Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Online Marketing Success Blog - Internet Riches - e-Riches 2.0 by Scott Fox

Office Grooves: My picks for best online music services

Do you like music when you work? I do.

I guess my mind is active enough that it needs the distraction of a bit of music in the background to help me keep focused on the task at hand.

Because I work on a computer all day and like to listen to music, I’ve become a connoisseur of digital music services. Here’s what I use and recommend in case anyone is interested. 

- Rhapsody – If you don’t know about this service yet, get on board. For just $14.95/month I get access to pretty much all recorded popular music on demand! All commercial genres are available and you can build your own playlists or play theirs. This is less than I used to spend on one CD! They offer a 14-day free trial, too. Get a 14-Day Free Trial to Rhapsody.

- Live 365 –This web site empowers DJ’s and music enthusiasts worldwide to host their own online radio stations. Streaming through the Internet, they offer 5,000+ different “radio” stations covering all genres of music. Their basic service is f-ree but I prefer the “VIP” membership, which is $7.95/month (or less if you commit to a longer term) that removes the commercials from the webcasts. Live365 Online Radio: 5000+ stations means something for every preference and mood!

- Di.fm – If you like electronic music, this site offers an amazing selection of genre specific DJ sets and club-style music streams. (“Goa-Psy Trance” anyone?) Many of these beat-driven, instrumental tracks are great for getting your energy level up while working online. 

-Sky.fm – I'd been listening to Di.fm for about a year before I noticed its links to sister site, Sky.fm.  While Di.fm focuses on electronica, Sky.fm offers free streaming of mainstream genres like “Hit 70’s” and “Alternative Rock” but also “World”, “New Age”, “Classic Rap” and several cool jazz sub-genres like “Bossa Nova Jazz”, “Piano Jazz”, and “Uptempo Smooth Jazz”.  Hard to believe that it's fr-ee!

Between the four services detailed here, I can keep my PC speakers bumping all day and night. Although the total cost of using them ALL is less than 2 CDs per month (FAR less than I used to buy…), these services are legal and licensed also, so no pirating is needed to keep current and entertained.

I’d be interested to hear from you if you have additional suggestions? Where do you get your office music?

Wednesday's Teleseminar - 815 pm ET and F-ree!

The first ever "Ask Scott Fox - Live!" Teleseminar is almost upon us.

The FR-EE call in Q&A session will take place:

Wednesday, April 2
8:15 pm Eastern Time/(5:15 pm Pacific Time)

We chose this time slot based on the feedback in your emails - most people wanted an "after work" call time.   Hopefully this time will accomodate both East and West coast callers.

Thanks to everyone who has RSVP'd by emailing us at tele@scottfox.com.  The questions you've been sending have been thought-provoking.

I look forward to discussing them live on this call Wednesday at 8:15 pm ET/ (5:15 pm PT).

If you haven't yet RSVP'd, please email us now at tele@scottfox.com.  You can include a question for me if you have one, too.

CALL DETAILS:  We'll email out the call-in numbers late Tuesday - please check your inbox TUESDAY evening for instructions for WEDNESDAY's conference call.  (There is no charge for attending the call but normal long-distance charges will apply.)

Video: What's the Best Business to Start Today?

What's The Best Business To Start Online Today? 

I recently taped a VIDEO of my answer to this popular question for my friends at OneMinuteU.com.  It's rapidly become one of the most popular video clips on the whole site!

You can see it here:  http://www.oneminuteu.com/default.taf?page=content&id=1119

Of course, as the name of their site implies, the video is only 1 minute long! 

If you'd like to hear more from me on this subject, please email us at tele@scottfox.com to sign up for next Wednesday's F-R-EE teleseminar with me.

Enjoy the clip and let me know in the Comments what other topics you'd like me to address.

Scott

Should I incorporate my startup company?

ASK SCOTT FOX:

Dear Scott,

I really cannot decide if I need to form an LLC or not. I will not be selling anything except advertising on my information site. I plan to operate more than one site but maybe just 2 or 3.

Any advice on this????

Chris

SCOTT FOX'S ANSWER:

Dear Chris,

This is a common question from new entrepreneurs but a good one.  Planning for contingencies such as the legal protection provided by a corporation is a good example of the thinking ahead needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

However, I actually recommend against incorporating a new startup. 

WHAT?!  I am probably the only guy on the whole web who says this but here's why:

There is a whole industry of web sites (and radio commercials and print ads, etc.) set up to sell legal services to small business people.  Much of their pitch depends on scaring you into thinking you somehow need their services and a lawyer's stamp of approval to do business. 

But guess what?  You can make as much money as you'd like without their permission! (At least in the USA.) (I wouldn't ignore the tax authorities, however...)

My conclusion?  While incorporating does have value, the point of legal documentation is to protect you from liability.  If your business is so new that it has no assets or revenue, it probably does not yet need protecting!

Now the key word that I used there is "yet".  If you are running a revenue-generating business, one that already has assets, or you personally have assets to protect, you definitely should incorporate.  A corporate "shield" can protect you and your personal assets from being tangled up with those of the new company in case of a lawsuit.

But from what Chris says above, he is not yet operating.  And even when he does, he's planning on selling ads as his primary revenue stream.  With little current liability because the company is new and probably little product-based liability because he's selling information, Chris' risk profile is pretty low.

My Recommendation:  Save your money and focus on building a business.  Most startups change their names, product mix, and even concept multiple times before finding their groove.  Once your operation has gelled into a revenue-generating business, then go ahead and incorporate to protect what you have created (and separate it from your personal assets). 

But first things first - build your business.  Make some money before you spend all of yours just "setting things up." 

As I discuss in Chapter 23 of my book, Internet Riches, entrepreneurs need to avoid becoming "tweak freaks".  This means falling in love with tweaking your web site or wasting productive time on administrative activities like incorporating instead of actually generating revenue. 

This is definitely not legal advice - but my "real world" answer is "Get out there and make it happen now.  Incorporate later."

If this answer was helpful to you, plan to attend my fr-ee teleseminar next Wednesday, April 2.  This exclusive Q&A session with me will be fr-ee to my readers!

Email me your question now at tele@scottfox.com to reserve your spot!

A Visit with David Bach, Super Author

My friend and fellow author David Bach was recently in town.

We had a good time catching up between sessions during an all day "Finish Rich" seminar that KCBS radio sponsored for him at the beautiful Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

As I'm sure you know, David is the best-selling author of "The Automatic Millionaire", "Smart Couples Finish Rich", etc. - he's sold 7+ million books worldwide.

He was also generous enough to provide the lead "blurb" on the cover of "Internet Riches", as you may recall.  (It says: "Scott's Fox's book, Internet Riches, is a fantastic roadmap for the novice to the experienced Internet businessperson who wants to finish rich online.  I learned a great deal from it and think you will, too.")

Hopefully David and I will cook up some more projects to work on together soon.

Please keep an eye out for David's new book. It's called "Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich". I look forward to reading it myself because I know that it's based on David's personal commitment to greening our society. 

64% of Older Internet Users Unsatisfied with the Web?!

Now here's a major market opportunity for your e-business startup:

A recent survey from BurstMedia found that at least 64% of Internet users 45 years and older feel that Internet content is focused on younger consumers. And that sentiment is echoed by 77% of respondents aged 55+ .

Talk about a disconnect offering an opportunity!
What is your online business doing to target middle-aged adults, baby boomers, and seniors?  They are online more and more. 

According to the same survey, 3 out of 5 of these older, affluent consumers are actually visiting more websites in a typical week than they were one year ago but they still don't feel like the content or advertising they see is meeting their needs.

This means that, contrary to popular wisdom, these respondents are open to finding new brands with which to affiliate themselves.  Can you create a blog, e-commerce product, or online service to serve them?

This is still a unique time in the development of the Internet as a new medium.  People are looking for the new but reliable and valuable web sites to visit regularly.  If you act quickly to create quality offerings, you can develop a profitable audience of your own by serving the needs of this target market.

Where to start?
Well, the survey also says that local and national news is the most popular web content for these consumers.  Almost half of them (48.9%) go online regularly looking for it.

Sounds to me like the AARP should be launching an online news service - or should YOU?

Zlio's Instant Affiliate Store Solution

Zlio Instant Stores:  This French company offers an innovative and easy-to-use system for setting up your own e-commerce shopping site.  You can pick from over 3 million products and install them into a templated store quickly and with little technical expertise.

This can allow anyone with web access to quickly assemble a specialized "boutique" by collecting products relating to a niche interest from a variety of different stores.

For example, I quickly created "Scott Fox's Fishing Center" by selecting fishing reels, lures, rods, guide books, waders, and even cook books from Zlio's huge inventory of available products.  Customizing the graphics to make my new store "fishing friendly" took just another few minutes.  Then my new boutique was open for business!

(Aggregating affiliate program providers into an easy-to-use service like this is such a hot idea that Amazon.com last year pulled out of their relationship with Zlio - rumor is that they didn't like the competition!)

Best of all - Zlio is free and you get a commission on every sale while the sponsoring merchants handle all inventory, production, product delivery, and customer service! 

If you have a hobby or niche interest market that could be well served by collecting dispersed products into one centralized online retail outlet, Zlio could be the service you need to make money online.

Click here for more information...

Best Startup Guide Book: Internet Riches

Internet Riches is the Best Guide to Small Business E-commerce Startups

It's the first practical and detailed guide to how ANYONE can start their own online web site business, even without much capital or any technical training.

Of course, the #1 way to learn all of Scott Fox's e-business recommendations is to buy my latest book, Internet Riches from Amazon.com or any bookstore.

You can learn more about this ground-breaking book here - see just a few of the many amazing testimonials, media coverage details, and celebrity praise for this first of its kind book.  Internet Riches will walk you through exercises to help find the best e-business for YOU to start, plus it's full of online marketing advice and much more. 

Click here to learn more about this best-selling book!

Best Fr-ee Strategy Advice Newsletter

Best of Scott Fox's E-Business Success Blog: Please join my free e-mail newsletter list to receive updates on strategy, tactics, deals, and discounts from the frontiers of e-business.

You'll get the best entries from my official Blog emailed right to your inbox.

PLUS: New email subscribers get FREE 2 Special Reports ebooks: "Scott Fox's New Web Site Setup Checklist" and "Why Get Rich Quick Books Don't Work" PLUS the free updates of useful tips, deals and strategies for your web site business.

Click to Sign Up Now!

(You can unsubscribe any time (and it's free!))

Best Legal & Business Startup Guide

Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law: This is the best book on the market for entrepreneurs who want to start their businesses on the right foot.

It covers much more than law, such as fund-raising and strategy, too. Highly recommended if your venture is headed toward incorporation and venture capital investment.

Click here for more information...

Best Business Cards: Vistaprint

VistaPrint: This printing company offers great business card and other printing services.  It's where I buy my own business cards, fwiw.

Their innovative web browser-based design system makes it easy for anyone to customize graphics to look professional.  You can use it to design business cards yourself online in real time based on many, many templates that they offer.  Or you can upload your own pre-produced logos and images if you prefer. 

Vistaprint also saves your designs in your account so you can later easily re-order or update your them.

They also print notepads, tshirts, rubber stamps, postcards, etc.

Check out their offer for 250 FR-EE business cards, too. Although it shows their logo on the back of the cards, this is a great way to get started inexpensively if you're tight on cash.

Click here for more information...

Email Marketing Publishing Service: Constant Contact

Constant Contact: This is by far the best system we've seen for helping small business owners manage and publish e-mail newsletters.

They offer a ton of nice looking design templates, strong subscriber management tools, and the service is even free if you have less than 50 subscribers (perfect for your testing phase). 

Don't skip the critical email marketing and promotions part of your growth plan!

The easiest customers for you to sell are those that have purchased from you previously.  It's part of your job as a business owner to collect email addresses and keep in touch with customers.  Constant Contact helps make that easier.

Click here for more information...