Donna Battenfield- www.dgbent.com

Candles By Donna & Gary Battenfield

Donna had been in the program for some time before I had started working with her. For the most part she had things under control, but had some misguidance in the past. Here are her comments;

"My experience in the program has really been wonderful. I have had some real highs and real lows.

I was looking for something that I could do from home where I didn't have to have a car or spend a lot of money on dress clothes and I thought that an online business was meant for me. My husband and I bought a computer (for his business) and a couple of weeks later I found this one. It took two weeks talking it over with my husband and a lot of prayer before we decided to go ahead and do this. I just knew this was going to be for me. However, I knew absolutely nothing! I had a hard time doing an email. With the training that I got I can't tell you how much I have learned. There were some things I didn't think I was capable of learning and lo and behold, I wasn't as computer illiterate as I thought.

I think one of the most important things that I have learned is that links are very, very important. I slacked off for a long time thinking I wasn't getting anywhere and why bother and then I just decided to go for it. I worked on links from early in the morning until late at night. I didn't waste my time with the ones that didn't get back with me in a timely manner (I usually gave it a couple of weeks); I would clear them out and try some new ones. I started doing this about a year ago and I have watched myself climb from #80 something to #5 on Google for one of my keywords. I am still not where I want to be, but I will get there.

Something else that I (we) experienced that you all should know about and that is Counterfeits. I was really hungry for some business that I fell into a trap. I new about the credit card rip offs and such especially from Nigeria and Indonesia. The merchant card people wouldn't accept their credit cards. They told me to ask for a cashier’s check or wire transfer and that if they were reputable people they wouldn't have a problem. When I received a really large order from a very sweet woman (on vacation in Spain). She wanted me to send a lot of stuff for her client in Nigeria and she had cash but the only way she could send it was a cashier's check. Thinking that was the best way, I accepted.

When I got the check I took it straight to the bank and I asked the cashier how long I had to wait until I could use this money. She told me after midnight (when they post). My husband and I went out the next day and bought all the things that she wanted and I ordered all the things she wanted from my website and had it shipped DHL. We got everything sent off in 3 days. It was on a Saturday that she called me and wanted me to send her the $1,700.00 she had left (she was going to leave it with me for further orders). When I tried to get the money sent to her, that is when I found out the bank had frozen our account. To make a very long sad story short we ended up going through a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy that just devastated both of us.

There are people out there that you can trust, but, be aware of anyone from Nigeria or anyone wanting a lot of stuff from your site for their store. Most of those people ask me what my site has on it, so that tells me right there, NO WAY! Please folks, just be really careful.
Since July of 2004 business has picked up for both of us (my husband is in construction). If it wasn't for Doni Roebuck and Jeremy Cobb I think I would have given up! They gave me the courage that I needed and had so much patience with me that I will never forget it. I know that I can still count of them if I ever have a problem. And yes, I still have some pretty dumb stuff happen to me, but I'll tell you what, I have learned so much. And everything that I go through and everything that happens is for a reason. It has been a tremendous learning experience.
This is not as easy as 1,2,3 and you need to give it your all if you want to succeed with your online business!

Thanks to everyone who has truly helped me with my website. Without you I wouldn't be where I am today. "

Donna
Candles - www.dgbent.com

You may have some problems from time to time, but learn from Donna’s experience. That's what this blog is for! Thanks Donna!

- Jeremy Cobb