Last week, I asked for feedback regarding Open Mic Mondays. And, from the response (or lack thereof? ) – it looks like it may just be time to retire this JMMO feature from our weekly posts. I’ll be coming up with a new weekly feature some time. But, for now, let me say thanks to everyone who has supported past Open Mics. It was great while it lasted.

Image Source: Microsoft Stock Photo; Edits: Shai Coggins

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Retiring Open Mic Mondays

I love ideas. I love brainstorming about them, talking about other people’s ideas, and finding ways to execute ideas. I love reading and listening to how people got their ideas for what they’re doing (or what they did).

To me, part of the lure of online money making lies in the creation and execution of ideas. The question, “What if…” comes to mind often.

So, what about you? If you’re already making money online, how did you get your idea to get started with your online business/work?

If you’re still considering what to do to make money online, where are you looking for ideas? What are you doing with those ideas that you find?

If you already have ideas – and you’re still not making money online – why? Is there something stopping you from doing something about your ideas?

Image: Based on Microsoft Stock Photo. Edits, Shai Coggins.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: On The Business of Ideas

Twitter is something I’ve been writing a lot about on my personal blog. One of my post popular Twitter articles is: Top 9 Ways to Use Twitter.

If you think I’ve always loved Twitter… Well, I have to say that I wasn’t always a fan. When it first came out, I signed up for it. Tried it. Then, immediately discarded it. Tried it again, still nothing. I even ended up deleting my first Twitter account. A few months later, I tried it again. Liked it a bit better. But, still felt lost on why I should use it. Tried it again. And slowly, I found more and more uses for it. Now, it’s part of my work and social life.

What about you? Do you use Twitter at all?

Our current poll already asks whether you use social networking as part of your online business or not. And, I was wondering if Twitter plays a role at all in your online work? If yes, how?

And, if you do Twitter, please feel free to share the URL to your Twitter account in the comments section below. Maybe fellow JMMO readers can check them out too.

If you’re interested, mine’s at http://twitter.com/shaicoggins.

Image: Based on Microsoft Stock Photo. Edits, Shai Coggins.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: Do You Twitter?

We all know that when it comes to online business (or any business for that matter), the idea of “Build it and they will come” does not apply. Whether you make money online through blogging, writing content for sites/ezines, selling items on eBay/Etsy/own site, or providing paid-for services, you know that promoting your work is an important part of your job.

So, what do you do to promote your online business? Do you use more traditional methods like advertising in newspapers/magazines, giving business cards and giving brochures? What about the latest promotion avenues on the web like getting bloggers to create a buzz for your business, posting viral videos, giving away free ebooks, as well as using other types of online social media? Or perhaps, ideas like leaving postcards in books/public transport, holding seminars/talks, visiting schools, etc? Any other non-traditional or creative ways to promote that you can think of?

Image: Based on Microsoft Stock Photo. Edits, Shai Coggins.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: How do you promote your online business?

“I think that much of the advice given to young men about saving money is wrong. I never saved a cent until I was forty years old. I invested in myself – in study, in mastering my tools, in preparation. Many a man who is putting a few dollars a week into the bank would do much better to put it into himself.” – Henry Ford

When I encountered this quote on money and personal investment from Henry Ford, I found it very interesting. It’s true that we’re always investing in something when we go in to business. But, how much of that investment money go in to yourself? How does your business invest in you?

Do you spend money on giving yourself holidays, to make yourself more productive? Do you attend relevant workshops and classes? What about purchasing books and other reference materials?

You are the most important ingredient in your business. Make sure you’re investing in yourself enough too.

Image: Based on Microsoft Stock Photo. Edits, Shai Coggins.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: How Do You Invest in Yourself?

How often do you set goals for your online business? Do you do this only once a year? Twice a year? What about on a quarterly, monthly, weekly or even daily basis? Do you have such long term and short term goals? How do you make sure you can achieve these goals?

If you’re familiar with my work habits, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of goal setting. I tend to look at my roles and projects, and I do my best to set goals for each one. I try to set long term, medium term, and short term goals, so I can check my progress and highlight my achievements accordingly.

I also believe in writing these goals down. I think listing these goals help to make me more accountable and productive.

What about you? How does goal setting fit in to your online business operations?

Image: Based on Microsoft Stock Photo. Edits, Shai Coggins.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: Setting Money Making Goals

For some Christians around the world, this week is a significant week as folks commemorate some of the most significant events in their faith. In some countries (like Australia, where I live), this week and next week are shortened work weeks – what with Friday off (Good Friday) and Monday off (day after Easter Sunday).

I know that last week, we talked about public holidays and online businesses. And now, I wonder:

1) Do you celebrate holy week where you live (regardless of your personal faith)?
2) Does holy week affect your online business at all? If yes, in what way?
3) Does your business tie in with this Christian holiday at all? If yes, how?
4) If you’re a Christian, do you believe that people should still try to make money during Good Fridays, etc.? Why or why not?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: Holy Week and Making Money Online

Our recent server outages made a few us on b5media think more about crisis management in one’s businesses. As an online entrepreneur, do you have a crisis management plan for your business? What happens if your server goes down? Or your payment or email systems become inaccessible? Or you encounter difficult clients? What kind of strategies do you have in place to handle these types of issues? And, how will you advise newcomers to the online business field?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Open Mic Monday: Crisis Management