WaAlaikumusSalam wa Rahmatullah, Sister Eman,

Welcome! Please take time to read the past posts, ask questions and
take advantage of any of the free opportunities available so far.
JazakillahKhairan for joining us!

Shakirah

--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "ummsherifmother"
<ummsherifmother@...> wrote:
>
> asalamualiekum to all my sister this is your sister in Islam  "Eman"
> umsherif happy to be inthis group and hoping to learn together new
ways
> to work from home ..........jasako allahu khayrun ........by the way
i
> live here incairo egypt but i am not egyptian i was born in argentina
> and than moved to U.S.A and now i'm here in cairo well
asalmaualiekum to
> all.
>

Everyone should check out Sara's new look! It's amazing what a color
change can do. A+ on that.
One thing I noticed, Sara: the banners are separated from the
hyperlinks in many cases, with the hyperlink next to the banner, so I
can't click the banner to go where it wants me to go.
--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "tashmu21" <tashmu21@...> wrote:
>
> I just visited. I'm impressed, mashaAllah!
> I didn't go to all the links yet, but I plan to.
> One thing comes to mind: you might want to lighten up the
background
> theme a little.
> --- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "sara" <selcsalam@> wrote:
> >
> > bismillah
> >
> > as-salam aleykum sisters...
> > inshallah this will reach u in your best health and eeman
> >
> > sisters, alhamdulliah i been able to create my own website. still,
> > kinda raw and still i have plenty of ideas to put to work...
> > please, visit me and come back often for the updates that i will
be
> > doing soon and eventually, inshallah...
> >
> > Feel free to let me know any suggestions...(special request to you
> > sis shakyrah, inshallah u been fine...)
> >
> > www.getcash2.com
> >
> >
> > love, sis sara
> >
> >
> > www.getcash2.com
> > NO CATCH. JUST CASH.
> >
> >
>
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
> $
> >
>

WaAlaikumusSalam, Sister Haneefah,
AlHamdulillah, it's nice to meet you! May Allah give you success in
your efforts.
In terms of choosing a work-at-home business, you can choose from any
of the options I have listed in the "Links" section (some are free,
some require a fee to get set up). If you have a product, you can even
use some of the options (like SBI!) to actually help you promote your
business.
One sure way to tell fraud is when money is requested before you even
know what you're getting into. There are some Websites set up to give
you an elaborate song and dance, even testimonials, without giving you
any real details about what you'll expect to gain.
Another way is when they make extravagant promises. Building a
business is not a "get-rich-quick" thing, and anyone that promises
money within a short period of time with minimal effort--any money at
all--is probably after your money and doesn't care what happens to you
after they get it.
Those are just a couple pointers or hints. Ask more questions, I'm
sure others could tell you of some specific examples of what to avoid
as well.

Shakirah

--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "haneefah2000" <dmoss3@...> wrote:
>
> As-salaamu Alaikum,
> Alhumdulilah on your website, Insha'Allah it will be all that you
> dreamed it would.
>
> I am very ready to start my own, business, although I am not exactly
> sure of what I want to do yet, something in islamic fashion
Insha'allah
> but what I want to know is as far as work at home jobs, which ones
are
> legit?? and how do you know if it is a fraud or not...also, in
starting
> your own business what are the first steps to getting
> started??/Insha'Allah
>

As-salaamu Alaikum,
Alhumdulilah on your website, Insha'Allah it will be all that you
dreamed it would.

I am very ready to start my own, business, although I am not exactly
sure of what I want to do yet, something in islamic fashion Insha'allah
but what I want to know is as far as work at home jobs, which ones are
legit?? and how do you know if it is a fraud or not...also, in starting
your own business what are the first steps to getting
started??/Insha'Allah

I just visited. I'm impressed, mashaAllah!
I didn't go to all the links yet, but I plan to.
One thing comes to mind: you might want to lighten up the background
theme a little.
--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "sara" <selcsalam@...> wrote:
>
> bismillah
>
> as-salam aleykum sisters...
> inshallah this will reach u in your best health and eeman
>
> sisters, alhamdulliah i been able to create my own website. still,
> kinda raw and still i have plenty of ideas to put to work...
> please, visit me and come back often for the updates that i will be
> doing soon and eventually, inshallah...
>
> Feel free to let me know any suggestions...(special request to you
> sis shakyrah, inshallah u been fine...)
>
> www.getcash2.com
>
>
> love, sis sara
>
>
> www.getcash2.com
> NO CATCH. JUST CASH.
>
>
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$
>

bismillah

as-salam aleykum sisters...
inshallah this will reach u in your best health and eeman

sisters, alhamdulliah i been able to create my own website. still,
kinda raw and still i have plenty of ideas to put to work...
please, visit me and come back often for the updates that i will be
doing soon and eventually, inshallah...

Feel free to let me know any suggestions...(special request to you
sis shakyrah, inshallah u been fine...)

www.getcash2.com


love, sis sara


www.getcash2.com
NO CATCH. JUST CASH.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

WaAlaikumusSalam, Sister Yasmeen!
Welcome! We've been pretty quiet, but if you go over previous posts,
you'll find there's lots of information already given out. Check out
the Links page, too!
Any questions, comments, anything, please don't hesitate to post!

--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, Yasmin Abdullah <ummumm2003@...>
wrote:
>
> Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
>
> Wal - Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-Aalameen was-Salaatu was-Salaamu Alaa
Rasoolillaah,
> Wa 'ala Alihe wa As-habihe, ajma'een. Wa Ba'ad
> Umar ibn Abdil-'Aziz(rahimahullah)said:
> Become a scholar if you are able.
> If you are not able, then be a student.
> If you can not,then show love for them.
> If you are unable to do that,then(at least)do not hate them.
>   --------------------------------------
>
>
>   As-salaamu-alaki
>
>   I am  new to the group and at a loss for words, so to better
assist the members in gaining an understanding of who I am I will
attach below a copy of the bio that I post to the the news group of
the college that I attend, please sisters respond, as I am very shy
and don't know what I am doing here. The shaytaan causes me to doubt
my self and I am unsure if I can pull off starting a home based
business, so when I read this invite that hab been sent to me over a
year ago, I believe from my daughter Juwariyah, I decided to
respond...so here goes
>
>   My name is Yasmin Abdullah and at the present time I am a stay
at home mom. I am the mother of nine children; seven of them are
grown, married, with children of their own. The youngest two are
girls, ages 16 and 17 and they live here at home with me and my
husband, their step father... Basically I am home around the clock,
because now along with working at home as an independent contractor,
and as a home schooling parent, I am now also a home schooled
student myself, I am excited to continue my education with Axia.
This is my first time attending classes online; this is my fourth
block of classes now so I am a little nervous but getting better at
it, also. I choose this method of attending college due to the
flexibility of the schedule, because home schooling children
involves a lot of commitment also. I have attended the traditional
college setting in the past. This distance method is a more
convenient, better suited to my needs method at the present time, I
enjoy Axia
>  Online University and plan to continue for as long as the Lord
allows :) I believe that my ability to crack down in home schooling
my children was influenced by them watching their mother achieving
educational goals right in front of them, and it supports my
position towards them that a person can do just about anything that
they put their minds to.
>   My prior work experience has always been in the field of care
giving, I began as a Home Health Care assistant in Philadelphia Pa.
many years ago, after relocating to Phoenix Az. I continued to work
in Private duty HHC, and after the lose of my dear client "Aunt
Nita" I decided that I needed to branch out into a broader area of
healthcare so that I would not become so attached to the client. I
worked as a CNA for several years, only to realize, whether private
duty care or working with several clients in a larger facility does
not matter, attachment to patients is inevitable. Later on I began
working in human services and began supervising staff in smaller
facilities that housed developmentally and physically challenged
individuals. I loved this type of work, and decided to continue my
education in social work so that I would become more of an influence
for such individuals. at the time I was also a divorced single
parent and due to mental and emotional stress that came
>  with that particular type of work along with raising my children,
while trying to attend college, I had to put my education on hold.
9 years later I decided to complete what I had attempted. After
careful consideration though, I realized that what I would like to
run a business of my own, in my area of expertise (providing
services to  disadvantaged individuals), so I  made the decision to
pursue a degree in business, while at the same time conducting
research in how to begin my business plan. I have learned so much
since I began attending this online university and am excited in
seeing where this excellent mode of education leads me.
>
>
>   I can be reached at 302-764-2929 and at 302-762-4685 and my
alternate
> e-mail addresses are--ummumm2004@..., ummumm2003@...
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC
and save big.
>

as-salam aleykum:

   sisters, inshallah, all of you will, find the following (long)
article very useful...

may allah guide us all,
love, sis sara

                     ***********************

12 FREE Tools and Resources to Save You Money
and Make Your Business Profitable

                             ***
When establishing a Web business, you have to be sure that your most
important e-business tools are high-quality, dependable products and
services. But if you're like many new online entrepreneurs, you're
probably curious about various free tools and resources you may have
heard about or discovered yourself when surfing the 'Net for
information. And you may be wondering if it's worth your while
giving them a try.

My first word of advice on free tools and resources is this: Always
be cautious. Free tools can be unreliable or come with
hidden "catches," like requirements that you display certain
advertisements.

However (now that I've told you the downside), there are a number of
very good (and reliable!) tools and resources available on the 'Net
that are FREE. And these can be excellent ways to complement your
existing tools at no cost, helping you to make your site stickier
and more user-friendly, make your keywords more effective, keep an
eye on your competition, find potential business partners, and
more...

Of course, you should still take care in the "free" world, and
always be aware of what you may have to give up (like reliability)
or give over (like advertising space on your site -- and potential
customers). But the following 12 tools and resources can be
effectively used to give your online business that extra edge you
need to stay ahead of your competition.

1. Free link partner evaluation tool

download.alexa.com

The Alexa toolbar is one of the most useful tools around for
businesses on the 'Net. Alexa provides a free, downloadable toolbar
that opens in your web browser whenever you're online.

The most useful feature is a "site info" option. When you click on
this button, Alexa lays out all the details of the site you're on,
including...

The traffic ranking of the site (this is also listed right on the
toolbar itself)
A list of related links (two or three of the most popular links also
appear on the toolbar)
The number of other sites that link to the site
The contact information of the site owner
All site/user reviews
This is the exact information you need when you're researching high-
traffic sites in your industry and considering link partnerships or
joint ventures. Use this information to...

Decide how much you're willing to pay for advertising
Make educated decisions about the worth of a joint venture partner
Determine the credibility and the perceived value of the site
The list of related links -- which also has its own button on the
toolbar -- is an excellent way for you to find other popular or
similar sites that might be good linking partners or joint venture
partners. Use this list to determine other popular sites that your
target market visits -- start by looking at your own site with
Alexa's toolbar, and see what related links are suggested! The
toolbar also contains a Google search option, so you can jump
directly into a search without having to leave the page you're on.

If you prefer not to download the toolbar, you can still take
advantage of these features right from Alexa's site: www.Alexa.com.

2. Free market research tool

www.google.com/toolbar
(Make sure to check the "Enable Advanced Features" option when you
download it to enable all the options.)

When you're building a successful online business, you'll probably
need to spend hours at a time researching your competitors and your
target market and looking for new product ideas.

The good news is that there are some nifty free tools available on
the Google Toolbar that can make this whole process faster and a lot
more productive:

"Google Groups" search: This is great for product or market
research, as you can search for your keywords within the thousands
of Google Groups online and find forums relevant to your web site.
By checking these forums regularly, you'll get to know what's
important to the people in your target market.

"Search News": This feature lets you find news stories relevant to
your web site, e-zine, or blog within news pages indexed by Google.
It's great for sparking content ideas or just keeping up with the
latest developments in your market or industry.

"Web Directory" search: This option lets you search Google's
directory for sites that match your search terms. It's ideal for
finding out how many competitors you may have for a new product, and
for seeking out potential linking partners.

"Search Froogle": Froogle lets online shoppers search for products
and compare prices. It displays pictures, prices, and links to
online stores in the results, so you can use it to quickly research
how the pricing of your products or services compares with other
offerings across the Web. If you have an idea for a new product,
Froogle is a great place to check out your potential competitors.

Once you get the hang of them, these powerful tools can become a
great asset to your business, as they can save you hours spent on
research -- leaving you more time to concentrate on developing new
products, new marketing strategies, and other ways to boost your
profits.

3. Free image-reducing tool and free "tool kit" trials

www.marketingtips.com/netmechanic

NetMechanic is a "tool kit" resource, offering a number of free
trials that are great for easily locating potential problems with
your site and repairing them quickly. Address problems such as...

HTML code errors
Browser display problems
Lengthy load times
Broken links
Site downtime
Some of these tools will even give you a free monthly update!
However, you'll get a limited version of each tool unless you're
willing to pay the fee. But NetMechanic's image-reducing tool,
GIFbot, is totally free and is a particularly useful resource.

Using GIFBot is an excellent way to reduce the file size of your
images so that your web pages load faster -- and you don't lose
those impatient surfers. Image files can be reduced by as much as
50 - 85% in many cases, and it's so easy to do that nowadays you'll
look totally unprofessional with huge, lagging image files that take
forever to load on your site.

4. Free HTML Editor and HTML tutorials

www.nvu.com

You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on HTML Editors and web
design software to create your own web site. Nvu is a WYSIWYG (What
You See Is What You Get) HTML editor that's similar to FrontPage or
Dreamweaver -- but completely free to download! The software allows
you to create and manage a professional-looking web site without any
knowledge of HTML programming, and includes the following features:

WYSIWYG editing of pages, meaning you can see what your web page
will look like as you're creating it

Integrated file management via FTP, so you can upload your pages to
your web host

Easy-to-use interface

Free tutorials
If you are interested in learning how to code HTML yourself, here
are a couple of excellent tutorial and resource sites where you can
learn everything you need to know:

www.davesite.com/webstation/html/

www.echoecho.com

And, for those of you who are a little more technically inclined,
you may want to check out some of the many free CGI script resources
out there. Two good places to start include...

www.scriptsearch.com

www.cgi-resources.com

5. Free-trial keyword service

www.marketingtips.com/wordtracker

Using a service such as Wordtracker allows you to easily discover
which keywords are frequently searched by your target market -- but
are not being used by your competition. Wordtracker has compiled a
massive database of terms that people search on, so all you have to
do is enter your keyword, and Wordtracker tells you how often people
are searching that term, how many competing sites are using that
particular keyword, and how much they are bidding for the pay-per-
click search engines.

A tool like this will help you optimize your search engine ranking
by targeting keywords and phrases that are frequently searched by
your best potential customers, but that few (if any!) of your
competitors are competing under. Capitalize on the streams of
neglected and missed traffic that are passing your competition by --
and even discover misspellings of your keywords that may be drawing
traffic!

The free trial version of Wordtracker, however, will only compare
your keywords with MSN, while the paid version compiles results from
the top search engines, directories, and pay-per-click engines. If
you're happy to limit yourself to MSN, you can use the free trial as
many times as you like. Otherwise, the paid version is available for
$8.04 per day or $26.81 per week, with monthly and yearly
subscriptions available as well.

You might also want to try out Yahoo! Search Marketing's Keyword
Popularity and Suggestion tool, available free at:
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

Yahoo! Search Marketing's keyword service will give you a list of
related searches that include your term and tell you how many times
those terms were searched in Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly
Overture) in the last month. This is a good way to find out the
popularity of your keyword, but the tool doesn't list bidding
amounts. If you're looking for great deals on your keywords, your
best bet is to search in both Yahoo! Search Marketing and
Wordtracker to gauge popularity, then use Wordtracker to determine
your bidding strategy.

6. Free browser compatibility service

www.anybrowser.com

The browser compatibility experts AnyBrowser offers every tool
you'll need to make your site viewable, as the name suggests, in any
browser. The most useful tool is the "SiteViewer," which allows you
to see your web pages as surfers will see them on multiple browsers.
For example, your site may look different in Netscape Navigator than
it does in Internet Explorer -- images may be broken, tables may
shift, and so on. With AnyBrowser you can ensure you meet the needs
of every browser.

You can also make sure your coding checks out and your links aren't
broken, and view an example of how your listing will appear in the
search engines (what description will be used, what the title will
be, etc.).

AnyBrowser is also a great resource directory, pointing you toward a
variety of really useful free tools. It's a great place to find
online HTML tutorials, banner exchanges, CGI scripts, and a ton of
free resources such as HTML editors, classifieds, fonts, graphics,
Java scripts, message boards, and more.

7. Free search tool

www.answers.com

1-Click Answers is a downloadable search tool available from the
Answers.com search engine. It allows you to search multiple
information sources and find instant answers containing concise
information on the topic you're searching for.

After you've downloaded the personal (free) version, you'll have a
search bar right on your desktop. When you search on an item, you'll
get results from some or all of the following resources, depending
on your search term:

Dictionaries
Thesauruses
Atlases
Glossaries
Encyclopedias
... All in just one step! No more messing around with multiple
search tools; 1-Click Answers consolidates them in one source to
save the precious time of the busy netrepreneur.

8. Free content

www.freesticky.com/stickyweb

This resource is a good place to find free (or cheap) content for
your site, so you can keep your site fresh and interesting for your
visitors -- and keep them coming back. Find articles, news briefs,
headlines, tickers, tips of the day, and more. The broad variety of
topics range from financial advice to hip hop headlines, from travel
guides to lottery results. You can also give away free software
applications directly from your site, many of which are available
for co-branding.

Another good source for articles is www.EZineArticles.com, which
offers free content designed for both web sites and e-zines.

Watch that you don't just load up your site with a lot of stuff that
you think is interesting. The material you provide has to be
relevant to your business and your customer base. Also be aware that
the sponsorship information that is usually included can pull your
readers' attention away from your purpose -- and, most importantly,
the sponsors' links can draw traffic away from your site. It is
always a good idea to have quality content on your site, use your
discretion, and make sure it's worth the risk involved.

9. Free e-mail campaign ROI calculator

www.marketingtoday.com/tools/roi_calculator.htm

A very cool tool… Marketing Today's ROI calculator is an easy-to-use
little device that allows you to accurately estimate what kind of
return on investment you can expect from your upcoming direct mail
or e-mail campaigns and promotions.

The most accurate way to operate this tool is to use the response
rate you received from your previous mailings to calculate your ROI
for future mailings. All you have to do is enter the numbers: the
number of mailings you'll be doing, your total costs, the response
rate you expect, the conversion rate you expect, and how much you
expect each buyer to spend (i.e., the cost of your product or
service).

Hint: If you do not have previous response rates and conversion
rates to base your figures on, you should estimate much lower than
you think necessary. If you guess too low, you'll just end up with
extra cash on hand; guess too high, however, and you'll be making a
costly mistake.

The ROI calculator is a simple tool that acts as an excellent
reality check when you're determining your marketing costs.

10. Free web design tool

www.colormatch.dk

Most Internet entrepreneurs have very little, if any, web design
knowledge. However, this doesn't have to be a barrier to creating a
professional-looking web site.

One of the hardest tasks for someone with no design experience is
choosing the color scheme for your site. Well, this easy-to-use free
tool allows you to create a complete color scheme at the click of
the button. It also gives you the HTML codes for the colors you
choose (every web color has a code, e.g., black is #000000) -- so
you can use them on your site and not have to worry if that pink
really does match that orange.

11. Free site search tools

http://sitelevel.whatuseek.com

SiteLevel can set you up with effective, free search tools for your
web site. If your site is more than a couple of pages and doesn't
have a good internal search tool, you're probably losing many a
frustrated visitor.

While appeasing your visitors, a site-level search engine also
enables you to find out what your users want and need. SiteLevel's
search tools allow you to track what your visitors are searching for
and see what they are finding or not finding, so you can adapt to
their agendas and increase visitor satisfaction -- and the
stickiness of your site.

SiteLevel also lets you customize your own search results page to
make it suit the look and feel of your web site.

The basic (free) version has more than enough "oomph" for the
average small-business web site, allowing you to index up to 1,000
pages and incorporate a variety of search strategies.

12. More free marketing tools

www.thefreesite.com

You got it… The Free Site is free stuff! And lots of it!

Not everything on this site is e-business related, but you can find
plenty that is. Probably the most useful section for e-businesses is
the "webmaster" section at:
http://thefreesite.com/webmaster_freebies/

Here you'll find the "Internet Seer" site monitoring tool that
provides downtime alerts so you don't lose valuable customers.
You'll also find...

Tools to help you check your keywords and your link popularity
Suggested methods of winning awards for your site
Scripts, banners, and polls
Guestbooks, message boards, and more...
The Free Site also lists free technical support and online
tutorials, free personal management tools, plenty of Java script
resources, free fonts, clipart, graphics, icons, and buttons, plus
much, much more. Again, be wary of freebies that ask for advertising
space in return... but you might want to bookmark this page!

Final thoughts

One of the great advantages of starting an online business, as
opposed to taking the more traditional "bricks and mortar" approach,
is that costs are SO much lower. Hosting fees are your main
overhead, but these are nowhere near the rent you'd pay for office
space for an offline business. And when it comes to creating and
building your web site -- as well as marketing it -- you can further
reduce your costs by making use of some great free tools and
resources.

The tools I've recommended, I know you'll find them incredibly
useful. But when you're choosing free services or software, always
proceed with caution and stay in control with each decision you
make. Find out whether any advertising will be included and whether
you will be bound by any restrictions or obligations. "Free" can
sometimes mean only that there's no charge -- not no consequences.

                   *****************

as-salam aleykum...

sisters? shakirah? where everyone went?

i been offline for quite some time now and the first thing i did when
i came back, is look into you girls and nothing no activity at all???

are you ok sister shakyrah? please, post something to let us now that
you r ok!!  i am worry...subhanallah, i wonder...

may allah guide us all,
sis sara
=======================================================================

WaAlaikumusSalam,
MashaAllah, Sister,
Those are great designs!  InshaAllah make sure to link to major
sites and search engines to get seen!
I love the sisters' stuff!
Shakirah
--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "Fatimah" <aakifah1@y...> wrote:
>
> ~!Salaams--I need your feedback on my site!~*
>
>
> As Salaamu Alaikum! And Ramadan Mubarak!
>
> Brothers and Sisters! Would you please take a look at my site, and
> let me know what you think, as well as tell me any ideas for
designs
> you would like to see?  Jazakallahu Khairan!
>
> My website is:
> http://www.aakifah.com/
>
> *****************************
> Fatimah Ibrahim
> Aakifah
> Art Director
> Animation*Design
> w: http://www.aakifah.com/
> e: aakifah1@y...
> t:(401)615-5569
>

~!Salaams--I need your feedback on my site!~*


As Salaamu Alaikum! And Ramadan Mubarak!

Brothers and Sisters! Would you please take a look at my site, and
let me know what you think, as well as tell me any ideas for designs
you would like to see?  Jazakallahu Khairan!

My website is:
http://www.aakifah.com/

*****************************
Fatimah Ibrahim
Aakifah
Art Director
Animation*Design
w: http://www.aakifah.com/
e: aakifah1@...
t:(401)615-5569

AsSalamuAlaikum, all...

Every time a loved one smiles at you—your spouse, your child, your
dependent relative—you become a fleeting star.  When you complete
each task presented to you during the day, whether making a decision
at a management meeting or changing your baby's diaper, you know
that only you can do it as well as you do, and no one could imagine
replacing you.  And if you are sure that the board of directors does
not notice a move you make, and you notice that your family barely
acknowledges your contributions to their comfort and happiness, then
work harder, but stop working for their satisfaction.
Do what you do  the best you can for the pleasure that it gives
you.  If it gives you no pleasure, do your best anyway, because you
can.  If you work to exceed your own expectations, you will find
that soon you're working at a level way above what others expect of
you, because you are more familiar with your best than anyone else
is.  And then others are sure to notice.
Personally, I remember a crossing guard who left quite an impression
on me.  A retiree volunteer in his sixties, he stood in the crisp
mornings at a particular intersection I had to traverse in my car
every day.  He greeted all the weary school kids with a bright smile
and stepped into the middle of the street with a gaily flourish of
his stop sign more reminiscent of a cheerleader than a crosser.
That old man was as precise in all his moments as a soldier, and his
spirit carried over to everyone passing his intersection for the
entire school year.
I believe that the way he applied himself to his chosen task gave
him more satisfaction than any half-baked paid job would have, and I
promise that you can be just as content if you work to impress
yourself.
May Allah reward our efforts.  Have a nice day.

Shakirah Dawud

AsSalamuAlaikum, everyone!

Our schedules are all so busy nowadays, and often our moments are so
uninspired that we may wonder at the point of our lives.  We awaken,
dress, eat, go out to work and school, come home in the afternoons
and evenings to try to wind down, and sleep.  Everyone notices at
some point that this pattern is followed by just about every other
human being we know, and everyone we have ever heard of.  Very soon
the pattern is no longer a pattern, but a long, straight line whose
monotony does not seem to have an end in sight.
What can we do that hasn't already been done a thousand times
before?  What can we say?  Have you ever wondered if your fifteen
minutes of fame were all delivered as that role you had as an apple
tree on the back of the stage in your first grade school play?  It
seemed relevant then, but your current reality is small and thankless
now.
But think for a moment back to that role you had in the school play,
or the way you used to carry your mother's purse for her on shopping
trips sometimes when you were small.  You were indispensable.  No one—
especially not you—could imagine the disaster that would surely take
place if you weren't there.  It was why you wanted to be in the next
play, and the reason you eagerly volunteered to accompany your
mother  on her shopping trips.  It was a magical, completing feeling,
as if you were filling in a large gap shaped like you every time you
stepped forward.
And now let me confide a secret to you: that feeling that hasn't
completely disappeared, and that role has grown larger than you could
ever have hoped.  You can make your entire life an epic of greatness,
even if only you are aware of its rhythms.

Wishing you success,
Shakirah Dawud

If you want to learn the fundamentals of any online business, I
haven't found anything better than this free step-by-step knowledge
base.  Follow the suggestions at your own pace, as they apply to your
online business.
http://6thpillar.sitesell.com/affiliates40.html

AsSalamuAlaikum, everyone!

So, how do you find your "you"?  You may dress a lot like other
people in your area or from your background.  You may eat the same
foods as the group of people that you identify with.  Perhaps
everyone says you look a lot like one of your parents, who looks a
lot like one of her parents.  You know that you're different, but
how do you pinpoint exactly what it is that keeps people from mixing
up your name with someone else's?

From here on, you are no longer allowed to think only of yourself.
Success is merely a reflection of the blessings Allah has given you,
and then the support, trust, and selflessness of others.  You may
consider yourself a success, but such delusions must be backed up
pretty soon by some tangible evidence in the form of other people.
Otherwise, you are doing the same thing as a person who styles
himself as a leader without ever looking around to see if he has any
followers.

Focus now on Allah.  Show Him the gratitude, the affection and the
obedience that He deserves for being who He is, as your Creator.
Your success depends on His Will and Mercy.

Then focus on all your significant "others": the people who care
about you.  Care about them back.  Give them a reason to believe in
you every time you smile at them, and already you have begun to
sparkle.  They are constantly dropping small hints that explain why
they love you.  Take note of their hints, and you will notice that
those small things are the parts of you that no one else can
duplicate or replace.  Those are the parts of you that will succeed,
inshaAllah.

Wishing you success,
Shakirah Dawud

Do any of you need traffic for your websites?  Hint: do NOT use
traffic exchanges.  I learned the hard way, and wasted valuable
time.  Try keyword bidding on pay-per-click search engines like
xuppa.com to get exposure instead.  Once you master it you can get
incredible results.
http://www.xuppa.com/cgi-local/login.cgi?

AsSalamuAlaikum, everyone!
I must truly apologize for my lack of activity in
this group for the past... month or so...?  Please
make du'a for my family and me; many issues have
called my attention away from my responsibilities here.
I have, however, been checking my e-mail quite
regularly, hoping that some might begin an interesting
thread of discussion on the topic of successful business
online, to no avail.  So I sat down and wrote a series
myself, modified it, and here you are:  SUCCESS hints
from me :).  These hints apply not only to business,
but to all our life's endeavors, and are meant to encourage,
and motivate you to get started and keep going!
The next few e-mails will continue this series.
May Allah make us all successful in everything we do.
________________________
For the next few moments, you are allowed to think only of yourself.
First, relax and think of all that "you" means.  It means "only".
It means "vital".  You are wanted.  You are able.  You are success.

Think about what this really means.  Your uniqueness has made you
perfectly special in a way that no one else can be, and everyone is
aware of that fact.  Some will try to hold you down because of it.
Others may try to elevate you for the same reason.  But what not
everyone knows is that you can actually use your unique bit of
specialized talent to succeed.  In fact, you will use it, and you
will succeed.

How?  You may be wondering.  You can't lick your elbow or walk on
water.  You're not the legendary King Midas of the golden touch.
Sometimes touching your own toes is a chore!

But don't worry.  Success has nothing to do with talent, or else all
of us would be successful.  But if you create a vision of yourself
as a success—if you make your you-ness your success—you will begin
to see success blossom from everything you attempt.

So what does success look like?  Is it pretty?  Does it smell nice?
Does it get along well with other people?  What other words can you
think of to describe success?  Who do you think of?  Are there any
specific places you associate with success?  Any specific things?

Most of what came to your mind was probably unique, one having
nothing to do with the other.  The reason is that every person
involved in those successes took a long look at that single shining
part inside themselves—the "me" part—and turned it into McDonald's
and Shakespeare and Microsoft.

Even if you are not striving for success on the level of wealth and
renown, you must use the same methods in order to be successful that
every other success story has taught us.  Apparently, it's
impossible to send away for success.  It's necessary draw up a
business proposal, or to pick up a pen, or to fiddle with a computer
for hours on end.  You must literally take the first step.

Find your bit of perfection.  Invest in it whatever else you have
inside you to make it glow as bright as it can.  The rest of you
will shine, too, and then you're well on your way to becoming a
star.

Wishing you success,
Shakirah Dawud

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courtesy of ScamFreeZone.  It includes a step-by-step business plan,
internet marketing tips and secrets, Quicktime movies and bonus
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I'm curious as to what some of our goals are, individually.
I know most of us are here because we want to learn to make a
living off the Net.
Where are you now?
Shakirah

AsSalamuAlaikum, everyone!
How is everyone?  I'm curious as to what
some of our goals are, individually.
I know most of us are here because we want
to learn to make a living off the Net.
Where are you now?
Shakirah

AsSalamuAlaikum!
A rare Saturday post for you all!
I wanted to just mention something that is the easiest and most
painless way to sell something to your friends: invite them to a
party that has the theme of what you're selling.
Herbal products?  A Natural Living Party!
Tea?  A Tea Party!
T-Shirts?  A T-Shirt Party!
It's so easy to invite people you know over for some time spent and and a
business exchange that's casual and fun.  Over the phone tell them to bring a
little something because they're gonna want to buy a T-shirt, or whatever.
You've practically written your name on the check for them!  When
they  arrive, they already know and trust you, relax with some great
snacks or perhaps a full meal like a brunch (which should suit the
occasion!  No chips and dip at a tea party!), and will be open and expecting to
buy something from you.
If your product is quality and unique in terms of design, features,
benefits and/or price, you can sell it to at least half of the
attendants at your party.
Of course, I'm sure many of us women have already thought of this,
and maybe done it plenty of times.  I don't know if many men get
together for this sort of thiing ;).  But of course, if you have a
gathering of some sort, or if you can casually introduce your item
to a group of people that you know would be interested in it, then
you can proceed to invite them to your house to talk about it
further.
What are your experiences with this sort of "sales party" idea?

Wishing You Success,
Shakirah

AsSalamuAlaikum,
Just wanted to put out a tip I practice all the time:
Whenever you're selling a product in person, you have that person's
full attention.  You get to answer every question that pops into her
head.  You can't be clicked away :).
So remember not to let her walk away without closing the sale.  That
doesn't mean to grab onto her ankle and not let her go without writing
a check; just keep pushing her if she's at all interested.  Fan the
flames of her interest by pointing out all the benefits that pertain
to her, personally.  Make it clear that she needs those benefits, and
that they can't be found for a better price, or at a better time.  If
necessary, inject urgency: I don't know how much longer it will be
around.  Don't let her have an excuse.  If she doesn't have the cash
now, ask for a post-dated check :).  No, just kidding.  Just call her
back later.
Don't nag, or talk too fast, and don't jump in when she hesitates.
It's not easy, but you have to start somewhere if you're selling
something without a storefront.  You'll get smoother as you go along.
A nice way to introduce something is to ask if someone needs something
without hinting that you have it for sale.  They'll be honest with
you. Then tell them you can set them up with that item, and you'll
call them later.  On the phone, explain the features and benefits, and
answer her questions.  You need to have experience with the product,
and own it yourself in order to really connect.  If you tell her
you're actually selling it, she'll want to see it, so meet her--
already PREsold--somewhere casual and convenient with either a laptop
(if it's an e-good)--or the item itself.
You've made the sale, because she's not being offered the same thing
everywhere else she looks, and she's come to trust you.  Owning the
product also boosts your credibility.  If you haven't bought it yet,
ask someone you know owns it to talk to her about it.
Practice makes perfect!
Has anyone else done this? Succeeded? Failed?
Wishing you success,
Shakirah

WaAlaikumusSalam, Sara,
In my book-- my "Make Your Knowledge Sell" book, that is-- e-zines
are a great way to promote your product.
Here is what the author, Monique Harris, has to say about them:
"Question#13: How do I find other places to promote...?
Your... ultimate goals are going to be:
1. To locate targeted e-zines & websites where you can submit
articles
2. To find as many reciprocal link opportunities as you can
3. To locate as many prospect-rich discussion groups as you can
participate in
4. To locate websites that review products in your niche"

Monique recommends using "promotional terms" to find these
resources.  Search an engine like Yahoo! (which she always uses
because all the top sites get listed first) for terms like
"(type of product you're promoting) directory"
"(type of product you're promoting) resources"
"(type of product you're promoting) information"
"(type of product you're promoting) publications"
"(type of product you're promoting) e-zines"
"(type of product you're promoting) discussion groups"

She also recommends keeping track of every promotional outlet you
find through searching engines, including the info like what their
guidelines are, if they do reviews, do they accept articles, do they
have an e-zine that accepts articles, etc.  Search all the engines
for outlets and keep a list of the ones you find along with their
details, so you can make a schedule later and submit methodically at
least one article or posting every day.

If you can't find anything on the engines, go to these special e-
zine directories to search for your particular niche of e-zine
http://www.lifestylespub.com (charges for access)
http://www.liszt.com (charges for access)
http://www.meer.net/~johnl/e-zine-list (free to search for e-zines
specific to your product topic)
http://www.tile.net (free to search for e-zines specific to your
product topic.  Probably the nicest one.)

If you're looking for discussion groups, go to
http://www.tile.net
http://www.liszt.com

Monique says,
"No matter what niche... I'm willing to strongly guesstimate that
there are at least 10 e-zines devoted to your topic.  By locating
those e-zines and submitting [CONTENT that PREsells (NOT ads)], you
can dramatically increase your visibility, which will surely lead to
more sales.
"Once you locate the appropriate e-zines, pick one to two 500-600
word [CONTENT ARTICLES]... to submit to the newsletters.
"Now you must have a resource box at the end of your articles.
Since you don't typically get paid cash to have your articles
featured in e-zines, a resource box serves as payment in the form of
free advertisement for your business."

Your resource box should say who you are, what your product is, a
short blurb encouraging a visit, your URL, and your e-mail if you
want.  It should be very short and to the point, and RELEVANT to the
article.

For example, "Shakirah Dawud is a student of online business and
marketing.  She is the owner of "Something or Other", which provides
invaluable up-to-date info for entreprenuers on the net.  For more
info, check out "Something or Other" at (url)."

Put your resource box at the end of your content article that
PREsells and e-mail it to the e-zine, and include a letter
introducing yourself and basically asking for inclusion in the e-
zine next issue.  Remember to ask the e-zine to contact you further
for more articles, as you have plenty more!

I tend to do discussion groups more than e-zines, just because I'm
me :).  But feel free to try both methods and let me know how they
work out for you.

Wishing you success,
Shakirah
--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "sara" <selcsalam@y...> wrote:
> bismillah
>
> as-salam aleykum sisters!
>
> hi, sister Shakirah. i am clueless and also very intersted, about
the
> marketing tool of "posting on e-zines". do you mind teaching us
(me)
> anything you know about it?
>
> since, i promote a couple of affiliate programs, and i kept
hearing
> about it,i decided to reserch the subject, but i end up with 0
> beneficial knowledge...well, maybe...just maybe i did not "catch
it"
> because, is that i need YOU to tell me in your own simply and
unique
> way.
>
> sister Shakirah, your "spoiling me", with all your care...!
> LOL.subhanallah.  just kidding around...now seriosly, i know you
are
> very busy these days, but if you kindly find some time to answer
my
> question, inshallah, i will extremly appreciate that "lesson"...
>
> take care,
>
> love sis sara

bismillah

as-salam aleykum sisters!

hi, sister Shakirah. i am clueless and also very intersted, about the
marketing tool of "posting on e-zines". do you mind teaching us (me)
anything you know about it?

since, i promote a couple of affiliate programs, and i kept hearing
about it,i decided to reserch the subject, but i end up with 0
beneficial knowledge...well, maybe...just maybe i did not "catch it"
because, is that i need YOU to tell me in your own simply and unique
way.

sister Shakirah, your "spoiling me", with all your care...!
LOL.subhanallah.  just kidding around...now seriosly, i know you are
very busy these days, but if you kindly find some time to answer my
question, inshallah, i will extremly appreciate that "lesson"...

take care,

love sis sara

--- In WorkAtHomeMuslimahs@yahoogroups.com, "oum anas" <oum_abq@h...>
wrote:
Assalamu aleikum

http://www.assistu.com/va/va_feature_fantasy.html

Thousands of mothers and fathers start their home-based businesses
because
they wish to take care of their children at home, while operating a
business. If you are imagining some kind of nirvana - a thriving
business
and lots of quality time with your newborn, while keeping overhead
expenses
to a minimum, read ahead. Working at home with an infant can work, but
only
if you begin the arrangement with realistic expectations.....
--- End forwarded message ---

AsSalamuAlaikum,
AlHamdulillah, I'm back.
I've been extremely busy and also pretty stressed these past few
days.  But no, I didn't give up on the group :).  I was just a
little overwhelmed.  Make du'aa for me.
Okay, inshaAllah, I wanted to give you all an old-pro tip for
internet marketing:
Take it one day at a time!
Don't try to perform every task within one block of hours.  It will
be a very LONG block, number one, and number two, you'll begin to
hate it.  I did when I first started with SFI.  I did everything
every day.  I got frustrated very quickly, especially since I still
only had a (slow) dial-up internet connection.  So don't do that.
Instead, designate your tasks day by day.  Choose one day to submit
to search engines, the next day to post to e-zines, the next day to
find links to exchange with, the next to send out e-mails to your
(authorized!!!) list of prospects... and on and on, just five tasks,
ideally.  Don't try to commit to doing marketing 6 or 7 days a week,
because you know you probably won't be able to keep it up.  Do one
per product/opportunity per day.
It'll be a lot easier that way, inshaAllah, as far as I've seen.
Does anyone else have a certain way they do things?

Wishing you success,
Shakirah

WaAlaikumusSalam, Sister Selina!
AlHamdulillah, I'm glad you appreciate it.  Make
du'aa for me, inshaAllah.
Do you have any questions about what you're doing
to reach your goal?  Is there any topic you want
to talk about in particular?  Let's jumpstart a
conversation!

Shakirah

--- In learntoearn@yahoogroups.com, "kaliamonet" <kaliamonet@y...>
wrote:
>
>
> As-salaamu alaikum Sister Shakira,
>
> May Allah reward you for setting up this site it is greatly needed.
I
> am a Muslimah who desires to work independently. I am currently
> employed as a Medical Coding Analyst at a local hospital. I am
> interested in coding from home.
>
> I have a desire to write as well as motivational speak. I believe
> that there are many that need to learn how to get from A-B. Many
> people do not realize the resources that are available to us. We
each
> shape our future. I do believe in Al-Qadr. I am content with
whatever
> Allah may allow to occur in my life for to Him I belong and to Him
I
> will Insha-Allah return.
>
> As I try to figure out the next step I just wanted to thank you for
> your encouraging posts thus far. Insha-Allah you will be able to
> inspire many more!
>
> Your Sister in Islam,
>
> Selina

As-salaamu alaikum Sister Shakira,

May Allah reward you for setting up this site it is greatly needed. I
am a Muslimah who desires to work independently. I am currently
employed as a Medical Coding Analyst at a local hospital. I am
interested in coding from home.

I have a desire to write as well as motivational speak. I believe
that there are many that need to learn how to get from A-B. Many
people do not realize the resources that are available to us. We each
shape our future. I do believe in Al-Qadr. I am content with whatever
Allah may allow to occur in my life for to Him I belong and to Him I
will Insha-Allah return.

As I try to figure out the next step I just wanted to thank you for
your encouraging posts thus far. Insha-Allah you will be able to
inspire many more!

Your Sister in Islam,

Selina