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How to Get Started in Business Online

If you are thinking about getting started in business for yourself through your computer there are several things to consider. The first thing is that you have to change your thinking a bit from the traditional ways of doing business. Creating a business online requires that you begin a learning process of how to market the products you choose to sell. Just publishing a website and hoping that customers will find you will not get you very far. So here are some tips on how to begin.

1) You need to learn how to drive traffic to your website. One of the best ways is through writing articles like the one you are reading. In exchange for the information that I am providing you, for example, as an author and business owner myself, I want to give you useful information that also might stimulate you to want to find out more about me, and thus visit my website. Article marketing is free and it is one of the best ways for people to find out about you and your business.

2) You can upload videos that promote your business or service to sites like YouTube, Yahoo and Google video. We live in a very video driven culture so people are always searching for information for what they need–and they do it by searching through videos online.

3) Sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace can be invaluable tools to establish new relationships with people who are looking for what you have to offer. Like interests attract like interests. Let people know something about who you are, but at the same time show a genuine interest in THEM and they will reciprocate.

If you don’t have a product or service of your own to sell, don’t worry, there are a number of companies that are looking for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit to move their products for them. Do your homework, be open-minded, and above all believe in yourself. Starting a business online can be the beginning of a rewarding experience. Just put one foot in front of the other and before long you will get there.

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Army Combat Uniform: Past, Present, and Future

Since its introduction in 2004, the Army Combat Uniform has gone through several changes over the past seven years. Changes have included modifications to the uniform’s design and moving from one camouflage pattern to two. ACU’s original pattern, Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), proved to not blend in well with Afghanistan’s terrain of woodlands, mountains, and desert whereas the MultiCam® pattern has. Therefore, uniforms in MultiCam® have exclusively been issued to soldiers in Afghanistan since 201 and the Army is presently performing tests to find a new more universally acceptable camouflage pattern.

Replacing the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), ACU was a significant redesign. At the time, ACU was described as “shapeless” and “untucked” and consisted of a jacket, trousers, and patrol cap in Universal Camo, along with a moisture-wicking t-shirt and tan combat boots. The new uniforms had Mandarin collars, Velcro fasteners, zippers instead of buttons, knee pouches on pants, and sleeve pockets instead of bottom pockets.

UCP was another drastic change for Army uniforms. A digital camouflage pattern, UCP was based on MARPAT, used by the Marine Corps, and has a color scheme of Foliage and Alpha greens, light brownish grey, and grey-yellow brown. Tested by PEO Soldier Systems with soldiers in Iraq and stateside, UCP was designed to blend into desert, urban, and woodland environments. The pattern, however, proved to be more effective in urban areas but did not blend well in woodlands. The pattern’s lack of black, which is disruptive in urban areas, is said to be the cause of UCP’s decreased effectiveness in woodland environments.

MultiCam® was chosen to replace UCP after testing for a new camouflage pattern solely for the Army Combat Uniform in Afghanistan in 2009. A multi-environmental camouflage pattern, MultiCam® tricks the human eyes’ perception of color by taking on an overall green or tan appearance. A gradient pattern, MultiCam® uses a brown to light tan gradient base, which is broken up by drab green dotted by dark brown and pink blotches. For optimal concealment, the camouflage pattern varies across the fabric, which disguises volume and shape.

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Two Tips to Start Promoting Your Business Online

Everyone is trying to promote their business online – from the mom-and-pop retailer to the big-name brands like Macy’s and Sony. Don’t be discouraged by the deluge of promotions and options out there. This article is not a do-it-all guide, but it will offer you some key points on how to get started.

1. Identify Your Market- Do They Use Facebook or Craigslist?

The above is not an either/or, but it’s an example of the way you should be thinking as a business owner. Identifying your market is always difficult, but if you’ve already done this, you’ll know where on the internet you’re going to want to spend a majority of your time and money. One of the rages in today’s digital world is “social media”. While it’s necessary for you (yes, necessary!) to have a Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, don’t go overboard. Keep in mind that the majority of Facebook users are savvy youths who are keenly aware that they are being advertised to. If your services and products are for 15-28 year old’s, Facebook ads and promotions are a good place to explore. If your services and products are for those in their 30s-60s, Craigslist is a cheaper alternative. Online advertising is expensive, and in order to use this money wisely, it’s going to be best for you to target where you will get the most bang for your buck.

2. Learn Basic HTML

This is, believe it or not, easier than it seems. Take a tutorial. The reason for this is that you’re going to want to start generating landing pages for your sales and services. What is a landing page? Go to Craigslist, look in financial services, and click on one of the links. Generally, these pages will show up in the ad or pop-up when you click it. A landing page is basically a sales page that is looking to entice your audience to learn more. Design your landing page according to your target market. For teens, something flashier is necessary. For adults, something more streamlined will do the trick. Again, you don’t have to go overboard with HTML. There are plenty of free tutorials online. Most landing pages simply need a few images, color, and a title to pique interest.

These two tips go hand in hand. You’re going to start marketing. And good marketing is going to start with landing pages that are directly targeted to your audience. Unlike the luxury of a TV commercial or print ad, you’re going to have to be extremely specific. There are millions of people marketing online. Get started with these two tips and you will be ahead of the game.

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