Mother Nature and Your Business Model

Mother Nature and Your Business Model

by Barbara Casey

In 2005, we had so many hurricanes and tropical storms in the southeastern U.S., they had to use the Greek alphabet to name the latecomers. 2004 wasn't much fun, either. The National Hurricane Center's website is one of my top level bookmarks nowadays.

Aside from any damage actually done by the storms, though, is the disruption to business activities, from power blips knocking out internet access, to postponed client sessions on account of weather. Both of which have happened to me during hurricane season. Friends on the southeast coast of Florida lost power for almost a month after one late-letter hurricane (Wilma, I think it was).

How do we deal with business disruptions like this, especially when they happen with such regularity? We Gulf Coasters have to be aware of the weather six months a year (hurricane season runs from June 1 - November 30).

One thing I decided to do was alter my business model somewhat to take Mother Nature into account.

For example, I'm writing more e-books to balance the lost income from missed client sessions. As long as my website's servers aren't in the path of a tropical storm or earthquake, my e-publications will be available 24/7.

I'm planning at least one more very focused website or blog with great content, plus Google AdSense and affiliate programs to generate another "income stream," so even if I'm hunkering down under my desk, my business operation won't cease completely. Squidoo lenses, too.

Between storms last summer, my marketing plan included:

=> Reading a LOT more about creating income from blogs.

=> Re-reading Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.

=> Taking another look at my copy of How to Write and Publish Your Own E-Book in as Little as 7 Days.

=> Nailing down the internet marketing methods taught in Make Your Site Sell.

I decided to stick with my niche marketing theme, but at the same time, diversify into more "multiple streams of income" around it.

With business interruptions happening almost every other week for half the year, it's not something I can delay any longer.

Another income source I'm considering is - finally - teleclasses (which can be held from a hotel room, if necessary). Scheduling live and in-person classes in Florida during the summer can be dicey, but conference call bridge lines are usually out of state. Thank goodness!

Before the 2004 hurricane season, weather was not a big issue for business planning. But it is now.

Storm Season Reading:
Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook

Rosalind Gardner is a former air traffic controller in British Columbia, Canada, who now earns between $30,000 to $50,000 a month in affiliate commissions (of which she keeps about half, after business expenses).

She was able to quit her government job after two years on the internet (she had no previous business experience) and now she's an acknowledged expert in the field of affiliate marketing. Her "Super Affiliate Handbook" has been newly revised again... it's a great how-to book for starting your affiliate income stream, and there are some more advanced lessons as well.

Rosalind Gardner operates multiple sites in order to earn a half million dollars a year in affiliate commissions, but even if you just have one or two well-trafficked sites, it's worth it to learn how to do this right.

This is an income stream worth adding to your business model, especially if you're on the internet already anyway.

Here's the link for Roz Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.

Create Your Own e-Book in 7 Days -
Between Hurricanes, Floods, Fires, etc.

It's been awhile since I read Joe Vitale and Jim Edwards' book "How to Write and Publish Your Own e-Book in as Little as 7 Days."

Usually takes me a bit longer than that to write an e-book, but I now understand what they mean with that title.

I discovered something since I wrote "Marketing with a Mission" in 2001. That e-book took probably 6-8 months to put together and I honestly don't know how many people ever made it through the entire 102 pages.

The information is solid, but there was just too much packed into one publication.

What I'm aiming for now are "how-to" mini e-books, relating to a single topic each, priced very reasonably.

My first in this new series is already written. It's called "Make a Big Splash Selling Your Books on Amazon." It's a step-by-step guide for holistic, self-help and inspirational authors on how to set up a one or two day Amazon.com blitz promotion... and sell hundreds of books.

So I'll re-visit the "7 Day e-Book" that I printed out a couple of years ago and see what new tips I can glean for the upcoming titles I'll be writing.

It's worth taking the time for a "refresher reading," since I have determined that e-books will be one of my "stormy season" income streams.

Learn More About the 7-Day e-Book.

*** After you write 'em, sell your e-books online through ClickBank. It's sooooo easy. And you can set up your own affiliate program, too, which ClickBank will track for you. Click here to learn more.

Hunker-Down Reading: Make Your Site Sell

Every time I read sections of Make Your Site Sell, I learn more things to try.

This e-book is, quite simply, one of the best there is on the subject of internet marketing - and it's now FREE!!

Ken Evoy is a Montreal doctor who is, essentially, an internet genius. He delivers so much content (take note: the book is over 700 pages) in easy to follow language (no geek-speak) that you'll be highlighting, sticky-noting and underlining while you read. The material is valuable... and understandable.

So it's on my reading list (again).

Don't have Make Your Site Sell yet? Click here.