating the right logo?
Your job as designer or decision-maker is to make sure the logo is a strong, balanced image that communicates clearly and has no clutter. The logo should be bold and easily seen at a glance. For example, on a well-designed logo, strong lines and letters show up better than thin, delicate lines and fonts.

The logo's graphic imagery must be appropriate for the business. The graphic itself should work as a unit with the company name. It should achieve a look that's distinctive, yet not trendy. It's best to avoid trendy type styles and extremely tall or wide shapes. You want your logo to look good for a long time.

Choose an appropriate spot color (or two) and make note of its ink formula. The formula is a blend of various inks that's given a PMS number so the color combination is easily communicated to the printer. You'll refer to that PMS number when you print jobs in the future so you can be sure the color on your logo will consistently be the same.

What elements make a successful logo? Here are 10 logo design tips that professionals use:
1. Simple, yet sophisticated
2. Distinctive, bold, and graphic (no thin lines)
3. Not extremely tall or wide
4. Not trendy or old-fashioned
5. Looks in balance
6. Works well in all sizes
7. Works well in color or black and white
8. Graphic element and name work together as a unit
9. Communicates your business clearly
10. Uses graphics and fonts appropriate for your business

A powerful logo is the first step in pulling together your visual brand. Did you know that a tag line is as essential as a logo? Be sure you have a memorable tag line that complements your logo.
Copyright 2006 Karen Saunders

Karen Saunders is the author of "Turn Eye Appeal into Buy Appeal." Hundreds of business owners have used her simple do-it-yourself design system to create stunning marketing materials that really SELL their products and services! Click here to listen to a FREE audio recording, "Put the 'Bling' into your Brand" and learn how to create your own logo and tag line: http://www.macgraphics.net

Developing Your Branding Strategy

Developing your branding strategy can be one of the most difficult steps in the marketing plan process. It's often the element that causes most businesses the biggest challenge, but it's a vital step in creating the company identity.

Your brand identity will be repeatedly communicated, in multiple ways with frequency and consistency throughout the life of your business.

Creating your branding strategy can be done easily by following the step by step guide below.

How To Define Your Brand
This is the first step in the process of developing your branding strategy. By defining who your brand is you create the foundation for all other components to build on. Your brand definition will serve as your measuring stick in evaluating any and all marketing materials and strategies. [MORE]

Determining Your Brand's Objectives
Critical to effective brand management is the clear definition of the brand's audience and the objectives that the brand needs to achieve. How do you go about defining those objectives and putting a plan into place that will help you succeed in meeting them. [MORE]

Focusing on your Target Market
Your value proposition must be relevant to your target market. This means your target market must be clearly defined. It's not uncommon for a business to have to refocus and revisit their targeting, especially if it was not clearly identified in the beginning stages of business.

It is necessary to find the right balance when defining your target market in a way that causes your audience to recognize that you are talking specifically to them. This often requires companies to narrow down their target market.

Why is Your Target Market Important in Branding?
It does not matter what your Brand mission is identifying and gaining the devotion of your target audience is the necessary means to reaching those objectives.

To achieve your brand marketing goals it is important that you know your target market inside and out. This requires conducting a market analysis. This market analysis must be as in-depth as possible providing you will all the data you need to reach your target effectively. By knowing your target audience you will be more confident in the steps to take to connect with that audience. [MORE]

Brand Packaging: Are You Reflecting the Right Company Image?
Branding is your identity in the marketplace, is yours saying what it should? Your company image is all about the appearance of your packaging. What is your company image saying to the marketplace?

It's important to realize that packaging always either has a negative or positive influence on the purchaser. A negative impression can detour a potential customer, just as a positive reaction can influence a customer to buy. A time to pay special attention to your packaging is when you are in the launch of a "new" brand. If you've already built a strong brand that others recognize often people may not pay as close attention to the packaging.

How can you package your brand so that it is an integral part of your business and represents a strong identity? Keep in mind that I am not speaking of packaging has only a box that contains a product, but as a vehicle that reflects your company's brand and image. Packaging can be judged and represented by the following common business tools:

• business cards and stationery
• web site
• answering system
• email address

What image are you putting across with these business tools that you use everyday? What are they saying about your company? Take a few moments and lets look at each one of these.
What are your business cards and stationery saying? Are they saying we are strong, we are confident, and we can succeed in helping you? Or does it reflect an image that says we are flimsy, our dynamics are minimal, and we will try but we cannot guarantee continuity? [MORE]