If you are a content creator who wants to squeeze out more sales and money from content you’ve already created, then this article will show you how.

Here is a true story to illustrate what to do:

Not long ago, I was visiting my mom who lives in a small village by the ocean, and I decided to whip my phone out and create a teaching video out of it for a professionally-produced video series. Usually, I would just immediately create and put such content on my mobile app and share it as value to get immediate engagement and possibly even see some immediate cash flow, depending on what the content is selling. But this was for something entirely different and one of those rare cases where I wanted studio-like production value.

Anyway, the topic was about what I call:

“Digital driftwood”

It was inspired by some driftwood I saw on the beach.

And what that means is, almost everyone I know or know of who has any kind of content creation, any kind of coaching, or any kind of info marketing or other kind of solo entrepreneur thing going has all kinds of content you’ve had forever and aren’t aware of it. And one reason why a mobile app can be so valuable to those who use one is, it lets you put all that content floating around on your phone, on your hard drive, on your YouTube channels, etc right onto an app you control, on a platform that is yours, and do it via a simple & easy-to-use interface your audience and clients and customers can instantly experience and enjoy.

Everyone has all of this digital Driftwood in their business.

I would bet the biggest alligator in Florida you do, too.

You’re just not putting it to use in a mobile app which is designed to help you profit from.

Dan Kennedy talks about his idea of “unused capacity” – assets, time, resources, talents, space, media, friends, contacts, networks, etc you could be using, that you already possess, but aren’t, but if you did you could potentially add another “0” to your current business income.

Well guess what?

Digital driftwood is like hundreds of big, fat LOGS of unused capacity floating down a river you could be gathering, and using, selling, and building your business with.

If you want to start profiting and using yours, here is what I suggest doing:

1. Build a mobile app or find an affordable zΩservice that lets you utilize mobile app technology – as statistics are clear that 70% of people now consume content on a mobile phone, and 90% of that content is consumed in a mobile app specifically (not a browser on the phone).
2. Start loading all your digital “driftwood” content onto it.
3. Start sharing, selling, or using it to engage.

And that’s all there is to it.

Doing that one thing alone – with content you already have “floating” around – can not only potentially make you quick sales, but possibly even be something you build an entire coaching, info marketing, or content creation business around.

To get your own professionally created & prestigiously branded $100,000+ quality mobile app for profiting from your own digital driftwood… and get it for less than the cost of your monthly cell cable bill… go here for a free test drive:

Advice To Businesses Using WordPress Who Are Worried About Security

If you are a content creator who wants to squeeze out more sales and money from content you’ve already created, then this article will show you how.

Here is a true story to illustrate what to do:

Not long ago, I was visiting my mom who lives in a small village by the ocean, and I decided to whip my phone out and create a teaching video out of it for a professionally-produced video series. Usually, I would just immediately create and put such content on my mobile app and share it as value to get immediate engagement and possibly even see some immediate cash flow, depending on what the content is selling. But this was for something entirely different and one of those rare cases where I wanted studio-like production value.

Anyway, the topic was about what I call:

“Digital driftwood”

It was inspired by some driftwood I saw on the beach.

And what that means is, almost everyone I know or know of who has any kind of content creation, any kind of coaching, or any kind of info marketing or other kind of solo entrepreneur thing going has all kinds of content you’ve had forever and aren’t aware of it. And one reason why a mobile app can be so valuable to those who use one is, it lets you put all that content floating around on your phone, on your hard drive, on your YouTube channels, etc right onto an app you control, on a platform that is yours, and do it via a simple & easy-to-use interface your audience and clients and customers can instantly experience and enjoy.

Everyone has all of this digital Driftwood in their business.

I would bet the biggest alligator in Florida you do, too.

You’re just not putting it to use in a mobile app which is designed to help you profit from.

Dan Kennedy talks about his idea of “unused capacity” – assets, time, resources, talents, space, media, friends, contacts, networks, etc you could be using, that you already possess, but aren’t, but if you did you could potentially add another “0” to your current business income.

Well guess what?

Digital driftwood is like hundreds of big, fat LOGS of unused capacity floating down a river you could be gathering, and using, selling, and building your business with.

If you want to start profiting and using yours, here is what I suggest doing:

1. Build a mobile app or find an affordable zΩservice that lets you utilize mobile app technology – as statistics are clear that 70% of people now consume content on a mobile phone, and 90% of that content is consumed in a mobile app specifically (not a browser on the phone).
2. Start loading all your digital “driftwood” content onto it.
3. Start sharing, selling, or using it to engage.

And that’s all there is to it.

Doing that one thing alone – with content you already have “floating” around – can not only potentially make you quick sales, but possibly even be something you build an entire coaching, info marketing, or content creation business around.

To get your own professionally created & prestigiously branded $100,000+ quality mobile app for profiting from your own digital driftwood… and get it for less than the cost of your monthly cell cable bill… go here for a free test drive:

|I have this client who I affectionately call “The WordPress Worry Wart.”

Why?

Because this guy’s entire business, product line, brand, and web presence is completely wrapped up in his WordPress website. All of which was well and good at first 5 years ago. But the bigger he gets, the more he relies on it all working, and the more his income is tied up into the software, the more vulnerable he feels, the more at risk his business is from being obliterated by a jealous hater or hacker, and the more he worries about it.

Can’t say as I blame him for the worrying part though.

Personally, I think WordPress is a huge advantage for online marketers. It’s simplicity is unmatched. And I’ve used it myself for years, and still do in some ventures. But it’s also riddled with security problems, especially because it’s the #1 platform and is the most targeted by hackers.

Not a big deal if you’re a mommy blogger doing it for fun.

But if your entire business is bound by blood to WordPress?

It’s definitely a problem.

And the reason it’s a problem is because of all the security “holes” it has, and that constantly have to be plugged in and fixed. And my client is (rightfully so!) afraid because he goes in and he updates it and all of a sudden his server crashes. He’s had that happen numerous times where he updated a plugin in and the whole thing comes crashing down. This is nothing against WordPress, it’s just the nature of software. I’ve seen it happen when I did my time as a Nuclear Engineer for the Navy as well as when I ran a $12 million budget working for Encyclopedia Brittanica as a software developer.

And so there’s just this anxiety he has about WordPress.

It’s supposed to be simple and it is. But when it comes to running an ever-growing and eer-expanding business, with multiple plugins and security patches it doesn’t always work together in perfect harmony.

The solution?

Mobile apps.

Mobile apps are Web 3.0 in my opinion. And in five to ten years businesses will have some kind of app if they want to stay competitive. They have very few – if any – of the security problems web based content management platforms have. They make consuming content ridiculously easy since everyone has their phones with them all the time, everywhere they go. And whether someone likes it or not, the statistics don’t lie. The most recent stats show the average person touches their mobile phone 2,617 times per DAY. They are always within 3 feet of their phones, even when eating, driving, traveling, exercising, dressing, shopping, waiting for appointments, sleeping, or while in the bathroom. That’s why 70%+ of digital content is consumed on a phone. And 92% of the time people are on their phone they are in a mobile app.

That means that is where your customers are.

It doesn’t mean not to use WordPress or an HTML website for some of your business’s needs.

But when it comes to content consumption, why not go where they are already going, and do it in a way that is protected from the hackers always trying to bring good businesses down?

The evil forces that attack WordPress and other popular content management platforms aren’t really a problem when a mobile app is set up & maintained correctly. And while it costs tens of thousands of dollars to develop and maintain a mobile app, my Learnistic software lets your business have your own mobile app for less than the cost of your monthly cable bill.

What Do Teachers and Students Think of Online Learning After 2020?

2020 was quite a year. Even before the pandemic, online course was growing leaps and bounds. In 2018, according to the National Clearing House for Education Statistics, there were almost 7 million people enrolled in accredited online courses in the United States. That number doesn’t include, private or non-credit training programs. It was estimated in late spring of 2020, over 90% of students were taking courses at some point online because of the virus. But with all these changes, I thought it would be interesting to compare what teachers and students thought about online teaching since the dust… or maybe shock and transition, has settled a little.
I started searching through blog posts and articles of what teachers and students were saying about online teaching/instruction in 2020 and here is a little of what I found.
TEACHERS

1. Teachers were shocked by how much work online teaching was and can be. Many teachers said that they had never compared an online course to a traditional course before as far as content and workload. They were surprised by how much research was involved to build the course, time it took to develop the course and that their in-person lesson activities didn’t always work well in that format. It took them a lot of time to learn the learning management or delivery system and were surprised by how much time it took to check in with students, grade assignments and posts/discussion boards.
2. Teachers were also surprised at the differences in communication. Establishing presence and relationships and delivering timely and appropriate feedback were very different.
3. Technology overload. For teachers that are just starting, it can be so overwhelming to sift through all of the wonderful and cool technology tools that are out there. It can also be overwhelming thinking about technology that you have never used before, instructional design issues and accessibility compliance. Most came to the realization that they used enough to get the job done and be effective.
4. If the teachers are tired, what about the students? Teachers were perplexed by how to keep students engaged and interested virtually or online. There was a big learning curve figuring out how to get students to complete assignments, participate in class and stay motivated. Many realized that deadlines, flexibility and consistency were necessities. Many teachers listed the importance of checking in with students throughout the course as well as sharing ideas, concerns and thoughts with other colleagues. Utilize your school and other colleagues to offer tips, advice and insights about teaching online.
   STUDENTS
5. Students generally liked learning at their own pace especially if they were in a different time zone.
6. They wanted instructors to provide more clarity or direction in instructions and expectations. They also wanted more virtual office-hours to ask questions instead of through email. Students also asked for more timely feedback.
7. Too much work! Not all students have access to fast internet services which made taking tests and finals difficult. Some instructors break testing down to smaller quizzes but this increases the workload for students through the week. It is also important for instructors to gauge how much time it takes students to complete readings and assignments correctly.
8. I need a break please. Zoom fatigue is real. Students asked for breaks from the webcam, opportunities to stretch or do a different activity to break up lectures. They also asked for varied types of activities so that it wasn’t the same thing over and over.
9. Students wanted to have social interactions with peers. A benefit of online courses is that students may interact with other students they might not have previously. Many students reported that class discussions helped them engage with the material while facilitating social connections.
10. Show your Personality. Students actually like it when your dog is barking or that there was something interesting in the background. They want to build and form relationships with you. Sharing bits of your personality and life are ways that you can do that. It also encourages persistence and participation.
    Teachers have a lot of pressure on them to deliver quality education correctly. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many educators, who never in their wildest dreams thought they would, to teach online. The silver lining by looking at both sides of the coin is that students don’t seem to be looking for perfection, they are still looking for a social and engaging learning experience. They want to get to know you and want you to keep their interest. So, teachers don’t fret. Keep doing what you are doing and delivering courses the best way that you can. Utilize resources that you have and reach out to colleagues or experts to help you get through this. The students seem to be learning and adjusting just fine.

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How to Build an E-Commerce Website From Scratch in 8 Easy Steps

The unfortunate onset of the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in lockdowns and travel restrictions that are being enforced worldwide to curb the spread of the disease. Owing to this, many people all over the world have become less mobile and doing their physical shopping to meet their needs has become difficult. Hence, shopping online has become popular worldwide over the prevailing pandemic period and is expected to increase even after the pandemic is over.

It follows that many e-commerce websites have been set up to capitalize on this growing trend. As a result, the growth of e-commerce business has outstripped that of the traditional ‘brick and mortar’ businesses many times over in recent times. In fact, many of these traditional businesses, even the more established ones, have to take their businesses online in order to survive. However, many smaller ones face stiff competition from e-commerce businesses and those that were unsustainable had unfortunately closed down.

The success of e-commerce businesses has been so impactful that many individuals have started selling online using social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram or Tik Tok. But the more enterprising ones are looking to dive into e-commerce in a bigger way instead of just using the social media platform. But first, to start an e-commerce business, it’s necessary to build an e-commerce website for a start.

Fortunately, there is a structured process in building an e-commerce website. Though a website developer is normally engaged in such a task, having some relevant knowledge could also help you in building a website for your online business.

Simply follow these 8 easy steps to build an e-commerce website from scratch:

1. Decide on the product niche for your store

When you search the Internet, you would have come across many e-commerce websites selling a variety of products. However, there are also many similar websites focusing on selling a specific line of products or services such as apparel, pet accessories, fashion wears, shoes or travel packages. Besides, there are some other e-commerce websites that sell many different products such as smartphones, cameras, home appliances, household items, sports and health items, lamps, laptops, books, and so forth. The latter is something similar to a hypermarket where you can find almost any stuff – you name it, they have it.

For a start, it’s significant to decide on the niche or type of services you wish to sell or provide on your website. In your decision, you need to find out the local demand for certain products relating to the niche or certain high-demand services you are interested in. Be mindful that buyers would normally prefer to buy products or obtain services from a local vendor whether online or offline. The local vendor would usually provide easy payment methods, faster deliveries, and faster replacements in case of the wrong or defective items.

1. Decide on your business model

As a prospective e-commerce business entrepreneur, you should first decide on your business model that best suits your need and budget. You can either sell your products solely on your online store, or you can sell your products on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, etc. If you decide on the latter, there is no need for you to build your own website. All you need to do is to sign-up for an account and list your products at its marketplace and start selling. You can also choose to sell your products on both the platforms in parallel.

1. Decide on a domain name for your business

If you have decided your business model to be an e-commerce online store as well as having chosen the niche and the range of products to sell or the type of services you wish to provide, you need to buy a domain name from any web hosting company such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostgator, etc. Make sure that the domain’s hyperlink is “https” which ensures data security over the network. It’s preferable to choose a domain name that is closely related to the product niche or services you’ve chosen. For instance, if you choose to sell only pet accessories, get a domain like ‘petaccessories.com’ or ‘petaccessories.net’ depending on which is available. The domain name is also considered as your business name and should be easy to remember by your target audience. A domain provides a brand to your business and makes it easy for your audience to associate it with each other.

The hosting of the domain is easily done with the help of the web hosting company’s support team.

1. Choose an e-commerce platform

There is a multitude of e-commerce platforms on the Internet nowadays, such as Square Online, Weebly, Big Cartel, Constant Contact, BigCommerce, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, WooCommerce, and more. Some comes with a free plan while some comes with a free trial but for a limited period. Choose one that best suits your budget and requirement. Also, you need to make sure that the platform you chose is optimized for mobile phone usability to take advantage of the accelerated growth of smartphone usage worldwide. The online e-commerce platform can easily help you build your website in a couple of simple steps.

1. Set-up your e-commerce store

Your e-commerce website is your online store, and it needs an appropriate theme to represent your brand. You have to set it up properly so as to ensure that your potential customers will have a good browsing experience in terms of fast loading speed, navigability, user-friendly, etc. Your website should contain accurate details on your products or services, quality images, good descriptions and prices as well as options for customers to leave reviews and star ratings. All this should be included in your product page for the viewing of prospective customers so that they buy based on an informed decision and not to mislead them into buying in any way. You must make your website and its web pages eye-catching as it’s your brands’ representation to your online customers.

Besides, you need to include pages on your website with respect to About Us, Contact Us, Return Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Shipping Information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). These are very important in order to build trust with your customers where they will feel confident to part their money in exchange for your products.

1. Set-up payment gateway

For your online store, you must have a few payment options in place for your customers. Most e-commerce store builder platforms already have functions to allow you to easily set up the payment gateway. The customer should have options to make payments via PayPal, credit card, debit card, online wallets, Internet banking, etc.

1. Secure your website by installing an SSL certificate

For all websites that transfer data online, especially relating to payment, you must ensure that the network connection is protected by a Secured Security Layer (SSL). The SSL certificate keeps your website secure from website hackers and will help to build trust among your customers.

1. Choose your shipping partner

When you start selling products on your e-commerce website, you need to ship the products to your customers using shipping companies. You must choose those reliable ones that have good track records in fulfilling shipments within agreed durations and at the lowest available shipping cost, so that you can give your customers the best deal as well as maximize your profit.

How to Make a Fortune Out of Your Passion?

BUILD YOUR OWN EMPIRE-

Nothing is more inspiring than the person building his or her own fortune. You don’t get lucky just by sitting at home; everyone needs to step outside their comfort zone in order to achieve extraordinary things. In this age of technology, thousands of options are available at your doorstep, but you need to make a wise decision regarding your career choice. Don’t follow the herd, follow your passion and it will pay you back.

SELECT YOUR GENRE-

It is important to select your niche because getting specialization in a particular field is important to attract clients. Freelancing is not about doing any work, just for getting paid. If you want a stable career in freelancing field, you need to be an expert in the particular field of your interest, which obviously will take time but provide you with a promising career with higher income.

BRAND YOUR SERVICES-

In order to build a rapport in the market, you need to be very specific about the services you are going to offer. It sets up the frame for your business and how your clients are going to perceive it. Keep it simple and approachable. Stick to your niche, because when you start working as a freelancer, you will get many opportunities in different fields which could be tempting, but in long run, it is just defocusing you from your niche.

DEVELOP YOUR OWN WEBSITE-

A separate website of your work is one of the strategies to attract clients from different areas. At your website, you can show off your expertise and experience. For being a successful freelancer, you need to have the most attracting portfolios and what else could be a better option than having your own website. Mention your details like your degrees, diplomas, certificates, contact number and email address to become more approachable for orders, collaborations, etc. You can bid for higher prices for your work if you maintain consistency in providing quality content to your clients. It is often quoted in the business world that one satisfied customer brings ten new customers with him or her.

HOW CAN A FREELANCING WEBSITE BE YOUR SAVIOUR?

These websites are basically designed to provide a platform for artists to present their work to the world and bridging the gap between them. Once you register yourself with them and mention your niche, they help in getting the work related to your niche with satisfactory payment. Some of the freelancing websites provide you with a built-in security feature.

GOLDMINE FOR OUTSOURCERS-

These freelancing websites are gold mines for finding a suitable client for their work. A large number of service providers are available, you can select the best on the basis of his or her expertise. For outsourcing work you need to have trust on your client and on the basis of ratings and reviews which are available on these freelancing websites, you may choose the one you find most suitable for the job.