Don’t Jump Before You’re Ready To Leap

Before you jump into any business it’s wise to do your research, but even doing your full due diligence there’s no guarantee it will be successful.

When you work outside the home, the norm is a three month probationary period. This time is not only for the employer, but for the employee to determine if the job is the right fit.

Your new business shouldn’t be any different. Too many people give up too easily. Three months is just barely scratching the surface and yet some people think one month is enough time to determine if they are succeeding or not. Until you have exhausted every avenue, sought help or really feel the business you’ve chosen is not right for you, then you can throw in the towel.

Be sure you’re not bailing out because of fear…it’s too much work, there’s too much learning, I can’t do it etc. Success is built on consistency, faith and perseverance.

~Sophia

Social Media Profile Images

When it comes to networking online for your home business on various social media sites, it is important to fill out your profile pages correctly and professionally. It is equally important to add an image to your profile page aka an avatar.

If you are doing personal or business networking, I feel its important to add an avatar (picture) of yourself into your profile. I really dislike seeing business buttons or business logos. When I am talking back and forth with someone on a forum or social media site ie. twitter, I really like to see the face of who I am chatting with.

Here is how I look at this issue. If I went to an offline networking business meeting and walked into the meeting, you would see my face…you wouldn’t see my business button/logo. I can see you using a business logo if you are a large company like Kelloggs or General Mills on your twitter sites…however, if you are a small home business owner, it makes no sense to me, to use a company logo as your avatar instead of a head shot of yourself.

How about you? What is your preference?

Privacy Policies, Disclaimers, Disclosures

It’s easy to forget the little things when you’re creating your online business website. Privacy policies, disclosure statement and disclaimers are important because you don’t want to run the risk of getting into any legal trouble with anyone plus you’re also protecting yourself.

I’m sure there are many different types of policies, but here are a few policy suggestions you may want to implement on your website:

- Blog Disclosure Statement
- Privacy Policy
- Advertising Policy
- Forum, Chatroom or Social Media Policy
- Employee, Independent Contractor or Volunteer Code of Conduct
- Disclaimers
- Terms of Service/Terms of Use
- Etc.

Take the time and think of what you need to put into these policies because it can save you a lot of heartache.

You can also use this template to create a privacy policy Free Privacy Policy

~Sophia

How Do You Stay Motivated?

One of the many challenges work at home people tackle with is staying motivated. Since you have no boss looking over your shoulder or co-workers walking by your desk, how do you stay motivated each and every day?

Some people work out before starting their day
Some people meditate or do yoga
Some people are discipline enough to follow a strict schedule
Some listen to motivational or inspirational tapes each morning
Some people set rewards

Leave us a comment and tell us what you do to stay motivated each day. We love to hear from you!

~Sophia

Basic Forum Etiquette

As a forum owner and a member of a handful of work at home forums, it is so important for new members who are looking to network and participate in real discussions to introduce themselves to the community.

It’s a bit rude to step into a forum and jump into a conversation without first telling us who you are. To me it’s like joining into a group in mid conversation and adding your 2 cents worth.

When you introduce yourself, don’t ride on someone else’s coattails, or in other words in someone else’s introduction. You should know you’re important enough to stand in your own post created by you. Once you’ve isolated yourself in your own thread, it’s okay to welcome other new members.

Your introduction is important because it’s like a first impression. Sell yourself without selling yourself out. I don’t mean have a whole ad spiel, but let the community know at least your first name, where you’re from, what you do, what you like and/or what you’re looking for. Don’t make others go fishing for more information.

And then participate and show that it’s not about you and your business, but what you can do to help others.

~Sophia

Get A Little Help From Guest Bloggers

If you blog a lot, you know you run the risk of the blogging curse. I know there are a lot of places where you can get your creative juices flowing, but the question is do any of those topics grab enough of your attention to help you write?

You have several choices:

1. Hire a ghostwriter
2. Lean on your blogging friends and ask them to guest blog
3. Use re-print articles

Guest bloggers can be a one time deal, once a week, once a month or whatever suits your needs. Guest bloggers bring fresh perspective and a change of pace.

~Sophia

Cell Phones, Driving and Business Calls

We all lead very busy lives and these days you will find that a lot of business in conducted via cell phones. I personally don’t have anything against cell phones and we own two of them in our household.

However, you should never conduct business via cell phone while you are driving a car. For most of us, that is common sense…but trust me, there are people out there who are conducting business calls while they are operating an automobile.

Your customers and clients deserve your undivided attention and they are certainly not getting it when you drive and talk on the phone…furthermore, you are endangering your life and the lives of others who are also out on the roads by not concentrating on your driving.

So the next time you want to answer that cell phone or you want to make a phone call to a client while driving, I am respectfully requesting that you don’t. Your business phone call can wait until you reach your destination.

Business Phone Calls and Driving – Don’t Mix!

~ Shelly ~

Write With Clarity

One of the mistakes people often make when writing is being too descriptive. People want you to get to the point and they don’t need to weed through the excess words.

Being overly excessive with words doesn’t make the article more valuable. Whether you’re writing an article, blog post or business email…just get to the point.

I couldn’t have said it any better in this excellent article by Sherice Jacob.

Does Your Writing Suffer from Purple Overload?

3 Key Steps To Article Submitting

As you have read many times why people highly recommend article marketing simply because it works and it’s free!

Before you go submitting to thousands of article directories, here are three key steps to remember.

1. It’s important to read the author’s guidelines and the article directories’ requirements. For example, some article directories expect no less than 400 words and up to 5000 words and some allow up to three links in the resource box and others only two. Be sure to reference the guidelines often as they do change without prior warning.

2. This step is obvious. If you’re happy and accept the article directory’s and author’s guidelines then go ahead and create an account. A lot of people miss this next important step and it’s to fill out your profile. If someone really enjoys your article and want to know more, they will click on your name to read more about you. Don’t lose out on potential customers, sales or connections. Make sure you complete your profile.

3. Now you can submit your article and reap your rewards.

Happy article marketing!

~Sophia

How To Backup A Blogspot Blog

Backing up your website, your computer, your digital photos etc. are all important things to do on a regular basis.

How do you backup a blog on free hosting like Blogger.com?

Simple.

Log into your account, click on “Settings” and click on “Export Blog”. It is saved on your computer as an Export file and it can be imported to another blog.

And you can also backup your template. Click on “Layout”, then “Edit HTML” then “Download Full Template”.

And that’s it.

~Sophia

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