The tremendously funny Peggy Campbell of “All About Baby Boomers” will certainly get you smiling, probably even guffawing at her look at life when you read her very entertaining blog or join her facebook page and you will soon notice how Peggy’s quips are an expert use of own voice, with humor and sophistication, as a writing style.

Today however, Peggy is getting serious and discussing with us what her #1 hurdle has been building a website presence.  There are lots and lots of websites that re-hash the same old frustrations they claim people are feeling (as it relates to a product they are selling), however, in these interviews we are digging around to find out what people are REALLY experiencing as they are building their business online.

So, without further adieu… my friend Peggy Campbell.

Condensed Transcript – Peggy Campbell interview:

Hi Peggy. Its great to talk with you today and get to ask you about your number 1 frustration as you take your business online. I expect that a great number of people are having the same experience and it is always interesting to hear how someone has dealt with the feelings we are having, has gotten past the hurdle and has been able to move on.

Q: So Peggy who are you and what do you do?

I am a 60 year old baby boomer, and rightfully proud of it.  I began this blog because I have read and heard so many differing opinions of what a baby boomer is, and decided to consider, condense, or refute some of those articles. The blog has taken on a life of it’s own….sometimes it is just relevant to fellow boomers…..sometimes it is just for fun….but, always it is submitted with the sincere hope that it helps you through your day, if only by giving you a smile!

Q: How long have you been in business?

This is trick, Jennifer….can we call it business, if I don’t sell anything? But, then again, I am trying to provide information, humor, and recipes (ha) to people….so maybe that is my business.

Q: How long have you been working at creating an internet business?

I started with ADC in (?) August or Sept of 2010 and that was the beginning of the road to success….hahahaha

Q: What has been the top challenge you’ve had starting an internet business?

Seriously, the biggest challenge I see when starting out is that you don’t know who to turn to….lots of scammers out there that take you money and leave you either with a product that doesn’t work, or not enough information for you to make it work. Knowing whose “steps” are the real way to start your business and who is just leading you on till they get your money is frustrating, expensive, and disheartening. On the other hand, once you do find someone who really delivers the training they promise…and adds encouragement and help, then the process takes on a whole new “feel”. It becomes fun and interesting and challenging, and the learning is as much a part of the process as the business itself.

Q: For people who are starting out what would you recommend to them if they are facing similar challenges?

Take time to research the people you are considering for teaching or mentoring….don’t just google them…go to forums or discussions where their student/customers are posting questions and comments. You should be able to tell if the students sound frustrated or fascinated.

Q: Next time Peggy I am going to talk to you about your great writing style and your ability to make a person feel…well…just good through the written word. Its quite an accomplishment. However, for those that want to get a hold of you how would they do it and are you ok if someone wants to contact you personally?

Feel free to post a comment or contact me personally.

The name of my blog is “All About Boomers or All About Baby Boomers”

Or you can send me a message on my facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AllAboutBabyBoomers

Thank you Peggy and I can’t wait for your next article. And people if you want to learn from some excellent writing , I encourage you to check out either links and ask Peggy about how she has put voice and humor into her own personal style.

…end

Articles to interest Baby Boomers
All About Boomers
www.allaboutboomers.com

The United Animal Nations is one of my favorite organizations. Founded in 1987, their focus is to “bring animals out of crisis and strenthen the bond between people and animals through programs including disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.

I had the pleasure of listening to a speaker from United Animal Nations a few years back talk about their emergency disaster program or EARS.

As per UAN’s website…

UAN is committed to:

preventing animals from being in crisis by:

• strengthening the common bond between people and animals
• helping children explore the bond between people and animals through stories and discussion
• helping children share information about animals, reflect on the roles of animals in their communities and determine our responsibilities toward them

bringing animals out of crisis and into care by:

• caring for animals displaced by natural disasters or rescued from mass cruelty situations
• providing financial assistance to pet owners, good samaratins and rescue organizations to obtain urgent veterinary care

mitigating situations of animals in crisis by:

• offering financial incentives to encourage witnesses to animal cruelty to come forward
• connecting volunteers and rescuers with opportunities to help animals in need.

For the person who wants to make an impact with their business in the animal realm, UAN has quite a bit of educational information to help inform your client groups.

To help UAN or their program EARS,  people are encouraged to donate their time or their money in support of their research and relief efforts.

The two links above are to their website to find out more.

Here is their link about UAN dedicating time and relief efforts in Japan . (if you dare, this link includes a video of how Japan has affected farm animals and pets)

Thank you UAN. Thank you EARS.

As Baby Boomers age, they are becoming more active, involved and adept.  And Baby Boomers are the demographic that is showing a drastic jump in the numbers that are embracing social media. A 2009 survey reported that 47% of Baby Boomers actively maintain a profile on the social web, which was a 15% increase from 2008.  Yes, I know it is nearly 2011, but, I couldn’t find any data on a more recent survey…..I am willing to bet it is up significantly from there as 2010 draws to a close.

Baby Boomers choose Facebook over the other media sites, with a whopping 73% of the group maintaining their profile on Facebook, and only 13% liking Twitter or Linkedin.  In fact, nearly all of them picked Facebook as a favorite new hobby. When you consider that Facebook has over 500 million users, of which half spend an average of 55 minutes a day online, we are talking about a whopping lot of people “connecting” every day.

Since you are reading this blog, you obviously use the internet for more than email and getting the latest lotto numbers.  What may surprise you then, is that Boomers are more enthusiastic than younger Americans when it comes to using the internet for health care, finances, government, or religious information   To quote Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American LifeProject, “They might not have been the very first to the party, but baby boomers were in the next wave of enthusiasts in many respects.”

One theory is that the boomer generation knows what it is to not have the internet.  They remember being in college when the only way to get information was to go to the library and spend many hours “digging it up.”  And, as “information junkies” the difference is phenomenal, and not taken for granted.  Evidence supports that we are still interested and learning!

In case all this info does not peak your interest, I have done the math for you! According to most surveys, there are 78 million baby boomers living in the United States.  47% of 78 million gives you 36,660,000 Boomers actively online.  (73% of those is 26,761,000 on Facebook)  Also assuming that the percentages for online time applies to Boomers (I would bet it is a higher percentage), that would put 18,330,000 Boomers spending an average of 55 minutes online everyday.  What does all that mean?  I have found countless books and articles speculating on how Baby Boomers will handle, impact, or change “aging” as we know it.  I think one thing will be certain…….it will not be an age of sitting on the porch, fading into the sunset!

Borrowing more data from the Pew Research Center:  On Jan. 1 2011, the oldest Baby Boomers will begin to turn 65.  Everyday for the next 19 years, about 10,000 more will cross that threshold.  By 2030, when all the Boomers will have turned 65, fully 18% of the nation’s population will be at least that age. Today, just 13% of Americans are ages 65 or older!

At the very least, this tells me, that Baby Boomers are and will remain a vitally important segment of the population.  Underestimate us at your own risk!

Watch for Baby Boomers and Social Media, Part 2!

…is it really possible to create a lucrative income or donor base online…?

…is it really possible to create a simple website and earn from it…?

There’s loads of internet experts claiming you’ll pull in $1000’s upon $1000’s of cash online if you cultishly follow and promote their website products. And I should know because I’ve cultishly followed lots of them.

You buy the product, then off you go, until the deafening sound of reality goes *bam* and you hit the #1 killer of most internet businesses.

What’s the frustration? You probably have been acquainted. People are desperate to find the EXACT steps they can take to build a really good and working website that could be up and ready for visitors in no longer than a couple of weeks.

And I have to say that, in my experience, there is very little – very little – support for doing this. Actually the lack of proper training is an embarrassing view of the industry. Everyone and their dog has the ability to produce a “secretive” promise for a big payday that is totally un-realistic and not true but extremely tempting when you need to make money online.

In this newsletter I won’t refer to any services or products unless I’ve tried them myself.  And when it comes to the online “make money” industry I generally won’t refer to any services or products at all.

However, as this is the most common question coming from people who are new or just struggling with the business, sharing this solution may help someone be the next successful online marketer and perhaps that person will pay it forward and go on to ethically help other aspiring online businesses and non profits to make a mark of their own.

So that being said, what have I got for you? Well I’ve got exactly ONE source that I’d recommend that will give you the mechanics or techie help to start up an online presence. You still have to do the work, but this guy actually makes it easy and fun.

Chris Farrell is his name.

I’ll admit it, I fell in love with Chris the moment I listened to him as a co-instructor in another course I’d been taking. The course was dismal apart from the information presented by this outstanding, literally one of a kind, teacher.

Now I’m an official member of his site for the more advanced social marketing Facebook strategies as well as keeping updated to the ever evolving online tips and tactics. I’ll be sharing more information about this or make recommends by Mr Farrell as I progress through his material.

However, for those who are stuck or would like to have a video library on the mechanics of an online business, then click here for the 26 free video modules (yes, you heard that right there are 26 free video modules!) by Chris Farrell on the mechanics on how to set up and start your online business. Literally, if you have a problem, Chris has a solution.

Chris Farrell is an ethical businessman and I’d be shocked if you were able to find anyone, absolutely anywhere, whose start up information or teaching skills remotely compare. And better yet, when you do use his free material he doesn’t later spam you to death on your email.

Tally-ho and thank you Chris!  (Chris is desperately English)

Chris Farrell: A Web Business Explained – Step By Step: 26 Free Video Modules.

This is where most people stumble… just beginning.    – Chris Farrell