Tuesday 17 November 2009

How to Make Money Working From Home

If you have quit your job to raise a baby, or you are the latest victim of the massive recession wave sweeping the globe, or you simply want to make money working from home, it's important to develop the mindset to do this. In this article, we discuss ways to make money working from home using the Internet.

There are, quite literally hundreds of money making opportunities on the Internet. Sure enough, the Internet is an excellent platform to earn cash, but it's almost important to make sure that you choose the right opportunities to make money working from home. Let's take a quick look at the factors that make such opportunities worth exploring.

Factors to Look At When Choosing Online Money Making Opportunities

1. Flexibility - It's one of the most important attributes to look for when searching for ways to make money working from home. Having flexible work timings can help you plan and adjust your daily routine without sacrificing anything important.

2. Scalability - Only look for online money making sources that offer you future growth and chance to earn more money in the near future.

3. Sustainability - A good online money making source is one that allows you to become redundant without compromising the mechanics of generating cash. Look for an online option that can work smoothly without you in other words a passive income

4. Inexpensive - One of the most important factors to consider here is the investment required to get your online money making opportunity off the ground. Don't opt for ideas to make money working from home that demand a sizeable investment when your starting out a few hundred dollars is enough to get going.

5. Gratifying - In order to make money working from home, you should be able to derive pleasure from your job. It should be worth your effort and hard work, and I don't only mean materialistically.

3- Ways to Make Money Working From Home

• Virtual assistant - If you have worked as an assistant before, becoming a virtual assistant is an effective way to use your skills to make money working from home. A good and experienced virtual assistant can earn from between $30 - $50 per hour. There are many freelance job websites that have regular job postings for virtual assistants. All you need is a high speed Internet connection and your in business a google search of virtual assistants will bring up plenty of sites such as va4u which have literally thousands of new projects being posted every day which you can then bid on.

• Freelance writer/editor - Enjoy writing? Why not use your talent to earn some money online? A freelance writer can not only make good money writing, but they can also enjoy flexible work timings. Again, freelance job sites like Elance, Guru have huge numbers of job ads for freelancer writers. Contacting bloggers can also get you a job as a freelance writer or editor.

• Affiliate Marketing- This is an internet based marketing system whereby a marketer sends traffic to a vendors website and in the event that the visitor purchases the vendors product or products the marketer is rewarded by being paid a percentage of the purchase price. This could range from a few percent to 100 percent or even more in a few cases whereby the vendor is prepared to make a loss on the initial sale with the view to making a profit on a much bigger purchase from the customer later on also known as a back end sale.

There is really is no dearth of ideas on how to make money working from home. All you need to do is choose wisely and work hard and persistence, to learn more about how to make money working from home from some of the top people in the industry visit our site today.

Llewelyn James is a self made millionaire entrepreneur and Euan Agnew is a web master who together founded the Internet Millionaires Online Club where you can learn the secrets of all the top internet gurus, get your free e-book at: http://www.internetmillionairesonlineclub.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Llewelyn_James

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Characteristics of Home Working Businesses to Stay Away From

With the every growing interest in making another stream of income, especially through the internet, the amount of homeworking scams these days are rife. They vary in promises ranging from making small amounts whilst others promise riches and the millionaire lifestyle. The chances are, you are not going to make yourself a millionaire just by stuffing envelopes or responding to an email requesting assistance to move money out of a country that once belonged to heir of the throne. If it was that simple, everyone would be doing it.

Although the homeworking market has become rife with scammers, it also does contain many homeworking opportunities that are completely legal and can be successful with many hours of hard work. Recently, the internet has come rife with scams that only require small amounts of money ranging from $5 to $10. People accept that essentially they have only lost a little if it doesn't work. Sure, losing $5 is better than $100 but the scammers work on a numbers basis. They aim for the hundreds if not thousands to part with $5 so making them thousands per day.

Parting with money initially is the most common form of scam for starting homeworking. Many scammers call it an admin fee, registration fee or fee for materials provided. The fee doesn't have to be physical money. I have researched some sites that require you to join by calling premium rate telephone number. Essentially, you are not parting with your money until you notice the telephone number on your telephone bill charging you $10 or more per minute. Many scams follow the following methods: Pay a registration fee then pay some more for materials, return your work then get paid. However, upon returning your work you hear excuses that it is not good enough, not received or you need to return many more examples of your work before getting paid.

Scammers will use all types of psychology to weed you in. On websites, they will promise everything for very little and make you feel good about your future. Sure, when selling a homeworking business opportunity, you need to stay focused and provide the positives to the reader, but you also need to tell them what the business is about and to be realistic that just because it looks good there is no guarantee that they will be making money. Good websites should leave it up to the reader to decide if the business opportunity is something that they want to pursue.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true the chances are it probably is. You shouldn't have to pay to work however you will have to accept that for many people who start homeworking online, you do need to part with some money, just like any new business has to. Please visit my website by clicking on the links below, to find a homeworking business opportunity practiced by many throughout the world which has been proven not to be a scam.

As a keen internet marketer, Chris provides information and details about using a home remedy for head lice when treating head lice, as well as providing help and ideas for those who want to work from home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Gilmour

Friday 6 November 2009

Is a Home Working Business Worth It?

It seems everyday now when I look on the internet there is yet another home working opportunity that is promising me riches. With the growth of the internet, everyday people like you and me are using it to their advantage and are learning how it can be used wisely rather than just a way to spend time. As long as you have access to a computer and an internet connection - you can even use ones on the high street - you can join the ever growing list of people throughout the world, including myself, who uses the internet to surf and make money online. By using the internet, I have joined the .com revolution, using it to create myself a secondary income. And why not?

Most people when they start out with their own business on the internet aren't quite sure what is going to happen. Sure, you need persistence to keep going, but the one thing that separates us is the desire to earn another income whether for personal reasons or out of accident.

Having your business online whether it is with eBay or as an affiliate marketeer gives me the option to do something that I enjoy and to get paid for it. The other side of the coin is that during the day I have to do something else which isn't internet based and is something that I have to do in the meantime.

With any type of business, be it online or not, you have to accept that you need to work at it to make it work. My online business did nothing for me for the first 12 months whilst it was online, and it is only now starting to reap the benefits. I am starting to see money go into my account regularly and it has helped me buy the things that I have wanted. With the current economic turn down, it seems that I and others have to think of other ideas to make a secondary living.

With the ever growing rate of the internet and the amount of people who are able to get online daily, it seems that running a home working business through the internet is quite simply one of the best things around. The costs to me are minimal, apart from the time I spend, and I have at least the current added security that as it is not my primary source of income, I can still get up and go to work tomorrow, or for the time being.

If you are interested in working for yourself online to create another income, then I would seriously recommend it. If you have the passion and willingness to succeed, the you should use the internet and the vast amount of home working opportunities to your advantage.

As a keen internet marketer, Chris provides information and details about using a home remedy for head lice when treating head lice, as well as providing help and ideas for those who want to work from home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Gilmour

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Online Money Making - A Beginners Guide on Online Money Making

Making money online is attractive to many, why? Mainly because of the benefits it presents. Two main reasons are the rewarding potential of the internet as well as the personal independence that comes with working without a fixed schedule or working at the comfort of your own home. One doesn't need to suffer from boring jobs which presents poor returns for the time invested. Even if you don't want to work full-time at home, the internet offers a practical way to earn some extra cash which can help you pay bills in addition to your regular income.

A basic search on search engines like Yahoo and Google will reveal different ways to generate money online. Listed below are some of the most profitable online money making strategies to help you decide which is the best way for you to earn some extra bucks.

Through Blogs or Websites

One of the most effective means to generate money online is to set up a website or blog. Look for advertisers who would be willing or allow you to display their advertisements on your site so that when someone visits your site and clicks on any of the advertisements, you can earn money with each click they made.

There are many kinds of money making blogs which will help you earn money but you must carefully select a style of blog that suits your interests, as well as your skill sets. A simple blog will help you earn money, at least a hundred dollars, per month through paid blogger's websites.

Aside from blogs, websites can help you gain income as well. You can choose from social communities, e-commerce websites, and some information portals or affiliate programs.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a profitable industry that covers a huge range of fields and topics. All you need to do is promote a specific product or service and earn commissions when a viewer makes a purchase of a product or service that you yourself have marketed on your website. For example, if you love fashion, you can make money promoting clothes or accessories to your friends.

The sum of money you generate depends on the product you are selling. Affiliate marketing, when executed well, will be the most effective tool to earn money online. The three biggest affiliate programs are Clickbank, Amazon and Commission Junction.

Surveys, Emails, Sign up and Pay Per Click

There are thousands of websites out there which pay you to do surveys, read emails, sign up for trial subscriptions and pay per click programs. The benefit of this is that you do not need to own a website or have any skills sets. The problem however with these websites is that there are plenty of scams associated with these so you need to make sure that the sites are legitimate.

Create your Own Product and Market it

Products you can create are e-books, templates or artwork. There are some websites like (Lulu, Spy Media, Citizen Image, etc.) that will help you develop and sell your own collection of products. Creating your own online business allows you sell the products you own and have created without depending on a third party website that will usually receive a commission for a sale.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlos_Boon

Stay at Home and Make Money!

"Working 9-5, What a way to make a living..." It's a catchy tune, but pay attention to the lyrics, and take a moment to reflect : Is this what YOUR daily life is like? And if so, would you like to change that?

Working online can be a great way of gaining financial freedom and becoming your own boss. Whether you are a mom who would like to work at home and spend time with your kids, or at student who would like to make some extra money on the side, or just an entrepreneur wanting to establish your own online business, there are tons of opportunities on the net.

Unfortunately, they are not all legit, and some are down right scams. These are of course the ones you'd like to avoid. The serious ones are few and far between, however there are still some gems to be found out there.

There are several ways of making money online, and depending on your personal situation you need to determine which one is right for you. You should ask yourself the following questions:

How much time do you have? How internet-savvy are you? Do you just want to make a few extra bucks on the side, or do you want to make a living?

The answers to these questions should help you determine which online business model to choose. There are several options: Making money taking surveys, building a website, having a blog, join a membership club that can teach you the do's and don'ts of internet marketing, affiliate marketing, selling your own product online, and so on.

Whatever you choose to do; making money online can truly change your life, and you should enjoy the ride. With only one or two hours to spend every day, you could be on your way to financial freedom. Staying at home and making money can be both fun and rewarding - and probably a lot easier than you think.

Maverick Money Makers is a private society that will teach you how to build a six-figure a month business on the internet. If you want to make money online, join the society before it's too late.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Williamson

7 Best Ways to Make Money With a Computer

Making money is every bodies dream. Everyone dreams of dropping the day job and working from home in their pyjamas. Well the truth is that this dream is well within reach of anybody who owns a computer and has an internet connection.

Below we have listed the 7 best ways to earn money using your computer.

1. Play the markets. The quickest way to earn lots of money is trading stocks and shares. Millions of dollars can be made in hours. Please be aware that money can be lost just as quickly but this is the most popular way to make a lot of money.

2. Affiliate marketing. With the internet came affiliate schemes. You are basically passing somebody a lead and then you get a percentage of the sale. Big money can be made from affiliate marketing but it has to be treated like a real business.

3. AdSense. Google's AdSense program is a very popular way people are using to make money from home. Google adverts can be placed on your website and you get paid every time someone clicks on one of the ads. The obvious disadvantage is that you need a website.

4. eBay. Millions of dollars are spent every day on the world famous auction site so why not scoop a little of the profits yourself. Buy low and sell on for a profit.

5. Drop shipping. Drop shipping is becoming less popular as people realise they can make just as much money doing affiliate marketing. You sell the leads and the products are shipped out on your behalf with your logo and packaging. You never actually have to see the product you just take a percentage.

6. Set up an online store. You can sell services and goods on the internet and make a good profit. You could freelance your services out. If you can do something extraordinary then there will be someone out there willing to pay for your service.

7. Currency trading. Trading currency on the open markets is very profitable. People are making millions of dollars every day buying and selling currency on the forex markets.

Making money with a computer is well within the reach of everybody, you just need to look beyond the ordinary.

If you are going to trade the markets be sure to get adequate Forex training.

Click here for more trading info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Kirby

Starting a Home Based Business and What You Need to Get Started

Most people are reluctant about starting a home based business out of fear because they know nothing about how to get started or what it costs. The current Recession has affected everyone and they are all scrambling for a way to survive. First let's talk about the cost of getting started.

According to New York Magazine recently, the cost of starting a traditional business offline range from about forty thousand dollars for starting a bakery and an estimated three hundred dollars for opening a retail store.

Now consider education and the cost of earning an MBA; the cost range from sixty-five thousand dollars up to eighty-two thousand dollars reported in Business Week magazine.

In comparison, the cost of starting a home business on the Internet is much less and you do not need a university degree or years of training in business to start. You get your training on the Internet from free tutorials and from joining a home business opportunity with a legitimate network marketing company. The company provides resources needed such as one or more websites, training on using their sites and help in marketing their product or service for you to be successful. The real cost for you is not monetary but time, energy and effort.

Your home business on the Internet requires hard work, dedication, discipline and motivation. It is not easy and you will not get rich in a few days or weeks as some companies advertise. You have to earn it the old-fashioned way; work for it because there are no free rides.

What you need to get started:

• You will need a state-of-the-art computer and a high-speed Internet connection and at least basic computer and Internet skills.

• You need a separate room in your home for an office where you can work without distractions. Discuss this with your family because you need support and cooperation from them.

• You need to have a business plan and follow it as a guide to reach your goal of financial freedom.

• It is important to prepare to operate your business like a real business and not like a hobby or fun thing to do.

If you still have a job, you can start and operate your business on a part-time basis. You have an advantage because you have income to support your family while building your business.

You can still do it even though you may have been laid off. It will require some creative thinking and may be more difficult, but not impossible. It is being done by each and every day by thousands of individuals.

Now that you have needed information, all you have to do is begin your search for starting a home based business opportunity on the Internet.

Learn the real truth about starting a home based business working with a team. Discover how working with a team in building a business for you that yields residual income which means independence and financial freedom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jed_Tooke

Friday 30 October 2009

Internet Home Based Business - Trick to Be Your Own Boss

The trick to being your own boss is to enjoy what you are doing and making money at the same time. First of all you need to plan yourself. If you are considering starting your own home based internet business and not sure where to start, you need to do some serious home work and thinking through.

Not many people want to work for someone else. In order to come up with what kind of online business you should have, you need to know yourself pretty well and do a bit of mental picturing of the process in order to come up with the type of business you want to be in. If you have not done that yet, it is time to start working on that. That should be the beginning.

Becoming your own boss through home based internet business is not that difficult at all. At the same token, keep in mind that starting your own business has a risk, but learning to minimize the risks is the key.

Make sure to double check that the business you are planning has the potential to work smoothly, will it be more hassle than it is worth, is your proposed business viable. Spend time to find out information about target markets, populations, etc., so you can start making your business plan accordingly. Conduct more research and come with a written business plan, which should include your expense projections, funding plans, etc. A three or five year business plan will be ideal.

Whether you have a business plan in place, or have a great idea for a business, or simply the desire to become your own boss, an internet home based business has many advantages over other home based businesses. To name a few- online business does not need a lot of investment, you are not limited to local customers, probably you do not need any employee either.

Thousands of people are into home based internet businesses, including young people. And they make lucrative income from it. All of us, young or old, at sometime in our life dream of being their own boss, owning their own company and all that. We dream about financial freedom.

There are turn-key internet business programs that are easy to get into. Do your research. Explore different possibilities. Get rid of all your negative thoughts. Relax. Be optimistic. Focus your thoughts towards setting and reaching your goals. Learn to prioritize your time, money and abilities. But make sure you take some time for yourself. By doing this, you won't become burnt out.

Start out with small risks, and then move to larger ones. Items that seem impossible at first may seem smaller with time and more experience. You never know when a good idea will surface. Like WorkFromHome Using other people's experiences will reduce your chances of failure.

Just remember to plan, organize and work hard. Most of all stop dreaming and make that dream a reality, by taking solid actions every day.

Seesan Ed is an Internet Marketing Professional, CEO of Seesan and Associates, LLC, a company involved in Online Marketing. He is a helping minded individual who collaborates with other small business leaders in the country. He has the enthusiasm to be of assistance to other entrepreneurial minded people to achieve their goals and aspirations. Visit listed site(s) for details:
AutomatedMarketingSystem

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seesan_Ed

Thursday 29 October 2009

List of Small Business Ideas - 3 Unique Business Ideas That Could Explode Your Income

These days, small-scale entrepreneurs are quickly gaining ground and popularity. If you really want to start your own business, take a look at the list of small business ideas in this article and you might just find one that is ideal for you.

Putting up a business can be a little daunting, especially when you consider the big businesses exerting dominance in your neighborhood. However, that doesn't mean your dream of starting your own business is doomed.

Our list contains a lot of interesting and exciting business ventures that require little capital and yet bring in big profits. Choose from the list of small business ideas below and get started!

1) Buy and sell on eBay.

This is a good small business idea if you're into shopping and if you have a good eye for products that will sell. Think about it. You don't have to build a store or rent a kiosk. You don't even have to leave home, or even your office, to operate this business.

All you need is a computer and reliable Internet connection. Who doesn't have both these days? You can concentrate on a specific kind of product (e.g. designer bags) or branch out into different areas (e.g. jewelry, cars).

2) Offer tutoring services.

Another concept that made it to my list of small business ideas is tutoring. What subjects are you good at? Math? English? If you are somewhat successful academically, I suggest you give tutoring a try.

This gig usually pays well, depending on who your clients are. You can start with the people you already know. Is your friend flunking Algebra? Or is your co-worker's daughter a little behind her Science? Don't hesitate to offer your tutoring services. Who knows just how far that will get you?

3) Serve the dogs.

People have become too lazy to walk their dogs or give them their baths. You can take advantage of that! If you have a way with animals, why don't you start walking or bathing your neighbors' dogs?

Not only will this help you earn cash, it will also help you get your daily dose of healthy exercise. Besides, you don't have to walk or bathe dogs forever. Someday, you can hire other people to do the task for you. Then you can just sit back and relax for the commission to roll in.

There is nothing embarrassing about turning to this simple list of small business ideas for inspiration. Most entrepreneurs I know are happier with their ventures now than with their previous jobs. So if you're thinking of starting a business of your own, there's nothing wrong with testing the waters by vying for a small one first.

Get your FREE access to the success secrets of the world's richest and most successful business people. Discover the 7 vital traits of successful entrepreneurs now and take the self-assessment quiz, audio, and video - for free - at http://www.expertpersuader.com/successupgrade

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee

Sick and Tired of So Many Ideas For Making Money

When it comes to making money on the Internet you can come up with too many ideas. As you begin to sign up for various newsletters and updates you are going to find everyone in the world will want to be your best friend. Eventually you may get sick and tired of so many ideas for making money that you want to scream.

Let me give you some advice that I wish I would have had when I first started out. The advice is this, if you want to play, you have to get in the game! What does that mean?

You can spend more time researching business opportunities and looking for the perfect situation, and never ever actually start making any money on the Internet. It is probably safe to say that the majority of people who try to make money online do not because they are never actually working at making money.

It can be fun to research business opportunities, and it can be fun to network with people and hang out with them. That does not mean you are actually making money.

What usually happens is as you become a social networker who ends up joining one opportunity and then jumping on to the next as you meet new people. You never stick with anything nor do you ever really work at something long enough to see if it is a good moneymaking idea or not.

Eventually you are going to blame everyone but yourself for your failure. You might even get to the point where you become sick and tired of receiving another email about another excellent product that you should buy. Or, receiving an email about another excellent business opportunity that you just have to join.

It is at this point do you really should yell stop! You only need one good moneymaking idea to make a lot of money on the Internet.

Even a poor opportunity can make you money if you master a few basic Internet marketing skills.

I see this all the time in that people with very poorly designed websites are earning money because they mastered the skill of traffic generation for example. This is a very basic concept when it comes to Internet marketing. The websites with the most traffic always make the most money.

In summary you probably do not need any more ideas for making money on the Internet at this point. What you really need to do is make a decision to be successful with something and then work hard to do it.

Want to make money online now?

Sign up for our FREE Internet Business Training Program and learn more about Ideas For Making Money to help you become a successful work at home professional!

David Ogden is an established online marketer who specializes in practical website resources and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_J_Ogden

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Earn Money From The Internet - 5 Tips to Make Money Online

Just starting out, trying to find a way that will actually make you money online (amongst the thousands that won't), can leave you feeling frustrated, confused and wondering if it really is possible, to earn money, working from home on the internet?

Well the good news is, that it is, totally possible.

So what are the essentials you need to start?

• The Right Mindset - This is a worthwhile endeavour, so you have to expect that it will take some action, work and time on your part. It's not difficult, but there is a definite process, which when followed, will ensure your success.

• New skills - As with anything fresh, there is a learning curve. If you're new to the web, then you will have to learn some new skills, for which you will be handsomely rewarded later.

• Something to sell - You don't have to have the next big idea; in fact, you don't even need your own product. The key to success is learning how to market your product (or someone else's) effectively.

• Savvy Marketing Sense - This is a crucial skill to learn, and it is how successful people make money online. They sell their product(s) direct to their own list of already interested subscribers. They compile this list by capturing the contact details of visitors to their website, who have already shown an interest in what they have to sell.

• Help - It can be lonely and a bit intimidating trying to make your way in this business by yourself. So, find a mentor, who you can trust, who will be there to help you, whenever you need them.

One of the first skills you need to master, is how to create a simple one page website. 'Create your first website by 3.45 this afternoon' is a free step-by-step e-Book which will help walk you through this first skill. You can Grab your copy here.
Remember, the main reason people fail online, is because they simply don't know where to begin. Click this link http://www.startonlineandprofit.com to get more help and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Gibson

Monday 26 October 2009

How to Find the Right Best Home Based Opportunities

There are all kinds of home based business on the internet which you can find. Besides internet, they are everywhere like newspapers, magazines, flyers etc. You need to spend time to go through one by one in order to find the right one. Not everyone will agree with you which one is the best home based business opportunities. So it is up to your own judgment.

Comments and opinions will flied here and there when you come to evaluate whether which home based business opportunities are the best. Different people have different opinion and like and dislike for the business they are in. Most of the time business which is suitable for other people may not suitable for you. However, there are some actions which you can take to figure out which one is suitable and work best on you. Below are some of the steps:

1. Passion. First you have to figure out what is you passion, what you like to do or your favorite past time activities. Besides that, you also can try to figure out what you are eagerly wanted to learn about. The most common one is to explore you hobby. This is due to it will be easier to get you started if you really have passion on this particular thing. You will enjoy a lot along the ways building the business. You will not give up easily or feel bored.

2. Research. Searching the business opportunities and perform research on every different business that come across you. You have to make a list of those home based business opportunities that you are interested in during the research. You may revisit the list later to perform a thorough research and finding the business when you want to start one.

3. Your needs. You have to come out a list of items which is important for you to start a business. For instance, what is the potential income that you wish to obtain, do you need training and marketing material from the business opportunity? With the list of the things you want you will be able to stream down the list of the best home based business opportunities. The make it easier for you to get the right business opportunity for you to start.

4. Forum. Again, you need to find the home business forum on the internet and join them. You may then start to red all the different posts in the forum. You may ask questions about the business opportunity that you are interested in. You will receive a lot of comment and ideas on the business which will help you up in the process of choosing the right business opportunity. You will understand what other people like about the business opportunity. Besides that, you sometimes may find other better business opportunity from the members' posting.

These are the four important things to do in order to help you to make the decision on which business opportunity to venture in. In order to make this smooth process, you will need to know what you are looking for from the business, for instance the support, the material, the training etc, before you start to go through these four things. This will help to save up a lot of your time and it is also help you to be able to find the most suitable and best home based business opportunity.

Dillon Loh is an internet entrepreneur. He is passionate in his work. His passion is to help others to achieve what they desire. He believes in learning from others by helping them to succeed. Get the free tips of the success in Make Real Money on the Internet Book now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dillon_Loh

Friday 16 October 2009

Home Working - 7 Secrets For Successfully Working From Home

I have found that the key to being able to work happily and successfully from home is to create a strong structure for your working days.

If you work with other people, you are automatically part of a dynamic system which demands your participation. It may sound blissful to be away from the office politics and the constant interruptions, but it is difficult to achieve anything if it feels as though you are all alone and there are no consequences if you don't get on with your work.

I have developed the following habits for building a structure for home working through trial and (much) error:

1. Have an established routine for starting your day. For example, after breakfast, browse websites you have found in magazine and newspaper articles or promotional material, have a look at your favourite newspaper's site, log into your business bank account, and check your e-mails - suddenly you are into work mode without any pain!

2. Make your phone calls straightaway - speaking to other people will give you energy and will probably provide some deadlines or help to prioritise your work.

3. Make yourself part of a web of business associates which may include any or all of the following - clients, suppliers, sub-contractors, employees, people doing a similar job. The more you feel part of something outside yourself and your own home, the more motivated you will feel.

4. Go along to networking and training events - never think you 'don't have time'. Taking a break away from your desk will re-energise you and give you fresh ideas for tackling problems which seem insoluble if you keep going over and over them.

5. If it's all getting heavy and too much like hard work - stop and do something you enjoy, preferably away from home. Go for a walk, get a coffee at your local cafe, meet a friend. When you come back, you will be in a totally different frame of mind and what was so difficult before will just flow.

6. You have the flexibility your office-bound friends are so envious of, so use it! Combine something you enjoy with a business errand - after a business meeting, have lunch out, do some shopping, have a walk in the park.

7. Remember that sometimes working from home can just be hard and you may feel overwhelmed. At times like this, refer immediately to point 5 above!

Judy Heminsley ran a successful small business from home for 12 years before selling up and using her experience to work as a business advisor with small business owners. Her practical and down-to-earth guide to working happily and successfully from home will be published by How To Books in April 2009. To sign up for her FREE report 'The 6 Secrets for Overcoming Isolation When Working from Home', visit her website at http://www.workfromhomewisdom.com

Are You Considering Work From Home Opportunities? Here Are 3 Pros and Cons of Working From Home

You have seen it on TV, heard it on radio and your email inbox is filled with messages telling you about the dream of working from home. Hold on a Minute! Before you go diving into one of those working from home opportunities you see everywhere, there are some things you need to consider. Let me be the first to tell you. Everyone can't work from home and there are some serious pros and cons in doing this. Let's deal with, in my opinion, the three biggest pros first.

  1. Flexibility - I have been working from home since 1998 and I can't tell you the amount of flexibility I enjoy. I can take my son to school and pick him up. I go to the supermarket in the middle of the week when no on is there. I almost never stand on a line in the post office. I go to target and can actually count the number of customers in the store. Working from home has given me this opportunity and I must say I enjoy it. Imagine never having to take a personal or sick day to visit the doctor. That is the flexibility you get.
  2. Autonomy - It is a great thing to have control over your schedule and work most of the time when it is convenient for you. I often get some of my best work done early in the morning before 6 am. Also some days I can end my day early or work as late as I want as well. Autonomy is a great thing.
  3. No office politics - I don't have to hear the latest gossip. Who's mad at who. Who's sleeping with who and all of the nonsense that goes around offices. Most of it is very unproductive. How much of that actually helps you do your job better? None of it and I really don't miss it, and neither will you.

Now before you think it is all glamorous, there are some cons. You need to consider the cons because most working from home opportunities only tell you the good stuff even though there is plenty of it. Since I told you the 3 biggest pros, let me tell you the 3 biggest cons.

  1. Distraction - It takes a lot of discipline to work from home. Think of all of the distractions in your house. TV, the refrigerator, your bed, the telephone, your spouse, your kids, friends, relatives and the list goes on and on. You have to able to shut this out and focus on the job at hand. Remember no one is looking over your shoulder so if you don't do it it won't get done. To be honest some people aren't ready for that. When I first started working from home I used to get calls from my mom can you run this errand for me, can you pick up my dry cleaning and so on. She equated my working from home with me not really working. You have to be able to overcome this and it is not easy.
  2. Limited face to face people interaction - I have been in field sales and my own home based business and one of the things that can very easily happen is you have very little contact with the outside world. In a sense you are out there on your own. I remember when I first left my company and ventured out on my own. One of the things I missed the most was the quality people I worked with. Again some people can handle this and some people can't. You have to ask yourself am I ready for this.
  3. The danger of always working - When your office is in your house when do you ever leave the office? One of the greatest cons is you will always see the work you need to do because it's always in front of you. It can become very difficult to shut it down and walk away, especially if you care about your business. I can't tell you how many times I have been up 2 and 3 in the morning working out a new strategy for my business. It's funny but most people think working from home can cause you to work less when the truth is it can cause you to work more.

3 pros and 3 cons. I could give more but I will stop there. Are you ready to work from home? I won't tell you if it is right for you or not because I don't know. But if you are still interested in those working from home opportunities, go for it and enjoy the ride.

About The Author - Clarence Haynes markets online to the network marketing community. He devotes his time and resources to helping people build their online network marketing business. To get more valuable tips and ideas for building a successful network marketing business visit http://www.theonlinebizman.com