I'm finally focused. (I think). I'm going to start a business called The Herb Cure. My main products will be Native Remedies. They drop ship, so that makes it easy for me, although they have wholesale pricing for large orders which I may take advantage of if I get really ambitious. I have my husband's support in this so that will come in handy if we decide to expand.
For now, I am starting as basic as possible. I have a Zen Cart installed and a free template. I'm working about 5 minutes at a time on it. I sometimes wonder if employing someone else to do the design and programming wouldn't be worthwhile, but the truth is, I like this type of thing even though I pull my hair out over it. But it's good experience and someday I'll be glad I learned how to do it.
It's definitely slow, however. The regional sales rep at Megafood will be setting me up as a retailer as soon as I get the website presentable, and I'm so excited but of course the family comes first. It will be great to sell Megafood 100% whole food trace minerals to friends and family at last! We thrive on their products and I can't wait to get started.
After the website launches, we'll be buying sponsored advertising on Google for less than half the normal cost because that's what my husband does for a living now. So many things in our lives seem to be fitting together for the good lately. And I haven't even blogged about Ron Paul yet! I'll have to do that next time.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Feeling Foolish
I'm really feeling like an idiot tonight. I've been reading so many awesome blogs out there, many of which are maintained by magnificently prolific and smart women with children and busy lives like mine. Yet they manage to say so much more in their blogs. I want to read them. I don't want to write mine.
Other bloggers seem to have so much to say -- the more I read the more I confirm to myself why I never started a blog before and why I don't often post.
Hm. Another element is perfectionism. I'd love to delete this blog and start over. Act like I know what I'm talking about. Pretend to be one of those "other" mom/bloggers. After giving myself a pep talk, I'm off to find something interesting to post about!
Other bloggers seem to have so much to say -- the more I read the more I confirm to myself why I never started a blog before and why I don't often post.
Hm. Another element is perfectionism. I'd love to delete this blog and start over. Act like I know what I'm talking about. Pretend to be one of those "other" mom/bloggers. After giving myself a pep talk, I'm off to find something interesting to post about!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Online earnings so far...
I still think it's amazing that anybody can make money online with a little know-how. Keep in mind that I have 5 children that I homeschool, so running an online business is definitely more of a hobby, and I haven't devoted time each day to it - or even each week.
But in the last few months, I've been paid 68 cents from Google Adsense (that's just the single ad I have on this blog, which no one reads!) and a whole dollar from Squidoo. (I like Squidoo. I might make more lenses if I ever have time).
I think making dollars and cents online can be kind of an addiction. Obviously what I've done so far has little value and doesn't even pay for the power to run the servers for all those "clicks." But somehow it gives me the same little thrill I got when I was a kid and returned the cans I found on the side of the road to the grocery store for the deposit, bought a Sprite, then twisted off the cap to discover I'd won another Sprite! I felt like I was in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Oh yeah, and I also made a sale at my eCRATER store, which was entirely self-propelled because I hadn't touched it in weeks. So that was pretty awesome.
Let's see, I sold a domain name for $15 that I think actually came free with my hosting package, so that probably was my biggest profit so far. :) Pretty silly, I know. But I still think I'm learning just by watching and dipping my toes in..
But in the last few months, I've been paid 68 cents from Google Adsense (that's just the single ad I have on this blog, which no one reads!) and a whole dollar from Squidoo. (I like Squidoo. I might make more lenses if I ever have time).
I think making dollars and cents online can be kind of an addiction. Obviously what I've done so far has little value and doesn't even pay for the power to run the servers for all those "clicks." But somehow it gives me the same little thrill I got when I was a kid and returned the cans I found on the side of the road to the grocery store for the deposit, bought a Sprite, then twisted off the cap to discover I'd won another Sprite! I felt like I was in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Oh yeah, and I also made a sale at my eCRATER store, which was entirely self-propelled because I hadn't touched it in weeks. So that was pretty awesome.
Let's see, I sold a domain name for $15 that I think actually came free with my hosting package, so that probably was my biggest profit so far. :) Pretty silly, I know. But I still think I'm learning just by watching and dipping my toes in..
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Income4Beginners Review
A while ago, my husband and I ran across a home business opportunity called Income4Beginners. We thoroughly researched it and decided to give it a try. It involves promoting a personalized link, which sells the "income-generating system" to others. It is not a pyramid scheme as there are also software products included in the package. CLICK HERE to read the full explanation.
The program costs $40, and we made our first $40 sale within a couple weeks by placing just a few craigslist ads every day. The next day I got another $40 payment.
I haven't promoted this program much because I'm working on my health products site which I'm just more passionate about. But I still think Income4Beginners is a good way to start out in internet marketing and even to make a little extra to use for other ventures.
This is my Income4Beginners link. Visitors enter their email address for a "free ebook" about the program. (For which I provided the direct link above). I prefer to skip this step and get visitors directly to the offer page.
Anyway, I wrote this review for anyone out there who is searching for information, like I did before paying my $40. It's worth it, but you do have to put some effort into promoting your link.
The program costs $40, and we made our first $40 sale within a couple weeks by placing just a few craigslist ads every day. The next day I got another $40 payment.
I haven't promoted this program much because I'm working on my health products site which I'm just more passionate about. But I still think Income4Beginners is a good way to start out in internet marketing and even to make a little extra to use for other ventures.
This is my Income4Beginners link. Visitors enter their email address for a "free ebook" about the program. (For which I provided the direct link above). I prefer to skip this step and get visitors directly to the offer page.
Anyway, I wrote this review for anyone out there who is searching for information, like I did before paying my $40. It's worth it, but you do have to put some effort into promoting your link.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Best Health Freedom Article I've Ever Read
It's not a conspiracy to make us all ill; it's just simple economics. The big companies with all the power benefit more if we're all sick! So if the government is telling you to stay away from something as wholesome and natural as raw milk, you can bet a lot of lobbyists are real happy...
Click here to read it.
From the article:
A bit of context is in order. For most of human history, any milk we drank was raw. Up until 1900 or so, raw milk simply was called "milk." Yet we did not see massive pandemics of lysteria and tuberculosis. We also didn’t see massive epidemics of obesity, like we have now. Interestingly, there was a physical culture movement in this country, started by Bernarr McFadden, which emphasized the importance of raw milk. McFadden even recommended a "milk cure" for many serious illnesses – and in many cases, it worked. The "milk cure" had also been popular for, well, as long as there’s been writing, as a cure for tuberculosis. Weston Price’s research showed the tremendous differences in health value between raw milk and the pasteurized garbage we now consume. It used to be said that "milk is blood." Dr. Pottenger, with his famous cat experiment, demonstrated the same differences. Raw milk saved Gary North’s life. Yet, this wonderful substance is illegal in 33 states. To seek out one reason for the ban on raw milk, consider the massive lobbying efforts by the dairy industry that resulted in the passage of those laws. They knew perfectly well that the small farmers would be unable to compete once these laws were passed. In combination with the minimum milkfat law, the large dairies were able to consolidate the market and largely drive small family farms out of competition.
If asked to defend these laws, the government is denied any of the usual excuses. There is no such thing as secondhand milk, nor does drinking milk interfere with one’s ability to drive a car. There is no externality argument available to them. This makes the milk laws a powerful wedge to use in arguing for liberty – the only reasonable explanation is that these laws exist for the benefit of certain industries.
It is clear how these laws benefit the large milk manufacturers. I submit that they also serve a second master, and a far more insidious one. In the interest of benefiting the pharmaceutical companies, the government has undertaken a series of steps designed to weaken and sicken the population. Combining this with a widespread awareness of just how sick we are, together with completely backwards tips on how to fix the situation, the government encourages all of us to medicalize our problems, and treat them with the various drugs available. Just turn on the tv and watch the ads.
Click here to read it.
From the article:
A bit of context is in order. For most of human history, any milk we drank was raw. Up until 1900 or so, raw milk simply was called "milk." Yet we did not see massive pandemics of lysteria and tuberculosis. We also didn’t see massive epidemics of obesity, like we have now. Interestingly, there was a physical culture movement in this country, started by Bernarr McFadden, which emphasized the importance of raw milk. McFadden even recommended a "milk cure" for many serious illnesses – and in many cases, it worked. The "milk cure" had also been popular for, well, as long as there’s been writing, as a cure for tuberculosis. Weston Price’s research showed the tremendous differences in health value between raw milk and the pasteurized garbage we now consume. It used to be said that "milk is blood." Dr. Pottenger, with his famous cat experiment, demonstrated the same differences. Raw milk saved Gary North’s life. Yet, this wonderful substance is illegal in 33 states. To seek out one reason for the ban on raw milk, consider the massive lobbying efforts by the dairy industry that resulted in the passage of those laws. They knew perfectly well that the small farmers would be unable to compete once these laws were passed. In combination with the minimum milkfat law, the large dairies were able to consolidate the market and largely drive small family farms out of competition.
If asked to defend these laws, the government is denied any of the usual excuses. There is no such thing as secondhand milk, nor does drinking milk interfere with one’s ability to drive a car. There is no externality argument available to them. This makes the milk laws a powerful wedge to use in arguing for liberty – the only reasonable explanation is that these laws exist for the benefit of certain industries.
It is clear how these laws benefit the large milk manufacturers. I submit that they also serve a second master, and a far more insidious one. In the interest of benefiting the pharmaceutical companies, the government has undertaken a series of steps designed to weaken and sicken the population. Combining this with a widespread awareness of just how sick we are, together with completely backwards tips on how to fix the situation, the government encourages all of us to medicalize our problems, and treat them with the various drugs available. Just turn on the tv and watch the ads.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Men Are From Google, Women Are From Yahoo
This is actually an old article, from 12/29/2005, but it's making the rounds on the social bookmarking sites.
Do Different Genders Use The Web Differently?
by Jason Lee Miller
On the Internet, as in life, men and women have different motivations for doing what they do. According to a recent report from Pew Internet and American Life, women view the Internet as a place to extend, support, and nurture relationships and communities.
Men tend to see it as an office, a library, or a playground--screw the community, this is about function not family.
Do Different Genders Use The Web Differently?
by Jason Lee Miller
On the Internet, as in life, men and women have different motivations for doing what they do. According to a recent report from Pew Internet and American Life, women view the Internet as a place to extend, support, and nurture relationships and communities.
Men tend to see it as an office, a library, or a playground--screw the community, this is about function not family.
Monday, August 6, 2007
The New Religion
I StumbledUpon the following post on Frontline's website. It was written by a Douglas Atkin. It's just a fascinating take on brands and the way we look at common everyday products nowadays:
Frankly, advertising is not good enough to deserve the status Miller gives it. But I agree with his general drift. Consumerism has become a defining characteristic of our culture. But it was only when I interviewed my research subjects did I understand the true extent of its influence…one that would horrify many. For some people, brands are becoming the new religion…or at least giving some of the traditional institutions a run for their money. Brands are becoming credible centers of community and meaning. 45,000 Saturn car owners visited a factory in 1992 where their vehicle was made, and spent days together sharing barbeque, listening to country music and enjoying finger-painting. Did they go because they wanted to see the birthplace of a technological wonder? No, it's really quite an ordinary car. But it enjoys extraordinary devotion. Why? They told me that they identified with its worldview (that everyone, no-matter what their status, deserves respect.) And that they simply want to meet other people like themselves who share the same values and the same enthusiasms.
Brands are increasingly adopting the roles traditionally occupied by social and religious institutions…the making of meaning and community. We eat a brand's meaning when we spoon Ben and Jerry's political agenda into our mouths, or cut off an SUV in our Mini. We feel a brotherhood when we roar down the road with a pack of other Harley riders. A passenger told me that he would start a conversation with his neighbor on a JetBlue plane as they're taking off, but only when they're landing on other carriers. In other words he has the feeling that he's flying with `like-others' on JetBlue, but not with other brands.
How or why have brands been elevated to this position?
That brands can be taken seriously in this role is because our culture has allowed it. Modern society has seen the traditional forms of fellowship erode. The things that have enabled contemporary life have also undermined our collective idea of what is at its heart: geographically based communities. Mobility, modern communications and the media have chipped away at our picket-fence concept of neighborhood.
But simultaneously they have made possible non-geographically anchored equivalents. Now communities are transcending towns and villages, language and ethnicity and are evolving into groups of dispersed individuals connected by shared interests, values and identity. Community has not gone away, as some of our leaders complain. Like any successful organism, it's just adapted to changed circumstances. And communities are now forming around brands. Brands are, after all, the natural offspring of this trend. Well financed and conceived, succored by media, communications and mobility, they are becoming loci for strong communities and express credible worldviews.
Frankly, advertising is not good enough to deserve the status Miller gives it. But I agree with his general drift. Consumerism has become a defining characteristic of our culture. But it was only when I interviewed my research subjects did I understand the true extent of its influence…one that would horrify many. For some people, brands are becoming the new religion…or at least giving some of the traditional institutions a run for their money. Brands are becoming credible centers of community and meaning. 45,000 Saturn car owners visited a factory in 1992 where their vehicle was made, and spent days together sharing barbeque, listening to country music and enjoying finger-painting. Did they go because they wanted to see the birthplace of a technological wonder? No, it's really quite an ordinary car. But it enjoys extraordinary devotion. Why? They told me that they identified with its worldview (that everyone, no-matter what their status, deserves respect.) And that they simply want to meet other people like themselves who share the same values and the same enthusiasms.
Brands are increasingly adopting the roles traditionally occupied by social and religious institutions…the making of meaning and community. We eat a brand's meaning when we spoon Ben and Jerry's political agenda into our mouths, or cut off an SUV in our Mini. We feel a brotherhood when we roar down the road with a pack of other Harley riders. A passenger told me that he would start a conversation with his neighbor on a JetBlue plane as they're taking off, but only when they're landing on other carriers. In other words he has the feeling that he's flying with `like-others' on JetBlue, but not with other brands.
How or why have brands been elevated to this position?
That brands can be taken seriously in this role is because our culture has allowed it. Modern society has seen the traditional forms of fellowship erode. The things that have enabled contemporary life have also undermined our collective idea of what is at its heart: geographically based communities. Mobility, modern communications and the media have chipped away at our picket-fence concept of neighborhood.
But simultaneously they have made possible non-geographically anchored equivalents. Now communities are transcending towns and villages, language and ethnicity and are evolving into groups of dispersed individuals connected by shared interests, values and identity. Community has not gone away, as some of our leaders complain. Like any successful organism, it's just adapted to changed circumstances. And communities are now forming around brands. Brands are, after all, the natural offspring of this trend. Well financed and conceived, succored by media, communications and mobility, they are becoming loci for strong communities and express credible worldviews.
Friday, August 3, 2007
See my website!!!
Voila! Here is my main page which points to my store, and:
This is my eCRATER store.
If I had readers, I'd tell them to go check out my sites and let me know what they think. I guess I have neglected to promote this blog. Heck, just publishing a blog is scary. Imagine trying to find people to come look at it.
This is my eCRATER store.
If I had readers, I'd tell them to go check out my sites and let me know what they think. I guess I have neglected to promote this blog. Heck, just publishing a blog is scary. Imagine trying to find people to come look at it.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Manic Depression and Christianity - Part 1
I fully intend to post more on this subject when A: I have more time and B: I know what I'm going to say.
There is a perplexing paradox here which I am begining to explore but unsure of how. Anyway, thought I would share a link to a thought-provoking essay on the subject:
Mania and Christianity
I think it is the free-will question that I can't reconcile.
There is a perplexing paradox here which I am begining to explore but unsure of how. Anyway, thought I would share a link to a thought-provoking essay on the subject:
Mania and Christianity
I think it is the free-will question that I can't reconcile.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Play
I've been reading this book:
In it, the author has been discussing the important of play. She observes that we play when we are young as an important part of learning how the world works. Baby animals play more physically and enthusiastically in proportion to how social the adults of their species are. Play seems to be a natural inhibitor of aggression.
Shouldn't we all learn to play more, and wouldn't that lead to less tension in our lives and relationships?
In it, the author has been discussing the important of play. She observes that we play when we are young as an important part of learning how the world works. Baby animals play more physically and enthusiastically in proportion to how social the adults of their species are. Play seems to be a natural inhibitor of aggression.
Shouldn't we all learn to play more, and wouldn't that lead to less tension in our lives and relationships?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sleep deprivation therapy
They are saying sleep deprivation can be used to treat unipolar depression (see this search of biopsychiatry.com)
They also say undernourishment leads to a healthier life. I can't remember where I read this, but lab mice that were fed 50% less lived longer and healthier lives, while those that were deprived of 60% of their food starved to death. Poor things. There must be a fine line between moderation and deprivation.
The danger with a bipolar depressed person is that the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation has the potential to trigger a manic episode. On the other hand, a recommended means for preventing mania is regulating sleep cycles. Seemingly more than anyone else, someone with bipolar disorder must [i]order[/i] their lives, and sleep in particular.
Foodwise, a low-calorie diet is ideal as long as every calorie is highly nutritious.
I theorize that most of us need less than 8 hours of sleep per night, if we are healthy. But it ought to come at predictable times, consistently.
The real question now is how to guarantee a quality sleep.
They also say undernourishment leads to a healthier life. I can't remember where I read this, but lab mice that were fed 50% less lived longer and healthier lives, while those that were deprived of 60% of their food starved to death. Poor things. There must be a fine line between moderation and deprivation.
The danger with a bipolar depressed person is that the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation has the potential to trigger a manic episode. On the other hand, a recommended means for preventing mania is regulating sleep cycles. Seemingly more than anyone else, someone with bipolar disorder must [i]order[/i] their lives, and sleep in particular.
Foodwise, a low-calorie diet is ideal as long as every calorie is highly nutritious.
I theorize that most of us need less than 8 hours of sleep per night, if we are healthy. But it ought to come at predictable times, consistently.
The real question now is how to guarantee a quality sleep.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Conversation starters
I found an interesting article the other day about how social networking sites are changing the way people socialize in real life. I don't know how true that is. Myspace hasn't really been around that long, and who knows? It might just be a precursor to something else. Remember when everyone had pagers?
I like the Lens or Hub idea where you can showcase things you find interesting with or without getting personal. Maybe I'm old-fashioned now. Not to be cynical, but I think it's likely people will start to find benefit in being a little more low-profile online.
Then again, I don't get out much. Maybe there is a dramatic shift taking place in society and how people interrelate in the "real world".
I like the Lens or Hub idea where you can showcase things you find interesting with or without getting personal. Maybe I'm old-fashioned now. Not to be cynical, but I think it's likely people will start to find benefit in being a little more low-profile online.
Then again, I don't get out much. Maybe there is a dramatic shift taking place in society and how people interrelate in the "real world".
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Family stuff
I took a day off from promoting my Native Remedies venture yesterday. It was a hundred degrees with no a/c, plus we had some family issues come up. I had to give myself a little break. The children were wonderful and let me sleep a good portion of the day.
Today we are back to a regular schedule. DS6 is working on his math (Rod and Staff). He's brilliant at math, but I think we might switch them to MathUSee. I got the free indroductory DVD and the children were captivated by it. I think understanding how math works is even more important than memorizing the facts.
I'm helping DS5 with a reading workbook while intermittently composing this blog entry. We are using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but I use this workbook to supplement it and give him practice writing words.
DD2 is coloring (with frequent potty breaks because she has a new stool and can reach the sink, which is loads of fun.)
DD1 is having a Dada fit (she's been having little episodes of missing Dada during the day.)
DD3mos is sucking his fingers. He recently discovered how to hold a teething ring briefly, but favors his fingers.
Tonight is a honey-date, which I am looking forward to. My mom is going to come over at bedtime and sit for us.
Today we are back to a regular schedule. DS6 is working on his math (Rod and Staff). He's brilliant at math, but I think we might switch them to MathUSee. I got the free indroductory DVD and the children were captivated by it. I think understanding how math works is even more important than memorizing the facts.
I'm helping DS5 with a reading workbook while intermittently composing this blog entry. We are using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but I use this workbook to supplement it and give him practice writing words.
DD2 is coloring (with frequent potty breaks because she has a new stool and can reach the sink, which is loads of fun.)
DD1 is having a Dada fit (she's been having little episodes of missing Dada during the day.)
DD3mos is sucking his fingers. He recently discovered how to hold a teething ring briefly, but favors his fingers.
Tonight is a honey-date, which I am looking forward to. My mom is going to come over at bedtime and sit for us.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Need content. Need time.
Yesterday I set up a "lens" at Squidoo.com.
So I got my blog, I got my lens, did I tell you I set up a free web store at ecrater.com? It's not ready yet. Rather time consuming, putting up all the products.
Also, I have once customer. My mother. I tell myself not to party until I have a customer who is not a relative.
What I need now for the lens, and for this blog, is content. I have a lot of ideas for content, but composing things or even copying and pasting interesting articles or providing links could occupy hours and hours and hours.
I am stingy with my time. Don't get much for myself.
Wake up at 5:55, have a quick breakfast with Big Honey before he goes to work. Then if all goes well, I have about an hour before the first kidlet wakes up. I might have time to take a shower, but I'm more likely to spend the entire time glued to the computer.
By 8:00 everyone is up. That means I'm making breakfast for four while breastfeeding the baby. Then we homeschool. Then it's lunch time. Then the babies sleep and the older two and I read. I check some things on the internet. This is also the time for the boys to do school stuff on the computer, and for me to get some housework done.
I usually start making dinner around 5:00. Big Honey arrives anywhere between 5 and 7. We have family time. Kidlets go to bed at 8:00. We have the discussion about how it stays light until 10:30 in the summer, but we still go to bed at 8. Big Honey is in bed by 10:00. Every couple nights I spend a couple hours on the computer after this, but the rest of the time I crash too.
So I have to be extremely careful how I budget my computer time. Sure, it's fascinating to read blogs like this one, but I can't afford that luxury.
So I got my blog, I got my lens, did I tell you I set up a free web store at ecrater.com? It's not ready yet. Rather time consuming, putting up all the products.
Also, I have once customer. My mother. I tell myself not to party until I have a customer who is not a relative.
What I need now for the lens, and for this blog, is content. I have a lot of ideas for content, but composing things or even copying and pasting interesting articles or providing links could occupy hours and hours and hours.
I am stingy with my time. Don't get much for myself.
Wake up at 5:55, have a quick breakfast with Big Honey before he goes to work. Then if all goes well, I have about an hour before the first kidlet wakes up. I might have time to take a shower, but I'm more likely to spend the entire time glued to the computer.
By 8:00 everyone is up. That means I'm making breakfast for four while breastfeeding the baby. Then we homeschool. Then it's lunch time. Then the babies sleep and the older two and I read. I check some things on the internet. This is also the time for the boys to do school stuff on the computer, and for me to get some housework done.
I usually start making dinner around 5:00. Big Honey arrives anywhere between 5 and 7. We have family time. Kidlets go to bed at 8:00. We have the discussion about how it stays light until 10:30 in the summer, but we still go to bed at 8. Big Honey is in bed by 10:00. Every couple nights I spend a couple hours on the computer after this, but the rest of the time I crash too.
So I have to be extremely careful how I budget my computer time. Sure, it's fascinating to read blogs like this one, but I can't afford that luxury.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Now I have a Lens
Check it out:
Natural Remedies for Mood Disorders
I have to admit, I am so bad at ad copy.
Now I hope this blog can evolve into something more than me talking about how cool Native Remedies is (although there is much to be said about that).
Speaking of lenses, the kids and I have discovered a terrific **free** science curriculum for homeschoolers. We home school, by the way.
This is what we use for science
and we just happen to be learning about lenses lately. This is good for me, too, because I found that although I remembered how to identify convex vs. concave (a concave lens having a cave going in), I was a bit foggy about what each does, respectively. It's terrible.
Maybe a lot of adults forget this stuff and never notice its loss, but I am deeply grateful to be surrounded by little people who seek out new experiences and information and suck it all in like sponges. It pushes me to keep growing and learning, too. And to be amazed by the simplest things.
Did you know light can bend???
Natural Remedies for Mood Disorders
I have to admit, I am so bad at ad copy.
Now I hope this blog can evolve into something more than me talking about how cool Native Remedies is (although there is much to be said about that).
Speaking of lenses, the kids and I have discovered a terrific **free** science curriculum for homeschoolers. We home school, by the way.
This is what we use for science
and we just happen to be learning about lenses lately. This is good for me, too, because I found that although I remembered how to identify convex vs. concave (a concave lens having a cave going in), I was a bit foggy about what each does, respectively. It's terrible.
Maybe a lot of adults forget this stuff and never notice its loss, but I am deeply grateful to be surrounded by little people who seek out new experiences and information and suck it all in like sponges. It pushes me to keep growing and learning, too. And to be amazed by the simplest things.
Did you know light can bend???
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Native Remedies
Wow. Not only am I excited about the opportunity to make money selling a product on the internet, but I've found a company whose products I truly respect and believe in.
Native Remedies has formulas for mood disorders, brain function, ADHD, as well as common ailments of the body. They also have a line of natural pet products and organic baby items.
I signed up for their dropship program, not as an affiliate, because I plan to advertise the products locally as well as online, and take orders myself. I've set up an online store at ecrater.com, which is free, and Google Checkout is doing free credit card processing until January 1, 2007. So I can take payments online, then order from the Native Remedies site at a 52% discount.
I am also thinking about introducing the product to health food stores.
This kind of thing is so new to me, all of this makes me very nervous. Marketing, pricing, collecting payments...
But I *really* believe I've found a very special niche.
I am relieved that I am not going to end up promoting novelty items from some hack website at a dollar-twenty-nine apiece.
Native Remedies has formulas for mood disorders, brain function, ADHD, as well as common ailments of the body. They also have a line of natural pet products and organic baby items.
I signed up for their dropship program, not as an affiliate, because I plan to advertise the products locally as well as online, and take orders myself. I've set up an online store at ecrater.com, which is free, and Google Checkout is doing free credit card processing until January 1, 2007. So I can take payments online, then order from the Native Remedies site at a 52% discount.
I am also thinking about introducing the product to health food stores.
This kind of thing is so new to me, all of this makes me very nervous. Marketing, pricing, collecting payments...
But I *really* believe I've found a very special niche.
I am relieved that I am not going to end up promoting novelty items from some hack website at a dollar-twenty-nine apiece.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Overload
So for the last few days I've been reading everything there is out there (for free) about drop shipping, online storefronts, website traffic-generation, and I feel like I've gotten nowhere. There is so much catching up to do!
I was an early member of Prodigy when I was 12. I remember when people would ask "what's the Internet?" Now I'm the one saying "what's linksys and myspace and xml? what're iphones and wikis? I can't keep up with technology *and* 5 kids! (Your tooth is loose? When did you get teeth?!?)
Okay, my first stage of investigation was concentrated on drop shipping, because basically let it be known I have **no money** for start up costs. I was fascinated by doba.com, which claims to have millions of products available to its members at rock-bottom wholesale prices. Interestingly, those prices can't be viewed by the public without the benefit of a 7-day "free" trial.
For the purposes of research and to benefit my faithful blog-readers, I purchased a 7-day "free" trial, which I promptly cancelled immediately after copying and pasting all of Doba's really useful articles and ascertaining that their wholesale prices are *much* higher than what the items in question sell for on ebay, if they in fact are selling at all.
Perhaps I will repost some of the very useful articles I obtained (permission is granted). I read several reviews of Doba that were less than favorable, but more than one commented on the excellency of the training material, and I agree. However, I am convinced by the reviews and other sources of anonymous internet counsel that drop-shipping directories would be a waste of time.
I was almost discouraged by this revelation. I'd been pinning my hopes on Megagoods.com, who offers a 30-day free trial and only $19.95 per month to access a product list including Sony, Samsung, Nintendo, etc. The goal would be to sell enough electronics in 30 days to make at least a profit of $19.95. However, the more I researched the competition for these products, the more I wondered...
Where would I begin? Ebay has the most risk. Those seller's fees can really add up. Amazon and some other shopping sites don't charge up front to list items for sale, but how do I then drive traffic to those listings for free in less than 30 days? Maybe if I had 10-12 hours a day to stare at a computer screen...
Then I discovered Native Remedies.
I was an early member of Prodigy when I was 12. I remember when people would ask "what's the Internet?" Now I'm the one saying "what's linksys and myspace and xml? what're iphones and wikis? I can't keep up with technology *and* 5 kids! (Your tooth is loose? When did you get teeth?!?)
Okay, my first stage of investigation was concentrated on drop shipping, because basically let it be known I have **no money** for start up costs. I was fascinated by doba.com, which claims to have millions of products available to its members at rock-bottom wholesale prices. Interestingly, those prices can't be viewed by the public without the benefit of a 7-day "free" trial.
For the purposes of research and to benefit my faithful blog-readers, I purchased a 7-day "free" trial, which I promptly cancelled immediately after copying and pasting all of Doba's really useful articles and ascertaining that their wholesale prices are *much* higher than what the items in question sell for on ebay, if they in fact are selling at all.
Perhaps I will repost some of the very useful articles I obtained (permission is granted). I read several reviews of Doba that were less than favorable, but more than one commented on the excellency of the training material, and I agree. However, I am convinced by the reviews and other sources of anonymous internet counsel that drop-shipping directories would be a waste of time.
I was almost discouraged by this revelation. I'd been pinning my hopes on Megagoods.com, who offers a 30-day free trial and only $19.95 per month to access a product list including Sony, Samsung, Nintendo, etc. The goal would be to sell enough electronics in 30 days to make at least a profit of $19.95. However, the more I researched the competition for these products, the more I wondered...
Where would I begin? Ebay has the most risk. Those seller's fees can really add up. Amazon and some other shopping sites don't charge up front to list items for sale, but how do I then drive traffic to those listings for free in less than 30 days? Maybe if I had 10-12 hours a day to stare at a computer screen...
Then I discovered Native Remedies.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
My First Blog Post Ever
Hello, World! Happy Independence Day!
I remember when my sister took a trip to Ireland and told me she was going to keep a blog so we could all follow her adventures. I was like "what's a blog?" Now she keeps a blog detailing her current adventures in Japan.
Since then I've been a regular follow of several blogs, when I have the time, but never thought I'd have much to fill the pages of one of my own. Correction: I know *everyone* has interesting things happen to them every day, and certainly there is a lot to *say* about my life as a stay-at-home mother of 5, but I could never justify writing a blog just so that others could follow the sometimes hair-raising drama of my life.
Now that I'm trying to start an online business, though, I've become convinced that having a blog will at least help direct traffic to my online store. Which I don't have yet. Actually, I only set up this blog last night. And I don't yet know what I will be selling at my online store. Or how to do it.
So I admit that I'm fairly clueless about online retailing. Someday soon I'll post about *why* I'm pursuing this and maybe it will begin to make sense to all of us. Hopefully, I'm enough of an expert in other areas that some of my expertise will leak out into the blog and at least keep people reading. Perhaps as I stumble through all the sludgy home business resources on the internet, I can help point others away from the scam artists and give out useful information I pick up along the journey.
When people start reading this blog, I'd welcome suggestions on what-to-sell, where-to-sell-it, how-to-sell-it, and so forth.
Don't let me get ahead of myself, though. After all, this is only my first blog post ever.
I remember when my sister took a trip to Ireland and told me she was going to keep a blog so we could all follow her adventures. I was like "what's a blog?" Now she keeps a blog detailing her current adventures in Japan.
Since then I've been a regular follow of several blogs, when I have the time, but never thought I'd have much to fill the pages of one of my own. Correction: I know *everyone* has interesting things happen to them every day, and certainly there is a lot to *say* about my life as a stay-at-home mother of 5, but I could never justify writing a blog just so that others could follow the sometimes hair-raising drama of my life.
Now that I'm trying to start an online business, though, I've become convinced that having a blog will at least help direct traffic to my online store. Which I don't have yet. Actually, I only set up this blog last night. And I don't yet know what I will be selling at my online store. Or how to do it.
So I admit that I'm fairly clueless about online retailing. Someday soon I'll post about *why* I'm pursuing this and maybe it will begin to make sense to all of us. Hopefully, I'm enough of an expert in other areas that some of my expertise will leak out into the blog and at least keep people reading. Perhaps as I stumble through all the sludgy home business resources on the internet, I can help point others away from the scam artists and give out useful information I pick up along the journey.
When people start reading this blog, I'd welcome suggestions on what-to-sell, where-to-sell-it, how-to-sell-it, and so forth.
Don't let me get ahead of myself, though. After all, this is only my first blog post ever.
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