Posted by Yardie Luke on January 11, 2011 under Making Money | 
by Kimberly Palmer
Monday, January 10, 2011
Job security might be out, but freelance, contract, and temporary work is in, which makes it easier than ever to moonlight as a graphic designer while you spend your days as a public relations rep. Slimmer staffs mean companies often need the extra help, and new websites offer free tools that match potential employers with workers. And earning extra money beyond your steady paycheck, if you’re lucky enough to have one, can provide a big boost to your financial security.
Here are seven ways to make extra money off the new economy in 2011:
Launch a Brand
When Kimberly Seals-Allers, former senior editor at Essence magazine, was expecting her first child, she discovered that black women face higher risks during childbirth and pregnancy. “I realized we were a special group, and I wanted to write a book about everything in black women’s lives. Not just pregnancy, but money, men, and myths in our community. [I wanted] to create a new way forward.”
Her first book, “The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy,” turned into a series as well as an online magazine, maternity line, and consultancy. Seals-Allers also licensed use of the Mocha Manual name to create an instructional DVD sold at Walmart and supermarkets.
Start a Blog
The anonymous blogger behind Lazy Man and Money defies his site’s name. He works about 14 hours a day on weekdays and then puts in nine hours on Saturday and Sunday. But his hard work is paying off — his blog earns him enough to support his lifestyle; back in 2008, he estimated his annual earnings at around $30,000. But it’s tough for part-time bloggers with full-time jobs to keep up with all the demands of a lucrative blog. “There’s simply a lot more [to do] than what the average reader sees,” he says.
Even if the blog itself doesn’t generate a six-figure salary, it can lead to other money-making opportunities, such as consulting or speaking gigs. Silicon Valley Blogger at The Digerati Life has carved out a successful niche as the expert on personal finance and technology in Silicon Valley. While she says she didn’t earn much during the first six months of her blog’s life, she received her first $100 check from Google AdSense shortly after that point, when she was getting around 600 unique visitors a day. She now earns money from her blog-related consulting, as well.
Sell Your Skills
Whether your expertise lies in social networking, editing, or web development, several new websites can help you find potential clients willing to pay you for your work. Elance.com, Odesk.com, and Guru.com make it easy to advertise your skills and find work, which you can do from the comfort of your home at all hours of the night. To get started, explore the websites to see what might be a good fit. You can also stick with a more traditional approach and use Craigslist.org, which allows users to post advertising for their services, ranging from household labor to music lessons.
Sell a Wacky Service
For those interested in a more unusual approach, the innovative website fiverr.com allows users to sell (and buy) services for $5. Current offerings include sketching a stylized portrait, writing a name on a grain of rice, and digitally restoring a photograph. It’s one of the trendiest ways to make a quick buck for the internet-savvy; dozens of videos, websites, and blogs offer advice on how best to earn money off the site. The best advice? Since you’re only going to make $5 a pop, sell a service that you can do easily and quickly.
Talk and Teach
Colleges, organizations, and companies are constantly on the lookout for new experts that can inspire an audience. If you’ve built up an expertise on a subject, perhaps through your blog, then consider branching out with some speaking gigs. Offer to talk for free at first to build up your reputation, and then a speakers’ bureau can help connect you to paying gigs (for a cut of your fee).
Design T-Shirts
Companies such as CafePress.com allow people to design and sell their T-shirts for a cut of the profits. According to the company’s website, some users earn over $100,000 a year. But it’s not always easy: Jen Goode, who earns enough through CafePress to pay her mortgage each month, found success after a year and a half of long, sometimes 16-hour days. Her time is spent creating designs and then uploading them. She has uploaded about 2,500 designs, many of which are cartoon oriented, including the popular penguin series. For her, she says, the secret has been to make many different images that are steady sellers, as opposed to creating one or two megahits. Now, she says she doesn’t need to put as much time into her shop because she has such a large inventory of designs.
Sell Other People’s Products
Make-up companies such as Avon and Mary Kay are always looking for new sales representatives, as are other companies such as kitchen products seller Pampered Chef. “If you don’t have to make a big investment to get into it, it’s probably not a bad idea,” says Marcia Brixey, author of “The Money Therapist.” But she warns people to stay away from businesses that require sellers to make significant up-front purchases that they might not be able to unload.
The bottom line: The new economy offers plenty of creative ways to earn extra money; to find the best fit for you, consider your skills, lifestyle, and ambitions.
SOURCE: Finance.Yahoo.com
Posted by Yardie Luke on November 27, 2010 under Making Money |
Our Vision
To increase the survival and success rate of young and youth-owned businesses in Jamaica. YEA will create an environment where the young entrepreneurs can support and inspire one another in growth, balance and success.
Our Mission
To lead the development of successful young business through the delivery of dynamic, high value event-driven programming that communicates the fundamental skills of business management. To promote a cadre of young entrepreneurs to mentor each other in business.
Aims and Objectives of the YEA
- To identify and organize young entrepreneurs in Jamaica.
- To transform the Jamaican mindset through the promotion of innovation and creativity.
- To affect public policy in order to improve the Jamaican business environment.
- To facilitate the success of entrepreneurial ideas through the provision of relevant training and education.
- To develop a forum for networking among members and the local and international business community.
- To promote best ethical practices.
- To foster an image of inclusion.
The Young Entrepreneurs Association was formed under the auspices of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) in 2005 and is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization whose mandate is to support young people in business. Aimed at business owners 45 and under, YEA provides members an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and take advantage of peer mentorship as they grow their businesses.
Our member-run, not for profit association is the ultimate community for young entrepreneurs across Jamaica who want to increase their chances of business success. YEA members represent the best in Jamaican business. They understand personal sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work and YEA provides them with a unique opportunity to connect with others who also appreciate the special challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
MORE INFO
Posted by Yardie Luke on September 6, 2010 under Making Money |
For most Americans, Labor Day is a welcome holiday off work. Yet for others, it is just another day without work, following months without a steady source of income.
Almost 10 percent of Americans are facing unemployment, unable to support themselves and their families.
In response to the ongoing unemployment crisis, the U.S. Department of Labor is commemorating Labor Day 2010 by launching a new website to help out-of-work Americans find new opportunities.
Entitled My Skills My Future, the website provides tools for potential workers to search for jobs by entering in their previous work experience. An instructional video featured on the My Skills My Future homepage explains how to use the database to search for employment opportunities and local job training seminars.
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis also released a video to give a “state of the American worker report.” SOURCE
Posted by Yardie Luke on July 13, 2010 under Making Money |
By David Welch and Keith Naughton
It has been barely a year since General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, and already the carmaker may be worth more than crosstown rival and current industry darling Ford Motor (F). True, GM has just one quarter of profit behind it. And its shares don’t trade as it prepares an initial public offering to wean itself off government assistance. Yet based on one analyst’s figures, GM may be worth $47 billion, more than Ford’s stock market valuation of $36 billion.
Looking at factors including potential earnings and cash flow, assets, and liabilities, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) analyst Eric Selle puts a $70 billion price tag on GM. That would equate to an eventual return of 47 cents on the dollar for holders of bonds issued by GM before its bankruptcy that will be converted to stock and warrants in new GM. Based on the price those bonds traded at in early July, GM’s value would be $47 billion.
Why the higher price tag for GM? For starters, the company has a better balance sheet. Thanks to the government-sponsored bankruptcy, GM owes just $15.4 billion to its creditors and has $30 billion in cash. After paying down $4 billion of debt on June 30, Ford owes some $27 billion and its cash hoard is below $20 billion, though the company is expected to have generated cash in the second quarter. Interest payments alone cost Ford $542 million in the first quarter, compared with $337 million for GM.
When it comes to selling cars, GM is much stronger in developing countries. It has 13 percent of the Chinese market to Ford’s 2 percent, and its 20 percent of Brazil’s car sales is double the share of its Detroit rival, according to Standard & Poor’s (MHP) debt analyst Gregg Lemos-Stein. GM Vice-Chairman and CFO Christopher P. Liddell told analysts on June 28 that the company has reduced costs to the point that it can make money even in today’s depressed car market. “We have redesigned the company to be something we weren’t a few years ago,” he said.
That isn’t to say that everyone is sold on GM. Its European business lost $506 million in the first quarter and isn’t expected to break even until next year at the earliest. Ford earned a pre-tax profit of $107 million in Europe in the first quarter. And GM’s pension plan is a concern. Today, it is underfunded by $26.8 billion, while Ford’s is underfunded by $11.9 billion. Management is another question, says KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brett D. Hoselton. Under Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward E. Whitacre Jr., GM has had extensive turnover in the executive ranks, and few think that Whitacre, at 68, is the company’s long-term leader. Liddell is a possible replacement, but GM has not laid out a succession plan. Says Hoselton: “I don’t know who will be running the company.”
GM’s bond-based valuation bodes well for its pending IPO. The company is eyeing a November stock offering in which the government could sell one-fifth of its $41 billion stake. Once GM has a tradable stock, its value may climb. “The stock will be more liquid [than the bonds] so the universe of prospective buyers will be much greater,” says Kirk Ludtke, senior vice-president of CRT Capital Group in Stamford, Conn. Ludtke calculates that Ford trades for about 5 times its estimated operating earnings for 2011, while GM is effectively at 3.8 times 2011 operating earnings. So even with its higher market value, he says, “we think GM is trading at a discount compared to Ford.”
The bottom line: By shedding many financial burdens in bankruptcy, GM gained some advantages over Ford. Now it must prove itself in the marketplace.
SOURCE: Businessweek
Posted by Yardie Luke on June 28, 2010 under Making Money |
The harsh economic realities are all around us. The decline in home values, the number of foreclosures, the unemployment figures and the “going out of business” signs are all reminders that the economy is still “sick in bed” although there are signs of recovery.
Although many are hurting financially there are some who are actually profiting from the “sick” economy. One way they are doing so is by investing in the stock market.
But stocks are declining? EXACTLY!
Many stock prices are currently undervalued and poised to make a positive swing. They have taken quite a beating over the last 2 years and in some cases they have started to move upwards. Here are some examples:
COF – Capital One Financial: This stock was over $80 per share in 2008. In July 2009 it tanked at $19.73 per share and has increased to just over $40 per share recently. Even if you missed out on buying this stock at $19.73 and say you bought it at $25, you would have seen a the price rise by about 60% in less than a year. The S&P Quality Ranking for this stock is “A-” and some experts set the 12-month target price at $53.
CAT – Caterpillar Inc: The share price was $85.28 on April 18, 2008 and $23.23 on March 6th 2009. Experts like this stock a lot because of what the company is involved in and recommend it as a “Buy.” The S&P Quality Ranking is “A+” and some export set the 12-month target price at $88. On Friday June 25th the stock closed at $64.71 per share.
VFC – V.F. Corporation: This is a global apparel company that owns a portfolio of brands in the jeanswear, footwear, outerwear, backpacks, sportswear and occupational apparel categories.Their brands are sold in more than 150 countries through 47,000 retailers in all channels of distribution, from mass to department to specialty retailers. On July 28, 2000 the stock price was $22.06. The price rose steadily over the next 7 years to $94.51 on July 13, 2007 but fell to $42.80 on November 21, 2008. S&P Recommendation is a “Strong Buy” with a 12-month target price of $106.00. The S&P Quality Ranking is “A.” On Friday June 25th the stock price closed at $75.33.
NYX – NYSE Euronext: On November 24th 2006, this stock peaked at $108.26. On March 6th 2009 it hit bottom at $15.17 per share. According to some experts the 12-month target price is $36 and the their risk assessment is “High.”
DISCLAIMER: It is recommended that you gain a thorough knowledge of stocks and investments or consult an investment broker/banker before putting your hard earned cash into any investment.
Some great sources of valuable information about stocks, bonds, mutual funds and investment in general are:
The Motley Fool
Market Watch
MorningStar
The Street
There is a considerable amount of time involved in researching and picking stocks. If you let an expert do the work for you, there is a cost involved.
One alternative is to invest in a type of mutual fund called an Index Fund. “An index fund is a mutual fund that defines a group of stocks — an index — and then buys and holds them all, no matter how they perform. Index funds don’t have a professional manager at the wheel, choosing which stocks to buy or sell; instead, they simply seek to automatically replicate the returns of their specific indexes.” (Source: The Motley Fool)
Many index funds are based on major indexes such as:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
The Nasdaq 100
The S&P 500
The Russell 2000
Some experts believe that index funds will be your best bet for solid investing performance. But the downside of index funds is the same as their upside: You’ll only do as well as the rest of the market. For that reason investment in an index fund should be for the long run.
Thanks for your time,
Yardie Luke
Posted by Yardie Luke on June 20, 2010 under Making Money |
Writing for Profit
Over the last decade many America jobs have been transferred or outsourced to foreign companies that do similar work for less. However in recent years there has been a quiet “reverse outsourcing” where foreign entities have been seeking out skilled Americans to do a range of work.
Although companies will generally seek out low-cost workers for certain projects, they do recognize that there are times when the scope of the desired projects requires highly skilled workers. They also recognize that Americans have the edge when it comes to technical support, Web site content, public relations, and especially branding and marketing to a U.S. customer base.
Two companies that connect freelance talent with businesses of all sizes around the globe are Elance.com and Guru.com. These highly successful online marketplaces say the growth in non-U.S. companies’ hiring Americans is accelerating at a rapid pace.
In 2009 American freelancers were on the receiving end of close to $20 million spent by non-U.S. companies for work performed through Elance.com, Guru.com and similar companies.
THIS IS A MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU!
If you have a degree in communication, marketing or if you have a proven track record of producing quality content for press releases, technical documents, instruction manuals, short stories, book reviews, translation services, etc there is a list of potential clients seeking your expertise. To find them sign up with elance.com and guru.com and create your profile.
Add as much relevant information as possible including links to your portfolio. More information helps a potential client in making a choice of who to hire. When you are starting out you are competing with established “veterans” who have track records on display. Be persistent.
You’re more likely to be hired if you apply or bid for projects – regardless of size or pay – instead of waiting for someone to discover you. Your main focus initially should be to build a reputation at elance.com and guru.com. As your portfolio increases the process get a little easier.
Don’t give up. Keep your focus and work toward your goal.
Written by Tony Thomas of e-Business24-7.com.
Visit his site for more money-making methods.
Posted by Yardie Luke on June 6, 2010 under Making Money |
Today the Gleaner has an inspiring article about Lloyd Sterling and his recently released product: Matie Sauce.
According to the report Mr Sterling “invested close to $1 million to develop an authentic, multi-purpose spicy Jamaican jerk sauce, which, he says, has been on the market since December.”
“Matie Sauce is made from ginger, guava and other locally grown spices. The Scientific Research Council (SRC), Sterling said, helped with the formulation of appropriate preservatives for the sauce, distinguished, its developer said, by the flavourful taste of the guava fruit.”
If you are interested in distributing the sauce contact Mr Sterling here.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Posted by Yardie Luke on June 3, 2010 under Making Money |
LEARN HOW YOU CAN PROFIT FROM THE 2010 WORLD CUP
World Cup 2010 begins on Friday June 11 and I can’t wait for the first game to begin. I am looking forward to seeing the best talents on display and the surprises that usually accompany the games.
I am also anxious to see how much money I can make during the 2010 World Cup tournament. During the 2006 World Cup games, 2 of my websites made close to $800 total.
First let me give you the simple explanation and then I will expand on it for my more technical readers.
Here are the 2 football websites that I used during WC2006:
David Beckham Watch and World Cup 2006 Facts
(I owned the domain name WorldCup2006Facts.com from 2005 to 2008. View the site here.)
On the Beckham site there are Google ads on the left column/sidebar. On the WorldCup2006 site there are Google ads on the bottom left corner or wherever you see “Ads by Google.”
Whenever a visitor to my sites click on a Google ad I make money. Each click puts about $0.15 in my bank account but due to the increased volume of traffic to my websites during the 2006 World Cup, those 15 cents add up very quickly.
Now for the detailed explanation.
Google has a money-making system called Google AdSense which basically is ads displayed on your website like the ones you see on the left at BeckhamWatch.com. If you own a website and Google approves that site to be part of its ad network, you will be allowed to place a small code in the html page(s). Visitors to your site see the Google ads and some will click on them. Each click is money in your account.
The amount of money each click is worth varies. Without going into too much detail, I can tell you that ads related to loans, refinancing, real estate, automobile purchase, buying stocks, personal injury, injury attorney, online stock investing and health pays more than most other subjects/fields. Basically if you have a website about real estate or loans, one click can put $1.00 or more in your account.
Back in 2006 David Beckham was the most popular footballer, NOT the most skilled. He was extremely marketable and had a certain sex appeal. My Beckham site received 2500-4000 visits per day. Traffic was especially high on the days that England played. About 2/3 of the money I made during the 2006 WC came from this site. The other site did not get as much traffic partially because it was fairly new and not as popular as my Beckham site.
For the 2010 World Cup I have WorldCup2010Teams.com and I am working on 3 other sites and blogs to be completed by next Tuesday.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO MAKING MONEY FROM YOUR WEBSITE IS GETTING HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO GET VISITORS TO YOUR SITE INCLUDING THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORK SITES LIKE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
I will leave the matter of getting traffic to your site for another discussion.
Let me know if this was of help to you and if you have questions drop me an email at yluke “at” yardieluke.com (I used “at” instead of the symbol @ to prevent spam harvesting software from capturing this email address.)
More information about making money online with Google AdSense can be found here.
