Panda Picks-Seniors Work on the Net!

We Seniors look to other Seniors with  wisdom to explain success.

Bill Cosby, our in house Doc. says: “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is
trying to please everybody.”

As Will Rogers points out, we need never defend ourselves if we have lived life of quality and above reproof.

“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”

– Will Rogers, Humorist

What is your definition of success?

Panda picked 2 success quotes to inspire you as you work on line.  Go to ’search’ and look for daily inspiration to point you in the way of your true success

Panda Lady

We seniors are creatures of habit.  Once we find good service, just  like anyone else we tend to return. Today I took my car for an oil and filter change.  Anybody who is a decent mechanic could do that, right?  It’s not about who can change my oil but who services my car. We seniors look for quality as much as affordable service.

As I entered the dealership I was greeted by a friendly person, ready to write up my order for the overdue oil exchange.  A typical well groomed service area awaited my car. I was sent to a waiting area to have a cup of coffee and a donut.

Nothing too unusual you might say. But there is a difference when one considers the word “loyalty” acted out.

Here’s how it played out.

The car salesman who sold me the car came by to greet me.  The conversation centered on my daughter because he was concerned with her struggle of an addiction which he too had conquered.  We connected.  I remarked that the coffee was nice but why didn’t tea  drinkers have their drink of choice?  He said he would get one for me.  We connected.  The owner of the dealership came by and asked another lady how her Explorer was doing? Wow he knew what car he had sold her some time ago. She marveled at his memory. They connected. I teased him about the lack tea and told him I understood that he was a tea drinker.  Within minutes a receptionist came by with hot water and choice of tea bags.  We connected.

The salesman never  suggested my buying  a car.  The owner never questioned the lady if she were there to buy a car.  So what were they selling?  They were selling themselves and their good service. They were sealing our loyalty.  If they saw a need, they were ready to accommodate.

People do not have to be sold.  Your customers should seek you out knowing that you have their best interest at heart. If  you present yourself as the answer to their needs, you have sealed their loyalty. There is no need to hound your friends and neighbors to make a sale. Let them come to you, as you have what they want or need.

So why would I travel clear across town to have my oil changed?  Service is the answer. Loyalty and commitment acted out in a dealership where the owner has such passion about his product that he knows every car on his lot, so the salesman tells me.

Panda Picked this story to remind you that you are not doing an internet business to sell anything.  You are in business to provide a service or product which someone wants and needs. With quality service, you will have their loyalty whether to re-order or recommend some other person to you and your business.

Panda Picked Baby Boomers.com as a good resource to add to your connections on the net.

Mary Hofstetter AKA The Panda Lady

So you want to set up a  business on the internet   Here’s a little reality that you should read at least once a week while building your business.

FOUR BITS OF WISDOM
 1.  INVESTMENT-THERE IS NO FREE when it comes to doing business on the internet. Whether it’s an investment of time, or an investment with money, you have to ‘invest’. This is a business, and a business cannot grow without some capital. Plus, if you are investing in your future, it makes sense to invest in your business.  If you are still employed, don’t fall for “Fire the Boss” as you might just have to crawl back and ask for your job.  Continue with employment until you are making more on your internet business than you are earning at your paying job.  When you have made allowance for the benefits you will lose and making a live-able wage then full time internet marketing might be feasible.

You will need advertising.  Oh my did I miss that one when I bought my first site. The business you buy has no obligation to promote. You are on your own and a perfect set-up to spend big bucks.

 Connect with a business that fits your personality and passion in life.  Ask yourself this “Would I buy this product if I were not selling it”. Your testimony to the usefulness of the product will speak volumes. Auto ship is the method of forcing you to purchase or another way to say it is, they send  a specific amount  automatically.  Your downline will do the same, and that is how you make your money.  Since it  means you must purchase a certain amount yourself,  ask yourself if you want a shelf full of potions and pills that you will not use. By far the largest investment will be in time and learning how to market.  Internet marketing is not like selling to your next door neighbor as your customers will be people you have never met. Know how this potential business suggests promoting.  If you detest cold calling (people you don’t know) or typing ads, doing research or what ever the suggested method, then check out our personality traits and abilities for marketing.

Number 2 – YOU HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE-The idea of working from home in your pj’s, saving on gas, saving on lunches and clothes seems so appealing.  But guess what, you still have to meet people.  Yes, you can do all of the above but networking means working with other people.  There will be people on line just like you or people that can make you want to throw your computer across the room.

Where will you meet these people.  You can talk or write to people on Yahoo, MSN, Skype and other free message centers.  Forums are a great place to learn about people and you can share about yourself and your experiences.  Perhaps your product would be of interest to someone when they learn about your product.  Writing e-books is a great way to share your ideas. You can enroll in sites who will provide leads at little or no expense. Live conferences on the phone or in on line meeting rooms will develop business partners and build businesses.

Number 3 – YOU MUST HAVE PATIENCE On the internet, we are told of instant riches, and success in 90 days or less. Some go so far as to promise you will have money in 3 hours. FORGET ABOUT IT. Remember, this is long term income we want here, not a quick fifty bucks. You must have patience with your online business. This is the only industry on the planet where success is ‘demanded’ in weeks and months, not years. It just cannot happen, most offline businesses take 2-4 years to turn a profit, it should be no different online. Take your time, there is no rush!

Number 4 – WORK, WORK, WORK I know…The images of sitting back with your feet up, sleeping in until noon, owning a yacht, travel to the islands….It’s a myth! You must roll up your sleeves and put in work. Again, this is a business, it takes effort. Do not be scared of it. Beware of any site that says, No work, No advertising, no recruiting, no nothing.  All that means is that you just bought “NOTHING”.  Do the math.  If you are promised to make a certain amount of money, figure out how many people it would take to make that much. 

Take those four points as you wish, all I ever write about is what I have experienced. These things have worked for me, and trust me, I’m not a ’special person’. I had no clue what a url was when I first started. Even the words, mentor and internet marketer were unknown to me. Hopefully, when you find a business, you find mentors who will take you by the hand and take you through the strange world of on-line communities, advertising sites, computer skills, and most of all where to hide your credit cards.

Panda Picked this subject so that our Seniors new to the internet are not victims of the internet.  Choose a business unique to you and I wish you well on your journey.