If you made significantly more money with your online business this year than you did last, you’ll really want to read this.

Now, I’m not a tax adviser, but I do know one who gave me some tips that I’ll share below.

Here’s the scoop. If you made more money this year than last year, your quarterly taxes obviously won’t be enough to cover what you owe, assuming everything else in your life remains the same. (Unless you added a deduction like a baby to your family or something…)

So, you’ll owe money in April.

Last year, I purchased approximately $2000 in advertising and paid my affiliates early and prepaid some subscriptions right before January 1st in order to lessen my income. (The expenses get subtracted from my income so my overall income would be less — therefore less taxable income.)

Now, don’t go spending money you don’t have on things that you don’t NEED. You’re still spending money.

However, if you plan to buy things anyway.. or have a birthday coming in February like I do and want to treat yourself to some business items, then buying early can be a smart move.

Here’s my interview with Kristine McKinley:

You definitely have the right idea. If your business income is up this year, then you want to do some year-end tax planning to try to reduce your taxable income for the year.

You basically have two options: you can defer income into the next year, or accelerate expenses into this year.

If you’re not sure how to do that, here are some tips to reduce your 2008 taxable income:

Defer income:

if you are self employed, one way to reduce your taxable income is to defer income. You can do this by holding off on billing clients until after 12/31. Or if you were planning a teleclass or a big product or service launch at the end of the year, you could hold off until January.

Accelerate expenses:

- Software: I know I’ll need tax software in the next month or so, so I can choose to purchase it in 2008 if I want to accelerate my expenses, or if I think my 2009 income will be higher, I can wait until Jan 1 to buy my software

- Supplies: same concept; any supplies I know I will need for tax season I’m going to buy now to reduce my 2008 income.

- Furniture and equipment: do you need a new computer, an external hard drive for backup purposes, a new chair for your desk?

- Web hosting or domain renewals: do you have any domains that will be expiring soon? Renew them now instead of waiting until they expire.

- Office supplies, shipping supplies, computer supplies: basically stock up on any supplies that you use on a regular basis in your business before the year is over

- Continuing education or classes to improve your business: if you are required to take continuing education, or if you just want to take some classes to help you improve your business, signup and pay for the class before the end of the year so you can deduct it on your 2008 taxes.

- Membership sites: if you’ve been sitting on the fence about joining any membership programs (Shelancers for example), signup before Jan 1 so you can deduct the fees on your current year tax return. Even better, if they offer a lifetime membership fee, choose that option to save money and to take an even larger deduction on your tax return.

- Do you need any work done by web designers, VAs, or other independent contractors? Consider prepaying them for work that you expect them to do in the next 30-60 days. Don’t forget to send them a 1099 if you pay them $600 or more during the year.

- Affiliates: do you usually pay your affiliates on the 5th of the month? Consider sending them their December commissions on 12/31 instead of waiting until Jan 5th.

- Donate to charity: while donations to charity won’t reduce your business income, they will reduce your total income, so consider donating cash, services or goods to your favorite charity before the end of the year

Basically, any expenses that you expect to incur in the next few months that can be accelerated into 2008 will help reduce your taxes for 2008.

One other strategy that every self employed person should consider is funding your retirement account. However, you have a little more time for this strategy as the deadline for most retirement contributions (to IRAs, Roth IRAs, Simple IRAs, etc.) is April 15.

So, here are my recommendations for some items you might purchase (based upon my favorite things)…

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

• Small Reports Fortune - If you’ve ever considered writing an ebook to sell… this course is worth it.
• Sales Army Secrets - THE course for getting your affiliate program making sales.
• MomMasterminds Annual Membership. This is a great program for Moms and I recommend it for anyone looking for assistance in their online business.

BUSINESS TOOLS

• Autoresponder - if you’ve been putting off this purchase, now’s the time.
• Shopping Cart - pay for a year in advance.
• Get Organized with your Outsourcing - pay for a year in advance and organize all of your helpers.
• Load up on some PLR at EasyPLR.com

HIRE HELP

• Hire a Shelancer to write press releases, articles, sales pages, or design graphics for you.
• Hook up with an Article Writing & Distribution service.
• Also, you can go to the Warrior Forum and check out their Special Offers section to find great deals on advertising and copywriting.

And, of course, you can hire Kristine to help you with your financial planning. She said:

Hope this helps! If you need more ideas I’ve got several posts on my blog about year end tax planning. Here’s a link to one…

http://internetbiztaxtips.com/2008/11/year-end-tax-tips/

Keep more of your money instead of handing it to Uncle Sam.

Best of luck.
Nicole

You can get your hands on the “Quick Guide to Broadcasting Your Own Profitable Podcast” for only $2.

This guide is written by my good friend, successful podcaster and podcasting teacher, Kelly McCausey. In this guide, she’ll show you to create and publish your own podcast for profit.

This guide includes a written report plus full audio recording that covers everything from getting set up to publicizing your podcast.

It’s part of Alice Seba’s Sweetie Report Series.

To get your copy, click here.

Enter coupon code: 28CC4 (works with PayPal only)

The coupon offer expires Dec. 31 so grab it while it lasts.

Warmly,
Nicole

If you saw this graphic of a Toupee, would you buy it?

Bad Toupee

I didn’t think so.

What if it were accompanied by this?

Great copy!

Too funny! Now, you actually have me thinking of men in my life who NEED this toupee. And, at only $6.95 — what a bargain!

Adios, Hair Club for Men. I’m getting the folically-challenged men in my life, the The Inconspicuous Toupee! <– click there if you’re interested in buying one of these slick “Rico Suave” toupees for the balding man in your life.

I’ll be back soon with some great marketing examples of taking a product that is mediocre to fabulous — with *great* copy!

Do you need to schnazz up your copy?

Do-it-Yourselfers check out –>  Copywriting Course for Beginners

Want to find a Copywriter? —> Shelancers for Hire

Interested in Copywriting as a Home Business? –> Moms Talk Biz has a copywriting course.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Nicole

As marketers, we’re always told to “niche it up”. And, my coaching clients frequently ask me, “What niche should I get into?”

Here are some niches that I certainly had never thought of!

#18: Demotivators - (Don’t tell the kids but I know that this is what they got me for Christmas. They know me so well!) This is an example of actually providing a product that is funny, hip, and NEEDED.

It starts to fall apart after that one…

#17: Nostril Egg Separator - Just the other day, I tried to separate some eggs for a cornbread recipe that I was making. The first one came out like a charm. The other? Not so good. If only I had a ceramic nose to use to separate my eggs… You know, eggs look enough like snot. This one just kind of makes my stomach turn. Would I use it? Heck yeah. It’s cool. But, I might gag while cooking, which is really not cool for the people who might be watching me make their food.

#16: Fast Food Origami - I don’t get it. Anyone? Anyone?

#15: Origami Boulders - there’s a need that is, thankfully, finally, filled. Now I can sleep at night.

#14: Pet Strollers - What ever happened to a leash? Am I that old-fashioned?

#13: Wind up Sushi - Uhhh… no comment. This is just weird.

#12: Chew by Numbers Art - I have no idea how you’d display this chewed gum art after it was done, but … I guess it is better than sticking it under your desk or behind your ear?

#11: Corn Dog Air Freshener - No, silly. It won’t freshen your corn dogs. It’ll make your car smell like Corn dogs. Breathe that aroma. Ahhhh….

#10: Giant Underpants - Practical if you and several of your friends all forgot your unders on the SAME DAY. Thank goodness you avoided that faux pas. That could have been embarrassing!

#9: Brain Mold - Gives new meaning to the word “Brain food”.

#8: Butt-Face Towel - Now, this is practical, at least, if you’re sharing towels with your spouse.  See, gentle readers. Every problem gives the opportunity to profit. The problem is drying your face where a bottom may have been. Now, this company makes money helping people to avoid that scenario all together. Pfshew!

#7: Man Groomer - For the man who wants to groom his OWN back hair.

#6: Poopouri - It’s for giving to your husband when you’re staying at your mom’s house…

#5: Hello Kitty Birthing Rooms. Yes, in Tokyo, they’ve decided that “Hello Kitty” would help relax mothers in labor. HELOOOO?! If the thought of holding your newborn baby isn’t enough to stop the screaming — maybe a cartoon cat with no mouth will help? I don’t THINK so.

#4: Squirrel Underpants - Yes. There I said it. Those naked squirrels really offend me. Flashing children at the parks. Now you can teach modesty to even furry little rodents.

#3: The Wine Rack - Now, I loves my wine as much as the next gal, but I don’t need a bra full of it! There’s no way to discuss this one gently, so just go look.

#2: Chicken Poop Lip Junk. Yes, it is called “Chicken Poop”. No, that wasn’t a spelling error. The motto is “Be healthy. Be happy. Smile proudly and tell your friends you’ve got Chicken Poop™ on your lips!”

#1: Tampon Crafts. Nuff said. See more here… if you dare.

Now, I’m all for niching-it-up in business, and I certainly hope all of these ideas do well. I love the creativity of the human mind.

Have you seen any “thinking outside the box” niches recently that you’d like to share?

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. This is another great example of Outsourcing. Guess who sat on Instant Messenger with me giggling for the last 1/2 hour, finding these products? One of my VA’s, Tracy!

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You may or may not know, but I’m Jimmy D. Brown’s affiliate manager and have been for almost 2 years now.

What’s that have to do with anything? Well, I have a fun announcement for you.

If you’re in a hurry, you can just go there now:
http://www.PLRSO.com
(party poopers!)

Otherwise, for those of you who like stories… curl up by the fire. I’ve got a tale of Nicole & Jimmy for you.

It started like this…

— BEGIN STORY —

Once upon a time… (last year to be exact), Jimmy said to Nicole, “I want to sell PLR Rights to my products.”

Nicole said “Are you insane in the membrane?!” (Only she said it much nicer.)

Jimmy said, “Trust me.”

And, so she did.

The PLR sale sold like Gangbusters.

All was happy in the world of Nicole & Jimmy.

The next year, they did the same thing. Another PLR sale. And, it did very well.

After the 2008 sale, Nicole & Jimmy chatted. They both realized that times were hard, and many people just couldn’t afford the big once-a-year special offer.

They agreed that offering lower-priced PLR options would make them accessible to more people who wanted them.

The next day, Jimmy sent Nicole an email that started with “Brace yourself. You’re gonna like this idea.”

Nicole read… and smiled. She replied with her 2 cents and they came up with a great way for MORE people to be able to afford PLR rights to Jimmy’s products.

Want to know what they came up with? Check it out…
http://www.PLRSO.com

— END STORY —

I share this for a number of reasons.

1. Jimmy is a great teacher. He’s a great guy. And, he’s a friend.
2. The quality of this stuff is ridiculous. The dude’s an awesome teacher.
3. The price is just plain old silly. Actually I tried to get him to raise it. Hey, I work on commission here and I wanted to earn some cashola. Can you blame a girl for trying?

Anyway, I’m getting silly(er) now, so I’ll run. Just be sure to check out http://PLRSO.com as soon as you can.

Have an amazing weekend. Holiday blessings to you and your loved ones.

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. The Self-Help PLR offer for my readers only is still available. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find it ONLY here. –> Self-Help PLR

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Well, this one did.

As you’ll see in a moment, this PLR is perfect for

Business mentors,
Marketing teachers,
WAHM blogs,
Success Leaders,
Life Coaches,
Weight loss professionals,
Fitness Trainers,
Speakers,
Managers,
Direct Sellers for Team Training…

and anyone who basically reaches people — since we all want to improve ourselves.

The discount link is here.

Here’s what you’ll get:

1. 20 Computer Wallpapers with Inspirational Quotes and Sayings
(in 10 resolutions + a thumbnail image)
2. 30 Inspirational PLR Articles (minimum 500 words)
3. 30 Personal Reflections and Positive Affirmations
(great for blog posts!)
4. 5 PDF downloads: checklists, worksheets, reports, handouts,
or guides (great for giveaways, upsells, or an expanded product
line-up)
5. All eBook covers, graphics and images (use them to promote
and sell the PLR materials as your own!)
6. BONUS: Monthly Mastermind Calls (our experts tackle your most
burning internet marketing questions… plus get the MP3
recording and worksheet!)

It’s not all wishy-washy (granola-eater) stuff.

This month, the articles include:

- Have a Strategy for Losing Weight in the New Year
- 5 Simple Brainstorming Techniques
- 5 Ways to Deal with Negative People
- Single-Tasking: The Sane Alternative to Multitasking

And, that’s just 4 of the 30 articles that you’ll receive.

For more info, check it out here.

The first month is only $19. After that, you would normally go to regular price, but because you’re my readers, you’ll get $30 off the regular price. Even if you just try it the first month, I know you’ll love it.

I wish you well. Stay healthy and cozy and warm.

Warmly,
Nicole

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Here’s the problem with blogging. Thinking up what to blog about daily is exhausting. Researching, developing activities, planning posts takes up a boat load of time. As if that isn’t bad enough, when doing your research, it is so easy to get sucked up into other peoples’ blogs and not accomplishing anything at the end of the day.

Blog Energizer can help.

Take a look at what you’ll get when you get in their member’s area - which is free.

Check it out here.

PLUS, she’s hosting a challenge. If she can get to 2000 FREE members by December 31st, she’ll donate 8000 bowls of food through the “Feeding America(TM) & Kraft Foods” program.

Please take a look here.

It’s a great way to help feed the homeless AND give your blog a HUGE boost!

Let me know what you think.

Warmly,
Nicole

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If you’ve been putting off your Article Marketing efforts because it’s too time-consuming or confusing, I’ve got something for you.

My friend, Alice Seba is now offering a FULL SERVICE article writing & distribution service.

It couldn’t be any easier than this.

She’s offering 5 articles/month -

• Researching hot topics
• Writing the articles
• Rewriting unique versions
• Distributing them to the directories
• Contacting publishers directly offering *unique* versions of your articles
• and more.

This is MUCH more than just hiring someone to write 5 articles per month — you’re getting serious mileage from these articles.

Imagine where your business would be in a year, if you were using article marketing effectively.

Heck, even if you just try it for one month, you’ll certainly benefit from the exposure.

Click here to check it out.
Use coupon code: CAF5D for $50 off your first month.
Special code will expire on December 7th.

Warmly,
Nicole

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