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Using WordPress For Your Business Website

December 7, 2011 By

So you’re interested in using WordPress as your business site – smart move!

But before you dive right in to planning and designing it, you’ve decided to do a little research.

WordPress is most commonly known as a blogging platform but it’s grown in popularity as a website platform for both large and small businesses.

Why Use WordPress For Business Websites?

Easy to Install – With a good hosting program you can simply install WordPress with a few clicks.

Easy to Update – One of the features of WordPress is the easy to use visual editor. It’s called a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. You could compare this type of editor to using Microsoft Word to edit your website as it’s very easy to use and many people catch on to using it quickly.

Plenty of Add-Ons (Plug-ins) – With WordPress you can get add-ons (plug-ins) that increase the functions and change the look of your website. Compared to having customized features added to a site designed specifically for you, the cost will be highly reduced.

Customizable Look – There are many ways to customize a WordPress website so that it matches your business and branding. You can add your own logo or header, change the background, add your own colors, add links and more.

Built in Blog – What many people who are not familiar with WordPress are unaware of is that you can use the program to create both a website and a blog all in the same spot. This is so much more convenient than having them separate.

Search Engine Friendly – Another great feature of the program is that it helps you optimize your pages and posts.

Building a Community – If you choose to also have a blog on your website you can work on building a community around your website. Writing blog posts that build relationships with your target market is an effective way to build trust and earn more sales in the long run.

Easy To Change – As businesses grow and change so do their website needs. It’s silly to assume that the first website or design you start with will be your last. Most businesses go through a large number of changes. WordPress makes it easy to change your look with themes. A theme is added over the top of your content and when you decide to replace a current theme, it doesn’t affect your existing posts and pages.

I hope these points will help you decide if using WordPress as a business website is the right choice for you.

If you have made your decision, I’d like to invite you to join me as I teach you through my online video, webinar and email coaching program how to Marketers Toolkits – WordPress Services” title=”Using WordPress For Your Business Website”> design your own business website with WordPress.

Thanks to Angela Wills the author of this article for being a guest on my blog!

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5 Powerful Mind Success Strategies

July 18, 2011 By

Building a business is a fantastic and challenging experience. You can wake up exhilarated to begin your day and go to bed feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. The key to success is to maintain a positive, yes you can do it, mindset.

Easier said than done, right? Here are 5 keys to help you create and sustain a positive mindset so you attain the success you desire.

1. Surround yourself with successful and positive people. The influence people have over our own personal energy is amazing. Moods and attitudes are so easily spread – think about how much of a difference a simple smile from a stranger can make for your day and then magnify it 1000 times to demonstrate the power of positive and successful friends, family and associates. When you have people around you who inspire you, believe in you and want you to succeed, there’s no room for doubts and even when they creep up, they’re quickly swept away.

2. Create a mantra or an affirmation. Repeating positive affirmations has been shown to get people through tough times and to actually help them truly believe what they’re saying.

For example, “I am building a powerful and profitable business.” Many of the most esteemed business professionals have used the same affirmation strategy to attain their success. To find the right affirmations for you, consider writing a quick list of your doubts, insecurities and complaints. These can then be quickly turned into affirmations.

For example, if you write that you’re always feeling disorganized then your affirmation would be, “I am organized and in control.” Repeat your affirmations several times a day and feel the power of positive thinking.

3. Capture negative thoughts. We all have negative thoughts from time to time, however, negative thoughts and emotions can derail us and prevent us from achieving all we desire. Of course catching those negative thoughts takes practice and persistence. When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or having negative emotions, find a trigger to turn them around. The affirmations mentioned above are a great way to turn the negative into the positive. You can also find quick pick me ups like a favorite song which I do almost daily, a walk outside in the fresh air, or try doing some exercising to help improve your mood.

4. Set goals/intentions and then be willing to let it go. The law of attraction says that we attract what we focus on the most. However, desperation, needing your business to be a success, sends mixed messages and a lot of negativity into the universe. Set your goals and intentions and then let them go. A certain amount of faith in yourself and in the power of attraction is necessary. Give it a try.

5. Be grateful. Gratitude is perhaps the single most powerful and positive tool for success. When you’re grateful for all of the wonderful things and people in your life the challenges you have ahead of you seem significantly less important and are more easily dealt with. And it also helps to have wonderful clients like mine to work with! I just love what I do!

Consider keeping a gratitude journal and make a practice of entering into it daily. That way, when you’re facing challenges a quick peek at all the amazing things in your life will make you feel as if you can tackle anything. Additionally, an attitude of gratitude helps you maintain a positive perspective and to tackle challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.

Success is within your reach and with the right attitude you can accomplish anything you set your sights on. Embrace these five powerful mind success strategies and you’ll build a better business and live a happier, more satisfying life.

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VAs: Stop Trying to Do it All YOURself

June 6, 2011 By

Virtual assisting is an industry that has partially grown out of the need for getting important jobs done but with less overhead. To that end, virtual assistants take on a number of roles for the online business owner as well as large corporate companies. But, as you strive to achieve business success, beware of burnout.

 

A virtual assistant has to wear many hats. He or she is not a secretary but a fellow business professional that has developed a skill set that is in demand by other business professionals. You may start off with a few services that you offer: database creation, newsletters, word processing, creating reports. But, depending on your background you will add other services to stay competitive and also to utilize what you know: website design, Internet research, article writing and submission, event planning and etc.

While you are building a client base, you are going to be quite busy. As most virtual assistants work out of their home, that means many hours spent in your home office getting the job done. You make your money based on the number of hours you bill and the quality of your work. Burnout can severely impact that quality. No one wants that.

So, if you have to start turning down work because there are not enough hours in the day, it’s time to take a different tack. And look into hiring your own Virtual Assistant!

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Communicating with your Subcontractor

March 2, 2011 By

Communication is the foundation on which any business relationship is built. This is especially true with your subcontractors. Fail to communicate effectively with them and you risk the success of your project, your business and your ability to work with that subcontractor.

More than Just Giving Instructions

Working with subcontractors requires that, not only can you give instructions, but you must also be able to give and take feedback and constructive criticism. It’s the give and take across the spectrum of communication that makes for a successful working relationship.

And that’s not all. As the project manager, you’ll need to be able to communicate with your client as well. You’re the middle man and if you can’t communicate back and forth, then the project is likely to fail.

For example, when you subcontract out a web design project, you will need to make sure you understand your client’s goals and you want to make sure you can communicate this to your subcontractor. In essence, you’ll need to be able to speak your client’s “language” and your subcontractor’s as well.

There are several ways that you can improve your ability to communicate with your subcontractors and your clients.

Clear and Organized

The first thing you want to do is make sure that all communication is clear and organized. While verbal communication may seem easier, written communication is more professional and more easily tracked, especially if you and your subcontractor never meet. Ways to communicate in writing include:

1. Email. While email is the most familiar form of conversing in writing, it’s also one of the most unreliable. If you haven’t already, you’ll realize this the first time a subcontractor fails to complete a project, and states that she couldn’t because you didn’t answer her questions in the email she sent three days ago – but you never received.

2. Project Management Software. One of the best solutions out there is a project management software called Central Desktop, Basecamp, or Dropbox to name a few. This software allows you to brainstorm ideas using an online whiteboard and also allows you to communicate via messages with your subcontractors and your clients. Each party in a particular conversation receive email notifications of updates. Even better, you can login at any time to see if there are updates. And everything is kept on the website for you to access anytime, anywhere.

Once you have a system setup for maintaining communication, you’ll need to develop a communication policy for your company.

Staying Professional

When we work closely with people, it’s easy to get frustrated and sometimes even angry. We’re all human and sometimes we don’t think. One way to help you remember what to do in these situations is to have a communications policy. The policy needs to outline appropriate methods of dealing with various situations in which you might be overly emotional.

For example:

• How do you handle a subcontractor disappearing for a few days, right in the middle of a time-sensitive project?

• How do you handle a subcontractor who completely misunderstands the instructions that you gave her, even though they are clearly written in your project management system and she read them and said she understood them?

• How do you handle a subcontractor who wants to talk on the phone, and is very chatty about non-business related topics?

These policies can also apply to how you treat your clients and how you allow your clients and subcontractors to treat you.

Follow Through

Making sure you follow up on your communications is just as important as a batter following through on a swing. If the batter stopped her bat as soon as she hit the ball, the ball would barely pass the batter’s box. (It’s called a bunt!) Likewise, if you don’t follow up on your communications, you often won’t get much effort from your team.

So, give your team instructions and then request feedback. And when your team has followed through on your instructions, give them feedback. If necessary, throw in some constructive criticism. And then follow the process in reverse with your client. Follow through will make or break or relationships and ultimately your business.

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Benefits for Subcontractor and Service Provider

September 11, 2010 By

The relationship between you, as a service provider, and your subcontractors is beneficial on both sides. The fact that you’re making your clients happy and your subcontractors are getting work is just the tip of the iceberg.

Growing Your Business with a Team

One of the most important lessons you learn as a home business owner is that you can’t grow your business alone. If you’re working alone and you can’t outsource projects to others, than all you have is a job. If you get sick, have an accident or just want to go to Disney World, you’re stuck, because you’re the only one who can run your business.

Additionally, if you’re the only one doing the client work in your business, you’re not going to have enough time to do the marketing necessary to bring in more clients. You need more clients to replace those that move on and to continue to grow.

When you hire a subcontractor, you can hand off portions of your projects, or even the whole project and take a management role, freeing up your time to grow your business, while still maintaining quality and timeliness.

Your Management Role

If you are a virtual assistant, you’re role is to serve as a manager for your clients projects. You most likely have a lot of experience with your target market and with individual clients. So you know what is expected in terms of work quality and deadlines.

Your subcontractor is most likely new to the VA business. She may have many years experience in providing administrative assistance or in other positions similar to what she is doing for your team, but needs experience as a business owner and time to grow her own portfolio.

Here’s another example. Let’s say you’re an affiliate manager. Your role is to make sure your affiliates have the materials and answers they need, and to find out what those are. Your subcontractors will work with you to produce the materials or give those answers.

So not only are you growing your business, you’re helping your subcontractor grow hers. Total win-win-win for everyone involved.

Increasing Profits and Capacity

As you become more comfortable working with subcontractors, you’ll be able to add more people to your team. For example, if you’re a VA who provides web content to your clients, you might subcontract to a VA who specializes in audio and video. The content you write is turned into a podcast and a video cast, which then helps grow your client’s business. You might even subcontract a VA with web design experience to provide another dimension to the services you offer your clients.

The more you help your clients, the more services they will hire you for and the more income you’ll be able to bring in.

Not to mention, you won’t be tied down by the number of hours you can work in a week. You may be able to only work 20 hours a week, but if you hire three subcontractors and each of them works 10 hours a week for you, you’ll be able to complete 50 hours of work per week.

When you bill your client, you’ll charge for the time your subcontractor spent working and for the time you spent managing the project. Or perhaps you’ll setup a per-project fee that will take into account the amount of money your subcontractor charges for her services and the amount that you charge for your project management services.

Because more than one person is working on the project and each person is focusing on what she is good at, the project quality is better and the deadlines are easier to meet.

As your business grows, you can serve clients that you would have had to turn away if you were working by yourself. Your subcontractors will have more opportunities to grow their businesses under your tutelage.

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Five Easy Toning Exercises VA’s can Do Anywhere

August 27, 2010 By

Exercise is an important part of our lives.  Staying in shape is one way to increase your life expectancy.  Weight bearing exercises are important also for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising.  The problem is where and when to get the job done.  With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders.  As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass.  For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem.  When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones.  Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time.  At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

1. The Bridge Butt Lift – Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks.  Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart.  Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body.  Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor.  Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.

2. Squats – Squats work the butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps.  If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair.  Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted.  Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair.  Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight.  Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release.  At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.

3. Reverse Lunges – Lunges work the quadriceps muscles.  They can be hard for people with knee problems.  A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee.  Stand with feet together and arms at your sides.  Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot.  From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor.  Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.

4. Push-ups – This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles.  If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a push-up on your toes, lower your body to your knees.  Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.

5. Crunches – Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone.  Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head.  Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor.  Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time.  The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative.  Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.  And lately if you are like me with your work and family it is hard some days to work in exercise in to your day!  So, I have been trying out my new Wii that I got on my birthday this year and having lots of fun with it too!  This is another suggestion that I have for exercise if you think some of these other ideas aren’t for YOU!






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What Subcontractors Can Do for You…as a Virtual Assistant

August 11, 2010 By

As a successful home-based service provider you will soon realize, if you haven’t already, there are not enough hours in the day for all the projects you could be working on. You also may have discovered that you don’t have the skills necessary to complete every task your clients – or potential clients – need.

You may have already turned away clients when your project calendar filled up, sent clients to a colleague or tried to meet their needs with disastrous results. Have no worries, it’s happened to the best of us, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with too much work, not enough time and There is a better way.

1. Subcontractors Can Take the Extra Work

By hiring subcontractors, you can increase your workload exponentially. For example, let’s say you schedule twenty hours of work in one week for two clients. By hiring a subcontractor, you can schedule in two more clients for another twenty hours of work that week.

Because the subcontractor charges less than what the client is paying, you still make a profit on those extra hours, even though you did not do the work yourself. In this situation, you serve as a project manager, quality control officer and client liaison. In other words, you hand out assignments, inspect the work to make sure it’s up to standards and communicate with the client and with the subcontractor.

2. Subcontractors Can Add New Skills

Hiring subcontractors with a complementary skill set can also help you expand your services. For example, if you are a virtual assistant specializing in writing blog posts for your clients, you could hire a web design subcontractor to help those same clients set up new sites or change the design of existing ones. This way, the client can continue to work with you, the trusted VA, and you can meet more of the client’s needs. This means more money for you, money for the subcontractor and happier clients.

3. Subcontractors Mean Less Paperwork

Subcontractors also come with a special set of benefits that you wouldn’t get from hiring employees. A subcontractor comes with her own office, her own equipment and her own training. She often is running her own service business and therefore has a stake in making a good name for herself – and for you. The subcontractor is also responsible for her own taxes, sets her own hours and is usually self-motivated. You only pay her for the actual work she does and you are also usually not her only client.

On the other hand, an employee needs space in your office and you need to provide her with equipment and training. While there are good employees available, you could easily end up with someone who simply wants a paycheck, regardless of whether or not she worked for it. You would also need to set her hours and pay her for the hours she is “on the clock” even if she’s reading a book half the time. In other words, if there is no work, you still have to pay the employee. And then there is the whole business of withholding taxes and Social Security and other paperwork that goes along with employing someone.

Growing Your Business with Subcontractors

Hiring subcontractors can be a relatively inexpensive way to grow your business quickly and efficiently. It’s a win-win situation for you, the service provider who gets the help she needs, and the subcontractor, who gets the work she needs.

So why don’t you Please give Lighthouse Virtual Solutions a chance to service YOUR subcontractors needs.  Please contact us at 704-995-3048, Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm & Friday 9am-noon EST for your FREE 30 minute consultation.





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Easy Relaxation Tips for Busy VA Moms

July 28, 2010 By

Relaxing at the SpaIt seems like there is no rest of the weary.  And, the weary person is usually mom.  Moms take care of hearth and home, but who takes care of her?  If you are a busy mom, learn to value yourself as a person and schedule personal time.

Personal time is a right of being a person.  Each of us has the capacity to nurture others but that type of care takes its toll.

A car is filled with gas to make it run.  Eventually the gas runs out and your car won’t move unless the car is replenished with fuel.  The same goes for you.  Emotional issues can develop when you don’t take the time to take care of your emotional well-being, not to mention the physical results of emotional neglect.

Mom time refuels the tank so that you can give to your family as well as yourself in equal measure.  Don’t be ashamed to sit for fifteen minutes doing nothing.  In the springtime, relaxing in a hammock under a tree is the perfect getaway from the pressures of the day.  Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms.

Here are a few tips to help you fit in much needed “mom” time:

1. Get up early if you have to.  When you have kids, the day begins at a hurried pace.  Once you hit the ground running, there is no stopping you.  Waking 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time means quiet solitude to drink your coffee, read a book, meditate or listen to music.

2. Turn ordinary experiences into major events.  When you take a bath, add candles, bubble bath, quiet music and/or an inflatable bath pillow.  Your regular bath has now become a spa level experience.  If you watch a movie, turn out the lights, pop a bag of microwave popcorn and curl up on the couch.

3. Ask your significant other for help.  Kids love their mothers but time spent with dad is important too.  Let them bond with dad while you go shopping for a new outfit or root around in the garden.  Since the time is yours, do whatever you like.

4. Use the Boy Scout motto.  Always be prepared and you can spend more time in a relaxed mode.  Fix lunches the night before.  Iron clothes for the next day and place backpacks by the front door so kids can grab them on their way out.  The fewer things you have to do throughout the day, the calmer you will be with your family and not experience burnout.

5. Take exercise breaks.  When you get a few minutes the last thing you want to do is exercise but getting a little physical activity in your day has far-reaching implications.  Exercise helps you to think clearly and stretches the muscles.  Also, stress will drain away as powerful endorphins are released into your system.  Do jumping jacks during a television commercial or jog to the bus stop to pick up the kids.

6. Laugh at regular intervals.  Keep a funny calendar cube on your desk or subscribe to a daily joke site.  Laughing releases stress and can lift your spirits significantly.  It also keeps the abs tight.

Moms, take care of you.  Your family would miss you if you were not around to love and care for them.  You owe it to yourself and you deserve a break from the daily hustle and bustle.

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5 Reasons Why YOU Need a Real Estate Virtual Assistant!

May 3, 2010 By

I found this article today and just wanted to say that it has some very good reasons if YOU’RE needing a Real Estate Virtual Assistant.  And even if your are a Virtual Assistant that has clients that you support in Real Estate these 5 Reasons would be helpful to you as well too!

By now, you’ve hopefully heard about the Real Estate Virtual Assistant. These independent consultants are experts in real estate marketing and new technology for real estate professionals.  They can help you transform your business and provide growth without the commitments and expenses of a traditional on-site marketing assistant. If you’re still not convinced, keep reading for 5 real life examples of why you need a real estate virtual assistant to help take your business to the next level.

1.) You have 3 new listings….and you just promised all 3 sellers that their homes would be effectively displayed online and professionally showcased in print.  Now what?  You’re only one person and you may have just over promised.

Don’t under deliver!  Delegate the marketing efforts to your Real Estate Virtual Assistant!  MLS entry, writing the ad copy, enhancing the photos, ordering your sign rider, creating a visual tour, home brochure and just listed postcard, adding the listing to your website and all of the other top real estate sites, enhancing the listing on REALTOR.com and more.  Done and done.

You get to WOW your seller and how amazing do you look with a marketing team at your fingertips.

2.) You want to enhance your online presence BUT….you don’t know how and even if you did, you don’t have time!  A real estate virtual assistant can  analyze your website and come up with an extensive plan to attain a successful online presence.

The VA’s recommendations can include, but are not limited to: a plan to give your site a makeover (content and look/feel), adding call to actions, incorporating irresistible offers, updates to your navigation and/or page realtor-supporttitles and more!

3.) You’re getting leads from 3 different online sources….and you aren’t keeping in touch with them like you should.  RealSupport uses a 5-phased approach to organize our clients lead campaigns, making the process as automated as possible after the initial setup.

This gives our clients the freedom to go out and sell while their marketing efforts never slow down.  Armed with the pre-built email library template emails, we will tweak them and also write additional campaign emails as needed.

Tweaking and/or re-writing the pre-built template emails is absolutely necessary to ensure your emails are perceived as “personally written” AND geared toward your target market, vs. generic/canned auto emails.

4.) You setup a blog but you’re not a writer…..and you just don’t know what to write about.  As  a business owner, you know that getting your name to page one on that search engine results page is one of the most sought-after goals.

One of the best ways to improve search engine rankings is by Blogging. Your real estate virtual assistant can write blogs for you, incorporating and linking your relevant key words back to your website. You can even give your VA a list of topics that you want them to write about and they can pick and choose from your list.  If you don’t have a preference on blog topics, your VA should be creative and innovative in choosing what to write about.

Blogging consistently is KEY to better search engine rankings. Discuss your desired key words with your real estate virtual assistant. If you don’t even have blog yet, don’t worry.  This is something else your virtual assistant can handle. From the initial setup and customization to regular informative and interesting postings, delegate it all to your VA!

5.) You have 6 listings under contract BUT….you don’t have time to keep track of all of the important dates and deadlines.  A real estate virtual assistant can handle your Transaction Management – from contract to close!

Congratulations, the sale’s gone through! Now, your work is just beginning. Handling all the details of a buying and/or selling transaction, from contract through closing, is a time-consuming process that eats into the time you could be spending drumming up new business.

It couldn’t be easier: You send the transaction information along with all supporting documents as well as contact info for all involved parties to your VA and he/she will take over the entire closing process.

Your real estate virtual assistant  can handle all the phone calls and email correspondence, keeping you up-to-date every step of the way. Make sure your VA is using some type of   transaction management software.

Most VAs use online systems such as Settlement Room to manage the real estate transactions. Settlement Room allows your the VA to keep track of your closing checklist and all important dates and deadlines. All involved parties are invited into the transaction online and they can view all documents that have been uploaded, everyone’s contact information as well as any notes that we have added. If an issue arises that requires a licensed agent, your VA should contact you.  You can feel confident that your transaction is being handled professionally and efficiently, from contract to close!

But like for Reason 3, I use Constant Contact and some others which are helpful as well in helping my clients with their leads and keeping them in one place!  For Reason 6 their are other Real Estate programs like RELAY to use as your Online Systems for Transaction Management software and using Docusign with the RELAY is even sweeter!  I just wanted to put my two cents worth in regarding some of the programs that I happen to use as well! Hope you enjoy reading this and have a great day!  Please let us know if we can be of service to you in YOUR Real Estate support!

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WAHM: Your Ticket to Being Home with the Kids & Earning an Income for Your Family

February 23, 2010 By

Have you ever dreamed of a job where you could spend time with your family and earn money at the same time?  Most traditional jobs don’t offer that.  But, becoming a WAHM could be your ticket to your dream.  But, before embarking on such a quest, here is some helpful information detailing what it’s all about.

WAHM?

Just what do these letters stand for?  WAHM stands for Work At Home Mom. Over the past 20 years, more and more women have come out of the workplace and gone back into the home.

The decision hasn’t been an easy one.  It became apparent a long time ago that men were the only ones being allowed to “have their cake and eat it too.”  They could pursue a corporate career and still come home in the evenings to the family.

Women with careers had a different path to follow. Besides working longer hours to achieve the same pay and credibility as their male counterparts, they also had to contend with the housework and the kids.  After a long day at the office and doing the household chores, the kids sadly got what was left over which was usually a very worn out mother.

That has since changed.  WAHMs are proving everyday that women can contribute to the family financial situation and nurture their families.   Both online and off, a network of support has been created for any woman who wants to consider an option that will help them meet their needs.

How to get started?

When you talk to your family about the possibility you want to have an idea of the direction you will take.  Check out sites like justaddsweat.com, internetbasedmoms.com, wahmtalkradio.com, and vanetworking.com.  They offer helpful hints to moms getting started with a work at home enterprise and also a network of opportunities for connecting with other WAHMs.

If your income has been a big part of the monthly family finances, then switching to a work at home enterprise will cause your finances to take a hit. Be sure there is enough financial cushion in your bank account to weather the first six months of your new career.  It will take time to establish your business.

Opportunities

First, figure out your interests and skills.   WAHMs can find business opportunities to work for someone else doing everything from audio transcription to writing articles to accounting.   Be aware that there are scams about and that legitimate companies looking for professionals won’t ask for money upfront from you.

Some WAHMs carve out their own niche and begin an online business.   If you are skilled with crafting, you can create a website to promote your crafts and sell products.   A blog is also another idea. Blog about your area of expertise and develop a following.   Combine that with affiliate or search engine marketing to generate revenue.

Making it work

With new career comes the issue of balance between home and work.   Just because you are home doesn’t mean you won’t need help around the house or time away from the kids in order to work.   Consider these tips for creating a balance:

•    Develop a set schedule for work and play on a weekly basis
•    Discuss dividing up household chores between you, your spouse, and older kids
•    Do pre-work such as fixing lunches, prepping breakfast, choosing clothing the night before
•    Hire a babysitter once or twice a week
•    Separate home office space inside the house

There are advantages to being a WAHM.   Plan carefully and be patient. Support from your family makes all the difference.  Believe me I truly do know too!   I choose to become a WAHM due to wanting to stay home with my son and boy has it ever paid off he is grown into a wonderful young man and in college now and making me really proud!

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