Benjamins Yarn

Q: I want to start an online business. Since I don’t know anything about ecommerce and building websites and such, I’m thinking about starting out selling products on eBay, then pay someone to build a website for me once the money starts coming in. The big question is: what is the hot product to sell on eBay to make money fast?
– Bob D.

A: While it’s true that selling products on eBay can be a quick, low cost way to launch an online business, following the herd by selling the “hot product” of the moment, is not a great idea. To the contrary, chances are you will be stomped in the ground by the herd and left lying in the dust with your unsold inventory in hand.

We talked about starting a profitable eBay business in a previous column and the advice I dispensed then still applies today.

The most successful eBay sellers are those who understand that success on eBay relies on many of the same factors as success in a brick and mortar business.

Smart sellers research the marketplace and the competition to determine the salability and profitability of the product.

Smart sellers test the market with one or two before committing to a product line and tying up their cash reserves in inventory that may never sell.

Smart sellers adjust their product offerings until they find a product or product line that sells consistently.

The last point is perhaps the most important. Long term eBay success does not come from “one off” sales. The key to real eBay success is to find a product that sells well and sell that product over and over and over again.

I asked Timothy Mina, author of the new book, The Online Auction Expert’s Bible To Selling on eBay, his thoughts on launching a successful eBay business.

Why is eBay so attractive to entrepreneurs?

“With an eBay business, you set your own hours and set your own goals,” Mina said. “You can work as much or as little as you want and whenever you want. Many sellers supplement their income by selling on eBay and many others have turned it into a full time business.”

Mina cites the following reasons for eBay’s growing popularity among entrepreneurs who want to start an online business:

You can start up quickly and don’t need special skills.

There is very little risk and investment required to get started.

The marketplace is huge. There are millions of potential customers waiting to buy what you’re selling, 24 hours a day, with the click of a button.

No stress, no boss. Yes, there is work involved, but the work can be done at your own pace. You are your own boss and you set your own schedule.

Most importantly, you can follow your passion and do something you love. If you sell something you enjoy selling, online auctions aren’t just profitable, they’re fun and exciting, too.

Why It’s Critical To Find Your Niche?

Mina recommends creating your eBay business with niche items. According to Mina, the benefits of targeting a specific niche market include:

If you are going to rely on eBay as your primary source of income, it is essential that you find your niche. If the goal of your eBay business is to earn enough money in your spare time to make your car payment every month, it is less important, but still highly recommended.

If you find a profitable niche, you will become a certified guru of the items you sell you will ideally be the only one on eBay offering the products.

Your expertise will make it ten times as easy to spot bargains when you’re shopping for products to resell. Bargains might be all around you, but if you don’t know anything about what you’re selling, you won’t know how to spot bargains that are right in front of you.

You will find different ways to add personal value to your products. These low cost add-ons or unique twists to your products will drastically increase your sales and profits by making your items unique and desirable.

You will have little or no competition from other sellers, so you can corner your niche market.

By dealing with the same type of customer over a long period of time you will get to intimately understand the mindset of your target customer and what your customer wants. This will help you sell your products better and allow you to market your products in ways others haven’t thought of.

You will be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what you sell, and you will be attentive to your customer’s desires. This results in satisfied customers, name recognition, and a lot of repeat business.

You’re going to find something you’re passionate about and specialize in it. If you love what you’re doing, you have a much greater chance of sticking to it and loving it. So it won’t even feel like work - it’ll be like you’re getting paid to play.

How do you find your niche?

So how do you find your niche? Mina recommends doing an inventory of your hobbies and interests to help you identify a niche you would enjoy working in.

Ask yourself:

What are you passionate about?

What do you collect?

What do you like to read about?

What do you do in your spare time?

So you have a favorite pastime?

What was your major in college?

What jobs have you had?

Are there any other fields in which you have a great amount of knowledge?

What clubs do you belong to?

Mina also recommends that you spend time on eBay studying the category listings. This may give you additional ideas for hobbies you can turn into an eBay business. Once you have defined your hobbies or interests, brainstorm how you can turn them into a business.

How can you turn your expertise into a product?

How can you add value to current products related to your
interest?

What product can you sell that may be one of a kind and have little or no competition?

Can you think of novel ideas that people who share your passion would love?

Is there anything related to your hobby that you can create yourself? An ebook or a how to, perhaps?

Small Business Q&A is written by veteran entrepreneur
and syndicated columnist, Tim Knox.
Tim’s latest books include “Small Business Success Secrets”
and “The 30 Day Blueprint For Success!”
Related Links:
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net

We where lucky enough to get a quick Q&A with Absolute Poker’s Gian Perroni who gives a few insights into the world of online poker rooms. He provided some great, entertaining answers and we thank him for his time.

COP - What is your history with poker and the Internet?

Gian - My background is in marketing. I owned and operated a direct mail company in the 90’s that specialized in print and postal distribution, and in 1997 I started working with Sportsbook.com and several of their other properties, producing and fulfilling CDs and other marketing materials. From that introduction I started to specialize in providing marketing services to a wide range of online gaming companies, including Absolute Poker prior to their launch.

COP - How long have you been with AP now?

Gian - I moved from Canada to Costa Rica and joined Absolute Poker full-time in July 2003 and was the 7th person to get involved, (we now have over 130).

COP - And what changes have you seen with both the company and the industry in that time?

Gian - The timing was good for Absolute Poker. At the time we launched there were less than 10 serious players in the industry, and we quickly established ourselves as one of the top sites. The industry went through incredible growth for about a year and a half, and then leveled off a little for about 4 months. It has now resumed its’ fast growth and is stronger than ever. While there are now well in excess of 300 sites, there are still less than 20 solid sites, but easily thousands of times the players as there were when we launched.

COP - Do you yourself play poker?

Gian - Absolutely! I started playing in grade 7 with a group of friends, mostly 5 card draw, and a crazy game we called in-between, (now known as Red Dog in the casinos).

COP - What is your favorite game to play?

Gian - I am one of those crazy players that loves the split games - especially Omaha H/L with a kill *smiles*

COP - And online?

Gian - Multiple SitNGos in Omaha H/L are the best, but I am also into PL Omaha of any type.

COP - I assume you can’t play at AP so where do you play and why?

Gian - Shhhhh. Stars and Party mostly - Stars has great software, and both have lots of players to keep the games going.

COP - Have you attended any of the big poker events and if so which ones?

Gian - I spent quite a bit of time at the WSOP this year, and have also been to the Ultimate Poker Challenge, WPT Bellagio, and the US Poker Championship. This year I will be attending one or two a month representing AP and hosting hospitality suites for our players.

COP - Which was your favorite?

Gian - Nothing beats the overall energy at the WSOP - total craziness!

COP - Did you get to meet any of the pros?

Gian - I have met many, including legends like TJ Cloutier.

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COP - Who impressed you the most?

Gian - While I may seem biased, I really enjoy watching our own pro, and my good friend, Mark Seif play. He has a “take no prisoners” style that is both exciting, and nerve-wrecking at the same time.

COP - Which games get the most action in your poker rooms?

Gian - Definitely Holdem, especially in the $3/6 to $5/10 range.

COP - Have you seen any significant changes in the sortt of games people play since opening and if so what would you attribute that to?

Gian - We are seeing more players in the non-Holdem games over time, and I believe that this is primarily due to players becoming more comfortable with the game, and wanting to expand their experience, and skill level.

COP - What do you feel separates AP from the rest of the online poker rooms?

Gian - Great promotions, especially with our redeposit bonuses, and more FreeRolls than any other site are definitely attractive. Our personalized icons are really only used by Stars and ourselves, and players love them. We have a reputation for excellent customer support, and for quick withdrawals, both of which add confidence to our players.

COP - Can you see any room for innervations for online poker rooms?

Gian - We have a few new innovations coming that will enhance the player’s experience, but as far as changes to the way poker is dealt, that won’t happen. The 6 or 7 major poker variations will all stay the same.

COP - What plans does AP have for the future?

Gian - We are increasing the number of tables you will be able to play at concurrently, and will be increasing the number of players that can join tourneys. Heads-up single and multi tourneys are launching immediately, and we have just released our new re-playable hand histories. Watch for new tourney lobbies, and a change from 6 player tables to 5 player.

COP - any last remakes you would like to make about AP?

Gian - Only that I joined this company because I saw a group of young, bright guys that were putting together a poker company that would be run with the highest moral and ethical standards. My instincts were correct, and I have not regretted the move for a moment. Working with AP is exciting, and we will remain one of the top sites in the business.

COP - Finally on a lighter note, who would win in fight, Phil Helmuth or Annie Duke?

Gian - Annie hands down - both at the table and in the ring *big grin*

http://www.completeonlinepoker.comComplete Online Poker

Casino Host & avid poker player, Michael Hayter is the webmaster for http://www.completeonlinepoker.com

I once was part of a group of management professors who often taught in executive development seminars. Other non-management professors in the school ran these. Occasionally these non-management professors would approach someone else in the management group to express their concerns about our teaching - they wouldn’t approach the person who had taught for them.

For example, if I had taught the session, the professor - let’s call him Larry - would approach my colleague Dick and tell him that he was concerned about my performance. After Dick tested his assumption that Larry hadn’t given me this feedback, Dick asked what led him not to talk directly with me. Larry almost always said that he didn’t want to upset me. Sometimes Larry or another professor would tell Dick that they wanted him to tell me their concerns, but not tell me that they had told him. Other times, they would request that Dick not tell me.

At this point Dick would ask, “What is your purpose in telling me if you don’t want Roger to know?” Dick did not agree to their conditions - he held them accountable for their views. More about this later.

Different story, same organization: When the school was looking for the equivalent of a new Dean, there were three final candidates, all internal to the school. The search committee told the faculty that they would accept letters evaluating the three candidates, but that they would only give weight to signed letters.

I was in a bind. I very much wanted one candidate to get the position, and was very concerned about another candidate getting it. I wanted to write a letter, but I was an untenured assistant professor. I had reason to believe that if I signed it and the candidate I had great concerns about got the position, my tenure might be in jeopardy.

I checked with my colleague Kurt, who was also a member of the search committee. He said to me, “Roger, you teach this stuff - you don’t have a choice.” He held me accountable for my views. More about this later.

Both of these stories focus on the Skilled Facilitator principle of joint accountability. Being accountable means you are responsible for addressing your problems with others directly with them rather than avoiding them or asking others to handle them for you.

Joint accountability also means that you share responsibility for a situation, including the consequences it creates. If you are working with others on a task, you are jointly accountable to each other for performing the task and the consequences of your joint actions. If things don’t work out as planned, rather than seek to blame others, you recognize that because you are part of a system, your actions contribute to either maintaining the system or changing it.

Chris Argyris’ research and our experience at Roger Schwarz & Associates tells me that though this kind of accountability feels risky, people get far better results when they consistently apply it.

In many organizations I work with, senior executives call for people to be accountable for the work they perform, but not for the relationships that create the work. This is particularly true about joint accountability between co-workers. When someone has a concern about a co-worker, rather than talk directly with the co-worker, they talk to others about the coworker. This approach often gets them results they find totally unacceptable - yet they continue to apply it!

That’s what was happening in my first story. My management faculty colleagues and I agreed that we would not allow colleagues to give feedback indirectly - we wanted more accountability.

We agreed that when Larry told Dick he didn’t want me to know, Dick would say that I needed to know, otherwise I couldn’t improve my performance, which was Larry’s interest. Dick would agree to coach Larry on how Larry could give me feedback and Dick would even agree to be present to help Larry give me the feedback. If Larry still said he didn’t want me to know, Dick would say that he couldn’t honor an agreement that would withhold important information about my performance. Dick would tell Larry that he (Dick) planned to give me Larry’s feedback and that I would likely come visit Larry to find out first hand what Larry’s concerns were about my performance. When Dick gave me the feedback, I went to Larry’s office and, with genuine curiosity, asked about his concerns with my performance. By working in this way, my management colleagues and I asked our other colleagues to be accountable to us directly and we were accountable to them.

And the second story? Kurt told me that if I was going to walk my talk, my only choice was to write a letter and sign it. I wrote the letter evaluating all three candidates using specific examples, and sharing my conclusions about their leadership ability based on the data I had. After emailing the letter to the search committee, I emailed a copy to all three candidates. I told them that, as my peers, I owed them the same feedback about their performance that I gave to the search committee. My only request was that if they had questions or concerns about what I wrote, that they talk with me directly.

Ten minutes after sending the email, the candidate who I was most concerned about knocked on my door and asked to talk. We had a difficult but productive conversation. He agreed with my data but came to different conclusions about his leadership ability. He thanked me for sharing the letter with him. We remained good colleagues as he became the equivalent of Associate Dean. And I got tenure.

How does your organization or the organizations you consult to handle this kind of accountability? How do you handle it yourself? Please join our free Mutual Learning Action Group (on our website) and post your thoughts so others can learn from you as well.

© 2005 Roger Schwarz

Roger Schwarz, Ph.D., is author of the international bestseller “The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers, Trainers and Coaches” and co-author of the recent “Skilled Facilitator Fieldbook: Tips, Tools, and Tested Methods for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers, Trainers, and Coaches,” both available on Amazon.com and via other quality booksellers.

You can subscribe on our site to Fundamental Change, Roger Schwarz & Associates’ free, monthly ezine: http://www.schwarzassociates.com/fundamental_change.html In exchange for subscribing, you’ll receive a link to a free .pdf copy of “Holding Risky Conversations,” a chapter from our recently-published fieldbook.

We write Fundamental Change to help you create workplaces and communities that are simultaneously highly effective and that improve the quality of life.

Every month we:

* Address issues important to you as practitioners and leaders
* Share client examples and case studies
* Offer tips and tools for challenging situations
* Offer resources to help you become more effective.

Are you not really sure which sexual lubricant to order? These questions should be discussed in this excellent sex lubricant post. Go supersize with Large Vibrators from Sex Bomb.

Fruity Lubricants aren’t primarily for sex. Lubing up for one on one fun is one of the most common uses for water based lubes, massage oils and sexual lotions. Using lubrication during personal fun is safe, wonderful and practical. One will want your vibrators to enter and move as noticeably as possible.

If gents are looking for a sex lube which is safe to experiment with all sexy toys stick to a water-based fruity lubricant, there are various yummy sorts out there like lime. And there are some that run like oil.

Current users can often already know what lube is most perfect for them. But if you are trying a water based lubricant for the 1st time Sex Bomb would love to recommend the following. It?s wise to start off with a water-based lubricant. Water-based lubricants do not stain and sexual lubricants are likewise totally safe to apply on all sex toys. If you wish to apply a fruity lube for mouth play we recommend you yourself get one of the delicious coffee flavoured ones. Anal addicts tend to go for thicker water based lube because these sexual lubricants are slightly longer lasting. Remember, the more sex lube you yourself experiment with the more marvellous screwing you can have.

When classy shoppers of the city of London are in desperate need of a bit of serious retail therapy Matches Fashion supplies them with the designer fix they can be found looking for and the glamourous fix the fabulous buyers need. Based in the city of London Matches Fashion make available the deluxe of international designer collections as well as a focus in both classic elegance and cutting edge fashion. Matches also offer European and American shipping which is a treat for all global Matches Fashion fabulous buyers. For Stella McCartney Designer Clothes hot off the catwalk visit Matches Fashion.

Matches Fashion is one of the most flourishing fashion style stores in London. Matches Fashion enjoy thirteen clothing stores dotted around; three of the larger clothing stores can be found situated in gorgeous Richmond, Wimbledon and Notting Hill. Along with their high end fashion stores Matches furthermore have a stylish website. You can find your much-loved Bottega Veneta trousers and handbags on the net no matter whereabouts you are in the England or America. Making the Matches Fashion company always available to you.

The superb website itself now has almost seven hundred different high fashion designers t-shirts in stock; there are plans to increase this to around nearly 900 items. Like many other designer fashion boutiques around these days Matches is forever updating its stock bringing in bags that are the top must haves of the season. Every season Matches Fashion are focused on picking out the key shirts and editing the European and American fashion collections down to decide what Matches actually want to look at stocking that season. This takes a massive amount of preparation but there has not been a season whereabouts Matches has not been correct with the handbags Matches are providing for Matches Fashion trendy shoppers. Stocking only the latest t-shirts from designers such as Demylee Freda, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney to name but a few, anything you purchase from Matches regardless of what fashion designers make is, is bound to turn heads.

We arrange holidays to Asia and in particular to Indonesia - The discovery begins in Java, the coastal port of Banten and its noble city of Yogyakarta, home to two of Indonesia’s legendary mouoments-Borobudur and the Prambanan Templi Complex.

In Indonesia you’ll find colourful bustling market places, and treasures by the suitcase load. And, every day, you’ll meet people genuinely pleased to make your acquaintance.

The information contained in our pages provides only a small, but hopefully tantalising, taste of the myriad pleasures in store when you visit Indonesia. There are, after all, more than 17,000 enchanted islands to choose from (convenient domestic flights by jet aircraft connect Indonesia’s many cities and almost as many holiday options for you or your whole family.

In Bali, glorious beaches and verdant landscapes, local food and culture, await. Bali, has long held its crown as Asia Pacific’s unparalleled tourist destination. But beyond this ‘hub you can discover a variety of destinations and experiences. See the world’s strangest and rarest reptile, the Komodo dragon, or sail into quite harbors such as Larantuka in the eastern islands, where life remains relatively untouched by modernity.

And further, beyond the traditional Jakarta-Yogyakarta-Bali trail, venture to the more remote places-Tanah Toraja in southern Sulawesi, northern Sumatra’s Lake Toba and Kalimantan’s Mahakam River as the main destination which includes all the top Hotels, Sightseeing tours, Car Rentals and Air Travel. Cruises are arranged within Asia from countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the popular in Indonesia which covers the Thousand Island tour.

Holidays to Asia

According to strict definitions, antiques are objects that have collectible value and that are more than 100 years old. There are a number of auction sites that sell antiques online. Some sites specialize in items from a particular historical period, while others offer a wider range of antiques. While some online auction houses have stellar reputations, a specialist may better serve a new buyer with specific interests. A major advantage of online auctions is that prices for a particular antique tend to be lower than they might be in an antique store or show. However, not being able to see and assess an antique for signs of authenticity can be a drawback.

How can one determine authenticity? It is important to research online auction sites and to find one that enjoys a good reputation. Experienced buyers share certain tips, such as asking for close-up photographs of the base of an object. Even if carefully maintained, most antique objects show some wear and tear at the base. However, in the case of ceramics and glassware, chips can reduce the value of the antique.

To assess if a fair price is being asked, compare the price to that quoted by online auction guides for similar antiques that have recently been auctioned. These guides are usually helpful tools to estimate the value of an antique for both buyers and sellers. Sites should also offer a full refund if you end up with a reproduction instead of the real thing. Some sites only offer refunds for a limited period, but this should give you enough time to have the item appraised. As an alternative, paying a little extra to have an antique appraised before purchasing it online is well worth the cost and the knowledge that what you are buying is genuine.

Every time you turn around it seems you see another affiliate program which promises you vast riches. They give you all the sales material you need, and even throw in a free web page. How can I loose, one might think. Everything is all set up for me, and all I need is get a bigger PO Box to handle all the checks that will roll in. Your web site will be carried by the search engines, you have the “pre-written” ads ready to go - how can you lose?

A few ads are placed here and there, and the responses “trickle in” but there are few, if any sales. Time for a reality check.
If you have seen one affiliate web site for a particular product, service or opportunity, you have seen them all. There are a number of affiliate programs, which have thousands of people who have bit. Why should a person go to your site when they know from the URL (address of your web page) what it is already?

They won’t. Am I saying that affiliate programs don’t work?
No - I am saying that the tools they provide “don’t cut the mustard”. It is a proven marketing fact that it takes 5-7 exposures to your ad before someone might purchase from you. If you have a “canned” web site, what are the odds of them coming back to you to buy? Slim to none.

So how does a person who is serious about marketing an affiliate program get you to buy from them? First, they “deep six” the affiliate web site as their primary web contact, and create their own. On their web site they provide content which is interesting for anyone who stops by. They also change the content on a regular basis to keep them coming back, and let them know when it does change. They also provide a link to their affiliate web site.

The next step is to try to get a listing on the search engines.
Now, think about this. There are most likely several thousand people who have an identical web site to the one you get as an affiliate. What do you think the odds are of someone “stumbling across” your site when surfing the web? Again - slim to none.
But if you have your own site, your chances take a giant leap forward. The link to your affiliate site is a minor part of your web site, even though it is where you want them to eventually wind up.

Now - can you use a site that is not your own domain? While not the preferred route to take, it is “head and shoulders” above the link you get from the affiliate program. Most ISP’s give you web space free. Learn a little HTML code and you’re in business.
Or, if push comes to shove, hire someone to do it for you. Let’s face it, if I see a URL that I recognize as an affiliate program, and I’ve been there before, I will simply “click away”.

The old saying, that if “salespeople sell themselves first, the sale of their product or service, follows shortly thereafter” is certainly true. Establish yourself on the web and in the newsletters/ezines as someone who can be trusted, and is knowledgeable in their field. If people get to know and trust you, your recommendation to join your affiliate program will carry a lot more weight.

Now that you have control over your web page, you should have a guest book that visitors can sign. Now you have their email address. Folks, these are literally worth their weight in gold.
You can now send them email about upcoming events on your web site, and not be accused of spamming.

Run a contest on your web site - the prizes don’t have to be off the wall. An ebook (and there are a number available for free) can be your prize - and again more email addresses. Write a free newsletter/ezine and publish it on a regular basis - even more email addresses. As long as there is content of interest, they won’t mind a gentle reminder to visit your web site.

Consider a “non-competing” partner to help you with the site or to write articles for the ezine. It makes no difference to you if there is another link to another affiliate program on your site. If they are willing to share the work in return for the link, it is to your advantage. The key here is “non-competing”.

So - are affiliate programs a sure thing? If you simply join and sit back waiting for the money to flow, no. If you are a “take charge” type of person and are willing to work a little, it can be a great opportunity.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby’s Free Ezine the “Tip of the Day” get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday. Wednesday. and Friday. Instructions on how to place an ad are in the Newsletter.

Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm.

Great unique gift ideas for 21st birthday presents are a symbol of credit of an achieved goal in life. Not only cultural but social as well. 21st birthday is a high point birthday celebrated extensively in the New Millennium, and is measured to be one of the most important celebrations in a person’s life. 18 is legal by law but 21 is considered a legal adult. Searching for 21st Birthday Present Ideas is easy when you know how to look in the right place. One of lifes great truths.

The presentpresented on this day is a symbol of love, and conveys your good wishes and blessings for a bright future of the 21 year old. Goodiesshould be in accordance with the wantings and temperament of the birthday girl or boy. Next are some presentideas for the 21st birthday:

Gold Timepiece

If your finance permits, you can presentthe birthday chico or chica a gold watch with his or her name and date of birth carved on it.

Silver Jewelry

You can get him or her passes to their first silver jewelry magic show. It is a great presentidea, natural and more available than anything its equal.

Have a Sports Present Gala

21st birthday calls for festival and nothing can be more exciting than a sport presentsbirthday party. Most households are several opportunities for sports presentlove.

Video Collections and Electronic Gadgets

The 21st birthday marks the introductionof early life transition and a time of great life duties. Therefore, the present to be had on this day should be special. You can use your creativity to give personalized or encouraging presents as well.

Salute of life is great to celebrated and wise to do so. Life is to be loved and gained. It is and will always be a time of musing of what was and a intuition into what will be. The receiving loved one will think lovingly on the one that gives such 21st birthday presents. Click here to visit our website.

Windsor Castle is thought to be the biggest inhabited castles around at the moment and the eldest in continuous occupation (over nine hundred years). It’s 1 of Queen Elizabeth’s 3 royal homes, & is over and over again understood to be her outright favourite. The Royal Standard flutters above the Round Tower of Windsor Castle at anytime Queen Elizabeth the 2nd is at the palace - conversely, at other times, the Union Jack flag soars in its position.

Samuel Pepys has said Windsor Castle to be “the single most romantic castle around.” That was said in 1666, and the comparable is true today.

Windsor Castle Rich History:

The origins of Windsor can be found lying in the beginning of the seventh century Saxon parish of Windlesora, where the present day village of Old Windsor is sited. The town of Windsor is properly branded as the “New Windsor” - the actual phrase “new” being used in a relative sense!

Windsor Castle was firstly built by the illustrious William the Conqueror, on account of his invasion of England in ten sixty six. The original building was erected from wood with ground defences. Windsor Castle held an understandable tactical position on a tall hill just above the River Thames, & was a fraction of a collection of strongholds in the region the Capital, with the Tower of London, one day’s walk away, at its heart.

The Castle was soon redesigned in rock, and rose in magnitude over history. More recently Henry 2nd put up the Round Tower & the original stone outer wall. After the English Civil War, the Castle’s most important role became that of a royal residence. Windsor Castle has stayed significantly unbothered from the beginning of the nineteenth century, apart from the repair job following the hideous fire. For a superb family day out, why not visit Windsor Castle with Enjoy England.