Work At Home Blog

Tips for Adding Multiple Streams of Income

Corrie — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:30:36 +0000

Working from home is a wonderful thing. It allows you to be available for your family whenever they need you and it allows you to do what you enjoy and when you like to work. If you’re a nice person, but the type of work you can do only allows you to find a day job that may be hard for you to do. That’s why working from home is perfect. You work when you want and when it fits into your schedule. It’s a win-win for everyone.

With anything though, there is a down side and that’s true for work at home parents. When you rely on the money you make to pay the bills and put food on the table that can be a stressful thing. You may wonder day to day or month to month if you’ll have enough money to make it happen. If you run short, then you have to wonder how you’re going to make ends meet. It’s not what you want to see happen, but it’s reality and you must deal with it.

One way to help eliminate that problem is to have multiple streams of income. It’s not likely that all of your streams would suffer a loss or be eliminated at the same time, so it’s a good way to add to your income. There are a number of ways to create multiple streams of income. The idea is to do as little as possible with those other streams, but still have the money coming in, so you need to choose the right things to make that happen. Here are a few suggestions for you to look into.

1. Affiliate programs. These programs are created by other business owners and they pay you to promote their products or services. The great thing about affiliate programs is you don’t have to do any of the back end stuff such as maintaining the website, dealing with customers, and handling the payments. The only thing you do is market what they offer and wait for the money to roll in each month.

2. Informational products. Creating informational products like ebooks, special reports, and recording training classes will help increase your income. Once the products are created and the web pages are done all you do is market it here and there and watch the money come in from them. You should also consider an affiliate program so others can help you make money.

3. Other programs. There are survey’s you can take, emails you can read, and sponsored posts you can write on your blog that earn you money. While this is a slow process, it’s still a way to increase your income and most of the time they’re pretty easy to do.

When you add streams of income using the ones above you’ll have more money coming in and you won’t stress nearly as much as you would if you only had the main portion of your business. You must remember these are not guaranteed and the income may be slow coming in, but they’ll help a little. The best thing to do is come up with a strategy that will help you to have time to do these things and still work your main business. When you do that, you’ll see the increase in your income and you’ll see your stress level go down.

Tips for Choosing the Right Calendar for Your Business

Corrie — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:00:52 +0000

How many times have you scheduled an appointment or decided you were going to attend a teleseminar and then forgot about it because you didn’t have a reminder? I’ll tell you, this used to happen to me when I first started in my business. I don’t know how many teleseminars and webinars I failed to attend because I didn’t have a reminder. I remembered when I got an email from the person putting it on that contained a special offer or thanking everyone that attended.

After missing a few of those, I decided I needed to come up with a plan that would help me to remember what I needed to do. At first I tried setting the timer on the range, but that wasn’t helpful because if I was doing the laundry or if I decided to leave to run an errand I wouldn’t hear it. So my next thought was a calendar that would send me email reminders.

There are several types of online calendars you can use for this need, but it’s important to test them before you rely on them because you may find the features they offer won’t work for you. I used three different calendars before I finally found the perfect one for me. I used Outlook, Yahoo, and Google. While each had their positive features, they also had negative features, so it was a bit difficult to choose the right one, but I did and I feel it’s perfect now.

Each person is different and their needs and wants are also different, but I can tell you the Outlook calendar didn’t work for me. The reason was because it would only pop up a reminder if I had it opened. That didn’t help me when I was sitting at the school waiting to pick up my boys or while I was at the grocery store. That calendar was the first one to go.

Next I tried Yahoo and while it was a good calendar, I didn’t like the reminder system. Part of the time they worked and the other part of the time they didn’t. It just didn’t seem to meet my needs. So with that said, Yahoo was out.

The last calendar I tried was literally my last because it’s the one I’m currently using. It’s Google calendars and I would be lost and late for appointments if it weren’t for the reminders. I can set it up to send me text message reminders, email reminders, and pop-ups. I can set as many reminders as I want which is helpfully when I know I’m going to be away from home and need several reminders to get it done. I also like the fact that this calendar is in sync with my Iphone. I can easily add appointments while on the go.

Before you miss your next appointment, class, or meeting, take the time to test a few calendars and find one that works for your needs. It will take time to remember to add all of your appointments to it, but once you remember you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

Tips for Using Pinterest to Grow Your Business

Corrie — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Social networking is a great way to grow your business. Using these sites will require work, but once you figure it out, you’ll see the advantages when you’re organized and you know exactly what to do.

While there are several social networking sites you can use such as Twitter and Facebook, there is a new one that’s gaining popularity. This new social networking site is called Pinterest and when it’s used properly, you can increase the traffic to your site and grow your business.

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard that allows you to organize photos and images in one location. You create boards that contain images that you choose to group together. These images can be found online or you can upload your own. You also have the ability to link these images, increasing your chances of making a sale.

Creating a board that’s all about your business is the key to growing your business through Pinterest. For example, if your business is product related, you can create a board called, “My Products” and then add images of the products you offer. Then you add a link that takes the viewer right to your site.

Creating a board is easy. At the top right side of your screen you’ll see the word “Add”. Click on that and another window pops up giving you the ability to add a pin, upload a pin, or to create a board. Click on create a board, then follow the steps to add a title and chose a category.

Once you’ve created a board you’re ready to add a pin (image). You can do this by adding a link or uploading an image from your computer. Once the pin is added you need to add a description. After it’s added to your board you need to edit it so you can add the link to it.

Once you’ve created your boards you’re ready to market them. You can do this through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, you can add a Pinterest button to your site, you can make blog posts about your boards, and you can include the boards and links in your newsletter and your email signature line.

Marketing your business is one of the only ways you’ll be able to grow. Using the most popular methods will make it easier for you to do it, which is why you need to use Pinterest to grow your business. These tips will help you set up an account and create boards so you can grow your business

Tips for Applying for a Work at Home Job

Corrie — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:30:39 +0000

Applying for a work at home job is often times the same as applying for a job outside the home, but you must prove yourself in different ways. When you apply for a job outside the home you have an interview in person and this gives you the ability to prove yourself in front of the people you’re interviewing with, but that’s not the same when you won’t have a face to face interview.

Preparing for a work at home job interview is crucial. You must be prepared in advance or you’ll fail before you get started. When you’re prepared you’ll feel better about interviewing for these types of positions, you’ll feel comfortable when you apply for them, and you’ll feel confident when the final phone call comes in for the job.

Now that you’ve decided to apply for a work at home job you need to find one that best suites your needs, wants, and desires. There are a number of sites you can visit to find a job that’s right for you. Once you find one, it’s time to start applying for it. Here are a list of things you need to apply for the job.

You need to write a cover letter that’s geared toward the position you’re applying for and toward the person you’ll be interviewing with if you know for sure. You’ll also need to make sure your resume is exactly perfect. Make sure it fits the job you’re applying for and that it lists the tasks you can do that match the job. You need to create a list of references and make sure they know what you’re doing and you need to make sure they’re willing to recommend you for the job. Depending on the job you’re applying for, make sure you have a portfolio if it’s necessary.

When you are prepared for a work at home job interview you’ll show the interviewee that you’re the one they should hire for the job. You need to prove to them that you can do this and you’re the only one that has the ability to do it right the first time, every time. When you do this you’ll have a better chance of getting the job over anyone else applying for it.

Tools you Need to use to Grow your Business

Corrie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:58 +0000

When you’re trying to grow a business there are a number of tools you need to have in place so you have the ability to market it correctly and efficiently. If you don’t have them, you’ll find over time you won’t be able to compete with others and you’ll lose out on business because of what your competition has to offer.

One of the most important tools to use would be a website. If you don’t have a website you don’t have the ability to share your business with others outside of your community. You won’t have the ability to market online using social networking sites, advertising, or article marketing.

Another tool you need to have for your business is a blog. A blog will give you the ability to continually be in front of your market sharing valuable information they can take with them and use. You’ll want to share tips, suggestions for ways to use your products to help them, interesting information about your products or business in the news, and information about your products.

Business cards are helpful no matter if you grow your business online and offline or strictly online. They give you the ability to share your business with people that are local or in other locations. You can include them in orders you ship out or you can give them to others to hand out in their orders and you can do the same for them.

A marketing plan is another tool you must have in place. Your marketing plan will tell you what you need to do to reach your market and how to make it happen. It’s also important to follow your marketing plan so you know what’s working and what’s not working. When you find what doesn’t work you need to remove it from your plan since there is no point in working something that isn’t working or reaching your marketing.

There are many other tools you need to use to grow your business and see success. If you don’t use those tools and the ones listed above you won’t see success and you won’t reach your goals. If that happens you’re only setting yourself up to fail and you don’t want that. You’ll have much more success when you use the tools you have the ability to use.

Suggestions for Reaching your Goals by Working your Plan

Corrie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:30:01 +0000

Now that you’ve set your goals and the first week of the New Year is over it’s time to get a jump start on doing what it will take to reach your goals. Hopefully when you created your goals you wrote out a plan that will help you accomplish them. If you didn’t write this plan, now is the time to get it done.

When you write you plan it needs to be step by step instructions that will guide you through the process needed to reach your goals. The steps will tell you exactly what you need to do to reach your goals and have success, so it’s important to write them up so you can put them into action immediately.

Once you have your plan in place it’s time to start implementing the steps necessary to reach success. Review your plan and look to see what MUST be done by you in order to reach your goals. Depending on the type of business you have, you may need to make phone calls to set appointments, give presentations, and close the deal. Those are things nobody but you can handle.

You may have included article marketing, blog posts, and social networking on your list of goals or they may have been included in your plan as a way to grow your presents online. Those are tasks you can outsource to a Virtual Assistant or Ghostwriter. When you outsource these tasks you’ll have more time to devote to those tasks we just talked about. You’ll have more time to increase the amount of calls you make and presentations you give, which in turn will help you reach your goals.

Once you’ve determined what you’ll be doing and what you’ll outsource, it’s time to find someone to help you. This person needs to be dedicated and must work well with you. Now if you want to include your family in your business, this may be the way to go. You can have your spouse, sister, brother, mother, or grandmother help you with these tasks or you can hire someone else to help you if you don’t have the ability to hire a family member.

Once you find someone that may work, you’ll need to sit down with this person and make sure they know you’re series about your business and they must be as well or you won’t have success. Tell them what you’ll expect of them and how much you plan to pay them to do the tasks. When you find the right person, you’re ready to go.

Once you’ve found someone to help you and you’ve made it clear what your plan is it’s time to put it into action. You need to remember you may not see results over night, but it will come over time. You need to continue to put yourself in front of your market through article marketing, blog posts, and social networking or they won’t give you the time of day, so don’t give up until you’ve given it a good try.

When you follow these steps you’ll be off to a good start with your plan and what it will take to reach your goals and have success. Continue to work this plan each business day and over time you’ll see it all fall into place.

Setting Goals for your Direct Sales Business

Corrie — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:30:22 +0000

Setting business goals is a difficult task for most businesses, but one of the easiest would have to be for a direct sales business. The reason is because you know what the minimum is to stay active and you know what it takes to level up and increase your income.

To set goals for a direct sales type business you’ll need to have access to the compensation plan so you’ll know where you are and what it will take to get to the income level you want to be. Depending on what income level you are reaching for, you may have to go through one or more levels, so it’s important to know exactly what it will take.

Once you have an understanding of the level you want to be at and what it will take to get there, you’re ready to set your goals.

One of the easiest techniques to use for your goals is to create a list that contains your main goals and what it’ll take to reach it. At the top list your main goal and the date you want to complete it.

An example of a main goal would be to take your earnings to $1200 a month. To reach that monthly income, say you need to advance by two levels in the eyes of the company. Now the sub goals will need to include the steps needed to increase those levels. You may need to have more in-home parties, you may need to make more cold calls, or you may need to add several business builders for it to happen. Each of those things required will be sub goal.

Once those are determined it’s time to think about what you need to do on a daily or weekly basis to reach them. The tasks here may include two parties, 10 cold calls, and 1 new business builder each week. Now if you need to break it down even further you can, but it may not be necessary with those steps.

It’s important to remember with each accomplishment you need to reward yourself so you’ll feel the need to continue on. A celebration of some sort will always help you to keep going, so it’s important to schedule them and know what you’ll do when you reach it. Once these steps are done, you’ll know exactly what you need to do each day or week to reach your ultimate goal.

In-home Parties for the Holiday Season

Corrie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:30:11 +0000

The holiday season is a good time to promote your business. People are looking for items to purchase for their loved ones and who knows, you might be able to increase your income while helping others at the same time. There are several ways to promote your business during the holiday season.

One of the best ways to promote your business during the holiday season is to have in-home parties. An in-home party is done in your home and you invite people to come listen to what you have to say. Here are a few tips to help you reach success with your party.

The first thing you need to do is set a date and invite people to attend. You need to be careful on the day of the week you choose as you might lose attendees if you choose a Wednesday night or Sunday. Tuesday or Thursday seem to be better, but a Saturday afternoon would be best. It’s also a good idea to be careful so you don’t choose a holiday weekend.

Once a date has been set you need to send out invitations. If you have the ability you should send these out two weeks before the party. This is important as people are very busy and they need advantaged warning so they can be prepared and schedule the time. A phone call, text, or message through Facebook as a reminder is also a good idea and this should be done two or three days before the party.

The day of your party you’ll want to have snacks and drinks for the people attending. You want them to feel comfortable while they’re at your party and you want them to be happy and food and drinks are one way to do this. You can have them snack while you give your presentation and share your products.

Your presentation is important and it can make or break the entire night. You need to make sure you know your information and you need to memorize what you’re going to say. If you have information to pass out to your attendees, you need to make sure you have copies. It’s also important to have enough pens, paper, and order forms on hand.

In-home party’s are a great way to share your business with local people. When you prepare ahead of time and follow the suggestions in this article, you’ll find your party will be successful and your business will grow.

Using your Blog to Grow your Business

Corrie — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:30:23 +0000

Advertising your business is a must if you want to see success, but do you know what the best way to do that is? Well, that’s a hard question to answer and unfortunately it depends on the type of business you run and how you want to run it as to what the correct answer is.

There are numerous ways to advertise your business, but one that will stand out above the rest is your blog. When you use some of the others, you don’t have the ability to advertise your products or services or your business in general like you do in your blog.

You have control over your blog and that means you can do anything you want with it. You can decide on what the best content is, what time of the day to post, and how often. That makes your blog the best way to market your business.

Create categories that fit the posts you plan to make on your blog. The categories will help your readers when they search for something and they help organize your posts. You can add more as you go, but it’s a good idea to have them be specific when you can, but that doesn’t mean general is a bad thing.

To grab the attention of your readers, you should add an image to your posts. The images will encourage your readers to read on and it will make them want to see how the image you chose fits into your post.

To make the most of your blog it’s a good idea to set a schedule and do your best to follow it as often as you can. Creating a calendar with the topics is the best way to remember what your plan is. It will also help you to know what to post when you struggle for ideas or content, but it doesn’t mean you have to go with the topic on your calendar if something else comes up. It’s a guideline that will help you when you don’t have anything else to post.

One thing you need to remember is you don’t want to use your blog strictly for advertising your products or services. It’s a good idea to post tips and other information that will help your readers in one way or another. When you mix those types of posts with information regarding your business, you’ll find you’ll have a happy medium with your blog.

Tips for Using Article Marketing to Grow Your Business

Corrie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:00:12 +0000

There are a number of ways to advertise your business online including banner and button ads, text links, and social networking, but one way most people wouldn’t consider to be advertising is article marketing.

Article marketing is where you write articles and submit them to article directories for others to read. The advertising comes with the bio you include with your article. Your bio need to be directly related to the subject of your article. When you include direct links to your website your readers will click on them and search your site to see what you have to offer and how you can help them.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a coach, a direct sales rep, a virtual assistant, or an internet marketer you need article marketing in your business. Article marketing increases your exposure online, it shows your readers you’re an expert in your field, and it helps to build trust with your market.

When you write articles that are both geared to your market and helpful to them they’ll want to come back for more. When this begins to happen you’ll see them visiting your site wanting to know how your products or services can help them even further. At the point where this happens, you’ve reached success, but that doesn’t mean you can stop.

The best thing to do is come up with article ideas based on things your target market has an interest in. Think about what they would search for online, what problems they have, or things that concern them and then write articles about those things. Fix the problem or show them how to prevent it from happen and then include your bio so the reader knows how to contact you for help.

It’s important to continue using article marketing on a regular basis. You need to know an article you write today that helps someone tomorrow may not be the need of someone visiting an article directory tomorrow. You just never know what people will need, so it’s important to write articles as often as possible so you continue to help new and potential customers or clients.

Article marketing is the perfect way to advertise your business. You’ll find when you write articles that are of interest to your market, they’ll continue to read each one you post and they’ll want to purchase from you because they know you’re real and you want to help them.