WAHM Secretstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://102007-11-19T09:45:05ZMovable Type 3.35Online Auctionstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2502007-11-19T09:19:01Z2007-11-19T09:45:05ZOnline Auctions One of the best, and sim...
Online Auctions
One of the best, and simplest, ways to start a Wahm business online is to become a seller on one of the several online auction sites. Ebay is the most popular, and most widely recognized. However, sellers are also having success on Yahoo auctions, Overstock auctions and many others. Being an online auction seller has many benefits for a Wahm. You can run your business from your home. You can set up auctions to automatically list at certain times of the day, so you donft always have to be at the computer. Plus, there is guaranteed traffic to the auction website which makes it simple to get new customers.
Before you start an online auction business you should decide whether or not you have the skills or willingness to do so. Although there is a lot of money to be made in auctions, there are also a lot of challenges. As a successful auction Wahm, you need to have the tenacity to try different things to increase you sales. You must also have knowledge of what the market wants so you can provide in demand products that will sell. Money management is a must, since selling on an auction is typically a home-based business. You will be in charge of the finances of the business and need to be responsible for keeping your business and personal finances separate.
Online auction businesses are very simple to start. To start an ebay business, for example, all you need is a registered account with ebay, and a paypal account. The ebay account will allow you to perform transactions on their website. The paypal account will allow you to accept payment for items that you sell, as well as pay for the ebay fees. Although you can technically take payments through check or money order, using paypal makes the process a whole lot faster and more enjoyable for your customers.
The fees involved with running an ebay business are minimal compared to having your own store on a separate website. While hosting for a website can cost upwards of $20 per month, ebay only charges you a small percentage of the items that you sell. There are also some other minimal fees involved, and most sellers work those fees into their listing price.
Before you decide to sell on an auction site as a business, try a buying from the auction site first. Understand the process from the buyerfs point of view. Take note of how you are treated by the seller and ask yourself what you would do differently. Buying before selling is also a good method because you can build feedback in the auction site system. Feedback is left whether you buy or sell, so building some feedback as a buyer is a good idea. A positive feedback record will make you more appealing as a seller.
Finding items to sell is the biggest perceived problem with selling on auction sites. However, you can start with items from around your home. Look in your closets and in your garage for items that can be sold on the auction sites. You will be surprised by what people will buy. Selling from around your home will give you experience with the selling process and will build positive selling feedback.
Familiarize yourself with the auction process before you begin selling. Remember to start your business small and let it develop as you become more confident in your auction selling abilities.]]>
Choosing the right Wahm Businesstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2492007-11-18T09:47:49Z2007-11-18T10:00:06ZChoosing the right Wahm Business When y...
Choosing the right Wahm Business
When you are considering working from home, there is a set of decisions that must be made. First, you must decide whether or not working at home is right for you. Next, you need to consider what type of work at home job you will be doing. There are many opportunities for Wahms out there, both offline and off. Having a successful Wahm career starts with evaluating your own skills and requirements in a job and then finding the right match.
Sometimes the best place to start with your Wahm career is where your out of the home career ended. Many women find that they can become independent contractors in the field that they previously worked in. You can use your previous work experience as a launching pad for your Wahm career. Some of the ways to use your experience to your advantage are: finding a company that hires people in your field to work from home, using your previous experience to become an gexperth writer in your field or starting a business related to your previous field.
However, some women look at their Wahm careers as a way to break out of their old job. If youfd like to try something completely different, there are plenty of opportunities for entry-level work as an independent contractor. Many of these jobs deal with telephone or online customer service. When you work as a customer service agent from your home, you just need a reliable Internet connection and a working phone. Companies also hire medical transcriptionists, data entry professionals and virtual personal assistants to telecommute.
If you want to start your own business, the opportunities are very vast. You can start with a direct sales company and sell products from an established brand to friends and neighbors. Youfll make commissions through your sales and also off of recruiting other people to sell the products. There are hundreds of direct sales companies that offer everything from aromatherapy products to candles to cooking supplies.
Another option for starting your own business is offering a service in your community. Day care center operators, florists, professional organizers and hairdressers all have the option of working at home, among many other professions. Of course, starting a business in your community normally means that youfve had some experience in that field. However, there are some small business ideas that can be started without much experience at all.
Many women turn to the Internet for a source of at home income. The World Wide Web offers a plethora of job opportunities. You can offer your services online as a freelance web designer, writer or virtual assistant. You can also start an online store that sells products that you make yourself or have the rights to resell. Many Wahms establish their businesses online by using one of the popular auction sites, like eBay. Still others find a home in internet marketing, by directing web traffic to a website and then recommending certain products and services.
Decide first what type of job youfd like to do and then work from there. If you are truly a people person and need to get out each day, direct sales or a local service business might be right for you. If you are the type of mom who lives online and is comfortable with the Internet, try finding a job or starting your own business on the web. If you like the comfort of having a weekly paycheck, look into telecommuting positions.
Once youfve decided what category of job youfd like, do some research on what it takes to be successful at that type of business. If you feel like you are drawn to one particular business or company, then sit on your decision for a week and see how it feels. Imagine what your life will be like as you take on the duties of that job. Most importantly, be realistic with yourself about how much time you can devote to your business. Finding the right match isnft hard when you thoroughly consider your options.]]>
Drawbacks to working at hometag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2482007-11-17T10:16:37Z2007-11-17T10:30:06ZDrawbacks to working at home Working at ...
Drawbacks to working at home
Working at home is one of the fastest growing trends in careers today. However, many people jump on the Wahm bandwagon without considering all of the drawbacks to working at home. While some people are naturally inclined to work at home, others find the transition more difficult to make. There are many benefits to working at home, but the drawbacks need to be considered before you make the choice.
The first drawback to looking for a work at home career is that your current career may not easily transfer to a work at home situation. If you work in the medical field or are a police officer, being a Wahm might not be an easy transition unless you are willing to change careers entirely. Sales and administrative positions transfer well, as do creative jobs like design and writing. For those in jobs that canft make the work at home switch, youfll have to think carefully about what you want to do when start working at home and start investigating that field.
Cost is another important factor in deciding if working at home is right for you. Although many mothers start working at home to save on childcare, there are added costs to being a Wahm. If you need health insurance, it will have to come out of your pocket instead of being paid by your employers. There are also many taxes that you will have to pay. Your record keeping must be excellent in order to keep track of your income and expenses, and to fill out your income tax return at the end of the year.
Working at home with children is not always as easy as it seems. If you have young children that arenft in school yet, it may be difficult to work when they are awake. This can mean lots of busy naptimes and late nights to get your projects done when they are sleeping. Family members can help take care of your children from time to time, but the responsibility of both your children and your job will be firmly in your hands. With older children, it is sometimes easier to work from home. But you will still have to start and maintain a fairly balanced schedule in order to get everything done.
Wahms have to be very self-motivated and disciplined in order to get their work done on time and correctly. If you are the type of person that is motivated by outside factors (such as a supervisor), then working at home may not be your cup of tea. When you work at home, there is no one there to look over your shoulder and make sure that you are still working. Distractions like the television, Internet and housework can be hindrances to your work at home success.
Isolation is another problem for Wahms. Working at home alone can get frustrating and lonely. Make sure you are comfortable with spending time alone, and that you take steps to combat isolation. If you are especially prone to being depressed, then the isolation that comes with working at home may make you feel withdrawn and sad. Taking steps to combat loneliness is an important part of any Wahmfs success.
After considering these factors, you may decide that working at home is not right for you. However, thousands of people deal with these drawbacks and still have successful work at home careers. These reasons should not stop you from becoming a Wahm if that is really what you want to do. Just make sure you understand the realities of the work at home lifestyle before you commit to it.]]>
Sewing Wahm businesstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2472007-11-16T10:45:25Z2007-11-16T11:15:02ZSewing Wahm business Are you handy with ...
Sewing Wahm business
Are you handy with a needle and thread? Do you enjoy sewing clothes for yourself or your children? Are friends and relatives always asking you to make sewing repairs? If so, then you have the perfect beginnings for a work at home sewing business.
Sewing is a skill that is coming back into fashion as more people seek to reduce their clothing costs and make the clothes that they have last longer. Many Wahms find profitable businesses in offering their sewing skills to people who donft have the time or the skill to make repairs or alterations on their clothes. There are even several profitable sewing niches, like cloth diapers and slings, which have found interest online.
Getting started with your sewing business starts with deciding what you want to do. You can specialize in one type of sewing (bridal party gowns) or you can take a wide variety of jobs. Since it is your business, it is totally up to you how to run it. Some people specialize in childrenfs clothing, alterations/repairs, womenfs clothing or formal wear. Although sewing clothing is the most profitable field, many Wahms enjoy offering home d?cor services and make curtains, slipcovers and other home accents.
Before you start advertising, make sure that you have the supplies that youfll need. If you have an older sewing machine that has gbad daysh when it doesnft work right, you might want to consider getting a new machine so you can work more efficiently. The cost of a new machine is worth it compared to the time that youfll save. Plus, the new sewing machine is a tax write-off. You probably already have the sewing notions that youfll need to get started. If you need something for a specific project, youfll just buy it at the time.
Youfll also need to decide on set prices before you begin advertising your services. If you are doing repairs, you can charge a certain price per task. If you are custom sewing clothing, you can either charge a flat fee or charge by the hour. For larger projects, like wedding dresses, charging by the hour can work out to be a better deal for both you and the client.
Start your business off on the right foot by getting a business license. Youfll want to make sure that everything is legal and that you keep accurate records of your expenses and income. There are also several tax deductions that you can take as a business owner, and youfll have access to wholesale sewing supplies.
Make some business cards to distribute to people you know. Also, leave them at certain places around town depending on what type of sewing you are specializing in. For example, if you sew childrenfs clothing, you can arrange to have your cards available at local daycare centers. One of the most powerful ways to advertise your business is through word of mouth. Your friends, family and acquaintances will surely send clients your way once they know youfve hung your shingle up for business.
Having a sewing business is a great way to do something that you love, help other people and make some money all at the same time. There are many Wahm jobs to choose from, but having a sewing business definitely offers the best deal for those who love to sew.]]>
Writing Wahmstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2462007-11-15T11:14:13Z2007-11-15T11:15:04ZWriting Wahms Working at home as a write...
Writing Wahms
Working at home as a writer is one of the largest work at home categories. Being a freelance writer has traditionally been a work at home job, and now that working at home is becoming more popular, there have been more writers in the industry. If you like to write and have a good grasp of the English language, you will never be at a loss for the work at home writing jobs.
Starting your career as a work at home writer is as easy as doing some Internet research and applying for a job. There are many ways to break into the writing field, even if you have no previous experience. Online opportunities abound, and there are still many writers who stay exclusively in the print market.
While many writers dream of one day writing the great American novel, most writers are realistic in knowing that they are going to have to do some other types of writing to get paid on a consistent basis. Writing for pay is mostly, if not exclusively, done in the non-fiction genre. While occasionally you will find contests for fiction writing or for poetry, these opportunities are few and far between when compared to the non-fiction opportunities.
Writing from home as a Wahm requires that you have a reliable Internet connection, good written communication skills and the ability to be a self-starter. As a writer, you will be in charge of your time and your projects. There will always be deadlines to meet and new writing opportunities to try. You will be responsible for balancing your writing with the rest of your life. You must also have the ability to research a wide variety of topics. As you accept assignments, youfll be challenged to learn about and write about topics that you may have little experience in.
Freelance writing from home can break down into three specific areas: writing for print, writing for the web and blogging. Although blogging is technically writing for the web, there are many distinctions that make it different from other web writing opportunities.
Writing for print is what people generally think of when they hear the term gfreelance writer.h Wahm writers who write for the print markets need to first build a reputation as reliable and eloquent writer. If youfve never written for the print markets before, start with smaller, local publications and then work from there. Youfll need to find a list of publications that are accepting gqueries.h Queries are a combination of a letter of introduction and a pitch for a story idea. Most writers rely on the Writerfs Market reference guide for lists of publications. The Writerfs Market has comprehensive information on a variety of newsletters, magazines and other publications that are taking queries. Start with topics that you know the most about and try writing a few queries to get yourself going in the print market.
The only drawback to writing for print is that the period between when you write and when you get paid can be months long. For many Wahms, this is just not feasible. Writing for the web, however, can meet their income needs and still allow them to write from home. There are many categories of writing for the web. You can be a ghostwriter for e-books or other Internet media. Many people need copywriters to provide content for their sales letters and websites. You can also offer your services to webmasters who need fresh content for their blog or newsletter. The opportunities are endless.
Blogging is yet another way to make money as a writing wahm. Blogs are an ever-growing form of Internet media. Blog writers generally provide their own content. You can make money as a wahm by starting your own blog and posting to it daily. If you love to write, you can start several blogs at once and multiply your earnings. Once you become an experienced blogger, you can apply for blogging jobs and post for other people.]]>
Dealing with Wahm stereotypestag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2452007-11-14T11:43:01Z2007-11-14T11:45:05ZDealing with Wahm stereotypes One of the...
Dealing with Wahm stereotypes
One of the hardest issues to contend with as a Wahm is the perception of others that you arenft working. Many people think that working at home isnft working at all, and that you have all of the free time in the world. Those who have spent any time working at home know that there is a lot of time and energy that goes into effectively working at home. Friends who call in the middle of the day, spouses who expect you to be doing more while home or family members who make offhand comments, can undermine those efforts.
Not all stay at home moms work, and if you have friends who donft it can be hard for them to understand that your days arenft free. Calls during your working time, invitations to lunch and uninvited guests can throw a wrench in your work schedule. In order to get your friends to respect your time, itfs important to make your working schedule clear to them.
If you donft have a clear work schedule, then it is time to make one for yourself. By setting office hours for yourself, you make it clear to everyone around you that you are serious about your work. It will also help set boundaries for your time. Tell your friends that you will be unavailable from a certain time to a certain time, but youfd love to talk before or after those times. You may even go so far as to turn off your phone. If you do answer the phone and someone wants to chat, politely let them know that you are working but can speak after a certain time. Also, schedule things like lunches or visits for one day per week. This way youfll reduce the drop-ins and spontaneous invitations.
Spouses can sometimes have difficulty understanding why, if you are home all day, the housework isnft done. This problem can best by solved by familiarizing him with the nature of your business. Show him exactly what you need to do each day, and how long it takes to do each task. Help him understand your work schedule, and how much time you need to work per day. Showing exactly how much money you are making will help him realize the benefits of your work as well.
Then ask him to help you come up with solutions for working at home and maintaining the household. Make a list of things that need to be done each week, and assign duties to you, him and the children (if they are old enough). Then taking care of the house becomes a family priority and something that you all share responsibility in. Notify him of any special projects by keeping a work calendar on the wall. That way he can see what is going on with your work schedule, and why you have ordered pizza for dinner three times in the last week!
Many Wahms can be hurt over offhand comments about working at home. Family or even friends can say things like gWell you have the time, because you are at home.h In situations like these, you have two choices. You can either get upset and offer a flustered defense or you can take their comments with a grain of salt and offer a calm response. Depending on the situation you can say something like gWell, let me check my work schedule. I know I am not available on these daysh or gThat would be great on Friday afternoon, which is when I leave time in my work schedule for those types of things.h
Remember, working at home is new territory for many people although the numbers of Wahms are growing. It may take some time for the average person to understand the commitment and scheduling that it takes to effectively work from home. You may never convince some people that you are actually working while at home but establishing respect for your own time is one way to make them see that your work is a priority.]]>
Making the Wahm decisiontag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2442007-11-13T12:11:49Z2007-11-13T12:15:04ZMaking the Wahm decision Mothers who wor...
Making the Wahm decision
Mothers who work at home (or Wahms) are a growing population of working America. As more and more women want to spend time with their children and need to bring in an income, there has been a boom in the work at home industry. Making the decision to work at home is not always an easy one. Before you decide that being a Wahm is right for you, you need to take a few things into account.
Youfll need to decide if being a Wahm is right for you and your family. There are many benefits to working out of the home. You can set your own hours, you donft have to commute to work and you can be there for your kids when they need you. However, there are some downsides as well. The isolation of working at home can be an issue for some women. There are also challenges related to juggling work time and family time.
Youfll also have to look at the impact that working from home will have on your familyfs financial situation. If you are moving from a high-paying full time job to working part time from home while you care for your child, there will definitely be some financial adjustments. However, whatever your cut in pay will be, you have to weigh that versus the costs of putting your child into daycare full time. Although it may seem like your work at home pay will be minimal compared to your full time out of the home job, you need to consider how much it will cost for daycare. If you can make an equal amount of money or more by working part time from home and taking care of your child yourself, it is well worth it financially to stay at home.
However, some women see that raising their child without the use of daycare, whether or not they make a significant income, is the real benefit of being a Wahm. The perks of raising your own child, while still bringing in money for the family, are many. Children are only young once, and being able to stay at home with them is one of the top reasons that women choose a Wahm career.
There are also several qualities that make a Wahm successful. Before you start working at home, evaluate whether you have these qualities or can develop them.
Working at home normally fits into two different categories. You can either work as an independent contractor for a company or you can work for yourself. Either way, you are going to be in charge of your own schedule. Youfll need to be extremely self-motivated and work well without having a supervisory presence in your work environment. Even those who choose to work for a company are responsible for scheduling their own time and meeting deadlines without a lot of input from supervisors.
Another important skill to have as a Wahm is time management. When you work out the home, you are confronted with two sets of challenges each day. Youfll be faced with the work you need to get done, but youfll also be in the midst of your household, where there are always things that need to be done. If you focus too much on your work, your house will get out of control, and vice versa. Having good time management skills will help you tackle the diverse challenges of being a Wahm.
Making the decision to become a Wahm requires a lot of thought and consideration. If you are thinking about working from home because you are having a baby, or because you are tired of sending your children to daycare, take some time to write down the pros and cons of becoming a Wahm. Talk things over with your family to ensure that you are making the right decision for the family unit. There are plenty of resources online for moms who are looking to find out more about the realities of working at home. Once youfve considered your position and done the necessary research, youfll be better equipped to make the right decision for you.]]>
Organization for Wahmstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2432007-11-12T12:40:37Z2007-11-12T12:45:06ZOrganization for Wahms Getting organized...
Organization for Wahms
Getting organized is the key to making your life as a work at home mom efficient and, relatively, stress free. If you can get and stay organized, your business and your home life will flourish. Without taking some simple organizational steps youfll be swamped with work and overwhelmed with laundry in no time.
One of the most important parts of getting organized as a Wahm is to establish business hours. Setting up specific working times during each day has many benefits. First, youfll be more consistent with your work. Once youfve gotten used to starting and stopping at a specific time each day youfll work more efficiently. Youfll manage your work time better and reduce distractions like checking your e-mail or watching television. Youfll also be less likely to pick up things to do here and there, like laundry or taking time to errands. If you have set working hours, youfll schedule those tasks around your work time so youfll be more focused during your work time. It will help your family and friends understand that you are working while you are at home, and you wonft be available during those hours.
Next, you need to start delegating tasks to other family members. It may seem easier to do everything yourself, but once you have work duties on top of household duties youfll realize how few hours in the day there actually are. There is nothing wrong with asking your children to fold the laundry, or having your husband cook dinner a few nights a week. By sharing the household duties as a family, youfll have more time to get your work done and feel more rested. The important thing to remember when you delegate is that things wonft be done the way that you would do them. However, they are getting done.
Planning your work and family activities will make the whole house run smoother. If you donft have a daily planner, then you need to get one. It doesnft matter if it is a paper planner or a computer application. When you use a planner to write down everything that needs to be done, and then plan each activity for a specific time then youfll have the opportunity to manage your time more wisely in and out of your home office.
Organizing your home at large will help make your business more organized. While it may take a while to establish some organizational habits in your house, your efforts will be well worth it. Donft try to get organized in a weekend or even several days. Work up to a level of organization. Start small with your desk space. Organize the things in your desk and top of your desk. Make sure that everything that you need has a place, and toss or donate things that you donft need. Then move on to another portion of the house. When something is out of place, itfs easy to put it back in its home once youfve taken the time to organize your storage spaces around the house. If need be, take a trip to an office supply store or home improvement store and buy items like bins, cabinets and shelves that will help you stay more organized.
Getting organized as a Wahm does take some time and effort. Realize that with time your organizational system will get better. Work with your family to make your home run efficiently, and then youfll be able to concentrate on your work when you need to.]]>
Virtual Call Centerstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2412007-11-11T13:38:13Z2007-11-11T14:00:04ZVirtual Call Centers Many Wahms find wor...
Virtual Call Centers
Many Wahms find work at home opportunities with virtual call centers. These call centers marry two important needs: the needs for women to work out of the home and the need for companies to have polite and professional telephone customer service representatives. Virtual call centers help both the business and the work at home mom.
Wahms are hired as customer service agents to inbound callers. They use their own home phone and computer to do their work, and are networked into the companyfs customer service system.
Virtual call centers are growing in popularity. Today there are roughly 100,000 people working at home in the United States, and many of them work for virtual call centers. It is estimated that by 2010 there will be 300,000 work at home individuals. Virtual call centers allow large companies to save money by hiring people to work out of their homes. There is also a low turnover rate for work at home jobs, which makes it beneficial for the company to hire Wahms.
Call center Wahms enjoy their jobs because there is a flexibility that they just donft get when working outside of the home. Most call centers allow their customer service agents to schedule their own work hours. This can be a great convenience to a mother who needs to arrange her work times around their childfs naps and/or school hours.
Getting started as a virtual call center customer service representative is fairly easy. There are currently over 1,000 companies in the U.S. who hire people to work from home, and most of them are virtual call centers. Youfll need a computer with a high-speed Internet connection and reliable landline phone. Youfll also need a quiet place to work. Beyond those things, there is nothing else that you need to be a successful virtual call center worker.
Applying for a call center position normally follows the same method. You visit the companyfs website and fill out their online application. If your application meets their standards, the company will e-mail you to arrange a phone interview. The phone interview is your chance to show them your assets as a telephone customer service rep. Schedule your phone interview for a time when you know your house will be quiet. Answer your phone in a professional manner and keep a light and friendly tone to your speaking. As a customer service rep, youfll be challenged to sound helpful and agreeable on the phone at all times so this is your chance to display your communication skills.
You may also be required to pass a typing, writing and computer skills test on the companyfs website. This will be used to test your ability to do the basic functions of the job. In some cases, you may also need to pass a drug and background screening as well before you are hired.
Once you are hired, the company will have you download a piece of software that will analyze your computer. This analysis will tell you what you need to do to your computer to make it usable in their network. Most of the time, youfll just need to update a few programs and add the virtual call centerfs website to favorites folder.
Typically, your calls will be scripted so youfll never have to worry about what you have to say. The most successful customer service representatives take some time to practice their script so it sounds more conversational and less like they are reading. If you want to succeed in the long term, itfs well worth the effort to make your script sound conversational. Think about the worst experience you had with calling a companyfs customer service department and then do the opposite.
Working for a virtual call center is not for everyone. However, the Wahms that are self-starters and have the requirements to work the job enjoy the steady paychecks and flexibility of working as a telephone customer service representative from out of the home.]]>
Manicure service Wahmtag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2422007-11-11T13:09:25Z2007-11-11T13:30:04ZManicure service Wahm A unique and fun W...
Manicure service Wahm
A unique and fun Wahm career is to start a manicure service. If you have a license in cosmetology, or are thinking of getting one, you arenft limited to working in a salon. Many women are now looking for a more relaxed manicure experience, and you can provide them that by starting a manicure service in your home or a traveling manicure service. You can go into business for yourself with little start up costs and great rewards.
To start with youfll need to get your license to manicure nails, if you donft have one already. Youfll need to post your license in your place of business and also have extra copies just in case the original gets lost or damaged. If you decide to offer a travel manicure service, youfll need a copy of your license to put in your bag. Youfll also want to have a system for keeping track of money set up before you begin. You can use a computer program like QuickBooks to track your money flow, or do it by hand in a traditional ledger. Appointment books and receipts are also a necessity. Finally, getting a business telephone number is a necessary step in setting yourself up as a professional in your field.
The other necessary step is gathering all of your supplies and finding a convenient way to carry them from your home to the clientfs home. Youfll need to bring your polish colors, manicure tools, nail polish remover, appointment book, receipt book and necessary supplies (including extra towels and cotton balls).
Traveling to a clientfs home is not for everyone, but there are many benefits to offering a travel manicure service. From your customerfs perspective it is much more enjoyable to have you come to them. One of the biggest drawbacks of getting a manicure out of the home for your client is that she has to drive home and avoid damaging the fresh polish. When you come to your clientfs home, she wonft have to worry about ruining her new manicure.
Although you wonft technically be a Wahm when you offer a traveling manicure service, you will have many benefits. If you offer manicures in client homes, youfll reduce the number of people coming in and out of your home each day. In addition, youfll be able to use your mileage as a tax write-off (make sure to keep accurate records of how much you drive for your business). Working at home can be isolating, so getting out of the house to do manicures can be a break in your day.
Advertising your business can happen in many different ways. You can leave your business cards at local Laundromats, convenience stores, gift shops and daycare centers. You can also put flyers up at bulletin boards around town. Network with people that you already have contact with, like the parents at your childrenfs school, your husbandfs co-workers and your former co-workers. Tell people that you are starting a business and get excited about it. Share with everyone you can think of. Before you know it, youfll have a list of consistent clients who you manicure each month, or week.
Starting a manicure service can be a great way to work at home and do something that you love. Instead of paying high fees for a chair at a salon, start your own business and have the flexibility and income that you deserve.]]>
Opening an Online Storetag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2402007-11-10T14:07:01Z2007-11-10T14:15:03ZOpening an Online Store Opening your own...
Opening an Online Store
Opening your own store as a Wahm is easy when you take your business online. Online shopping is becoming a mainstay of American commerce and more people are comfortable with making purchases from Internet stores. If you have something that you are passionate about selling, consider opening an online store.
Before you start an online store, do some research online and check out your potential competition. If you have a business idea in mind, it is worth the time and effort to see what else is being sold in your category of products. If you have no idea what you want to sell, youfll also want to head online to search out what would be most profitable to sell.
When you make the selection of what you are going to sell, remember to think gniche.h A niche is a small category of products that meet the needs of a specific group of people. Your online store shouldnft have a gWal-marth approach where there is a little bit of everything for everyone. Online commerce is all about small categories of interest. There are so many things to choose from, you have more success when you cater to a small and specific group of people.
The best place to start with finding a niche is thinking about your own interests. When you sell to a niche that you know well, you are more likely to know what products will be of interest to those people. You can sell to your clientele based on your own experience.
Many Wahms start an online store because they have homemade products to offer. One example is handmade baby clothes and cloth diapers. Many Wahms have found success with putting their sewing skills to work and selling their wares online. Other popular handmade online stores include bath and body products, candles and gift baskets.
This does not mean that you canft have online store success if you donft make your own products. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of Wahms who have success by opening stores stocked with store-bought inventory.
Whatever your choice, whether handmade or store bought, there are many options for hosting your online store. These options depend on how comfortable you are with web design. Many companies, like Yahoo, offer store websites that are very user friendly and simple to set up. They can cost anywhere from $30 to $200 per month for the storefront services. Many Wahms also find success with eBay stores, which allow them to sell in auctions or in a fixed price format.
Look at all of your options before you choose your online store hosting. Remember that the quality of your hosting will reflect the quality of your business. The last thing you need is your entire website going down due to cheap hosting. The best choice is to find a reputable host that will provide you with a storefront and hosting for a reasonable price. Donft try to pinch pennies on this aspect of your business. You could end up out of business in no time.
Once youfve found a place to host your store, youfll need to drive internet traffic to the store. One of the easiest ways is to trade banners with other Wahm online stores. Many Wahms support each other in their online efforts. This form of networking is a great way to introduce your products to customers who already look to support Wahms. You can also advertise using pay per click advertising and work on your website so that it increases in page ranking for certain search terms.
Keep your customers coming back with an easy to navigate website, simple ordering techniques and good customer service. Even though most of your business will be done online, itfs a good idea to get a business phone line and put that number on your website. This way customers can feel confident in purchasing from you because they know they can speak to a real person if there is a problem with their order.
Regardless of what type of online Wahm store you choose to open, following these tips will make your business a success.]]>
Mystery shopping Wahmstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2392007-11-09T14:35:49Z2007-11-09T14:45:02ZMystery shopping Wahms If youfre lookin...
Mystery shopping Wahms
If youfre looking for an unconventional Wahm job, then mystery shopping might be for you. The concept of mystery shopping or secret shopping is simple. You get assignments to visit a business place, make a purchase and then fill out a form to evaluate the customer service, quality of your purchase and other things about your experience.
Secret shopping is done by ordinary people who provide a company with feedback about their service. Companies hire mystery shopping for a wide variety of reasons. Some want to investigate the quality of their employees. Others may want to find out how their locations do with stocking items. There are many different reasons that a company looks to hire mystery shoppers.
Although companies can hire mystery shoppers directly, most of your mystery shopping jobs as a Wahm will come through a secret shopping company. As a mystery shopper, youfll be asked to visit a wide variety of stores and businesses in your area. Sometimes youfll be assigned to purchase clothing from a store in your local mall. Other times youfll have to visit a coffee shop and rate the friendliness of the wait staff. After you gain experience with mystery shopping, you can receive assignments to eat at restaurants and stay at hotels.
As a secret shopper, you will not only get the chance to try out products and services for free, but you will also get paid. You can get paid in several different ways depending on the mystery shopping company. You can get paid at flat fee for completing the job, or sometimes you are just paid with the free product or service. Obviously the jobs that are paid a flat fee are more desirable. But when you are first starting out, you may need to take some of the other type of job just for experience.
Most mystery shopping companies pay by check on a monthly or biweekly basis. Youfll get paid for a shopping assignment when you complete the necessary paperwork on your shopping experience. Your paperwork can normally be filed electronically, although some companies require you to mail in your reviews. This can make the payment process slower.
To get started with mystery shopping, youfll need to find a mystery shopping company to work for. Unfortunately, many of the companies that offer mystery shoppers assignments are frauds. Many will ask you to pay them for a list of mystery shopping opportunities. You should never, ever have to pay for someone to hire you and this is no different for mystery shopping. Becoming a mystery shopper is totally free when you find a reputable company.
When you start doing assignments, you will be asked to pay for the services or products that you will be trying. Although this may sound like a bad deal, the mystery shopping company will reimburse you for your purchase. The reason that they require you to pay upfront for your purchase is because the mystery shopping company doesnft want to take the chance of your getting a product for free and then not turning in a review.
Although being a secret shopper can be rewarding, itfs not something that can be relied on for consistent monthly income. Youfll never make enough money as a mystery shopper to live on each month. However, you may get enough to pay your phone bill or electricity bill. When you add the perks of getting free meals, products and services, mystery shopping is a nice stream of income for any Wahm looking to make money in their area.]]>
Finding inventory for a Wahm auction businesstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2382007-11-08T15:04:37Z2007-11-08T15:15:06ZFinding inventory for a Wahm auction bus...
Finding inventory for a Wahm auction business
If you are interested in becoming an auction Wahm, you might be curious about where to get items to sell on eBay or one of the other popular online auction sites. Actually, there are a wide variety of choices for your auction inventory. Each has different benefits and disadvantages. However, with so many options it is easy to find a method that works well for you and that can help you start a successful Wahm business.
The first, and most simple, method of finding things to sell in online auctions is searching the garage sales in your local area. Many people are not comfortable with selling online, or they donft want to take the time to do it. You may find a lot of interesting and valuable treasures that can be sold for a nice profit. The benefit of this method is that your inventory can usually be purchased very cheaply. Try going to yard sales as they are ending and see if you can get a bulk deal to buy whatever the person has left for a flat fee. Sometimes there will be items that will double or even triple your initial investment. You also have the benefit of being able to shop locally. You wonft have to travel far to get the items that you need. Another similar option is to look for estate sales and auctions in your area.
On the downside, when you purchase inventory from yard sales, you really have to know what you are looking for. Sometimes this method works better if you are focusing on selling a specific category of items, like pottery or childrenfs toys. If you have a category of items that you are familiar with, youfll know how much you can afford to spend. You will also be able to spot deals when you see them. The other downside is that when you purchase items, you need somewhere in your home to store them before you sell them. If you buy a lot of items and have to sort through them, your garage and spare room will fill up in no time.
Some people prefer to keep the inventory out of their homes and work with a drop shipper. Drop shipping companies have items that you can sell on auctions. You list the items on the auction site, and then once the auction is complete, you arrange shipment with the drop ship company. You never have to have the product in your home, and donft have to worry about going to the post office a few times a week. As a Wahm, the convenience of working with a drop shipping company can be a huge benefit. However, the profit margins of having the company do the shipping can be very small when compared to some of your other options.
When you obtain a business license you can order wholesale products from a company. Light bulk wholesale is the best option for most Wahms. These wholesale packages include from several hundred to a thousand dollars worth of product. Light bulk wholesale can be delivered to your home and wonft require excessive amounts of storage space. Selling from a wholesale lot means that you are in charge of setting your prices and can have more profit than you would by drop shipping. You are also not at the mercy of a drop shipping company, who may deliver your items late and put your customer service at risk.
On the other hand, stocking your own inventory can be a bit overwhelming unless you are organized. You can easily get bogged down in getting the right items to the right buyers. You will also be responsible for going to the post office several times a week, and packaging the items yourself.
However, with a bit of preparation, the most successful auction site Wahms find that buying items in wholesale lots gives them the most control over their business and the best profit margins. If you are just getting started, try one of the other methods first and then work up to buying wholesale lots.]]>
Wahm Blogstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2372007-11-07T15:33:25Z2007-11-07T15:45:01ZWahm Blogs Blogs are here to stay, and m...
Wahm Blogs
Blogs are here to stay, and many Wahms are taking advantage of the trend. Making money with blogs is a popular choice for many work at home moms. Blogs are simple to set up, and relatively easy to update. This is especially true when you compare blogs to other types of websites. Within just a few minutes, you can set up a professional looking blog for free and start your Wahm blogging business.
A blog is an easy to update website that looks sort of like a journal. Entries are made at a minimum of each week, and the newest entries appear at the top. Entries are normally short articles of 200 to 500 words. Readers visit the blog or read the new blog entries through a blog reading program. Readers can also comment on entries and provide links between their own blogs and your blog.
With blogs, the opportunities are wide open. Choosing a blog topic is as easy as looking at your own life for inspiration. There are blogs about everything from celebrity news to bathroom cleaning tips. Before you start a blog, do some research on the Internet to see if people are interested in your possible blog topic. Your topic doesnft have to be popular, but it does have to have a dedicated group of people who are interested in the topic.
When you pick a topic, make sure to stay within a fairly small gniche.h The term niche is used to describe a group of people who have a similar interest. There are big niches ? like working at home ? and small niches ? like tips for training your cat to sit on the toilet. Try to find a happy medium between a popular topic and a niche interest so your blog has plenty of readers. Some topics, like working at home or parenting, are too broad and have too much competition for readers.
You can set up your blog through a free blogging platform, like www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com. There are also a half dozen others to choose from. The blogging platform will walk you through making your first entry into your blog.
After youfve made a few entries into your blog, its time to monetize your blog. This means youfll be making specific changes to your blog in order to make money. One of the most popular ways to gain income from a blog is by using a contextual advertising program, like Google Adsense or Chitika. Contextual advertising pays you for each time a reader clicks on one of the advertising links on your page. The advertising program will scan your blog entries for keywords, and then place advertising on your page that relates to your page content.
For example, if you have a blog on childrenfs television and write an article about Sesame Street, the ads appearing next to that article will have to do with that program. They might be links to shopping for Sesame Street items, or an ad for vintage Sesame Street collectables selling on ebay.
One thing to note with contextual advertising is that you wonft have to worry about placing the ads yourself each day. Once you enter the code on your blog, the program will automatically refresh the advertising when you make a new post. You will be paid several cents for each click. It doesnft seem like a lot per click, but it sure does add up quickly.
Contextual advertising is just one way to make money from your Wahm blog. You can also make product recommendations and suggest information products (e-books) to your readers. Each time someone buys a product you recommend, you will get a commission. Many bloggers find that making gentle product recommendations throughout their blogs are a way to garner extra income.
Finally, some companies will pay bloggers to create posts that suggest certain products or services. These companies pay a few dollars per post, and are fairly easy to use. The only drawback is that youfll have advertising posts throughout your blog content. However, many bloggers have found a way around this by putting gAnd now a word from our sponsersh at the beginning of each of their required advertising posts. This helps the advertising appear less intrusive.]]>
Get paid to programs for Wahmstag:wahmbusiness.net,2007://10.2362007-11-06T16:02:13Z2007-11-06T16:15:02ZGet paid to programs for Wahms gGet pai...
Get paid to programs for Wahms
gGet paid toh programs (or GPTs as they are often called) are one of the many ways that Wahms can make money from home. If youfve been looking for a work at home job, youfve no doubt run across ads that claim that you can make money by reading e-mails, answering surveys and trying free samples. The good news is many Wahms make money doing those exact things. The bad news is that this particular industry is rife with scammers. If you are interested in getting involved with GPT programs, youfll have to do your homework and take special precautions to protect yourself and your computer.
It should be noted that very few people make full time income from GPT programs. Like mystery shopping, GPT should be used as a supplemental income source at best. For many Wahms, the GPT programs are a fun and easy way to earn some extra money when they need it. People who have experience with the programs recommend that you never rely on GPT to pay your monthly bills. But they can be a perfect solution to earn money for a special occasion or holiday shopping.
Just what are GPT programs? They fall into three basic categories: get paid to read e-mail, get paid to fill out surveys and get paid to try products. Each type has its own pros and cons. Before you start any GPT program, you should take some steps to protect your personal information. You will be required to give your personal information for many of these programs and the less you actually say about yourself the better.
To start you should register a separate e-mail address for your GPT purposes. Many programs can result in a lot of spam mail, so youfll want to keep your main e-mail address separate. You can also register with NetZero to get a free voicemail inbox and private phone number. This is helpful in keeping your home phone free of telemarketing calls.
Get paid to read e-mail programs will pay you a few cents for receiving e-mail and clicking on links. Normally these e-mails offer special deals on products or encourage you to sign up for programs. Sometimes, depending on the e-mail program, you will get more money or gpointsh if you try the offer. You are not obligated to try the offers, and will get paid a small amount just for clicking on the link inside of the e-mail. There are many popular paid e-mail companies. Do some research before you sign up for a program to make sure that people are actually getting paid. Try not to sign up for too many programs at once or your GPT e-mail address will be swamped.
Getting paid to fill out surveys works in a similar way. You will sign up for a survey program and then fill out some personal information. You will be matched to surveys that are looking for the opinions of people in your income bracket, of your age or one of several different qualification factors. Depending on the company, you will get paid per survey, or completing surveys will earn you points that can later be redeemed. Just as with get paid to read e-mail programs, do research on survey companies before you sign up. There are hundreds out there but only a handful are worth the time and effort.
Finally there are get paid to try products programs. These programs pay significantly more than the other GPT programs. However, you will be required to pay anywhere from $1 to $10 to try the products. When you use these kinds of programs, you have to be careful to take complete records of what you will be receiving and when you need to cancel service or return the item. Most of the time you will be registered for recurring billing for a monthly service, which can be cancelled within the initial 7 to 14 days. You can call the companies and cancel the service, yet still be paid for signing up for the GPT program.
Remember that GPT programs are a great way to supplement income but are not something to be relied on for monthly bills.]]>