When you decide to work from home it is an exciting time; you are finally going to be your own boss. While setting up schedules and your workload, you may want to check your office for some important items.
Upgraded Computer
Your number one tool is going to be your home computer. Computers are great tools built with all kinds of capabilities called software. As day dawns there is a new program, piece of hardware or must have gadget. Along with all of these come bugs, security issues and new viruses. For this reason, it is important to keep your equipment up to date including anti-virus software and security fixes.
As well as keeping your information and your clients' information safe, you will also want to have the latest equipment so that you stay competitive. If your work is constantly produced with outdated equipment, your presentations and reports may fall below current standards. Or, worse yet, you'll send a file to a client who can't read it because the new software is not compatible with the old software.
Fast Internet Connection
The home office of today simply must be connected to the internet and the faster the better. Many companies are using software that allows for video conferencing; if you try this on dial up the meeting will be over before you are 50% buffered. Not to mention the fact that high-speed internet is just more reliable.
No more waiting an hour for a page to load and then getting booted offline, which means you have another wait while you redial your connection. To stay competitive in the marketplace you will have to have high-speed internet access.
Comfortable Chair
This piece of equipment may seem mundane when compared to internet capabilities and computers. However, you are going to spend several hours at a time in your chair working. It needs to be the most comfortable chair you can afford. Besides comfort while you work, an inappropriate chair could lead to back pain in the future. The best choice is to spend the extra money now and save the doctors bills later.
While you are looking for comfort, investigate ergonomically correct furniture and accessories. Carpal tunnel syndrome is most common among those who work at a computer for lengthy periods of time. Once carpal tunnel symptoms set in, you will suffer discomfort which will make working much more difficult.
Printer
No home office is complete without a printer and or fax machine. Though many things will be going out from your computer over the internet there will still be times when you must print and mail things such as invoices, reports, or simple thank you notes.
The best deal is to find an all-in-one machine that is your printer, fax, scanner, and copier all wrapped together. These are fairly commonplace now and quite affordable. Adding one machine to your office will also save much space rather than adding four separate machines.
Unlimited Long Distance Calling Plan
As reliable as email can be, there are many times when you will need to talk to a client on the phone. Check your local phone company for the best deals or investigate an internet service such as Skype. The only equipment you need for Skype to work is a microphone and speakers (or a headset) and you can chat with your client through your internet connection.
There you have it, the five most important pieces of equipment that all home offices need. There are, of course, other things that your particular business could require like networking capabilities if you plan to have an assistant or research tools. Consider all aspects of your business when outfitting your home office and make the investment before the need for such equipment or software arises.
If you have been on the internet for more than a day, you have heard of network marketing. Network marketing involves one person selling the product of another person for a percentage of the sale and then signing up others to do the same thing underneath you. A common example in the real world would be Avon or Mary Kay. These are termed direct sales but they are all from the same family.
Internet Network Marketing
The great thing about network marketing on the internet is you do not have to; go door to door as in the above examples; stock the product; deal with customer service; or guarantee the product and you can sell or recruit 24/7. It is the best of both worlds: percentage based selling with very little downside.
Tips:
There are many programs on the internet to choose from and many of them pay very well. Your job will be to market the product through your website, Email, Ezine, or pre-made company site. In doing this there are a few things you should keep in mind.
- Choose products that you are interested in. You are going to be selling this and recruiting others to do the same you will need some passion for the product to do that effectively. For instance if you have never picked up a needle in your life you probably will not have much luck with a network marketing system built around sewing products.
- Try it before your customers buy it. When considering a new network marketing campaign it is a good practice to put the product through its paces before you endorse it. Buy the product and use it. One woman I knew purchased a cellulite cream from the company she was working with then used it on one leg for ten days. When she was asked about the product, she simply showed them a real life before and after.
Besides being able to honestly endorse the product, you will also be privy to how their customer service works. This is important even though you are not the one providing the service.
- Check out the company's statistics, numbers such as; years in business, what kind of sales do they have, and most important the compensation plan. A good plan will have compensation set somewhere between 40-60%, any less than that and it may not be worth your time.
Recruiting Your Team
Another advantage of network marketing is making a certain commission from the items your team mates, or downline, make. When recruiting people to join your downline, be kind yet persistent. No one likes a hard sell and in fact, you may turn off many people if you keep badgering them to join.
Talking about the opportunity, inviting them to a party to watch you in action, or even a simple follow up phone call the next week will show your prospect that you care about the business and would value their contribution as a team member.
There are other tips and tricks to this potentially profitable business model. This is a sample to get you started on your way. Do your homework; choose a network marketing company that is right for you and success will be right around the corner.
posted by Chris Simpson
2 Comments »
We all want to learn how to make more money from home. With the economy the way it is today, extra money has taken on a new meaning for many people. One way you can make money from home is by typing term papers for college students.
Why a College Student?
You may be thinking why would a college student hire you to type a term paper? The answer to that question is simple: college students spend an extreme amount of time researching these papers and writing the rough draft. These are not small book reports; many times, there are several pages to a term paper. While doing all that research they can fall behind in other classes and be scrambling to catch up. This is where a typing service becomes a lifesaver.
How to Get Started?
If you have a knack for typing and some free time, typing term papers for college students may be the part time job you are looking for. To get started you will need to advertise your skills.
You can advertise your skills in one of three ways: local newspaper, flyers on campus and online. Thanks to the internet, you are no longer limited to the customers in your hometown. You can even make up your own flyers and have them inserted in your local newspaper; each may vary on price and process so be sure to call ahead.
Setting up Your Business
It is important that you be set up correctly before taking any clients. You will need:
- An up to date word processing program
- A printer
- Printer ink
- High Speed internet if you plan to offer services online
- A schedule. It is very important to know how much time you have to devote to projects before they come in.
- Style handbook. Most college level courses require MLA style, but there are others such as APA
This will get you started and as you progress, you will probably need to add other handbooks to your collection; however that can be done on an as needed basis.
Know Your Limits
While this is a great niche to target, think about how you will answer some tough questions that might come your way. What if a student wants you to do the work and actually write the paper for them? What if you are presented with someone else's paper and asked to just rewrite what's there?
You might be lucky and never will be faced with an ethical question like this but it is best to know ahead of time what your answers will be. Even if you are desperate for clients and money, doing something unethical is not worth the risk and will tarnish your reputation.
You are all set to begin your home based business! Be diligent to complete assignments on time and in the manner the client expects. Ask lots of questions up front about the style and formatting your client wants. Consider taking half the payment upfront and half upon delivery. Your best advertisement will come by word of mouth as one satisfied customer after another talks about your work.
posted by Chris Simpson
2 Comments »
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