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Successfully marketing a home business can be challenging.  I would like to share a few of my own marketing tips, and I invite comments with your own suggestions.

It is important to target your market.  If you try to target everyone, it actually will undermine your marketing efforts and will produce fewer responses.  For those of us who are IBOToolbox members, our emphasis should be on recruiting, because most people who read our posts and blogs either are business owners themselves or they are seeking a home business.

Be sure that your marketing message is clear, not too complex, too clever or too long.  If no one “gets” your ad, you are wasting time and effort.  I have found that when placing ads on Craigslist.org or Backpage, brief ads produce the best results. Be sure to include your website.  Other contact information is optional, because they should be able to find it on your website.

Do not rely on only one form of marketing.  Social networking is definitely among our most effective marketing tools, but it should not be your only method.  Online ads, distributing flyers locally, handing out business cards, word-of-mouth, mini ads for your email signature are all still good methods. 

One shot marketing to reach out to your prospects does not work.  You must expose yourself repeatedly in various mediums. Some psychologists suggest that it takes 15 or more exposures of an idea or concept before we really accept and understand it.  If you want people to remember you and your business, keep yourself and business in front of them as often as possible and in as many places as possible.

I have people get tired of a certain ad or message they are using, thinking they must change it because it is getting. If you are getting responses from certain ads or wording on a network marketing site, continue using them.  You can add new and different ones, but don’t eliminate an effective one.

It seems obvious, but I occasionally see ads with no easy way to contact the person placing the ad.  I have seen a few posts on IBOToolbox saying, “Contact me for more information,” with no link to do so.

Your marketing message will be competing with many others, so seek ways to make

your stand out.  Be creative and try to pique your prospects’ curiosity.  You can do 

this with a powerful, attention-grabbing headline to attract your reader’s attention.  It can be a question to challenge the reader or provoke a response. 

Be sure to track & measure the results of your marketing efforts.  Nearly all network marketing companies have a “back office” where they can check site stats to see which of your ads or forum posts are working best for you

When placing recruiting ads or posts, let your prospects know how joining your team will benefit them. Besides just earning money, you may want to remind them that they will have home business tax deductions, spend more time with their children and avoid fighting traffic.

Your ads and marketing should always include a call to action.  “Join now!” “Visit our website for additional information.”

Ads should include an attention-grabbing headline, short sentences of two to three lines per paragraph, and on certain sites (where appropriate) bullet points indicating the benefits of your offer, bold, italicized or colored text.  Always remember your call to action telling the reader what you want them to do.  You may even want to add a P.S. (postscript) to reiterate the main benefit for taking your call to action.

These are things I have learned over my years in network marketing.  I would love to see what marketing tips others recommend.

Oh yes, if you’d like more information about the business opportunity I am offering, please visit my website.  http://julie.joinxpress.com/overview-2.html.

Let's See... Food or My Prescription?

This article is not intended to give either a negative or positive opinion about the new health care laws in the United States nor is it meant to begin a debate as to whether the laws will help or hurt Americans.   

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Many people in the United States are struggling to pay for health care and prescription drugs according to a study released earlier this year. 

The number of doctor visits and medications prescribed declined slightly in 2010, and in 2011, there was a 7% increase in emergency room visits, which is attributed to loss of health insurance and long-term unemployment.

Senior Citizens, in particular, used fewer medicines.  Patients 65 and older appear to be rationing their drugs, filling fewer physician-prescribed medications as they struggle to pay their bills.  For older Americans, the biggest decline in prescriptions was for those used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol and osteoporosis.  These are drugs where the patient won’t necessarily develop symptoms when they stop taking them.  So, some patients see these drugs as expendable.

The prices for brand-name drugs increased in recent years, so people with medical conditions that require them to take drugs with no generic equivalent have higher prescription costs.  For those who take only generic drugs, the cost may have gone down for some since more generic drugs have become available.

"The percentage of the population taking at least one prescription drug during the previous month increased from 38 percent in 1988-1994 to 47 percent in 2003-2006, and the percentage taking three or more prescription drugs increased from 11 percent to 21 percent."  CDC/National Center for Health Statistics, February 17, 2010.

"In 2005, nearly one in 10 people between the ages of 18 and 64 said they were unable to get necessary prescription drugs during the past 12 months due to cost."  CDC/National Center for Health Statistics, June 11, 2005

Since I will be on Medicare myself soon, I am hoping that my healthcare and prescription costs do not increase over the costs I currently pay with private health insurance.

Even with health insurance, over the past year or so, I have found that the co-payment for prescriptions using my insurance was actually higher than when I use a discount healthcare card.

I am fortunate to have Xpress Healthcare’s prescription discounts.  I have saved hundreds of dollars this year alone using my Xpress prescription card instead of my health insurance, which was very surprising to me when I first realized it.  I had always assumed insurance would be the better option.  I have learned that is not necessarily true.

Using Xpress Healthcare’s neighborhood pharmacy program, I save 10% to 85% on most prescriptions.  All the major national chains participate in the program, as do many independent pharmacies.  All I do is present my membership card to the pharmacist with the prescription. The pharmacist calculates the discount, and I pay the discounted price. No forms are required.

My Xpress membership also includes a mail order program where I can optimize my savings by purchasing maintenance prescriptions in 90 day supplies to treat ongoing ailments.

The statistics above demonstrate the dire need for relief to those who cannot afford their prescriptions.  We are fortunate to live in a time when medications are available to extend and improve the quality of our lives – but only if we can afford to buy them.

(Xpress Healthcare’s Pharmacy Discounts are NOT insurance and are not intended as a substitute for insurance.  The membership card can only be used at one of Xpress’ 60,000 providers nationwide.)

http://julie.joinxpress.com/product.html

The Disappearance of the Shopping Mall

As my husband and I were taking our regular walk through our local mall, we discovered that overnight, another store had closed.  We “walk the mall” five days a week.  You never need to worry about weather, the walking surface is level, and there is no traffic nearby about which we need to be concerned.

We live in a city of only about 40,000 people, so our mall is pretty small, but vacancies are high.  There are two anchor stores and about 25 other businesses.  Of those, six are now vacant.  This is not unique to our local mall, and malls nationwide are struggling to fill their spaces and increase the number of shoppers.

When thinking about why there are so many vacancies, of course, the poor economy and high unemployment are the first reasons that come to mind.  However, there are other reasons that likely will not change as the economy improves.  There are far more “big box” stores, with stores like Walmart and Target becoming one-stop-shopping stores.  Consumers can buy nearly everything they need from clothing to electronics to groceries without going from store to store.

Online shopping has increased dramatically, taking a big slice of business from shopping malls.  The majority of big chains have now opened their own online stores to regain some of the business they lost at their retail stores.

I’ve noticed a large increase in vacancies in strip malls as well.  Just yesterday, I was going to purchase something from a local flooring store, only to discover the store is no longer there.  That strip mall had one open store out of six that were available.  We noticed two other strip malls in town with only a couple stores occupied, with the remainder empty.

At the beginning of 2012, for the first time in four years, there was a slight decrease in the number of mall vacancies.  That small improvement may be due to the fact that new mall construction has decreased because of the economy.  In fact fewer new malls were built in 2011 than at any time in the past 30 years.  Each time a newer, nicer mall opened, it hurt the existing malls. 

A lot of the major department stores, like Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney's, did major renovations and held very attractive sales, which likely contributed to the slight improvement.  

As we became more observant about strip malls and our local mall vacancies, we realized that we had previously given no thought to this part of the economy and how it has suffered over the past several years.

I am not a “shopper” and won’t particularly miss shopping at malls.  However, Sears and J.C. Penney’s have always “been there,” and it is just a bit sad to think that sometime in the near future, they may exist only online - or not at all.

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Amazing New Tool for Physicians, the Stethescope

I am constantly amazed at the new technologies that appear seemingly every day.  IPods, I pads, computers and smart phones.  I can’t keep up with all the new and remarkable tools and forms of entertainment that have been introduced.

Although fabulous inventions have arisen during our lifetime, before the late 20^th and 21^st centuries, there were incredible inventions that changed the world.  Inventions 50, 100, 200 years ago made life easier, helped us to live longer lives, nearly wiped out some diseases and more.

In the 1600’s, the first barometer was introduced.  Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was the first to see and describe bacteria with a microscope during this time period as well. These events eventually led to the ability to predict changes in the weather and gave physicians a better way to diagnose and treat diseases.  

C. Hopffer patented the first fire extinguisher in 1722, and two years later the first mercury thermometer was invented by Gabriel Fahrenheit.  I’m sure the people back then considered these to be pretty amazing.

We are practically addicted to our cell phones today, but when the first patent for an electric telegraph was filed in 1774, how important do you think that was in history?  I personally am grateful that Ben Franklin invented bi-focal eyeglasses in 1780.

Smallpox was a huge problem worldwide before 1796 when Edward Jenner created a vaccine for it.  Many of today’s high-tech “toys” are available, because the battery was invented in the late 1700’s.

When we watch programs on our HD TV’s and send pictures with our phones, we should all be grateful to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce for being the first person to take a photograph (It took eight hours).

How did doctors even practice before the stethoscope was invented in 1819?  Between 1827 and 1830, the first typewriter was created and the sewing machine a short time later.

Can you imagine working in an office without the stapler that was invented in 1841?  And how “fun” it must have been to have a tooth pulled before Dr. William Morton began using anesthesia in the middle of the 19^th century.  Fortunately, that was closely followed by the creation of antiseptics.

Our cell phones may be amazing, but would they have even existed had Alexander Graham Bell not invented the phone to begin with?  The first moving pictures arrived on the scene in 1877, the same year Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.

I don’t even want to think what it was like before the first form of toilet paper was invented.  And how many other incredible inventions came to be because Heinrich Hertz invented radar in 1887?

Science, technology and inventions progressed at an accelerated rate during the 20th century, more so than any other century.  During the first decades of that century, airplanes, automobiles and the radio dazzled the population with wonder.

Of course, I’ve barely touched on the thousands of other inventions throughout history without which our lives might be very different today.  The next time you are in awe of all the electronics we use today, think what life would have been like without the many scientific discoveries and inventions that came about long before anyone coined the words “high-tech.”

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My husband, retired for a few years now, has decided he wants to have a home business.  He only wants to work around 10 hours a week, and he is not a “high tech” type of guy.  He can do searches on the Internet and send and receive emails.  He does not know “computereze.”

Anyway, since he is asking me to review everything he finds, I have been thrown back into the search for a home business.  I am once again reminded how difficult it is to find a business that fits specific criteria.

There are hundreds, probably thousands of good businesses from which to choose online, but there is not a single one that is right for everyone.  There are a few important things I consider when searching for a business opportunity.

1)     Is the business a reputable, legitimate company?

2)     What costs are involved – upfront, monthly or at a later date?

3)     Is it a good fit?  Will I be able to be passionate about the product or service the company offers?

It can be very time consuming and challenging to find a business that is a good match, but I know it is necessary to spend that time and effort.   Just because I have heard of a company does not necessarily mean it is reputable. On the other hand, just because I have never heard of them, it doesn’t mean it is not a great company.

I always check on third party sites about any company I am considering, not only on the company site or those of their distributors.  What do those OUTSIDE the company say about them?

I do not rely too heavily on the Better Business Bureau.  Some businesses simply choose not to pay for BBB membership.  In addition, while many very good organizations are accredited and highly rated by the BBB, a while back, there were questions about the validity of the BBB grading. The situation may have been rectified.  Watch this video of a 20/20 Investigation into the BBB to learn more.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw

If a company or one of its distributors promises or guarantees a huge income, I will run the other way!  In the network marketing industry in particular, some people will never apply themselves.  Some don’t have the right skills for the business.  Therefore, there is no way EVERYONE can be successful, let alone earn a huge income, with any company. That old line, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” definitely applies when researching business opportunities. 

Many excellent companies have complaints filed against them for various reasons, so a few complaints against a company do not necessarily mean the company is disreputable.  However, if I find many complaints about a company, I will not consider them.

I carefully research the product or service being offered.  Would I buy it?  No matter how great the product, if it is too expensive, I not likely make many sales. 

I do my best to learn the TRUE cost of operating any business.  Most business opportunities have a fee involved at some point, whether it is an up-front cost or a monthly fee.  When a company claims it is totally free to start and operate the business, I am skeptical.  There are companies that tell you there is no start-up cost, but then they charge hundreds of dollars for training.  OR, after joining, you discover that there is a required upgrade to be able to earn money.

It is important to me to “feel a connection” with the company rep with whom I speak.  If I believe they are evading my questions or are not being totally honest, red flags go up!   

I like a simple-to-understand comp plan. I am not seeking “multiple streams of income.”  I must be able to explain it to prospects myself.  I know there are many who want a binary, matrix or other types of (to me) complicated comp plans.  I do not.

When it comes to a business for my husband, it must be simple, simple, simple.  He must be able to do it himself, without much help from me.  We have looked at several businesses already, none of which fit his criteria.

And so, we continue our search…

http://julie.joinxpress.com/xhc1.html

Attention Hypochondriacs!

As those of you who have read my blogs before, you know I write about a wide array of topics.   I sometimes mention my home business, but I rarely write a blog about it.  There have been so many amazing things happening with Xpress Healthcare this year that I decided it is time to update anyone who cares to read this.

Although our name includes the word “healthcare,” we offer far more.  We began as a Discount Healthcare plan, NOT insurance.  Soon after launching, Dental Discounts were added.

I sometimes refer to Xpress as a Discount Savings Program, because our plans now include a variety of discounts, saving our members money on both medical and non-medical services.

We now offer LifeLock® ID Theft Protection.  With Xpress Healthcare, our members can enroll their FAMILY in LifeLock® for the price LifeLock® charges at their own site for only two people.  PLUS, the same plan, “Lifestyle Select,” includes discounts on Pet Care, Roadside Assistance, Cash Back Rewards mall and Legal Services at no additional cost.  The “Lifestyle Select” plan is only $19.95 per month, per family.

I mentioned Pet Care Discounts above, because our members save 25% on veterinary services when using one of our network providers, and they save on many pet products and services.

Our Roadside Assistance program is available 24/7/365.  Xpress members can have their vehicle towed up to 15 miles at no charge, and receive flat tire/battery assistance, lock-out assistance and more.

Our Legal Services plan offers nine of the most commonly-used services to our members at no cost and reduced rates on most other legal services.

Of course, our health and dental plans provide discounts on Physicians and Aetna® Dental Services.  They also offer savings on Vision, Hearing, Prescriptions, Medical and Diabetic Supplies, Chiropractor, Nurseline, Lab Work, Imaging and Hospital Stays.

Each plan includes your immediate family members living with you.  They are only $19.95/month to $49.95/month, depending on the plan selected.  We are NOT insurance.  Our plans can be used to supplement insurance or alone for those who cannot afford or qualify for insurance.  Everyone is accepted!

Our plans help people save money every day in many ways.  I would be grateful to you if you spread the word to anyone you know who might benefit from our savings plans.

If you’d like more information about our discount benefit plans, please visit http://julie.joinxpress.com/product.html.  If you are interested in learning about the Xpress Healthcare business opportunity, visit http://julie.joinxpress.com/xhc1.html.

The Future Me

I read a question on a website asking about the future me.  In a perfect world, what will my life be like in the future?

The question got me thinking.  I am a “mature” woman.  Both my parents lived well into their 80’s, and my grandmother lived to 93.  So, with longevity on my side, I may still be around in 20 years.  So, let me tell you what the “future me” will be doing – assuming that “perfect world.”

My husband and I have had our house up for sale for nearly a year.  This is not a good time to try to sell a house.  The “future me” will have our house sold, and we will be living in California, close to our children and grandchildren.  We will be living in a nice, safe and quiet neighborhood with a lovely home.

My “future me’s” health is of great importance.  I have health issues now, which my parents did not have at my age. I have taken care of myself my entire life, always staying active and exercising, keeping my weight pretty much under control and eating fairly well – if not quite as healthfully as I should.  I never smoked, used drugs or overindulged in adult beverages. 

Therefore, there was not too much I could have done differently to prevent my health problems.  However, if the conditions do not worsen, I may live well into old age.  The “future me” will be in decent, though not excellent health, mobile, self-sufficient and able to enjoy the pleasures in life.

Throughout my life I saved money, building an income for our retirement.  With the global recession, my investments took a heavy hit – just at the time when I would like to have been able to begin to live on them.  The “future me” will live in a greatly improved economy, increasing my investments dramatically.

This leads to another thing the “future me” will be enjoying - a great income from my Xpress Healthcare business.  Unlike many in network marketing, I am earning a decent income from my home business.  Decent, but not the six-figure income everyone talks about.  I am fortunate that my business continues to grow, but the “future me” will have that six-figure income, enabling me to enjoy my “senior” years traveling and doing whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it.

It is fortunate that I work in the business I do, because it provides me with supplemental health, dental and other great discounts to save me money in various areas of my life.  As long as I am able to sit at a desk and use my computer, I can continue to work if I choose to do so well into old age.

Hopefully this blog will encourage you to think about the future you, where you will be and what you will be doing.  I hope we can all be there together!

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