Improve Your Listings To Sell Online

I have been running some auctions on eBay and of course, I sell on Bonanza also. I have two booths there. There is more to selling on these sites than just listing it. I found a site that I can use for free to make templates for my listings. I love doing that and it has made the process of listing more fun.

Another thing that is handy is using the search engines to research information about whatever you are selling. Sometimes you can find a niche market for a certain item being used in a different way. So when you are checking prices, be sure to check why people would want to buy your item. What can they do with it? Or learn from it (if it is a book)?

Make your listings jump out so the buyers will click on your item rather than someone else's. Be sure to put extra keywords in the title for that purpose. I try to make it sound different than everyone else's listing of the same item. It is VERY competitive out there and you can claim the buyers if you work at it.

On Bonanza, you can put up six photos and they encourage you to do so. So you can write up some beautiful listings there. Of all the selling sites on the internet I feel they are really the easiest to work with and I have fun on their site......whether I am selling or buying!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Independence Day - 2011

Photo Credit: Sam

The Second Continental United States Congress voted in favor of a resolution of independence which was proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia in June of 1776. This resolution of independence was actually the legal separation for the American colonies from Great Britain. After their initial approval, Congress focused on the statement regarding this decision. The Declaration of Independence was prepared by the committee of five men: Thomas Jefferson, the principal author, of Virginia. John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert Livingston of New York. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally giving its approval on July 4th 1776.

John Adams then penned this statement in a letter to his wife, Abagail on July 3rd:

 "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Photo Credit: Sam

Americans have celebrated Independence Day on the fourth of July right from the very start. John Adams' date of July 2nd as our Independence Day was off by two days, but that doesn't seem to matter much now, does it? The date written on the Declaration of Independence became the date to celebrate and to remember. What happened behind the closed doors of Congress when they actually approved it on the 2nd was trivial compared to the actual paper's date. Since then, many historians have disputed that it actually was signed on July 4, 1776. They believe it was signed on August 2, 1776, a month later. Though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on July 4,1776. 

Photo Credit: Sam

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, were the only signers of the Declaration Of Independence who became Presidents of the United States. They also died on the same day July 4, 1826, which just happened to be the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence. Now that is indeed, a strange coincidence!

Hope you have a Happy Fourth of July with your family and friends! Enjoy and cherish your freedom since we do not know how long it will last.............especially now!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Running A Home-Based Business

Working from home, wherever you are, is an option.

If you are trying to run a business from your computer you need to do a few things. You need to have a good quality product to sell. If you are shipping it from your house and have inventory then you need a safe, clean place to keep it. If heat or cold is a factor you need a room that will suit your products.

Packaging supplies cost money!

No matter what product you decide to sell, if you have the inventory at home, you will need to ship your products to the customer. Packaging supplies such as envelopes or boxes, packaging insulation, labels, etc, as well as the ink cartridges for printing out the labels all add up. I know from selling myself, that buyers resent paying those shipping cost. They seem to expect you to ship for free and not include it in the price. I think they are in shock when they realize you really do need to make a profit somehow!

No traffic if you are working from home!

It can be a way to make money without opening a physical store somewhere and all the expenses that would entail. I like this type of business since I love computer work anyway. Plus working on the computer for your own business is very different than working for someone else. I find I work more than 40 hours a week, but I love it.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Frugal Ideas On Wordless Wednesday

 

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

My Many Streams Of Income

One of my little steps has been increasing my streams of income. This year I have been working very heavily in that area. What streams of income do you ask? I am so glad you asked! Here is my list:

1. Growing as much of my own food as I can. Means that I don't have to spend that money in the stores. So it is part of my income stream.

2. Generating even more power once we get our wind turbine added to our solar system. Means less gas spent for the generator when we do not have enough sun.

3. Utilizing our power system to provide our cooking fuel so we can do away with the propane stove. Another savings that becomes part of our income stream.

4. Now I am running three website stores as well as two Bonanza booths and trying to increase my sales by using Social Media as well as other means.

5. Writing 4 blogs presently. I have added Google Adsense to them and am adding some affiliate ads also.

6. Working on writing a book from my blog, The Enduring Word. Hopefully, that will help provide to my stream of income.

That is about it for now. What about you? Are you still working on your stream of income? If you'd like to share, please comment. Good luck!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Classic Fantasy On Wordless Wednesday

 

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Using Social Media To Promote My Sites

Working from home

I have been spending a lot of time on Pinterest. It is another social network of sorts. It is fun! I end up spending too much time there. I came up with a great idea. If you are selling items in a web store or on a site like Bonanza or Etsy, you can create a pin for one of your items. Then it shows up on Pinterest. Once it is there, many people will repin it, like it and go to your site to see it. Maybe even buy it.

Social networking is a hot word these days. It really does work. I think it is equivalent to meeting other business people for drinks after work. Instead we meet online. I use Twitter and Facebook a lot. Lately, I have started using StumbleUpon too. If you go to any of those sites, add me as friend or follow me.....user name is always katlupe.

Since we started our new site, I have been very busy adding new products to it. Having an online business is time consuming, especially in the beginning of getting it off the ground. Business expenses such as domain names, hosting, business documents, etc. It is so worth it once it gets going and starts making a bit of money. I do love having a home based business that is for sure. I really would have no other choice since I doubt anyone hire me due to health issues. So taking it in my own hands.

How about you? Do you use social media to promote your business or blog? Which ones do you use? Why? Which ones do you hate? Why? I am interested in what you think and will share it in future posts.

Have a safe Memorial Day week-end!

 Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole