Stop reading, go out there and DO IT! Don't be afraid of failing, just learn from your mistakes and move on, but whatever you do, NEVER give up!
Anik Singal

Brought to you in partnership with Rod Beckwith - http://mrjv.com

Highest Education: Graduated college in May 2005 with a degree in finance

Year Started Business: "I began Singal Marketing Consultants in January 2004. I began Kurma Education Group in June 2004."

Type Of Business: "Singal Marketing Consultants offers Internet marketing consulting, copywriting, search engine optimization, and pay-per-click management; we also market affiliate products to our clients. Kurma Education Group is an online publishing company. Our first products can be found at http://www.dominatesearchengines.com and http://www.affiliatecoaching.com. Kurma Education Group will begin by specializing in business development, marketing, and self-improvement products."

Target Market: Singal Marketing Consultant's idea customer is a small business with a marketing budget to invest online. Kurma Education Group's ideal customer is a person looking to begin a business online with little money and experience.

Number Of Employees: "Both companies have no employees as of yet. However, we have a consistent relationship with five contractors—Web designers, copywriters, search engine optimizers, and programmers."

Best Month (Gross Revenues): $14,000

Hours Worked Per Week During Startup Phase: "During the startup phase for Singal Marketing Consultants, I would work about 20 to 25 hours a week. I was limited in my time because of my full-time student status. However, in the beginning phase of Kurma Education Group, I worked around 30 to 35 hours a week."

Hours Worked Per Week Now: For both companies combined, about 40 to 45 hours a week

Favorite Business Magazines:

1. Entrepreneur - "It's always an inspiration to see what others are doing and to get ideas."
   
2. Fortune
   
3. Business 2.0

Favorite Business Books Or Authors:

1. The Richest Man in Babylon - "This book taught me the art of paying myself first and saving my money, an invaluable lesson at my age."
   
2. Confessions of a Self-Made Multi-Millionaire - Michael Masterson, a self-published book.
   
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad - An excellent book to learn the way businessmen and successful people think.

Relaxes By: Watching movies, playing the guitar, and going out with friends in the evenings

Keeps In Shape By: Working out at the gym at least 4 times a week, with a strict cardiovascular and weight-lifting routine

Favorite Part Of The Job: "I love being able to work my own hours and working from anywhere I want. I also love the marketing aspect of my job because it allows me to be creative and face challenges."

Least Favorite Part Of The Job: I find that working on the Internet or through the Internet requires a bit of technical knowledge of your computer and maybe even some programming. Although you don't need to know any specifics, a basic knowledge is important. Sometimes I do not like being so dependent on a piece of machinery."

Companies Admired:

1. Microsoft - "Bill Gates has taken nothing and turned it into a company that leads the world. I see myself as if I am in his shoes right now."
   
   
2. GE - "GE is amazing because they own the industry-leading companies in almost all the biggest industries. Who would have thought that they also own media companies?"
   
   
3. Google - Even though they went public, Google is very strict about their efforts to providing for their consumer.

Favorite Quotes:

Practice makes perfect. - Unknown
If it's easy, it ain't worth having. - Unknown

The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "My father by far has been the biggest influence in my life because I have seen how hard he worked in his life. My father was raised in a small village in India and today he has a supervisor position in one of the world's most respected engineering firms. He has worked very hard in life, and he inspires me to take our family name even further."

Heroes:

1. My Father - "He has gone through A LOT in his life and has come out a huge success; he's a definite inspiration."
   
2. Mahatma Gandhi - "He took a stance and brought together a nation. He did the impossible."
   
3. Donald Trump - "Simply because I love his toughness and business acumen...but, there ARE things about him that I wouldn't want to mimick. ;)"

Special Business Achievements/Honors: "I was accepted into University of Maryland's Hinmans CEO program for rising entrepreneurs. They select the best business school students and provide coaching and resources to help start and build businesses. I maintained excellent grades in college while also starting a business at the age of 20."

Number Of Months Before Achieving A Profit: "I achieved a profit my very first month in business. The reason was because I had spent about one and a half years just researching and building contacts. I knew what mistakes not to make. I was also very well networked and had a reputation in my industry before I started. This helped me quickly pick up clients to work for with very little investment in marketing."

Books/Tapes/Reports Authored: " I have authored a book on how to improve grades in college, which can be found at http://www.BetterGPA.com. I have also authored a guide on how to use some excellent search engine optimization software: http://www.DominateSearchEngines.com.

"My latest publication is a membership to a site that trains individuals one step at a time on how to make a living on the Internet by promoting affiliate programs. This is a revolutionary site that took over seven months to put together. Much of the content in this site has been written by me and other industry leaders; please visit http://www.AffiliateCoaching.com."

Contact Anik At: Phone - (301) 591-0930 and E-mail - info@singalmarketing.com

GETTING STARTED TIPS:

I'm starting a home business next month. I have a maximum of $3,000 in start-up capital. Where should I invest it?

Invest the least in buying "techy gadgets" that you think you need. Most people blow their money in "setting-up" their business just so they can feel good about themselves. All you need is a simple computer, not a brand new, top-of-the-line and a good high speed Internet connection.

I would plan to invest about $2,000 in just marketing your business. Whether you choose to use online or offline marketing. I would also make sure to NOT invest the entire $2,000 in one form of marketing (i.e., spending the entire budget in pay-per-click or offline direct mail). Plan to test at least two or three different forms of marketing.

The remaining $1,000 should be used to get a quality Website designed, some copywriting to sell your product, and registration for business necessities such as a payment acceptor; also, maybe some software needed to run your particular business.

I've just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months to make it work. Any advice?

Although I am not married, I do have parents who took a similar approach. The reason someone may give you such a "deadline" is because they truly believe that you will not go through with it and quit within six months. If the other person sees that after six months, you're still pouring your heart into it and are just as passionate, I can almost guarantee that the "lack of enough profits" will not be an issue. In cases like this, it is important that you portray your passion, desire, and drive to your loved one. Let them know "why" you're doing it and what's in it for them. Always be up-front and ask for their support, and tell them how much their support means to you.

They say it takes money to make money. Should I try to get a small business loan for my start-up capital or just try to get by with my own limited finances?

No loans necessary. Your business is not a brick-and-mortar business. All you need to generate some revenue is a computer, an Internet connection, and some common sense. I started my business with less than $100. I already had a computer with an Internet connection. I used $20 to buy a domain name and get hosting. Then, I used the remaining $80 to buy some ad space. Loans are unnecessary because they will tempt you to invest into things you do not "need" but just desire. The only time a loan should be considered is once a profit is being generated, and you want to test a form of marketing or product that requires a large investment. However, you're covering yourself because in case of failure, you have enough profit being generated to cover your payments on the loan.

TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:

How quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?

I adopt new technology into my business very quickly. One of my main goals for my home business is to automate it as much as possible. So when new technology that comes out that could either save me time or money or make me more money, I am quick to invest into it. However, I try never to be one of the first to do it. I wait for others to use it, hear their feedback, learn from their mistakes and then implement.

Do you use a fax machine with a dedicated line?

No, I have an extra "business" line and I use my fax on that if I need to use it. I don't find myself needing to use my fax machine that much at all.

How do you use e-mail in your business?

E-mail practically runs my business. I am constantly answering and sending e-mail to conduct and market my business.

How do you utilize the Internet?

My entire business is based on the Internet. Singal Marketing Consultants, http://www.singalmarketing.com, specializes in consulting businesses on how to market their products online. Kurma Education Group is an online publication company. We find niches that need information, develop a product, write Website and sales copy, and then market that product online.

How many of your own Website(s) do you have?

I have multiple Websites, the main ones are http://www.singalmarketing.com and http://www.affiliatecoaching.com. These main Websites are used to market products. However, I have many other Websites as well, these are normally used primarily for testing niches, marketing strategies, and search engine optimization strategies: http://www.dominatesearchengines.com/.

Do you use autoresponders?

Yes, for any Website on which we sell a product, whether it be our own product or an affiliate product, an autoresponder is a very important section of the Website. Autoresponders are used to entice someone to give us their e-mail in response for some free information. Then, we continue to follow-up with this person on a weekly basis, providing them with more related information. Occasionally, we will offer them products to buy. As the list grows, our income grows as well because we can market any product we want to a large, targeted group of people (who trust us) with no marketing expense!

If you use voice mail, what is your primary use for it?

We have voice-mail only for the times that I am not at my desk or for after hours. The voice-mail is used to collect messages of prospective customers/clients and also to answer to any technical/service problems a current customer/client may be having.

Describe your computer system and how you use computers in your business.

I have two computers—one Dell laptop (1 GHz, Pentium III, 4 years old, 512 MB RAM) and one Emachine desktop (1 year old - Celeron chip, 1.6 GHz, 512 MB RAM). I use windows XP, and the only other peripherals I make use of are a scanner and printer. I rarely need a scanner, but sometimes it can come in handy. We use the printer all the time. I should likely mention that I am getting quite tired of using PCs. I am not good with computers and all the softwares I download, plus the many Websites I visit, my computer gets virus ridden almost every other week. It starts to slow down and risk my hard drive. It's gotten to be a big problem and so I am highly considering investing in a light, small Apple laptop, which can be easily carried around and used anywhere—this way my business can travel with me at all times. Also, Apple have almost no virus and "Windows-related" problems.

What software do you consider in the "must-have" category?

It is my personal opinion that the software you need is completely dependent on your business. For example, I need a great e-mail tool and I use various different software to help me build Websites, perform search engine optimization, etc...However, those tools would be useless to someone not in the same business as me.

What other technology do you use in your business?

A cell phone is a must for me. I have many clients and customers who need to get a hold of me quickly, and they feel comfortable knowing that I am easily accessible. I also use a palm pilot to keep track of my appointments and conference calls. Without the Palm Pilot, I used to forget my appointments and lost many accounts. Please note that I did NOT buy these tools in the beginning of my business, only when I felt they were necessary and when my business was growing. I have a very expensive Palm Pilot, but I think it's a complete waste of money in the beginning.

Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can benefit from:

1. http://www.ablake.net/forum—If you want to have an internet business, this forum is a MUST. I learned almost everything I know from it. It's like a second home, and I can't say enough great things about it.
2. http://www.entrepreneur.com—A great site with some great tools for almost all lines of business.
3. The free newsletter at http://www.earlytorise.com—An absolute must for any businessman. This is a daily free newsletter with some great tips for businessmen in general. It is published by a self-made millionaire, direct marketer who now owns more than 10 companies, each valued at over $1 million.

I honestly can't say that I have another two "musts." I try to make it a point to wander the different Internet marketing related Websites when time allows...just to keep on top of what others are doing.

Of all the technology you use, rank the top three. Why do you consider these to be the top three?

1. Computer—Without my computer, I have absolutely no business.
   
2. Cell Phone—An excellent way to make sure I don't miss important calls.
   
3. Palm Pilot—Keeps my schedule on track and allows me to stay organized...a must in business.

MARKETING & ADVERTISING:

How do you market on the Internet?

I use many techniques to market my businesses online. Here is a list of all of them:

1. Joint Ventures with other Websites and newsletter publishers.
   
2. Affiliates.
   
3. Pay-Per-Click from Google Adwords.
   
4. Submitting articles to directories.
   
5. Search engine optimization.
   
6. Classified ads and solo ads on online newsletters.
   
7. Offline postcards, direct mail.
   
8. Referrals.

Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from Internet marketing?

I would say about 80% of my leads for the consulting business come from the Internet; 10% from direct mail marketing and the rest from offline connections I've built. However for Kurma Education Group and http://www.AffiliateCoaching.com, 100% of my business is from online marketing.

How do you market through direct mail?

I write to small business owners and offer services such as copywriting, search engine optimization, PPC consulting, etc. Soon, for Kurma Education Group, we'll begin sending letters to professionals in certain niches to have them author electronic books for us to market.

Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from direct mail marketing?

10% of my consulting contracts come from direct mail marketing. I don't really do much of it yet because I am so busy with my clients from the Internet.

How do you market in the print media?

I have not yet marketed in print media, but I do plan on marketing http://www.AffiliateCoaching.com in Entrepreneur magazine eventually. First, I will start with classified ads, then slowly move to buying ads in the magazine itself.

What other kinds of marketing do you utilize?

I am currently working on building a more in-depth local offline network. I am talking to businessmen I know locally and slowly branching out.

Do you recommend using a toll-free number in advertising?

I would not have any specific evidence to support this because I have not tested it. However, my mentors have made it clear that you get a far bigger response with a toll-free number.

Where do you market (locally, nationally, internationally, all three?).

Because a substantial part of my business is marketed online, I would say that I market my business internationally. I have clients from all around the world.

THE HOME OFFICE:

How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize its effectiveness?

Great question and one that I am very very keen on. The location of your office is extremely important. And even more important is how you set it up. First of all, make sure to build your office away from all distractions such as:

1. Children.
   
2. Bed.
   
3. Food.
   
4. TV, etc…
   

I prefer to have my office in a separate room where I keep all my office materials. For a successful office, you MUST have at least two desks. One for your computer and one for you to do paperwork, etc…Do NOT waste time buying "pretty" furniture or anything that looks nice. This is waste of money. Use that extra money to market and build your business. Just get two plain desks from Office Depot, put them in a room without any distraction, and get to work! I also think it's important to have a filing cabinet to stay organized and maybe a bookshelf to keep your learning material.

What, if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and family in order to operate a successful home business?

When I am working, my door is shut. If my door is closed, my family is to knock before entering. However, sometimes I am doing recordings or am on the phone and do not want to be disturbed at all. In this case, I put a sign on the door, and if that's the case, my family knows only to disturb in case of emergency. Also, my family loves to throw last-minute errands at me when I am working, so we had to make it a ground rule that I have certain "work hours"—during that time, NO ERRANDS or "favors."

What are some of the advantages to working at home? What are some of the disadvantages?

Advantages:

1. No traffic.
   
2. Your own timing.
   
3. Comfort of your home.
   
4. Dress however you want.
   
5. Can easily take breaks or grab a snack.
   
6. Have flexibility.

Disadvantages:

1. Too many distractions.
   
2. Family may not take you seriously.
   
3. Temptation to slack.
   
4. Your home phone - personal phone calls can kill a business.
   
5. Friends/family stopping by and disturbing you when you work.

MANAGEMENT STYLE:

What part(s) of your work do you farm out?

Almost all things that I feel can be done of quality and do not need my personal touch are outsourced to others. I also think outsourcing is great because I can offer more services while having experts handle the work for me. Here are some of the things I outsource:

1. Web design.
   
2. Graphic design.
   
3. Programming.
   
4. Writing - content development.
   
5. Soon, I will hire someone to answer my support e-mails for AffiliateClassroom.com and other general inquiries for consulting.

What part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?

Never outsource anything that is the backbone of your business. For example, in my business, I never outsource marketing planning for clients or actual marketing implementation. For AffiliateCoaching.com , I never outsource the interviews, case studies and other crucial content. I may hire someone to write it, but I always take a lot of time to review/edit it. Outsourcing is not as easy as it sounds; it takes time to find the right people, and having the wrong people can really mess up your business, so be careful.

Do you encourage or discourage Partnerships?

I encourage them but with a warning. Don't combine with people you don't know. Make sure to get to know them and see whether you two can work together or not. It's not always a matter of them not being honest; your partner may be a great person, but you two just may not see eye to eye on matters and have different visions. I never blindly leap into a partnership or joint venture. I don't even promote a product as an affiliate without getting to know the person who's product I am selling. But, partnerships are great, if done right, because they bring more expertise to your business and can help you grow bigger, faster.

Do you encourage or discourage hiring family members?

I strongly discourage hiring family members and friends, especially friends. These individuals do not see you as a boss, they see you as a "buddy." They won't take your instructions and deadline seriously and will expect slack. Also, if you get upset or "demand" something, they will hold it against you in your personal relationship. Things have a way of getting really messy very fast. I lost one of my best friends because we went into a business partnership together and he never pulled his weight. We got into a huge fight and are no longer even friends; we used to be inseparable before that. Definitely think twice before hiring a family member and/or friend.

MONEY & INVESTMENTS:

What are the advantages of earning a lot of money. What are some disadvantages?

Advantages:

1. Freedom—Can do what you want without always worrying about money.
   
2. Respect—All of a sudden people around you look at you differently.
   
3. Pride, self-confidence—Having money sure helps your confidence and can many times make you happier with life.
   
4. Being able to make those around you happy—It's nice when you can provide for those around you and make them smile.

Disadvantages:

1. Taking things for granted—Sometimes you may forget what it used to be like and take some things for granted.
   
2. Ego—Be careful not to let your head get too big.
   
3. Becoming materialistic—Now that you have money, you want neat things. Somehow, you stop finding pleasure in the "other" things in life.
   
4. Wanting more—People think they'll stop wanting money when they have some. But, it works the other way around for most—the more you get, the more you want.

Best general tax advice?

Keep great records; make sure to deduct every possible business expense you can!

Best general investment advice?

Don't but a thing until you NEED it. Don't invest in expensive equipment unless you TRULY need it to grow your business. Don't "convince" yourself you need it, make sure it will actually, really help your business and that you are in a financial position to buy it.

You're in business already, and you've just received a windfall of $20,000. What would you do with it?

I would immediately invest it into another product I am thinking about right now. I am thinking about developing an excellent service, but need a lot of capital to start up-front. The $20,000 would go straight to that project. I would NOT spend it on personal items, every penny would be invested in helping to grow my current business or starting a new one.

THE ROAD AHEAD:

In five years I'll be...

Running a fast-growing marketing consulting firm along with a company that specializes in creating products for online businesses. I will also be a millionaire at this point and working on my own schedule.

In 10 years I'll be...

In a position that I can retire and live a luxurious life with no more working. I will also have launched my education non-profit organization. My business will be one of the nation's largest marketing consulting companies. I also plan to be an avid real estate investor by this time.

POWERFUL IDEAS:

What was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own business?

I want to be my own boss. I never wanted to get a job, and I wanted to be rich at a young age so I could enjoy life. I also wanted to enable my parents to retire as soon as possible.

What role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your business off the ground?

My family has been an immense support (morally). They have been there for me every time I have needed them. Other than that, there was no financial or educational role.

What motivates you now to continue building your business?

A sense of pride and to show the world that I can do it. Also, I want to hit financial freedom by the age of 25. Just the thought of having a huge company just excites me into working harder and harder.

What's the best thing about being self-employed?

Freedom...nothing beats being able to get up when you want, do what you want where you want and when you want without answering to anyone else!...and all while making more money than you would for being bossed around.

How often do you read books and/or listen to or watch tapes for improving your business skills or knowledge?

Everyday. I used to hate reading. Now I'm starting to read and learn from new marketing courses on a daily basis. I also started reading business development and self-improvement books now. I try to listen to audio CDs when I drive now, instead of listening to loud music like I used to.

The most underrated activity in business is…

Planning....People don't plan nearly enough before they start their business, I learned the hard way with http://www.AffiliateCoaching.com.

The most overrated activity in business is…

Up-front cost...People spend way too much money on legal fees, buying nifty equipment, etc…It seems people are more interested in the "feel" of a businessman rather than actually BEING a business man.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to face when you were launching your own business? What's your biggest obstacle now?

When launching, it was a complete lack of funds and mentoring. I had to make due with $100, and I had to constantly e-mail people and bug them for free advice. Now my obstacle is a lack of time. I have so many ideas and so many things I want to do, but between school and my current businesses, I didn't have any more time. However, since I recently graduated, that will be well taken care of!

If you had to start your business all over again, what would you do differently?

FOCUS!! I had my hands in 10 things at one time when I started. If I started all over again, I would pick one and just focus on that until it was huge. This is what I am doing now. ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. That's the best business advice I can ever give anyone. Honest.

What was your worst business decision?

My worst business decision was once when I tried to start three small businesses at the same time. Each one failed miserably and I lost a lot of money.

What was your best business decision?

My best business decision was to start a business without knowing "everything" beforehand. I stuck my neck out and just started. I learned a lot doing this—even with failed businesses, I learned a lot!

What do you consider to be the main keys of your success?

My relentlessness—most people give up quickly. If I fail at something, I simply start over and try again. It's very hard for me to accept defeat. Also, my ability to take criticism and seek advice. I am very good at using mentors—that skill is key if you want to succeed in business.

What's your success philosophy?

Practice makes perfect. Go out there and make mistakes. With every mistake you make, a success is just one closer.

What about you has changed the most since finding success in business?

My ability to talk to people and my confidence level. I'm no longer shy; I love meeting new people and networking. I'm also very confident now; I feel like I can do anything!

What is the legacy you hope to leave?

I want to take my family name big—like Hilton, Disney. I want my last name, Singal, to be known. My father has carried our name a long way; I want to take it the rest of the way. I also want to be remembered as an example of someone who could counter any obstacle...someone who never gave up, no matter what.