• Blog,  Make Money

    11 Ways to Make Money With Email Marketing

    EMAIL MARKETING is the process of communicating and engaging with visitors and customers about your brand or related topics through email delivery. 

    GET RESPONSE is an internet company that offers services like email marketing, landing pages, webinar hosting, forms, surveys and among others services that help businesses engage with their clients.

    This is the MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS ASSET YOU HAVE. As long as you plan to start a business, this should be at the top of the list to create and maintain one.

    If you plan to increase your sales, you need to have an email marketing service.

    Email marketing has evolved into a cornerstone of modern digital communication and business strategy. It’s a dynamic tool that offers a multitude of benefits to organizations of all sizes. From cost-effective outreach to unparalleled personalization, email marketing provides a direct and efficient channel to connect with audiences, build brand loyalty, and drive revenue. In this age of information saturation, the ability to deliver targeted, relevant content directly to an individual’s inbox is not just a convenience; it’s a strategic advantage. This introductory guide will delve into the world of email marketing, exploring its numerous advantages and sharing insights on how to harness its potential for business growth and customer engagement.

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    Best Email Marketing Service

     Design Your FinancesSERVICE: EMAIL SERVICE

    COST: 30 DAY FREE TRIAL

    For any thriving business it has become extremely important to create and maintain an email list. This is the most important asset of your business, as you are now in direct contact with your potential customers. There are different ways to communicate with your email list from newsletters, FAQ, tips, how to list and market any new and upcoming products you want to sell. It has been proven that an email list that you constantly communicate with, is more likely to purchase from you than a new visitor on your site, mainly because you have built trust with them. Get Response Email Services include, newsletter, autoresponders, landing pages, list building tools, survey forms, email marketing tools, automation, conversion funnel, webinars, push notifications and so much more. Start collecting an email list as soon as possible, only benefits you in the long runClick Here to Get Started

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    Why You Should Create an Email Marketing List  

    It is important to have large amounts of traffic to your website in order to ultimately increase your income. But the most important fact to constantly remember is that we WE DO NOT OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. As any content creator or business owner, we are so aware of the dangers of getting a penalty or horrors of being blocked from our main source of traffic. We have to constantly abide by rules in order to keep a healthy account from different search engines such as, Google or Pinterest. Below are some examples of search engines changing their algorithms and content creators losing traffic. 

    • .GOOGLE: recently (and does it often) changed its algorithm and it affected traffic for so many blogs and businesses. For instance, some bloggers’ website traffic dropped by 25% monthly traffic, that translates to thousands of dollars lost. 
    • AMAZON: many people were making full time income, thousands of dollars per month through Amazon Associates. All of sudden, with no notice Amazon reduced its commission and this reduced many people’s income. 
    • PINTEREST: is notorious for suspending accounts if you do not follow the rules. They are quick to block all access. If your appeal is accepted, it usually comes with reduction in traffic. 

    The examples are countless, all to show that social media accounts that we truly rely on to generate traffic, have the ultimate power to affect our businesses and WE DO NOT HAVE CONTROL. Therefore, it is of critical importance to build your business the correct way, by not totally depending on social media platforms. The only solution is to create AN EMAIL LIST. 

     

    Among content creators, there is a saying that THE MONEY IS IN THE LIST and what that means:

    • it is much easier to market to people who have opted for your email list. 
    • you have total control over your email list than any social media platforms 
    • according to statistics one single email address is worth three times than a visitor (simply meaning, they buy more from you, than a visitor)

    TIP: Creating an email list is of utter importance to note that, when you advertise and bring visitors to your website, to also actively encourage them to subscribe to your email list, since you have total control of it. 

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    List Building Program 

    Get Response, has many related services that can help you in building your business email lists. One of their top services is List Building Program. This will teach from the basics to  becoming an expert on how to build your list. The advantage to using a progressive company, is that you will not only get email marketing service, but you will also get lessons on how to run a business. Below is what is included in the List Building Program:

    • How to build engaging email 
    • Create Strategic Partnerships
    • How to Host and Plan Webinars
    • Develop an Email Marketing Strategy 
    • The list keeps getting updated and more lessons are taught

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    Types of Email Services 

    In addition to the List Building Program, you also get other top services of how to communicate and maintain your list. Below are some of the services you can create in GET RESPONSE in order to increase your and maintain your email list. One of the most important aspect of email marketing is constantly communicating with your list, for instance: 

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    AUTORESPONDER SERVICE: you can easily create a series of welcome email, to your subscribers and they will receive the email as soon as they sign up. In addition, you can also create follow up emails and set future dates on when they can be sent to your list. If you choose to, you can also pre-plan your emails up to a year in advance.

    In addition to the autoresponder service, there are other types of services that could actually help you increase your business returns such as: email marketing, newsletter campaigns, automation, webinars, web site push notification and they are constantly updating with more new tools. 

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    Design Your Finances

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    High Converting Predesigned Templates 

    There hundreds of predesigned templates that you can easily choose from, enter your details and publish. The best part about these templates, they are constantly being improved to match the trends in your niche and aim to increase conversions. 

    Design Your Finances

    Below are the different types of pre-designed templates, that you can easily customize, enter details and publish. These templates are constantly being updated and improved in order to increase conversions. 

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    Top Benefits of an Email List 

    I have mentioned the necessity of getting an email list and how it is essential to your business. There are numerous benefits of getting an email service, but not all email services are made the same. Getting a free email service is great, but it will cost you in the long run as you may have to transfer over your email list to the new email service provider. 

    Secondly, as mentioned above, we do not own the social media platforms and at the mercy of their terms and conditions, therefore, as you build your business, it is best to use tools that will help you boost your business. Below are just a few examples of using   GET RESPONSE Email Marketing Account

     

    • COMMUNICATION: you have a direct method of communicating with your audience and with no interference or restrictions or at worst being blocked from social platforms. It truly becomes more personal and this creates a community of knowledge.
    • MARKETING: you can easily market to your audience, save money in advertising costs and increase your profits. Target audience that you communicate with constantly, this leads to potential customers building trust in your brand. Always deliver quality content!!
    • BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: there are many business opportunities that your audience can easily benefit from, some companies want to build relationships with your audience and may send in free stuff in exchange for product or service feedback. This arrangement easily benefits your audience as they get discounted rates. 
    • BUSINESS ASSETS: as stated above, if you nurture your list, they will easily convert into buyers than cold traffic. Your list should not be about selling to them, give more FREE ITEMS than you sell. This truly is the best salesman strategy!!
    • FOCUS GROUP: the best way to benefit from your audience is to ask for their opinion. So many times I have asked my audience what they think of a product I am creating and or better yet, they tell me what I should create for them!!!

    The reasons are many, but they should all be motivated to help, nurture and grow your audience. No one likes to get hundreds of emails selling something, but make it so that each email they receive, it’s a tip or advice they can actually use.  Be more of a helper than a seller. 

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    Why Get Response is Great for Email Marketing 

    Now that we have gone through some of the reasons to why you should start an email list as soon as possible. In this section will cover why GET RESPONSE is a perfect option to starting your email marketing campaigns. Below will highlight the different options that come with the service:

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    AUTORESPONDERS: this is an important function. You can create as many emails as you want and your email list will receive them at your specified time and date. All this is all automatic. There are different types of emails you can pre-create from

    • How Tos
    • Daily Emails,
    • Tips or Guides
    • Welcome Emails,
    • Promotional Emails and so much more 

    All this can be done in the dashboard and then sent to your list automatically. It is an efficient time management tool to run your business. 

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    NEWSLETTERS: this can be a very fun way to communicate to your readers. It keeps things interesting compared to just the boring emails. You can customize your newsletters to share your tips, “how tos”’ or PDF.  All this to break the same old way of sharing information TIP: I use my newsletters to share with my audience upcoming post, or information of great importance 

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    WEBINARS: many bloggers and other businesses use a webinar as a way to present their business or upcoming products. This is an amazing way to teach your audience by seeing you interact with your products. GET RESPONSE has amazing tools to help you create your first webinar and connect to your sales page. All this is managed in the dashboard and at any point you have questions, you can request help and someone will assist you.  TIP: there is no coding editing of HTML code, everything is drag and drop process

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    SURVEY AND FORMS: I LOVE this option, this has certainly increased my income. This is how I use it, as I stated above, my email list is also used as a FOCUS GROUP.    

    • I always monitor my blog comments sections and the email questions I receive
    • from that I create a survey and ask my list what they want me to research on or provide a solution
    • once I receive my answers I then create a NEWSLETTER to announce when the new blog post will be published that will answer their questions

    TIP 1: all the products I create or promote, I create them all from my email list requests because they genuinely want to learn or solve their problem

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    LANDING PAGES: this is an essential tool that increases email subscriptions. A landing page is a singular page that highlights all the benefits of the products or services and comes with an option to enter details such as name and email to subscribe for more information. To increase subscription many publishers tend to offer something of high value, which is usually free. 

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    OPT IN BOXES: An Optin box is when you enter your information such as name and email in order to subscribe. There are many areas on your website where you can place your opt-in box, at the bottom of the page, side of a website really anywhere your website. You can create as many as you want in GET RESPONSE.  

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    HOW I USE OPTIN BOX: in the dashboard, I can easily connect my opt-in box to my autoresponder. This means that when someone subscribes, they automatically are sent an email and the other ones that follow. Everything is so seamlessly managed and easy to connect and communicate with your audience. 

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    AUTOMATION: you can easily manage your business all by automation. If you are marketing a product, you can first sent out emails to discuss about the benefits of your products and the following emails will  sell the products. TIP: that means any and every subscriber will see all the emails that have been sent to other subscribers before they joined and will receive upcoming ones.

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    MOBILE APPS: with the advancement of social media and shoppers active on mobile instead of desktops, GET RESPONSE is constantly improving their mobile functionalities. This means that you can easily run your business on the go.  

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    CONVERSION FUNNEL: this is a big money maker to anyone having an internet business. This alone has increased my e-commerce business by 53%. It increases conversions, below is how it works:

    • let’s say you sell a product for $60 the customer does not buy the product 
    • instead of ending your selling efforts, you then introduce a cheaper product or a discount rate, so from our $60 product, you now sell it for $50
    • you can also increase the price, so your funnel is structured the opposite way (start smaller and then offer a better value product that cost more)

    This alone can make or break a store, especially in e-commerce, my Shopify stores make thousands of dollars with this method. 

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    STORES AND PRODUCTS: there has been an increase in buying online this past year, and GET RESPONSE has made more improvements and introduced new functionality  to help manage e-commerce stores. Ecommerce serves that have increased conversions are:

    • cart metrics (sending emails to people that have items in the cart) 
    • new products (you can sent notification of sales or new products)

    SUMMARY 

    Email marketing is a necessity to any online business. As I stated earlier, we do not have control over social media platforms and they constantly change rules and algorithms that may affect how we get our traffic. The best way to best any business is to have total control of how you make money and with that in mind the best way is to create an email list. 


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
    Let’s Connect on Social Media! | Pinterest |

     


     

  • Blog,  Make Money

    200 Ways on How to Make $4000 a Month on FIVERR

    FIVERR is a platform with a wide range of business services where buyers pay to get business services done

    It has OVER 200 CATEGORIES and you can sell your services in any category, as long as it is legal and meets FIVERR terms.

    This has become the go to place for anyone interested in the gig economy. The are two main parties, sellers and buyers. Sellers list their qualifications, mainly what business services they are willing to be paid for. Buyers are willing to pay for a qualified person to complete business services.

    This is a perfect side hustle or can turn into a business because as a seller you can list your own prices, take as many clients as you want and can certainly increase your rates. 

    Fiverr has become a hub where professionals from virtually every field can connect with clients in need of their talents. From graphic design to digital marketing, from content creation to programming, Fiverr provides a platform for anyone with a skill to offer their services to a global audience. But making money on Fiverr isn’t just about listing your skills; it’s about understanding the intricacies of the platform, mastering the art of effective gig creation, and delivering exceptional value to clients. This comprehensive guide will take you through the journey of how to make money on Fiverr, offering invaluable insights, tips, and strategies to help you turn your passion and expertise into a thriving freelance business. Whether you’re an aspiring freelancer looking to start your career or an experienced professional seeking to expand your online presence, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to succeed in the ever-evolving world of Fiverr freelancing.


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    SERVICE: SIDE HUSTLES

    MONTHLY INCOME: $4000

    This is the PERFECT place to start earning money. FIVERR is platform where business owners pay a fee to get tasks completed. The best way to get started, research the top performers in your interested area, study what services they offer, their rates and how they wrote their business profile and use that as inspiration for your services, please do not copy, that is never good practice. You can start learning from YouTube to improve your skill and market your services.  Click Here to Get Started

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    .Fiverr Side Hustle Categories

    There are various types of business services that are offered on FIVERR and that makes it much easier for starting a side hustle. Not only can you start a business but you can list as many business services as you like, and that means more earning power. FIVERR is always looking to expand, improve their platform and always adding new business services. Below are some of the business sections offered by Fiverr, and in each section there are dozens of different categories you can easily sell your services.

    • Business 
    • Lifestyle 
    • Industries
    • Music and Audio
    • Digital Marketing
    • Graphic and Design
    • Video and Animation
    • Writing and Translation
    • Programming and Tech

    Under the Digital Marketing section, there are multiple services you can sell, see the image below. There are over 200 categories you can sell your services and the best part, they are constantly updating the categories with news one or most trending ones. 

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    Design Your Finances

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    How to Improve Your Skill Set 

    So you have decided to sell your services on FIVERR, below are some tips to consider for your services to stand out and hopefully charge higher rates.  This is just a guide and not an exhaustive list, but can serve as a starting point. The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple, over complicating this process can sometimes keep you in the learning process for to long, that is why I state to start selling services of skills that you already know.

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    INVENTORY OF SKILLS

    The first step would be to take inventory of all your current skill sets. The beauty of this process is that FIVERR has a wide range of business services and more than likely, you can sell one of your skill set.  Another way is to look at FIVERR Categories, examine which ones you like, which ones have the best ratings and services that you can easily sell. 

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    RESEARCH YOUR SKILL

    Take the time to research what your business skills are and then conduct your research. Just like the processes from the above sections, look through FIVERR and see how other sellers are listing their business services. Make a list of you to Fiverr Freelancer and take notes on what stands out to you, and included it into your profile. Keep in mind that whatever you put on your profile you can deliver, because it is hard to remove or recover from a bad review. Better to have few good reviews that actually state that you are good at the gig, than many reviews that are bad.

    Another way to research your competitors, is to actually buy a gig and see how they respond, communicate, deliver the gig to their customers. Do not just copy the list of services, but make sure you have a great process for each phase the customer is going to go through. Some items to look for:

    • prices they offer
    • customer ratings
    • turnaround timeframe 
    • how quick they respond
    • types of other services they list
    • how many revisions they have

    TIP: research your business services by looking at top sellers in your niche and come up with different ways to make your listings stand out 

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    OVER DELIVER

    The best way to increase your rates and earning power is to over deliver. When you go above and beyond, you are surely going to get repeat customers and better ratings. The higher the ratings, the greater your visibility.

    Just to add to what was stated above, list the top performers in the niche you want to sell your skill, and go to their reviews. Look at the reviews see what the good reviews are happy about and also make a note of what the bad reviews were not pleased about. In doing this, this will help you in determining what is you can improve in your skill sets. Below are some ways you can over deliver:

    • offer free revisions
    • offer multiple services
    •  submit work before the deadline
    • always be in contact with your clients 

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    CUSTOMIZE YOUR SERVICES

    Fiverr Gig Economy is all about freelancing and usually its many individual orders from various customers. The platform is ever changing and recently they now offering a “subscribe” option that actually saves the customer money. 

    This option is mainly for skillsets that the customer will continuously want to reorder, such as YouTube thumbnails or blog posts. So it maybe of great investment if you look for skillset that will create repeat customer from one clients, as this will result in working with one client and definitely help in having consistent income. The best way, just like before is to conduct a research where other freelancers are offering the “subscribe and save”. 

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    How to Start Your Side Hustle On Fiverr 

    You can start your side hustle in 3 simple ways. 

    STEP 1: SERVICE – decide what you are going to be selling. Create your listing, state your services and rates. 

    STEP 2: DELIVER – once you get a client, over communicate exactly what they ordered, over deliver and aim to deliver work before the deadline

    STEP 3: PAYMENT – payment is delivered when your work is complete. There are currently 3 payments such as PayPal, Direct Deposit and FIVERR Card

    Below is an example of services listed by other sellers. Start off with services that you can quickly master and deliver. When it comes to pricing, be competitive and that may mean to charge less than other sellers and as your ratings go up, then increase your rates.  

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    Another way you can increase your rates is by offering related services with different price points. The example below shows three different types of packages, basic, standard or premium and with each package comes with additional services that the client will receive. 

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    Design Your Finances

    TIP: This is important, since the services are digitally delivered, it is important to send the final product that the client can easily edit. Include that as a FREE product. 

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    Fiverr Top Questions

    There are many tips and tools that you can use on Fiverr, but the below are some tips that can help to narrow down on what to focus, improve and definitely implement. This is not a complete list but, will surely help as a guide.

    1. Choose Your Niche Wisely: Finding the right niche is like laying the foundation for your Fiverr success. Look for areas where your skills and passion align. Specialization often leads to higher demand and better-paying gigs as clients prefer experts in a specific field.
    2. Create a Professional Profile: Your Fiverr profile is your digital business card. Craft a compelling profile by showcasing your skills, experience, and previous work. Use a high-quality, professional photo and write an engaging bio that highlights your expertise and what sets you apart from the competition.
    3. Optimize Gig Titles and Descriptions: Effective communication starts with your gig titles and descriptions. Make your gig titles clear, concise, and keyword-rich. In your descriptions, provide detailed information about what clients can expect, emphasizing the value you offer. Highlight any unique selling points or benefits of your service.
    4. Set Competitive Prices: Pricing can be a deciding factor for potential clients. Research your competitors to understand the market rates for your services. While it’s essential to be competitive, ensure that your pricing reflects the quality and uniqueness of your work. Consider offering tiered packages to cater to different client budgets.
    5. Offer Eye-Catching Gig Extras: Gig extras are a powerful tool for increasing your earnings. These are additional services or add-ons that clients can purchase along with your base gig. Create compelling gig extras that provide added value to clients and enhance their experience. Offering multiple options can significantly increase your earnings per order.
    6. Use High-Quality Images and Videos: Visuals play a significant role in attracting clients. Include high-resolution images and videos that showcase your work and expertise. Use these visual elements to demonstrate the quality of your services and give clients a glimpse of what they can expect.
    7. Deliver Exceptional Customer Service: Outstanding customer service is key to building a positive reputation on Fiverr. Respond to client inquiries promptly and professionally. Deliver orders on time, and if possible, exceed client expectations. Providing excellent service often leads to positive reviews and repeat business.
    8. Request Reviews and Ratings: Don’t hesitate to ask satisfied clients for reviews and ratings. Positive feedback boosts your credibility and builds trust with potential clients. Encourage clients to share their experiences to help you stand out in a competitive marketplace.
    9. Stay Informed: Fiverr’s policies and algorithms can change, affecting your visibility and success on the platform. Stay informed about any updates or changes and adapt your strategy accordingly. Consider joining relevant Fiverr forums or communities to learn from experienced sellers and share insights.
    10. Manage Your Workload: Avoid overcommitting by carefully managing your workload. Set realistic deadlines that you can consistently meet. Prioritize effective time management to ensure you can deliver quality work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
    11. Offer Revisions: Include a reasonable number of revisions in your gig package. This demonstrates your commitment to client satisfaction and can lead to higher client ratings. Clearly communicate your revision policy to clients to manage expectations.
    12. Promote Your Gigs: Building an online presence beyond Fiverr can attract more clients. Share your Fiverr gigs on social media platforms, relevant online forums, and within your professional network. Utilize your existing connections to reach potential clients who may require your services.
    13. Invest in Learning: Continuous improvement is vital for long-term success. Invest in expanding your skills and knowledge through courses, books, workshops, or online resources. Staying updated with industry trends and developments positions you as a knowledgeable and reliable seller.
    14. Use Fiverr’s Tools: Fiverr offers various tools and features to help you succeed. Explore Fiverr’s analytics to track your gig performance and identify areas for improvement. Consider using promotional tools to boost your gig’s visibility and reach a larger audience.
    15. Be Patient and Persistent: Building a successful freelancing career on Fiverr takes time and dedication. Don’t be discouraged by slow starts or initial rejection. Be patient and persistent in your efforts, continuously adapt to the evolving marketplace, and remain committed to delivering quality service to your clients.

    By incorporating these detailed tips into your Fiverr strategy, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the competitive landscape and maximize your potential for success on the platform.

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    Summary

    This is one of the best platforms to make money on. FIVERR HAS OVER 200 CATEGORIES you can sell your services. Other than the tools you many need to start your business, there are no additional charges. Payments are deposited as soon as possible, most companies tend to wait 30 days to release payments, with FIVERR once the work order is done, payment is released. Additionally, you can absolutely set your own schedule, freedom to manage your clients and the ability to increase your rates. 


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
    Let’s Connect on Social Media! | Pinterest


     

  • Blog,  Make Money

    Steps on How Canva $12.99 Turned Into $80k

    CANVA is a Graphic Design platform where you can translate and communicate an intended message through a visual presentation to a targeted audience through visual aids such as images, words or illustrations. 

    The cost of the service is $12.99 and I was able to make $86,000 and income is still growing. The service comes with various graphic design functions, learning modules and countless design possibilities.

    I took the time to learn the different design templates in the system and came with various business ideas I could generate from this one service. My different businesses include both digital and physical products. 

    As much as I love to write How to Make Money it truly comes with a lot of hard work, such as  learning and implementing. This post will showcase the step-by-step process of how I use this service to make money. The best lesson I learnt is to  take inventory of all your skill sets and research how many ways to make money from each skill set.  Canva has emerged as a game-changer, democratizing the world of graphic design and empowering individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses to bring their creative visions to life. Beyond its user-friendly interface and vast library of design assets, Canva offers a unique opportunity for enterprising individuals to turn their design skills into a profitable venture. From designing eye-catching social media graphics and marketing materials to crafting custom templates and offering design services, Canva presents a versatile canvas for creative entrepreneurship. 


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    Design Your FinancesSERVICE: GRAPHIC DESIGN

    COST: $12.99

    You can practically design anything with this service and this gives you many options of creating different side hustles that can actually bring in money. Once you get the premium services you have access to more designing options. The service comes with various predesigned templates that you can easily adjust to match your design needs. Below is how the service is designed. CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

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    Canva Templates

    Currently the service is designed into 3 sections and each section has numerous ways you can make money from. Currently Canva does not permit you selling their predesigned templates, but you can certainly create your own to sell. They are constantly improving their service, so more options are becoming available and or modified, but currently below are the templates they have.

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    SOCIAL MEDIA:  This set of templates and various design options, are a perfect selection when it comes to designing the below social media post. They are constantly updating their designs and the search results at the top are the ones that convert the most.

    • Instagram Story
    • Instagram Post
    • Facebook Post
    • Facebook Cover
    • YouTube Channel Art and much more

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    PERSONAL: Lifestyle activities are becoming a trend and this includes activities from social, meditation, fitness to spiritual awareness. The list is endless and so are the different ways to create a targeted business. This is meant to help you manage and improve your time and daily activities. The predesigned templates include:

    • Invitations
    • Postcards
    • Resume Creation
    • Weekly Schedule Planners
    • Personalized Greeting Cards

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    BUSINESS: These predesigned templates are perfect for when you want your business branding to stand out. Especially, when it comes to social media, the more you stand out and have a clear message targeted to your audience, that might lead to more conversions. Research the platform you are using, for instance, Pinterest or Instagram, then search your business niche. Usually, the top search results are the ones that are converting the most. Use that inspiration to create a brand for your business. 

    • Presentation
    • Letterheads
    • Logo Design
    • Website Design
    • Invoice Templates

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    MARKETING: This may be the most important part of any business especially if the business is on social media. The best method to frame your marketing message, is to first create a customer avatar of your business, this normally includes highlighting your customer’s demographics and interests. This will show you what your customer is interested in and what brands they interact with, this information is crucial when it comes to marketing your business. Same as the above, they come with predesigned templates, which include:

    • Flyers
    • Posters
    • Brochures
    • Newsletter
    • Infographics

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    EDUCATION: This section is my best selling one. There are multiple products that I can design and sell, from kindergarten all the way to grad school. This comes with  predesigned templates, same as above. The templates are of teaching materials that help students to be interactive and or schedule maintenance. This includes

    • Worksheet
    • Certificate
    • Bookmarks 
    • Lesson Plan
    • Class Schedule
    • Classroom Decor Kit and more

    TIP: PLEASE DO NOT SELL CANVA PREDESIGNED TEMPLATES. IT IS AGAINST THEIR POLICIES. BUT YOU CAN DESIGN YOUR OWN

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    TRENDING: These predesigned templates are constantly being updated to match the current trends. They normally showcase designs of upcoming major holidays or celebrations. This makes it so much easier as you can source inspiration from trending designs AND CREATE YOUR OWN DESIGNS. Some of the highlighted trends include

    • Photo Books
    • Canva Prints
    • YouTube Intro
    • Ebook Covers
    • Major Holidays

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    Canva Features

    Design Your Finances

    This is the fun part of Canva as you are free to CREATE AND DESIGN YOUR OWN CREATIONS. They section gives you so many options and they include:

    PHOTOS: there are multiple free photos you can choose from, the best way is to search the type of content you want to create, for instance blogging and the search results will bring the top converting blogging templates. Below are some of the photos you can use, this is not an exhaustive list

    • Nature
    • Animals
    • Food
    • People
    • Backgrounds
    • Blog Images and so much more

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    ICONS: This makes the poster or image more engaging, at best, it does separate you from the other competitor. When you want your images to tell a story, it can be easily achieved with different types of icons such as:

    • Gaming 
    • Computer
    • Web & SEO
    • Social Media
    • Travel & Hotels 
    • Health and Beauty
    • Blogging and so much more

     

    PRINT PRODUCTS: you can now make your designs in Canva and have them printed onto physical products (this is constantly being updated, lookout for more options). These include:

    • Postcards
    •  Business Cards
    • Wedding & Engagement Invitations

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    APPS: these are fun as they enhance your image or video look, from Retro, Neon, below are some options:

    • Glitch
    • Slice
    • Pixelate
    • Color Mix
    • Screen and so much more

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    LEARNING: this makes Canva the best designing tool, not only do this options included in the price IT COMES WITH A DESIGN SCHOOL. What this means is you get access to the tutorials and courses about the new and upcoming trends. Some of the tutorials and courses includes:

    • Graphic Design
    • Branding Your Business
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Communicating with Your Audience
    • Top Influencers and Business Owners teach Tutorials

    .Design Your Finances

    .


    How I Made Money with Canva

    Now that I have gone over the different options, tutorials and courses that Canva has to offer, you can easily create side hustles from it. The list below is not exhaustive, but worth a second look. I like side hustles that are easy to start and produce passive income. Below are my favorite

    PRINTABLES

    This has recently become a new side hustle but the earnings make a difference. What I have learnt with this side hustle is to obviously research but above is to create printables that correlate to each other. Another way to make money with printables is to look at trendy items and see which topics you can easily create printables for.  Believe it or not, people tend to buy products if they solve a problem such as organization and productive tips or best practices. Some of my bestselling printables includes:

    • work planner
    • weekly planner
    • blog tasks and schedules

    TIP: complimentary printables make the most money, for instance if you create fitness printables, you can do grocery list, daily food journal, weight loss and fitness exercises

    .


    PINTEREST TEMPLATES

    If you search the term on Pinterest, you will find a large number of content creators are producing Pinterest Templates in large amounts because IT WORKS. The type of templates can cover many topics from blogging, meal prepping, fitness schedule, business tasks and so much more. This business makes so much sense since I am already selling printables. My customer base is the same, this saves so much money in advertising as my customers love sharing them for FREE. Things to keep in mind if you choose to start this hustle includes:

    • colors
    • fonts
    • images
    • content

    TIP: anytime you sell something make sure it meets a need or solves a problem, that is why researching is part of your profits

    .


    CUSTOM T-SHIRTS

    This has become a winning hustle in my portfolio. I have expanded the designs to women, men and kids. Just with anything, I do my research before I start a collection. Yes, these are just T Shirts but green money is green money, meaning that I take all the necessary steps to learn as much as I can, even though my T Shirts sell less than $25. My research process includes the trending colors of the season, top selling T-Shirts designs, to softest T-Shirt fabrics. Just because they sell less than the designers does not mean, I short-cut my efforts. Not only do I create the designs but I also create designs for various occasions such as:

    • holidays
    • cute memes
    • family slogans
    • trendy slogans

    TIP: before you design, please conduct a research of what your target audience would love.

    .


    COFFEE MUGS 

    Same as the above hustle, I design cute coffee mugs. There is a huge demand and like the above statement as well, you need to research your audience. This is the same process as I use to research and make my T-Shirts. I really take the time to create great designs that my audience loves. One great tip to use for any business is to first figure out who your customer is and create  an avatar with all the related interests they love. The more you know about your customer, the better it is for you when you design. Some of my designs include:

    • holidays
    • cute memes
    • family slogans
    • trendy slogans

    .


    EDUCATION PRINTABLES

    This may fit under the printables section, but wanted to highlight it on its own, because, lately my income has grown the most with this option. At this point, I might sound like a broken record, but this is what I did to be successful. RESEARCH . RESEARCH AND MORE RESEARCH. I used the same method as the printables as above, but the extra mile I took with this one, I targeted a specific group, mainly college students. My background is in Finance and Accounting  I KNOW THE PAIN OF UNIVERSITY CLASSES!! It was easy to identify problems and come up with solutions.  Below are some printables.

    • lesson plan
    • school schedule
    • homework tracker

    .


    YOUTUBE VIDEOS

    This may seem a bit odd, but I found a way to make videos that fit me. I don’t like to be on camera and having to deal with so much editing, yet at the same time, I have so much information to share. So I decided to use CANVA to make informational videos and post them on YouTube. I really love this type of business model, as I am able to monetize my videos and they will keep earning as long as I am getting views. The beauty about YouTube, the older the videos, the more money they generate. The best way to make money on this platform, is to create content that is unique and as always provide so much value. Below are some of my top points when it comes to YouTube.

    • I aim to create more videos
    • INCOME: from YouTube Ads
    • I learnt this option from Canva Design Course and it has been great.

    .


    EBOOK COVERS

    There are different ways to make money when it comes to designing, but this option has brought in money. There are many kindle book authors who want to have an ebook cover designed who do not have the skill set. Below are the steps I took:

    • researched the correct kindle ebook dimensions and any other specifications
    • took note of the top ebooks in client niches (fonts, colors, images)
    • created the designs in Canva and downloaded a shareable and editable image
    • I listed my services in FIVERR and charged.

    SUMMARY

    This will be an ongoing post, as I will update constantly. The above side hustles are not exhaustive, but surely can serve as a starting point. I keep getting questions on how to make money online and the top lessons I have learnt is to

    • take an inventory of your skills and find how you can turn them into a business
    • research your audience by asking questions and find products or create solutions that you can sell

    I hope this post was insightful, any course or service you pay for, find different ways it can make money from or better yet, implement the knowledge from that course to other business ventures. 


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
    Let’s Connect on Social Media! | Pinterest | Facebook |


     

  • Blog,  Make Money

    The Best Ways to Use Bluehost for Blogs

    Bluehost is a web hosting company that has various services that support small to large business with business needs.

    Bluehost has become a leading company among bloggers mainly because of the additional services they offer bloggers.

    Whether you are experienced or new, there is help designed to grow your blogging business. This post will showcase why Bluehost is favored among other bloggers and ecommerce owners. One of the main advantages to host with Bluehost, is mainly because of their customer service, this is especially important if you are still new to ecommerce and blogging as they will show you exactly what to do, or at best, they will do it for you.

    Many new bloggers are so fearful to the “technical aspect of blogging” and yet everything is done for you and no coding, editing HTML or CSS. If you can use an email service, such as Hotmail, you can start and run your blog successfully.  Bluehost, a renowned web hosting provider, offers a robust platform that is not only user-friendly but also highly adaptable for bloggers of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting your online journey, Bluehost provides a plethora of features and tools to help you establish and grow your blog. One of its standout offerings is the seamless integration with popular content management systems like WordPress, allowing you to effortlessly create and manage your blog with just a few clicks. Bluehost also provides a selection of customizable themes and templates, giving your blog a unique and professional look. Its reliable and high-performance hosting ensures that your blog loads quickly and stays accessible to your audience. The post will show how simple it is to start your blog.

     


    .

    BluehostSERVICE: HOSTING

    PLAN: OFFERS OTHER BLOGGING SERVICES

    There are many free services that come with the Bluehost basic hosting plan. Other hosting companies seem to be in a race to charge more money for each service they offer. As a blogger there are many services, tips or guides all that help with structuring and improving your blog, with Bluehost, their services focus on blogging needs. Click Here To Start Hosting with Bluehost

    .


     Free Services from Bluehost  

    1 WEBSITE: to secure a domain name, you have to pay for it, usually about $10 and then you have to renew it every year. Bluehost: offers you a free website for the 1st year

    .

    50 GB SSD STORAGE: this is important because it helps your website to be fast. Bluehost offers one of the highest storage and it’s free.

    .

    CUSTOM THEMES: Bluehost has a partnership with WordPress and as soon as you purchase your domain and hosting, you are able select a custom theme. PS: WordPress offers free themes regardless of hosting company, but the difference is the customer service help you get from Bluehost, should you need it.

    .

    24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE: this is the leading factor to new bloggers because it can be so confusing. This is where Bluehost becomes a top choice, they offer customer service that is tailored to meet your needs. Call in, email or chat and they assign an agent to help you. The best part about Bluehost customer service is that they focus on bloggers and their customer service is well versed on blogging issues.

    .

    FREE CDN: this also helps in end user experience because it speeds up the search times. The closer the CDN server is to the user geographically, the faster the content will be delivered to the user.

    .

    FREE SSL: I had to pay additional money each year to have the SSL certificate applied to my websites. This is so important to have as it reflects how secure your website is. Two ways your website shows how secure it by having:

    • when there is a padlock next to the website link
    • https means your site it secure and has the SSL Certificate (http is not secure)

    TIP1: if you are going to sell anything on your site, you need the SSL Certificate

    TIP 2: if you do not have an SSL Certificate, if someone searches your site it may come up as blocked or not safe and most visitors will click away.

    .

    AUTOMATIC WORDPRESS INSTALLATION: as soon as you purchase your domain and hosting plan, you are given the option if you want Bluehost to install WordPress. This is all done automatically for you. No coding, no transfer of files or html modification. Once the installation is complete, you select your username and password and your blog is LIVE!!

    .

    AUTOMATIC WORDPRESS UPDATE: this may seem unnecessary, but it is very important to do. WordPress is the platform where you write, keep and publish your blog posts and as you can imagine, it is very important to keep your WordPress secure. WordPress actively releases security updates, and you have to manually update those. Bluehost, does that for automatically. TIP: PLEASE CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS AND LOGINS AS SOON AS YOU INSTALL WORDPRESS. THEY ARE GENERIC AND EASY TO HACK INTO. If you are not familiar with the process, simply reach out to Bluehost customer services for help.

    .

    WHY BLUEHOST IS GREAT FOR BLOGGERS
    Not only does Bluehost come with top free services as mentioned above but for an additional fee, they also have services that help bloggers succeed, below are some of their additional services:

    .

    SEO: they help with optimizing your website by assessing effective keywords. You also get access to review website analytics and see how many visitors your site is getting. SEO is Search Engine Optimization, this helps in increasing traffic to your site by optimizing your content with search keywords used by visitors. This is the reason why it is important to learn how to properly use keywords in your content, as this will generate organic keywords.

    .

    PAY-PER-CLICK SERVICES: Bluehost experts can create various advertising campaigns to market your website. This may be an effective way to drive traffic. Pay-per-click is a form of advertising where you bid for keywords, the one with the highest bid gets the traffic sent to their website. TIP: I would not recommend new bloggers to use this type of advertising, because if you do not know what you are doing, you will spend a lot of money. My best tip is to learn how to search and use keywords the correct way, as this is free and more sustainable, in bringing traffic for longer periods of time.

    .

    ADVERTISING / SOCIAL MEDIA: if you choose, you can get Bluehost experts to help you with the latest and most impactful advertising strategies. One of their leading strategies is advertising strategies in different social media platforms. Before you take this service, please ask exactly what the targeted results are and what method are they going to use.

    .


    How to Sign Up With Bluehost

    Now that we have gone over what Bluehost offers and how it can benefit your blog. In this section will showcase how to sign up for Bluehost. I get so many questions on How to Start a Blog, well this section will showcase the step-by-step process of signing up with Bluehost

    .

    WordPress Blogging Platform

    There are many blogging platforms that your blog can be housed on, but the leading platform is WordPress. WordPress is a great platform for bloggers as it is user friendly and there is no coding needed. Below is a WordPress dashboard, as you can see each tab focuses on a section that helps in managing your website. The first step, would be to identify which blogging platform you want to use, if you choose Bluehost as your hosting company, they automatically install WordPress to be connected to your domain and hosting plan.

    TIP: you can use Bluehost or any hosting company and connect to any blogging platform such as Blogger or Weebly. I advocate WordPress because it is perfect for bloggers and as your site increases in traffic and technical needs, WordPress can easily accommodate those needs.

    .

    Below is the WordPress dashboard for DesignYourFinances.com as you can see, it is so simple to manage this blog. Everything is clearly labeled, when I publish any posts, I go to the POSTS TAB, add the blog post, hit publish and its live!!

     


    Buy a Domain 

    Once you have established which blogging platform you prefer, the next step is to buy your domain name. Your domain name is your website address. Take the time to research and come up with different potential names of what you like your domain to be called. Usually, most website owners, they try to get a domain name that references the niche, statement or simply stand out. If your domain name is available you can purchase, but if it is not, you are given options or you can choose a different name.

    .

    In the search bar, enter your desired website page. If your domain is unavailable, then you have to select a new name. Below is what you get when the domain is available. TIP: you do have the option of choosing whether you want the extension to be .com  .net or .org

    .

    Bluehost

    .


    Hosting

    Once you have selected your domain name, the next stage is to select your hosting plan. Hosting is a service that allows your website to connect to the internet. If you do not activate a hosting plan, then your website cannot be searched on the internet. The reason why I recommend Bluehost Hosting is because it is recommended by WordPress. Below are the steps to connect your new website name to Bluehost hosting plan.

    STEP 1:  Go to Bluehost page and click get started

    STEP 2: go to the domain section, search for your desired domain and purchase your domain.

    • if you have a website name already you can enter it and get your DNS pointed to your website name

    STEP 3: select your hosting plan, enter your details and hit next to complete your hosting plan purchase. In this section you will be asked to choose a password. You can choose a password through a password generator or make you own.

    Bluehost

    .


    Installing WordPress 

    Bluehost

    In this section, you are connecting all three services in order to make your blog live. Bluehost package can do this for you automatically, you do not have to code or edit any html, just by a push of a button, your blog is set.

    • DOMAIN NAME: this is your website name you have just bought
    • HOSTING PLAN: this connects your website to the internet so that its searchable
    • WORDPRESS PLATFORM: this is where you publish your blog post, and visitors can read your blog post

    TIP 1: cPanel is where the technical stuff of your blog is stored. So you log into your cPanel from Bluehost. WordPress is where you manage, edit and publish your blog post.

    In your Bluehost dashboard,

    • go to cPanel
    • select the install WordPress.
    • choose your domain name
    • enter your admin and password for your WordPress
    • and select Install NOW

    You will get a message that states WordPress Installation complete. At this point, you can go to WordPress and enter your login details.

    CONGRATULATIONS YOUR WEBSITE IS LIVE!!!!!


    After Installation

    One of the greatest advantages of using Bluehost, is that when you buy the domain from Bluehost, you can also get their hosting services and this will save you from the hassle of trying to connect domain website from different platforms. Another outstanding advantage is that you have customer service that is readily available to assist you with any technical issues. There are many services and products that Bluehost has that are all made to improve your site and business.

    Additionally, Bluehost offers essential security features, including SSL certificates and automated backups, to safeguard your blog’s data. Moreover, its user-friendly control panel simplifies domain management and email setup, making it convenient for bloggers to focus on creating content rather than navigating technical complexities. Whether you’re looking to start a personal blog, monetize your content, or run a business blog, Bluehost’s versatile hosting solutions and blogging-friendly features provide the ideal foundation to bring your blogging aspirations to life.

     


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
    Let’s Connect on Social Media! | Pinterest |


     

  • Blog,  Make Money

    The Best Affiliate Marketing Course That Make Money

    Affiliate Marketing is when a marketer promotes a service or a product and gets a percentage, normally known as a commission or referral fee.

    There are different ways companies structure payments mostly includes either a one time payment, a set payout amount, a percentage of the total cost and or recurring commission if the customer keeps retaining the services.

    Affiliate Marketing has become the most favored side hustle because it does not take much to start, you can easily promote many products and you do not have to worry about starting a business. This course is the reason why my small blog is making money and importantly, earning more than my old corporate full time job. The course goes into step by step process of how to find the best companies and how to model my affiliate business. It’s a symbiotic partnership where advertisers and affiliate marketers collaborate to promote products or services, and in return, affiliates earn commissions for driving valuable conversions. The beauty of affiliate marketing lies in its accessibility; virtually anyone with a digital platform, be it a blog, social media account, or website, can participate. It offers unparalleled flexibility, enabling affiliates to choose from a vast array of niches and products to promote, aligning with their interests and expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned digital marketer seeking to diversify your revenue streams or an aspiring entrepreneur looking for a way to monetize your online presence – This Affiliate Marketing Course Will Increase Your Income 

    .


     

    Design Your FinancesCOURSE: AFFILIATE MARKETING

    INCOME:  SIX FIGURES

    This course creator has made over 1 MILLION DOLLARS mostly from affiliate marketing. The best part of this course, it goes into detail from affiliate marketing basics to scaling your business into a six figures. Some of the major topics she teaches is how to choose and find affiliate programs, how to promote them and how to convert your visitors into customers, which I highlight more in the upcoming steps. Affiliate marketing used to be for celebrities, but now due to the expansion of social media, anyone can do it. This course is the reason why my small blog is making money more than my old corporate job, but most importantly, I learnt how to turn it into a business. CLICK HERE TO START

    .


    The Best Affiliate Marketing Course  

    The course taught me how to turn affiliate marketing into a business. There are many products and services you can essentially promote and make money from, but the most important aspect is that not all products or services are made the same. Below are some not all of the most important lessons from the course I learnt

    • How to find affiliate programs
    • How to build your trust with your audience
    • How to determine what your readers want
    • How to Affiliate Market according to the law
    • Different strategies to promote your Affiliate Links
    • How to Increase Pageviews to Your Affiliate Links 
    • This course, is the reason why my small blog is making money

    The strategies in the course have earned many people so much money, at best I have earned more money than my corporate SIX FIGURE JOB, all from affiliate marketing.

    .


    How to Succeed with Affiliate Marketing Course 

    Just like with any course you have to put in the work for any success.  I come from a Finance background and this is the strategy I use for any of my business courses

    • SKIM: I simply read to get a general understanding of what is affiliate marketing and how the course creator MADE A MILLION DOLLARS all from AFFILIATE MARKETING. 
    • LEARN: I re-read all the course materials and this time I am taking notes, links, tasks, questions that I will ask in the Facebook Group. This becomes my cheat sheet
    • ACTION:  I now reference the cheat sheet as I create deadlines for my tasks and measure my results. Any questions I ask Facebook Group
    • NOW:  I created a cheat sheet and everytime I market a product or are approached by a brand, I simply go over my cheat and implement the different strategies. In the Affiliate Marketing Facebook Group, we constantly share new methods to improve our earnings.

    TIP: the best way to learn from this course, is to first create a learning system. You will not get any results, if you do not apply the lessons.

    .


    Affiliate Marketing Course Lessons

    Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course is well structured that any beginner can easily follow and progress as they complete the modules. It flows from basics to becoming an expert. Each module comes with different lessons and they build on each other. Below are some not all lessons covered in the course. Once I understood the lessons below I was able to make money with affiliate marketing, as I soon learnt how to grow it as a business. 

    .

    AFFILIATE LINKS: One of the lessons includes the different types of affiliate links. Not all affiliate links are the same, for instance some have longer cookie life and that means there is a greater chance to make that sale. She goes into detail of how to access and verify your affiliate link. Verify the type of affiliate link you are promoting, as some are not structured in your favor, at worst, some do not even pay what you are owed.

    .

    TRAFFIC: there is a misconception that all blogs with high traffic make money. But small blogs can make money or even more, only if you take the time to understand your audience and the best practices to implement them.  In order to increase audience engagement. Below are some tips to increase your traffic:

    • to write content that solves the problem.
    • offer free information, in way that is easy to follow
    • always communicate with your audience. Consistency is one major factor to success

    For some affiliate programs they may require a certain number of page-views. This lesson goes into detail how to correctly engage with your audience and convert them into customers.

    .


    How to Pick an Affiliate Product

    Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course Always have your reader in mind, it may seem like it’s becoming a theme, BUT TRULY THIS IS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. Always put your reader first and the best way to do so is to constantly monitor what your audience is

    • asking
    • have problems with
    • or you can simply survey your audience
    • survey what other content producers are promoting
    • you can promote any product, but it is best to promote a product that is within your niche – it builds trust and more cohesive

    Take that information and then find a product that solves that particular question. Of course, find a product or service that is worth promoting. TIP: another way to source a product or service to promote is Google search the top questions in your niche and find which product that easily solves that. This is a great method, because you already have a target audience to promote to. 

    .

    LEGAL STUFF: the internet has created so many new ways of making money and the IRS has found new ways to get to that money. (IMAGINE THAT!!) And for that reason, there are new laws and regulations US bloggers or any internet company has to abide by. It is best to create your business the correct way and limit your liabilities. This course will go into detail of how to protect and abide by regulations. TIP: each country has their own laws when it comes to internet business. Please conduct a research within your own country

    .


    How to Market Your Products

    There are numerous tips on how to successfully market or promote your products, but the best tip that has worked for me, is to be honest. It is perfectly okay to highlight the pros and cons of your products. Below are some ways you can use to promote your products by conducting a product review:

    .

    WRITTEN REVIEW: you can write about the products and what kind of results you may expect. It is always best to inform your audience what kind of experience level is required. Most courses tend to start from the basics and progress into a more difficult level. Usually, with a written review, you have to explain thoroughly how the product works. It is perfectly okay to include any presentation aides, such as tables, infographics or images. The best type of written review is one that has a step-by-step process, it surely makes it easier to follow.

    .

    VIDEO REVIEW: this may be the best form to review a product as your audience can see you interacting with the product itself. Make sure you point out and highlight what makes the product unique. This are some tips to consider when making a video review

    • quality sound
    • great lighting 
    • closed caption, this is truly helpful for your audience to follow through

    .

    PHOTO REVIEW: this type of product reviews can certainly increase conversions. The best photos or images are the ones that are “professionally looking”. You can easily do this at home, invest in quality tools. If you decide to use a professional, simply google “product photography” TIP: The Affiliate Marketing Course goes into more details about the different ways you can engage and promote your products

    .

    GOOGLE ANALYTICS: this is one if not the most important analytical tool as most business partners set their payout rates based on your traffic and the official measure of traffic is Google Analytics. The course goes into detail on how you can use your Google Analytics into increasing your affiliate income. This is by far, the biggest tip and tool I used to start increasing my income. The best part of Google Analytics, it shows you the demographic that is interested in your product, this is instrumental, because the more you know about your audience, you can easily communicate with them.

    .

    AFFILIATE MARKETING NETWORKS: There are different ways to find affiliate products to promote, there is no right or wrong way but I certainly found that not all networks are equal. My best tip would be to sign up with a network instead of an individual company. Below are the differences:

    .

    NETWORKS: when you apply to a network, you get access to many companies who have products you can easily promote. This makes it so much easier to manage your affiliate links and get paid as you do not have to submit a new application and banking details to each company. The best part of promoting companies within a network, it’s mainly because the networks usually verify if the company meets certain rules and are determined to be trustworthy before being approved to list their products. This offers a layer of protection, instead of promoting an individual company directly.  TIP: THE COURSE HAS A DIRECTORY OF OVER 80 AFFILIATE COMPANIES YOU CAN EASILY APPLY 

    .


    Types of Affiliate Marketing Commissions

    Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course showcases which are the different types of affiliate links which make the most money. There are many ways a company can compensate you. It is advisable to fully research and understand how your compensation is structured. Some companies have a well outlined payout process, but most of them their payouts are not structured to be in your favor. The list below is not exhaustive but will serve as a starting point, should you choose to negotiate your payouts. Below are the most popular:

    .

    FREE SERVICE: some companies prefer to pay you in free services and or products in exchange for your review and any customer signups. How this normally works is each customer you refer and signups, earns you points or credits. In order to qualify for the free products you have to pass the set threshold credits. For instance, they could have a set threshold of one customer equals one point. In order to qualify for the free product or service, you need a 100 points.  TIP: before signing for this type of commission, first calculate your opportunity cost. Is the reward worth the cost of marketing the products. 

    .

    RECURRING: this is where the money is. The principle is the same, you refer visitors to your affiliate link and you get paid a commission (usually a percentage of the price). As long as the customer continues to retain the services or uses the product, you continue to receive a commission monthly. Depending on the commission percentage, this tends to increase your earning power because your efforts can continuously pay you every month. Just like the tip above, calculate your opportunity cost, the best approach is to find an affiliate product or service that has a decent payout each month.  TIP: before signing up to promote a company or product, please do a thorough research. As always, please promote products that are of high quality and actually solve a problem. This certainly helps your earning power.

    .

    ONE TIME PAYMENT: this is usually referred to as the bounty payment. It is usually a one time payment and a large one. This does encourage marketers or influencers to actively pursue this option, as it tends to create higher payouts. I would advise you to do the math, sometimes a one time payment earns more as you do not know how long a customer will retain the service. Some may view it as a disadvantage, that you will have to constantly look for customers to promote to. TIP: with anything, do your calculations and determine your opportunity cost, take into consideration your business costs and determine which one pays more

    .

    CONTRACT: this is geared more to when a brand approaches you and they enlist your services. They are more flexible when it comes to the payment process, as they are more interested in your influence or audience reach. If you are interested in affiliate marketing, this is the goal to aim for as you can easily set your own rates. Some influencers are charging about 4 to 5 figures for one post. When you do this type of affiliate marketing, companies request and verify your company statistics, such as pageviews, engagement rates or audience demographics such as gender or age.  Some contracts payouts are structured based on the number of conversions you get.  The best approach is to fully understand your contract and the conversions requirements. TIP: it is always advisable to take the time to create your list of services, delivery timeframes and associated fees

    .


    Types of Products You Affiliate Market

    There are numerous products and services you can promote, especially with the rise of social media and there are various ways to market them. To generalize the process there are 3 types of products that companies tend to use affiliate marketing for. Below is not an exhaustive list but will give a highlight.

    .

    SERVICES: in business terms, services are generally defined as non physical products, such as legal services or landscaping. This also now applies to the digital world and there are numerous digital services such as hosting or web services. There are great opportunities when it comes to affiliate marketing with this option.

    .

    PHYSICAL PRODUCTS: this includes any tangible products. There are many affiliate marketing opportunities. Some main points to consider would include, but not limited to the product’s safety, shipping timeframes, returns policies and off course the products reviews. As always, research the product first before promoting it, but the best option is to be a customer first.

    .

    DIGITAL PRODUCTS: are products that are not tangible and all accessed online. This is a very lucrative way to make money. There are so many ways you can structure your affiliate payouts, that can easily increase your income such as:

    Influencers: if there are influencers you like that are coming up with new products, use the same skill set as you would with sponsored posts, approach them to market their products and negotiate your rate

    Sample of Digital Products: currently these are the top digital products: downloads, courses

    TIP: with digital products, please verify if there are restrictions when it comes to how you market the product. Some companies have rules on how you market their products and if in violation you may get suspended. 

    .


    Summary

    Affiliate Marketing is one of the leading ways to increase your income. This course has allowed my small blog to make more money than I did in a corporate job. Are the results going to be the same for you, it all depends on whether you apply the information. As I stated above, I created a study system to the point where I could rehearse what was covered in each lesson. Course creator made MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, I was determined to earn some money from this course. Did I make millions, not yet, but have made more money than my corporate job and earning everyday from the simple tips and lessons I learnt. If you get the course, please create a study plan and some action items.

    Knowing the correct strategies is the biggest advantage you can have as you cut down your learning time frame. The second most important aspect is to plan your work and implement it. This courses start from the basics and shows step-by-step on How to Correctly Start Affiliate Marketing.


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
    Let’s Connect on Social Media! | Pinterest | Facebook |


    affiliate marketing programs

  • Blog,  Make Money

    Easy Steps to Make $80k From Print On Demand

    Print on Demand is a business model that uses printing technology to print designs on different products.

    There are various product catalogs that you can design for and can easily create a business. This post will showcase How to Make Money with Print On Demand business model. The most advantageous points to this business is the ability to create multiple collections with product catalogues such as clothing, decor, houseware and so much more. Additionally, you do not have to spend money on securing inventory, this is usually a big cost, that you do not have to expense. The below tips showcase the steps I took to generate $80,000.00 with this business model.

    This is not an exhaustive list, but it will highlight the steps, tips and failures that I experienced during this process.  Before I start the post, please do keep in mind that I started this as a business and not as a side hustle, the demands and strategies are completely different from managing a side hustle. At its core, Print On Demand is a fulfillment method where products, typically clothing, accessories, or home decor, are produced individually as orders come in, rather than being mass-produced and stored in inventory. Print On Demand platforms and services have proliferated, offering an array of customizable items that can be adorned with unique designs, artwork, or branding. This flexibility has unlocked new creative avenues for artists, designers, and entrepreneurs, enabling them to monetize their talents and reach global audiences. 

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    Print on Demand Traffic Courses

    This is not an exhaustive list. I am listing the courses and services that I used to help me build and bring traffic to my business.  They are in no particular order, but they do list how I either use the course or service in building the business.

     

    SYSTEM: PRINT ON DEMAND

    COST: HAS A FREE ACCOUNT

    You need this system to start the business. It comes with a premium service, but you can certainly start your business with the basic account. This system allows you to upload your designs, select your products, manage your orders and connect to other selling platforms such as Etsy and many others. Click Here to Sign for a Free Account

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    Design Your FinancesTYPE : PINTEREST COURSE

    AIM: INCREASE TRAFFIC

    The most important aspect to a business is targeted traffic. Pinterest has become one of the leading search engines and is great for generating targeted traffic. This course showcases on how to market a business on Pinterest and ultimately have engaging  and converting customers. Click Here to Start a Pinterest Course

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    Design Your FinancesTYPE: CHEAP FACEBOOK ADS

    AIM: INCREASE TRAFFIC

    It is all about sending massive traffic to your site. This course teaches how to start cheap Facebook Ads. The course creator has been able to generate over 2 MILLION PAGEVIEWS all from cheap Facebook Ads. The course showcases the different facebook strategies that help in increasing your traffic to you site. Click Here to Learn About Facebook Ads

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    How Print on Demand Works

    In a summarized version, print on demand is creating products when the customer makes the sale.

    • STEP 1: Once the purchase is made, you then go into your print on demand dashboard and create an order (usually this all automatic) and all you have to do is confirm if details are accurate.

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    • STEP 2: The order is then sent to your supplier and then they start the printing process. Usually this takes about 6 business days, it all depends on the supplier and current demands

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    • STEP 3: Once the order is complete, it is shipped directly to your customer, and they are provided with a tracking number

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    • STEP 4: Customer service is the last step and you may have to deal with returns, refunds and or damages. There are different ways to deal with returns, you can either refunds and not take returns or you can have it sent to print on demand  warehouse. The best option is 

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    Print on Demand Steps 

    Decide What To Sell 

    Take the time to decide what you want to sell. There are a lot of products you can create designs for. Most print on demand have numerous product catalogs which range from clothing, kitchenware, decor, jewelry and so much more. You can easily create different collections and start a brand. Before you start this business venture, please take the time to research its demand and how to turn profits. Below is a sample of product catalog:

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    Design Your Finances

    Research Your Designs 

    Once you have decided what you want to sell, this step is the most important part of your business. Your visitors turn into repeat customers mainly because of the QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCTS. Your designs should be creative, unique and have a fashion edge. You do not want to sell products that customers are not interested in. To make it easier to explain we are going to use a T SHIRT as our example throughout the whole post. There are m

    T SHIRT EXAMPLE: Look through various selling platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy and see what other top selling T SHIRT designers are selling. I will look at the: 

    • type of designs
    • cost of the product
    • take note of the prices 
    • customer target (kids / women)
    • are the designs trendy or seasonal 

    TIP: This is a business, take the time to research your business before starting, in this step, research what is selling

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    Design Your Finances

    Legal and Copyright

    So now you have decided what to sell and have an idea what your designs will be. IT IS TIME TO BE LEGAL!  

    OK, the above statement is grammatically incorrect but I truly want to drive a point. This can cost your business. There are multiple types of print on demand businesses, but if you choose to quickly produce trendy products, there is a greater risk of facing copyright infringements.

    Before you print a statement, phrase or symbol PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR DESIGN DOES NOT VIOLATE A COPYRIGHT. Below are the current options to take to verify if your design does not infringe on any trademarks, they may change later, so please be mindful

    USPTO: this is a government website where all trademarks are filled and later registered in the US. There are two main options to note:

    TRADEMARK: this is when you file an application to be the sole owner or user of a name, logo and or statement. The application is only filed if there are no other approved applicants that match your application. You have to conduct a search, if no results come up, that means you can file for a trademark. 

    Usually, when you file an application for a trademark the USPTO in house attorneys have to thoroughly search if there are no matches to your application. This normally takes a few days. If no issues, your trademark is filed with the USPTO. There is a cost associated with each filing so be very sure and through of your decision.

    APPROVED TRADEMARK: You can now use your trademark while waiting for it to be registered. You are given a unique number that identifies your trademark. Some selling platforms may require your trademark number. 

    REGISTERED: this is when your trademark has gone through the whole process and approved. This normally takes about a year. If no issues, then your trademark becomes registered. 

    TIP 1: you can use an attorney to help you file your trademark, but it is not required. I WOULD STRONGLY ADVICE TO USE ONE or at least be very familiar with the process

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    TIP 2:  you DO NOT need a trademark to start a print on demand. Most print on demand sellers have trademarks

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    Design Your FinancesCheck for Trademarks

    During the process of when creative juices are following and before you start selling, it is CRITICAL you check if you are not violating any trademark. To recap, a trademark can be a logo, symbol or statements (best to verify with USPTO for a complete list) 

    COPYRIGHT VERIFICATION: take the statement you want to use in your design and search the USPTO database to verify if there is not copyright filed. If nothing comes up, you may use the statement, symbol or logo 

    SEARCH FOR TRADEMARK: before you finalize on your designs, search the USPTO database. In this business, usually other print on demand business owners tend to quickly trademark famous memes, words or statements. It is usually a race towards ownership, who owns it first, claims the win by being the lawful owner to profit from it.

    TIP 1: be mindful that the statement you used in your design may later have a trademark approved, after your use and you maybe subject to infringement if someone else files for a trademark. Just be cautious to the fact

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    TIP 2: even if you used the statement first, if they have the copyright, they are the lawfully owners

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    TIP 3: even though I stress the validity of a trademark, you can certainly start your business without one. I want to show the full picture, just incase you decide to trademark, you have a full scope

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    Design Your FinancesDesign Your Collection

    In this phase, go wild, go crazy and enjoy your process. Take the notes from your research section and create more of them.  Some design tips to include, the different styles, colors, trends or seasonal products, mix different seasons and trends. Just think outside the box while creating a more uniformed brand. If you are designing trendy products, you can apply the designs to various product catalogs, you can create a collection from one design.

    TIP: going wild with your designs should not mean be offensive and rude. I truly believe in kindness and positivity. Take the time to frame what your brand stand for. 

     

    SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: there are so many ways to increase your research resources. Go to other selling platforms and search according to the best sellers. Places like Pinterest, Etsy, Amazon or any other top selling platform will be great places to source inspiration. PLEASE: DO NOT STEAL BUT BE INSPIRED. These selling platforms have rules where sellers can report your store for infringement, YOU CAN GET SUSPENDED OR WORST BLOCKED FROM SELLING IF YOU ARE REPORTED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRIGEMENT

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    T SHIRT EXAMPLE: based on research and the messaging that fit our brand we going to focus on:

    • cute graphics
    • positive statements
    • fashionable designs 
    • trendy, fun and positive sayings

    TIP: I will always state this point: you are running a business and in this step, please focus more on what your customers would love.

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    Design Your FinancesCreate Product Template

    Once you have completed your design, upload them into the print on demand system. The list below is not exhaustive, it includes some of the options to pay attention too

    PRODUCT SELECTION: choose a product that is a bestseller, because it means other print on demand owners have received great feedback from it. 

     

    FULFILLMENT COUNTRY: due to the type of business there are many fulfillment centers and some are in different countries. So when you select your product, take note which country it’s being shipped from, as this can add to your shipping timeframes.

     

    PRICES: the prices change based on different selections such as, sizes, colors, printing or embroidery. Each selection you add increases the cost of production. You want to provide the best product to your clients, but know where cut costs.

     

    SAMPLE PRODUCTS: once you have completed your designs, logos and any additional items you want to add, I would strongly encourage you to order a sample. Below are some things to consider:

     

    T SHIRT EXAMPLE: we may opt for printing instead of embroidery because its cheaper and below are the items I would look for:

    • material quality
    • printing quality
    • if sizes are true to chart
    • after washing, how the product looks like

    TIP: I will always state this point, you are running a business please make sure your numbers produce a profit. 

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    Design Your FinancesWarehousing and Packaging

    This step is not necessary but great to know.  The business model allows you to create an order once a sale is made and you do not have to worry about storage. This options are applicable if you choose to use them, but remember, any additional item or service will increase your cost. 

     

    WAREHOUSING: you have an option to store your goods at the warehouse provided by the company. There are different prices, for different sizes and weights. Some business want to store their inventory and this option allows them to do so, of course, there is a price for this service.

     

    PACKAGING: you may have noticed that when you purchase an order, there is usually a note or card that has the company info, this is known as an in-slip. This is part of the packaging process. You can create and design an in-slip, sent to the print on demand warehouse and every time there is an order, they include the in-slip. 

    TIP: is an in-slip necessary? maybe not at all or later. It all depends on what you prefer 

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    Selling Platforms

    This company makes it so much easier to sell on different platforms. You can easily connect your print on demand designs to other platforms such as Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and so many other platforms. 

    Some platforms are much easier to push your products to, while others take so much effort. There are many points to consider when selling on other platforms such as:

    • greater accessibility of your products 
    • most of the heavy lifting is done automatically 
    • there maybe additional costs to start selling on those platforms
    • your orders are automatically updated to the print on demand system

    Before you choose a platform, please research if it serves your business the best. Remember each additional platform or item, there is a cost associated and since this is a business, keep your costs low. 

    TIP: when you choose a selling platform, take the time to verify if they have a great support system and if its necessary to expand your business

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    Design Your FinancesMarket and Grow Your Business

    For any business to be successful and thrive, you need to sell what the customers are interested in and drive customer to your website. Earlier in the post, I stated the type of services and courses I took that taught me strategies to increase traffic and get targeted customers. Below are some important factors to pay attention to:

     

    TRAFFIC: for any business to survive and thrive, you need customers. Take the time to verify which are the best producing traffic channels that fit your business. Not all social media will turn great results. The best approach, pick one social media and learn how to drive traffic from it.

    DESIGN: try and have designs that can easily convert visitors into customers. If you aim for the seasonal designs, make sure you create, market ship them on time. Have a year round design calendar. For instance, Christmas designs, you may want to start selling in September. You may think it’s early, but you are not the only business printing products, you need to accommodate shipping timeframes, and returns if something is broken or a wrong order. 

    TRENDY DESIGNS: be quick to create your designs and start selling. You want to sell them while they are still on demand. 

     

    CUSTOMER SERVICE: take the time to create a customer service process. For my returns, I use the print on demand warehouse and they handle that for me. Create a dedicated email address on how customers can send in questions regarding returns, damages or refunds. Take the time to create answers to obvious questions, this will make your process much easier. 

     

    TIP: create a schedule, process and cut down time on your research process and create your designs especially if you want to produce trendy products 

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    Calculate Your Profits

    The whole objective of this post is to showcase a new business model that can help in making money and like stated before, the costs to start up are much lower compared to other businesses. I could not complete the post without addressing some associated costs. The list below is not exhaustive but will give a general idea. Sometimes in business, it’s all about bootstrapping and with that in mind, I sectioned the two categories in need now and need later

     

    Services You Need Now

    PRINT ON DEMAND PLATFORM: you need this to start your business. IT comes with the different product catalogs, easy ways to connect to other selling platforms, great customer service and so much more. Sign Up Here for a Free Account

     

    DESIGN SERVICE: you need a designing system. This comes with a 30 day free trial.  Allows you to have different design elements and very less tech savvy friendly. Click Here to Sign Up

     

    SELLING PLATFORMS: you do not need a dedicated website, you can sell on Etsy or other platforms. For you to sell on the other selling platforms, they may charge you to list your products.  You connect to other platforms from within the print on demand dashboard.

     

    Services You Need Later 

    ADVERTISING – if you choose to advertise for free, please take the time to create a strategy. This may take longer to get results than paid advertising.

    TIP: since I started online businesses, I invested in courses that teach how to drive traffic to your site. The knowledge I gained from those courses are the same ones I use over and over. That has made me make money with different online business 

     

    DOMAIN NAME – unless you want to have a dedicated website, then yes you need a domain.

    TIP: I personally have a website for my business, some sellers have had their account suspended, deleted because of platform violation. If it ever happened (hope not) I would still be able to run my business

     

    TRADEMARK – as I stated before, you do not need to have a trademark to  start the business, I gave more details so that you are aware of the whole process. It took me many failures and a lot of money as I was trying to figure out the correct path of my business.

    TIP: I personally trademarked my company, all my designs are protected. There is a lot of theft, did not want to take the chance

     

    BUSINESS NAME: I incorporated my business so that no other company can sell under my name. I started this whole process as a business. It is not just customers that look at your business. There are business vultures who look for new companies that have a great ideas and then they quickly incorporate and trademark before the true owner does. 

    TIP: you do not have to incorporate your company and yes you can incorporate down the road. 

     

    TAXES: since I registered my company, I am taxed at an LLC level, there are some advantages to this business model. 

    TIP: you can sell as a sole proprietor, just be aware of your business exposure and taxes. Some start as a sole proprietor and then later convert to an LLC 

     

    BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT: if you have a business name, you may need to open a business checking account. Some of the big banks have many associated banking fees that I did not like. So I ended up opening an online business bank. They tend to have no business fees related, such as a free business checking account versus a monthly fee.

    TIP: do your research on which is the best online business checking account. Some of these banks are much smaller than the big ones. Check if they are

    • FDIC insured (US banks, if in a different, please do your research)
    • usually they are backed with a bigger bank, research the bigger bank 
    • do not put too much money in, I only put enough to complete orders 

    TIP: once I had enough money generated from the business, I then went to a bigger bank and opened an account. The business fees were waived because I had enough money to meet the no fee requirements

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    Summary 

    Starting a print on demand hustle, should be treated like a business. The best approach is to create a step-by-step process and a checklist. Verify what information and services you need. There are three important aspects to keep in mind, first: how you protect your business, secondly: providing quality products to your customers and lastly how to effectively operate and manage your business in order to be profitable. 

    I hope this has been helpful. For any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section.


    Cheering To Your Success
    Brenda | www.DesignYourFinances.com
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