Make Money at Home

Dear Cathy:

I just found an interesting article on someone else’s website. What are the rules if I want to put it into my own ezine? Can I paraphrase and indicate where I found the info?

Or must I request permission to reprint, then list the item word for word? I am finding that most requests for permission go unanswered.
Signed: Trying to Do the Right Thing

Dear Trying:

First I would ask, “Why do you want to use someone else’s article?” If you’re selling yourself, I recommend you use your own words and ideas. If your writing seems awkward, or your thoughts seem to stall between your computer and your brain, consider taking a course, joining a group and/or hiring a coach.

If your goal is to create an ezine with a huge circulation, and then sell ads for the ezine, you may be wise to use all sorts of content. You’re not selling yourself — you’re selling a daily or weekly portion of ideas.

The ultimate example: Kevin Eikenberry’s Powerquotes. Kevin has built a huge following by sending around quotes — not his own original ideas. He’s also a really nice guy who answers his email.

Now suppose you see a terrific article on one of my websites (And why wouldn’t you? They grow like wildflowers.) Like most website authors, I state clearly that anyone may reprint my articles if they make no changes and use my resource box. Go for it!

But suppose you want to write your own article about reprint permissions. You want to mention that I said, “Better to write your own article if you’re selling yourself.” You don’t want to use the whole article — just this one idea.

No problem! Just mention that Cathy Goodwin presented this idea and supply my website address. You’re free to add more ideas, disagree or send people to my site to read more. Just give me credit.

What you’re doing now is “citing” a source, whether it’s a website article or a book from the library. You must take care to reproduce ideas accurately and in context.

For example, if I say, “Here’s what NOT to do: Help yourself to anything on the web,” don’t you dare say, “Cathy Goodwin invites us to help ourselves to anything on the web.” That can get you in real trouble, as well as make you look very, very stupid.

Now let’s imagine you like this entire article (I live for this) and you want to reproduce the ideas. However, you want to paraphrase and just say, “Based on an article by Cathy Goodwin.”

Frankly, I can’t see why you would want to paraphrase more than a single idea from an article. If you really like my articles, add a link to my site (and ask me to reciprocate — I usually say yes).

Now let’s suppose you come across a website with a terrific article. You want to reprint that article, but the author ignores your request for reprint permission. I recommend that you abandon this article and move on to a new one, preferably your own.

Why publicize an author who can’t be bothered to respond? How do you know the article you want was legally acquired? Perhaps the author paid a ghostwriter and now feels embarrassed to take the credit.

There are dozens of databases that offer free content. I send my own articles to several. Simply type “free content” into a search engine and you’ll be overwhelmed. Some of these collections insist that authors specify their own reprint guidelines. Others ask us to agree to their guidelines whenever we submit an article.

Another tip: If you like articles by a particular author, type that author’s name into a search engine. Chances are you’ll turn up a website offering free content — and the editor will have established permissions for everyone.

When in doubt, I’d prefer to err on the side of caution. An author who feels her work has been stolen will resemble an angry bee, determined to sting you in a most awkward portion of your anatomy. You won’t even get a pot of honey — just an article you didn’t need anyway.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

“Ten secrets of mastering a major life change” mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

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While many people turn to their usual bank when opening a business account, it’s advisable to shop around. There can be some advantages to using the same bank for personal and business accounts - your manager may be more supportive if you are known to the bank and have a sound financial track record. However, each bank offers different services and has different bank charges.

Many banks are currently offering free business banking for a set period - six months or a year - as an incentive. There are also a variety of support packages, such as free business software and dedicated advisers to help with your business plan. Choose a bank that will give the best all round deal for your particular business - you may also want to consider corporate ethos and ethical banking when deciding which bank to take your business to.

Choosing Your Accounts

Depending on your business type and size, you may need different accounts. If you are likely to be making frequent transactions, for example, you may be better off with an account that charges a fixed monthly fee, rather than a fee per transaction. If you need to process debit and credit card payments, you will need a merchant account.

For overseas trading, you may want a foreign currency account. As with personal accounts, it may be worthwhile to hold more than one type of account - for example, a current account for day-to-day banking and a deposit account for investing profits. There’s nothing to stop you having different accounts with different banks - although you might get a better deal if you hold all your accounts with one.

Opening Your Account

You will need to set up a meeting with a business advisor to open an account. In order to prevent money laundering, you will need to provide certain information at this point - including proof of identity such as driving license or passport, plus proof of your address and signature. The advisor will want to see a business plan and details of your financial planning. There are many schemes that offer help with putting together a business plan. Make sure you have as detailed a plan as possible when presenting it to your advisor - this will help him or her to offer the best services for your needs.
You will also need an account opening mandate - the bank will provide this.

For limited companies you will need a certificate of incorporation.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store where you will find information and reviews of the latest personal loans and offer more information on secured loans and other loan topics available on site.

Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk

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A very surprising thing happens just about every time I sit down to work on my marketing plan, call a prospective client, mail a few thank-you notes to current clients, or take any other marketing-related action — even if it’s just to conjure up some new marketing strategies. Whenever I have a true intention to market, the Universe responds by opening a door. A client I haven’t heard from in a while asks me to do a big assignment. I find out that my pitch to a big company has paid off, and my contact is ready to sign a contract. Or I get an out-of-the-blue call that brings me glad tidings of great joy and prosperity (that is, the caller has never talked to me before but knows about my work and implores me with all sincerity to do a project in just two weeks, adding, of course, that the company will happily give me 150 percent of my usual fee all in advance!)

That last scenario doesn’t happen very often (well, okay, it happened just twice), but other “door openings” are very common. These door openings tell me that just having the intention to market is often enough to start or increase the flow of abundance in my life. I am rewarded for making the effort and being willing.

However, I know I can’t fool myself, much less the Universe: My intention must be honest. It’s not enough to simply think about the fact that I need to do some marketing. I must intend to actually do some marketing very soon — usually that day. In many cases my intention registers only after I put myself into marketing mode by doing some definitive action, such as making a list of people who are due for follow ups, working on my web site or simply reading a book filled with marketing ideas that rev up my enthusiasm and creativity. Then the doors of opportunity open.

I call these door openings the “magic of marketing momentum,” but that doesn’t mean you can rely on magic alone. Intention is the key you must put into the lock. Action is the process of turning the key and opening the door. What’s inside? Opportunity and prosperity. Enjoy!

This article may be copied and distributed in its entirety and without alteration, if accompanied by the following information:
Kathy Poole has had a highly profitable freelance writing business since 1985. As a Writer’s Coach, she helps other writers prosper financially, create freely and live passionately. For more information, resources and inspiration, visit http://www.prosperouswriter.com, or e-mail Kathy at clarity@iag.net. © 2006 by ProClarity, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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