College 101: Why You Should Choose an Online Education

Traditional universities and colleges are never going to disappear, however it’s easy to see why more and more people are heading to cyberspace for their education. While online education requires students to be self-disciplines, organized and tech-savvy, it is possible for students to get a good education without ever setting foot in a traditional classroom.

Here are five reasons why you should consider an online education.

1. Flexibility

Taking online courses are great for people who need to work, but still want to earn a college degree. Online universities are flexible for students who have other commitments (like work or family). Students can ‘attend’ class while the kids are napping, on a lunch break or on the road for business. Online classes are great because you aren’t required to be in a classroom three nights a week at 6 p.m. sharp for the next 4 years of your life – but you can still get the same level of education. Don’t be fooled, just because you don’t have to go to class doesn’t mean you don’t have to work. You still have to do the work, you just get to decide when and where you do it.

2. Pace Yourself

Another advantage of online education is the ability for students to work at their own pace. E-learning generally focuses on student-centered learning, making it up to you to decide how you learn best. You can study at the same time each day for a set time, or you can use the course chat boards to talk to other students and your instructors. The chat boards are really nice for students who are timid and don’t speak up in class. For some reason, it’s easier to express yourself via chat.

3. Save Money

Most online education programs actually charge less than traditional universities. Take some time to look around the Internet and you’ll discover online classes are inexpensive compared to regular college programs. Because online education is so much cheaper, when you finish your education you won’t have to be laden with huge student loans like most college students. Getting an online education can actually save you lots of money.

4. No Commute

Not only can you save money in your coursework by pursuing an online education, you also save tons of money and hours driving yourself to and from school each day. One of the best things about online education is getting to learn from the comfort of your home – sweats and all. So, no more stressing about being to your 7 a.m. class on time, instead, sleep in and study when you wake up. You’ll also save money on eating out for those ‘convenience meals,’ childcare and gas. Paying your monthly Internet bill is a small price to pay for your college education.

5. Unlimited Options

There is nothing worse than decided more than anything I want to be (insert your dream profession here) when I grow up, then discovering your local university doesn’t offer such programs. Well, that’s not a problem with online education. When you know what line of work you want to pursue, you can look for universities that offer courses to support your goals. And, because classes are web-based, it doesn’t matter if the college is in Miami, New York or Podunk Idaho.

Advantages of Internet Home Based Business

Because of the increasing rate of unemployment, people are looking for alternative ways to earn money. If you are planning to start a home based business, the internet can be your best friend. You can start one with none or very low cash capital, given that you have a computer and an internet connection. If you are not convinced, here are the advantages of internet business compared with brick and mortar business.

Business without your own goods!

First of all, you can start a business without a product of your own. Now, your writing skills can come in handy. The easiest way to do it is to start a blog. You may begin with just writing about anything. Just keep in mind to make your blog entries interesting. Once you developed a good readership, you can post advertisements on your blog. You may enter an affiliate relationship with companies which have products or services to sell. Write about them and host their links. If a purchase is made through your efforts, you will get a commission.

No need for a shop space

With an internet based business, all you need is enough space for you to sit down in front of your PC. You may also have a telephone. There is no need to rent for a place to be your shop, saving you operating costs. If you are advertising products from other companies, then you do not have to keep the goods in stock. If an order from a customer is made, you can have the goods shipped and you still get profit. There is no need to waste room space for storage or pay storage fees.

Easy communication with customers and related companies

Conventional mail is slow and inefficient. You also have to pay postal fees for paper mailings. But for an internet home based business, it is very easy to keep in touch with customers. You can easily send email to your mailing list, even personalize every message. Electronic newsletters are sent in just seconds and it increase word of mouth about your business. How? It is because emails can easily be forwarded, without cost and effort on the side of your customers.

While you are working on your site, you will be exposed to other home based advertisers. You can form an affiliate community, and you can earn more by finding more links to host. In time, your site will be exposed to reciprocal links, which will help your blog become more visible through search engines.

Efficiency

The brick and mortar shop requires a good location, so that it is accessible by customers. If your business is on the internet, you make the whole world your audience.

Also with an internet business, your customers are attended to immediately. Buyers do not need to wait if you are dealing with others since internet response can be automated. You also do not have to work whole day long. If you already have updated your blog and all the necessary links and banners have been posted, you can rest or do household chores. You can cook or take care of the baby while actually earning money. Home based business is particularly recommended for mommies.

Best Rated Home Based Businesses

Trying to find the best rated home based businesses can be a difficult challenge that many people face. Once taking the step and action to start an online home business, most people’s first step is to try to rate the available options to see what is the best for them. In this article I want to address the challenge and how futile it can be.Looking for those best rated home based businesses is often an exercise in futility. Why do I say that? It’s actually very simple, where can you go to actually find out what business or education offer online is best and how are they rated? I have looked online for some time trying to not only find online business opportunities, but also to find anything or anyplace that rated them to help in my decision on what to buy into.My quest gave me no results that I could depend on. It only proved to me that in order to determine the best rated home base businesses; I was going to have to do the work myself. Thus the best tool you have to find that ideal business opportunity online is your due diligence and individual research.I would like to be able to give you the exact steps to use in order to rate each opportunity, but it varies with almost every one. Of course, simple common sense will tell you that communication with the company offering the service is critical.a. Do they offer you a phone number?b. Do they have fast email response to your questions?c. Do they give names, address, etc?Remember, if you are not able to get this type of information before you buy, you most likely will not get any service once they have your money.After much investigation I was able to find some scams and some honest online business opportunities. It was a long struggle and again, I wish I had a magic solution other than personal time to investigate each one, but there does not seem to be anything out there that will tell you what are the best rated home base businesses out there.So go forward carefully, ensure you get good, fast communication when you ask questions, as well as real live company people there to help you out. That’s what I found to be the only solution and I found it to be fairly effective at weeding out the less than good options, and pointing out the better opportunities.

What Home Based Business Can I Start – What You Need to Know Before Joining a Home Business!

Have you been scratching your head wondering what home business should I start.I’ll tell you one thing, you have to be careful where you ask that question. You’ll be barraged by people trying to get you to join their business, or you’ll simply get terrible advice from people who don’t have clue about business.So hopefully this article will shed some light on how you should make the decision.Ways to Answer the Question What Home Based Business Can I StartOne thing that you have to be abundantly clear about is that this is a decision that you MUST make yourself, based on your own wants, desires, personality, strengths, and interests, goals, ambitions, and probably a million other things.Bottom line it’s a personal decision that only YOU can truly answer. It would be like asking someone “who should I marry?” You’ll get a ton of different answers and advice but are you really going to marry someone because of what someone else told you? Not a chance.But you would agree that there are some pretty universal character traits that you’d want to see in a potential spouse right?Well the same goes with the question of what home based business can I start. There are certain characteristics that you should look for in a home business. When these characteristics aren’t there, then more people fail. But when they ARE there then it seems like the stars have lined up, and people begin to see huge success pretty quickly.Characteristics of a Business Opportunity to JoinFirst of all the product and/or opportunity should be in a viable market. This means that whatever it is that you’re selling, or if it’s a multi level business opportunity, it should be something that has a good audience.Marketability is huge factor because if you don’t have an audience, you’re business is going to parish pretty darn quickly. It’s like trying to sell ice in Alaska…not all that great of a market there. But if you’re selling that same ice…as water in the desert, then you’ve got a pretty darn good chance of making some good money.This means that you need an opportunity that meets a lot of people’s wants and desires. Looking good, feeling good, making money, all these are good places to start.Second, the compensation must be worth your time!Why work for pennies when that same effort can go toward big money?I so often see people asking what home based business can I start, and the opportunities they’re looking are going to pay them peanuts. They don’t understand that it takes time and effort, and if they’re really serious money to market their business. So make sure that you’re going to get paid fairly for the work that you’re doing.In network marketing the compensation plans are usually very confusing, and often people don’t find out until it’s too late that they’re working for peanuts.However many network marketing opportunity compensation plans, such as the Agel opportunity are very generous, and even pay fast cash bonuses so you’re in profit right away. Some also pay for vacations, and even your car payment.Third, you MUST have training from someone who has experience, and who is successful! Here’s the thing. Why struggle when you can learn from someone who’s presently doing what YOU want to be doing?It seems pretty simple, but a lot of times someone will ask me what home based business can I start, and I’ll tell them simply one where the person introducing you to the business is successful, and is willing to give up all of their secrets to you.Most people think that’s hard, but the truth is that network marketing companies basically pay distributors to pass down their knowledge. Not only that, many network marketing distributors are some of the highest earners in the world.So there you go, if you’re asking what home based business can I start, you now know what to look for and find that answer.

Home Based Business – Choosing One That’s Right For You – Here’s Your 10 Point Checklist

 I read somewhere that a staggering 97% of Home Based Business Owners FAIL within their first 3 Years. Would you like to be in the other 3%?
 
Then you need a Checklist.I have spent a mammoth amount of time and money trying to find the “perfect” Home Based Business that will make me an “instant” fortune.Then I realised something…and I’m going to tell you what it is.Firstly, let me ask you something – Have you ever had a job and if so, did you make $10,000 a month after working there for just one month?Of course not. You had to learn the job first! Hopefully you were taught as you went along until you got it right. Even after that I dare say that the job never paid you $10,000 a month. That’s why you’re here. If you have never been in a Home Based Business it can be quite foreign but once you have learned the skills you need to succeed it can be very, very rewarding. By that I mean “financially” rewarding as well as “life” rewarding. Nowadays, it is our family who decides when our holidays are taken…not when a ‘boss’ says it’s ok. It feels so good.I realised that a successful business of any kind is built over time. You have to learn the ropes. I also realised that I didn’t want to do some of the things that were required of me in order to make an income while working from home. So I started writing down what it was that I was looking for, what I was comfortable with and what I was prepared to do consistently each day.This is important if you’re to work from home because there isn’t a boss hovering over your shoulder making sure that you are working. You have to want to do the work and when the money starts coming in it will give you even more incentive.When looking for a Home Based Business you must be sure that you have a check list.
 
 What is it that YOU want? Create one of your own. If you’re unsure, here’s my list to give you some ideas.

TRAINING Is there ongoing Training and Support to achieve the desired income?

PERSONAL CONTACT Can I talk with someone in the prospective business? Is there a phone number or contact email?

INTEGRITY Does the company mean what it says?

EQUIPMENT Do I need a computer, a phone etc? Do I get my own website?

COST Is the start up cost within my budget? This means, do I have the money now or am I prepared to go into debt to invest in this particular home based business and where will the money come from?

PROFITS Are they good or will I be working a long time to create a worthwhile income? Is the company promising an unrealistic income?

ONGOING FEES Is there an ongoing Membership to pay? This is most important to know (and in my opinion to avoid especially when you are new) because if there is a monthly fee, they will charge you EACH and EVERY month whether or not you are making any money!

PRODUCTS Are the products or services highly sought after?

VERSATILITY & DIVERSITY Does this home business teach me things that I can apply to other businesses or other ways to create more income? I am a great believer in Multiple Streams of Income. I like to “Provide For Life”.

PRIDE & COMFORT Am I happy to talk with my family and friends about my new home business that I have undertaken, without them running a mile thinking that I’m going to recruit them! Heaven forbid.
You know, This is my checklist and I was late in creating it but as they say, “Better late than never”. Now you know what I look for in a Home Based Business that suits me and I am happy to share it with you. Maybe you are looking for something with similar traits. I hope this list has been of some assistance to you.

Home Based Business Work – How to Overcome the Number 1 Problem

If you’ve ever done home based business work before, then you know that it really is work. There are several top companies as well as great products that you can try to sell, but the one constant in them all is the purchase of products or services. Some type of product/service must be purchased for you to make a profit. And in order to do that on a big level, you certainly must have leverage. So you can work your tail off and try to make as many one-on-one sales yourself or work smart and leverage your abilities and time by taking advantage of systems to replicate yourself into a sales force of many to sell more products and services to more people. Does that make sense?With home based business work, the problem lies here. People just don’t know how to effectively and inexpensively create that leverage to dramatically increase their results so they can achieve the amount of success they desire! If done right, you actually end up sacrificing less hours to get better results in less time.Now let me say that first of all, if you’ve been failing at home based business work for months now – or maybe even years – realize that it is not your fault. Myself and many other people have suffered with the exact same issues. You simply were never trained and for that reason never knew the right tactics of how to utilize the web and other tools to be successful. That’s like trying to do open-heart surgery after taking a few CPR lessons – it is specialized schooling. But in this case it will not cost you several $100,000′s to master the skills and tools required to become successful with your business; utilizing just a few crucial tools with the right marketing system & training will make your home based business profitable very quickly (depending on how much leverage you apply!).So here’s the number 1 issue with Home Based Business work: getting your business in front of enough interested and qualified people! Again it’s all about leverage – you want to get your message out to more people on a regular basis without spending lots of money or wasting precious time trying to sort through “suspects” one by one yourself (whether in person or on the phone, etc). The bigger your organization, the better your power to move more product and at the end of the day make more money.In order to build a group, you would prefer a system already in place that has the ability to pre-qualify and sort through your interested prospects on autopilot, notifying you of the more serious prospects so you know where you can spend your time for maximum results. Replicate yourself by developing a team to help reduce your Home Based Business work load and multiply your earnings. Show your organization how to utilize the system and how the people they recruit can do the same thing and once this occurs, you will have done a full cycle and completely replaced yourself while your income continues to expand.

Three Key Benefits for Starting a Home Based Business Today!

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last five years, you undoubtedly have been impacted in some way by the state of our global economy. It is a fact that many have lost homes, jobs, and in some cases their lives due to the economic downturn that has had a largely negative impact on the way that people live, work and think about earning a living. Though much is said about the negative aspects of the financial times in what we live in, I would charge that this is the best time, and most importantly a vital time to either begin a home based business or re-energize a business that may be dormant. There are three key reasons that I make this statement.The first reason is for tax benefits. Unless you plan on going to jail or living on ‘the run’ for most of your life you will have some tax liability and exposure if you earn an income. Many miss the point and think that if they can just make more money, all their problems will disappear and life will be great. There is nothing wrong with making more money, but what is more important is keeping more of what you make! Home business ownership allows you to make legitimate deductions that will lessen your tax burden and result in you keeping more of your money. Some of the most notable deductions that you can make for having a home business are: Home office (Space, and utilities needed in running the office), Office supplies, Furniture, Other equipment (e.g. computers, copiers, faxes), Software and subscriptions, Mileage, (Travel, meals, entertainment and gifts), Insurance premiums, Retirement contributions, Social Security, Telephone charges, and Child labor (as in employing your own children). This initial dozen are a great start, but by no means is a completely exhaustive list. You can build an additional income stream by having a home based business and keep more of your money in the process.The second reason for establishing a home based business is to create an additional revenue stream to compliment any full time employment that you may have outside of the home. CAGR, inflation, and all of the other indicators basically tell us that everything is more expensive today than yesterday and will continue to go in an upward trend. Plain and simple, it takes more money to maintain the same standard of living year over year. Most corporations are not increasing their pay to employees at the same rate as inflation. In fact, most pay less within recent years. To cover the gap individuals must become creative in producing additional income for themselves and their families. Home based businesses allow for almost a limitless variety of options to accomplish this task, while keeping overhead low and the potential upside high. Best of all, if the business is chosen carefully, it can become an asset that can be transferred from parent to child or other family members to create perpetual generational benefits.Last, but certainly not least, the home based business can be the ultimate ‘Plan B’ in case your full time work ceases. In the event of a lay-off, down-sizing, company closure, a home based business can provide the revenue to keep your home above water and repel creditors (mortgage companies, etc.) while you replace your lost income, or decide to invest 100 percent of your time and energy in your home based business. Having the peace of mind that additional revenue streams exist during tumultuous change in the corporate world is priceless. To under estimate the importance of having a ‘Plan B’ is like not having car insurance. You just don’t want to go there, because sooner or later you will need it. In addition, the security of having additional income in the face of medical emergencies or for retirement is huge. How many times do we read that medical emergencies are the number one reason for individuals filing bankruptcy or that people who should be retired have to continue to work because they simply can’t afford retirement?If you have not thought about starting a home based business, give it serious thought and find something that you believe in and go for it. If you have a business, but have not done anything with it for a while, get busy. Death and taxes are a reality that we all must face, but if you can reduce your tax burden and live a quality life as long as possible, I think we all can agree, would be a great thing.

What Does a Commercial Property Management Company Do?

Have you ever wondered what a commercial property management company does? Or better yet, what they should be doing?

If you’re asking either question and reading this article, then it’s safe to say you probably own commercial real estate or are considering purchasing commercial investment property. The answer to this question is simple, “Whatever you want them to do”. Ok, it’s not that simple. Practically speaking, the range of service varies quite a bit from company to company, depending on who you speak with. However, there are some basics that are essential and necessary regardless of your reason for needing or wanting professional property management. In this article you will find the answers to what you should expect from a commercial property management company.

The basics:

Accounting Services

Reporting- Monthly accounting reports that include, a balance sheet, income & expense statement, general ledger, rent-roll, rent ledger, expense ledger and a copy of the bank statement are the basics. There are various other reports you may want or need depending on the property and ownership type. For instance, with a self-storage property you will want in addition to the above, a copy of the audit and daily deposit report.

Narrative Report- This is a narrative monthly summary of exceptions in the budget, income and expenses or any unusual activity on your property, this report should be prepared by the property manager responsible for your property.

Collections (AR – Accounts Receivable) – Collecting rents and other monies owed. This function is generally considered an accounting function, until the point there is a problem (which is quite frequent these days). You will want a company that has a clearly defined process and system of responsibilities when it comes to collections, ask them, Who? – who will do what in the collection process. What? – what will be done. When? – when will it be done.

Payments (AP – Accounts Payable)- Now that they have collected your money, you will want them to pay the bills. Again, you will want them to clearly define, Who, What and When this will occur. You may want to define for the accounting staff the details on payment of your expenses, including when and how much to disburse to you, as well as other details such as reserves for taxes, insurance or capital improvements.

Lease Processing – This task is generally a group effort, with a defined patterned or specific routing to a number of people within the company, including the accounts receivable department and property manager. Each has a specific function and items they are looking for. However, one person generally inputs the lease into the computer. This part of the process is extremely important, as a missed date or dollar amount could result in serious repercussions down the road. Detail and a process that includes multiple layers of people checking the input process is Key.

Management Services

The Property Manager – This person is “One” of the focal points by which you make your decision on whether you hire a company or not. The property manager is the person that will make the critical day-to-day decisions that go into operating a property. Their responsibilities include – relationships with your Tenants and Vendors, physical condition of your property, oversight of the collection process, payment of bills, budgeting, lease administration, monthly reporting, generally all aspects of the operation of your commercial real estate. Most importantly they will be your contact and source of information about your real estate investment. Make sure you feel completely comfortable with this person and their abilities.

Site Visits – site visits are a critical part of any property management contract, minimally you want your property manager on your site once per month, weekly is preferred. Many things happen during the course of a week on a commercial property. The frequency of the managers’ visits will depend on the type of property they are overseeing. The purpose of the property managers’ visit will vary from property to property as well, however, here are a few tasks your manager should attend to while on your property:

Real Estate Law – Five Laws Real Estate Investors Need to Know

The idea of investing in real estate has appeal in that it offers a potential supplemental income for the buyer. You may have heard terms like “flipping homes,” where you buy a home at a low price, fix up, and sell for profit; or, you may be interested in buying up property for the purpose of seasonally renting it to part-time residents. However you came to be interested in real estate investments, know that there are a number of laws and regulations, as well as common courtesies, that you should be aware of before you start bidding on contracts.

Let’s take a look at five situations that will require you to understand how real estate law works, and how to proceed during conflicts.

1) Any decision you make regarding a real estate investment must be approved by legal counsel before everything is signed and sealed. If you want to buy a condo, a duplex, or even an entire building, it is wise to have legal representation if you plan to do more with the property than live in it. You will need to be aware of laws regarding tenants and zoning, where applicable.

2) If you are involved in a legal dispute over property, it is important to have all the correct paperwork to support your case. While it would be ideal to have all transactions involving your property run smoothly, inevitably you may run into conflicts with renters. When claims are made with regards to your property, make sure you have written evidence to back up your statements in the event you wind up in court or in a lawyer’s office.

3) To achieve a sound return on investment, consider long term commitments as opposed to shorter turnarounds on property. If you can find an excellent tenant willing to rent your property in the long-term, you may wish to consider offering multi-year leases. Offer prospective tenants a good deal, and it may save you the headache and expense of advertising your property every six months.

4) Make sure you know exactly what comprises the property in which you invest. When possible, have the property inspected and checking for zoning restrictions. You don’t want to be stuck with a building or lot that you can’t use.

5) Understand the mortgage and payment schedules to avoid defaulting. Make sure you know when to make payments and what your rights are with regards to paying for your property.

How To Succeed At Online Product Creation The Easy Way

Product creation could be a frightening subject for a lot of Internet marketers to face. Some folks who get in the game with the intention of making a full time income are completely ignorant as to how an online business operates. One of the most profitable ways to create online cash is by creating a product that others are happy to pay for.

Product creation is legitimate method of generating money through internet marketing but many entrepreneurs get it wrong. They start by imitating their Internet marketing gurus by creating information products on Internet marketing in hopes of getting rich the way their heroes did. The problem is that they usually don’t know what they are doing and enter a highly competitive niche with very little marketing experience or connections.

Here are a few tips for effective product creation that may help you get on the right track:
Start by finding a profitable niche with low to moderate competition. If you conduct some rudimentary market research and keyword research, you’ll find many opportunities in areas that will surprise you. Amazon and eBay are two great places to brainstorm for product ideas.

Developing Your Product does not have to be a difficult project. You can find experts in the right field for your niche and pay them to write the material while an artist designs the packaging and website or blog. You can outsource the entire product creation part of the project after you conduct the research and testing to ensure profitability.

Sales and marketing strategies should be created while developing the product and learning about the market. Some experienced marketers use pay per click to drive traffic to their offer page; some folks outsource the entire marketing campaign to affiliates through ClickBank or other affiliate programs.

Product creation does not need to be hard, particularly when the merchandise is electronic. E-books, videos, audio and multi-media products sell very well. They are distributed immediately to customers electronically. Once you have a good feel for a niche market, try to service your customers with associated products and upgrades. If you want to earn money online through product creation, you must understand supply and demand. The majority of new online marketers fail miserably because they go after highly competitive markets or forget to research their chosen niche properly. You have to create your products according to the needs, wants and desires of the prospective customers.