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The short and sweet answer? No! Although most offline businesses require at least some investment, you can start a business on the Internet without any money at all–assuming you already have a computer and access to the Internet.
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When I was in Las Vegas for the Affiliate Summit, I was interviewed by EzineArticles.com CEO Chris Knight. Chris got me to reveal some of my top tips for coming up with article ideas, doing keyword research, creating lots of content, crafting titles that attract readers, repurposing content and more.

If you are a blogger, an article marketer, or anyone who creates and markets with content, you will want to check this out. You will find plenty of ideas to help you get more and better results from your articles.

And if you are not currently publishing articles on EzineArticles.com, sign up for a free author account and get started now. I get traffic to my websites every day from articles I published there. Even articles I published years ago are still delivering visitors to my websites today.

An enhanced audio of the interview is above. Click on the picture to play. You can download the interview in audio or video format, or a PDF summary of the points covered, at http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2010/01/cathy-stucker-interview.html

Ditch goals and get the life you want today by living in the now. A guest post by Madisen Harper

Each year millions of people fail to achieve their dreams. 97 per cent abandon their commitment towards self improvement within 30 days of their New Year’s resolutions and Harvard Business School say goals get in the way of success. All in all it leaves people discouraged, frustrated, unmotivated and feeling like failures.

Why do people continue to set themselves up for disappointment year after year?  [Read more →]

Stress isn’t always a bad thing, it is simply a reaction to change or other pressures. Stress can be caused by unpleasant things (e.g., loss) or even positive changes (e.g., starting a new business, having a baby). Whatever the causes of your stress, it can have negative effects on your health, your relationships and other aspects of your life, unless you learn to manage it.

Here are some ideas for natural stress relief that can help you stay in control.
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It seems that no one likes to make mistakes; however, mistakes can provide valuable learning experiences. I have made one or two mistakes in my life and, fortunately, I was usually able to take at least one lesson from the mistake. Although some mistakes may be costly in money, time or just dignity, they can provide lessons that will stay with you long after you have forgotten much of what you learned in school.

The only way to avoid making mistakes is never to do anything. Actually, that is also a mistake, but it is more comfortable to most people than trying something and failing. After all, if you never try anything, no one will notice. They will notice, though, if you try and mess up. That is an attitude that will keep you locked in failure and will stop you from achieving all that you could.

When you attempt new things, you will make mistakes and you will fail. Every successful person has stories of failure—they just may not tell them. Here is how you can turn your mistakes into lessons that will help you to succeed. [Read more →]

Email newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with customers and potential customers. The secret to an effective email newsletter is coming up with content that engages subscribers and gets them to open the email newsletter and read it. Here are a few suggestions for coming up with email newsletter content that subscribers will always want to read. [Read more →]

Confused by popular texting acronyms? There is a meaning to those jumbles of letters and numbers, and having the ability to decipher them is becoming more important every day.

Understanding what your teenager is texting—to you, about you or when she thinks you are not watching—can help you be more a part of her life. And texting is not just for teenagers any longer. The shorthand of texting has invaded everywhere from Twitter to email to what used to be formal business communications.

It is especially important to know the meaning of popular texting acronyms if you plan to use them, so you can be spared the embarrassment of inadvertent inappropriate texting—such as sending an acronym with a raunchy or insulting meaning to your boss. Or your grandmother, who is hip enough to know what it means.

Here are some of the most famous messaging sayings. [Read more →]

You know that cool feeling of reaching into the pocket of your jacket and finding a $20 bill you forgot about? We all like to find money we forgot we had. Whenever you need some “extra” money for something—whether that might be paying an unexpected bill, buying something for your business, or just splurging to reward yourself—here are some ways you can find the cash you need.

These won’t all work for you, but chances are at least a few can put some extra cash in your pocket when you need it most. Maybe $20 or so, but more likely hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Give this a try and see how much money you can find!
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In order to be creative and work at your peak energy level, you need an office environment that energizes and inspires you. Tired of looking at the same four walls and the same old clutter? It’s time to make changes and revitalize your office and yourself! Here are several ideas on simple changes that make a big difference.

Brighten it up with light. Working in a dark dungeon isn’t good for your energy levels, mood or productivity. Let in the sunshine for an immediate pick-up. If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your home office, add some. You can add lamps and light fixtures in key locations. Instead of harsh light, use natural spectrum light bulbs that simulate sunlight.
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This post originally appeared in my IdeaLady Insider newsletter. Subscribers may see new articles days or weeks before they are published here or at IdeaLady.com. Plus, there are special offers and bonuses only for subscribers. Get your free subscription now at IdeaLady.com.

For several years, I have chosen a theme word to keep me focused on what I am trying to achieve. For example, one year the word was “Product,” when I was focused on creating lots of new products. That single word keeps me on the right track, and working toward my goals.

Your theme should be one or two words that relate to your most important goals for the year. Examples of themes might be Organization, Focus, Influence, Visibility, Service, Revenue, Involvement, Delegate, etc. Here is how you can choose your theme and use it to help you achieve more in the new year. [Read more →]