| online auctions to pets, personal trainers to search | | | | have the in-house expertise to do it themselves, |
| engine consultants, these seemingly unrelated business | | | | search engine optimization consultants, or SEO |
| ideas have one thing in common: They are among the | | | | consultants as they are known in the industry, have |
| hottest small business areas in 2005. | | | | become virtually indispensible. |
| For someone wishing to build an exciting one person | | | | Almost 85% of people online use search engines, |
| family operation with little up-front money, there's been | | | | according to several marketing services. And CEOs |
| no better year than 2005. | | | | want to ensure that these people are able to see their |
| Online Affiliate Marketing | | | | company's listing. This can only be done using search |
| Did you know that big companies such as SONY, | | | | engine optimizers which provide the algorithms and |
| Gateway, Weight Watchers and will pay you for | | | | technology to increase a site's visibility. |
| promoting their products? If not, then welcome to the | | | | Today, an SEO consultant, armed with a search |
| exciting world of affiliate marketing. | | | | engine optimization software package can command |
| A little while ago these brand-name companies, and | | | | top-dollar for their services. This is because the up |
| thousands like them, discovered that they could greatly | | | | front consulting cost is easily recouped by the increase |
| increase their corporate earnings by paying a | | | | in sales due to higher online visibility. |
| commission to people ("affiliates") who direct | | | | And as a final indication of how hot the search engine |
| customers to their sites. When a customer buys a | | | | optimization field is, there are places where you can |
| popular item from one of these sites the company | | | | get a complete Web Site Promotion Business Plan |
| pays the affiliate (you) a commission. These | | | | that explains step-by-step how to setup and run one |
| commissions can go as high as 50% - 75% of the | | | | of these companies. |
| actual sale. The commissions are high because the | | | | This is one of those rare times where one can |
| numbers of sales are greatly increased. The | | | | witness a niche industry going supernova. |
| companies have enlisted the online community as their | | | | Dog Obedience Trainer |
| sales representatives. | | | | Pets have become an integral part of the family. In |
| In 2004 this business exploded. Entire networks sprang | | | | fact, many pet owners consider their dog or cat like a |
| up solely to administer these company's affiliate | | | | child or family member. This helps explain why the pet |
| programs and commission payments. People were | | | | business is now a multi-billion dollar industry. |
| making so much money that tax ids had to be | | | | How popular are pets? Well, new figures just released |
| captured to appease the IRS. As big as this was in | | | | from the American Pet Products Manufacturers |
| 2004, all projections have 2005 being much bigger as | | | | Association (APPMA) show that pet ownership is |
| more and more companies get involved. | | | | currently at its highest level, with 63 percent of all U.S. |
| The startup costs for this business is the price of a | | | | households owning a pet. Americans own |
| home computer and an Internet connection. Since | | | | approximately 73 million dogs and 90 million cats. |
| many people already have these items, this is an | | | | There are many areas where people are tapping part |
| especially attractive side job or career for the "work | | | | of that multi-billion dollar revenue. Areas such as pet |
| at home" crowd. All the information to start this type of | | | | gifts, parties, travel accessories, nutrition, health |
| business can be found by searching for and reading | | | | insurance, dental products and toys are all very |
| the many available documents. Alternatively, there are | | | | popular. However one niche area has clearly become |
| some very good resources available that have | | | | a hit with dog owners ... Dog Obedience Trainer. |
| compiled the pages and pages of pertinent information | | | | Dog training schools are generally quite expensive, so |
| into a "how to" guide. | | | | many owners are turning instead to private obedience |
| One of the most challenging aspects of this business is | | | | trainers. This works well for the owner since in most |
| how to advertise these companies and their products. | | | | cases the trainer will work with the dog at owner's |
| There are many ways to do this, but the idea should | | | | home. As a dog obedience trainer you would be |
| be to get as many people as possible to the | | | | expected to stop the dog from fighting with other |
| company’s sites. The more people you get to | | | | dogs, curb aggressiveness, stop the dog from jumping |
| a company's site, the more sales you will generate, | | | | on people, etc. |
| and that translates to commissions. Again, a clever | | | | Daniel Stevens, a professional dog trainer and author |
| entrepreneur will be able to find a lot of options by | | | | of some excellent books, says "You don't need some |
| reading whatever they can find on the Internet. If | | | | 12-week dog obedience training plan where you do |
| you're strapped for time because you already work | | | | almost the same thing each week. This is not the most |
| full-time or are busy with kids, you can get tips on how | | | | effective way of training your dog because your dog |
| to place free ads from several sources. Guides exist | | | | switches out of learning mode". |
| that can show you how to place up to 200 million ads | | | | What makes this an especially attractive career |
| online for free. There's nothing like free advertising. | | | | choice is the minimal upfront expenditure required. All a |
| If you don't mind working largely by yourself, then online | | | | person needs to start this business is a knowledge of |
| affiliate marketing could be the hot job for you in 2005. | | | | current dog training techniques. This is easily attainable |
| Online Auctions – eBay | | | | by studying one of several books on the subject. |
| One business area that has so far been | | | | Advertising for your new business could be as simple |
| "recession-proof" is the huge online-auction | | | | has hanging home made flyers on supermarket bulletin |
| marketplace. And in this land eBay is the undisputed | | | | boards or leaving cards at local veterinarians, |
| King-Kong. | | | | groomers and pet stores. You could also opt to get a |
| At the end of 2003, eBay boasted 95 million registered | | | | complete Business Plan that explains step-by-step |
| users who traded almost $24 billion in goods. With | | | | how to setup and run one of these businesses. |
| numbers like these it's easy to see why so many | | | | A true opportunity for a pet lover in 2005 |
| entrepreneurs are setting up shop on eBay. | | | | Nutritionst, Personal Trainer |
| Perhaps it was put best by Janiece Smith in her | | | | With millions of people eager to lose weight and get in |
| remarkable eBay book How an Overworked, | | | | shape, a nutritionist and personal trainer is one of the |
| Traveling, Soggy Sandwich Eating Dental Hygienist | | | | fastest growing fields in the health and fitness industry |
| Made $11,212 a Month Online. Says Smith, "Where else | | | | today. |
| can you start a business with virtually no money, and | | | | It used to be that only athletes used nutritionsts and |
| have access to 86 million+ proven buyers right from | | | | personal trainers to help them reach the top of their |
| your own home?". Smith continues, "You can work as | | | | sport. Today however, all types of people - from the |
| much as you want, whenever you want, from any | | | | young to senior citizens - are using these consultants |
| location, all the time generating cash profits 24 hours a | | | | to help them learn how to lose weight, excercise and |
| day". | | | | eat right. |
| Apparently Janiece is not the only one who sees | | | | With the escalating costs of health care insurance, |
| eBay as a cash cow, as many people are turning to | | | | many employers are now making employees pick up |
| this online juggernaut as an easy way to make extra | | | | a greater share of their premiums, and offering |
| money. In fact, an ever-growing number of people | | | | discounts to those who are in good shape and at their |
| have jettisoned their regular job and are now | | | | ideal weight. All of this means more and more people |
| supporting themselves entirely from their eBay | | | | are seeking out nutritionsts and personal trainers to |
| business (400,000 according to Meg Whitman, CEO of | | | | help them achieve their goals. |
| eBay). | | | | Someone wishing to start a business in this sizzling |
| It's been estimated by some that eBay will continue to | | | | industry has to be knowledgeable about eating right |
| grow 25%-35% per year for the foreseeable future, | | | | and excercising properly. There are classes you can |
| making this business hot not only for 2005, but for | | | | take to learn this information, but expect to pay |
| many years to come. | | | | several thousand dollars in tuition fees. This makes this |
| Search Engine Optimization | | | | business more costly to start than some of the others |
| Is your business really online if nobody knows you're | | | | mentioned in this article. You could also teach yourself |
| there? Companies have been finding out that they can | | | | this information by reviewing of one several resources |
| spend a million dollars on their website, but if it's not | | | | for this industry. |
| visible, it's worth nothing. That's why search engine | | | | With an ever-aging population growing larger everyday, |
| optimization has become crucial for companies to | | | | this is a business that should be hot well past 2005. |
| survive online. And since few of these companies | | | | |