Email Etiquette

Email has become the go-to form of communication in the business world, but not following some basic email etiquette can be potentially harmful, especially for the freelancer or home-based businessperson.


Here are some tips on business email.

Take time for grammar. Misspellings, missing punctuation and abbreviations or emoticons do not have a place in business email. Exceptions could be made for close clients, but even then, erring on the side of formality is probably better than choosing to be informal.

Keep it short and to the point. No one likes to read rambling emails, which can smack of unprofessionalism. State your purpose for emailing up front.

Make questions precise to avoid emailing again for clarification. You don’t want to start a long back-and-forth exchange if a properly worded question could have resulted in one or two responses.

Read it over before hitting the send button. Make sure you have the right recipient(s) in the To line. Did you cover all the points you needed to? Did you ask for a response within a certain time frame? Taking the time to give your message the once-over can save you lots of embarrassment later on.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Circulation Manager

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


Job Description: A circulation manager handles the subscription and customer service duties of a publication, such as magazine and newspaper.

Education: None required, but a bachelor’s degree will probably be preferred.

Skills: The ability to manage and update databases. Also, some marketing skills will likely be a plus because some circulation managers are tasked with growing the subscriber base.

Job outlook: As more companies seek to outsource data entry-type jobs, circulation management jobs from home will probably become more likely. However, some analysts believe that magazines and other publications will not growing or expanding as in years’ past. But the good news is that webzines and other web publications will have a need for online circulation management as more news sites and others move to fee-based content.

Possible employers: Magazines, publications and newsletters, both print and online, need circulation managers. Associations, churches, and nonprofit organizations would be good places to start because they will probably be interested in off-site, contract workers.

Preparation: Brush up on your subscription marketing skills. Also be sure you’re familiar with the latest in subscriber database software. Knowing how online publications manage content would be a plus.

Get your foot in the door: Make a list of the publications that interest you and send emails or letters asking about work-from-home opportunities in circulation. Also ask about temping for a while if the company wants a trial.

Testimony: “I had always thought that my ideal job would be flexible and allow me to use my English degree as I worked from home on a part-time basis,” says Valerie of her subscription and customer service job for a Protestant denominational magazine.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Phone Etiquette

Talking on the phone might seem very natural, but today’s world of mobile phones and conversations happening all over the place, following some simple phone etiquette rules can help you present a polished and professional manner on the phone.


Here are some tips from “20 Business Telephone Etiquette Tips for Customer Service.” Whether you’re in customer service per se, some of these tips apply to home-based businesses and at-home workers.

Always answer the phone in a pleasant manner. Don’t bark “hello” into the receiver. Don’t answer while chewing anything—gum, food, ice, etc. Do identify yourself and your company. Make sure you have a quiet place to talk in your house, whether it’s your office or bedroom, to mute the sounds of home when you’re talking to a client. I usually head to my bedroom and close the door whenever a source or client calls unexpectedly. When I do scheduled interviews, I make sure the children are otherwise occupied away from the office.

Set up your answering machine or voice mail in a professional way, even if you use your home phone number for business. For example, I use my home phone for my freelance business and my message reflects that: “You’ve reached the Hamakers and the home office of Sarah Hamaker, freelance writer and editor. Please leave a message after the tone and we’ll return your call as soon as possible.”

Return messages promptly. Make it a practice to return calls within 24 hours. There’s nothing more annoying than leaving messages and never receiving a call back.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Website Designer/Developer

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


Job Description: A website designer or developer works with clients to create a website or to redesign an existing website.

Education: None necessary, but a background in graphic design would be a plus.

Skills: The ability to navigate web-based applications (such as html) and web-design software, as well as the creativity to design eye-catching website is a must in this job.

Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics says that demand for website designers will be growing as interactive media increases.

Possible employers: Check your local area for website design companies or consider starting your own business.

Preparation: Refresh your website design skills by taking a class from your local university or through your county’s adult education courses. Make sure your computer equipment is robust enough to handle the design work and upgrade your equipment or software if necessary.

Get your foot in the door: Offer to do the first few website designs at a reduced rate. Don’t forget to advertise on the client site your company as the designer.

Testimony: Tiffany, a website designer from Colorado Springs, Colo., recommends that anyone interested in starting a website design business develop a marketing and publicity plan from the get-go. “Otherwise, you might spend years spreading the word before your business truly takes off,” says Tiffany. “Save up to invest in marketing right off the bat, and have a key core of clients who are willing to promote you and toot your horn for you. The effects are twice as big as you promoting yourself.”

Until next time,

Sarah

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Making Mistakes

The first time you realize you’ve made a mistake in our business or work-from-home job can be traumatizing. Maybe you over-promised on a deadline and now have to inform the client that the project will be late. Maybe it’s a craft that turned out not the way you wanted. Maybe you took on too many clients too quickly and realize that you won’t be sleeping for weeks to get the work done.


Admit your mistake. That might sound simplistic, but just saying the words aloud “I made a mistake” can be freeing. Now you can concentrate on fixing the problem.

Outline the steps needed to remedy the situation. For example, a few times, I’ve had to inform my editors that a story will be late, usually because a source or two did not get back to me in time. I send a short email requesting an extension until a specific date. Then I try my hardest to beat that deadline.

Do not shift the blame. Whether it’s entirely your fault, you should take full responsibility for the mistake. Succinctly tell the client that you’re sorry for the mistake and inform him of the steps taken to fix the problem.

Don’t wallow in the mistake. Once you’ve identified the mistake and moved to repair the problem, don’t spend a lot of time going over and over the mistake. Do figure out how the mistake happened. Were you over-committed? Were you careless or distracted? Take appropriate actions to ensure you will not make that mistake again.

Remember, we’re all human and mistakes happen. But making a mistake doesn’t have to derail our business unless we let it.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Private Tutor

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


Job Description: A private tutor works with children or adults on a one-on-one basis.

Education: A bachelor’s degree in the appropriate subject matter (mathematics, chemistry, English, etc.). Master's degree or Ph.D. can be helpful. A teaching certificate or classes a plus.

Skills: The ability to guide and encourage students on navigating the subject matter.

Job outlook: The teaching profession has its ups and downs, but the job outlook is rosier for private tutors, depending on the availability of potential clients. Many parents want their children to have extra assistance in schoolwork for a variety of reasons, and this area should experience healthy growth during the coming years.

Possible employers: Sylvan Learning Centers is a national company that hires contract tutors. Check for others in your area by Googling “Private Tutor, City/State.” You could start your own business, too, but contacting classmates of your children, volunteering to talk with parent groups or local homeschool groups, etc.

Preparation: Make sure your teaching certification is up-to-date. Refresh your resume by taking a teaching class if it’s been a while since your university or teaching days.

Get your foot in the door: You might start out by offering a steep discount on the first one or two sessions with a new client. Work on building rapport with the student and don’t over-promise your results.

Testimony: “I love working with children and their families in the comfort of their own home where they feel safe and secure,” says Darcy, a tutor from Northern Virginia. For others interested in becoming a tutor, she advises sticking to their area of strength and not to attempt to branch out without proper training. “People appreciate when you tell them what your strengths are,” she explains.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Network Opportunities

Figuring out how to meet potential clients, current customers and new contacts can seem daunting, but knowing how to effectively network can take away some of the fear. My July At Home News e-newsletter gives you steps and suggestions to take your networking to the next level.

Not receiving the free, monthly e-newsletter? Signing up is easy. Just click on the newsletter tab and type in your email address in the box provided.

Until next time,

Sarah

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