Keep your conversations professional and maintain a positive image. If you want people to walk away with a good impression, then don’t blow it by bringing up the “freaky five.”
1. We were hoping you could replace the person we just fired.
Yikes! Although you may have been perfectly justified in getting rid of said person, the job prospect doesn’t know that. All he hears is “fired” and thinks, Uh-oh… what kind of a jerk am I dealing with here?
2. Sorry I’m late - I got laid on my lunch break.
The details of your sex life is nobody’s business, unless of course you’re a phone sex operator. In that case, it’s probably a good idea to elaborate. Even if you feel like high-fiving people on the street because you finally broke your six-month dry spell, your future boss, coworker or client does not need to hear the news.
3. I’m totally broke.
Another huge faux-pax… giving the old “I’m dead broke” sob story to a future business prospect. You may as well be wearing a big sign that says “Hi, I’m a huge loser.” Think about it: what kind of people are broke? Ones that have no business coming in. Who doesn’t get any business? People who suck!
4. Yeahh, we’re pretty disorganized here…
Even if the person you’re dealing with is applying for the job of problem-fixer-upper, they don’t need to be hit with the shock of knowing your business is an utter calamity. Keep quiet at least until the contract is signed… then, deliver the news just as they’re sitting down in their new cubicle with that first cup of coffee!
5. Ohh, GOD! The lab test results came back POSITIVE…
The professional world is no place to air your personal issues. Even if you’re near to a nervous breakdown from the waiting, do not divulge your private oogies to a mere stranger who you want to feel good about doing business with you. For all you know, your lab test results got mixed up with somebody else’s. When you find out that you’re going to live after all… well, you’re gonna need some money coming in to pay those doctor bills!
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.
Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.
It is one of the biggest employers in the world. It eats up a large chunk of our money. It is the retail industry.
Retailing is a massive, passive beast that pervades just about all our lives. Virtually all of us shop, sometimes as a pleasure and sometimes as a burdenous chore.
But when and how did it all begin? The answer is probably to do with surpluses. As we got better at cultivating the land, some people found that even after feeding their families and animals and putting food into storage, there was some left over. Rather than waste this surplus, it was traded for other surpluses or perhaps tools or other objects.
Those that had enough land and were particularly good at producing food from it would have realized that they were on to a good thing by deliberately producing surpluses. Eventually the informal trade in goods would have become more organized, with central markets being formed where these producers could get together on a regular basis in order to exchange goods.
Of course, trading goods for other goods is all very well until you have just about every thing you are likely to ever need, or the product you want has yet to be produced. In order to get around this, people started to owe goods to other people. Early forms of credit may have just been verbal agreements. As time passed, some traders and producers decided to keep a record of what was owed. One way this was done was by the debtor leaving some collateral with the creditor - some object or an animal that was held by the creditor until the debt was paid. This was OK until the debtor needed the tool or animal in order to produce the very goods that were owed. An alternative way of denoting credit was to use a symbolic object, such as small animal. Since small animals are not very portable, it became more normal to use small inanimate objects such as pebbles. Over time these small object became more decorated and valued and eventually metal coins and paper notes became more and more familiar. So early trading gave rise to money.
As time passed, some producers would have found they were better at selling the goods than growing them (or perhaps enjoyed it more!). Others preferred to stick to growing. So there was a gradual separation of the producers and the traders.
And it was not just food that was sold. Tools, trinkets, jewelry, cups, plates and many other objects would have been traded as well.
The informal markets would, over time, become more formal and more permanent. So shops began. Other traders would prefer to travel around selling their goods. These became known as peddlers. Selling from a regular market, from a permanent shop or peddling goods are known collectively as retailing.
Learn all about retail history
If you write copy you need a swipe file. A good swipe file can save you lot’s of work and enable you to crank out more articles more often
Every good copywriter has a swipe file. A Swipe file contains Headlines, Articles and Article paragraphs you have previously written. Your Typical article will consist of the Following 3 Parts
- Introduction
- Body
- Wrap up
By mixing and matching the above elements from your article swipe file (and writing some new text) you can often turn 10 Articles into 20 or 30 articles. As an example You have written an Article on 10 Steps to starting an Online Business. Can some of these steps be used to starting an MLM Online Business.
Let’s say only 7 of these Steps would apply to an Online MLM Business you now have the Body of an Article called 7 Steps to Starting and Running an Online MLM Business.
The First thing you do is cut and paste the 7 Steps you are going to use. Next rewrite these steps just a little so they more closely apply to an Online MLM Business.
Next Look over the Introduction for the source article. Can you rewrite this introduction to apply to your new Article? Would it be better to just write a new introduction?
Now look at the wrap-up. Can you rewrite the wrap-up to apply to your new Article? Would it be better to just write a new wrap-up?
In some cases you may only use the Title or part of the title from your swipe file. In other cases you may mix and match the Introduction, Body and Wrap-up from 2 or more articles to create a new article. In all cases make sure your new article does have some new material.
About The Author:
Mike Makler has been Marketing Online Since 2001 When he Built
an Organization of over 100,000 Members
Get Mike’s Newsletter:
http://ewguru.com/newsletter
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Permission Based E_Mail Marketing Methods
http://ewguru.com/hbiz/amazingoffer.html
Copyright © 2005-2006 Mike Makler the Coolest Guy in the Universe
I sincerely believe that there has never been a better time in
history for we (or is it us?) writers to making a comfortable
living on the internet.
The World Wide Web offers you an opportunity, unique in history,
to speak directly to millions of potential customers. Some
commentators advise that if you want to be listened to, speak to
them “in their language”. I only partially agree (but then, I’m
always breaking the rules!)…
When I write articles for “the international market” of the net,
I don’t target particular countries and try to adapt my writing
style. I’ve found that people around the world don’t seem to
mind the fact that I may use “funny” words or spelling - small
details, like “s’s” instead of “z’s”, color or colour…as long
as the grammar is reasonably correct. I just try to write in my
“natural style” - one in which I feel comfortable (seeing I was
brought upin South Africa with British English) and suggest you
“foreign” writers do the same.
Incidentally, I put this short note at the end of some of my
articles…
“PS: Dear Americans, please excuse my”strange” British English
spelling. Very Colonial! I just write and use my own style and
spelling - one that I’m accustomed to (sounds funny that ending
]sentence n a “preppie”). I am quite happy for these articles to
be used and distributed by other electronic and other magazines.
If they help others out there in any way, then I’m happy.”
To sum up… My advice is just find your “natural style” by
writing as you speak- as practice writing in your “natural
style” breeds confidence. Then submit your articles to ezines
and announcement lists, like Article Announce, Free Content, The
Write Articles, ArticleXpress (Making Profit.com), Publisher
Network and Article Publish. I find this marketing method by far
the most effective means of getting traffic to our various sites
(and one thing then leads to another)…and best of all it costs
nothing, but a little time and effort!
Lately, all our marketing has been done through writing articles
(on internet marketing, writing, money and self help) and
submitting them to the article announcement lists mentioned
before. Often from there they get picked up by ezines with large
readerships - from 10000 …to even ones with hundreds of
thousands of subscribers. True! These big ezine publishers are
continually looking for new and quality content, particularly
ORIGINAL material that can help others “out there in cyberspace”.
My advice is… Write about what you KNOW - your areas of
knowledge and expertise, based on your experiences. We find this
strategy of SHARING relevant and practical information most
effective of all in drawing traffic to our various web sites…
and best of all, it helps others “out there in the vast
void/realm of cyberspace”. That is why I write my articles.
Here is my “dime’s worth” (see learning “American English” , or
at least your expressions already) on the subject of writing for
an international audience on the world wide web. The Web offers
you an opportunity, unique in history, to speak directly to
millions of potential customers. Some commentators advise that
if you want to be listened to, speak to them “in their
language”.I only partially agree (but then, I’m always breaking
the rules - story of my life!).
Here are some other points in writing articles for the www:
Firstly,
Identify your target audience.
Keep your title reasonably short.
Keep your paragraphs short.
Get to the point quickly (enough waffle with maple syrup,
Craig!).
Target your article to your audience with “focussed information”.
Never use a big word, when a dimunitive will do.
Use the occasional exclamation mark (!) to get your readers
attention!
Make sure your article flows properly. Re-read and re-read to
get it flowing as best you can - with correct spelling, grammar
and punctuation.
Try to be concise.
Be credible (big word, eh?) at all times. I try to write my
articles in a “conversational style”.
Put some thought and effort into your heading (title) - again to
get your reader’s immediate attention.
Use bullets in your lay-out - easy to read in point form…but
be extremely security conscious, when “checking in” your
articles. Bang bang! (oops, er sorry - bad taste). Conclude with
a strong message. A message that summarises your article or gets
your reader to take further action
Offer a free report with your article - you can collect a list
of adresses for marketing your products.
Finally, make sure your layout is good (not one of my strong
points!), as this greatly enhances your prospects of getting
published Some prominent article writers say one should write
differently to one’s natural style , when writing for the web .
I say , DON’T . Just write what comes naturally…and BE
YOURSELF. Though you may have to be briefer than usual, if you
are a “waffler”, like this writer. People want immediate
information online and have limited time usually - it’s the
instant coffee, sorry generation.
The internet is such an amazing medium for communication. I’ve
just submitted this article and it’s been published almost
instaneously (big word!) in a few places. So YOU TOO can write
articles on your chosen subject in your internet marketing
efforts.
MORE TRAFFIC = INCREASED SALES
Writers and internet marketers - Grab this moment in history
well.
“Carpe diem” (seize the moment!).
Happy writing and…
Just GO FOR IT
Craig Lock
P.S:
On re-reading this short piece, found I used a lot of “eyes”.
Very “ego-centric” (big word). Sorry, but didn’t know how to
write it any other way based on my experiences!
Hope this may help you readers “out there in cyberspace”.
Over the past week, I had the great pleasure of speaking with
three amazing individuals who recently joined my newsletter.
It was wonderful to learn about their past accomplishments and
future goals for their home-based businesses.
Although all three were experienced and successful in previous
business pursuits, the challenges of overwhelm, lack of focus,
and even a pinch of self-doubt were creating a block for each of
them.
Regardless of whether you’re a new home-based business owner, or
a seasoned entrepreneur, taking on new challenges can sometimes
be daunting, to the point of almost paralyzing.
The important thing to remember is it’s all a matter of
perspective and choice.
If you are experiencing a self-limiting belief that is blocking
your progress, consider the following …
- What past accomplishments are you enormously proud of? (Don’t
be humble here!) - What strengths, skills and abilities
contributed to these successes? - Is there any reason why you
would no longer possess these same qualities?
I’m willing to bet dollars to donuts you not only possess those
same qualities, but are also wiser and much more experienced
than when you first set out to accomplish those goals.
If you are lacking a skill required to achieve your goal, is
there any reason why you can’t develop it? If you don’t have the
time or inclination, can you find someone who does and have him
or her assist?
If overwhelm is creating lack of focus, confusion and a sense of
spinning your wheels, consider the following …
- What can you say “no” to starting today? Do you have to
respond to every e-mail the second it arrives or answer the
phone every time it rings? Can you create a pocket of time where
the phone, e-mail and interruptions are not permitted?
- What can you delegate, starting today? Instead of folding
brochures and stuffing envelopes or opening your own mail, can
you enlist the aid of one of your children or an assistant? Can
you create more time for yourself to work on building and
growing your business instead of being detracted by daily
repetitive tasks?
- What can you say “yes” to starting today? Has someone offered
to help, but you choose to do it all by yourself? Can you
relinquish control and accept the help of others? Hang up your
superhero cape and take the heat off yourself. Others may amaze
you with what they can do!
- Breaking your goals down into bite size pieces. What do you
want to accomplish in the next three months? You don’t have to
carry your five-year plan in your mind every single day. By all
means, know where you’re going, but focus on the immediate task
at hand and deal with it only. Creating home-based business
success is a marathon, not a sprint.
- If you don’t have all of the answers, who might be able to
provide them to you? Doing it all alone is tiring, frustrating
and makes for really slow progress. If you can avoid making
mistakes by learning from someone else who has already made
them, what kind of time will you save?
All of the benefits and freedom of being a successful home-based
business owner are available to you. All that is required on
your part is a strong belief in yourself and a knowing that your
success will ultimately be determined by your perceptions, your
choices and your actions.
You can make it happen.
You sit at your desk every day with your cup of coffee in your hand. Frazzled from your commute, you listen to your boss drone on about the things that need to be done to make him money. Meanwhile you daydream of getting away from the corporate picture and having your own home based business. Well, why wait? There are a number of home based businesses just waiting for you to find them, one of which is a network marketing program.
What are the things stopping you from starting your home based business? Start-up money? Many network marketing programs have very low start up fees. Plus, with network marketing, your start up fees are quickly recovered by the money there is to be made with these network marketing programs. There are a number of home based businesses out there, like network marketing, that have little to no cost to being.
Another fear that keeps people from starting a network marketing business is that they feel they do not know enough about business to successfully run their own. Actually, many successful network marketing home based business opportunities offer you training and support to get you started and keep you going. For example, the 1StepSystem offered through Home Based Business World allows you to get the selling and marketing support through the program to maximize your success.
After all, you need the support to make money, and making money in your slippers is what you may be dreaming about from your home based business. A network marketing program will often allow you to do all of your business via phone and the internet. Sometimes, in the case of the 1StepSystem, you allow the program to do the marketing and selling for you.
Still, you want to make sure you can make enough money in your network marketing home based business. With network marketing programs like the 1Step System, you are able to start making money right away and maintain that income throughout the program. This is important, as you will probably find that you like the freedom a home based business will give you and never want to return to working for someone else again.
The best part of having a home based business like the 1StepSystem is that you get to add the freedom back into your life. With a home based business you set your schedule. You will be able to take time out during your day to run an errand or go to your child’s activity. While running a home based business does take some discipline to make sure you are getting your work done, it allows you to dictate when you get your work done. You will need to make sure you use time management well to keep yourself from becoming a workaholic. After all, you will love making money at what you do, and for some people their lives then become their work.
Read the rest of the article here: Home Based Business Success.
Download the Home Based Business Manual (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer’s. He specializes in showing people the fastest way to Starting a business.
In a recent consultation a client, who is a business owner, asked questions about writing compelling letters and adverts.
Here are some of the questions he asked about headlines for Sales Letters and the answers I gave…
Question:You advise people to spend the majority of their time creating headlines - in fact you recommend writing 100 before choosing the ones to test.
What are the crucial points to take into account when formulating a headline and why are these key to gaining the highest response from your letter or advert?
Answer:
There are 7 crucial points you should bear in mind when developing your headlines:
1 - Be results focussed. Clearly indicate the benefits the reader can expect to get by taking up this offer. For example increased sales; weight loss; feeling fitter; reduced productivity costs etc.
2 - Be specific, quote actual figures if appropriate, e.g. “How to Increase Your Productivity by 23% within 28 Days“
3 - Use 1 or more proven response words or phrases. Certain words attract people; such as Announcing; Revolutionary; Unique; Valuable; At Last; First Time Ever; Phenomenal, amongst others. Creating headlines using 1 or more of these words makes them compelling and eye-catching.
4 - Don’t restrict the length of your headline. It should be as long as it needs to be to get your important sales message across, even if that is 3 or 4 lines. Fi the headline seems excessively long, see if it can be sensibly split into two, with the first leading onto the second.
5 - Avoid asking questions that can be answered “No!” or elicit a glib comment without drawing your reader into the letter.
Let me give you an example:
My Father received a letter from the local water company with the headline “What would you do if you had a burst pipe?” This headline had obviously been thought about before being sent out and was probably considered to be a good one. My Father said “Fix it!” and he threw the letter away. Perhaps a better headline may have been “Here’s What To Do if Your Water Pipe Bursts.”
However, there are certain types of questions that can be powerful in a headline:
“Who Else Would Like to…” implies someone else has benefited and perhaps the reader could too.
6 - Avoid trying to be clever, cute or obscure - if people have to think about what you mean, you’ve lost them. Don’t use clichés - people often ignore these type of headlines.
7 - Your headline must be relevant to the people you are writing to. And to what is being offered - an inappropriate or curiosity headline that doesn’t relate to the rest of the letter or advert makes your reader feel cheated and they won’t trust the rest of your message - even if they bother to read it!
Question:How do you get started on writing 100 headlines - it seems an insurmountable task?
For people who are new to writing sales letters and adverts it can seem a bit daunting. And as with any big task it is easier when it is broken down. When I’m running my copywriting workshops I get students to take the response words I mentioned in point 3 of the previous question, and another 72 I give them, and write a headline for each response word.
It doesn’t matter how crazy each headline seems at this stage, the process gets your brain working and the headlines you do write act as a catalyst to bring out the real winning headlines for you.
After you’ve done this exercise for a few letters you’ll find that you start to write headlines without having to use this technique.
Question:Where else do these techniques apply?
1 - Use headlines you’ve created, but not used as your main headline, within your sub-headlines - they catch the reader’s eye - especially if he or she is skimming your letter - it can pull them back into reading it. As a minimum they should deliver the main points of your message… a bit like a telegram.
2 - Creating 100 headlines often throws up a good P.S. The P.S. is usually the third thing that people read in a letter. First the reader checks the letter is addressed correctly; name; spelling etc. Then he or she looks at the end of the letter to find out who sent it - and that’s when your P.S. is seen.
The intention is to encourage your prospect to actually read the letter as well as remind them of the main benefit of responding. Encapsulate your offer, the real benefit the reader gains by responding and any bonuses they will receive in your P.S.
©2005 Original Work by Carol Bentley
Do you have a Question you want answered? Visit http://www.CarolBentley.com and Click on Got a Question?. I’ll send you an answer and might include your Q&A in a future article.
Carol Bentley; author of ‘I Want to Buy Your Product… Have You Sent Me a Letter Yet? (How to create powerful sales letters, advertisements, flyers, brochures, web pages and newsletters that persuade hundreds, or even thousands, of additional customers and clients to buy from you!)***** Rated 5-star on Amazon.co.uk by 7 reviewers.
If you want help with a current copywriting project contact Carol through the contact form on her website: http://www.CarolBentley.com/contact.asp
Over the years, I’ve had several copywriters ask me how
important it is to have an “agency quality” website. My answer
is always the same: it’s very important if you are prospecting
other than locally.
When you prospect locally, the client can meet you personally.
But when you prospect nationally, your website, “telephone”
personality, and marketing materials form the basis of your
prospective client’s impression of you.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to find a designer/webmaster who
can help you build a high quality site at a reasonable cost. And
some of my students do a very nice job of creating a quality
site themselves.
Because I’ve found national prospecting to be far more
profitable than working with local business, I encourage my
coaching students to prospect nationally (and sometimes
internationally), and create a website that supports a
sophisticated positioning.
What, exactly, constitutes an “agency quality” website?
Here are five pointers for creating a website that convinces
quality clients that you are the right copywriter for them (plus
two common mistakes to avoid):
1. Make sure your website has a “you” orientation. The Home page
should not talk about “you” except in the context of what you
can offer a client.
2. Have a “unique selling proposition” (USP), or positioning
statement. Why are you “the best” choice? Do you serve a
particular niche? Are you an expert at some important element of
copywriting (e.g., offer development, headlines, concepting,
etc.)? Make sure your USP “shines through” on your Home page.
3. View your entire site as a lead-generating tool. If you write
a direct response package, you first try to get your prospect
into the envelope. Once inside, you attempt to lead your
prospect through the package, with the end destination the reply
card or order device.
Use the same principle in designing your website and its
navigation. Always send your prospect to the “contact me” page,
or the page where you offer more information. As with any
lead-generation effort, your only goal is to get your website
visitor to respond.
4. Create an offer, and offer it on your website. Unlike general
advertising, direct marketing is defined by the offer. If you
don’t have an offer, you’re not employing the most fundamental
rule of marketing, and it will cost you responses.
5. Pay attention to look and feel. Copywriters have the right
and responsibility to make sure the end product produces leads
or sales.
This means that the copywriter should offer the art director
some level of direction on look and feel (without overstepping
bounds, of course).
A clean, well-organized website that exhibits a “professional
finish” will offer a sophisticated client some level of
assurance that contacting you will not be a waste of their time.
What NOT to do on your website:
First and foremost, don’t “preach to the choir.” Because the
world of copywriting is new to new copywriters, they have a
tendency to “tell what they know” on their website.
But a quality client (usually mid-size to large companies and
organizations), doesn’t want to know why copywriting will help
him. He already knows that, even if he doesn’t know how to write
copy himself.
What he’s looking for is validation that you could be the right
copywriter for him.
Websites that attempt to “teach” generally attract clients who
need teaching (oftentimes small business with a low appreciation
of what good copywriting can do for them, and an even lower
threshold for paying reasonable fees).
The second mistake I see is mentioning price on the Home page
(or anywhere in the site, for that matter).
Quality clients do not put price first, and any discussion of
price usually comes after the copywriter has a complete picture
of the marketing problem that needs to be solved.
Not long ago, one of my coaching students complained that his
prospects seemed fixated on price. After going to his website I
noticed that his Home page positioned him as more attractively
priced than other copywriters.
This positioning inadvertently created a USP based on “low
price” — something we copywriters should always avoid.
Bringing up the subject of price on your website will actually
cause your prospect to put it front and center. Best to let
pricing discussions occur “naturally” in the process of landing
a job.
by Karon Thackston © 2006 http://www.copywritingcourse.com
The FAQ page… a standard addition to almost any site. It
usually lists questions customers ask on a regular basis, and
the answers to those questions. But what befuddles me is that
hardly any sites I’ve visited use this page as a sales tool.
Did you think of that? If not, you’re losing out on the use of
some valuable real estate! FAQ pages are generally
well-trafficked areas of your site. With just a few adjustments,
your FAQ page could become one of your leading sources for sales
conversions.
Let me give you a before and after version of one site I
visited. I’ve changed some of the information so as not to
promote (or embarrass) the site owner.
BEFORE
What is the source of the minerals used in your supplements?
We use all-natural minerals from sources such as limestone and
dolomite. Nothing artificial.
[back to top]
What is the source of Vitamin C?
Ascorbic acid, which was originally gained by isolation from
fruits and plants, is produced today by an industrial process.
The basis for the industrial ascorbic acid synthesis is
D-Glucose (grape sugar or corn sugar), one of the most common
organic compounds in nature.
[back to top]
Informative? Yes. Does it answer the question? Yes. Does it
contribute to making the sale? Not really.
Now, let’s change these two answers just a bit, add a link or
two, and see how much more powerful they can become.
AFTER
What is the source of the minerals used in your supplements?
We use all-natural minerals from sources such as limestone and
dolomite. These 100% natural minerals are then carefully
processed under low heat to remove impurities and preserve
quality. Many minerals are processed under high heat, which
literally kills the beneficial elements of the mineral. Because
of our devotion to producing quality vitamins and minerals, we
take additional precautions that other manufacturers skip. To
ensure you receive the most potent supplements possible, choose
XYZ Vitamins.
[shop for minerals] [back to top]
What is the source of Vitamin C?
Ascorbic acid, which was originally gained by isolation from
fruits and plants, is produced today by an industrial process.
The basis for the industrial ascorbic acid synthesis is
D-Glucose (grape sugar or corn sugar), one of the most common
organic compounds in nature.
XYZ Vitamins uses only organically-grown grapes and corn, and we
extract our own D-Glucose to ensure the process remains 100%
natural. No other manufacturer in the world has developed its
own facility specifically to produce the highest quality of
Vitamin C. We go the extra mile to ensure the vitamins and
minerals you buy from XYZ Vitamins are the most beneficial for
you and your family.
[shop for vitamins] [back to top]
See the difference? The “before” versions JUST answer the
questions. The “after” versions boost consumer confidence,
promote unique qualities of the products, and offer
easy-to-follow links to buy the products in question.
By using some imagination and salesmanship, you can turn your
FAQ page into a highly productive tool that not only gives
visitors the information they need, but also encourages more
sales!
1. Clearly separate your work area from your bedroom.
It will be ideal if you have an extra room in your house or den to turn into a study. However, having this luxury may not always be the case. You may find that you’re short on space. You become tempted to use your dressing table or even your bed to put your laptop on. Avoid this temptation or you’ll find yourself lounging in bed instead! Also, if you’re going to be spending hours working, it’s just not healthy to be cooped up in your bedroom all day long.
2. Find a location where you can shut out all outside distractions, when necessary.
Don’t expect to work effectively with children near your work area, especially if they’re young and keep interrupting your ability to work. You will need some childcare help if this is the case. Also, it’s best not to allow your children to play in your office so that they will not use it as a playroom when you’re not there.
3. Have a work or time schedule.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of not having a time schedule and working all morning, day and night. By doing so, you run the risk of putting a strain on your relationships. Make it a point to take plenty of breaks. Set aside time for your family and friends. And have your meals with them.
4. Don’t let housework distract you from getting your work done.
On the other hand, you may find yourself distracted by the endless household chores that you need to get done. Work out a plan with your partner or spouse. Engaging a housekeeper to help out is another possibility.
5. Don’t munch on junk food as you work.
This is a sure way to put on weight. If you must, stock your
refrigerator with healthy snacks like fruits, salads and low fat yoghurts. In addition, avoid having the snacks at your desk. Take a break.
6. Treat your home business like a real business.
“If you’re at home, you must not be working.” That’s what your
friends and relatives think. So they will end up stopping by,
sipping tea and talking all afternoon. How do you deal with this misconception?
Have separate phone lines for your business and home, for example. Answer only your business line during your regular business hours. Let your non-business callers know that you’re busy and that you will call them later. The more that you treat your home based business like a real one, the more respect everyone else will for your home based business.
7. Do some offline marketing as well.
Other than promoting your business online, you can also undertake some offline promotion. Here are some examples of what you can do: distribute business cards, advertise on magazines, tell your friends about what you are doing, submit articles about your business to the newspapers.
8. Allocate time to organize your work area every week.
It’s easy to mix up the pile of paper that is meant for your business and those that are meant for your home. Set up proper files and storage area for your business. Mark the files clearly. And set aside time for arranging and sorting out your paperwork at least once a week.
9. Minimise your taxes
One of the greatest benefits of having and registering your own
business is that you are legally entitled to deduct many business expenses from your earned income, thus reducing your income taxes. So keep proper records for all your business expenses. However, bear in mind, what you incur on your personal and family expenses, cannot be written off. It is best to check out your local tax laws as to what is allowable business expenses and what is not.
10. Manage your cashflows.
It is always prudent to work out an expense budget and determine the investment amount of your business. Expenses can overrun quite easily. Afterall, doesn’t the latest upgrade in computer software or office equipment sound tempting? Decide carefully where to spend your hard earned money when you have to. Finally, do your best to hold the line on expenses that will drain your financial reserves and those that generate little or no revenue.
Evelyn Lim is an Online Business Entrepreneur. She publishes a free newsletter “Mapping You to Success” for aspiring e-biz owners. The aim of her publication is to equip readers with
skills to acquire multiple sources of online income. To subscribe, please visit http://www.e-BizMap.com
