Boredom Busters

Need some creative ideas to stave off boredom in your children so that you can get some work done? Check out my ebook Boredom Busters, available for Kindle, Nook and as a PDF through Smashwords.

I detail dozens of ways that your elementary-school age children can entertain themselves. Win a free copy by leaving a comment on this blog post by Feb. 7.

With a little effort and lots of patience, your children will soon be occupied and out of your hair.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: App Creator

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: An app creator develops applications for mobile phones, like Android and iPhone.

Education: None necessary.

Skills: The ability to create and market apps.

Job outlook: If you have the skills, this can be a good fit for at-home employment. However, the marketplace is getting crowded with apps, so you’ll likely have to develop many apps in order to make a decent living.

Possible employers: Apple’s App Store and Android’s App Store provide information for app developers.

Preparation: Think beyond Apple and Android for apps to expand your audience potential. Apple and Android require an approval process before apps are posted to their stores. Have a marketing plan developed for your app while waiting for approval.

Get your foot in the door: Start with one or two apps and have a timetable to add more apps to your library.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Missed Opportunities

We recently canceled our gym membership, which we'd had for at least five or six years. When talking on the phone with the finance person about canceling, I kept waiting for him to ask me why we were leaving. He was very nice and polite, but didn't even inquire as to our reason for canceling. (It was because we were only using the treadmill and didn't want to pay for fitness and swim, only fitness. And we have a treadmill in downstairs, so it seemed like not a wise use of our finances.)

That was a missed opportunity to hear from a previously satisified customer who no longer found the gym to be meeting her needs.

How often do we miss opportunities to promote our businesses? Do you carry business cards with you to give to those who express interest in your product or service? Do you talk about your business--not annoyingly, but as others talk about their jobs in social settings?

Remembering to mention our businesses in casual conversation and in encounters with family, friends, other parents, etc., can help us grow our business. We don't have to be pushy, but don't let those opportunities pass by saying nothing at all.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Transitioning From Office To Home

Do you currently work in an office and wonder if you could transfer that work to a home office? Then check out January's At Home News for tips on how to put together a plan to make the transition from office work to work from home.

Signing up for the newsletter is free--just click on the newsletter tab for the form.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Car Advertisement Driver

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: An advertisement driver is someone who receives payment for renting out space on a car to companies, which place an advertisement there.

Education: None necessary.

Skills: The ability to drive a vehicle.

Job outlook: This job has potential to earn up to $800 monthly or even a free car, depending on how much space you rent to advertisers and how many miles you drive per month.

Possible employers: Check out FreeCar Media and CarAds.us. Also look for local car wrap companies in your metro area.

Preparation: Make sure you have a clean driving record and up-to-date auto insurance. Read “Companies pay motorists to wrap their cars in ads,” from the New York Times for more information.

Get your foot in the door: Be prepared to fill out a detailed questionnaire about your driving habits and how many miles you typically log each month. You’ll have to wait up to 90 days for your first ad, but if you spend a lot of time in your car, it could be worth it.

Until next time,

Sarah

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How an Ebook Might Be Good Marketing For Your Business

Should you write an ebook to market your at-home business? Here are some things to think about relating to using ebooks as a marketing tool.

First, understand that ebooks are different than e-publishing. Ebooks are created as PDFs for easy download and as such retain graphics, formatting, etc., better than e-published books created for e-readers, such as Kindles and Nooks.

Second, businesses should use ebooks as a freebie to lure in new clients and reward current customers.

Third, hire a professional writer or copyeditor/proofreader to polish your ebook. As with any marketing tool, your finished product should be free from grammatical mistakes and mispellings. It's worth the extra money.

Fourth, hire a professional graphic designer for the layout so that your ebook can make the most of this marketing opportunity.

Fifth, don't forget to let your customers and potential clients know about your ebook. Promote it in social media (Facebook, Twitter), on your website and in other marketing materials.

Writing an ebook can be a lot of work but it also can be a great way to promote your business. For more tips, check out "eBooks: The New Darling of Small-Business Branding" article posted on Huffington Post.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Wedding Planner

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: A wedding planner or bridal consultant helps couples plan and execute their nuptials from start to finish.

Education: None required, although a bachelor’s degree is helpful.

Skills: The ability to plan, execute, and run a wedding.

Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of meeting and convention planners [under which wedding planers fall] is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Opportunities will be best for individuals with a bachelor’s degree and some meeting planning experience. … Employment of meeting and convention planners is expected to grow 16 percent over the 2008-18 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details

Possible employers: Scour engagement announcements in your local paper and send newly engaged couples a brochure advertising your services. Ask around at singles groups or organizations to see who’s getting married.

Preparation: Consider becoming certified through the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants or the Association of Bridal Consultants. Both associations offer training, conferences, and other resources.

Get your foot in the door: Consider giving the first two or three brides a discount on your services as you build your business. Offer referral bonuses to those who refer brides that sign with you.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Time for a Business Checkup

With the start of 2012, you should schedule some time to do a business checkup. Just as we need to see a doctor for a physical on an annual basis, we should also take a few minutes to think about how our business is doing. Here are a few things to put on your checkup list.

Goals for 2012. If you haven't written out what you hope to accomplish in 2012, then you should jot down at least your top two or three goals for the year.

Financial inventory. Knowing where you've come from and where you want to be by the end of 2012 financially can be a good way to keep your business on track.

Promoting agenda. How will you market your business this year? Write down at least three new or expanded ways you will promote your business in 2012.

Your dreams. What are your dreams for the business? This could be different from your goals, which should be more concrete. This is more along the lines of letting your imagination take flight in relation to your business.

These are just a few ways to check up on how your business is doing and to focus your attention on the things that need to be accomplished in this new year. Now go out there and get started!

Until next time,
Sarah

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