How an Online Store Can Deliver Financial Freedom

While millions of us still go to work at the office, factory or site every day, more and more people are realising how profitable it can be to work for yourself without going anywhere. Running an online business from home is much more attainable than you might imagine. All it requires is a unique idea, a little innovation and initiative and you can quickly build your concept into a six-figure income - if you do it right, that is.

Obviously, that idea is the starting point. Many successful online store owners have found that their success stemmed from an experience they had as a customer. One Australian mother found it was far cheaper to import children's party costumes from the US than to buy in Australia - she took that experience and turned it into a full-time job, but one that gives her the flexibility to be at home with her family.

Find a niche like this and you're well on your way to creating a successful online store; which in time will help you find your way to financial freedom and open some unlocked doors.

Very few business ideas are so good that they carry themselves. Even a truly great concept needs cultivation and promotion in order to develop an audience and grow a customer base. Once you have your plan in place, you need to invest in a professionally designed and developed website with reliable hosting, user-friendly navigation and access and high quality, fresh content. It's also highly worthwhile investing in either a PPC or SEO campaign (preferably both).

A good marketing strategy is what gets your idea out there into the market and allows you to start driving traffic to your web store and turning visitors into leads. But it's important that when visitors do land on your site they immediately get a feel for what makes your business different and what it offers them that your competitors cannot. Stating your unique selling point is a crucial part of making your store a success.

Find a unique idea that you can market effectively and be sure to define and communicate clearly your unique selling point. Provided your concept is strong, your advertising campaigns well planned and executed and your audience engaged by your website and its content, there's nothing to stop you making a healthy income using nothing but your computer, a modest initial investment and your desire to do something fresh and innovative.

This article is written by Mark Taylor, providing Online Store services and Website Design Melbourne that helps small businesses grow and make more money.

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Financial Support and Needs For Recovery During An Illness

People with serious health issues need support systems in place. Without a Financial, Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support Systems most people will fail to recover completely.

Here are the first of the Support Systems to Set up before you NEED THEM.

It is said by the age of 25 an average person knows or has met 2000 people. Your first support tool may sound extreme but it is a tool I have used in many areas of life.

Tool #1: Your Resource List: Your resource list is a written out list of 200 of friends, family members and acquaintances.

Be sure to get as many addresses phone numbers and emails as possible on your list. Having several copies will be important if something happens and you need help.

Tip #1: I encourage you to connect with your resources before you need them. See how they are doing, if they are in need or if there is anything you can do for them. As Guy Kawasaki says, "Help others before you need their help." Knowing who your resources are important to your entire Support System Set up.

A second Tool comes from the fact that without a plan way to many people run into hot water when they lose income, can not work, or an unforseen disaster comes their way. Maxing out credit cards or worse utilizing pay day loans can get people into hot water.

Tool # 2: Your Financial Support System

Tip #2: Start a Health Savings Plan. Talk with financial experts about a Health Savings fund that you could utilize for Specialty treatments. Most Natural Health Sessions and some Specialty Doctors are not covered under even the best insurances.

Tip #3: Utilize Tax Deductions for Medical Expenses, Supplementation, Foods, Conferences, Mileage and more. (talk to a Good Tax Professional ahead of time so you know what counts and what doesn't)

Tip #4: Invest in Wellness Care and Nutritional Supplementation. It has been proven over and over that regular Chiropractic Care, Massage Therapy and Exercise Classes not only can keep your body healthy and happy longer but also can save you lots of money on sick care. Insurance Companies are even offering discounts and kickbacks for those who participate in Wellness Care, Gym Memberships, and even take regular Supplementation.

Remember your HEALTH IS YOUR NUMBER ONE INVESTMENT!

Tip #5: Consider the Good Debt Bad Debt Principal. If you hurt your back and $350 of Chiropractic Care can get you back working in 3 weeks versus 3 months of being out of work wouldn't investing on a credit card the $350 be worth it so you could make back that money quicker vs continue to lose income.

Tip #6: Save some of your PTO (Paid Time off,Vacation or Sick Days) every year from work. Then if something happens it is a little less stressful on everyone and if you don't use them you get more time off in December.

Tip #7) Credit Cards versus Low Interest Person to Person Loan: If it comes to having to use Credit Card debt to pay expenses you would be surprised at how many people out there are willing to offer lower interest loans versus 24% high interest credit cards and even worse Pay Day Loans. Start asking people on your Resource list if before you take on a loan with 24% interest if they would be interested in a 10% loan agreement. I bet you can't get through the first 100 people without finding someone who is willing to do that.

Tip #8: Consider a Home Business Before or After: I always see this fund-raiser or that fund-raiser for individuals who have serious illness and are in financial need. Although I think these things are important for social and community support I don't believe they raise the income a home business could do passively in most cases. A home business either started in their name or something someone ill could work from home who is not receiving disability could significantly change their financial stress.

Tip #9: Financial Understanding: Make sure if you have a spouse that they understand and can take care of the finances if you become disabled. If you are single be sure your have what I call a Financial Proxy (a person you trust and you have clearly explained your financial records or how to access them just in case). Or even a Power of Attorney. Power of Attorney is a legal document giving the authority to act for another person in legal or financial matters.

Tip #10: Savings for a Time like This: Some financial experts say you need at least 3 months of household expenses in your savings others say 6 months and even others say two years. I don't know all I do know is the clients who don't have to worry about their financial status very much when health challenges come are the ones to recover the quickest.

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The Affects of the Global Financial Crisis on the Family Dynamic

The economy as a whole isn't the only thing that got drastically affected by the global financial crisis, everyday families are also fighting the pinch also. All too often a losing battle, there are a couple of specific situations that are occurring all too often now that go completely against how most families have run for the longest time.

Children and Staying Home Longer

In the previous decades parents have seen their children marrying early and moving out in the late teens and early twenties. Now it is not uncommon for grown children to continue living at their parents well into their late twenties - and even when they are first married.

This is due to an increasing rental market and sky rocketing house prices. Children are staying home rent free (in the years that their parents should be enjoying their freedom), in an effort to save money to pursue the dream of owning their own home.

Elderly Parents are Returning For Care

The second change to the family dynamic that can be blamed on the GFC is the return of elderly parents into your home.

With a lot of people's superannuation being cut with the dip in the share market, there is not as much money in the kitty as their used to be and this has affected a lot of the elderly - who do not have time to wait around for the market to pick back up.

So what we are seeing is a lot of middle aged parents who have finally seen their grown children move out of home, having to make room for their aging parents that no longer have the funds to enter a retirement home.

So What Are The Options?

While you can't really say no to family (whether that be children or parents), there are things that you can do to give everyone their own privacy.

Build a Granny FlatYour best option is to build a granny flat. Whether it is built attached to the house or you organise a pre-built granny flat to be shipped onto your block of land, it will give each party their own personal space (and their sanity).

The only other option if your elderly parents cannot afford aged care, is that you share the responsibility around with your siblings. However, this is never really a good option as you want to be able to give your parents a stable environment in the retirement years.

The GFC could be seen as having a negative effect on the family dynamic, but if approached positively, you start to realise that family is what matters and having them around is something that should be cherished.

Thomas Sinfield runs Granny-Flats, and Australian on-line resource for people who are looking at purchasing or building a granny flat.

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