"No coffee"

Day210
The following article is about tea. You may be thinking, “What does that have to do with an online store?” Well, first you can sell teas or tea related items online. It’s a huge business. I am going to tie the article into one of my products at the end. "No coffee".

I also think that if you are going to do anything online you have to be interested in everything. Try new things and be ready to turn on a dime and try something else new. The ability to do that is the beauty of the internet.

There are many teas that have been drunk throughout the ages. They are basically infusions of plants, usually the leaves and sometimes the flowers, by boiling them with water. Teas can be drunk hot or cold and are used for a variety of ailments. Teas of different sorts are drunk worldwide.The official tea that we drink is the second most popular beverage and grown in the mountainous regions of China, India, Sir Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Georgia, Japan, Kenya, Malawi and Taiwan.

The tea we drink is taken from the top leaves and the buds of the Camellia Sinensis tree. These leaves are specially dried and then crushed for maximum flavor.Tea is a mild stimulant, with small amounts of caffeine. It has far less than its counterpart coffee. It also has small amounts of vitamin A, B2, C, D, K, and P. there are also trace amounts of some minerals. Overall it is good for your health. It is recommended that about 3 cups of tea and more should be drunk a day to get the healthful qualities of this beverage.There are 4 common forms of tea are:

Black Tea, Green Tea, White Tea and Oolong Tea

Black tea is the most common form of tea and is known as the famous “English tea” as this is drunk predominantly in Britain and the Western world. This tea is drunk hot but can also be used to brew the famous iced tea. It is made from the leaves of the tea plant and is completely fermented. This results in its darker color. It is more of a stimulant than the other teas and a more intense taste. Sometimes it is drunk with lemon but most commonly with milk.

White tea comes from the bud of the tea plant. It undergoes little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants but will reduce the stimulant quality of this tea. Because the buds can only be harvested in the spring season this tea is not so common and fairly expensive.

Oolong tea is fermented more than green tea but less than black. Research has shown that this tea helps the digestive system and is good for metabolism.

Green tea is also not fermented like white tea but is made from more mature leaves so is much more common and affordable. This tea was predominantly drunk in the Orient namely Japan and China, but is gaining new ground in the West as research is showing the beneficial properties of this form of tea. Again it has more antitoxins (flavonoids) and is less of a stimulant. Added to this it has vitamin C and fluoride.

Tea Houses are becoming very popular especially in fashionable areas of Europe like Paris. As more research comes to light we will hear more about the benefits of this popular drink. So the next time you relax with a good refreshing cup of tea you can rest assured that your favorite beverage is also good for your health.

Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Consultant. His clients range from pro athletes and actresses, to cancer patients and children with Learning Disabilities. To learn if glyconutrients can help you, visit Buy Glyconutrients Product



See more “No Coffee” items at http://www.givitup.com/ (Remember, we can replace the word Coffee with any word you want.)

"No fear"

Day209
I’m going to try something a little different for awhile. I’ve been reading a lot of articles on business and marketing and the following one on Fear jumped out at me since I have “No Fear” products in my store. I thought it would fun and a learning experience for me to seek an article that both relates to one of my products and at the same time teaches readers something about online business. Feel free to let me know what you think through my comment button.

NO FEAR

Contrary to popular belief “FEAR” doesn’t mean “Forget Everything And Run”! But what are you supposed to do when negative thoughts creep in, force you to live in stress, and cancel out peace of mind?

If you’re like most sales pros, you’ll be tickled pink to know that fear can indeed be conquered. You can greet every single day with a sense of excitement at the thought of having “confidence on demand” and you can own every prospect that has the good fortune to meet with you!

Bottom line? Conquer fear and you’ll come out on top.

Of Course, You Want to Leverage Your Limited Time for Unlimited Dollars:

Selling at the top to million-dollar decision-makers is the strategy you want to master, because senior-level executives focus on business and write big checks.
Experience shows you the primary focus of mid-level decision-makers is keeping his/her job.

You have incredibly valuable solutions and services that’ll benefit your prospect companies, and your “message-to-market-match” fits better at the executive level than any other.

Your all-powerful, business-changing message is this, “I have solutions to reduce your expenses and increase your revenues.” And that message is best matched to executive-level prospects that are doggedly sniffing around for solutions to their rising expenses and plummeting revenues.

Your experience forces you to conclude, “If I continue to call at low levels where the daily cry is, ‘Save my job, spend no money’, you’ll continue to hear that annoying phrase “‘We get hundreds of calls from people like you.”
If you’re like your colleagues, this kind of treatment is getting on your last nerve!

Now, I ask you, with this kind of rejection day in and day out, who wouldn’t expect feelings of fear to creep in?

You Can Concede Defeat or Recognize a Red Flag When You See One:

Look past what appears to be a dead-end, low-level sales call and find the action steps that’ll take you toward your goal. Understand that what appears to be rejection is actually a “red flag” waving, directing you to call higher. That’s where your solutions/services can be understood, valued, and desired, in the big picture scheme of your prospect’s profit picture.

If you misread the red flag as bona fide rejection, you’ll freeze in fear, and conclude all is lost. This does not have to be your choice! You can take action from an entirely different perspective. Determine to search for ways to get past obstacles to top-level cold calls.

Success Is Reached In Zigzags:

As a successful sales pro, you understand that success rarely comes directly, as a crow flies; that success is reached in zigzags by trying a strategy, running into snags, taking corrective action to get back on course, and moving more directly toward the goal again. Look at a snag not as a dead-end, but as a helpful means to a positive outcome.

We all know that unshackled fear, left to its own devices, takes us down a path that fills us with doubt, insecurity, and feelings of failure. What if you’re frozen in fear? Is there hope for you? Can you thaw out and move forward again?

Absolutely, Positively, No Doubt About It—There Is Hope And Promise Of Success:

Your success is dependent on a relatively short list of attitudes and skills that can be learned, exercised, developed, and maintained.

1. Role-play objection overturns with a colleague or your spouse. Lack of confidence comes from lack of skills. This practice-without-pressure will build skills and keep “fear” from nagging you with the question, “What do I say when I call for an appointment?”

2. Fortify yourself with the written testimonials of your favorite clients, read them when “fear” brings up thoughts of, “Why on earth would any executive want to meet with me?” Let the words of your most successful clients be the words that address this little question.

3. Remember, moving forward is hard when you believe the next step will suck the life out of you. Change your belief with a true perspective—F.E.A.R. is simply False Evidence Appearing Real. And that you can handle exceptionally well.

Use these simple tactics to conquer F.E.A.R. and capture profits.

Author/Publisher/Conference Speaker Leslie Buterin (like butterin’ bread), is a founder of Top Dog Consulting. She coaches sales executives and recruiters world-wide in techniques for changing the point of entry to the executive level. For your FREE mini-course “Jealously Guarded Secrets to Cold Calling Company Presidents” visit http://www.coldcallingexecutives.com/ !

See more apparel and gift items at http://www.givitup.com/

List of sites to place free ads

Day205
I spent all day organizing all the free classifieds I’ve used. Putting the URLs and user names and passwords all in one place and listing the ads I have in each and when they expire. It took forever, but will be easier to keep up now.

I thought I would share some that shop owners may like to try.

http://www.acmeclassified.com/ - Very slow site.

http://classifieds.yahoo.com/ - Allows only one location and one picture. Very limited descriptions

http://www.alibi.com/ - Very easy to use. Will take lots of ads. One picture per ad.

http://www.dclassifieds.com/ - This also only takes 1 picture per ad and I’m not positive, but it may only be to one zip code.

Craigslist - length varies from 7 to 45 days that the ad is live. If you try to post an ad that is too similar to one you already have they won’t allow it. Takes 4 pictures.

http://www.friendster.com/ – if you are a member of the site you can post lots of classifieds with pictures. Easy to use.

http://base.google.com/ - haven't quite figured it out yet. Put 8 on today, but I’m not sure if more then 2 stuck!

http://www.adtoad.com- keeps ad live for 60 days. No picture.

http://www.freeclassifiedads.com/ - 60 days or 1 year. Haven’t figured out how to make it be one or the other yet. No pictures.

http://www.usfreeads.com/ - Doesn't print pictures, URL or email. Not overly impressed with.

http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/ Country and state ads. Live for 7 days

http://www.usnetads.com/ - Live for 2 months.

The little white tee

Day201
One year when my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas I said a half dozen new white t-shirts. When telling this at a large Christmas dinner with friends, one of the men there asked, “Why?” Before I could answer, three women said, “Because you can’t have too many white t-shirts!”

I added a section today of Little White Tees. Here’s my description:

Just like no woman can be without the little black dress, no woman can have too many white tees. The all time classic can go anywhere; from the gym with shorts, to a party with jeans or the red carpet with a long skirt. Choose from givitup's stylish selection or take them all!

Check them out at http://www.cafepress.com/givitup/1658565

givitup's new back to school store

Day199
It’s hard to believe, but I’ve seen Back to School sales in the newspapers already!

So for the past 3 days I’ve been creating my Back to School section geared toward college students. They can decorate their dorm room with posters, mugs, photo calendars, magnets, pillows, mouse pads and teddy bears using my designs, their designs, photographs or school, sorority or fraternity names.

Students can have a completely unique and coordinated room.

givitup also has all kinds of apparel; every style t-shirt, sweatshirts, hoodies, baseball caps, track suits and more, again with my designs, theirs or their graduating year or school name.

For a fun send off gift we even have Send More $ postage pals and postcards!

Shop at http://www.cafepress.com/givitup/1648548

World Cup store

Day196
If you couldn’t get enough of the World Cup you will love these products!

http://www.cafepress.com/hotnfunky/1613768?pid=4370506

Ways to promote your business

Day195
CafePress has some ideas for their shop owners, which would work for any online shop owner:

Email all your friends, family co-workers about your new shop; make sure to include your Shop URL.

Place a link to your Shop high above the fold on your website.

Have a newsletter to stay in touch with your customers.

Enter keywords and product descriptions so prospective customers can find your products via search engines.

Buy word ads on Google, MSN and Overture.

Buy some of your own products and put them on your bod; it's great advertising.

Wear your own unique items and people will ask where you got your cool gear.

To learn more visit: http://www.cafepress.com/?pid=4370506

Bumper stickers

Day192
We are right in the middle of summer and if you haven’t made a road trip yet, it’s likely you will. And you will probably see some CafePress bumper stickers out there! Karaoke Therapy

Bumper Stickers

Secrets to success

Day190
I went to an Independent Business Council meeting today and heard a presentation called Secrets Of Your Success for independent business owners.Basically she said there are six things we should do:

1.Decide your acceptable success level. Decide what matters most.

2.Set Goals. Written goals encourage you to visualize success and work for it.

3.Adjust your attitude. Attitudes are learned and not innate.A good attitude makes it easier to motivate self and others

4.Prioritize

5.Change as needed. Be creative and adaptable. Take it one step at a time.

6.Set new patterns, new habits.

Never give up. A diamond is just a piece of coal that stuck to its job!

Learning about search engine optimization

Day189
Online shopowners can’t know too much about Search Engine Optimization. Here are three great resources:

http://searchenginewatch.com/
http://www.searchengines.com/
http://www.searchengineguide.com/

Also, there are two tools that allow you to measure what the most commonly searched terms are per keywords: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

All things BBQ

Day188
In honor of my husband’s birthday and the lake party/BBQ we just had, I’ll share this fun BBQ site:
http://www.cafepress.com/bbqshack?pid=4370506

Pirate stores

Day185
All things Pirates are hot! And of course the CafePress shopkeepers are on top of all things new. Here are two great sites for Pirate stuff!
http://www.cafepress.com/madcapstudios/1538848?pid=4370506


http://www.cafepress.com/apiratestore?pid=4370506

Online store pays tribute to the military

Day184
The 4th of July is a great time to remember the people who have fought for our country. Having been an army wife myself for 6 great years I have a soft spot in my heart for all branches of service.
Here are some beautiful designs that pay tribute to them and their families.
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/military?pid=4370506

10 ways to market your site

Day183
This article by my internet consultant husband strikes home a little because I feel like I haven’t been putting as much time into my business this summer!

10 Ways to Market Your Site and Keep Your Business Cooking This Summer

During this season with the kids home, vacations to take, cookouts to have or attend, and all the other good things going on, it’s easy to put some of our more important business routines on hold, to include marketing. We continue to deliver our goods and services, pay our bills, and collect our due, but things like marketing, well it can wait…or so the temptation exists. Well here are 10 things you can do which don’t take much time, and cost little to nothing to accomplish that will help keep your business visible even if you take it easy a little this summer.

Luckily the internet doesn’t sleep. If you have a website, it is out there and visible 24/7. Lets look at a few simple ways to use that to your advantage.

Make sure your site is registered with the major search engines. This can be done for free at Google, Yahoo and MSN as well as other specialty directories. Typing in “Suggest Site” or “Suggest URL” in your browser search bar will get you to the right places. Submit to each independently rather than to a so-called listing agent who does mass submissions. Include dmoz.org.
Review your affiliations with trade/industry organizations, and go to their sites or your membership information and see what internet linking services they provide you as part of your association with them. These are excellent ways to gain exposure and credibility, but be conscious of the fact many will be listing your competitors as well so approach this with thought.
Look through your website and make sure it is saying what you want it to say. Is it current? Is it aimed at the audience you wish to have for customers? Do you include words and phrases that are focused on what it is you are trying to get across? Make a list of these words and phrases, and then use them in your content as well as website metatags. (talk to a website professional regarding effective integration of these into your site for search engine use)
Set a schedule on your calendar for refreshing your website content to ensure it stays fresh. When visitors return to a site and see nothing new, statistics say that it will be very likely be their last time to visit, and they will go on to another site offering similar products, services, or information.
Set up a formal system for collecting customer contact information and USE IT. Front desk registration, web form, telephone question, giveaway registration, there are many simple ways to gather data. Include e-mail address so you can keep in touch in a variety of simple and even automatic ways for virtually free. Making telephone calls one by one can be a daunting task, and direct mail expensive, but e-mail is quick, easy and cost effective.
Say thanks! Send a card, send an e-mail, put a note on your invoices; just make sure you thank your customers for their business. They have a choice and want to feel appreciated, don’t you?
Stay in touch. Don’t let final payment end your relationship. It costs several times the amount to acquire a new customer as it does to keep an existing one. Let them know what you are up to, that you enjoy what you do, that you are good at it and stand ready to help them at any time in the future. Remind them of why they chose you in the past. Reinforce their good judgment!
Do something new once in a while. Don’t lose sight of your niche, but refresh your business in your customer’s eyes once in a while and let them know about it.
Most of us have at least thought about submitting a press release to the local newspaper when we have something worthy to mention, but you may not know about the various facilities online to do the same. A simple notice of a new product or service can be easily submitted to any number of online agencies such as PRWeb, PR Leap, and others for free release all over the country or specific locations. Free classified ads can be placed as well on sites such as Craigslist.
Organize a simple e-mail marketing strategy and periodically let folks know what you are up to. Yes there are spam filters, black lists, white lists, and all sorts of tools to keep unsolicited e-mail from bothering the recipient, but if you provide something of value, and follow simple rules of courtesy, your e-mail marketing can be quite effective, not to mention traceable, measurable, and essentially free.

In response to a recent marketing survey, 52% of over 220 manufacturing company
executives consider their website to be their most valuable marketing tool. Considering just the small sampling of easy to implement tips above, it’s no wonder.

Yes, the hazy lazy days of summer are here, but the internet can provide ways our business can enjoy sustained marketing presence even while we kick back a bit and have our minds occasionally somewhere else.

John Geiger, owner of Webmasters ICE, has over five years experience helping small and medium-sized companies and organizations capitalize on the power of the internet through consulting, education, and supporting products and services. His focus and passion is the use of the internet in providing more effective overall marketing strategies and highly measurable levels of marketing success. http://www.webmastersice.com/