Merry Christmas everybody! Another year have passed and another +1 on your age. Time goes by really fast doesn’t it? I’m writing right now, midnight of christmas 26th of december, because I can not sleep. I just thought that I might write something of things I learned this pass year. Maybe its not something that you’ll be interested in reading and its not about making money or affiliate marketing. So bear with me for this time around.

I wanted to point out things I learned this year. First thing first is about business.

Business

Have you watched the video about making money online? It’s one of the best video you can find about making money online. A lot better and true than John Chow’s blog and what he ate for dinner. The moral lesson here is to just do it. Solve a simple problem and you can make money out of it. It doesn’t have to be a big bang at your first launch. What you want to do is to focus on making it better and better in each iteration.

A nice read about iteration and online business was created by the people at 37signals, you might want to check them out here.

If you’re starting to have a business on your own. Be prepared of the consequences. Once you enter entrepreneurship its a whole new world. To summarize all of it, let me explain both sides. A worker and an entrepreneur.

Worker

• Have night outs and party
• Have vacation at least 1 week a year (paid)
• Have coworkers to hangout with
• Monthly income stable
• All in all — YOU HAVE A LIFE

Entrepreneur

• No night outs. No Party
• No vacation.
• No one to hang out with (if ever there’s free time. Friends are at work)
• Risky. Income NOT Stable
• Emotional rollercoaster and stress
• All in all — YOU HAVE NO LIFE

Its the freedom why some people choose to become entreprenuer.

Personal Life

I’m an entrepreneur, single and have no life. =) This year, I fell in love with guitars… Very much in love.

Questions I Would Like To Know The Answer

There are lots of questions I want to know the answer that came into my mind this 2009 but yet to know the answers. These are:

• What’s up with guys taking nursing degree? Nobody (especially men) wants to wake up in a hospital bed greeted by a guy.
• Why do Filipino TV shows suck?
• What makes life meaningful?
• Why nobody told me that guitars are awesome?

If you know the answers to some, please do share your wisdom with us.

Plans for Next Year

I plan to travel next year. Explore other places other than the four corners of my office. Meet new people, women and food. To where, not sure. I’ll post it here when time comes. I’m also learning forex trading and hope to benefit from it. Forex trading matches the style of work at home/online business. Giving me more free time to do things while my money doing the work for me.

Another plan is to double my company’s revenue next year.

Live and enjoy life to the fullest. Experience things that I’ve never experience before.

How about you? What did you learned this year and what are your plans for the next year?

So been hearing about InfoLinks and tried to test it.

$0.01 Per Click

I can make more money out there as a beggar than use infolinks. I’ll still test it until next week and see if it improve. Just to say upfront, I’m not happy with it.

The reviews out there may be good, bad, shady, hyped, paid or just wanting you to signup for their affiliate link. I don’t care. As for me… An honest review right from the bottom of my heart…

InfoLinks sucks!

snoob

Alright, it has been a while since I last posted. I’ve been away setting up my home network because I just bought a new mac. Hurray for me. No more windows. And I’m loving it.

Switching to Mac

I want to talk about the importance of having a goal. The most important thing to get ahead in life is to have a goal. Whatever it may be, looking for a job, prosperous business, gorgeous girlfriend, better car, more money on your paypal account, bigger checks, or better life. You must have a goal to be successful.

I want to state a simple scenario. For example you are applying for a job, and the boss asked you how much salary do you expect. One applicant says, “anything decent will do”. And the conversation will go as far like a game show that you can “haggle” your salary. Another applicant asked by the same question but stated the exact amount of salary he wants.

Who do you think will get hired?

If I were to bet my money, I will bet on the 2nd applicant. Because that guy has a goal set. Nobody wants a wishy washy, come what may person. Indecisiveness means lack of confidence which also means that when things got rough he’ll shit his pants and points his finger on other people.

Many people will want to get the least opportunity because they lack goals. An engineering graduate applying for a call center position just to get the money rolling for him after graduation is an indication that he lacks the goal and don’t have ambition. He might have dreams. But dreams are nothing but thoughts. If you don’t act upon those dreams you’re just satisfying your self approval that you’re doing enough.

Sure I understand, its hard to get a job these days and just take whatever come. I say, there’s nothing wrong with that and if you are really starving and needs any job today just to eat, then get it. But its always a belief of mine that the first career decision you make is crucial and it will be hard for you to stay away from as you grow older. The patterns you set when you are starting out will stick with you.

Let’s State Internet Marketing (Making Money Online) for Example

We all know adsense. How about having a goal of earning $1500 per month in adsense. Would that be good? Of course. Now, if we are to make a goal out of it, we can just say that on the first year you may want to focus your energy into earning money with adsense for just $300 per month. Not bad! $300 per month is just $10 per day. 2nd year, you want to focus earning $600 per month and so on. By your 5th year, you’ll have attained your $1500 per month on adsense. NOT THAT SHABBY!

Your Adsense Goal (5 Year Plan = $1500 per month)

1st Year: $300 / month
2nd Year: $600 / month
3rd Year: $900 / month
4th Year: $1200 / month
5th Year: $1500 / month

Having a goal rewards you. But you must work for it. How many people you know tried to make money on adsense but only to find out they gave up just on the 3rd month? Persistence, persistence, persistence. Persistence is such a great character trait. And it can be learned. Only by practice. If you have goals.. Procastination will always try to test your character and will want to kill Persistence. If you really want to be successful, 1 character trait to master is Persistence.

Why Have a Goal?

If you have a goal, your brain will ask “how”. And my friend, the best questions in the world are the questions that starts with “HOW?”. Because it stimulates the mind. Forcing you to think, to ask, and to make an action.

Based on our adsense example. If on my first year I only need to earn $300 per month, that’s $10 per day. I’ll go to my favorite web hosting provider, buy a hosting and make 10 sites that will earn me $1 per day and I’m on my way to clearing my first goal. Its not that hard when you think about it. You just need to act first and tell the “others” to shut up if they say it won’t work.

What is your goal?

“If you’re going through hell, keep going”

Winston Churchill

We are looking for talented web designers to join our team. It can either be full time or parttime whatever you are comfortable with. You have the comfort to work at home. All you need is a computer with stable internet connection. The requirements for the job is as follows:

• Good sense of design - blog design and corporate website design
• Good grasp of English
• Dedicated and understands the importance of deadline

Why Work With Us?

Aside from working at home. You will learn first hand how internet businesses work and experience how webmasters establish their online business from ground up. You will experience this first hand because you’ll be designing them.

If you have the above qualities, please don’t hesitate to send a link to your portfolio or live samples using the contact form found on this page.

Kind regards,

snoob

Choosing a web hosting in the Philippines is your very first crucial decision if you want to start your online business.

Like in building a brick and mortar business (aka offline business) the foundation of your establishment determines whether or not you will succeed in business. If your establishment easily shatters, what good will it do to your business?

Same goes for online businesses. A web hosting is your establishment on the world wide web. Without a reliable web host to count on, you will find your website always down as you continue to lose customers and clients.

I have been a web designer for more than 5 years and throughout those times, I know how a web business run. I offer web design services to clients and after doing the site, my decision on where to host the sites is a crucial one whether or not they will be a happy, returning client or not.

For the most part in my early years in this industry, I have lost too many clients due to unreliable web hosting. You can see them anywhere. Offering unlimited space or bandwidth which is just impossible. Remember: There is no such thing as UNLIMITED. It is too good to be true. Don’t risk your online business by hosting your business websites on these hosting companies.

That is why I opened up my own hosting services. SnoobHosting is a web hosting in the Philippines that offers reliable web hosting services for small businesses and even personal websites. The goal of snoobhosting is to give my personal care and service to these client websites as I am the one in charge in managing the server. Its like managing your business websites as if its my own.

Securities and updates are all handled by us. Where others will charge for updates. For as low as Php 100 pesos you can have your very own business website.

If you want to know more. Please visit our website at SnoobHosting.net - Web Hosting Philippines.

Just recently, Mozilla released their Firefox 3 browser and made a world record of the most downloaded software in 24hrs. Overall a better browser from the previous ones and a lot of bug fixes. Then, Google released their own internet browser called Google Chrome. Many are amazed by how simple the browser look, and quite frankly, it loads quite faster than other leading internet browsers.

Now, the guys at Mozilla Labs are not yet satisfied with the Firefox 3 as they continue to improve people’s browsing experience on the web as to follow the trend and development of the interweb into Web 3.0.

Here is a sneak peak of that concept by the leading design and UI company Adaptive Path.

This can also affect how web designers will design websites, and if people will continue to use Mozilla products, we web designers, would also have to adapt.

I must admit. It is hard to persuade or prove to fellow Filipinos that having a website will sky rocket their businesses’ growth. I always approach owners at stalls on the mall and ask them if they were interested in having a website for their business. I am amazed by how many people still don’t know what is the internet and how they can benefit from it. I am a bit surprised that most of them thought that I was a scammer. I find it funny though and I can’t blame them. I never dresses well like a salesman. I just approach someone upfront spontaneously. I mean, I wanted to help and I was just passing by.

The benefits of having a web site designed and developed for your business is crucial. Even for Philippine franchise that wants to sell their business, needs a web design. Have you ever searched the internet for a service and found that the one you found is located somewhere in the US or in Cebu? While you are in the opposite part of the country. Then you found out that the service you’re looking for is just around the corner? Businesses, big or small, needs a website. People will almost always search the internet first before they go ask a family, relative or a friend about their needs. Why? Because its easier!

Let’s breakdown the advantages and disadvantages of having a website for a business.

Advantages of a Business Website

• Customers will search the internet first before asking or searching offline.
• Business websites provides instant contact and connection with your customers or clients.
• Web sites for businesses are easy to set up and maintain.
• Almost anyone knows how to surf the internet.
• Anyone can access your business 24 hours a day.
• Having a business name on your domain will build trust to your clients.
• The whole world is your audience

Disadvantages of a Business Website

• You have to pay for a small price for the hosting and domain.
• You might need to update the page once in a while and if you don’t know how to code. This could be a problem. But most of the time, web designers and developers are willing to do this for you for free or a small price. The good thing is, there is another option, you may want to tell the developer to install a CMS (Content Management System) on the site that will let you edit the site without having to learn any coding.

Web design is a business. Freelancers are businessmen. Small time, yes. But still, they don’t have a boss to answer to so that makes them a businessman. In starting out as a freelance web designer, you are in charge of how far you can go, everything is up to you. Now, when you start to earn money from your web design works, always remember that in business, you need to invest in order to grow.

Always remember that the money you earn in web design as a freelancer is not totally yours. The government has part of it (tax) and most of it are for your business. Only allot 10% of your earnings as yours to be freely spent (living expenses). The rest, you should reinvest in your business. Here is a list of things that you should pay attention to and spend your money when you already have your web design business taking off the ground.

1. Invest On Stock Photos. Always remember that picture paints a thousand words. In web design, this is important, if you can replace a bunch of texts into a good looking picture, its golden. And besides, web designers are artist that wants to make the site look good. Purchasing lots of stock photos from the start is a good investment that you can never go wrong. Plus, you can keep them and use them again and again. Start collecting premium and high quality photos, don’t be afraid to buy them if its really good. That differentiate a good designer from a noob. Noobs only use google & find stock images, professional designers invest their money for high quality images.
2. Invest On Tools, Add Ons & Other Programs. If you’re using photoshop to make your web designs, you know that there are a lot of things that you can add on to it. Brushes, patterns that all comes in different varieties made by other web designers. Some of it are free, some of it are not. This is also a good investment as they can save you a lot of time rather than making the same effect over and over again.
3. Invest Icons, Eye candies. I definitely hate making icons. They are so small yet they take so much time to create. But the good thing is that they can be bought. If you think you are wasting time in doing these kinds of stuff, buying them is the best option.
4. Invest In Yourself. The best investment that you can never go wrong is yourself. Purchase videos, dvds, tutorials or training seminars & even subscription to design magazines to further enhance your design skills. Buy tickets to conventions like Graphika Manila where you can broaden your knowledge on the latest trends. There is no limit when it comes to web design. Since we are fueled by creativity, it has no limits. The best way to be on top of this industry is to always be aware of the latest trends, effects, and make sure that you have the money to grow your knowledge in the field.

I’m excited for my new dedicated server. They are still on the process of setting up things that I still have to wait for few more days. I was totally working like a dog all day with web design jobs and tried my best to NOT SLACK at home. This is really hard, see, when you are in the office, you can not slack because your boss will make rounds and you’re too scared to be caught. If you’re at home, no boss will gonna catch you so I always always find myself slacking, watching movies, videos and playing games.

Here are some of the things I did to lessen my slacking habits.

1. Make A To Do List - I always keep a handy dandy notebook by my side to put up my task for today. I divide them by 2. Those that are pending works and those that are needed to be done today. I always limit myself to only 5 tasks everyday so I will still have time to… slack off, take a walk or do some exercise. Since its been raining for the past couple of weeks, I just went and worked some more.
2. Cancel All Noise - I have with me a headset that can cancel noise. In the house, my siblings are all noisy and the television is a big distraction. I’ll play a soothing music or just put the headset on so I can hear silence. This keeps me focused.
3. Momentum Is King - Momentum is a powerful force. Basketball coaches knows that. So you should also. If I know I am hyped to work, and I already did all the tasks, I do some more. Momentum is great as it makes you feel like you’re on fire.
4. Keep Your Work Times - Allot time for your work. If you’ll work for 8 hours today, do it. Separate work from personal life. If 8 hrs should you work, try not to do anything for personal reasons by that time and let the whole family know about it. Put a “Shhh… Genius at work” poster on your office door so everybody would know. LOL
5. Always Keep A Bottle Of Water By Your Side - Standing up and going for a drink is a distraction. I get to past by the television to get some drink which distracts me and makes me want to sit down and watch the television. I see to it that my bottle is full so I won’t get interrupted.

This work ethics applies to any kind of work. Should it be home based business, freelance jobs or working in the office. How about you? Do you have some tips?

Are you ready for this year’s biggest multimedia and design convention in the Philippines? I’m excited to attend this year’s Graphika Manila. Will be held on September 2008. Having to attend last year’s convention, you can get a glimpse of the latest trend in multimedia and web design from different experts around the world. Well, the speakers this year haven’t been disclosed yet but I’m betting that it would be a big ass party.

If you want to know what happened on last year’s Graphika Manila, check the video below.

Mark your calendars ladies and gents.