Home Based Jobs

Many people want the opportunity to work from home. However, they’re not inspired by the ‘freelance lifestyle’, which does offer some challenges. What work at home opportunities are available? Here are some options to consider:

* Direct Sales – Direct sales puts you in the driver’s seat without the risk. A direct sales associate is someone who sells a company’s products or services and works on a commission basis. Tupperware, MaryKay and Discovery Toys are popular direct sales companies; however, because the business model is so successful you can find a direct sales company in just about every niche.

As a direct sales person, there is a low start-up cost, usually just the cost of buying a few products to market at home parties. Most of the time direct sales companies provide their associates with a bevy of marketing materials and everything they need to succeed.

* Medical transcriptionist – Medical transcriptionists essentially take doctor dictated recordings and transcribe them. This isn’t as easy as it sounds because a medical transcriptionist will need to know and understandmedical terminology. Many medical transcriptionists work on tight deadlines and have a degree or certification in the field.

* Customer Service – A number of companies around the world outsource their customer service to work from home contractors. You’ll need a computer and to go through their customer support training, and of course be right next to your phone during your contracted hours. There are work from home customer service scams, so if you’re interested in this opportunity you’ll want to contract with a reputable organization. Research them before you sign on the dotted line.

* Data Entry – Like customer service and medical transcription, there are work from home data entry scams. However, this can also be a legitimate option. The key is to do your homework on any organization you’re looking into or considering applying to, and never send anyone money to get a job.

* Telecommuting Opportunities – In addition to the standard work from home opportunities or direct sales opportunities, you may be able to transition your current job into a work from home or telecommuting situation. Many positions from an office manager to an attorney can be telecommuting opportunities. If you’re already gainfully employed and want to transition your job from an office one to a telecommuting one, create a plan and a proposal that will benefit your boss and other employees before you present it to them.

Many times it’s easier to gradually ease into telecommuting by working from home one day a week at first. As you prove to your boss that it can work, you can add days. The key, however, is to be extremely productive on those work from home days.

Where can you find telecommuting and work from home jobs? Here are some suggestions:

- Check your local job postings and regular job sites

- Approach your employer

- Visit websites where work from home jobs are posted (be scam savvy)

- Contact companies you want to work for with a cover letter and a resume

Working from home doesn’t have to be a pipe dream – it is possible. With the right research and planning, you can live the life you desire.

Flipping Websites

Flipping websites is a fairly new business. It’s a lot like flipping houses only without the hammer and nails. When you flip a website, all you need are some research and internet marketing skills. Here’s how to do it successfully.

#1 Find good sites. Just like when you’re looking for a house to flip, there are key variables that must be in place for the flip to be profitable. To begin, a website needs to have a good domain name. It also needs to have some targeted traffic. You’re not going to create miracles here; you’re just improving on a solid foundation. If there’s no traffic going to the site, it’s best to move on. Finally, is the website generating any income?  It’s much easier to convince others to buy a site if you’re able to show an increase in income.

#2 Settling in to make improvements. Okay so you’ve purchased the website you’re goingto flip. Now what? You will essentially do several things. The first thing you’ll want to take a look at are the current SEO practices. Is the site coded correctly?  Are there incoming links and internal links?

The second thing, and this may be the most important thing, is you’ll want to put content on the site. This will involve keyword research to make sure the content is optimized for the search engines, and then of course it will have to be written. You can write the content yourself, outsource it or purchase PLR and tweak it to meet your needs.

Now, how’s the navigation? How does the website look? If the website could use some aesthetic help, grab a free template, install it and you’re on your way. Depending on the site’s purpose you may want to install a few extras. Like, could it benefit from a forum? What about some AdSense or affiliate traffic?

Remember, people are going to be interested in purchasing this site only if you can show an increase in revenue, so this is the time to focus on that. You may also want to have the sales copy (depending on the website and business model) improved or completely rewritten. If you have a knack for sales pages, then this is a great way to improve the profits quickly and easily.

#3 Sell the site. Now you’re ready to make a profit. You’ve increased traffic to the site, and have the records to prove it. You’ve increased the site’s income, and have the records to prove it. Now it’s time to put it on the market.

You’ll want to value it and that can be a tricky thing. Some experts tell us that the value of a website is generally worth three to six times earnings before interest and tax. There are two ways to approach the sale of a website: you can email people in the industry who already have websites and may be looking for more, or you can post the sale on a site like eBay and let people bid for it. SitePoint also offers a websites for sale area.

Congratulations! You now know how to take a website, improve it and make some good money. Like anything, this business takes a bit of know-how and skill, so do your research before you jump right in. Happy flipping!

Home Office or Outside Office

Owning your own business is a dream come true for many. It gives you the freedom to choose your hours, your clients, your salary and so on. It’s an amazing lifestyle. That being said, there are many hurdles to achieving your business goals and many decisions to make that affect your ability to attain those goals.

One of those decisions, while it may seem insignificant at first, is where to have your office. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of home-based and outside office space so you can make the best decision for you and your business goals.

Home-based office

Home-based businesses are convenient. What’s better than sliding out of bed and into your slippers, grabbing your cup of coffee, and walking down the stairs or down the hall to your office? Not much; it’s about as convenient as it gets. It means that whenever you have work to do, your office and your work are right there for you. You don’t have to get in the car, hop on the bike or walk down the street to your place of work.

Of course, this convenience has its downside too. Your work is always there. There’s no escaping your task list, and face it when you own your own business, there’s always something to do. There’s no leaving work at the office because your home and your office are one. In order to escape, you have to get out of the house, which is possible for a few hours but generally not possible for extended periods of time.

Distractions are the other downside to having a home-based office. When your office is down the hall from your children’s bedroom, the kitchen, the laundry room and so on, there’s a myriad of distractions which can affect your productivity and focus. It takes a very disciplined person to achieve their business goals while working from home.

Finally, a home-based office doesn’t come with monthly lease fees and if your home office is a dedicated home office, meaning other family members don’t use it for other purposes, you can deduct a percentage of your mortgage from your taxes. Check with the IRS or your accountant to verify how much and whether you qualify.

Outside office

An outside office may be exactly what you need to achieve your business goals. An outside office lends itself to productivity. You’re free from many of the common distractions that plague a home office and you can get down to business. Additionally, when you’re out of the office you can leave work there, making it much easier to focus on family, friends and all those other wonderful parts of your life.

And an outside office may offer significantly more space than a home office, making it easier for your business to grow and prosper. And if you decide to bring on employees or contractors, it may be much easier to do so if you’re not having to invite them into your home to work.

Whether you choose a home-based office or an outside office, you’ll want to make sure both are comfortable and lend themselves to productivity. Family photos, filing systems, organized storage, computer connections and an efficient workspace will make your space much more effective.

Earning Money by Writing Reviews

Do you enjoy reviewing products and want to make some money in the process? Are you passionate about technology, books, music and other products, which are commonly reviewed? Here are two main ways to embrace that passion and make money writing reviews.

#1 Become an affiliate marketer. Affiliate marketers make money by earning a commission on sales they send to a company’s website. For example, you can  create a website devoted to fitness technology and become an affiliate for various software products and gadgets. People looking for fitness technology, say pedometers, will visit your website and read about pedometers. If you’ve posted a favorable review for a product and included a link to the manufacturer’s website, they’ll click through, make a purchase and you earn a commission.

The goal of an affiliate marketer isn’t to sell but to presell, and one great way to presell a product is to review it. Of course, if you only review products you’re affiliated with and you only provide biased and favorable reviews, savvy consumers will catch on and your sales will suffer. The key is to be a legitimate expert on your topic.

Money-making reviews will generally summarize the product’s purpose in an unbiased and informative paragraph. The reviewer will then discuss their experience with the product, pointing out all of the strengths and benefits and also addressing any drawbacks. Of course, if you’re looking to make an affiliate sale on the review then you’ll want to mitigate the drawbacks if there are any and then round out the review with a positive touch. Always include the price, any promotions presently available and a link to the website where readers can buy the product. Voila, money from a review!

#2 Write reviews for product sites and websites. There are many websites that pay for reviews. These websites include sites like epinions and even manufacturer sites. They’re not paying, hopefully, for a favorable review but rather an honest and unbiased one. Some review sites want their reviewers to be knowledgeable in the industry or about the topic, while others are simply looking for bulk reviews. You can find these sites by doing a quick search online or by targeting specific industries and writing queries to the sites or manufacturers. This isn’t the most lucrative way to write reviews, but if you can write in abundance the cash can add up.

Getting paid to write reviews is a great way to earn a bit of extra money, particularly if you’re inclined to try potential products in the first place. You’re sharing your experience with others, providing valuable information and earning a profit. It’s a great way to earn some extra cash and provide value at the same time.

Santa Letters Business

The holidays are right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to launch a Santa Letter business or to boost an already existing one. This article takes a look at creative and fun ideas to make your Santa letter business a success this holiday season.

#1 – Boost your website appearance

One of the best ways to drive traffic and business is to give your website an overhaul. Taking a look at your present website and consider these tips:

* Update your samples – Make sure you have samples of your best Santa Letters online.

* Add testimonials – A glowing testimonial is worth its weight in gold. Add a few to your website home page.

* Offer special promotions – People like saving money. What about offering a “buy 5 get one for half off”?

* Make the payment process easier – Instant payment is great and PayPal is one of the most popular options. However, not everyone has a PayPal account. Track how your customers like to pay and see if you can make the payment process as easy as possible.

* Add more products or choices – Offering choices when it comes to content in the letter, stationery, and even special touches is a great way to help your customer customize their letter.

#2 – Boost website traffic

Now taking a look at your traffic, here are just a few ways to drive more traffic to your business:

* Advertise in ezines

* Pay-per-click ads

* Affiliate marketing

* Article marketing

* Article exchange

* Link exchange

* Social networking

* Auction sites/eBay stores

* Place online classified ads, for example Craigslist.org

#3 – Offline marketing

You may find your best clients are right in your very own neighborhood, so take the time to market offline too. Possibilities include:

* Post flyers in local establishments.

* Place samples and/or a brochure in local establishments. If you have gift shops in your community this is a great way to market to the holiday shopping crowd.

* Place an ad in your local newspaper.

* Place a listing in your yellow and/or white pages.

* Participate in charities or affiliate with a charity. For example, donate a portion of your sales to the event, and don’t forget to issue a press release about your plans.

#4 – Offer something unique

There are many ways to make your Santa letters unique, including:

* Special graphics

* Custom stationery

* Glitter or snow in the envelope

* A wax seal

* A beautiful hand-written signature from Santa

* A unique postmark, say from the North Pole (Christmas Cancellation Center) in Fairbanks Alaska.

* Stickers or other trinkets inside the envelope

#5 – Expand your business

You can also expand your Santa Letter business to include other holidays, including Kwanza, Hanukkah and even Valentines day and other special holidays.

When marketing and building a Santa Letter business, much of your success will depend on customer service along with your unique product. Add your personality, make your letters fun and inviting, and be sure to spread the word through the marketing ideas we’ve mentioned in this article.

Working from home and being self-employed is one of the best ways to live the life you want.  If you have a knack for research, being an internet researcher may be the ideal entrepreneurial opportunity.  It’s also one of the easiest businesses to start.  Here’s how:

What You Need to Know

To be successful as an internet researcher you’ll need to know how to maneuver online quickly and effectively. You’ll want to know how to get online and have a solid understanding of search engines and online research tools.  You’ll also want to know a good amount about a particular industry or type of research.  Many marketers, for example, have a need to understand their target audience and need market research.  If you understand market research, demographics, psychographics and keyword research then you’ll be a valuable asset to this industry.

Create Your Office

To get started as an internet researcher you’ll need a home office.  Essentially, you’ll need a computer with a good internet connection.  You’ll also need some way to document the hours you work, bill your customers, pay your taxes and store your information. Because research generates quite a volume of content and memory, it’s advised to have some sort of backup.  You can purchase an external hard drive or use online storage solutions.  Create a system to regularly back up your computer, and organize your information in a manner that makes it quick and easy to access.

For example, ask yourself “How would I find a client project I did 5 years ago?”

This is helpful if a client comes back to you later wanting more information or if your research projects overlap.

Get a Website

Because you’re going to be researching online, it’s important to establish yourself online as well to demonstrate your ease working online.  Additionally, many of your clients will find you online.  Websites can be created quite easily and for very little expense.  You’ll need a domain name that represents your business, not your name, and will help people find you online.  You’ll also need a website host.

Finally, it’s time to start marketing your services.  Ask yourself the following questions:

* What type of internet researcher are you?
* Do you do market research, informational research or both?
* Do you charge by the hour or by the project?
* How much do you charge?
* Do you specialize in an industry or niche topic?  If so, what is it?
* Why should they hire you? What makes you unique and what benefit do you offer businesses?
* How will you tell people about your business? Options include but are not limited to:

• Social networking

• Online advertising

• Press release

• Search engine optimization

• Article marketing

• Flyers, brochures and print ads

• Partnering with relevant businesses to cross promote

A Few Additional Considerations

You’ll also want to make a few decisions about your work from home life.  For example, how many hours will you work each day/week?  How will you bill clients, for example do you require a deposit?  Will you use PayPal?  Will you accept checks?  You’ll also want to decide where you’re going to open your business checking/savings account and what type of business entity you’re going to have – LLC, Sole proprietorship.  And you’ll need to register your business with the proper local authorities.

Becoming an internet researcher can be an amazing opportunity.  What other industry allows you to learn as you earn?  What other industry allows you the ability to provide valuable information to people, potentially making a difference in the world, and live the lifestyle you desire.

Recognize a Scam

Ever heard the phrase, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?”  That is how the work from home scams work. As more and more people are attracted to the idea of working from home, more and more scam artists are surfacing to take advantage. In fact, work from home scams are on the National Consumers League’s Top 10 Frauds list.

So how do you protect yourself? Learn to recognize work from home scams. Here’s how:

Ask yourself, “what do they really want?” If a position requires you to purchase products from them in order to perform the job, beware. Craft assembly scams, for example, work by having you pay for the equipment up front, you assemble the crafts and are then told you don’t meet their needs. The truth is you could never meet their needs; they’re making money by selling you the craft supplies.

Common work from home scams that utilize this method include:

* Craft assembly scams
* Envelope stuffing scams
* Medical billing scams

In short, if you have to buy equipment up front or pay them to start the business, it should be a huge red flag.

Ask yourself, is it legal? Many scams intentionally involve you in perpetrating a fraud. For example, the old “turn your computer into a money-making machine,”. Well, this one’s at least half-true. To be completely true, it should read: “Turn your computer into a money-making machine… for spammers!”

Is it a multi-level marketing or pyramid scheme?  Multi Level Marketing or MLM has received a reputation for being a scam. While there are legitimate MLM organizations, it pays to be extremely careful when it comes to getting involved with them. Many organizations focus on getting more people involved in the pyramid rather than actually representing a quality product or service.

Do your research. Find out if they’re legitimate. The internet provides you with a myriad of tools to research companies. You can Google them to find out if there are any complaints against them, you can check with the better business bureau and you can investigate legitimate work from home opportunities online or at your local library.

Where did you learn about the work from home opportunity? If you received an unsolicited email, it’s almost guaranteed to be a scam.

Legitimate work from home opportunities do exist. Call centers are one example of a generally legitimate work from home opportunity, and you can always start your own web-based business from home. Take your time, do your research and trust your instincts.

Work At Home

Many people dream of working from home. Some may imagine working in their PJs or perhaps on a sun-drenched terrace with birds singing around them. But is this the reality of working from home?

Let’s look over the pros and cons of being your own boss and calling home your workplace:

Pros:

Flexibility – The ability to set your own hours and work around your needs is a definite plus for home workers. There’s nothing like being able to take time off when necessary or work to your own rhythm.

Less expenses – Working from home may help you save on fuel, clothing, food and all those other extras that creep in when you work outside the home. At home, you can make your own lunches and your wardrobe can consist of jeans and a t-shirt if you wish.

Earning potential – If you’re a self-employed home worker, then you have control over your earnings too. This means that if you need extra money, you can take on extra projects. Or if you simply need a little extra cash, you take on less. The bottom line is you control your earnings. This would be difficult to do if you worked at a standard nine to five job.

More room for creativity – Working for yourself means that you have more leeway with your creativity. You’re in charge of your marketing, website and whole company brand. There are no pre-set limits and you don’t have to get your ideas approved before you go for it.

Cons:

Staying focused – Many of us lack the willpower and focus to work on our own. It’s easy to get distracted when you’re at home: the phone rings, the laundry pile calls, the book on the shelf calls out longingly to be read. All of these distractions can be hard to overcome.

Meeting deadlines – If you have trouble staying focused and on track, you may have trouble meeting your deadlines. With no boss to wag their finger if things go wrong, you’ll need to ensure you can meet your deadlines without anyone breathing down your neck.

Loneliness – For some people this isn’t an issue, but for others the loneliness of working from home can be too much. If you’re a particularly social person, you may struggle to work on your own.

Working from home definitely has its good and bad points. For most, the benefits far outweigh the bad points. It’s important to look at both the good and bad sides of home working before deciding which is the right choice for you.