How to protect your business and make more money at the same time.
At traveljunkies we recently carried out a survey with a cross section of our traveljunkies clients about the problems facing small businesses in the travel, tourism and activities sectors.
Here are five short reports which you should find very interesting and applicable to you.
But ... If you're keen to get started then skip the first four reports and go straight to Report # 5.
Report # 1 - Here are the results of our survey
Report # 2 - Use your assets and begin with your lists
Report # 3 - Promote your business and stop wasting money on advertising that doesn't work
Report # 4 - How to add additional streams of income to your business & where to start
Report # 5 - The only book you will ever need - and get these Free Bonuses
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Report # 1 - Here are the results of our survey
Hello
We recently carried out a survey with a cross section of our traveljunkies clients about the problems facing small businesses in the travel, tourism and activities sectors, often run by one or two people, and in several cases they are family businesses.
As many of you are in similar situations we decided to pass this on to all our clients.
We had responses from all corners of the world and while some were specific to their regions, most had a common list of problems and difficulties they were experiencing.
The top 10 problems we found are listed here but not in any particular order.
- Not enough clients or customers and numbers are going down.
- Not enough website visitors and not enough converting to paying customers..
- Irregular income due to quiet periods and out of season, making it difficult to manage cash flow.
- Working too many hours and not seeing an end to it. Many felt they were just surviving.
- Difficulty in getting and keeping good staff
- Competition, legislation, product and service costs and many other regular business factors.
- Rising costs of services and supplies such as food, accommodation, travel, insurance, advertising, utilities etc.
- Other external factors like adverse weather conditions, strikes, riots, terrorist threats and a general downturn in the economy.
- Difficulty in raising money and the cost of borrowing.
- The changing technological environment especially in the growth of Social Media and Mobile Technology.
Like all small business owners you are in business to make a profit, and a common factor throughout these problems is money, and the lack of it.
Another fact that emerged is that most businesses in our survey have just one line of business and one source of income. This makes them extremely vulnerable to any change in circumstances, from a general downturn like we are experiencing right now through to a disaster over which you have no control at all.
As small business owners ourselves we recognise these problems which is why we are doing something about it, and if any of them are on your list, you should think about doing so too.
So what are you doing to protect your business?
In our next email we'll tell you what we did next, how we recovered from the devastation of having our business completely wiped out, and how we turned the traveljunkies newsletter into the traveljunkies business.
And, what we recommend you do to open up additional streams of income with assets you already own.
With very best wishes
Cliff
traveljunkies - worldwide adventure travel & activities directory & search engine, like google only smaller
http://www.traveljunkies.com
PS. Before leaving see our disaster story
End of Report # 1 - Here are the results of our survey
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Report # 2 - Use your assets and begin with your lists
Hello
What are you doing to protect your business?
In these difficult times it's not sufficient to continue doing more of the same.
"If you carry on doing what you're already doing you'll get more of what you're already getting."
There has never been a more true statement.
So what else can you do?
As a small business owner you most likely have assets that are extremely valuable and one of your most valuable assets are your lists. It's probably cost you a lot of time and money to build your lists, but are they sitting there as unused assets which could, with a little bit of thought, increase your current business or even earn you additional income?.
One way is to produce a newsletter or even a simple regular email to remind your lists who you are and what you do.
Not just special offers and promotions but things of interest in your business or your area.
Something to keep your business in the minds of your customers, prospects and everyone else you have contact with. What's happening in your area at Christmas, for example.
If you think you don't have sufficient lists, or even no list at all, take a look here to see what's around in your business and your area.
It's amazing the effect of keeping in touch with people can have on your business.
In our next email we'll tell you how we started and what we recommend you do to get started.
Until then
Cliff Chapman
traveljunkies - worldwide adventure travel & activities directory & search engine, like google only smaller
http://www.traveljunkies.com
PS. Before leaving see your lists
End of Report # 2 - Use your assets and begin with your lists
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Report # 3 - Promote your business and stop wasting money on advertising that doesn't work
Hello
If it isn't working then stop advertising!
Note the heading in this email is "Promote Your Business" not "Advertise Your Business".
The reason is that "Advertise" usually means paying for advertisements. But is this really necessary and is it the most effective way to promote your business?
The one thing for certain is that it will cost you money.
So what else can you do to you to promote your business without paying for advertisements?
The Internet has made it possible to do this in many ways and here are areas you should consider to promote your business at little or no cost.
Articles - Write articles. You are an expert because you already run your own business. Other people are interested in your experience and what you have to say. Articles are a great way to grow your list and promote your website or newsletter.
Blogging - Produce your own Blog and comment on other people's Blogs. These have all the benefits of using Articles to promote your business. Blogging is simple to do and your blog website is free. We will go more into this in our next email.
Forums - Forums are a great source of information which is why they're so popular and why many people use them to get answers to their questions. Join relevant forums and start contributing. It's a great way to get your business known.
Social Media - Sign up for your Facebook Business Page, and your Twitter, MySpace and Youtube accounts. Are you using Social Media sites to promote your business and attract traffice to your websites? It's where your future customers are already looking to find what they want.
There are others tools of course, but these are things you can do straight away with zero cost except for your time. They are easy to use and will increase your business awareness in those quiet times, and prepare your future customers for your next season.
So where do you start and how do you make the right decisions?
In our next email we'll tell you how we started and what we recommend you do to get started.
Until then
Cliff Chapman
traveljunkies - worldwide adventure travel & activities directory & search engine, like google only smaller
http://www.traveljunkies.com
PS. Remember to use your assets and keep in touch with your customers, prospects and everyone else you have contact with.
End of Report # 3 - Promote your business and stop wasting money on advertising that doesn't work
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Report # 4 - How to add additional streams of income to your business and where to start.
Hello
In my first three reports I reported back on the results of the survey we carried out, the value of assets you already have, and ways in which you can promote your business without spending a lot of money on advertising.
More than 95% of all Internet searches are people looking for information and as we all know, traffic to our websites is the lifeblood of our business.
So how do we drive traffic to our websites? There are several ways.
In addition to the methods covered in our earlier emails you will have heard about Buying Lists, Search Engine Optimisation to get you a higher rank and hopefully onto the first couple of pages for your chosen keywords, Pay Per Click, and the thousands of products being advertised that are "guaranteed to drive massive traffic to your website."
All of these cost money and many are a leap of faith in the dark.
Plus, of course, there is traditional advertising. Not the old style interrupt kind of advertising you get on the radio and television, but the kind of advertising your prospects can choose to see in their own time.
If you are interested in continuing to advertise, then please contact us here at traveljunkies to discuss what you would like and how we can help you. You'll find we aren't locked into a fixed set of advertisements and we are extremely competitive on price.
And remember, unlike most advertising, traveljunkies is also a search engine.
But that's not all.
If you are looking to add additional streams of income, the big questions are ... 1. What should you do? 2. How do you make sure you're doing the right thing for you, and 3. Where do you start?
Right up front I said "without spending a lot of money" so I'd like to tell you about the ebook we found earlier this year and which we now use continually. It contains all the information you will need to enable you make the all important decision about what is best for you.
Many ebooks are short, sometimes only 20 or so pages, and are nothing more than a newsletter. They are cheap, usually around $20 to $30 and are often just a rehash of stuff you can read for free on the Internet, and they are aimed at getting you to buy more products.
Don't. They are usually a complete waste of money.
Instead I'd like to introduce you to an excellent ebook of more than 250 pages that we found earlier this year and now use consistently. It covers all the topics we've discussed and as one testimonial has said "it's the only book you will ever need" and we fully agree with that.
This book is like 10 mini-books in one, each describing ways in which you can build additional streams of income.
It's very comprehensive and written in an easy-to-follow style.
Your purchase is completely safe and after reading it, if you don't think it's right for you, you can get a refund with no questions asked.
So, without keeping you in suspense any longer click here to take a look at this ebook written by a single mum who has actually been there and done it. You'll be glad you did.
Good luck, something there will be just right for you.
Cliff Chapman
traveljunkies - worldwide adventure travel & activities directory & search engine, like google only smaller
http://www.traveljunkies.com
PS. Order your book here in complete confidence that you can get a full refund if you find it isn't for you.
End of Report # 4 - How to add additional streams of income to your business and where to start.
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Report # 5 - The only book you will ever need.
Hello
In my last email "How to add additional streams of income to your business & where to start" I recommended a book that we have used and continue to use to help us grow our income, in addition to our promotion of traveljunkies.
But I didn't tell you much about it, not even it's title, so here's more about this excellent book about Internet Marketing, that's been referred to as "'the only book you will ever need".
Written by Holly Mann, Honest Riches is an honest guide to making real money online.
Honest Riches is fully professional book of 245 pages, not just another of those collection of articles put together to make up an ebook.
In fact it is10 mini books in one, with guided graphic tutorials and all the tools you need to make a real honest living online.
All of the techniques taught in the guide are ones that she personally uses to make her own income online, and has been doing so for 5 years. Over 35,000 copies have been sold, and there hasn't been a negative review of it to date - you can confirm this online.
It has stood the test of time, and Holly has over-delivered and fully discloses all of the methods to making a true income online.
When we decided to add additional streams of income to traveljunkies, we used Honest Riches to help us understand which method best suited our abilities and interests, and we now continue to use it for it's huge amount of information.
Honest Riches costs just US$37 and is excellent value, and as has been said "it's the only book you will ever need", and there is a 60 day full money-back guarantee if you find it's not for you.
Plus Free Bonuses
With your purchase of Honest Riches you will receive these three free bonuses ...
1. How to Research & Find A Niche - $37 value
9 Videos of instruction about niche research, keyword research, how to analyze your competition and find your own profitable, popular niche.
2. Web Traffic Secrets - $37 value
Web 2.0 traffic techniques are some of the best ways for you to get traffic. This step by step video program runs for almost three hours. It's a great complement to the Honest Riches book - especially for those people who want to learn more about Web 2.0 techniques to generate traffic.
3. Squidoo Profits - $19 value
Step-by-step guide on how to make money with 100% free advertising through the use of Squidoo.
Read more about Honest Riches here and get your three free bonuses.
And there's no risk. If you aren't completely satisfied you are covered by the 60 day full money-back guarantee with no questions asked.
With very best wishes
Cliff Chapman
traveljunkies - worldwide adventure travel & activities directory & search engine, like Google only smaller
http://www.traveljunkies.com
PS. Read more here ...
End of Report # 5 - The only book you will ever need.
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