I started my adventure in online work that could be done from home several years ago. But unfortunately, I didn’t get serious about it until this year. I started with survey sites and weeded my away through around 80 before I found several legit ones that truly pay. I am sure there are many more but I now don’t have the patience or time to do surveys for all of them.

Along the way I’ve found paid to click sites, paid to view videos, paid to do tasks and paid to “Like” pages on Facebook or post tweets on twitter sites.  There’s an entire world out there for micro-workers, as I like to call myself.  If you are in the market to be a contractor and have no real employer but yourself and work hard you can make a living working from home online. I must also say, I’ve met some really great people in this business and made friends, have great support and mentors. I would also recommend you get a PayPal account as well as an Alert Pay account. (You can always find me for help anytime on my blog – DreamzComeTrue.)

Terminology for online mircroworkers

• Micro-workers: Private Task Contractors/Virtual Office Assistants
• VOT – Virtual Office Assistant
• PTC – Paid to Click
• Affiliate Marketer / Affiliate – When you advertise approved ad’s for companies that pay you to do so
• Sweeper – When you do sweepstakes
• C.O.L.– Cash Out Limit
• Referral Specialist – Someone that works VERY hard to make money by referring people to sites under them so they make a profit off of the work of the person they referred.

So let’s start off with survey sites:

You need to know that survey sites are free. You should never have to pay to join and do a survey. They pay you. Most surveys sites also have paid tasks, videos, coupons and offers. When you do the coupons they pay you to use the coupons of your choice that you print out. Can’t beat that!  With survey sites you need to be patient as most companies have cash out limits. You will not always qualify for a survey and this all depends on the day, time and the type of survey etc., so you just never know. There is no guarantee you’ll qualify on a daily basis. Because of this I suggest using several sites to help stay busy and build money up in all of them. If on one site you don’t qualify you might on the next. With Sites like Swagbucks and Inbox I also have downloaded a tool bar that these companies will pay you to do your searches on. So instead of using maybe the Google toolbar you use Inboxes and they pay you for it. But each company has specifications on that as well. Most company’s offer referral rewards as well.  Be prepared for a ton of spam in this line of work as well. But maybe make a dedicated email just for work as if you would at any workplace. I go through my emails so many times a day that I just use one, but not recommended. It is time consuming and confusing.

Valid sites I use:

• Inbox Dollars: COL $30 and takes a month to get first check.
• Send Earnings (Inbox Dollars sister site): COL $30 and takes a month to get first check.
• Opinions Outpost : COL $30 paid by check within a few weeks of Cash Out.
• Talkback Surveys:  COL $25.00 paid to PayPal but you can also turn your money in for other offers such as donations and gift cards.
• Swagbucks: They pay with points that at some point will total as money. After 700 points I always cash out for $5.00 to be paid to my PayPal account.

Paid to click sites are very hard to find legitimate ones. I am still in the experiment process with these companies’s and already invested some money just to have the company shut down and disappear. Most paid to click sites you have to invest in order to make money worth your time. There is no company that will pay 1.00 or more to click on an ad for twenty seconds so don’t believe the hype. There are plenty of sites that have reviews and many sites that only do paid to click reviews. I wouldn’t trust any sites reviews as I have seen many pay people to post reviews. So definitely find a good trust worthy source outside of the actual site in question to research.  I personally use the method of entering the name of the company in the address bar and a ton of sites pop up usually many are reviews.

Virtual Office Assistants:  This line of business is awesome and booming if you have a home office set up. Most include phone (landline), head set, high-speed cable (not wifi), printer, fax, scanner, a computer and of course a quiet environment to be a virtual assistant. Most companies will list their specific requirements before you apply. There are data entry jobs that don’t require so much but are very hard to find legitimate companies. I have also found many bogus companies claiming to help you find the perfect job from home. I have personally applied for hundreds over the last year and no response at all but scam’s and spam. So as always read carefully and be safe on the net.

Here’s a site I recommend for legitimate online work from home jobs plus great support from other’s like us trying to make a living from home:  www. Cwahm.com

Paid Task Sites:  When it comes to paid task sites you can most def. use the survey sites to complete the tasks they offer. I prefer to use other sites that are just for paid tasks. These sites offer tasks by random employers and people who pay to have other’s complete tasks for them. Examples are posting an ad to Craigslist or voting on a picture in a contest. There can be Google tasks, twitter tasks, facebook tasks, sign up type tasks and the list goes on and on.

MicroWorkers – this one is my favorite so far. I use them hourly and try to complete ten tasks or more a day. I am paid weekly on the dot via Alert Pay. COL is $9.00 I think. I usually wait until I am over $10.00 because they do take a small percentage when you cash out.

Last, but not least, let me explain about affiliate working. I am fairly new to this but there is plenty of work out there for this line of business. Many companies, at the bottoms of their sites, list the word “AFFILIATES.” Here you can sign up and, if approved, they will pay you to advertise for them. Every site is a little different how they pay and what they expect.  Some sites, like BestBuy, have great benefits to being an affiliate with them.  I also use Adsense on my blog and as people click on ad’s and view them, they pay me. Some, like Bestbuy, pay commissions off of the sales made from your advertisement. So the limit of income is great if you are good at advertising. I would keep in mind that to go big with this there will be investments needed.

About the Author:  Sandra is single mother of three, two teenagers and a one year old. She graduated in 2011 with her AOSCJ and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with Human Services. Sandra is a stay at home mom working from home online which has been her dream come true. She loves being home with her kids, being her own boss and working her own hours. Part of her passion is helping others and working from home she has been able to help others do the same. She enjoys the new people she meets in this line of business and learning something new every day. Sandra just started as a consultant with Scentsy and is excited about adding a new work from home opportunity to her list of many. On an average day she is being Mom, working, studying and if given the time she loves to shop!! For more on Sandra’s dream come true, please visit her blog.

Working from home may come with a lot of benefits, from skipping the daily commute to setting your own hours to spending more time with the kids, but one thing it doesn’t offer is motivation to look your best.  At first you might continue with your regular office routine, rising early to shower, dress, and get made up.  But over time you will no doubt find yourself starting to slip, until one day you’re out the door to pick up the kids from school in the same pajamas you slept in last night.  This is not only bad for your own self-esteem, it can also cause problems in other areas of your life, reducing your work efficiency and leading to problems with interpersonal relationships (your partner may love you, but do you really want to test his resolve by wearing the same sweats all week?).  In short, there are many reasons why you should continue to dress like a person who might have to enter the outside world at any moment.  And here are just a few ways to keep up your looks.

For starters, you should remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you’ll have to take the same tack with your new wardrobe.  If you think that jumping back into your stuffy office attire is the ticket, you should stop and think again.  Clearly you don’t need to dress like you’re going to a corporate office because you aren’t.  But you also don’t want to get schlumpy and frumpy with sweats and pajamas every day.  Instead, you need to find a middle ground with clothing that is comfortable, yet good-looking and that meets the requirements of a stylish, modern mom on the go.

Activewear is a great place to begin.  Although you may think that this category of clothing applies only to sportswear, this is a common misconception.  Sportswear is specifically engineered with exercise in mind.  Activewear, on the other hand, includes items of clothing that are both functional and fashionable.  While you’ll certainly find garments that will suit various activities, with fitted shorts, pants, leggings, and tops in soft, stretchy fabrics, you’ll also discover hoodies, jackets, and cargo pants that are fitted and flattering.  These are clothes that you can live your life in while feeling and looking good.

From there you may want to add a few pairs of jeans and some casual blouses, just to step it up a notch if you’re going to run errands or have lunch with the girls.  Flats are a must (you can skip the pointy-toed heels) to complete your look with less stress on your tootsies, and you should consider adding a few key accessories like a stylish, oversized tote (to carry all your mom stuff or double as a briefcase for meetings with clients) and one or two items of jewelry.  And for those days when you’ve got to step it up, get yourself a fantastic two-piece suit with a blazer and slacks.  Since you’ll probably have this item for a while, make sure you purchase a high-end sample and spend a few extra bucks to take it to an alterations shop and have it perfectly tailored.  You don’t have to spend a lot to look great, and even a minor effort will result in a better looking wardrobe that puts the spring back in your step.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Carol Montrose writes for BluWiki. Aside from finding discounts on activewear, you can also find American Eagle Outfitters Coupons and Fantastic Sams Coupons.

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Finding clients when working as a home based business is usually the number one challenge that these companies face. Finding an economical way to advertise or get the word out about their product or services is sometimes overwhelming.

Many entrepreneurs do not know how to find effective methods of marketing so they frequent farmers markets or trade shows and approach their friends and families to purchase their products. As attending these venues can become costly in money and time, finding another way to promote their operation becomes a top priority.

Traditional methods of advertising can also be costly and limits the area that the message is reaching. So how can they get this information out to their target markets? Working with a Virtual Assistant is a cost effective method to put successful marketing in place. Here’s how:

1. A virtual assistant will work with the client to learn about their business, why they started it, how long they have been established, and what products or services they have to offer. Then the virtual assistant will write an article about this business and distribute it to the appropriate outlets.
2.  A virtual assistant will help businesses with their marketing campaigns. They will work to put an effective article together to draw in the target market’s attention to the products and services that are being offered. The virtual assistant will then submit this on line so a larger audience will be able to find it.
3. When a new product comes on line or changes come into effect, articles can be a great way to get the public’s interest. By using key words and product specific phrases, finding out about the line of items will be easy when people look for them on the internet.
4. Having a virtual assistant write articles about a business will help to establish the owner as an expert in their field. By submitting these on a regular basis, clients will look for these tips, especially if they are useful and applicable.
5. A virtual assistant could also help write content for the client if they want to place a combination ad and article in their local newspaper. This would provide coverage for a specific area so they could target the market within that distribution area.
6. A virtual assistant can help build an Adwords campaign for the home based business that will be effective without costing an exorbitant amount. This will help to draw clients to their web sites and help to promote their business.
7. Using press releases about upcoming events or the introduction of a new product can also be a very useful method of marketing that a virtual assistant will help the business put in place. These can be alternated with articles so clients will look for information that will be helpful to them and possibly result in sales for the business.
8. The client’s contact information will be included in the press release and article’s bio so customers who are interested in the product line can easily find the business.
9. Once the article has been put on line, it will always be available for future reference.

Working with a publicity virtual assistant to plan and implement this kind of marketing campaign is very easy. A quick search on the internet will produce listings of virtual assistants who are experienced in this type of work. Call one today and get started.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Carol Eigner is a Publicity Virtual Assistant and president of CEVA Services. She has successfully written and distributed press releases and articles. For more information, contact her at carol@cevaservices.ca.

Holly Reisem Hanna is the founder and publisher of The Work At Home Woman. I recently had the privilege to interview Holly and here’s what Holly shared:

How did you get started working from home?
Since the day my daughter was born, I’ve been a stay at home mom. But after 9 months of play dates, mommy and me classes and a dwindling bank account, I felt the urge to make some money and exercise my brain. I looked online for different work at home opportunities, but the majority of my time was spent weeding through scams and sifting through various website to find all of the information that I was looking for – I was left feeling exhausted and defeated.

I had always enjoyed writing and dabbled with the idea of writing the next comedic novel; however I never considered blogging as a career option. I continued to look online for the perfect work at home opportunity when it dawned on me, “I need to create a comprehensive resource where women can find all of the information they need to work at home” and hence The Work at Home Woman was born.

How long have you been working from home?To fund this endeavor I started working part-time from home for a small publishing company managing their social media campaigns. During this time I researched and created content for my site. I hired a graphic designer to create a custom design for me and in March of 2009, I officially launched The Work at Home Woman.

I’ve been working at home since December of 2007 – almost 4 years.

Describe your website in 15 words or less.
The Work at Home Woman is a business resource for women who work at home.

If your business were ice-cream, what flavor would it be and why?
I’d have to say Ben & Jerry’s, Chunky Money – banana ice cream with chocolate chunks and nuts. Due to the fact that The Work at Home Woman covers all the nuts and bolts of working at home and running a business. The site has something that is going to appeal to everyone.

How has blogging helped your business?
I’ve been blogging for 2 ½ years and I absolutely love it! It has given me freedom, flexibility and financial stability and it has launched the business that I had only dreamt about. Beside the perks of being able to stay at home with my daughter, blogging has introduced me to opportunities and people that I would have never met else wise – and for that reason alone having a blog business is worth its weight in gold.

If you could do anything (other than your current business) what would it be?
I love to travel and I also love social media, so perhaps I’d work for a company in the travel industry, managing their blog and social media campaigns. Or perhaps I’d be a travel writer/blogger.

How has working from home changed your life?
Overall it has made me a happier person. I don’t dread Monday mornings or having to wake up for work. I love that I have flexibility to schedule my work around my life, not the other way around. And most importantly, I love that I can be with my daughter and watch her grow as I build a business.

Do you have a favorite place to work?
I do have a separate office space with my desk and printer, but I never work there. Because of wireless technology, I’m able to work in the dining room where I get lots of natural sunlight and I can look out at nature. Here I’m also able to keep an eye on my daughter while she plays during the day.

How do you spread the word about your business?
Social media has been a wonderful tool for helping me to spread the word and cultivate relationships. But I’d say that networking and collaborating with other mompreneurs has been my most successful method of getting the word out. The wonderful thing about being in the mompreneur realm is that everyone is so supportive of each other and they truly want to see each other succeed.

What do you want the CWAHM readers to know about you?
My current business has nothing to do with my background experience or education. I graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology and a few years later I obtained my Associate Degree in Nursing. I tell you this because I want you to keep pursuing your dreams and your passions – you don’t have to settle for an unfulfilling mediocre job.

Any final words of wisdom?
Surround yourself with positive like minded individuals. When you’re stuck in a job that you don’t like, it’s so easy to get caught up in the negative energy. Find yourself a support group or network where you can nurture your entrepreneurial spirit and start to get the creative juices flowing. Eventually you’ll be able to make the leap and follow your dreams.

How to contact Holly:  
The Work At Home Woman website
Twitter and Facebook 

Elance.com is one of the most effective ways for a freelancer to generate business. Unfortunately, many people who create profiles on Elance don’t get the business they would like. There are a number of things freelancers on Elance need to do if they intend to make money working on Elance:

You need to create a winning profile. The first step to winning projects on Elance is to create a great profile. How will bidders know you can provide great services if you aren’t willing to put the same professionalism into your profile? Your profile should have a professional image, preferably a headshot or your company logo. You need to succinctly but fully describe your services in your description. You need to show you are a serious professional, because 80% of clients say a freelancer’s profile is one of the biggest things they take into consideration when making their decision.

You need a portfolio of your projects and services. Bidders need to know that you have the experience they’re looking for. Showcase your best work by providing detailed descriptions of what you’ve done and what results they provided for previous clients. Provide links whenever possible. Before you describe your previous work, consider what your future clients will be looking for. Tailor your portfolio around their expectations.

Get your profile verified. The $15 fee is a small investment considering the amount of trust you build with your clients.

Take the tests. Clients want to see that you are proficient with the skills you offer. Take the tests to demonstrate you have mastered the skills they are looking for. Don’t be afraid to retake tests if you don’t score well. The tests may seem intensive, but remind yourself how much they will pay off in the long run.

Ask for feedback from your clients. Your clients want to know that you have provided professional and services for your other clients. They need to know you are honest and dependable. Your reviews from previous clients will have a much bigger impact than anything you will ever say.

Don’t be afraid to bid higher than your competitors. Elance clients want different things. Many of them would rather pay for quality. The clients who are looking for the cheapest bid would be the easiest for you to get, but they aren’t worth your time if you are an experienced professional. There is no reason to be afraid to bid what you are worth if you are better than your competitors. Of course, you need to stay within your clients’ budgets.

Elance is one of the best sites for professionals to generate business. The professionals who are going to win business on Elance are the ones who know how the system works and what clients are looking for. Put some effort into your profile and don’t expect serious results overnight. Building business on Elance will take time but it will be worth it in the long run.

About the Author:
Kalen Smith is a personal finance blogger for www.MoneyFile.net, a personal finance website in the saving and financial advice sector.

by S McIntyre

When you’re actively job searching online, it’s very important to be organized. How many of you have applied at the same company twice without realizing you already did? How about a company contacting you weeks or months later and offering you a position you couldn’t remember applying for? Have you forgotten or lost the employer’s name and contact information? This wouldn’t have happened if you kept proper track of your job searches.

There are several systems you can use to manage and stay organized during your job searching online. Many use spreadsheets created in Excel; use Word or a notebook with handwritten notes which can become messy, unreadable and time consuming. If these are your choices make sure you keep adequate information on them and keep them updated.

First, have all versions of your resumes, cover letters and follow up letters organized in a folder on your computer and have them backed up on a CD, external hard drive or on a web backup system like Mozy.com. You may have to make several folders and sub folders to keep track of all job posting ads from the different companies. It’ll be easier if you had sub folders labeled with the job position details you applied for. For example customer service, article writer and so on. You can copy and paste the job description on Notepad and use this as a reference or reminder of what the job entailed. This is especially helpful when the company takes weeks or months to get back to you.

Other information necessary to be inputted into your spreadsheet are as follows and you can tweak it to suit your needs.

* Contact info – Company’s name, contact person’s name, email, fax, phone number, physical location, website, social networks
* Date
* Job title and reference number
* Deadline
* Action – Follow up letter, include date sent
* Names and titles of people you spoke with, person who interviewed you
* Feedback you’ve received, experience you had in the interview, anything that was different
* Duration – How long it took for a company to respond to you, whether you got an autoresponder message etc.

It’s also important to manage the people you have networked with online and offline. Excel may not be comprehensive enough to meet your growing job searching needs and a good, free web database to use is JibberJobber.com. This system is much more feature rich and powerful than Excel where you can keep track together of all the information, status, action, follow up etc. for each company/position you applied for.

Using a web database is also safer as it’s not on your computer so you won’t accidentally lose your information.

How you manage and organize your job searching online is essential in obtaining a job. Job hunting can be overwhelming, but being organized will create less work for you and let you focus on networking, researching, applying and finding your ideal job.

About the Author:

S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on providing work at home company listings, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics.

Sophia co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive work at home business resource focusing on helping others who are looking for opportunities and ideas to work from home. You will also find tips and articles on how to balance work, family and play in your daily life.

by Nancy Kraska

When looking at work at home ideas on any directory, it is important from the beginning to know what you want. Do you want a work at home business or a work at home job?

Let’s examine both. A work at home business is just that: a business. As with any business, a work at home business contains its ups and downs. The best way, I have found, to go about having your own business on the Internet is to have your own website and domain name. Both of which can be had for very little cost. With the website you either design it yourself with various WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs or pay someone to design it for you. Whichever you do be advised that your website will constantly undergo changes.

You then will sign up with various affiliate programs on the Internet. The easiest way to find a wide variety is to find a affiliate program directory. There are many such directories on the Internet and are relatively easy to find. Once you find the affiliate program, you sign up as an advertiser. As an advertiser you are agreeing to promote the affiliate site and/or any one of the various programs offered. These offers vary greatly and they cost nothing to join. So be sure and keep some kind of list of the different sites you want to promote on your website.

Once you have established your website and the programs you wish to advertise, it is now time to start promoting your website. You can do this by free advertising on the Internet, advertising offline, or doing a pay-per click advertising on the web.

As a the business owner you are responsible for all advertising, keeping your site fresh with new offers, and any losses that incur. No one is telling you how to run your business, the decisions are in your hands only. So success or failure is entirely up to you. Profits will be slow coming in as with any new business. So be patient and persistent.

A work at home “job” is different in that you are joining the programs the business owner is promoting. Most often you are paying a small fee to join the programs. The fee covers the costs of training and any materials you might need to complete the “job”. Remember you are paying for someone else showing you how to do the program the right way, and as with any program if you follow the instructions, you should be making money with them. You will never need to build a website or have a domain name as these are provided by the company.

There should always be a money back guarantee. If there is not, do not sign up with the company. You should always have access to contact information, in case there is any question about your paycheck, how often you will be paid and so forth. All of this should be upfront on the sales page. If you feel it is too vague, pass the opportunity by and go on to the next.

This is a job, but unlike the jobs in the real world, you set your hours, how and where you want to work. So if you only make $20.00 your first month, look back and see if you put the effort into earning money. There is no one looking over your shoulder telling you that you have to work. Like any business success or failure is in your hands.

About the Author: Nancy Kraska has been involved with Affiliate Marketing for eight years. Her website Home Work for You offers legitimate work at home opportunities as well as home business ideas. Visit her website at: http://www:hmewrk4u.com. For a list of work at home affiliate sites go to:www.hmewrk4u.com/pages/affiliatepage.html. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by S McIntyre

As a telecommuting job seeker knows finding a work at home job is only one half the battle. Getting a phone interview is one step closer to landing the job.

You really only have one shot at an interview unless the first interview is a preliminary one. Either way you want to get a second interview and here are 5 tips on how you can have a winning interview and secure the position as yours.

1. Preparation – Come prepared for the phone interview. While you can’t have rehearsed answers, you can prepare yourself to what may happen.

The two most common and toughest questions asked are, “Why do you want to work from home?” and “What are your weaknesses?” Be prepared to have an answer for both and practice saying it. Don’t try to memorize or write down your answer because reading it off a paper will sound scripted, robotic and unnatural.

Have your cover letter and resume in front of you for quick references. Also have with you a pad of paper and pen to jot down any relevant information during the interview.

2. Quiet environment – It’s easy to get distracted and lose concentration if there is background noise especially if you have kids or dogs. If possible, make other arrangements for child care and keep the television and radio off. If your phone interview comes unexpectedly, find the quietest room in your home.

It’s best to use a landline phone, but if you’re using a cell phone make sure it’s fully charged and you’re in the part of the house with the best reception.

3. Clear speaking voice – It’s natural to be nervous, but when some people get nervous they ramble, speak fast, they sound too excited and their voice may crack or quiver. Slow down, be clear and concise. Only answer the question being asked. Avoid elaboration as this can lead to shooting yourself in the foot and make you sound like a nonsensical rambling fool.

Avoid the “ums” and non-speaking words like “mmhmm”. Avoid using slang words like “yeah” and “uh-huh”.

Speak with confidence and with a smile on your face. While your employer can’t see it, they will certainly hear it in your voice.

4. Be a professional – Be courteous and professional at all times. Don’t knock your previous employers or talk badly about other companies. There should be absolutely no eating, drinking or gum chewing during an interview.

For some people, getting dressed for the interview gives them more confidence. Get out of your jammies and dress for success!

5. Ask questions – This is part of being prepared for the interview. Research the company. Have a list of questions for your employer as this shows you were listening and are interested in the job.

One last tip: Like any other job interview follow it up with a “Thank You” letter and reiterate why you think you’d be the perfect telecommuter for the job.

About the Author: S McIntyre owns www.WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommuting job leads, business resources and other work at home related topics. You can find more telecommuting articles in the Article Library. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by S McIntyre

There are thousands of work at home job seekers searching online for a telecommuting job. There are also common questions asked about telecommuting every day.

Here is a basic guide you can print out and use for your reference.

1. What is telecommuting?
Telecommuting is working offsite in your home office or at a remote location other than your employer’s place of business. You communicate with your employer by telephone, email, fax or instant messenger.

2. What do I need to telecommute?
Each company require different computer hardware specifications. Many prefer desktop PC/Windows over Mac and laptops. Here are some of the basics and what companies may or may not allow:

- Internet connection – DSL is fine, but not satellite
– At least 1Ghz-2Ghz processor, Windows XP or higher, Internet Explorer
6.0 or higher, a minimum of 512MB of RAM, sound card, speaker, antivirus
and spyware protection, firewall
– MS Word, Excel, Adobe Reader etc.
– Other equipment may include fax machine, printer or scanner and a quiet workspace

3. Will I be an employee or Independent Contractor?
It will depend on the company. Most companies offer Independent Contractor (IC) status so you don’t receive health benefits, vacation or sick pay, taxes aren’t taken out etc. Instead ICs will receive a 1099 form for income tax purposes.

4. What types of jobs are available for telecommuters?
There are a wide range of jobs suitable for telecommuting. There are many more, but here is a brief list:

- Appointment Setting
– Accountant/Bookkeeper
– Customer Service
– Data Entry
– Editor
– Graphic Artist
– Journalist
– Quality Assurance
– Teacher/Tutor
– Transcription
– Virtual Assistant
– Web Designer
– Writer

5. Do companies provide training?
Again, some companies offer paid training while others do not. Many will only hire telecommuters who have skills and previous experience. Some require on-site training and working on-site three months to a year before you’re allowed to telecommute.

6. Do I have to pay any fees to work at home?
No. You should never have to pay any registration or training material fees. Not all companies absorb the cost for a background, credit and or drug check. These fees are usually about $30-$50. Remember though, if you’re paying out of your own pocket, be sure you have a job offered. Transcription and customer service jobs usually require a foot pedal and or headset and you are required to purchase these either from the company or on your own.

About the Author: S McIntyre owns www.WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommuting job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

A lot of us work hard to promote our online business but one thing we might forget is that we can get a lot of traffic by promoting offline as well. Following is a list of ideas you can use to promote your online business, offline.

1. Brochures – Brochures are a great marketing tool because you can provide a lot of information about you and your business. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and other businesses to see of you can put out your brochures.

2. Newspaper Ads – Run classified ads in some local or not so local newspapers. Remember these points when writing your ads:

• You must get the reader’s attention.
• Once you get their attention, you must keep them interested.
• Turn their interest in desire for your products.
• Give them a call to action!

3. Radio Ads – Check with popular radio stations to see what they charge for a short ad and make the ad pop as much as possible.

4. Promotional Items – Have your url printed on caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. and give them to as many people as you can to wear. This can be very effective in getting your business known.

5. Postcards – Postcards are very cost effective and versatile. You can announce new items, offer special deals, promote a special business event or announce your website and what types of products/services you offer.

6. Offline Networking – Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Get involved in business clubs and groups and talk about your business whenever possible.

7. Car Signs – These are great products because they allow you to advertise your business wherever you go – family outings, running errands, visiting family, etc!

8. Business Cards – Design your business card wisely. They are no longer just for listing your name and address! Have your business card double as a coupon or gift certificate. Hand them out whenever the opportunity becomes available.

9. Flyers – Distributing flyers is a very affordable way to market your online business. Be sure to specify what service/product you offer and use incentives to get people to ACT NOW. You can also encourage people to pass the word if your products/services can help anyone they know. Parades and other public events are great opportunities for handing out your flyers.

10. TV Ads – TV ads are a bit more expensive but if you have the budget it would definitely be worth looking into.

11. Coupons – Print out coupons and hand them out wherever and whenever you can. Offer special deals, sales discounts, etc. This can lead to many sales and a larger customer base.

12. Freebies and Samples – People love getting things for free. Offer small items as free samples. You have seen grocery stores do this many times. Give a free sample of a good product and you will get more sales!

13. Letterheads – Have your business name and url on everything that gets mailed out of your office/home. You never know who will be reading it and if they might take an interest in your products/services/opportunity.

14. Catalogs – If possible, have catalogs made and distribute them as much as possible. Use direct mail as well, if you can. Offer x amount of dollars off their first order or a free gift with first order.

15. The Yellow Pages – Get listed in the Yellow Pages so more people can find out who you are and what you offer!

16. Billboards/Signs – We all notice billboards and signs and they can be very effective in increasing your business.

17. Job Fairs – If you offer a good business opportunity, make it known by participating in job fairs and career days.

18. Print Magazines – Purchase advertising or try submitting articles to various print magazines. Getting an article published can do a lot for your online business.

19. Greeting Cards – Send personal greeting cards or even thank you notes to all your customers as well as people who expressed an interest in what you offer. This is guaranteed to make a lasting impression!

20. Gift Certificates – Print out gift certificates and distribute them as much as possible. Put them in mailings both personal and business. Work with other businesses to distribute each other’s certificates (complementary not competing businesses).

21. Community Involvement – Getting involved in your community events and activities can be one of the most effective ways to get your business noticed. Volunteer for school activities, work for charities, attend social functions, etc.

© Terri Seymour of www.SeymourProducts.com

About the Author:
Terri Seymour (also known as “The eBook Lady”) has over ten years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com for resources, $1 and $2 resell ebooks & software, articles, affiliate programs, RSS feed, and a free business ebook with Master Resell Rights.

More info from http://www.ftc.gov/jobscams:

Job-Hunting/Job Scams

If you’re looking for a job, you may see ads for firms that promise results. Many of these firms may be legitimate and helpful, but others may misrepresent their services, promote out-dated or fictitious job offerings, or charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
To Do

Before you spend money responding to placement firms or completing placement contracts:

* Reject any company that promises to get you a job.

* Be skeptical of any employment-service firm that charges first, even if it guarantees refunds.

* Get a copy of the firm’s contract and read it carefully before you pay any money. Understand the terms and conditions of the firm’s refund policy. Make sure you understand what services the firm will provide and what you’ll be responsible for doing. If oral promises are made, but don’t appear in the contract, think twice about doing business with the firm.

* Take your time reading the contract. Don’t be caught up in a rush to pay for services. Stay away from high-pressure sales pitches that require you to pay now or risk losing out on an opportunity.

* Be cautious about purchasing services or products from a firm that’s reluctant to answer your questions.

* Be aware that some listing services and “consultants” write their ads to sound like they are jobs when they’re selling general information about getting a job.

* Follow up with the offices of any company or organization mentioned in an ad or an interview by an employment service to find out if the company is really hiring.

* Be wary of firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs. All federal positions are announced to the public on www.usajobs.gov.

* Check with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General’s Office, and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed about a company with which you intend to do business. You also may contact these organizations if you have a problem with an employment-service firm.

by Nell Taliercio

Congratulations, you have landed a telecommuting job. All your hard work has paid off and now you can settle into the daily grind of working a job from your own home. Now that you have that job; you’ll want to keep it.

Telecommuting has come a long way over the years and has become more acceptable to most employers. The problem is, even the companies that have accepted it, are questioning whether or not it will be a success for them.

There are still issues that most of the employers worry about. If you want to be able to keep the job you worked long hours just to find; then make sure you’re doing the best you can at the job you were hired for.

Here are some tips to help you ensure that your new telecommuting job stays around for as long as you’re working for that company:

Always meet deadlines- If your job duties have deadlines attached them; be sure that you always meet them or at the very least contact them right away to let them know why you can’t meet it. If you can’t meet your deadlines, the employer might think that you’re not focusing on your job and using more of your work time to goof off.

Always be the one to answer the phone during work hours- If you have a job where you will be receiving calls from the employer or customers; make sure you’re the one answering the phone during the work hours. Having other people answer it, makes you look unprofessional and employers frown upon that.

Reply to emails asap- If an employer contacts you by email for whatever questions they may have or information they want to send you; respond to them in a timely fashion. It shows that you’re on the job and performing your duties efficiently.

Treat your telecommuting job as if you were at the office- During work hours, you should be focused on your job as if you were in an onsite office. While people listen to music at the office during work hours, they don’t generally watch television. Keep your TV off while you’re working.

Lay down the rules to your family and friends about your work hours- Just because you’re working from your home, doesn’t mean that it’s okay for all friends or family members to stop by and chat anytime they feel like it. If you’re working set hours, like 8-3; then let your friends know that you can visit with them when you’re work day is done. You could also visit them during your lunch hour; provided you get one.

These may seem like little things to you, but they’re huge concerns in an employer’s eyes. Always act like a professional during your work hours and you can instill confidence within your employer. Confidence that says that you are capable of performing your job from your home office.

Otherwise you could be sending the wrong signals to the bosses and your telecommuting job could be at stake. By keeping these things in mind, you’re increasing your chances of having that telecommuting position for a long time to come.

About the Author:
Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: www.justonlinejobs.com Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Because I run a website dedicated to work-at-home moms, I get a considerable amount of email filled with questions about working from home. Without a doubt the question that I get asked most often is, “Do you know of any companies that I can work for from home?” The exciting thing is that yes, I do. In part because of the hard economic times that we find ourselves in, more and more companies looking for qualified professionals to represent their businesses from their own homes. Here is just a sampling of companies currently hiring at-home workers:

1. VIPdesk (http://vipdesk.com) – This company hires home-based workers for customer service positions. They represent numerous high-profile brands such as Eddie Bauer and BlueFly. From their website: “A proven premium service provider with 20 years of experience, VIPdesk specializes in delivering Concierge and Virtual Call Center Services for national brand leaders in several industries that include travel, auto, financial services and retail, by providing high-touch, high-tech branded service platforms that deliver real results and real return on investment.”

2. wiseGEEK (http://www.wisegeek.com) – This is just one of the many websites that pay freelance writers. These sites generally pay per article written. From their website: “wiseGEEK writers get to choose the topics to write on out of a pool of hundreds of titles. You can opt to write on categories that you are familiar with, or venture out a little to explore new frontiers.”

3. Convergys (http://careers.convergysworkathome.com/WorkFromHome.aspx) – At-home agents are nothing new for Convergys, a company who also supplies customer care services to well-known companies. From their website: “As a Convergys Home Agent, you’ll interact with customers of well-known and respected top companies. You may answer questions, determine product opportunities that best meet your callers’ needs, place orders on their behalf, provide technical support, or enroll callers in health, entertainment or other plans.”

4. American Express (http://www212.americanexpress.com/dsmlive/dsm/int/amexjobs/amex_jobs_country_us_travel_jobs.do?vgnextoid=0ffe2c1808e00210VgnVCM200000d0faad94RCRD) – American Express is, of course, primarily known for their credit card, but in some cases they also hire home-based travel agents. From their website: ” …American Express operates 2,200 travel offices and many call centers around the world. Some Travel Counselors work on-site at our clients’ businesses, while others may even work at home.”

5. West at Home (http://westathome.com) – Another customer service related employer, West at Home has been employing home-based workers for over twenty years. From their website: “Greater staffing flexibility, better educated, highly motivated and more productive agents – it all contributes to what makes West at Home the leading provider of home-based agent solutions.”

There are many home-based positions available today. It does take time to sift through them all to find the “diamonds in the rough” yet in the end the flexibility and comfort offered by a work-at-home position can be well worth the effort. So, polish up your resume – make it as professional and current as possible as you’ll be competing with hundreds if not thousands of other job candidates – and get to work.

–
Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. She is a co-author of the upcoming book So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill, Sept. 2009). Jill welcomes work-at-home questions at http://AskJill.cwahm.com. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ .

by S McIntyre

I was asked recently if it was possible to find a work at home job and make a real living with little or no job experience. The answer is yes, but to qualify for the higher paying jobs the fact is you need skills and experience.

How do you get job experience if you have none? Here are four suggestions to consider and always keep an open mind.

1. Apply for jobs that require little skill or experience. You won’t get paid as much as you want and that should be expected. You will probably be offered minimum wage or less, but don’t forget you can’t expect $15/hour for a job that doesn’t require a whole of experience or requirements. On the other hand, you’re not going to slave away for pennies either so use your judgement.

Many people who work at home work several jobs at a time. These smaller side jobs are flexible and you can work them any time.

2. It’s true everyone has to start somewhere and some companies will hire people with no experience. AccuTran Global will hire people without prior experience for transcription work provided they can type well and with accuracy. People are required to have a good headset and a foot pedal. General transcription and writing jobs come highly recommended to people who have no experience.

Don’t shy away from writing jobs. There are companies and independent home business owners who hire article writers. Some pay very low between $2 to $5 and up to $10 per article. Plus some will give you tips on how to write better. If this is something that will help you get your foot in the door of another higher paying company or just general job experience then it’s something you may want to think about a bit harder.

3. If there isn’t a job related skill or experience that came from working outside the home, use your interests and passion to create a home job for you. For many people interests or passion have evolved into self-employment.

4. Educate yourself by taking offline or online courses. While this doesn’t help you earn money it’s an investment in getting the qualifications you need to compete in a highly competitive work at home field.

When it comes to looking for a work at home job for someone with or without job experience, nothing is impossible or a lost cause. You always have options. Take a look at these four suggestions again and make the necessary changes in your life so you can get the experience you need and get the work at home jobs you want.

About the Author:
S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics. Sophia co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive work at home business resource focusing on helping others who are looking for opportunities and ideas to work from home. You will also find tips and articles on how to balance work, family and play in your daily life. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Nell Taliercio

You might have a current job that you love, but you’ve been hoping to find a position like it that you could perform while working in your home office.

Sometimes finding the telecommuting position is as close as the job you’re already working. It’s a matter of convincing your current employer that the job could be done from your home.

Prepare a presentation and set up a time with the person that would make that decision to explain how the telecommuting process works and why it would be beneficial to the company you’re working for.

The most successful presentations are ones that contain the following:

A lot of research

The employer will need to know more than just a few statistics. Tell them how much money they could save and other ways they could benefit.

Start Small

Employers may not be too open to making the whole job a telecommuting position. They might be more willing to allow some parts of the job to be done at home. Focus on some of the parts instead of the whole job. Down the line, after you’ve proven yourself, they might be willing to look into making it a complete telecommuting position.

Come with a schedule

It’s much easier for the employer to see how this idea would work if you come with a proposed schedule. You could tell them that on Mondays and Wednesdays you would come into the office and perform whatever tasks. On the rest of the days, you would do xyz projects from home. Let them know it’s a proposed schedule that could be changed, but it’s used as an example to give them a clearer picture.

Here’s what successful presentations Don’t contain:

All about you

While you can tell them that you would perform better by working at home, don’t make the whole presentation about you. They will not be interested in knowing that you want to be with your children, need to have more errand running time or that you’re tired of paying for the gas. They would want to know what they get out of the situation.

Do-it-or Else Attitude

The presentation is meant to show the employer the benefits of you performing your job from home. You’re only proposing the idea to them and trying to sell them on it. It is not a means to say that you’ll quit if they don’t do what you want. The do-it-or else attitude will only get you to the door with no more job to come to.

Not coming prepared

Your presentation will provoke a lot of questions from your employers. If you’ve done your research ahead of time, you will have some convincing answers to the questions they throw at you. By not coming prepared, you won’t be able to answer many of their questions or give them feasible solutions to their proposed problems. More than likely they would see your presentation as a complete waste of time and deny your request for telecommuting.

Some employers have been sold on the idea of making current onsite jobs into telecommuting ones, but it takes a lot of hard work and thought on your part to make it happen.

Go all out and prepare for the presentation as much as possible. Even if you don’t sell them on the idea, you still have shown your ingenuity and willingness to fight for something you believe in. Those are good character traits for moving up the ladder in most companies.

About the Author:
Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: www.justonlinejobs.com Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Nell Taliercio

Whenever you apply for a job; if a hiring manager is impressed with your resume or application, then you can expect an interview to take place. This is how they tell if you are right for the position they want to hire for.

In an onsite job, the interview will be done in a face to face manner. You, as the prospective employee, would dress to impress them and keep your body language in check to make sure you’re presenting yourself in a professional manner. Telecommuting positions have a different process, however.

While some local jobs will require you to come in for a face to face interview; most telecommuting companies choose to perform the interview over the phone. A phone interview doesn’t offer you the chance to present yourself as a professional in the same way as a face to face one does.

But, you can still show yourself as a qualified applicant. Here are some tips that can help you the next time you are set up to have a phone interview:

Have your resume handy- Some of their questions will be based off what they see on your resume. If you have it handy during the interview, then it will help you answer their questions easier, since sometimes one’s nerves can get the best of them.

Go ahead and Dress Up and Smile- Okay, some people might think that this would be pointless since the employer won’t see what you’re wearing over the phone or notice whether you’re smiling or not. Getting dressed up for the interview helps you more than it does them. You will have more confidence and that will show when you talk to the interviewer. Same with smiling. When you smile it helps to relax you and your nerves won’t be quite as bad for you.

Give yourself plenty of time before interview- Have at least 30 min. to yourself, before the phone call, to practice some relaxing techniques and go over some things you may want to ask the interviewer or add during the interview. Have a light snack to ensure a grumbling stomach doesn’t take your attention away from the interview.

Set aside plenty of time for the interview- Most interviews can last around 30 minutes. Some could go longer than that. Set aside at least an hour just in case the interview does go longer than normal. It’s not too professional to cut an interview short because you have to run off for an errand 20 minutes after it started.

Offer brief, but informative answers- Avoid giving short yes/no answers. Offer enough information to answer their questions, but don’t take up too much of their time giving them stories. A sentence or two usually works well.

Even though your job interview will more than likely be done over the phone, there isn’t any reason why you can’t still present yourself in a good way. Most employers who do these kinds of interviews look for things like confidence and ability to answer questions and take directions.

They are aware that any employee, no matter who they are, will have some degree of nervousness. So, there’s no reason to worry about being nervous. Just try and keep yourself relaxed as much as you can and you’ll do just fine.

About the Author:
Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: www.justonlinejobs.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Nell Taliercio

You have your resume completed and you want to get a cover letter developed to send along with it. Should you use the same one you used for past onsite jobs? The answer would be no.

Onsite jobs are different than telecommuting jobs. Not only do you not commute to work for a telecommuting position, but employers are also looking for slightly different things from a person who will work from home.

Since cover letters help sell you to the employer, then the cover letter you send with your telecommuting resume should be much different than the ones you have used in the past for onsite jobs. You need to sell them on those things that hiring managers are looking for in a telecommuting applicant.

So, what do they look for?

Home office setup- What does your home office contain? Do you have what the job position requires you to have? Most employers want to know that you have everything you need or at least the major components, such as computer, high-speed internet etc.

Why are you the right person for the job?- Tell them what makes you be the person that should be hired for the job. Use statements like, “I have 6 years experience as a web designer, so I know…”
Avoid telling them anything that they don’t want to hear- Most people want to work from home to be with their kids or because they’re tired of commuting. You’re not alone there, but employers don’t want to know that. You will just appear desperate for a job and could make them lose their interest in you fast; even if you have 20 years experience doing the job.

Give them what they do want- Most job ads will list requirements that the prospective employee should have before they’ll consider hiring you. Tell them that you have those requirements, listing them in your cover letter. The resumes that get more attention are the ones that have what they’re looking for. The cover letter will get them to want to check out your resume. The ones that don’t may end up getting deleted.

Research the company, if possible- You may find that the company’s motto relates to an achievement you have. For example, let’s say a company has a motto about caring for their customers. If you have an achievement award for best customer service excellence, then the hiring manager should know that. Show them that you fit their mold. It also shows them that you did your homework.

Always keep in mind that any job that will done from home will most likely be a position that hundreds, if not thousands, will also be applying for. You will need to stand out from that crowd to get noticed.

Take your time creating your telecommuting cover letter. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself to grab the employer’s attention. Without an effective cover letter, your resume probably will sit on a computer’s hard drive unread or get deleted.

About the Author:
Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: http://www.justonlinejobs.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

From CNN.com:

Jobseekers often ask me what the difference is between a “standard” resume and a telecommute resume. Here are the differences:

1. Telecommute resumes have to really stand out.

Recruiters and hiring managers are flooded with resumes when they post a telecommute job. I spoke to a recruiter who stated he gets between 750 and 1,000 resumes, each day, every time he posts a project. It starts to taper off a little after the third day.

So after just three days, he could easily have more than 2,000 resumes to sort through.

Because of this, you absolutely have to have a resume that stands apart from the crowd. I don’t mean that you should add all kinds of clip art and colorful graphics. You should take time to make sure your information is presented in an easy to read and eye-pleasing format.

You will need to emphasize your skills, particularly your ability to work independently, and your time management skills.

2. Telecommute resumes are highly scrutinized.

You are competing with people all over the country instead of just local applicants. The telecommuting employer has the “cream of the crop” to choose from. They are going to analyze and make judgments on what they find in your resume. (READ ENTIRE ARTICLE)

Telecommuters are individuals who spend part, if not all, of their working hours at another location other than the workplace. For most people it is their home. In order to do this one must have a variety of “telecommunication technologies” such as a telephone, Internet, various computer programs and a fax machine at one’s disposal.  

 

Telecommuters need to have excellent skills when it comes to the laborious task of telephone interviews. The first most important phone interview tip is to always be prepared in case you are contacted for an interview, no matter what time of day it is. Many employers do not give telecommuters the heads up in advance about when they will be calling to speak with them. 

 

Another important phone interview tip is to get ready for your interview in much the same way you would for a regular “in person” interview. Anticipate what questions you might be asked and have appropriate answers in your mind (or written on paper) before the interview even begins. Be ready and willing to answer questions about your educational background, work experience and skills. Also be prepared to tell the prospective recruiter or employer what you could do for him or her. 

 

Prepare a list of questions you wish to ask the interviewer. Always ask at least a few questions as it shows that you are paying attention and that you are very interested in the position in question. Keep in mind that phone interviews are sometimes more difficult to gage because you have to rely completely on the spoken word. Neither the interview nor interviewee is able to pick up on body language or any nuances of behavior but instead must go by the words and questions they are presented with and the pitch and intonation of words. Tread carefully and maintain a balanced, professional and courteous tone of voice at all times.  

 

It is essential in a phone interview for a telecommuter to speak as a person in the know. Don’t indulge in too many “ums”, “okays”, “I don’t knows” or “uhs” as these words don’t carry with them an air of knowledge or confidence. Always have your resume nearby so you can consult it during your phone interview. After all the interviewer is looking at your resume, why shouldn’t you be as well? 

 

Other important tips include turning your call-waiting feature off so there are no interruptions; making sure you are alone in the room and there is no noise anywhere nearby to disturb the interview and having a notepad and paper handy to jot down any relevant information that you glean from the interview. 

 

About the Author:

Charissa Bear is the owner of http://www.momsinc.biz, a work at home mom resource site dedicated to helping moms find home based careers.