Are you always losing your passwords? Do you have your passwords written on little pieces of paper that you have here, there and everywhere? Nowadays, you have to have passwords for everything and it can be hard to keep up with them all the time. How many times have you lost your passwords? Probably, too many times to count. I definitely know the feeling.

What is that darn password?

You have to make these passwords difficult too. With lower case letters, numbers and symbols. It's impossible to remember all of the passwords we have to make and it's getting bigger every moment. You need a password for everything these days. If I have to make one more password, I'm gonna scream! Go ahead and let it all out. Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in site.

How can you keep your passwords organized and safe and secure? A password book is a great way to do exactly just that. You can keep is somewhere safe offline. I don't know about you but I don't like to keep all of my passwords saved online. It just doesn't seem safe to me. Plus, I like to have something that I can have everything in one place. A password book is a great way to do that. I also like to have something that I can hold in my hands and write in. It feels more personal and private that way. 

Password books make great gifts. I know you know someone who also has problems keeping up with their passwords. This is a great gift to give to them.

Here's a list of some of  my favorites:

We have so many other things we have to stay organized. This is just one less thing we have to worry ourselves about. Knowing that your passwords are safe and you know you have them written down and not jeopardizing important information. I know one of my goals is to stay organized and a password book really helps me do that. Do you have a password book? Is this something that you would be interesting in getting? What have you been using to stay on top of your passwords? Do you have any password horror stories. Let me know in the comments below.

  What is business bashing? Business bashing is when you talk negatively about a business. I am in a lot of business communities and groups. I noticed that a lot of people speak negatively about businesses. I find that to be a turnoff because, I join groups and communities for support. If a persons business is not illegal I think all community members should be supportive.

I see a lot of people bashing network marketing companies. A lot of people view them as pyramid schemes but that is not true. There are a lot of people who are successful with network marketing and is making good money. So, I don't think it is right for people to hold negative stereotypes about them. Some people don't promote them properly but you see that with a lot of online businesses not just network marketing. If they were not legitimate business opportunities you wouldn't see so many of them. So people are making money with them. I, myself think it's a good business opportunity.

We as online marketers we get a lot of flack for being independent business owners. A lot of people don't think you can make money online. We get this from friends, family and even strangers once they find out what you are doing to make money. I think it is very important for us to uplift each other. We need all the support we can get. It's hard to change your mindset if your own fellow marketers who are supposed to be supporting you are giving you the same old negative feedback you get from people who aren't involved in online marketing.

Why? Because we all need encouragement. It takes a lot of guts to keep going and to believe it can be done. The reality is you can make money online and be successful. So, we should encourage each other in any way we can. Don't become like the naysayers. Even if it is done jokingly. It's not funny. People join communities to get help. You are not helping if you are making people feel bad. That's not what a community is supposed to do. 

We are all learning. I know if you have a community or group you get tired of people coming in there trying to spam it to death. For some people they are feeling hopeless. So, that's like a last resort. Obviously, they don't know how to market properly. It's our job to help them learn. Hopefully, by being a member of your community they can learn what tips and tools they need to market properly. We all know having your own business takes a lot of work and it doesn't happen overnight. 

If you have a community or if you would like to start one. Please keep it positive for yourself and your members. It's nothing like being part of a helpful and supportive community. 

Are you a blogger who offers a service? Are you a freelancer or a consultant? When you offer any kind of service it is very important that you spell out what the customer expects from you and what you expect from the customer. Doing so, makes sure everything goes smoothly and there are no conflicts. I know that you have read horror stories of people not satisfied or they thought that they should of received more than what they initially presented. So, it's very important to cover all bases when you offer your services.

This way, you have in writing what will be done and no one will be confused. People who provide a service should have in writing what is expected in their contracts. Here is a list of people who would benefit from having a independent business contract:

• A blogger who offers any kind of service
• A virtual assistant
• A freelancer
• A consultant
• A web designer
• A life coach
• A social media manager

What kind of contract would be beneficial for a person who works for his or herself that provides a product or a service for a customer in exchange for monetary compensation?

An Independent Contractor Agreement is a contract that would spell out all the terms of the working arrangement between a contractor and a customer, including the services provided; terms and length of the project or service; payment details; and confidentiality; non-solicitation; and dispute resolutions. 

As an Independent Contractor you can make up a contract that fits your business needs. You can do it yourself making sure that it is a good fit for you and your customer. To easily do it yourself Click Here.

Here is a list of people who would greatly benefit from a consulting contract:

• A marketing consultant
• A health consultant
• A educational consultant
• A sales consultant 
• A human resource consultant 
• A business transformation consultant

What kind of contract would be beneficial for a consultant also referred to as freelance contractor, is a business or individual that that provides professional services or advice to a client or company in exchange for compensation. A consultant generally specializes in a particular area or industry, such as marketing, human resources, engineering, etc?  

A  Consulting Agreement would be beneficial because it is an agreement that is a written contract outlining the terms of a given service between a consultant and a client.

If you are a consultant:

• You should use the contract before rendering any services to another individual, business or organization in exchange for monetary compensation.

If you are a customer:

• You should use a Consulting Agreement when hiring a consultant to perform any service for you or your business.

As a consultant or a customer you can make up a consulting contract that is good for the both of you. To easily do it yourself Click Here.

What kind of contract would be beneficial for someone who wants to go into business with someone as a partner?

A partnership agreement would be beneficial because it is an agreement contract between two or more business partners that is used to establish the responsibilities, and profit and loss distribution of each partner, as well as other rules about the general partnership.

As business owner who wants to go into business with one or more people you can make up a contract that fits your business needs. You can do it yourself making sure that it is a good fit for you and your partners. To easily do it yourself Click Here.

This way you will be prepared and avoid any kind of conflict. There is nothing like smoothly running a business and having a peace of mind.

 All over the internet you see people looking for a home-based business. Why? Because they want a business where they can work from home. There are usually four categories for a home-based business:

1. You join a network marketing company.

2. You have your own business something that you, yourself are doing on your own.

3. You join an affiliate marketing business (yes there are affiliate marketing/home-based businesses).

4.  Internet marketing businesses (these usually include selling a system or digital products).

You have to figure out what kind of business that you would like to do. If you don't have any ideas of your own, then you will more than likely join a network marketing company or an affiliate marketing company. If you are not quite sure which one is the best fit for you. You will want to read,"Which Is Better? Network Marketing Or Affiliate Marketing?"  After, you have figured out which one is best for you. Then, you want to start looking for companies that you would like to join. There are a whole lot of companies and I mean a whole lot. So, you want to take your time when you start looking. It's best to go with something that you like to do. If you like scented candles then you would go with a company that sells scented candles. The opportunities are endless. It probably won't be too hard for you to find something that you like.

Where can you find these home-based businesses?

•  Facebook Groups
• Work From Home Forums
• Safelists
• Freeadboards

These are places that people are either discussing home-based businesses or trying to get help with one. Also, people are advertising their home-based businesses. In the forums and groups you can ask questions and tell people what you are looking for. This way, you won't have to sort through a whole bunch of business opportunities that you have no interest in.

What questions should you ask regarding a home-based business

• How much does it cost?
• What are the requirements to join?
• Will I be on an autoship?
• Will I be joining a team or working on my own?

These are just some basic questions that you can ask. It's important to find out everything up front if possible. This way, you won't have any misunderstandings. Asking the right questions will help you be able to make better informed decisions. Many people make this mistake. I don't want you to be one of them.

Don't be pressured into joining

Don't feel as if you are obligated to join if the business is not right for you. Sometimes when you ask people they want people to join them in the business so they may come off very head-strong. You too, have to stand your ground as well. If you ask all the right questions and the business is not right for you. Just tell them that. That's all you have to say. You don't have to go into details why you don't want to join. Sometimes things are just not a right fit at the moment or maybe you just flat out aren't interested.

How do you know if you have found the right business?

You will know if you have no reason not to join. If you like the product or service. It's something that you can use and know other people who would like to use it. Money is not a problem for you if you join. If you have found the right business I encourage you to go ahead and join. Don't keep making excuses. Sometimes, if we wait the excuses will set in. We don't want this to happen. Go ahead and jump in with both feet. You can do this! There are places as I mentioned before such as forums and communities where you can get support.

Can you recommend some home-based businesses?

I sure can. These are home-based business/affiliate marketing businesses. There is no cost to join but you can order business cards and they do offer things such as banners and links to help you promote the products.

Lowermyrx

Ganoderma Coffee Club

SFI

If you are still undecided about what kind of home-based business to join or just want a little bit more information regarding what it takes to start a home -based business. Subscribe to Home Business Magazine. It will be helping you decide if a home-based business is really right for you and if it is it can get you going in the right direction. Sometimes it's best to read about something first before you get started. This way you won't be jumping head first into icy cold water. 

The only thing left for you to do is find a home-based business. Are you looking for a home-based business? Have you found one already? Tell us about it and how you are doing with it in the comments below.

Gift cards are great to give and receive. They make shopping so much easier. You don't have to spend a whole bunch of time in stores trying to figure out what to buy for people. Many times you really don't know what people really like anyway. You are going from store to store or from online site to online site exhausting yourself trying to figure this out. Plus, it's nothing like buying something for someone and you find out later they didn't really like it.

Gift cards are the answer for these problems. You get them a gift card and let them go and buy what they like. This cuts down on you being upset about spending so much time shopping and it cuts down on them being disappointed. Even though we know that you should be grateful that someone took the time to think about you. It's the thought that counts. Even if you have to give it away because it didn't fit or you just flat out didn't like it.

What if you are busy and don't really have to time to shop? Who really loves last minute shopping? No one, but sometimes life gets busy and before you know it ; the event is here. Ever, been invited to a wedding and scrambled to find a gift?  It's nothing like intending to buy a gift for someone but you didn't have time to get it. That's when gift cards come in handy. Also, gift cards are simple.  If you have kids you are giving gifts to. It can cut down on the drama of someone liking their gift more than the other. Keep things equal. Just give gift cards.

As bloggers it's nice to use gift cards to reward your readers. You can use gift cards to reward people who comment the most or who participate in your community by helping others out by answering questions. This is only if you have a community on your blog. Don't worry if you don't. You can host a giveaway on your blog and give out gift cards. You can have contests on your blog and reward people who share your blog or a particular blog post the most. I know some bloggers have written ebooks or other products it's a great way to reward readers for helping you get the word out.

What kind of gift cards should you give?

If you don't know the person personally. It's best not to give gifts to restaurants or places that sell food. Some people have allergies to different foods. Also, people have diet restrictions. For religious reasons, they may not eat a certain kind of food. Also, for health reasons they may not be eating certain foods. Lastly, they could be vegans or vegetarians. If your blog is catered to a certain audience. Such as a mom blog then gift cards for Toys'rus a kids clothing store would be appropriate. However, just stick with a gift card from a store where they can purchase something that they can use.

Gift cards can fit anywhere

You can give a gift card anywhere. You don't have to worry about carrying a bunch of stuff around. Once you give someone a gift card you don't have to worry about them leaving it. Because it can fit in their purse or wallet. You can send it in the mail and it won't cost you a fortune to send it. They are so much easier! Gosh, it makes giving gifts a cinch! It truly is no worry shopping. Now, that's the kind of shopping I like to do!

Where To Buy These Discount Gift Cards?

It shouldn't cost you a fortune to buy these gift cards and it won't. You can get them from GiftcardRescue. They have excellent prices. Plus, they have a wide selection. Whatever, you choose there is one for you. You can also sell a gift card or even exchange one. As much as we try to avoid it sometimes we still get a gift card that we just can't use. If that happens to you, you can sell it or exchange it. To sell or exchange a gift card you must check the balance. You can do that at Giftcardbalancenow.com. Buy your gift cards at GiftcardRescue now.

No matter what the occasion is Gift cards make the perfect gifts. I just love getting gift cards. Don't you? What kind of gift card would you like to get? What merchandise store would you be happy about getting a gift card from?

When you are searching to join a business online you will hear the word scam a lot. What actually is a scam? What does that really mean? The definition of a scam is - a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; swindle. I'm sure there are plenty of people running scams and I'm not saying that you haven't ran into any. However, it is very important that you make sure that is truly what it is before you go screaming to anyone and everyone who will listen that you have been scammed by such and such business. You see, sometimes people's claims turn out to be not true. I've said it before and I will say it again. It takes time to make money with a business, any kind of business.

Before joining any kind of business you can do an online search about it. Collaborate with people who are already working in it. If and when you decide to join read all of the fine print. Make sure that you will be able to put in the proper time. This is something that you will be investing your money in so you must make sure that you have the time and make the effort when you make the commitment to join. If you can't promise yourself that you will do these things then, it's in your best interest not to join any kind of business. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't never decide to join. It just means that it is not a good time for you right now.

Why would someone say a business is a scam when it is clearly not? Because they didn't do the above. As we all know people think it is easier to do business on the internet( I blame the false advertising that is being done on a consistent basis). If you are a newbie then it is easy for you to fall into these cracks. Why? Because, naturally people are looking for something that is easier. So, when they think that they have found it they mistakenly believe that easy means less work or basically no work. That is simply not true. There is no business that you will join and not do absolutely nothing. So, if you are one of those people, please stop believing those blatant lies. I'm telling you right now they are not true and they will never be true.

When a business is a scam it will not stay in business for long because the people who join it will not make any money. This is a clear indicator that a business is a scam. Also, a business that is a scam usually, has no way for you to contact them. They aren't interested in you being successful either. Why would they? They can't have you making money, because if they did it wouldn't be a scam. If it is a scam NO ONE will make money and people will not stay in the business. They will lose money not make money. That is the whole object of a scam.

You do not want to accuse a legitimate business of being a scam. For one, it will make you look bad. You are stating something that is not true. People will do their research. When they find out it's not a scam and that you purposely said it was that doesn't make you look good in the eyes of people. Many times when someone says something is a scam it is because they themselves didn't do something that they were supposed to do so, they try and discredit the business. If you are claiming scam after scam and these business are not scams people will start to look at you and rightfully, so. You are making yourself look unreliable. If you ever do find a business that you like it will be hard for people to trust you (I know I wouldn't join a business with someone who is always claiming that they got scammed).

If you did not do well in a business just say you didn't do well. Maybe, it wasn't for  you. That happens sometimes. We join something find out it wasn't the right fit for us. What do you do? You move on and find something that is. You don't go hollering scam just so you can get attention and people will feel sorry for you. If you think that. Trust me, they won't. It will be completely the opposite. You will be someone that people will not want to be bothered with. If you are trying to do business with people you can't afford to be that type of person. You will need to be someone that people trust. Not someone that looks petty and a whiner in the eyes of people.

When you falsely accuse a business it prevents people who would like to join that business from doing so. It's nothing like not joining something because you took someone's word on it and it wasn't true. They will be mad at you and they will have a good reason to be. It's not something that you want to make a habit out of. Becoming unlikeable online is not something that you want to do. Especially, if you are trying to make money online.

However, if you really do believe that a business is a scam you should go to the right sources. Which is to report to the BBB and Ripoffreport websites. This way it can be dealt with in a civilized manner and you won't look like some crazy person screaming scam all over the internet. Unfortunately, these things can and do happen sometimes. Before you do make sure that it is a scam. You don't want to accuse a legitimate business of being a scam. It's not fair to people who would like to join the business.

  Has it been hard for you to get your business off the ground? Do you feel that you have a good idea but just don't have the funds to get it going? Are you thinking about giving up because the money just isn't coming in? Do you say to yourself,"If only I could get the help that I need things would be so much better". It can be a real bummer when you don't have the money to make your dreams a reality. Have you asked for help but other people just didn't have the money either? After all, this economy has been hard on everyone.

Have you heard of Go Fund Me? This is a crowdfunding website. It is a site that will help you raise money. I know you might have some doubts. Not about the site but about your feelings. Maybe, you don't really like to ask for help or you might think getting help is a sign of weakness. Maybe you might feel that you are not building your business by yourself and that you won't be a self made man or woman. You might feel like that you are looking for a handout if you use a site like Go Fund Me.

If you feel this way you shouldn't. Sometimes we all need help at some point in our lives. Plus, people will be donating because of their own free will. No one is making them do it. This is like getting grant money because you don't have to worry about paying someone back and you won't have any debt worries. They are doing this because they want to help someone to achieve their goals. So, you shouldn't feel embarrassed in the least. It takes a lot of money to get a business off the ground. If people are willing to help you out I think that you should let them. You get blessings when you help someone out. It is said the giver and the receiver both receive blessings. No one loses. It's a win win for everyone. I just love win win situations. Don't you? :)

The good thing about using Go Fund Me is that you can explain who you are and why you would like to receive a donation (I think it looks better then just having a donation button up). People can see how much you have raised and what is your goal amount. The site is very professional looking and it gives people the opportunity to share it on the social networks. So, other people can have the opportunity to donate to a worthy cause. You can also see the people who have given you a donation. I think that is cool because if you know who donated you can thank them. I know some people like to donate anonymously as well that is cool too. Both ways are good, because like I said before it gives the recipient a chance to thank them and it encourages other people to give and sets a good example. Giving anonymously also helps keep one humble and it helps keep your intentions straight by not doing it for show or just to receive attention. It doesn't matter because Allah (God) knows who gives regardless whether the giver is known or unknown.

Below is a picture of the Go Fund Me website where you can get a feel of the site and see other members who are utilizing the services.

You might have concerns because you might feel like people may use a site like this for bad intentions. Such as they may or may not be telling the truth. I can understand your concerns but if we stopped helping because of people that might have bad intentions we wouldn't be helping anyone. We get rewarded for our good intentions. So, if it is our intention to help someone out we will be rewarded regardless of the ill intentions of others.

Click Here to see how Go Fund me works. As you can see it is very easy to use. So, if you would like to get your business off the ground or whatever dream that you have. It can become a reality. There are good people who would like to help you out if only they know about it. Go Fund Me gives them that chance.

Have you heard of Go Fund Me? Would you be willing to use a site like this?

Which is better for you network marketing or affiliate marketing? I have been involved with both network marketing and affiliate marketing. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Is one easier than the other? Both involve selling products or services. So, they are equal in that regard. However, for me I think affiliate marketing is a little easier than network marketing. Let's talk about both below:

Network Marketing

The definition of network marketing or multi level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of the salespeople they recruit.

In network marketing you are selling a product or service and you are signing people up to be in your network. Many times you have to be on a monthly autoship for the product or service you are selling. The companies like for you to do this to showcase that you too are using the product. The disadvantage of this is it can be costly. Some people can't afford the monthly bill every month. This has caused many people to end up in debt after a period of time.

You have to be continually generating new leads. These are people you are seeking to join you in your business. This can be a very tedious process. Some people are just not cut out for rejection and after a while they get discouraged. While you can get paid if a person only buys the product you get paid more if the person joins you in the business. It also takes money to make money in network marketing because you have to be on an autoship program yourself. This also helps the company pay for the websites that they supply the members with. Also, you have to buy other marketing materials such as: pamphlets, business, cards and promotional cd's.

It also helps if you signup with a good team leader. This is a person who is not only making money themselves but also helping the people on their team as well. They will be able to help you get started and explain to your team how to bring in and teach people about the business. It is very important that once you join a network marketing company you attend the weekly training calls they have for the members to help them learn the benefits of the products and services and how to promote them.

There is nothing wrong with being in more than one network marketing company but I wouldn't recommend it if you are just starting out. Also, be on the lookout for people jumping from one business to the next. These people are called network marketing junkies. They don't stay in any company long term, they go from one company to the next hoping to make fast cash. Which is really not possible. If you suspect someone of this, it is wise not to signup with them if you are thinking about joining the business. Find someone who is a good team leader who is stable and building their business.

Affiliate Marketing

The definition of affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts. The industry has four core players: the merchant, the network, the publisher, and the customer.

In affiliate marketing you too are selling a product or a service for a company. However, in affiliate marketing you don't have to pay to get started. There are usually no products or services you have to buy to get started. You can get started for free. The company gives you banners and text ads to use in your online marketing. All is provided for free. However, if you want to use other methods that cost that is totally up to you but not mandatory.

Some affiliate marketing companies have affiliate managers. These are people that help you with your marketing. You can ask them questions and they will also provide you with what you need to be successful and let you know about campaigns that you might like to run. Some companies provide you with training as well. You join affiliate marketing companies through affiliate marketing networks such as: Commission Junction, Shareasale, and Linkshare. Some affiliate companies like for you to have a website. While, not mandatory for all you should just check with the company and they will let you know. I know some internet marketers that don't have a website but they have a forum or adboard where they can advertise text links or banners.

If you do not have a website it is not hard to get one started. Website builders are great for building a website and getting online quickly. You can also build one for free and upgrade later on. The upgrade provides you with more features. The learning curve is not hard and the support is usually very helpful. You can also check out online marketing forums as well people in there don't mind lending a helping hand. Some affiliate marketing companies provide pages already built but you would have to pay for hosting and a domain name.

Conclusion

I like network marketing and affiliate marketing. However, I do think it is easier to get started in affiliate marketing because you don't have to pay to get started. This gives you time to learn how to do affiliate marketing without the stress of a bill every month. Thus, it can cut down on added stress if you aren't making a whole lot of money in the beginning. When you do start making money you can put it back into your business. Whether you want to purchase affiliate pages or domain names. Whatever you might want to help you in promoting the products. While, with network marketing you have a monthly autoship that you have to pay whether you are making money or not. You can't really save money because it has to immediately be put back into the business by purchasing the monthly products or services.

Also, with network marketing your success depends on how many people you signup. If you signup productive people who are working the business that helps you make more money. However, if you signup people who aren't working the business that can really be a big problem for you because you won't be getting paid either. It's the trickle down effect. However, with affiliate marketing your success doesn't depend on you signing up people. There are companies that will reward you for bringing in referrals but your overall success doesn't depend on them. If they signup and don't do anything it won't really affect you as long as you are selling the products or services yourself.


As you can see there or both benefits of joining network marketing or affiliate marketing. It just depends on what is better for you. You can be a network/affiliate marketer if you like both and believe that you have the skills and the time.

Are you both a network/affiliate marketer? If so, how is it going? Have you been in a network marketing company in the past? Was the experience good or bad for you? Which do you prefer? Network marketing or affiliate marketing?