If you wanted easy, you would not have chosen to start your own home-based business. If you wanted easy, you would have decided to keep working for The Man.

Indeed, if an entrepreneur is defined as a person willing to take a risk with money to make money then it follows that risk is part of this gig. It should also help to remember the words of Paul Harvey: “In times like these, it is good to know that there have always been times like these.” The good news is that starting and succeeding during a recession is quite doable. Consider:

• Disney began during the recession of 1923-24.
• Hewlett-Packard was begun during the Great Depression (in 1938).
• Microsoft began during the 1975 recession.

So how do you do you build long-term success “in times like these?” Here are 7 Rules to make your entrepreneurial journey easier:

Rule #1: Keep Your Overhead Low. With both businesses and consumers playing it close to the vest, the smart move in this economy is to keep your expenses as low as possible. Doing so not only increases cash flow but also serves to increase your profit margins.

Running your business from home helps a lot of course, but beyond that, look at other ways to keep costs down:

• Labor should cost less because, with the economy fairly stagnant, wages are depressed.
• Similarly, goods and services can be had at discounted prices if you look.
• Be a tightwad when picking insurance, phone plans, and health care plans. Finding fat here can really lower the bottom line and increase ready capital.

Rule #2: Make Cash Flow a Priority. Along the same lines, when things are tight, it is vital that you keep the cash-flow spigot turned on so that you have ready money when you need it (because you never know when you might need it)! Here are some ways to do so:

• Get paid. Don’t make the mistake that far too many home-based business people do: They allow unpaid invoices to accumulate and grow old. Have a Net 30 policy and stick to it.
• Don’t discount your fees or prices. See what your competition charges and charge something similar, maybe a tad less. Remember, people make their decisions regarding where to buy and who to hire based upon a lot more than price alone.
• Rule #3: You Must Have a Great Web Site. Notice I didn’t say “you must have a have a web site” or even “a good web site.” You must have a great web site. Every home-based business needs a professional web site, if for no other reason than it is how people check you out these days.

Today, not having a web site (and half of all small businesses still don’t!) is like not having a business card or not having a sign in front of your store. It is small business malpractice.

Getting a great site need not be difficult or expensive. For example, Microsoft (a company I do some work with) recently launched a new version of its web service, Office Live Small Business. For free, you get:

• A site: You can easily design and create an elegant, professional web site in a few short clicks (or even get help with it if you want).
• E-mail marketing help: There is a service that helps you send e-newsletters and other promotions using branded e-mails that match the look of your site.
• E-commerce: The e-commerce tool helps you sell either on your own site or on eBay. (This is the only service you would have to pay for.)

Network Solutions offers something similar, as does Yahoo Small Business. What I really like about these services is that they allow you to get a web address, create a site, market that site, and even sell on that site, all in one place.

Rule #4: E-Market, and then E-Market Some More. Once you have that nice site, then you need to have people visit it. E-marketing is inexpensive, but highly effective. It will help you continue to get new customers.

For instance, we have all heard how great pay-per-click advertising is. After all, Google did not become Google for no reason. But have you tried it?

Pay-per-click works because you are paying to advertise only to those people most likely to want what you are selling — that is, people who typed in your search terms and who then click your ad. If they don’t click, you don’t pay.
The nice thing about pay-per-click advertising is it does not cost much at all to try it, yet the rewards can be tremendous.

Rule #5: Have More Than One Profit Center. If you rely on only one main product or service, especially in this economy, you are like the investor who has but one stock. That stock may go up, but it also may go down. It’s risky. You need to diversify your business portfolio. Here’s how:

1.    Look for compatibility. Whatever new profit center you choose, be sure that it complements what you are already doing. You need to choose a new endeavor that does not confuse your customers.
2.    Look at line extensions. Offering extra products or services — creating line extensions — often is the best way to create additional profit centers. The key to extending your line is to correctly assess what products or services you can add that complement and expand your current offerings. 
3.    Start with baby steps. Whatever additional profit center you offer, be sure to start small. Do not just jump in without first really testing the waters. Start small, and test, test, test. See what works. See if it even does work. See how much money you can make. See what it will cost. Once you are certain that the plan will work, you can then devote more time and money to the project.

Rule # 6: Avoid Mistakes: There is less room for error during recessionary times. Some of the most easily avoidable mistakes are sales mistakes. And avoiding a sales mistake is critical since it can cost you vital business. Here are the worst:

• Not listening closely enough: Sales is not about talking someone into something; that never works. Rather, it’s about finding out what they want or need and then showing them that what you offer fits the bill. You find out what it is they need by listening.
• Excessive talking: A corollary to the previous tip is that sometimes it is imperative that you show some self-control and stop talking. Talking too much not only can turn customers off, it prevents you from asking questions. When you are not talking, you are listening.
• Not asking for the sale: There comes a time to ask for the sale.

Rule # 7: Hone Your “X Factor”: Think about the businesses you love and frequent most often. They do something unique, do they not? They have an “X Factor.”

In times of recession, it is vital that you have one, too. You should have or do something — at least one thing — better and different than anyone else. Last winter, my family went to Mexico, and every morning I stole away to the same place for breakfast. Was it for the great huevos rancheros? Well, yes, partially, but that’s not the main reason.

The main reason was their free WiFi. They were the only place in town that offered it. That was their “X Factor.”

What is yours? What can you capitalize on that you already do that is unique; something that will help people remember you? If you don’t have one, look at businesses you love and see if there is an idea you could copy. Loss leaders can make for a great X factor, as well as smart policies, distinctive products, good prices, customer service, or singing waiters. Get creative.

Try following these rules, and you will see that succeeding in times likes these is indeed very possible. HBM

Steve Strauss is often called "America's Small Business Expert." You can sign up for his free newsletter "Small Business Success Secrets!" at his website - the all newwww.MrAllBiz.com.

It is designed to keep tech gadgets charged and workspaces free of tangled charging cords.

 It includes the Bamboo Laptop Workstation that in January 2009 was awarded the honor of The Green Award for the Most Eco-Friendly Organizing Product by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) L.A. Chapter.

The Bamboo Laptop Workstation sits on a desktop and can accommodate laptops up to 15 inches. It will hold the laptop at a comfortable angle for easily using the keyboard. The Bamboo Laptop Workstation accommodates a surge protector which can be hidden beneath it along with excess cords, and has an air vent opening at its center that will keep your laptop ventilated and your work surface cool.

The Bamboo Laptop Workstation is multifunctional with two built-in docks for charging any two devices to keep the work area clutter free. Made of 100% sustainable eco-friendly bamboo, the Bamboo Laptop Workstation has a sleek Scandinavian design that complements a range of decors.

Many embark on their dream of becoming an entrepreneur by running their business out of their home. Maybe they want to save on expenses, or perhaps they don't need a lot of space for their business.

Jennifer Manriquez of the Bilingual Fun Co.found that working from home provided a perfect balance between family and career. "At the moment, the home based setup is the right balance for me," she says. "With my young children's busy schedules and daily lives, the flexibility it provides me is definitely worthwhile."

At some point, a successful home based business owner will outgrow her home office. For some, that day arrives much faster than expected. Therefore, you should be sensitive to the signs that your home is no longer the place for an office. Have a plan in place to identify the warning signs so that you can be prepared.

Product-based businesses can easily expand beyond the walls of a home. When the dining room table and family room become your warehouse, this may be a sign you need a separate warehouse or need to expand to a storefront.

The flow of customers and vendors through your front door may be another indication that an alternate location is needed. Not only can the increased traffic become an issue for your family, but also many neighborhoods and homeowners associations don't permit this type of traffic. It can also affect your business and/or homeowners insurance, and your liability coverage.

An outside office may be more conducive if you struggle with separating yourself from your work. For example, you might find yourself sneaking into your office after dinner to catch up on a few things or spending a few hours there on weekends. For some, it is easier to have a defined separation between work and home locations.

As your business grows, you may need to add staff. A home based business may not work if you need employees working in close proximity. Manriquez is already planning for the future: "I envision more space for additional employees one day. I have found that I am more productive if I am able to delegate some of the tasks that are very time-consuming. I would like to have an office space specifically for my own staff so that they have the resources, materials and space for completing the necessary work." Again, your homeowner's policy may not cover liability for your employees. In that case, you'll need a separate work location.

When you get to the point of exploring possible locations, assess what type of office you need. Consider future needs to prevent frequent moves. Will you be adding staff within the next year or two? Will you need additional space for additional equipment as your business grows? If so, choose a location with room to expand; otherwise, you'll incur additional costs and headaches when you have to move again.

Consult with a commercial real estate agent who has the expertise to find a location that suits your needs and can help negotiate the best cost per square foot. An agent will also help navigate the many contractual agreements to consider in a lease, such as build-out expenses, utilities, security, maintenance and rate increases.

Choosing an appropriate new location for your business will help your business become more successful. And in the end, isn't that what you want?

Today, more people than ever flock to the internet to locate information on just about everything. They start their quests for knowledge, services or products by using search engines. When creating content for your website, search engine optimization is an important tool to increase traffic to the site with modest effort and little to no extra cost, as your own time is needed. 

SEO is a process in which specific keywords are added to content. These keywords are those that are found most often in search engine results.

Proper page organization and inclusion of keywords help drive your website higher in search engine rankings and helps customers find your company online. The process of creating effective SEO copy is quite simple and can be accomplished by using a few basic techniques.

Keyword research is one of the most important steps when creating SEO copy. Try Google's free keyword tool to see which keywords (and search volumes for them) are being used in your business's industry or niche.

This practice locates exact keywords and phrases that people search for the most when trying to locate specific information. Keyword research should be combined with "pre-click" research. Differences exist in user search intent, from more commerce-driven, to navigational and information based. By conducting pre-click research combined with keyword research before writing copy, you'll be able to ensure your content contains only the best possible keywords with user relevancy as well as the appropriate density for each word.  Density is how often the keyword should appear throughout the document. Don't worry or analyze too much--just write naturally. 

Keyword research should not be taken lightly or rushed. Words should be selected based on validity, volume, uniqueness, competition and how easily back links can have terms included. These words are the very core of web content, and they'll make or break optimization. Strongly typed back links from other relevant sites are very important, but they, too, must appear naturally.

You can hire an SEO specialist to help determine a proper keyword list and page breakdown (themes). However, research can be done quite easily on your own using free online tools like Goggle's, noted above. Try conducting a simple search for your type of business and see what pops up. For example, if you're in the flower business and you offer a specialized service such as custom centerpieces, make sure to include the specific keyword (centerpieces or custom centerpieces), not just common terms like "roses." This will narrow the results a great deal and allow for a more focused search that is better targeted for sales or leads. Make sure during your keyword research that the users are using those words.

Once the keyword research has been completed, the next step is to decide how to properly insert the terms into your web content. One page of content should be dedicated to each keyword and variations of them--including plurals--by designing the text around that specific word. The writing should sound natural and set an appropriate tone using correct grammar. Search engines tend to like this model: Make sure that the keyword/phrase appears once at the beginning of your content, once at the end and two to three times throughout the body of the text. When looking at your competition, you'll probably see that more competitive terms (heads) are used for the homepage, while others (long tails) are used for inner pages. It's very important to avoid saturating the copy with one particular word; doing this could be considered spamming and may have a negative effect. To further optimize the web page, place the keywords in the title of the page as well as in a heading (H1 tags).  

I like to write for users first, and then search engines, so effective SEO copy must consider clickability. It's what entices people to engage and click on your headline when scrolling through the masses of search results. That also means a friendly URL and domain name. 

The first way to increase clickabilty is to have an intriguing title. The title should be somewhat personal, address potential readers and pull them in; you can even include a phone number. The web is full of bland content, so yours must be different. Be forceful; use direct words, terms and type. Offer the promise of something like a reward or promotion. Consider making your copy into a list. A title such as "5 Simple Tricks Anyone Can Use To Design a Killer Website" grabs a person's attention and entices them to click. There have been several studies that suggest people are more apt to click on information that's presented in list form because they believe it's quick and easy to understand. Remember, most people don't read on the web--they scan content.

In addition to using keywords, you can further optimize the pages on your website by categorizing the content, also known as tagging.  Blogs are great for that--all the more reason to set one up. Many search engines and directories use topic categories to group results more concisely. You can increase your rank and likelihood of being put into the right category by tagging your own copy. To tag your copy, simply add a categorical header before the content headline or title. For example, if the title of your page is "How To Succeed in Business," the tag for the page might look like this: "Business and Entrepreneurship: How To Succeed in Business." Just as with keywords, research should be conducted to determine the most searched-for categories to help ensure your tag is the best possible fit. If you want to get ideas, visit dmoz.org, dir.yahoo.com and social media bookmarking behemoth delicious.com.

Another very effective SEO practice is called linking. Linking can and must be applied on your website, as well as externally. Because the voting system of Google is a core signal to their algorithm, you must make sure your website is linked to other websites and vice versa. With strong content and optimized written materials, you should anticipate getting links back, but don't be afraid to ask. The more easily users and search engines can navigate your pages, and the more links to your site other people have on their pages, the higher your search engine ranking will be--and the more traffic your site will generate. Links can be purchased, however, there are many free options available. Add your website address to e-mail signatures, blogs, forums and social networking sites. The more your links appear, the more curious people will become, leading to more visits. If you consistently update your site with interesting and useful information, more people will click over to you, recommend your site to others and keep coming back for more.

While creating effective SEO content may take some getting used to, it doesn't have to be difficult. It's important to remember that the style might be a little different than your normal writing style and will not be the same as creating general copy. You may not get exactly what you want on the first try, but once you begin to publish your content you'll be able to measure the results and learn which areas need improvement. Your web analytics will tell you how it's working--or not working. Make sure you know your audience and with practice, SEO writing will become much faster, more focused and second nature to you. 

By keeping these general principles in mind and devoting some time, you'll begin creating highly effective, traffic-generating pages with ease.

Jon Rognerud is Entrepreneur.com's SEO columnist, an SEO consultant and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Optimization, available from Entrepreneur Press. He has more than 20 years experience building marketing and web projects, including creating content and application solutions at Yahoo!/Overture.

Do you know you can Earn Money On Net For FREE!!!

Well there are many resources and articles on net which tell you how to earn money on net.But most of then don't work well.

You can find whole web sites are made on the topics like
"Make Money Online,Earn Money at Home Business and Work"
OR
"Earn Lots of Money Online With The Best Free Home Based Business Opportunity Of The World"

All these sites looks very promising. But they are just earning money for the owners of these sites.

They are using it for marketing purpose and making you people fool by wasting both your money and time .

If you has ever participated in any such program then you must be agree with me that earning money is not such a easy task.

1.)   Does it really possible to earn money online

Yes , It is possible to make money online.But it need hard work form your end .don't think you can make good amount of money by just clicking some link or reading mails.

If you got a web site then you can earn some money by spreading your business or by ADS.

It is batter to use you mind for making money then to depends on some ready made solution.

There is no Ways to Make Fast Easy Quick Money Online Today. making Quick Money is every one's dream but this dream can't be full filled without hard work.

Many Internet companies pay you to surf the web, read emails, visit web sites or sign up for free offers on the internet. It is natural to get attracted towards such an offers. but after trying these most of people find earn money is not that easy as shown by these sites.

If you earn some then there is no guaranty of payment.you may end up with just thinking about money, money, money.

2.)   What program should I try

Well If you are located in US then there are many program which promises to give easy money.But as i don't belong to US i hasn't tested these .

But speaking to International People it does not really work .

If you are a WebMaster then you could try following:

1. Google adsense : that's my Favorites .I use google adsense on this site also. This is the only program that has work for me till now .
   But if this work for me then it is not necessary that it will work for you also . If you has informative site then you can really make money threw this program. It is much batter than Pay per click or pay per impression or pay per lead program.
2. Try to sell some products threw you web site to earn money that is related to your web site.

By choosing wrong program you may end up by spending more money then you are earning.

There is no way to tell how much money you will earn .
You will earn money according to you own work.