While Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow on Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012, on the other side of the country in Seattle, WA ‘Ecommerce Phil’ popped his head out to see a very bright and sunny spring selling season online ahead!

Rather than burrowing back underground, Ecommerce Phil is busily out sourcing new products to sell during the spring and summer season.

Fueled by robust 2011 online holiday sales and a stellar 65% Q4 for 3rd party merchants on Amazon, Ecommerce Phil knows he needs to get his best spring and summer merchandise online fast!

So what products is Ecommerce Phil planning to sell online this spring and summer?

Well to plan his inventory strategy, he first took a look at his Online Marketing Calendar to see what the upcoming Spring and Summer selling seasons are.  And this is what he found:

February

• Valentines Day
• Black History Month
• National Weddings Month
• Superbowl Sunday
• Mardi Gras
• Oscar Night
• Pre-gardening season

March

• Saint Patrick’s Day
• National Craft Month
• First Day of Spring

Products to Source:

1. Seeds
2. Flower Bulbs
3. Coldframes
4. Composters
5. Greenhouses
6. Houseplants
7. Planters
8. Raised Beds
9. Supplies
10. Gardening Tools
11. Yard & Deck products
12. Sheds
13. Area rugs
14. Firepits
15. Ceiling fans
16. Grills
17. Hammocks
18. Hose Carts/Reels
19. Outdoor Storage
20. Solar Lights
21. Pest Control
22. Bicycles/Accessories
23. Kites
24. Blinds/shades/curtains/hardware
25. Neon colored clothes, shoes, accessories for women and kids
26. Cosmetics in new spring colors
27. Handbags in spring colors and styles
28. Perfume
29. Big ride on toys for kids
30. Swimwear
31. Sunglasses
32. Soccer cleats/clothes
33. Baby gear
34. Wedding favors
35. Bridal shower supplies
36. Bridal accessories
37. Home spa products
38. Footbaths
39. Aromatherapy machines
40. Super Bowl related football jersey/memorabilia
41. Mardi-Gras party decorations
42. Saint Patricks Day decorations
43. Home decor in bright, spring colors
44. Car care and maintenance products
45. Luggage
46. Walking/jogging clothes and accessories
47. Spray on tan products
48. Snowboards (clearance)
49. Skiing products (clearance)
50. Winter clothes/boots/accessories (clearance)

This is just a sampling of products that Ecommerce Phil is out sourcing!

Think about what products are new for spring and summer in your niche! Check with your wholesale suppliers.  Look through your supplier catalogs.

Whether sourcing products wholesale to sell on Amazon or using arbitrage sourcing to fuel the pipeline.

It’s a fresh new selling season and online shoppers are looking for fresh new products!

What new products will you bring to the marketplace this season?

-Lisa

One of the big challenges that smaller online merchants have is tapping into suppliers for super-hot, name-brand, in-demand, in-season inventory.

There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t received emails from people asking how they can get access to supplier names for the latest gadgets, in-season fashions, designer shoes and handbags or the latest and greatest hot toy .

But the issue is not in getting the supplier names.  That’s the easy part!  The issue is that many big name brand suppliers (i.e. Apple, Nike, Microsoft, UGG ) won’t sell directly to you.

Case in point… this week’s launch of the Missoni for Target product line launch. A launch with a shopping frenzy so intense, it brought the Target.com website to its knees  (Who says people aren’t shopping?) and set the perfect stage for eBay sellers to make a tidy profit!

As an independent online merchant, there’s no way you can get your hands on these products directly from the supplier.  It’s a Target exclusive. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t sell and profit from this uber-hot product line!  In fact, many online sellers have!

How you ask?

By tracking trends and using arbitrage sourcing.

Tracking Trends and Arbitrage Sourcing

Savvy online sellers who kept tabs on the fashion industry knew that the highly anticipated Missoni for Target line was scheduled to launch on September 13th. This limited edition line, that features the Missoni “zig-zag” design has been well-publicized and will only be available in Target stores and online through October 22, 2011.

By tracking trends,  you’d be able to forecast that this kind of limited edition product line with a high pre-launch demand was likely to sell out.  A key indicator that it’s ripe for some arbitrage sourcing!

And the trend trackers did just that! They made sure they were first in line on Tuesday to arbitrage source this in-demand merchandise.

And it paid off.

• Missoni candles that sell for $12.99 at Target sold for $99.99 on eBay

• The Zig-Zag Spinner Upright Luggage Suitcase that retailers for $169 at Target sold for up to $305

• $44 Missoni sweaters are selling on eBay for $120

An easy $299 profit (less fees) for a simple arbitrage sourcing trip to Target! (or Target.com)

And the list goes on!

A Missoni Bike just sold for $1500 on Craigslist – 4 times it’s original Target price!

All together, Missoni and Target plan to release 400 items over the next 30 or so days, which are projected to sell out.

But that’s  just one example of the profitable combination of trend tracking and arbitrage sourcing.

You can use this process with any product, in any niche. And you don’t even have to arbitrage source super-hot, name-brand products!

Recently I picked up some discontinued Lego sets that were marked down 70% at Target. Once Lego discontinues a set and supply diminishes, they go up in value.

At 70% off, my cost of goods was much less than anything I could have sourced from Lego (if they would even sell directly to me, which they won’t!)

Now I’ll pack them up, ship them to Amazon FBA and let Amazon do the rest!

This blog post is not about how to capitalize on the Missoni/Target partnership.

The purpose of this post is to show you how the process of tracking trends and arbitrage sourcing works.

… And how profitable it can be.

The key in knowing what to buy is in keeping an eye on the trends. In your niche, product category, product line. Without tracking the trends before-hand, you’ll end up being a “me-too” seller, trying to to sell products off a hotlist.

By tracking the trends in a niche, you know that certain models, styles, products are hot and/or which are in limited supply (or being discontinued).

You stay ahead of the curve.  You’ll know when you see a good deal. And that knowledge is where the money is made.

How about you?  Do you track trends? Have you tried arbitrage sourcing?

Tell me below!

-Lisa

Running an ecommerce business costs money.

Whether it’s buying a new computer with faster processing capabilities, sourcing new inventory so you can sell more and make more, updating your workspace to make it more efficient or, bringing in project based help to get your holiday inventory listed…

It takes money to grow.

Unfortunately for small (and especially home-based, online businesses) the availability of growth-captial is in short supply. Especially from traditional sources such as banks and credit cards.

Enter Kabbage, an Atlanta based company with one goal – “Funding for your online business.”

Kabbage provides short-term loans to online sellers using credentials that other lenders don’t/won’t. They use marketplace and PayPal data from your online business to process your request for capital. An analysis that includes things like transaction volume and consistency, customer feedback/reviews, your product line and more.

Understanding the World of Online Sellers

What sets Kabbage apart from a traditional lender is that they understand the world of online sales, whereas many traditional banks do not.  In fact, traditional lending institutions can be downright leery of lending money to a home-based online sellers – even those with a proven track record.

Kabbage also understands that many online sellers only need a short-term loan to help them get to the next level.

It may only take $1000 to attend a trade show or $3000 to source new inventory once you’re there, but not having access to that $4000 means the difference between your ability to grow your business or staying stuck until you can earn enough money to fund your tradeshow trip or buy new inventory.

Kabbage Founder and CEO Rob Frohwein says:

“Thousands of online merchants have obtained working capital and grown their businesses since our push into the market in April 2011. Although small business fuels the majority of growth in the U.S., it is extremely difficult and time consuming for these businesses to apply for and actually receive financing from a traditional bank. Kabbage fills this need by providing money to these businesses in a quick, easy and painless way, helping them to further grow their businesses and boost the economy.”

Online sellers can apply and be approved for a short-term advance, also known as “Kabbage Kash” in minutes. Once approved, you can use your cash advance line if/when you need it.

It’s free to apply and be approved. Once you use your cash advance, you have six months to repay it. Cash advance rates are determined by your credit history and store performance, as well as the length of time you keep the cash advance. If you pay it back earlier than 6 months, you’ll pay less.

Kabbage has a patented technology that enables them to evaluate seller’s businesses and credit history. Currently Kabbage supports eBay sellers, Amazon sellers and Yahoo store owners.

This week Kabbage announced that they’ve just received $17 million in funding which will allow them to add funding support for merchants who sell on Facebook, Etsy, Sears and Shopify.

Your Ability to Source Quality Inventory Increases Your Sales

I first met the folks from Kabbage this spring and recently caught up with them again here in Seattle at the Amazon Seller’s Conference in July.

At that time, I sat down with Russell Walraven to talk more about the company’s goals to help online sellers grow. Fresh off the announcement that Kabbage would now be supporting Amazon sellers, Russell said that the response to Kabbage cash advances was overwhelmingly positive.  Seller after seller stopped by the booth to tell the Kabbage group that the #1 thing they need is cash to buy more inventory. With Amazon sales skyrocketing off into the stratosphere, lack of product to sell was the only thing holding back Amazon sellers from selling more.

Interestingly, Amazon category managers at the conference told me the same thing. “We need more product. Amazon’s growth is only limited by product selection. And we’re looking to 3rd party merchants to fill that need.”

Kabbage provides a win-win situation for online sellers ready to expand.

Many of my clients and students have already applied for and used Kabbage as a source of funding for their business.  They’ve raved about the simplicity of applying and the fact that Kabbage speaks in “plain english” as just two of the reasons they feel that the folks at Kabbage understand their needs as online sellers.

You can learn more about Kabbage and see if you qualify for an advance in seconds.

-Lisa

Watch me spot and research a hot niche market in under 10 minutes.

The clues that lead to finding a profitable niche market for your physical product, info product or affiliate marketing business are everywhere!

You can repeat this simple process and find new, profitable niche markets on a regular basis!

I love dogs. (In fact right now, my kids and I are trying to agree on what kind of dog we want to get…)

But “product dogs” are a different story.

1. Product dogs are those items that sit in your store month-after-month and don’t sell.

2. They’re the items that have such a low average sales price, that you can barely squeeze a nickel profit out of them.

3. They’re the items that conflict with your business lifestyle goals.

e.g. You live in an apartment, but you want to sell 7 foot high liquidation pallets (and you don’t want a warehouse).

Most people have a store full of product dogs.

And it’s killing their profits.

Because even if you HAVE a super-star product with a great profit margin… the other 10 products that aren’t selling suck up all your profits in wasted fees and inventory costs.

What you SELL matters.

You need to get rid of the dogs in your product line and source more products related to what’s working.

In fact this  strategy doesn’t just apply to online retail.

• The Post Office is struggling because it has a product line full of dogs. (Sadly)

• Cisco just discontinued the Flip camera because it’s a dog in their product line.

• When Mattel launched the fashion forward Earring Magic Ken doll, they quickly realized from customer response that this product was not destined to be a hot seller… and pulled it from the shelves.

• Microsoft recently put a fork in it’s “iPod killer” Zune.  Why?  Because it was a dog product that wasn’t selling.

No matter what you sell or where you sell it, you need to get rid of your product dogs.

Get Rid of the Dogs & Source Products That Sell!

Fortunately you can get rid of the dogs and start stocking up on products that sell.

In fact for EVERY product you sell profitably, there are at least 10 related products or product lines that will sell equally as well.

I call this method “Power of 10 Product Sourcing”.

Wouldn’t it be easier to sell MORE of what’s selling, and stop struggling to sell the things that aren’t?

If this sounds like an easier way to run a profitable online store to you, then I want you to do three things:

1. Spend some time today watching my brand new sourcing presentation recorded LIVE at eBay on Location in Las Vegas (it’s free to watch).

View it on the eBay on Location site here.

2. Take advantage of my 4 day “eBay on Location Video’ special sale… and save $150 on the course that will teach you to get rid of your product dogs and harness the Power of 10!

3. Join me on a special call on Friday, June 10th, (for new owners of the Power of 10 Product Sourcing Home Study Course) where I will look at your business goals, look at what you’re currently selling and give you direction on what you should be selling.

Your Partner in Sourcing Success,

Lisa

PS: What if you don’t know what you WANT to sell?

Well, that’s a “big dog” in and of itself!

You need to harness the Power of 10 to get you moving in the right direction! It’s time to get rid of all the dogs!

PS: If money is tight right now, we’re offering a 3-pay-plan in ADDITION to the $150 savings!

With what you’ll learn in the first few modules you can start selling more and making more right away. This is one course that DOESN’T take months to implement OR reap the benefits from.

Growing up I always thought my friend Megan’s family must have a lot of money. It seemed like every time I went over to her house, her dad had a new toy – a big  TV, the latest audio equipment…

Megan’s mom always wore  beautiful leather jackets in colors like dusty pink and butterscotch yellow with fabulous jewelry to match.

And Megan and her family lived in a nice  house adorned with dramatic decor.

But it was the day that her dad brought home the shiny, new red Bayliner speedboat that I was convinced Megan’s dad must be making the big bucks. (I loved that boat, and I’ve wanted one ever since!)

Megan and I only went to school together for a couple years and I never asked what her father did for a living.  It wasn’t until several years later when we ran into each other while she was home from college on a visit, that I found out how her dad made the extra money to get all this stuff.

Turned out Megan’s dad was what I call  a “Deal Scout”. He  loved to find deals on new merchandise and then resell it through the local Classifieds.

For example, one time he  bought out the inventory( for pennies on the dollar)  from a hardware store  that was closing and resold it to another store and made $20 thousand bucks on the deal.

Later on, when the local Classifieds got too expensive and less effective, he turned to Craigslist and eBay to resell in-demand items.

Megan told me her dad had resold almost everything over the years.  From printers to concrete pavers. Jewelry to shoes.  Nothing was off-limits when it came to buying and reselling (unless it was illegal!)

He preferred dealing in new consumer goods, claiming there were “deals to be had everywhere” if you just looked for them.

Well I can tell you from experience, Megan’s dad was right.

He was using a method I call Retail Resale.  Buying new consumer goods in one market for the purpose of reselling them in another. And generating thousands of dollars of extra income a year.

Megan’s dad was my first exposure to someone who made some serious money with Retail Resale, and I didn’t think much more about it until 2002.  When I used this exact method to start my online business.

Making Money with Retail Resale

When I started my online business back in 2002, I used this method to buy high-end leather kids shoes at deeply discounted sale prices and resell them on eBay to a global customer base.

For me it was instant profit. I knew about kids shoes, I knew what brands were hot, and it didn’t take me long to find deals locally and online for these in-demand brands. I soon figured out what I needed to do to minimize my sourcing risk, in the event that I’d chosen items that didn’t sell.  I was off and running!

I used Retail Resale to generate the majority of my income that first year in business, and it continued to represent about 30% of my sales for the next two years.

• Retail Resale works great for start-ups sourcing products on a shoestring budget.
• But it’s also perfect for established businesses who want to create extra income without committing to a new product line.

Retail Resale works for any marketplace from marine electronics to toys. clothes and shoes. It works for car tires and cars. Jewelry and Halloween Costumes. You name it!

If You Know How to Shop, You Can Profit from Retail Resale

The principle behind Retail Resale is simply this, shopping for your customers. You can shop anywhere to get your inventory. Offline, locally, online from websites, from marketplaces like eBay, Amazon or Bonanza.

There are millions of products right now available for sale both online and offline,  that are either under priced, deeply discounted, or in short supply and high demand that are prime candidates for profiting with Retail Resale.

Make Extra Income with Just a Few Hours of Work a Week

For example, the Nerf N-Strike Stampede is already the #1 selling toy on Amazon.  Sales of this hot new toy have already increased in sales 1800% since July. Already sold out at Walmart, you can still find it for $44 + Free Shipping at Toys R Us (or pick one up locally).

It’s currently selling for between $59 – $108 (with a sweet spot of about $75)  on eBay and demand is starting to rise.  This one will be sold out before Christmas and prices will go up to reflect it’s in-demand status.

This is an example of a product that lends itself perfectly to Retail Resale.

Last weekend we were out at the mall, when we came upon a sunglasses shop that had MAUI JIM HOKU sunglasses on close-out for $120.  A quick price check with a cell phone showed they sell on Amazon for about $208.  On eBay you can pick up a new pair for $160. If I’m going to sell these Retail Resale, I’d sell them on Amazon rather than eBay.

There’s a lot of money to be made with Retail Resale and that’s why I recently included a brand new audio on Retail Resale in our 2010 Holiday Selling Guide private site.

If you haven’t joined us yet, now is the time. The holiday selling season is here and the clock is ticking.  You need to know about strategies like Retail Resale in order to help you make more money this year.

If you sell physical products online, now is your time!

Join us this week and and take advantage of our special easy 3 pay plan !

-Lisa

Knowing what NOT to sell online is as important as knowing WHAT to sell online.

Every week I get emails from people asking me whether or not they should sell a specific product.

99% of those emails ask about the same products:

1. Name brand electronics
2. Designer handbags
3. Designer shoes
4. Designer clothes
5. iPods, iPhones, iPads

• Some people have been beating their heads against the wall for months trying to find a source for these products.
• Others have lost thousands of dollars, unknowingly buying FAKE “name brand” products.
• And at the same time putting themselves in potential hot water with the law.
• Still others have paid hundreds for “secret lists” of sources that turned out to be scams.

Here’s the bottom line:

The profit margin for name brand electronics is 3-8% IF you’re a big company like Best Buy and can place $100K orders at a time.

Name brand companies (electronics, designer brands or otherwise) will NOT sell directly to you because you don’t have a physical store and $100K for a minimum order.

YOU can’t tell it’s not a fake, even if you think you can. Tags, labels etc. mean nothing. U.S. Customs has highly trained and sophisticated monitoring techniques and many times they can’t tell if the merchandise is fake.

These are the rules of the game with the big name brand companies and product sourcing.

This knowledge  can save you many hours of frustration and potentially thousands of dollars.

But for some of you, it’s also dashed your dreams of selling these kinds of products.

The good news is that there are millions of other products to sell and profitable niches to sell in.

If you’re ready to start doing some REAL product sourcing – selecting products to sell that people want to buy AND that you can actually source…

P.S. Inventory doesn’t have to be “sexy” to be profitable and in-demand.

Each year 10 million people replace their old toilets with the new high-efficiency water-flow toilets. It’s a hot product.

Learn how to identify what to sell or what else to sell online

- Lisa

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A reminder that you have 36 more hours to SAVE $100 off my new home study course Power of 10 Product Sourcing:

–> http://powerof10productsourcing.com

(A warm welcome to all our new students!… you’ve all qualified for the THREE BONUS Q&A coaching calls with Lisa as part of the course.)
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If you sell physical products, affiliate products or information products, you’re on the brink of the next big online selling season – back-to-school.

Even though many people are just getting into the swing of summer fun, those who have children attending school or who are attending school themselves are already starting their back to school shopping.

To see how back-to-school sales trend, you’ll need to use one of my top research tools Google Insights. You can see by the chart below that searches for the keywords “back to school” are already trending upward:

Teachers prepping the classroom are looking for ideas for their classroom bulletin boards and starting to buy classroom supplies.

And keep in mind that in many parts of the U.S., school starts in late August. So if you sell any merchandise related to back to school purchases, it’s time to get it listed now!

If you’re an affiliate marketer, your back-to-school affiliate sites should be up and running.

If your blog covers parenting topics, school related topics, fashion, technology, accessories etc. you should be reviewing and promoting  back-to-school affiliate products.

The back-to-school shopping season runs from July through the end of October.

July is the pre-season. August and September are in-season. October is post-season. (Post-season back-to-school shopping takes place after the kids have arrived at school, taken a look at what everyone else has/or is wearing and then head back online to round out their “must have’s”.)

That’s 4 months of heavy back-to-school related selling opportunities.

So while you may still be enjoying the summer, your business should be featuring merchandise or affiliate products that are in-demand by back-to-school shoppers.

Here are just a few of the hot products online shoppers will be looking for over the next few months:

• Laptops
• Netbooks
• Laptop cases
• Brightly patterned backpacks
• Rolling backpacks
• Sports bags
• Motorcycle boots
• Ankle bootsGirls school uniforms
• Boy’ school uniforms
• Locker gear (mirrors, shelves, decor)
• Running shoes
• Gym clothes
• Teacher supplies
• Art supplies
• Eco-friendly lunch boxes
• Eco-friendly hot mugs and thermoses
• Cosmetics
• Costume jewelry
• Watches
• Anything with a peace sign on it (clothes, jewelry, accessories)

And some hot brands…

• DV by Dolce Vita
• Dolce Vita
• GUESS
• House of Harlow
• Jessica Simpson
• Michael Antonio
• Miz Mooz
• Modern Vintage
• Nine West
• Rosegold
• Steve Madden

All this back-to-school traffic headed will also impact you if you sell non back-to-school related products as well. Once people are back inside and at the computer shopping for back-to-school supplies, they’ll also catch up on shopping for themselves.

How will you capitalize on the back-to-school shopping season?

Tell me below.

-Lisa

If you sell physical products online, the next 90 days (July – September) are key product sourcing months for your business.

Not only are there a variety of product sourcing opportunities to take advantage of  during this time, but it’s also the last chance you’ll have for  lead time when it comes to preparing your product line for holiday sales.

Whether you are sourcing products wholesale or sourcing locally, there are a number of opportunities to be aware of and to capitalize on over the next few months.

8 Ways to Successfully Source Inventory This Summer

1. Trade Shows. The best (and a must for all professional sellers or would be pros) way to source wholesale products is by attending an industry trade show. There are trade shows for every product category. The biggest benefit of attending a trade show is the ability to see hundreds of vendors exhibiting all in one place. You get to meet them, look at their products and write an inventory order during the show. The suppliers also get to know you.  Even if you don’t write an order at the show, 3 months down the road when you do call to place an order you already have a foot in the door. Making a call to say “Hi Steve, this is Jen – we spoke last July at the sporting goods show.  I’d like to place an order for the new  hockey sticks you showed me.” is a much better way to start a vendor relationship than making a cold call.

Locate all the industry trade shows here. And if you are traveling on vacation this summer, be sure to see if there is a trade show happening at your destination location.  You may be able to write off part of your trip (DISCLAIMER: Check with your accountant on this.)

2. End of season supplier specials. With the turn of season happening, now is the right time to contact your suppliers and pick up great deals on end of season merchandise. And as an online seller, you can you carry merchandise farther into the season than the brick and mortar stores do.  On the Internet people buy swimwear all year around. Take advantage of your supplier’s seasonal turns.

3. Place holiday season pre-orders. The hot holiday wholesale products sell out fast.  Call your supplier now and ask them what they expect to be their #1 selling products for the rest of the year.  Place orders now in anticipation of pre-holiday season delivery.

4. Retail resale. The back-to-school season starts in your local stores on the 5th of July. This means there will be racks and racks of saleable merchandise marked down and ripe for the picking by online sellers. Do your pricing research before you buy and then take advantage of these deals. Big box retailers are also clearing their toys shelves to make space for this year’s holiday inventory. For years I picked up Lego sets at Target at up to 70% off which I turned around and sold for a profit during the holidays. Again, you have to know your merchandise!  Not all Lego sets will sell well.  So use a tool like Terapeak to assess supply, demand and pricing potential.

5. Retail pre-sale. Your local stores are also bringing in the hot toys for the season! And while you won’t get these at a discount, if you have enough inventory capital to buy and hold, you can make a lot of money when these toys are in-demand and sold out by November. You MUST and I repeat you MUST do some trend research to find out what toys are expected to be hot this season.  Part of your job as an online seller is to know what will sell!  Want the insider tips on the latest product trends, be sure and sign up for my  free Hot Trend Alerts! newsletter. These trends don’t just cover toys, they cover all types of hot niche markets.  They also apply to affiliate marketing and information marketing!

6. Local sourcing. Yard sales, estate sales, thrift store sales abound from July-September. There is an unending supply of inventory for anyone who wants to get started selling on eBay or who is already in the business of selling unique, one of a kind items. When it comes to sourcing from yard sales and estate sales, start early and go back late. Start early for best selection then go back at the end of the day to see what can be picked up for free or purchased in bulk. Where are you going on vacation this year? What products are made/sold locally that you could stock up on and sell online? Do some research online and learn about the regional products of your destination.

7. Find suppliers who will drop ship. If you want to find suppliers who will drop ship products for you, you need to do so sooner rather than later – before supplier orders heat up! This applies especially if you have a plan to have products drop shipped over the holidays. Test out drop ship suppliers this summer, before the holiday rush starts!

8. Expand your product line with importing. If you’ve been thinking about importing products from China, using a service like the new AliExpress can help you expand your product line through importing with minimum expense and risk. Take some time to thoroughly research your importing options before your online sales ramp up in September.

As you can see, there are lots of sourcing opportunities over the next few months. Now that you know what the options are, take action! Don’t let this chance slip by.  Pick one or two of the methods I’ve outlined above  -the ones that are right for your business – and go for it!