A legitimate home based business is what we all looking for, something that we can be proud of and gain wealth and recognition for. The problem today is there is so many sheep in wolfs clothing it has made people very sceptical about what to invest their time and money into and rightly so. In this article I would like to look at the things to look for in a legitimate home based business and what should make alarm bells ring.Which route you take to become a legitimate home based business owner will depend on the investment capital you have, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the more you have to spend the more successful you will be or the less susceptible you will be to being taken for a ride. Internet scammers have become very good at charging just the right price to make you believe you are getting value for money.What you need to remember is that the people that are supplying you with a business in a box are doing it for one reason and one reason only; to make money. What you have to look for is a business model that is going to make you money in the process, of mutual benefit. An example of this type of legitimate home based business is multi level marketing, not to be confused with pyramid selling.Multi level marketing is fast becoming the business model of choice for major companies across the globe, suppressing its bad reputation from the early nineties. It was confused with pyramid selling in which only the person at the top really made any money and it was just a dream that was sold to people down the pyramid. Today Multi level marketing is used for the distribution of quality products through sales reps that earn commissions and also have the opportunity to recruit more distributers, thus earning commissions from their sales as well.One should be aware that not all multi level marketing opportunities can be legitimate home based businesses, although not breaking the law beware of companies that require you to buy large amounts of stock up front, this should start the alarm bells ringing. If the product was in demand enough and sold at a reasonable rate the company would be happy to supply straight to your customers. Look for high levels of training within the company; this displays an interest in their distributers and their need for you to succeed.
How Important Is the Fundraising Auctioneer to the Success of Your Event?
I want you to think about the term “Fundraising Auction”.
A “Fundraising Auction” is an event where items of value are gathered, and then sold in a competitive bidding situation, either in a Silent Auction format, or in a Live Auction format by a Live Auctioneer. And since typically the best items are saved for the Live Auction, arguably it is the Live Auction that should generate a significant portion of the proceeds in any Fundraising Auction.
So why do so many non-profit groups consider the Fundraising Auctioneer to be the least valuable component in a Fundraising Auction?
The Hosting Facility gets paid.
The Printer gets paid.
The Caterer gets paid.
The Liquor Store gets paid.
The DJ gets paid.
The Florist gets paid.
But the Auctioneer … the individual who is expected to raise the lion’s share of the event’s proceeds… is expected to work for Free. And is usually under-appreciated for the professional services he/she provides.
I’m not trying to underscore the value of the invitations & programs, food, booze, music, and decorations. All are important in their own way. But each of these are “Expenses”. It is the Auctioneer who is going to bring “Revenue”… and thus, the “Profits”… into any event. Which is the ultimate objective of any Fundraising Auction.
Here is a real-life example of how under-appreciated the Auctioneer can be. In two comparable events we worked last year, during the dinner portion of the event one non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) at a table with the DJ, the Interns, the Volunteer Staff, and other event “Help”. The 2nd non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) directly next to the CEO of their organization, where we chatted about how important the pending revenue would be to their organization. Which group do you think valued the services of the Fundraising Auctioneer more?
Don’t ever under-estimate the value that a professional Fundraising Auctioneer can bring to your event. The Auctioneer adds value as a pre-event consultant. And the Auctioneer can change an event from a moderate to a huge success.
A Case Study Once I was scheduled to call an Auction for a major local non-profit group. They represented a very good cause and they had a strong and dedicated following. Their event was sold out, quality Live & Silent Auction items had been solicited, and the Special Pledge Appeal had been choreographed and was ready to go. The facility was first class, the appropriate caterer was booked, and the food was ready to cook.
But quite unexpectedly, some unseasonably inclement weather forced the event’s cancellation. Despite all of the committee’s hard work, cancelling the event was the proper decision considering the circumstances.
So the Event Committee scrambled to re-schedule the event for the following weekend.
They confirmed with the Hosting Facility.
They confirmed with the Caterer.
They confirmed with the Liquor Store.
They confirmed with the DJ.
They confirmed with the Florist.
Since they already had the Mailing List of those scheduled to attend, no new invitations had to be printed as all were contacted by email or telephone. So with everything in place, the group went ahead and re-scheduled the event for the following weekend.
But guess who they failed to confirm? You got it… the Professional Auctioneer. They thought so little of the Auctioneer’s contribution that they “assumed” that the Auctioneer would be available and at their beck and call.
But the Auctioneer already had another Fundraising Auction booked for that date with another non-profit group. It was only hour away from the re-scheduled event, and things could have been easily worked out. All Group #1 had to do was start their event one hour earlier, or one hour later, than the Group #2, and the Auctioneer could have helped both groups on the same day.
But because Group #1 failed to anticipate a possible Auctioneer conflict, because they failed to confirm with the Auctioneer before re-scheduling their event, their preferred Auctioneer had to bow out and they had to scramble to locate substitute “Volunteer” Auctioneer only days before their event.
And it cost them.
Learning Points
The Live Auction is usually where the profits are made at any Fundraising Auction.
A Professional Fundraising Auctioneer can be vital to the success of any Fundraising Auction.
The better Fundraising Auctioneers usually get booked quickly.
You need to recognize the important contributions that a good Auctioneer can make to your event.
Michael Ivankovich is a Bucks County Fundraising Auctioneer based in Doylestown PA, and serves the Great Philadelphia PA area. He has been a professionally licensed and bonded Auctioneer in Pennsylvania for nearly 20 years, has been named Pennsylvania’s Auctioneer of the Year, and has considerable experience in conducting Fundraising Auctions. Michael loves helping groups raise needed funds for good causes and one of his specialties is the “Special Pledge Appeal” or “Fund-A-Cause Appeal” which usually enables clients to double their revenue in a single evening.
What You Need To Know About An Internet Home Based Business
Internet home based business is one of the fastest growing segments of business these days. Many future business owners love the idea of a home based business compared to the expenses of an online business. Now not everyone is suited for an Internet business, but a lot of people are and the success they are finding is growing. Here is some information that will help you decide about an Internet home based business.Working on the Internet is a lot different than an offline job, but that does not mean it is not possible. The one thing that Internet does give you is endless possibilities which are something that people tend to like a lot. Starting a business is hard work no matter if you do it online or offline so keep this in mind.When it comes to working online and starting a business find something that you love to do. It can be a hobby or something that you have a lot of knowledge about. The main reason you choose something your passionate about you will tend to stick with it and success is much easier.Look over every option and do not discount any business opportunity. Once you starting looking for an online business many options will exist. Take your time and look over every possible opportunity. Many times people rush into an online business and it takes much longer for them to see success.Probably one of the biggest mistakes people make when starting an internet home based business is expecting too much too fast. No matter what you read or what anyone tells you it takes time to build an online business. Having a proven plan in place is a very good idea to help you keeping reaching your online goals.Look and see what is working well for others online. Many people are afraid to ask or seek help from other online people. Do not make this mistake as there are many online business professionals who are more than willing to lend you a hand. The Internet has plenty of free information as well you will be able to access as well.Running an online business is something that many people are trying these days. It is not easy and it will take some work on your part. By starting an Internet home based business you can control your future and the type of money you want to earn as well.Internet home based business is something that is growing at a very fast rate. With more and more jobs being eliminated going online is a logical choice. Starting your own online business will take some work, but the rewards can be worth it.