Home Based Businesses and the dream of Working from Home!
Wouldn't you love to be one of those people that could make enough of a living to not have to get up each and every morning to go to work? Wouldn't it be nice to get up, drink your coffee, and sit around in your pj's until you're ready to get moving for the day and NOT have to worry about clocking in on a time clock?!
If you are like me, you may have tried a variety of things you've come across to see if you could make it work. I know I personally have tried a variety of opportunities over the years...some with minimum success...others with moderate success for a short period of time and then nothing.
You might be wondering if it is really possible to work from home and run a business that is more than a hobby or source of minimal part-time income? Can you really get rich working out of your own home? Can you really trade your suit and tie for blue jeans and the comfort of your couch? The answer is YES!
But it's not easy and there are some rules you will need to stick to to make it work for you! However, if you adhere to these and stay focused you will eventually be able to stay at home and not have to set that alarm clock again!
1. Make a Commitment
You will need to commit to staying focused. It's very easy to let day-to-day things interfere with your thought processes...doing the dishes, switching the laundry around, going grocery shopping, hitting the gym, going shopping with friends, doing yard work, etc. Until you get whatever niche you are trying to focus on up and running, you will need to commit to spending hours each day learning your niche, figuring out your marketing strategy and then utilizing it, and figuring out other ways to start building your business until you get a comfortable level of income coming in each month.
2. Eliminate the "Home-Office" Mentality
Don't box yourself in thinking it's just you and your desk...you need to think BIG! Your "home office" could be your couch, your kitchen table, or even your hammock in the backyard...it's just wherever you happen to do your work. The goal is to find something that you can do from anywhere...maybe a beach...or a secluded cabin...or just running on it's own while you travel around!
Some people work from home doing stuff that actually requires you to physically be there to DO the work. What's the fun in THAT? I have a couple of friends that are basically call-center associates but the calls get directed to them at their home. They still have to sit in front of their computer and take calls all day. You will want to research options for you that will, after time, run itself and not need you doing something in order for you to get paid.
3. Your Headquarters
We live in a unique time in history! With today's technology, you can be just about anywhere in the world and communicate with anyone.
Phones, fax, computer, the internet -- all of these are not only affordable but they are the key to eliminating your need to drive a hectic freeway everyday to work.
4. Get a Computer if you don't already have one of your own
Those who try to fool themselves into thinking they will ever make a serious go of their home-based business without a computer are sadly mistaken!
Email, on-line services, mobile marketing, the Internet, the Web and more can't help but revolutionize the way business is done. I realize many people use computers at their local library, but considering the time and attention you will need to devote to your new adventure(s)...you HAVE to have the ability to work at anytime. What if a great marketing idea hits you at midnight and you want to work on it before you forget about it?! Besides...what good is "working from home" if you really have to drive to the library or some other place to use their computer?! Laptops and tablets are very affordable these days...many coming with items such as webcams and office-type software already installed. Internet/WiFi connections are getting cheaper all the time. Check around for the cheapest price in your area for the fastest connectivity. And if you are like me and no longer have a land line for a home phone you can still have a fax machine. I invested in a product called Magic Jack (you see them advertised all the time. I just went to my local office supply store and picked one up) and use it solely as my fax line. I think it costs me about $50 for the entire year. It's really cheap, and I think there are other alternatives like this one you can check into.
5. Your "Business Hours"
If you've been paying attention to the first four points, you're well on your way to becoming a successful home-based business owner. Don't blow it now by thinking you can keep banker's hours! While it's nice not having that alarm clock screeching at 5am, you still need to think of this as your "work" until you're established.
The global market is a 24-hour per day market, and a 365-day per year market. Until you get your business endeavor up and running, you will need to plan to work more than your typical 8-5 schedule! You should find something that will allow your business to be available 24-hours a day.
You won't have to spend hours and hours and hours a day from now on...just plan to devote the hours until your business grows. You'll know when you can cut back on the time spent each day on your business...hopefully by then you'll be earning enough residual income to sustain you and allow you to enjoy not being confined to a cubicle somewhere!
As I mentioned before, over the years I’ve tried MANY different online ventures for my work at home business to determine what best fit ME and the time/effort I personally wanted to put into it. And I have to say, I love affiliate marketing! It’s so easy to do, and there are many, many retailers out there that allow you to become an affiliate marketer! Next time you log on to a retail website, scroll down to the bottom of their main page or check out the "contact us" info and see if you find something that mentions affiliate marketing.
