This is a guest post by Brigitte A. Thompson of Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC

Are you looking for ways to save money on your taxes?

Our country is struggling to rise out of a recession that has left many people unemployed.  Some of the recently laid off employees are making the decision to become entrepreneurs.

Being self-employed offers flexibility and control over which projects are accepted and how the work is completed. Business owners can set their own hours, decide what rate of pay is acceptable and make all the decisions.  However, small business owners need to create a recordkeeping system to keep track of business transactions and pay tax on their net income.

The income taxes you pay are based on your net profit. This profit is determined by totaling your gross profit (actual money received) and reducing it by your expenses (all cash/check/ credit card deductions). The more deductions you have, the lower your net profit, the lower your income tax liability becomes.

Bookkeeping Basics
It is important to establish a system of recordkeeping that works for you. Some things need to be recorded daily, while others can be done weekly or monthly. It is imperative that you get into the habit of saving and recording everything related to your business. All money you earn from your business must be recorded as income. You will be able to reduce the taxable portion of this income by deductible business expenses.

Get Organized
Organization is necessary to operate any business.  Some people find it helpful to create a simple filing system using folders and lined paper. Transactions can be recorded on sheets of 8 ½” by 11” paper attached to the front of each folder with supporting documentation filed inside. Folders can be labeled by category including one for recording income and another for expenses. This information can be kept manually by handwritten record or you can transfer the data into a computer spreadsheet.

Microsoft Excel® provides an easy to use program which can help you organize your records. The computerized ability to do mathematical equations can help reduce errors in compiling the numbers. If you would like to go a step further, Intuit® offers some user friendly accounting programs such as QuickBooks® which can generate financial statements and budgets using the data you record.

Any system that works for you is acceptable, as long as the pertinent information is retained. Maintaining good records can help you manage your cash flow wisely and prepare you in the event of an audit.

Start a Separate Business Account
It is a good idea to obtain a separate checking account to be used for your business. The IRS requires business owners to differentiate between business and personal income and expenses. Although, currently, they do not require businesses to maintain a separate checking account, they do require a clear paper trail. Utilizing one bank account for personal transactions and another for business transactions makes it easier for you to create this documented trail. All of the money earned by your business should be deposited into this account and all of your business expenses should be written from this account.

These tips can help you get started with the recordkeeping required as a self-employed taxpayer, but there is a lot more to learn.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has created a section on their web site to help, http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/selfemployed/index.html.

Brigitte A. Thompson is the founder and President of Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC in Vermont. She has been active in the field of accounting since 1986 and is a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the Vermont Tax Practitioners Association.

Brigitte is the author of several recordkeeping books for business owners, contributing author and freelance writer whose articles have appeared nationally in print and online publications.

You can visit her online at http://www.DatamasterAccounting.com , http://www.BookkeepingforWriters.com and her blog which is at http://www.writersinbusiness.blogspot.com.

All Private Label Content has put together the following PLR materials for you.

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I recently did a MAJOR cleanout of my inbox (there’s only six messages in there now) and I’m getting ready for NAMS so this week’s Inbox post will be short and sweet.

BLOG TRAFFIC EXPERTS – The last webinar in the series is this week!

TOPIC: Finding Focus In Traffic Building
PRESENTER: Kelly McCausey
DATE: August 17, 2010, Tuesday
TIME: 8 pm Eastern (5 pm Pacific, 7 pm Central)
URL: http://www.BlogTrafficExperts.com/

I won’t be there because I have practice for the gospel group I sing in but I’m sure it will be great.

RAPID VIDEO BLOGGING

I’m reading Gideon Shalwick’s guide to Rapid Video Blogging (signed up today) and so far, it’s pretty good.
http://www.rapidvideoblogging.com/

That’s it for today!

Glennette Goodbread, Owner
Premium Web Design and Hosting

Scribe SEO score for this post

With the keyword tips on this page, you can make Google love you. It’s true. The fact that you need to do keyword research is probably not news to you. Long-tail keywords, keyword intent, keyword density, and keyword optimization are terms you’ve heard before right? The question is, once you figure out what your keywords are, where do you put them on your website?

(1) Title Tag – This is what shows in the upper left corner of your web browser window. It’s also the clickable part of Google’s search engine results page (SERP). The title tag is one of the most important places to put your keyword phrase, possibly the most important. Your click-through rate will be higher when your link exactly matches or very closely matches what a searcher is looking for.

(2) Headings – This is the text that uses <h1>, <h2>, etc. Search engines place more importance on these sections of your webpage than they do on the body text itself, so be sure to use your keywords in all your headings if you can.

(3) Descriptions – In the search engine results page, under the clickable link (which is your title tag like I said before), you’ll see a short snippet of text. This is your description tag, and when you take the time to write a good description tag using keywords, Google will often reward you and use that instead of random phrases it pulls from your page. The advantage? Better click-through rate which is your ultimate goal.

(4) Excerpts - Similar to descriptions, excerpts are used to tell the reader at a glance what the page is about. The difference is, descriptions are used for search engines, while excerpts are used on your website. Therefore, excerpts might not gain you any favor with Google, but users of your site will thank you for taking the time to write a meaningful excerpt.

(5) Article Text – This one seems the most obvious. Your keywords are what you’re writing about, so it makes sense that they appear in the text of your article or blog post. Just be sure you don’t get carried away. Remember, actual people will be reading your site, so it needs to flow and read well for them. A good rule of thumb is to use your keyword once in the first paragraph, once in the last paragraph, and maybe in a couple of other places.

(6) Anchor Text - Anchor text is the clickable word or phrase that appears in a hyperlink. Google (and other search engines) looks at the anchor text as an indicator of what your site is about. If you have a site about christian moms in business, and I link to your site using the keyword phrase “christian moms in business,” Google knows that I’m saying your site is about christian moms in business. You can use keywords in anchor text on your own site, in article marketing, guest posting, forum posting, and other places where you’re allowed to post a link to your site.

(7) Alt Text – Search engines can’t (as of the time I’m writing this) index graphics like photos and header images. But they can and do pay attention to what you tell them that picture is about. That’s what the “alt text” attribute is all about. The alt text is also used by page readers for the blind so it’s a good practice regardless of the fact that search engines like it being there.

Before you post to your blog, upload an article, or submit a guest post, make sure you’ve properly optimized it by using keywords in all the right places. Your search engine rankings will climb, your traffic will increase, and your business will grow. That’s the real magic of using keywords effectively.

P.S. In addition to knowing where to put your keywords, it helps to use a tool like the one I use here on my site which is Scribe SEO. It’s a super exciting tool because it makes optimizing your post and ensuring that it’s keyword rich almost too easy! Give it a try. Even without it, if you research your keywords and use the keyword phrases in the above places, you’ll at least be headed in the right direction.

One more thing, make sure you download this free report:
How To Create Compelling Content That Ranks Well In Search Engines

If all this keyword talk is making your head spin, contact me and I’ll take care of all of it for you.

Glennette Goodbread, Owner

Premium Web Design and Hosting

This is a Guest Post by Lucinda Cross, author of Corporate Mom Drop Outs.

According to the Webster dictionary, the word Expert means: having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. The word Position means: relative place, situation, or standing <is now in a position to make decisions on his own> b: social or official rank or status. Combine the words and you have a platform and a foundation that you can build on.

The first step to positioning yourself is:

1. Claim it

Whoever you are claiming to be, whatever experience or skill you possess, let’s claim it and believe it. If you do not believe in yourself, people will smell the uncertainty and the mixed messages you are sending out. If you are a speaker, you should figure out what kind of speaker, what topic you speak about it and the people you touch with your unique message. Believing in you, feeling worthy and confident in the level and status you are at right now is the key to claiming it. You must walk the walk and talk the talk. People sense a fraud so don’t be a hypocrite to your calling. Avoid claiming to be the Profit coach, and you complain to your friends about how hard times are and how this recession has stopped your business growth.

2. Write it

Position your expertise in words, whether it’s your words or someone else’s. Start to provide free content to your audience. Visualization is important for those who like to read, who like to reference and like to research your topic of discussion. If you like to bake, why not write about ingredients, exotic spices, seasonings that can be used in multiple ways. You can discuss how people can cook great meals for a family of four or five on a budget. If you are not a writer, grab someone else’s recipes and post it up as the recipe of the day (make sure you reference the source), get contributing writers that will write an article for your blog weekly or monthly.

3. Speak it

Start to record one minute segments or infomercial and place them on your blog or connect the link to your social media sites. You can use systems such as www.audacity.com which is free recording software. Connect with Toastmasters to practice speaking in front of groups, you will find that this will help you with your online video recordings and will help to boost your on air confidence and presence.

Following these three steps is a start. It will help build a platform and a foundation in your expertise and your industry… people are waiting for you to step out and do something. Let’s start with claiming it, writing about it and speaking about it to everyone we know.

Start today the universe is waiting!

Follow Lucinda on twitter http://www.twitter.com/corpmomdropout/
Lucinda Cross is a author, speaker, and mompreneur. The founder of Corporate Mom Drop Outs, blog, radio show and book. She is also the co-creator of Business Baby Shower Contest and the Supermompreneur conference. For several years, she has made it her life’s mission to uplift, inspire and change people’s lives. Her life has been filled with wonderful experiences – from being a single mother, to a Mompreneur, sharing her gifts as a marketing strategist, mentor and writer she uses that wisdom and insight to motivate moms to create a better life, a better community and a better business through her signature online and offline educational programs.

This is a Guest Post by Erum Zehra of Ace Web Content.

Appearing credible on the web is a challenge for online businesses but if done correctly, can bring a constant stream of sales to your website. You are not personally present to assure your web customer and build their confidence. Therefore, credibility should be built through the appearance and content of your business web site. These seven strategies can help you in having a credible web business:

Professional Web Site

Both content and web design play a huge part on the overall appearance and impression of the web site. While designing your web site, it is important to pay attention to layout, navigation and usability issues. Design your website according to the purpose or goals you have in mind for it, and then stay focused on these goals. Hire experienced web designers who know what they are doing and have an impressive portfolio.

Useful and Informative Web Content

It is important to provide informative and useful content in your website to enhance its credibility. You can create an article section in your website and upload articles related to the theme of your website. This will also get you more exposure from the search engines. Ensure that the content is well written and avoid errors by re-checking and proof reading.

Credible Promotional Content

While promoting your products/services, try to sound confident and sincere in your web content. Stay away from hype and false promises. You will appear more credible if you promote your products/services while sounding informative. Focus on describing what you can deliver and stress on real benefits versus empty promises.

Highlight your expertise

Are you affiliated with a respected organization (like Better Business Bureau) or have certifications related to your profession? If so, clearly state this in the content of your web site. Display the button of the affiliation throughout the website and mention it in the content of about us and/or home page. Use the about us page to talk about yourself and why your customers should trust you.

Include customer references

If you are a product based business it will be a good idea to include testimonials of customers who have bought your products. You can create a “testimonials” or “case studies” page linking to your service page or main menu. If you are a service based business you can include a portfolio page or case studies about your customers. Knowing that you have an existing customer base will make it easier for your web site visitors to trust you.

Give contact/profile information

Make your contact information easily available. Your website should have separate pages for about us and contact information linked through the main menu. If possible, give details about your staff/ management team along with their photographs. People like knowing who they are doing business with.

Regularly update your web site content

Updating and reviewing your web site content often will ensure that it does not include outdated, inaccurate and erroneous information. All of these can have a negative impact on the credibility of your web site. Writing professional and persuasive content takes a lot of time and expertise, and you can hire a professional writer to help you in this area.

Follow Erum on twitter http://www.twitter.com/acewebcontent

Erum Zehra is the head writer for Ace Web Content which offers social media management for your business. Recharge your website with Ace Web Content at http://www.acewebcontent.com/.

Numerous elements can and do influence what your sales page visitors will buy.  Some elements, like your heading, can have major impact.  Others – like your payment method – are subtle with less impact.

Anything you do in terms of the design and display of your sales copy can potential determine what a customer will and will not purchase.  The most often-overlooked part of page design that does appear to influence sales is your page’s Background Color.

Most sales pages are a single column with a white background, framed on both sides with color.  This makes the greatest impact.  Because it’s so important, what should you use?

Based upon research, the most effective color for the background on a sales page is dark blue, followed by black, gray and white (although it’s not clear why someone would use white if the text area is white).  When it comes to bright colors or neutrals, neutral colors tend to outperform brighter colors.  Yet, html background color alone isn’t the only factor.

Certain market segments and demographic groups seem to like particular colors.  For example, if the hot fashion color this season is orange, then a fashion web site might want to use this color to his/her advantage.  Likewise, for a site offering a special on or around Valentine’s Day, is best to stick with the pink/red color family.   In 2010, two of the most favored colors appear to be lime green and pink.

Your background choice color doesn’t have to be simply a plain color.  It can have varying tones or even a watermark to help garner tremendous success.  The only way to know is by testing the colors and the response that different shades generate.  You can construct two (or more) different versions of your sales page, changing only the color, and tracking the results.  You might just stumble upon a background color that superchargers your sales – by as much as 30% according to some research.

With all that said, your headline and sales copy are going to be far more important.  Nonetheless, taking some time to test for an optimal color or simply relying on a dark blue background is probably a far better idea than “following your instincts” and choosing a more colorful palette that could turn some visitors off.

Every part of your sales page can make a difference.  To potentially change the edge your page has on the competition, changing your background color is a simply and quick way to start.

Glennette Goodbread, Owner
Premium Web Design and Hosting

BLOG TRAFFIC EXPERTS

TOPIC: Energize Your Blog
GUEST EXPERT: Lynette Chandler
DATE:  August 10, 2010, Tuesday
TIME:  8 pm Eastern (7 pm Central, 5 pm Pacific)
Sign up at http://www.BlogTrafficExperts.com

HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN

Nicole Dean of EasyPLR is matching affiliate commissions from now through August 18, 2010. Actually, she’s going hack to August 1st and paying it forward from then. She will pay her 50% of all affiliate sales (the affiliate usually gets 50% and she gets 50%) to 3 charities that she’s chosen. Please support this effort. Use my link and I’ll donate my 50% as well!

Here are the three organizations.

http://www.chdinfo.com – Dr. Mani Saves Lives
http://100xmissions.org – Paul Evans Saves Lives
http://www.childrensgaucher.org – Type 2 & 3 Gaucher’s Research

FREE REPORT ABOUT INFO PRODUCTS

MasonWorld.com is giving away a free report. No strings attached. No list to sign up for!

http://media.masonworld.com/misc/Info-Product-Pathway.pdf

SPEED NETWORKING IN ALBANY GEORGIA

There will be a Speed Networking Opportunity tomorrow (August 10, 2010) from 4-5 pm at The Levee. Email Meghan Duke to register. Her email address is MDuke@albanyga.com

JEFF HERRING’S FREE CONTENT CREATION WORKSHOP

Two sessions to choose from:

=> Tuesday August 10th at 3 pm Eastern Time
=> Tuesday August 10th at 8 pm Eastern Time

Register here => http://JeffHerringTeleSeminars.com

CATHY STUCKER’S WEBINAR ON CREATING AND SELLING INFORMATION PRODUCTS

Cathy’s webinar is now available on DVD. Through August 15, 2010, it is on sale for a special introductory price of just $19. Don’t wait until the price goes up–get yours now!
http://idealady.com/article/creating_and_selling_information_products/

LOTS OF NEW TWITTER FOLLOWERS

My inbox is full of notifications about new Twitter followers. I’ve gone through and followed the ones I want to follow and deleted all the notifications. Talk about clutter. Are you following me on twitter? Am I following you?

FREE CONTENT FOR YOUR BLOG

Lynette Chandler of BlogEnergizer is offering to write content for your blog. Submit your questions and she’ll write an awesome blog post for you. You can even win prizes.

KELLIE DANDREA’S MONDAY MARKETING WEBINAR – August 9, 2010

Tonight’s session is on How to Instantly Connect With Anyone in Business
Sign up at http://kelliedandrea.com/blog/marketing-mondays

MELISSA INGOLD IS GIVING AWAY FREEBIES

Melissa of Internet Marketing Sweetie is giving away freebies. She sent the email on Saturday and I really need to go download the freebies before it’s too late.

Report: “Sales Secrets: 3 Simple Strategies for Selling Anything Online”
Audio & Transcript: “Emotional Marketing Success Secrets: Connecting with Your Market”

You can download them at http://internetmarketingsweetie.com/saturday.html and be sure you sign up for her list so you don’t have to depend on me telling you about this stuff.

That’s enough for today. Hope you enjoyed the glimpse inside my Inbox!

Glennette Goodbread, Owner
Premium Web Design and Hosting

This is a GUEST POST by Michaela Sibanda of Passionate Profitable Moms

Three years ago, I decided I was going to start a letter writing business for children.  I created cute little characters, developed their personalities and wrote a few letters.  The idea was that I would write the letters and put fun little activities or toys in the package.

I went to my local Small Business Association to get information about starting an itty-bitty part-time business and met with a man, who was very nice and helpful.  He told me I needed to develop a formal business plan.  My 5 page plan was good, but needed more detail if I was going to apply for a business loan.  A business loan?  I thought.  Why do I need a business loan?

He also told me that I would need to get an e-commerce website up and going.  He said that the cost of a website that would cover my needs would cost about $10,000 and he suggested I should start applying for a couple of small business loans to get my business up and running.

I was dumbfounded.  I loved children and wanted to put a smile on their face, while making some money in the process.  I would have never thought that businesses like My Very Own Mail or Santa’s Letters for Kids spent that kind of money to get things set up.  Who knew I had to spend over $10,000 to get such a business started?  I thought I just needed a printer, my computer, some cute paper, pencils, stickers, envelopes, stamps and some fun activities to put in the letters.

Even though I went home defeated I started on my business plan.  It took me two weeks to complete and I still have my 25 page plan drafted and saved on my computer to this day.  However, the thought of the $10,000 website stopped me dead in my tracks.  This project was not worth the investment to me and I didn’t know it at the time, but that kind of investment was not really necessary.

If you’re just getting started with your small business or are thinking about going into business, I would suggest that you take advice from someone who is actually in business.  Think about it, many of the helpful people at the Small Business Association used to run a business or simply studied it (at least, that was my experience).  I don’t want to make any generalizations.  But, talking to people who are in the game right now are the people you want to talk to.

They will tell you how they financed their business.  And you just might be surprised to hear that they did not save 6 months of their salary, they did not get a business loan.  Many of them boot-strapped their way up by using credit cards, getting help from family members or simply kept their day jobs and considered their job a business loan.

Additionally, if you want to get a website set up I would highly recommend that you meet with a WordPress Website Consultant, like Glennette Goodbread of Premium Web Design and Hosting.  You can easily get a website put together for less than $400.  A consultant can get your site up and running and can teach you the ins and outs of your website so that you can be self-sufficient and more comfortable with technology.

If I knew then, what I know now  maybe I would have had my million dollar personalized letter service for kids up and running.

Follow Michaela on twitter @michaelasibanda

To learn more from Michaela Sibanda, visit Passionate Profitable Moms, your source for helping you find joyful work.  Whether you are looking to make money from a passion or don’t know exactly what your passions are…Passionate Profitable Moms can help.

Melissa Ingold of Internet Marketing Sweetie is retiring quite a few of her products and you get the gold retirement watch!

Check them out and see if you can use any of them. Yes, these are affiliate links. I own almost every one of her products and I personally give them high marks!

If you won’t use it, don’t buy it! She doesn’t want to sell  you stuff just for it collect virtual dust on your computer.

COUPON CODE: 76429D4
DISCOUNT: 75% off
EXPIRES: August 4, 2010

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