•••• N A V A G A T I O N
•••• Home
•••• Ideas to Income
•••• Finding Success Faster
•••• Getting Started Today
•••• Our Preferred Partners
•••• Site Map

•••• T O D A Y ' S   T I P S
•••• Line Up Your Logo!
•••• eNews Builds Orders.
•••• Get Affiliated.

•••• W H A T   E X P E R T S   S A Y

Advertising Secrets of the Written Word: The Ultimate Resource on How to Write Powerful Advertising Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters and Mail Order Entrepreneurs Joseph Sugarman's strategies in this book can only be described as WOW! It's not just another advertising book - it's a book on persuading on paper. He gives some great examples from his own ads too. Though I have many of his ads in my swipe file - this resource explains the psychological points that went into creating those ads. He takes you by the hand and guides you to creating ads that really works - that is to get the reader to read and to take action. This book is one of my top ten books on business - especially advertising.. -- Howard H. Stevenson

The New Business Road Test Everyone likes their own ideas and everyone believes that their own ideas are fool-proof. There's no way to check and grind your idea/business plan before going to actual VCs. Till now the only way to analyze your idea was by going through the 3Fs (Famliy, Friends and Fools). Here is where 'The New Business Road Test' comes in as a savior. This book has all the ideas/ procedures/ questions/ & guidelines to review and grill your idea to perfection before plunging into the real venture. There are many books out there to tell you HOW to write a business plan, but none to actually analyze your business plan. The presentation of the book is quite simple to understand and refer to in future. The 'Seven Domain Analysis' diagram really makes it simple to review any idea/plan and term it as feasible or not-feasible. I read the book before going into my first venture and it made me look at my business plan in a whole different way. I was not only able to identify the loop holes but also the ways i could improve my business plans. Even today while I am lookin at a new venture, I find myself always going back and refering to this book. Once Read, this book will make a place in your entrepreneurial life. This is a must-read book for entrepreneurs as well as VC aspirants. -- Joel Cardis

"Making the decision to pursue my dream was easy, learning how to make money doing it seemed impossible until I saw your ideas to income, contacted your partners and got going. Now I have the business I craved and the satisfaction of doing what I love and making money doing it!"
"Saucy" Joe Sullivan
SaucyJoes.com

"We have built dozens of income streams through the years. Harnessing the ideas in the ideas to income has been instrumental in our approach and one of the reasons we continue to work with SBS."
Scott Boulch
Rescue-RealEstate.com

••••Next >

Sometimes an idea burns so hot inside that you have to do something... But how do you get started, how do you make money and who has the answers you need to go from "zero to hero" in record time? Odds are, you don't get there in "record time," but you can make a smooth transition, taking your ideas to interested customers faster than you think. How? SBS has prepared a list of steps to get you started, and a comprehensive roster of our favorite suppliers of everything from accounting software and financial planning to logos, web sites and printers that deliver to your doorstep.

The Ideas to Income Steps. Getting that idea out of your head and into your bank account takes a logical process. Our steps are listed below along with quick links for finding the resources you'll need in each step. You'll find more resources in our Preferred Partners section.

The Ideas to Income Steps:

1. Defining The Goal -- Begin with the end in mind. Imagine yourself 3 years from now, five years from now, ten, twenty etc. Do you see yourself doing the work yourself or managing hundreds of employees? Will you be working harder (and perhaps happier) or parking your feet on a sandy beach?
   
   Visualize your days, and add in the sounds, sights and smells as you would have them play out as you actively pursue your dream and the success of your business. The WRITE THEM DOWN. Unwritten goals are wishes and dreams. Keep it simple, but describe the goal with some emotion and also what you want to become as you accomplish the goal.
   
   Remember, this step is for you, but without it you will be steering without a rudder. If you can't bring yourself to define your goal(s), keep your day job. For extra inspiration and info, click here.
2. Defining The Product/Service Benefit -- Just like your goals, writing down the true definition of the end product or service is paramount. Are you selling bbq grills or better tasting meals with predictable results and less mess. Think through the process and in very clear language, write down exactly what happens if you do your job well. You will save time, and may make some improvements or key modifications before you even design your final product or service.
3. Identifying The Customer -- Who are you, who who, who who? It is easy to assume that building it will make them come, but you really need to see, hear and know your perceived customer before you proceed.
   
   Obviously, extensive market research would be welcome here, but very few of us have big budgets for hiring the research firms to test groups or survey the masses. So, ask anyone you know who they see using your product or service. Check with some business people you know and respect, and document the various opinions. You may find that everyone loves your idea or that most folks can't get their brain around it. You'll have the info you need to adjust your plans or narrow your audience.
4. The Business Plan -- Ask any banker, investor or advisor, without a clear plan for the business, you're not going to get financing, or the right financing terms to grow your business. Business plans vary dramatically but include many basic components like mission statements, goals, financial forecasts and a timetable. To get your hands on either software for building one or a turnkey plan you can make your own see our Preferred Partners section.
5. The Business Brand -- Way too many businesses miss the boat here, going a cheap route or do-it-yourself design of their logos and brand-building packaging or collateral. Three words: Hire a pro.When we see a business card, a web site or an ad or brochure cooked at home or done on the cheap we question the integrity of the company AND the product.
   
   If you want people to believe, give them something to hang their hats on visually. If you wouldn't wear cutoffs and a tank top to your wedding, you shouldn't design your own logo or materials. Your ideas DO count -- and they will be helpful to your graphic designer, advertising agency or marketing consultant -- so share them openly.
   
   Hint: Find an online company (they do high-volume, lower cost work) a good freelancer or independent consultant to save money initially. As you grow, review their performance growth as well.
   
   Also, be prepared to pay 1/2 to full-boat in advance for design and consulting. Many services accept credit or debit cards online for convenience sake .Printers usually collect on delivery for first orders and net 30 thereafter.
6. The Financial Process -- While some of your financial details will be identified in development of your Business Plan, you will also need to have some basic bookkeeping and accounting practices in place as you begin your business. This is especially important as many entrepreneurs begin working from home, and are actually due certain tax breaks for use of a defined section of their home, among others.
   
   Keeping good records is often times not the strong suit of dreamers, so find someone you can trust and communicate with them openly. Even if you have good numbers skills find a part-time bookkeeping service or good software like Quickbooks that will not suck up too much of your time. You are going to be pulled in many directions, so make sure you know the bottom line but don't spend all your time dwelling on it. And if you have a good banker, financial advisor or attorney, ask their opinion.
7. The Income Tree -- This is especially important for online marketers, but applies to any business or service. Take a few moments (or hours) to map out the complete customer experience. From the instant they find you to the minute they leave. What do they see? Who do they think of? What accessories are needed? What installation will it require?
   
   The guy or gal who buys your solar-powered bike, will need a tire pump, helmet, sun glasses, sun screen, water bottle holder, (and water bottle) rear-view mirrors for the handlebars and their sun glasses, padded cycling shorts, cool outerwear for breezy or cooler days, glass cleaner for the solar panels, global positioning receiver and software, speedometer, odometer, baggage rack or saddle bags, iPod holder, reflective clothing or adhesive strips, dog repellent, and on and on. And that doesn't even cover the club(s) they'll want to join, the events they'll attend and repair or service they'll require.
   
   Point is, make plans to meet as many of these needs as you can either by yourself or via affiliate or partnership arrangements. You don't need all the profit if you're getting at least a part of it without having to do the extra work. One of the best consultants we know for doing this is our friend Ski Sullivan. He will even set up a complete affiliate program for online marketing as a part of developing a web site or ecommerce program. Brilliant.
   
   Hint:: Also look into what by-products your business creates. Opening a donut shop? Who buys cooking oil for bio-diesel use? One man's junk is another's treasure, so think through the process and you may find a pearl of a profit center.
8. Activity vs. Progress -- As you get started, keep in mind that preparing for success happens in your non-billable hours, especially in the beginning. Don't get so enamored of your new PDA/Cell phone/Laptop/Contacts Manager/Software System etc. that you are spending valuable time keeping track of how little you're accomplishing.
   
   Small business owners work longer hours than they did when they were employed by a company chiefly because they produce by day and plan by night. As you set an income goal, divide it up to figure an hourly rate based on an eight hour day, and then figure out what each minute is worth. If you're making $100k a year, every minute's worth 57 cents. Hold yourself accountable and if you're not doing the things that make you money and further your goal, switch gears and get effective (not just busy).
   
   Hint: Also schedule down time away from the business, especially if you're working from home. Business owners often let the work stretch to fill the time and spend too much time working when they could also enjoy a quality lifestyle. Set times for work and times for play and you'll stay fresher longer.

Follow these steps, and integrate them into your timetable and end goals. Remember that patience is key, and worrying about issues you can't control adds unnecessary stress to the process. Instant success is the lottery, but earned-success builds a stronger foundation for long-term wealth and happiness.To learn more about Finding Success Faster click here now >