As Club Asteria has grown, we’ve offered our members resources and services designed to increase sales, and provide everyone with a way to earn an income.

The idea has continued to grow, along with our membership, and in January 2012 we have rolled out the member websites!

Membership with Club Asteria entitles you to a Member Website that has already been designed and preprogrammed with a variety of benefits and features that would otherwise cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

You’ve no doubt read about this new resource in the February issue of Empower Now, and if you haven’t it’s on pages 40-41!

There are loads of features, but we want to concentrate on a few of them here to help illustrate how this site can change the way you do business.

Your Own Personalized Website – this is where it all begins, a website that has your own domain name and email address. This site is easy for you to change and edit as you go along, and it’s going to function as your electronic storefront!

Email Marketing Platforms – email provides you with an easy to use tool that you can use to reach out to your customers, and potential customers. Think of how you could create a personalized email informing your audience of new products and special deals on your site. With the press of a button, you’re communicating to people around the world.

Marketing Campaigns with Social Media Integration – the world has discovered social media programs like Facebook and Twitter. Merchants and vendors have used these platforms to quickly identify audiences who are perfect for their products and services, and now you can to!

The interaction with the personal website has been made simple and easy to understand, no matter how much or how little computer experience you may have. In addition, we’ve provided plenty of video tutorials so you can follow along and totally customize your site.

Club Asteria’s dedication to our members is what enables us to achieve our goals of helping communities around the world escape the chains of poverty. The products we’ve created for you will hopefully open up an entire new world of business that improves your lives, and those of the people around you.

If you’re not a member yet, don’t hesitate! You can join Club Asteria for a free trial period by visiting our site – and while you’re there consider signing on as a Gold member and take advantage of even more benefits!

Club Asteria is based on sharing what we have with others in the world. The end goal is to give people who are suffering under the weight of poverty the opportunity to build a business that helps them, their families and their communities.

We began Club Asteria with the idea of giving back to the world, and in turn, receiving the support and help from members located in almost every part of the world. So far, we’ve been able to help out thousands of people.

So how have you helped out those around you? That’s a tough question to ask because in today’s world, where the economy and international markets seem to be full of negative news, we’re all trying to hold onto what we have.

But you can give in other ways that do not involve donating money. In fact, while donating funds to a cause helps many people, giving other valuable items makes a big difference too.

Consider your time – that’s valuable, right?

Think about how valuable that time is to a local organization that’s non-profit and depends on volunteers to help. If you looked at your schedule, there’s probably three or four hours a week where you could volunteer. That time you give could help a great many people.

You also have experience that could be invaluable. There are many people in the world who want to achieve great things, and have humble goals like starting their own business, just like you have.

Loaning your experience by teaching a volunteer class, or speaking at local business seminars might give a person the insight and inspiration he or she needs, but never came in contact with.

There are also plenty of tutoring and mentoring programs in your community that need your help. Sitting down with a young person and helping him or her decide what they want to study could impact more than that person – it affects all of the people they go on to help!

When you give of your time, intelligence and knowledge, you’re providing resources that aren’t as available as money.

Think about that.

Sure, donating funds provides an almost instant answer to a problem, but once that money is spent, the effect might not last as long as sitting down and educating a person with your experience!

Take a look at your schedule for next week and then find three hours of free time. Search for a community group that needs your help, and then go out and give. What you’ll receive is far more valuable than any sale you could make!

The goal of Club Asteria is to help our members find financial freedom by taking advantage of the many resources, products and services that we make available at affordable prices.

We realize that running a small business in these trying economic times can be challenging – the competition is fierce and many people are keeping a tighter hold on their money than ever before!

Hard work has always been one of our mottos at Club Asteria, but there are other aspects to the entire picture that we have to recognize, in order for that hard work to pay off in the end.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind when you’re working towards a goal.

Look Back, Look Forward

This might sound like common sense, but many people don’t realize that to see how far they’ve gone, they need to look back. Every day, you’ve made an accomplishment that’s propelled you forward – no matter how small or insignificant it seems, what you’ve done has set you up for where you’re going!

Don’t Be Scared to Dare

Business leaders will tell you that they had plenty of false starts before they found the right project that led to their success. So don’t be afraid to take a chance, that’s the only way you’re going to succeed! Trying new things or strategies can pay off, it’s just a matter of believing in yourself.

Make Amazing Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, right? When you do something wrong, take the opportunity to learn from it, and you’ll benefit in many ways. Keep a journal and write down what went wrong and how you learned. Remember this, if you’re not making mistakes you’re not trying hard enough.

Look Outside Yourself

Everyone faces the hazard of getting tunnel vision – becoming so engrossed in our own lives that we never look around and observe others. There’s a whole world out there, and it’s full of lessons and information just waiting for you to notice. When we learn from others, we grow and thrive.

Never Stop Learning

As we age, it’s common to think that we’re done learning about life and how the world works. But that’s just not true! There is always something new to learn, and that information could make a big difference in your life. And when you share new information with someone else, you’re helping make the world a better place.

The road of life isn’t always easy, and there’s no guarantee that everyone gets what they want, but as long as you remain open to the people and world around you, the experiences and knowledge you gain will outweigh the negative experiences.

The goals of Club Asteria are to help the people of our world find financial success and escape the bonds of poverty.

Our mission has been succeeding because of many different factors, including the generosity of our members and their dedication to giving back to our foundation.

The other major factor is the Internet. Now that access to the Internet has become even easier to members around the world, running an online business is simple to do, no matter where in the world you’re located.

So how can you succeed in running your own business online? The answers to this question will be discussed during our latest FREE webinar session.

The session will take place on Tuesday, February 21 and will be given by Natalie Sisson, also known as the Suitcase Entrepreneur!

Natalie has been running her own business, and traveling around the world, for more than five years – and her success stories will inspire you and show you how nothing is impossible in the online world.

During the seminar you’ll learn:

• What tools and skills you need to run your business from anywhere
• Strategies you need to stay ahead of the competition
• Key tools Natalie uses to run her business and save her money
• 3 key tools that will make you more productive in one week

Natalie will also discuss how you can take advantage of the social media platforms that have become so integral to running an online business. You don’t want to miss out on this seminar!

The seminar will be conducted online and you can sign up for it today by clicking on this link. Please sign up today, this seminar is the second in a series, and we plan on offering a variety of other seminars during the course of 2012.

The Club Asteria Entrepreneurial Education Program brings this series of seminars to all of our members as another resource to help them grow and succeed in the world of entrepreneurship.

If you’re not a member of Club Asteria, and want to join up – don’t forget that you get a FREE 30 day trial period! All you have to do is click here and follow the onscreen instructions.

We look forward to seeing you online on February 21!

For the past several months, we’ve been talking about the member websites, and how they’re going to be fantastic, and function as another revenue generating tool for every Club Asteria member.

We’re proud to announce that the member websites are now available to every Club Asteria member, and setting them up is so easy, a child could do it! Our goal was to make this resource something that everyone could use.

Here are a few vital links you’ll need to get started on your site:

• Learn about your member website here: https://members.club-asteria.com/. Remember that your login and password are the same ones as for your back office at the Club Asteria Site.

• We’ve created a short, insightful and informative instructional video, which walks you through setting up your site.  Click this link to view it.

• A PDF of instructions is also available at this link.

Remember that we want every member to take full advantage of this incredible resource, so if you have any questions or are having trouble, please contact us through the normal channels, and we’ll do our best to help you.

When your website is up and running, you’ll have a brand new tool to use for making more profit, and helping out your friends, community and the people that Club Asteria benefits via micro-loans and lending programs.

These websites are the first of many new resources we’ll be rolling out in the coming year, and we think they make an excellent starting point. It’s also important to note that before we make a product available to our members, there are many steps that have to be completed.

We realize that our process might hold up products and services everyone is waiting anxiously to try, but we’d rather back up a release date by a few weeks to make sure that what we’re giving you works the way it should.

In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for new announcements and news about these products and services, but in the meantime here are a few ideas for your website:

• Choose a name for your site that’s easy to type, and remember.

• Be patient! Plan out the pages on your website so they make the most sense.

• Remember your audience, that when potential clients will be visiting your site for the first time, it should be an enjoyable experience.

• Pictures and videos are great ways to create relationships with your customers. Don’t be shy!

• Share the website address with your friends, family and business contacts. Make it part of your email signature!

The beginning of each month marks the release of the latest issue of Empower Now, and February isn’t any different!

This month’s issue features plenty of new articles providing insights and ideas for the Club Asteria entrepreneur, and highlights new products and services that are available to our members.

Articles in this issue include:

Natalie Sisson’s upcoming webinar on how to run your business from anywhere in the world. Thanks to the Internet and powerful tools like smart phones, laptops and tablets, there are virtually no barriers to your success!

Motivating yourself and others is a challenge, but when you’ve read the article in this issue by Jean Francois Cousin you’ll be ready to get out there and start making your dreams happen!

Shahab Bakhari wants your website to land in the top pages when a customer searches for what you’re offering – and he gives five solid tips on how to improve your search engine optimization for your site.

Time is as precious as money, and there are plenty of thieves that work hard to take time away from you. How do you stop these thieves in their tracks and get more time to do what you want to do? Natalie Sisson has some very interesting answers about the crafty time thieves.

In addition to these articles you’ll also find new information about the Club Asteria Tablets, the most popular tool we’ve introduced since we started out. There’s more information about the member websites and you can discover how to get two great gifts, just for signing up for Club Asteria.

And because we realize that a healthy body is just as important as a healthy mind, we’ve included an informative article written by Hemalayaa. Her three step fun routine will put a spring in your step and help you meet the challenges of any day with a smile on your face!

Club Asteria’s Empower Now Magazine is an electronic publication that’s created exclusively for Gold Members and as a Club Asteria member you can share it with your friends, family and business associates.

It’s simple, all you have to do is copy the link to this month’s edition and then place it on your website, social media platform or email it to your friends, family and business associates.

This is an excellent way to share the mission of Club Asteria, and benefit from this professionally designed and written publication.

Club Asteria was founded to help the people of the world escape the chains of poverty and discover new ways and methods to generate income. In turn, they would use that new-found money to help themselves, their families and the people in their community.

As the popularity of Club Asteria grew, and more people signed up, we were able to take a step in the right direction by creating a micro-loan program. The idea behind a micro-loan is to provide money to a person who wants to begin a new business, but doesn’t have access to funds

Members such as you who purchase products and services from Club Asteria generate the funds we provide. The money is used in a variety of ways, including our micro-loan program.

Nashi was just a little girl growing up in Western India near a town called Tajpur when she discovered the joys of preparing food with her mother. The favorite part of her day was working with her mother in the family’s small kitchen, preparing simple dishes for the family’s dinner table.

As she grew older, Nashi’s mother began to experience the devastating effects of cancer that made her weaker and unable to do many of the chores around the house. While her mother received cancer treatments, the disease took away most of her strength, but she still was able to teach Nashi how to cook and bake.

One of the favorite memories Nashi had was of preparing sweet confections known as besan ladoo. Created out of almond paste and butter, the sweet treats were a family favorite, and were made for holidays and family gatherings.

Nashi’s time at school continued to shrink as her mother grew sicker, and after her mother’s death, she was placed in charge of helping raise her younger brothers and sisters, and making sure the domestic responsibilities were seen to.

As her siblings grew, Nashi began to consider going back to school, but because her family needed extra income, she found work in a local factory. The work was boring and tedious, but the money she brought back was desperately needed.

One day walking back from her job, Nashi saw a storefront for rent and she immediately realized what she wanted to do – open a small bakery and tea shop that would offer the best pastries and other confections!

Working with her father, she contacted Club Asteria and presented her plans for the small shop. Nashi would fill the labor demands, and then as she grew she would hire help. The loan would get her started and allow her to purchase the ingredients and other items for the store.

While the initial first weeks were demanding, Nashi’s talent for baking and creating delectable treats became the talk of the town. Her customers quickly became fond of her personal touch, not to mention her home cooked items.

Today, the shop is a center place for the town, a gathering point where people come to talk and eat. Nashi has repaid her loan and continues to work in the shop, teaching a new generation the joys of cooking.

One of the many benefits of joining Club Asteria is access to thought leaders and experts from around the world.

The relationships we’ve created with these fascinating, and generous, personalities have enabled us to share an entire new world of ideas with you.

We’ve been hearing from our members who have used these resources to grow their businesses, and become successful despite the tough economic times we all face

That’s why we’re urging everyone to visit the Club Asteria Entrepreneur Education website. It’s open to our members and functions as an electronic resource that can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world!

When you reach the page, you’ll have a variety of choices to make, but remember that every one of these resources is designed to help you learn and grow.

Successful entrepreneurs have tested the strategies and tactics you’ll find on this site in the real world – so you can be confident in using them!

Start your visit at the Thought Leaders page – here you’ll be able to read a quick biography of each person. You’ll also discover articles and videos created by these thought leaders, addressing the areas that mean the most to them. It’s like having a personal business coach at your fingertips!

The aptly named Resources Page contains a great deal of videos and other information that you can use in your daily business dealings. We’ve provided links to popular sites containing videos about everything from leadership to innovation. Take your time on this page, there’s a treasure trove of great ideas waiting to be discovered

Every month we’ll select a Club Asteria member and profile that person on our website. Through extensive interviews, you can learn how members just like you were able to find success, and repeat that formula again and again. Who knows? With hard work and the resources on this site, you might be the next Member of the Month!

Finally, the Business Tips page is updated on a regular basis, and contains plenty of fresh, cutting edge tips designed to help small business owners succeed. From hints on how to use Twitter to motivating employees and more, this is the page that contains information you can use instantly!

Club Asteria’s Entrepreneur Education site is home to resources and information that you can use in your own business. We work hard to update the site on a regular basis, so check back often to see what’s new.

If you’re not a Club Asteria member, and you want to get in on the information and resources available, joining is free for a 30 day trial period!

Now that the new year is here, Club Asteria is rolling out its newest resource: our Product Catalog!
This catalog contains thousands of products and services that are yours to resell through your member website. You won’t be working for anybody, just yourself. The decisions you make will be your own, so it’s time to start thinking about what your product mix will consist of.

Before you stock your website, it’s important to know your audience. You already have a solid idea of what your customers like, but that’s not enough to grow a business. It’s also important to look ahead to what they might also like.

How can you do this without the aid of a magic crystal ball? Talk to your customers! Sure, you can’t speak to all of them, but simple surveys can provide you with vital information.

Another great way to gather information is through email. When you send out a confirmation or thank you email, ask customers what they’d like to see on your site. Encourage their input; after all, they’re going to make the purchases.

After you review what is available on your site, you can go to the Product Catalog and begin to order for yourself at a discount or make recommendations for your friends and family. Remember that knowing your inventory is crucial to the health of your business. Many of the products we offer are in stock on a regular basis.

Research is also a solid method for discovering new markets, often referred to as niche markets. This might take some creative thinking, but when you put yourself in the place of your customers, you can begin to see what they might want to purchase and where their interests will drive them.

Whatever you promote, don’t forget that you will have to market it to customers. Weekly emails are a great way to remind customers that you’re around to help them, and they might find something to help their own business.

You can use communication on your site to create excitement. Blog entries about hot new items, and what’s on the horizon, keep your customers returning. Keeping a steady stream of information flowing will keep you on top of your customer’s mind!

Finding the right product mix requires a lot of hard work and research, but the rewards are so positive that you’ll be happy you applied yourself!

Club Asteria is dedicated to helping our members succeed in whatever business they choose to start.

When you begin a business, there are so many tasks to check off your list, it seems almost impossible. As time passes, and you establish a routine, life doesn’t seem as overwhelming.

However, it’s easy to forget that a business is more than one simple product or service, and that there are plenty of steps you can take to grow your business into something big!

The first thing you need to do is see where you are the strongest, and then make sure that everything is running the right way. Are orders being filled on time? Are your customers happy with the service?

With your main business doing well, take a look at other markets that are similar to yours. Are there any spaces that haven’t been filled by your competition? That’s where you want to start.

Before you take a big step, it’s vital to conduct research of this new market. Check out the competition and figure out what it takes to be successful. As always, you want to enter with a sound strategy, and tactics to support it.

If your business is virtual, it’s easy to build it with a website that carries a new product or service. Remember that cross marketing is a simple, yet effective way, to grow two separate entities.

Adding new lines of products is another sure-fire way to grow your business. Competitive pricing is a must, but you should take time to educate yourself about each new product line and its strengths and weaknesses.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to building a business is lack of patience!

We all want success to come almost instantaneously, and when it doesn’t we’re disappointed and quick to look for a solution. You know what? Many times there is no solution because there is no problem! You’re not failing, you’re expecting too much, too soon.

Allow new ventures to grow; it takes time, but as they gain momentum you’ll be happy that you waited. Think of these new ventures as struggling plants, they need care and shelter and lots of water to survive – and again the key ingredient is time!

Building a business is an exciting venture, and as you add new products and other offerings, you’ll be rewarded with additional income and chance to share that with your family, friends and community.

Just remember to be patient and keep working hard!