Work At Home Business Options

Archive for March, 2010

In the direct sales business, it is so easy to just have a customer call you with an order, especially if she is a regular client of yours. But sometimes we forget that this is a person to person business that we are running and actually seeing your customer face to face can mean more money in your pocket.

In past articles, I have talked about the difference between an order taker and an order maker. Just taking a customer’s order; thank you very much; and hanging up the phone is really cutting into your potential profits.

Become that order maker. Make an appointment with your customer to stop by and get her order. That is a very personal touch and while you are there, you can recommend different products to try. Show her your traveling basket filled with new items that have arrived recently. Have her sample something new; maybe recommend an add on item that ties in with her original order. Tell her about upcoming specials and new products that may interest her. Talk to her about your business.

You know that it is so much easier to tell someone “No” on the phone than it is in person. When you are recommending a product in person, you have become an advisor. You have gone out of your way to offer a special service and that will stand out to your customer. You have increased your professionalism a few notches. Cementing your relationship with your customer will not only add money and profit into your pocket right now, but in the long run, the results will be clear. That customer will be yours for life.

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat

4 Rainy Day Craft Projects To Do With Children by Shelly Hill

Looking for something to do with your children on those rainy days, when everyone seems to be cooped up indoors? When my daughter was small, we used to do craft projects together. It quickly became a ‘rainy day’ tradition in our household.

I feel it’s important to spend quality time with our children. These days, too many children are sitting in front of a television watching TV shows, or playing video games. I don’t find this to be quality family time.

Here are 4 easy craft projects that you can do with your children.

Soapy Bath Crayons

1 c. grated Ivory Soap
1/4 c. warm water
food coloring
plastic cookie cutters

Mix water, soap and food coloring together in an old bowl. Stir the crayon mixture until it begins to stiffen. Remove the mixture from the bowl and knead until it’s the consistency of a very thick dough. Spoon crayon mixture into plastic cookie cutters or other plastic molds (play dough molds work great too!). Press down firmly. Place the plastic cookie cutters in your freezer for 10 minutes. When firm, pop the bath crayons out of the cookie cutters. Allow them to air dry overnight.

Play Dough

2 c. flour
1 c. salt
4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 c. of water
4 tbsp. oil
food coloring

Place flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, and oil into a large pan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until dough comes away from the edge of pan, and makes a soft ball. Cool on a sheet of waxed paper. When cool, add food coloring. Store in plastic containers or in plastic bags.

Finger Paints

2 c. of plastic liquid starch
1 c. of Ivory Snow detergent flakes
food coloring

Combine liquid starch and Ivory Snow in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer until the volume is tripled. Divide, add in food coloring as desired. Store in covered containers in the refrigerator.

Blowing Bubbles Refills

1/2 c. liquid dish detergent
5 c. water
1 container with lid
1 bubble blowing wand

Mix water and dishwashing liquid together in a large bowl. Don’t over mix. Pour liquid into empty bubble blowing containers.

Tip: When you spend time crafting, please remember to take photographs. It’s a great way to preserve all of these wonderful memories.

Take advantage of those rainy days, and spend some time crafting with your children.

Article written by Shelly Hill, copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Being a guest blogger is a privilege and an honour; at least it’s how I felt when I was a guest blogger. Keep in mind to always be respectful as you are writing in someone else’s space.

You may be asked which makes your job a lot easier or you can set out and offer your services. Here are some tips on how to become a guest blogger.

1. Before you do anything, think about what you would like to write and then find the blogs you’re interested in. Subscribe to their feeds or become a “follower”. Familiarize yourself with their blogs, get to know the person who owns the blog and get to know their writing style. Reading the comments on the blog will tell you what kind of audience the blog attracts.

2. Blogs are a type of social networking site. If you’re a subscriber, become a regular participant and offer your comments. There’s a greater chance of an owner who’s looking for a guest blogger would choose someone they know and someone who may have the same writing style, same or somewhat different views as them.

3. When you’re ready you can pitch your proposal. Be sure you can produce writing or blog samples or give them a link to your work. Or you can pick a topic that haven’t been covered on their blog and write them a sample. Make it super convenient for them by offering to format the blog post for an easy copy and paste job.

List the benefits why they should utilize a guest blogger. They may not take you up on your offer, but at least they will have you in their mind should they need help one day.

It’s really important to always produce your best work when you’re a blogging for others. Don’t use your articles that have been published elsewhere. People look for guest bloggers to get unique content. If content isn’t important to them they could easily copy and paste articles from the many article directories available.

Everyone benefits from staying active, but senior citizens need it more to keep their brain stimulated and to reduce the risks of developing dementia. It’s a proven fact, healthy and active seniors live a much more happier and fulfilled life.

They are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle. It improves your cardiovascular health, lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure, keeps chronic illnesses at bay, prevents diabetes, improve mobility in your joints and much more.

Here are some ideas on activities to help seniors reduce the health risks and live a more balanced lifestyle.

Activities:
Golfing
Bowling – also lawn bowling
Senior Softball
Tai Chi
Swimming
Gardening
Racquet Sports – tennis, table tennis, squash, racquetball, badminton
Dancing
Walking
Biking
Hiking
Fishing

Mental Exercises:
Puzzles and Games
Arts and Crafts
Model Building
Scrapbooking
Photography
Cooking
Yoga
Meditation
Reading
Writing

Starting Your Own Home Business by Terri Seymour

Ok, so you have researched the facts, weighed the pros and cons and have finally decided that a home business is right for you. But now you need to figure out what type of business you want and how to proceed with marketing this business.

There are many types of home businesses but not all of them are right for all people. You need to ask yourself these questions: Do I want to start my own business from scratch? Do I just want to join an MLM and sell for someone else? Do I want to sell physical products or digital products? Do I want to do all the work online or offline too? Do I want help with my business or do I want to go solo? Do I just want to become an affiliate and sell other people’s online products?

MLM/Direct Sales – The company you sell for is in control of how you run your business. You are paid a commission for sales and usually have to recruit a downline.

Distributorship – You are in control of your own business. You keep all profits and do not need to recruit a downline.

Digital Products – Selling digital products such as ebooks is done online and there is no need for an inventory, shipping or worrying about damaged goods.

Affiliate Programs – many people make a good online income just by selling other people’s products.

Service Provider – This would include such things as virtual assistant, party planner, pet sitter, etc.

These types of businesses can be combined to form one very successful business. Such as applying for a distributorship and then also offering ebooks on your online store site.

Once you have chosen your business and gotten all your permits, tax numbers, etc, you will need to start marketing your new business. There are countless ways to do this online and offline.

Offline Marketing

Offline marketing would include: business cards, flyers, attending your community events and networking, attending expos, craft fairs, trade shows, postcards, phone calls, newsletter advertising, door hangers, radio, fundraisers, school functions, catalog distribution, mailing lists, home parties, car magnets, brochures, seminars, yellow pages and more. Use your creativity to come up with your own unique marketing ideas.

Online Marketing

Marketing strategies online include: link exchanges, search engines, autoresponders, online auctions, email press release, online chats/seminars, ebooks, blogging, tutorials, ad swapping, ezine publishing, article marketing and much more!

To market your home business takes a lot of work, consistency, time and commitment. Handing out a couple business cards and throwing up a website will not suffice. Work as many as these marketing ideas as you can. Find out which ones really work for you and then expand on them. Then try more!

I want to make sure you understand that you cannot treat your business as a hobby. If you want a successful business with a full time income, you have to work your business full time. If you find one of these programs that claim you can make thousands a week for 5 minutes of work, (that actually work) please let me know. In the meantime, start using some of these ideas and get your business name out there!

Terri Seymour has several years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Read about these marketing strategies and more in her ebook, How to Market Your Home Business. Visit her site http://www.seymourproducts.com for this ebook and lots more resources for your home business. Subscribe to her ezine with free bonus report: 77 Ways to Get Traffic.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Work from Home: Learn the way to overcome any obstacle by Silvia Ruch

You have to in fact search for it. It is a tough challenge to stay successful in this world today. Remember that 10% are truth obstacles and 90% is how we react to them.

Open your eyes and ears because opportunities are around you. Often, we are so busy staring at the missed opportunities that we fail to see a new one rising. I don’t say that you have to jump at every idea that comes your way but rather to explore all the options that might be viable solutions to your business challenges.

Now you are wondering, what can I do now to meet the challenges that my business faces today?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep up with technology. Always you will find a new product, software, etc. Ask yourself if any of these new ideas help you in your business? You may find that a new software program can help you process order faster. You may find a way to drive more traffic to your web-site.

2. Add value to your service or product. You will find a lot of people looking for a work from home job opportunities. Talk to them about your service and or product.

3. Partner with other businesses to create excitement. Top times mean it is time to step up the marketing strategy. Look for entrepreneur people that are looking to work from home and take advantage of that kind of work. Partner with them. Help them to build a successful business.

4. Are you taking your business as a business or as a hobby? Have you made a profit. Sometimes we need to know when to hold them and when to fold them. It is not an easy choice to make, but you need to decide if you are in business for fun or profit.

Work at home is going to be the way that people will do business. Big corporations today send employer to work from their own home. Why? Because is cheap, you don’t have to spend money renting an office, use your car, etc.

Home Based Business is the way to stay home and make money. It has low-cost and high profits. Also they have a quick starts. You can find some of them for under $100. Some people make a million the first year! Why not? Gas prices are crazy so do not spend money driving around. Start your own work from home business. You do not need an office; you can find the perfect space in a spare bedroom, den, garage, and attic or even at the kitchen table. You can start on a part-time basis and grow it into a full-time venture. Make a commitment to become your own boss.

If you are thinking about being part of some network marketing business and you want to make sure that you can duplicate their business and be successful, then visit my site. The owner of Work From Home Opportunity
Silvia Ruch is dedicated to provide you with facts about on line business opportunities and new marketing methods for your own business. This article may be reprinted as long as the article is left unchanged and the links stay active.

Article Source: WAHM Articles