Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

Don’t Be Fooled (continued)

Sunday, March 5th, 2006

“You can fool some of the people all the time, you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”. Abe Lincoln

This is very evident if you try to find a way to make money on the internet. Every day I see people looking for the fast buck on the internet. Easy money. Something for nothing. Free.

Now, this article can go two ways. So it will.

The first direction is this: Investigate.

When you see something on the internet or in your E-mail, be skeptical. You will get offers of things you never wanted nor asked for, so don’t bother with them. The offers will range from “Free Trial” to “Limited Time to Apply”. You probably already know these are catch phrases, so don’t be baited into something.

You will also see things to “Invest in Your Future”, for a small investment, you will make $fillintheblank$. They will promise you a large ROI (Return on Investment). The only one going to make the Big Bucks and get the Giant ROI is them.

I have written about different companies I feel are Scams and which I think are legitimate. There is a list of them on my Website. Visit there if you have questions about certain companies.

You can also check them at the Better Business Bureau’s Online site, or try typing the “Company Name Scam” in any of the Search Engines.

These companies are only throwing something at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks. Check them out thoroughly before jumping in with both feet and getting in over your head.

The second direction is: Work Hard, Nothing is Free.

Form a game plan. No viable business, online or otherwise will succeed unless you have a direction you want the company to go. Most times it takes a lot of research to find what you are looking for.You need to have an idea of what you want to do, your customers needs, where you want to be in a given amount of time. Before you start make sure you have direction.

Use the Search Engines, look up the type of business you have or want to start. See what the competition is doing. How are they advertising? What keywords did you use to find them? Do you have a better idea, product, service? What did you like (dislike) about their setup?

Use this information to your advantage. Select keywords that are relevant to your product or service. It is difficult to be original, but you know your company better than anyone else, so use a description that fits your unique style.

Design your Webpage with the same concept in mind. It is difficult to be unique in the multitude of websites on the internet, but think of what best fits your style. If you need to hire a website designer, it could be money well spent. If you can do it yourself, then by all means do it, but look around to see what’s out there.

When you are trying to conduct a Work at Home Business, don’t look for an easy way out. There is no easy way out. There are a lot of get rich quick schemes, lots of “opportunities” and empty promises. But, the only way to succeed is through Hard Work.

Don’t be one of the ones that are fooled. Period.

The Ideal Home Office

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

Excerpt from the Work at Home Forum“Creating an Ideal Home Office Environment” Author: Vishal P. Rao (Administrator).

This is an example of the type of information available at the Work at Home Forum. There are also discussion groups where you can ask questions YOU may have.

When creating your home office, you need to make sure that it is comfortable, well lit and convenient. Therefore, it is important that you purchase the furniture and accessories that are most desirable to you. After all, you will be working in the office, so it should be inviting, pleasant and appealing to you. Some of the items listed below will help you turn your office into a place that is comfortable, attractive and an ideal working place.

Plants – One or more plants are great to keep in your office, as they help to clean the air and provide oxygen in your working space. Furthermore, plants and flowers are pleasant to look at and provide you with a sense of serenity.

Good lighting – Having proper lighting in your office will help to reduce eyestrain and will make you feel more alert and motivated when working. If it is at all possible, it is a good idea to make your office in a room that has a window, as the best lighting is always natural light. However, even if you have a window there will be times when you will work at night or perhaps early in the morning before dawn. Therefore, having a desk lamp, as well as a bright overhead light can make all of the difference and help you stay focused when working.

Comfortable seating – Make sure the office chair you select is supportive and is comfortable to sit in. The best type of chair to purchase is one that is ergonomic, and adjustable.

Pictures – Whether it is pictures of your family, pets or beautiful landscapes and scenery, etc., pictures add atmosphere to the walls of your room, and are always pleasant and welcoming to look at.

Color – Did you know that color has an effect on your mood? For this reason, the color of your office matters. Light, cheerful colors, particularly light blue, are calming and make your office space an ideal place to work. Painting or pasting wallpaper that is dark or full of wild designs can make you feel overwhelmed, depressed, stressed or distracted.

Music – Having a stereo, mini radio or sound system on your computer may also be something you will find, calming and pleasant. While some people work better in complete silence, others find silence to be uncomfortable and would prefer to have low, easy listening music on as background noise.

Aside from the above mentioned suggestions, you should also keep in mind that where you place your furniture in your office is important. The reason is because if you don’t position your furniture in an orderly manner, you may not have convenient access to the equipment you need.

For instance, if you have a phone in your office, you should keep it on or near your desk so you can reach it easily without having to get up and interrupt you work. An ideal home office environment is one that you feel relaxed and content in. The object is to make your working area one that is free of distractions but is organized and peaceful.

I hope you found this informative.

Pitfalls

Thursday, February 9th, 2006

Working at Home seems the ideal situation for just about anyone.The independent personality, work at home moms, recently unemployed, hate my boss, et cetera, all have a reason to work at home. Everyone who has tried a Home Business of any sort, all have good intentions when they start out.

I’ll be my own boss, I can spend time with the kids, or whatever reason you start your own business, can also be the same reason your business could fail. Whatever your intentions in the beginning, don’t let your Reasons become Excuses.

When I find myself with no ideas or subjects to write about, I call it writers block. What it is really, is a lack of concentration on my part. If I look a little further, maybe after a short break from the computer, I can usually come up with something.

Being your own boss sounds ideal. However, not everyone can push themselves to do what has to be done, they need an outside influence. Make sure you form a game plan and stick to it. Be your own boss, set deadlines and keep them. Otherwise you may be better off just getting a “regular” job.

If you started working at home to have more time with your children, don’t be disillusioned when it’s not the quality time you expected. You need to work at working. You can have that time with the kids, just make sure you allocate time for the business. Prioritize your day and make sure the kids know that while working, you are not to be disturbed, unless it is really important.

Starting a Home Business after being laid-off, fired, downsized, or otherwise unemployed, is all well and good. But you should realize that just because you could do something while working for an established company, you may need to learn a lot more than your old job required.

I would not suggest even starting a business of any sort if your sole reason is “I hate my boss”. Chances are you won’t like your new boss (you) any more than the last one.

The above pitfalls are far from the only ones you may encounter. You have to be scheduler, shipper & receiver, accountant, credit manager, mechanic, supplier… and on, and on…

Don’t be put off by all the work you have to do, working for yourself at home does have it’s rewards. You Can be independent, you Can spend more time with the kids, you Can show your old boss.

As long as you are prepared for all the pitfalls, you can enjoy all the rewards.

For your convience:E-Mail Questions

Paying for Opportunity

Friday, January 6th, 2006

A subject that keeps coming up in all the Work at Home Forums, is the question… “Is this company real or a scam?”

Most times you can tell by how they present themselves.

1. Should I send money first?

If they want you to pay money upfront, it probably is not a good idea. There are Companies out there that offer a business opportunity, which could be construed as an Investment in Ones Future. They are few and far between, but they are out there. Make sure to investigate them in depth. Is there a contact person, a physical address, a phone number? If you can’t reach them Before you Invest, what are your chances of reaching them for Payment?

2. What about Taking Surveys?

There are at least as many Paid Surveys out there as people wanting to take surveys. The main problem I found with them is you get paid for “Completed Surveys”. Sounds innocuous, huh? You take the survey they supply, not too bad yet, they then redirect you to page after page of Ads for co-sponsors, where you must complete (buy) at least One of Their Offers. Then you Wait until your check clears before you get credit. Some people can actually make more money than they spend on these offers. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one.

3. How about MLM’s?

There are quite a few good companies out there where you can make money. You will have to Investigate as suggested previously, but Many are Companies you already know. Make sure you are dealing with a company that has a good reputation. Ask people who have dealt with them before. You may have to Invest some money, but it could be worth your while if you find the right sponsor. Just watch out for the ones that want you to buy their product as a prerequisite, whether you sell anything or not.

4. Can I make money surfing for a company?I have not tried this type approach. I have heard of some companies that will pay you to surf the web. I have also heard mixed reviews. Some will pay you to surf, but you have to recruit other people to do the same. I personally Don’t like this approach, I don’t want to use my friends and family to make a living. I have heard some good things about this type of company, some do pay, but I don’t think I will be doing it anytime soon.

I have not tried this type approach. I have heard of some companies that will pay you to surf the web. I have also heard mixed reviews. Some will pay you to surf, but you have to recruit other people to do the same. I personally Don’t like this approach, I don’t want to use my friends and family to make a living. I have heard some good things about this type of company, some do pay, but I don’t think I will be doing it anytime soon.5. What about Freelancing?

This is something I have considered for myself. There are many good companies to be found on the Internet. Most you have to Bid for a position, this is not to say Pay, rather, suggest a price you are willing to accept for your service. This may be something for you to consider if you have a marketable service (writing, editing, web design).

I did not include company names as I feel it would be inappropriate if I did not deal with them directly.As always, please leave a comment regarding this article.

For your convience:
E-Mail Questions

Good Luck in YOUR Endeavors

As always, For your convience:Good Luck in YOUR Endeavors