Micro–Entrepreneurship For Dummies

Learn to: Navigate the technological landscape and earn a profit Make the best use of micro- entrepreneurial platforms Sell your products and services online or offline Take control of your career and income and be your own boss If you've had dreams of starting your own full-time or part-time, home-based business, perhaps because you're unemployed, dissatisfied with your current career, or you just need some supplemental income, micro-entrepreneurship is your best bet. This hands-on, friendly guide arms you with ideas, strategies, and lots of resources to help you kick-start your venture! Micro-Entrepreneurship 101 — find out the best path toward being a micro-entrepreneur and what type of business mirrors your interests and abilities The nuts 'n' bolts — get the skinny on the inner workings of micro-entrepreneurship, from creating products and services to auctions, writing, self-publishing, affiliate marketing, and advertising Reach the masses — discover how to find your best customers and the various ways to market, from publicity and guest blogging to ezine and blog marketing The fruits of your labor — get help managing all aspects of your business, from administrative tasks to more detailed technological tasks, like outsourcing Open the book and find: Why a web presence is important How to set up a website or blog A ton of sites and resources to help you Ways to tap into your passion and find your niche Tips for marketing and selling your micro business The scoop on market research Guidance on tax implications and benefits Common pitfalls to avoid Ten ways to make money immediately

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Micro–Entrepreneurship 7 Chapter 1: Micro–Entrepreneurship 101: Just the Basics, Please 9 Chapter 2: Knowing Your Path as a Micro–Entrepreneur 17 Chapter 3: Understanding Yourself: What Makes You Tick 31 Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Internet Presence 45 Chapter 5: Honing In on Opportunities 59 Part II: Finding Great Micro–Entrepreneurship Ideas 77 Chapter 6: Creating Your Arts and Crafts Micro–Business from Scratch 79 Chapter 7: Selling Other Stuff: The Golden Rules of Success 91 Chapter 8: Selling Your Services 105 Chapter 9: Writing for Money 121 Chapter 10: Getting Into Self–Publishing 133 Chapter 11: Being a Successful Affi liate 153 Chapter 12: Cashing in on Advertising 169 Part III: Marketing and Selling Your Micro–Business 187 Chapter 13: Understanding Your Marketing Approach 189 Chapter 14: Communicating with Prospective Customers 205 Chapter 15: Utilizing Search Engine Strategies to Market Your Business 223 Chapter 16: Using Blogs and Ezines in Your Marketing Plan 237 Chapter 17: Marketing through Social Media 255 Chapter 18: Implementing Other Marketing Strategies 267 Part IV: Considering Taxes and Legal Issues 285 Chapter 19: Outsourcing: Getting Others to Help You 287 Chapter 20: Micro to Macro: Growing and Selling Your Business 301 Chapter 21: Uncle Sam Comes Calling: Tax Issues for the Micro–Entrepreneur 315 Part V: The Part of Tens 333 Chapter 22: Ten Beginning Micro–Entrepreneur Pitfalls (and How to Avoid ’em) 335 Chapter 23: Ten (Plus One) Ways to Make Money Quickly 341 Index 347

Paul Mladjenovic is a certified financial planner, micro–entrepreneur, and home business educator with more than 25 years′ experience writing and teaching about financial and business start–up topics. He owns RavingCapitalist.com and is also the author of Stock Investing For Dummies .