The start of something big?

Folks, I think this is it...

I have decided that this, social media consulting, is what I am supposed to be doing. I am networking with some of the biggest names in the field, and I am so blessed to be able to just have brief conversations with them online. I am going to stick to these new friends like glue, and learn everything I possibly can learn from them. I'm about to put the pedal to the metal, and get this thing done once and for all. It looks like I will be working in 3 key areas:

1. Social Media Consulting
I have branded my own service, which is "Web 2.0 SMO" (stands for "Social Media Optimization"). I will help businesses, professionals, and organizations OPTIMIZE what they do by leveraging themselves through the social networks. I have started a page for this on my professional site, CarltonZone.com.

2. Information Product Creation
I have been working for 8 years on my own line of information products. They center upon crafty and innovative business ideas which can be carried out with minimal investment, and without a store front. All of the ideas that I have presented are field-tested. I learned them by experience. I am now learning how to focus and pare down my ideas into usable chunks. My first product had 19 business ideas. It was too much to swallow. I have since pulled 2 ideas from the original 19, and am in the middle of finalizing production. I am considering doing a joint venture with a partner who will help market the products that I have created. This way, I can focus on the quality of my products until I get a firm foothold in the field of info product sales.

3. Website Commerce
I have 3 websites. One is MicroBusinessPlans.com. On this site, I will be selling small business ideas. Right now, I am selling small information products that give the wholesale sources that I used when I had my brick-and-mortar businesses. I also will be selling product-related information products on this site. I have a brief guide that I have written that shows people how to get a business license, how to market and advertise, and several tips and tricks of the small business trade. Plus, there are links to tons of resources on my site. It's a work in progress, but this will continue on as I learn. I also am toying with a couple of money-making website ideas that will pull in advertisement revenues. Once successful, I will sell them as internet business plans with full details of how to reproduce what I successfully built.

I am assembling a great team to help me. I have picked out who my "mentors" are going to be, and they don't have any choice in the matter! I also have 2 young men who are looking for experience that will be helping in 2 key areas: 1, creative writing, and 2, programming. I also have a good friend at work that I will be joint-venturing a product that we are both passionate about. TO ice the cake, I am pulling in a lifelong friend of mine who is living in Japan to co-author some info products on healthy living and longevity.

This is the start of something big. I can feel it down to the depths of my soul, and I am excited! I have no idea of exactly where this will go, but I have a clear plan in-mind. I'll let the Lord work out the details! In the meantime, I will keep everyone posted as my journey progresses!

Good night, and God bless!

Carlton

The Carlton Zone