According to the latest American Community Survey data, there are approximately 2.8 million people, not including the self employed or unpaid volunteers, who consider home their primary place of work. The struggling American economy has created the need for companies to cut back as much as possible. This has created growth in the work-at-home industry as it allows companies to save on expenses like office space, equipment and insurance costs.

However, the telecommuting world can be a hard place to get your foot in the door. Linda Dickerhoof, Public Relations Director at VIPDesk, one of the leading virtual concierge and virtual customer service providers in the United States, reports that they receive as many as two hundred resumes a day. With that kind of competition, it’s imperative that you stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when applying for telecommuting employment.

Do Your Research – This is, by far, the most crucial aspect of your work-at-home job search. There are many legitimate companies that hire at-home employees. However, in order to weed out at-home job scams, you need to know what “red flags” to look for.  A legitimate work-at-home opportunity won’t ask you for any sort of “affiliation fee,” nor will they send you any type of list of employers to contact.

A legitimate opportunity will also not offer an unrealistic salary. The ads that you see offering $5k/wk with no experience usually are just what they sound – too good to be true. Avoid work-at-home opportunities advertised via infomercials, signs taped to a lamp-post, stop signs or via spam e-mail. Always check with the Better Business Bureau to see what type of reputation the company you are considering has, then follow up with an Internet search to see what is being said about the company in blogs, on twitter, and in the mainstream media.

Resume Success  - Applying for a working-at-home position should be treated just like any other job application process. The company may allow you to work from home, but they will not tolerate an unprofessional attitude. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that your resume will be selected if it’s anything less than top-notch.

In order to get ahead, put together a professional resume outlining your job experience and highlighting any special skills or training applicable to the position you’re applying for. Keep your resume to one page, if possible.

Interviews Are Important - The interview process is more critical than usual in the work-at-home world because the interviewer will not be meeting you face to face. Most at-home employers have a strenuous screening process to filter out applicants who do not fit the professional standards required.

Prepare ahead of time for questions not only about your employment background, but also about what your home work environment will be like (they do not want to hear animals or children in the background). Interviewers will be listening intently to how you present yourself over the phone, so be as prepared and professional as possible.

Know What To Expect – One of the best ways to succeed in any career is to know what your employer expects of you. Before your interview, put together a list of questions that will help you understand what to expect from the employer, and what they expect from you. Ask about things like training, support offered during work hours, and specific job expectations.

Get Set Up – Once you’ve begun the process of searching and applying for telecommuting positions, it’s time to make sure your home workspace is appropriate. Most employers will be looking for you to have a noise-free home office that includes: a landline phone, a computer (most companies will have specific computer requirements that will need to be met),  and high speed internet.

If possible, do your research ahead of time to ensure that your home office set up will work for a telecommuting opportunity. There are some employers who provide the necessary equipment, but most will require you to have these items in place.

Telecommuting can be one of the most rewarding career decisions available today. It provides flexibility and scheduling that many other types of employment are unable to offer. Prepare yourself to stand out from the job applicant crowd and you’ll find yourself with a remarkable new job in no time.

About the Author

Jill Hart's entrepreneurial career began in her teens when she spent a summer working with her father who ran his own business. When he put her in charge of a Coke machine and allowed her to keep the profits, she saw the benefits of being her own boss. She is the founder of the popular Christian work-at-home website, CWAHM.com. Jill has articles published in In Touch Magazine, P31 Woman magazine and Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, as well as across the web on sites like DrLaura.com. She is the author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom and speaks to audiences around the country about faith, business and leadership topics. Learn more about Jill at JillHart.com and connect with her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerJillHart) and Twitter @cwahm.

The economy is tough. We’re all struggling financially. Even after adding a home business to our income, money is tight. So, let’s get creative – let’s put our heads together and come up with some ideas on how we can find ways to bring in some extra cash to help ease the financial strain on our families. Between now and Christmas I'll be sharing each day a couple of creative ways to make money from home quickly.

1. eBay We might as well start with something most of us are familiar with – eBay. You can sell just about anything on eBay, from clothes to toys to used appliance and even cars. However, you can use eBay to do more than just sell things that you have sitting around in your house. You can:

• Buy items from a thrift store and sell them on eBay at a slightly higher price to make a profit
• Get items from freecycle or similar groups and sell them on eBay
• Sell items for others and keep a percentage

2. Sell Your Used Books If you’re anything like me, you have books hanging around your house that you have already read. Why not box them up and take them to a used bookstore like Half Price Books ® and sell them? You can do the same with CDs, DVDs and even video games.    

Check out the rest of this series!

A few years ago I had one of those “lightning bolt” moments. Each year I sit down to write out goals and dreams for my business. This particular year, as I sat and thought through what I hoped to accomplish in the upcoming year, how I hoped to help people, it hit me. Where does God fit in to all of this? Does He fit comfortably in the “Spiritual” categories or is He a part of everything that CWAHM is and does?

Whoa. Talk about a challenging question.

As I wrestled with this I came to realization that God wants to invade our lives – and that means our businesses, too. In the gospels we see Jesus meeting people right where they were. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and taught the seeking. He met their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.

He wanted to be a part of their everyday lives, not just the days they went to the temple (the Old Testament equivalent of church). He wasn’t afraid to hang out with the sick, the hurting, the “sinners.”

He wants to be a part of our everyday life, too. He wants to invade our families, our marriages, our businesses. He wants to show us that there is a different way of doing things. A better way. A way that points to the divine even in the midst of most basic business task.

He wants to be in:

* The decision to be kind to the difficult customer.
* The decision to give a sale price when we could charge full price to someone who isn’t aware of the sale.
* The decision to give a product away to someone we know is struggling or hurting.

It's our choice. We can choose to do business with Jesus. Or we can choose to do things our own way…usually the way we’ve been taught by people who seem to know how to “do” business, how to make money. And yet, in the end … is really about making money?

“So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work…” Ecclesiastes 3:22, NCV Where does God fit in your business?  

About The Author

Jill Hart's entrepreneurial career began in her teens when she spent a summer working with her father who ran his own business. When he put her in charge of a Coke machine and allowed her to keep the profits, she saw the benefits of being her own boss. She is the founder of the popular Christian work-at-home website, CWAHM.com. Jill has articles published in In Touch Magazine and P31 Woman magazine, as well as across the web on sites like DrLaura.com. She is the author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom and speaks to audiences around the country about faith, business and leadership topics.

A marketing plan outlines the basics for how you want to market your business. Your marketing plan helps you establish, direct and coordinate your marketing efforts. It’s your roadmap for success. Your marketing plan allows you to understand your customer base, better determine exactly how products or services will benefit those clients, and create a plan to market to those clients. Below are ten tips to get you started creating a marketing plan that will help you grow your business effectively:

1. Outline your marketing goals. Make sure to include any research or information that supports your marketing plan. For example, keep a notebook that has all applicable keywords, research for new sites to connect with, and business contacts.

2. Outline a specific time-frame for completion of your goals. If you layout a timeline for your goals, you will be much more likely to reach them.

3. Make a list of all of your marketing plans. Each time a new idea comes to you, add it to your list.

4. Plan out your budget. Know how much you have available so that you can be sure to spend it wisely. Be clear here on where you will spend your advertising dollars. Don’t just tell yourself, “I have some money for marketing.” Instead, be specific. “I have $100 for paid press releases.” or “I have $40 for a Google Adwords campaign.”

5. Think through how you will handle the clients/customers who respond to your marketing attempts. Too many make this mistake. They market and ask questions later. A client calls and wants additional information on their services and they are like ‘now what do I do.” We want to have you so that when that potential client calls, it runs like clockwork!

6. Make a list of any/all the marketing you’ve done in the past. Note next to each item on the list whether or not the marketing attempt was a success or failure and why. By taking each of these steps you will find yourself well on the path to an effective marketing plan.

Jill Hart, Founder of Christian Work-at-Home Moms and Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, have teamed up to write So You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business. Start or expand your business today with their help.

It’s official. Social media is here to stay. It’s not a fad like so many initially thought and it isn’t going anywhere soon. Businesses have realized that not only is it a great way to connect with current clients, but a great way to land potential clients as well. And that’s only the beginning. Social media also allows you to promote all your upcoming events and products, and even gives you front row access to editors and reporters who might write on your area of expertise. The possibilities are truly endless. But the big question now is, how can entrepreneurs best use the current social media opportunities to help increase business? Ten tips to incorporate social media into your marketing plan:

1. Determine What Social Media Sites Are Best For You. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the top three, but that’s only the beginning. Determine who your target market is and then meet them where they are. It’s okay to ask by taking a survery by email or on your website asking which social media avenue your clients prefer. Once you determine that, be consistent and realize that you can’t be everywhere all the time. Pick the ones that are best for your business and really engage.

2. Team Up With Other Entrepreneurs. By teaming up, you allow easy access to retweets, Facebook posts, etc. Plus, it’s a great way to provide your audience with more valuable information on topics that would interest them by sharing information that is provided by the business(es) you team up with. Just make sure that your choose teammates with information that is a good fit for your audience.

3. Don’t Just Advertise, Build Relationships. We’ve all seen them. The tweets and Facebook postings that we know are scheduled and we know are only trying to sell us something. We aren’t saying that you can’t promote your services or products. In fact, we encourage you to do that. But do it right. Don’t just be about landing the deal. Truly connect with your audience and show them why they would want to work with you. We know you’ve heard it a million times already, but it speaks for itself and bears repeating: Social media is meant to be “social.”

4. Make It a Two-Way Street. You post and you post and you post on Facebook. You’ve tweeted away on Twitter & you’ve updated your status on Linkedin. Finally you’re done. Social marketing is ready to be checked off the list. Not so fast! Realize that just like you are posting there are others out there posting and building relationships as well. Get out there and respond to others, too. When you think about it, how do you feel when someone posts on your Facebook posting or blog entry? It feels good, doesn’t it? When you see a Facebook posting that you like leave a comment - always making sure you add value and are not just promoting your business.

5. Make It Exciting. We see this often: business owners on Twitter who get on for 20-minute increments and during that time we are inundated with retweets. They will throw in an occasional tip or two, but basically it’s just 20 minutes of nonsense. Now we love a good retweet, but we don’t enjoy this at all. When you are marketing your business via social media, make sure that you engage with others and make it exciting. Give some good information and tips - don’t just retweet to be seen. Provide great value and your followers will not only enjoy your messages, but when they are looking to refer someone who needs your services, you will be on the top of the list.

6. Learn From Others. One of the best things about being in business these days is that you have the opportunity to follow the pros and see what they are doing right. They eagerly give out tips, videos, etc. Make it a point to follow those who you respect and can learn from. Sit back and take notes. But more importantly, take the action steps necessary to make these points work. It’s more than learning from them, you need to actually do what they recommend as well.

7. Contribute to Other Networks. Another great aspect of social media is getting your message out to more than just your audience. Offer to guest post for other networks in your area of expertise. You never know who may see your posts and become a client.

8. Create An Expert Status. Why do people follow you? Many times it is because they see you as the best at what you do and they want to learn from you. Therefore it’s important to always give solid tips and advice to really show your expertise. Create high quality blog postings, tips lists and posts to share with your audience. It may take extra time to create high quality work, but the effort will be well worth it in the end.

9. Spruce Up Your Page. Social media has come a long way in a short time. No more are you limited to a tiny avatar of your logo. Most of the social networking sites today allow you to fully customize your page with images, backgrounds and more. Spend the time to create a page that will draw in your audience and make them want to come back daily.

10. Be respectful. One of the things that most business owners value most is time. It’s important when you are on Facebook, Twitter and the other networks, that you be respectful of others’ time. A few ways you can do that:

• Don’t Expect An Instant Response. Sending an Instant Message (IM) to a colleague or respected leader is fine, but recognize that they may not be able to chat with you immediately. Often times that person has allocated a certain amount of time to be on the site. If they are constantly on an IM, they can’t get what they need done. We’re not saying you can’t IM, but be respectful when you do.
• Don’t Take Advantage. Social media is a relationship builder and gives us instant access to industry leaders. However, be careful not to take advantage of someone’s goodwill by asking a zillion questions. Most business owners enjoy helping others, however, to provide personalized coaching is a different story. Always respect the person you are communicating with and we bet you’ll find you get way more back than you ever imagined.

See how easy social media is. When done right it can bring amazing results for your business. Not only will you establish yourself as an expert, but you will be promoting your products and services regularly. Make it a commitment to master social media marketing and we promise you next year at this time, you’ll be so glad you did.

About the Authors: Jill Hart of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com and Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com are the co-authors of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom

The hosts of The CWAHM Network and authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom (Jill Hart & Diana Ennen) are taking on the big issues. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Submit your work-at-home questions here!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!

Q: I want to grow my Virtual Assistant Business. Any suggestions on how to best do this?

A: Diana: Here are some suggestions on how to grow a VA business (or any business):

Here are several New Years Resolutions to help you achieve greater success with your business this year:

Resolution #1 -- Make a commitment to get to know two people within your industry on a more personal level every month. Answer back an e-mail addressed to a VA group with a personal, “Hi. How are you doing? I’m Diana.” Also, become active on VA boards. If networking locally, introduce yourself at a professional organization's meeting or a conference instead of just being in the background.

Resolution #2 – Take the time to organize your business and make it easier to run on a daily basis. If you haven’t done so already, invest in a 3-ring notebook and put all the valuable forms you use on a daily basis in there including all your marketing letters, follow-up client letters, proposals, portfolios, etc. By customizing these forms now, you have them available when a client contacts you and are then able to respond to that client immediately with the right professionalism that will convince them to use your services. Bottom line – You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time.

The authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom (Jill Hart & Diana Ennen) are taking on the big issues. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Submit your work-at-home questions here!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!

Q How do I market my business without spending loads of money?

A Great question! Here are a few ideas:

* Article & Press Release Writing and Distribution – Article marketing works. It’s a great way to get more exposure for your business and when done right, can result in front page Google rankings, more clients, & lots of sales. Get active and write a press release about your business making a holiday or New Year connection. For example, share how you are giving back during the holidays, any promotions you have, etc.

* Reconnect with ALL your clients and let them know how you appreciate them and perhaps how you can help them with other needs they may not even know you offer. Send a personalized holiday card or greeting. For local clients stop by their office and drop off presents, popcorn tins for the staff and/or their favorite coffee for their afternoon pick-me-up. For potential new clients, drop off a Holiday cup full of wrapped candy with your business card or perhaps get your business name printed on the candy bar.

* Don’t forget social networking. Even ½ hour a day can make a considerable difference, Remember to build relationships and share more than sell.

More tips next week! :)

May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.

Psalm 115:14 (NCV)

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

Until next week ....

Jill Hart of CWAHM.com & Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com, co-authors of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

The hosts of The CWAHM Network and authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom (Jill Hart & Diana Ennen) are taking on the big issues. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Submit your work-at-home questions here!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!

Q: I love my business, but it's so hard when unexpected things happen in life. How do you ladies handle it when kids or sick? Or your computer crashes? How do you keep it all together?

A: One of the most important things to do when life goes crazy is to just stop and realize, sometimes it’s going to be hard. And that’s okay. We often feel that because we work from home that we must be positive and happy ALL the time. Not true. And not possible in reality. :) Hopefully the majority of the time you will be happy, however, when things come up, it’s OK to say, "Wow. This is tough." Then find support. Have an online or offline buddy that you can go to and vent - someone who will say, hey it’s going to get better; someone who knows you and knows just the right thing to say to get you back on track.

It’s also important to plan ahead. Now, we can’t tell exactly when the kids will get sick or when the computer will crash, but we can tell you that over time these things will happen. Knowing this, you can have a plan B already set up. The time to plan for this is before it happens.

Here are a few tips we hope will help:

1. Find someone now who can help you with your business. Send them work now so they become familiar with your needs. Let them know that you will be using them on a sporadic basis. You’ll probably find that once you see how much help they provide you use them a lot more than you thought, but at least you know you have the support you need.

2. Computers – who backed up their system last week? Ouch!! Think about this, how would you feel if you went to turn on the computer and it was blank, dead, gone. That can and will happen. You need to back-up regularly and you need to check those back-ups. One thing I recently discovered is I backed up regularly to another computer. However, I didn’t know how to retrieve the documents I backed up.

3. Internet down – Do you have a friend in the neighborhood who also has a computer that you can use. How about the local library. Most of the time you can wait it out, however, for many of us if we do legal or medical transcription, it’s crucial to be able to get it there. I once had an attorney preparing for the trial of the century (at least he thought so). The case rested on me (at least that’s what he told me), and right when it was time to send him all the pleadings, our phone went dead. (For all of you wondering, we did pay the bill, it was a technical problem). I immediately rushed over to my neighbors and was able to send the documents. My client was none the wiser.

4. Sick Kids - – MOMS, tell the truth, it’s hard. They are bored. You are busy. Here too you need to plan ahead. Stock up on crafts at the Dollar Store. Get Paint by Number Books and things that will take time, and be fun. We have some fun ones at our site at www.virtualwordpublishing.com. Also, allow your children to get creative. Get 3 ring notebooks and allow them to write their own book adventures or design their own magazines. Scissors, a few old magazines, paste and a little imagination will go a long ways.

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

The authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom (Jill Hart & Diana Ennen) are taking on the big issues. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Submit your work-at-home questions here!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!

Q Is it "ok" that my business isn't "Christian?" Can I still make a difference?

A Last week we shared some tips on sharing our faith in business and this week we're sharing a few more:

* Insert godly encouragement when the occasion arises - If someone gives you an opening by mentioning church or even asking about your weekend, take the opportunity to connect with them in that area. Ask them where they attend church, share where you attend or invite them to an event at your church when appropriate.

* Focus and Listen - Take the time to really listen to your customers and clients. It's surprising how often we feel as if the people we're talking with aren't fully "present." By tuning in and giving your full attention you may just find an opportunity to share your faith that you might have missed otherwise.

More tips next week! :)

May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.

Psalm 115:14 (NCV)

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

Until next week ....

Jill Hart of CWAHM.com & Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com, co-authors of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

Q: Is it "ok" that my business isn't "Christian?" Can I still make a difference?

A: Yes! :) Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Our businesses, as well as our families are our mission fields!

Some ideas for sharing your faith through your business (or at your workplace):

* One of the simplest ways to share your faith with customers, clients, and co-workers is to simply treat others well. Allow Jesus to shine through you. When others ask what’s different about you, you then have the opportunity to share how God has worked in you and changed your life.

* We can also pray for God to give us opportunities to talk with others about Him.

* Include a verse or symbol (like the Ichtus (fish)) on your website and business cards. Many times this can spark conversation with customers who are believers. It may also help lead into conversations with those who don't yet know Christ.

--

Jill Hart and Diana Ennen, the hosts of The CWAHM Network and authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom, are taking on your questions. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home. Submit your work-at-home questions here!

The authors of So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom (Jill Hart & Diana Ennen) are taking on the big issues. We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Submit your work-at-home questions here!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!

Q So I've been taking the Crown class at church and have realized how I've disrespected and squandered away God's money and resources! Because of bad habits I had a very expensive hobby. Now that I'm starting over with the right mindset, what free or cheap resources can you recommend to market effectively. For instance, ezine email capture, adding membership to a site, and even this particular form I'm using to submit this question, and ecommerce? Thanks!

A First, let us say that it's wonderful to hear that you're stepping back and evaluating what you've been doing and the tools you've been using. We can easily find ourselves with, like you called it, "a very expensive hobby." However, with the right midset we can also, God-willing, turn things around. Here are a few of the tools that we use to keep things professional on a tight budget (these are not affiliate links, they are simply links to tools we use). :)

1. Ezine - YMLP.com - Many people use other sources like Constant Contact, but I've used YMLP for years and prefer it because of the price point. :) However, if you need additional 'bells and whistles' like ezine templates, you will want to double-check and see what they offer. They have built-in sign-up forms (ezine email capture) as well.

2. Membership - There are several good tools on the market for this, although none that are free that I am aware of. I chose WishlistMember.com because of the one-time fee as opposed to paying monthly.

3. Websites (and forms) - I prefer Wordpress for just about any website I'm creating these days. It's free, it's user-friendly and it allows tons of add-ons (called plugins in Wordpress) such as the forms that you see on CWAHM (which are using a plugin called "C-forms").

More tips next week! :)

May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.

Psalm 115:14 (NCV)

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

Until next week ....

Jill Hart of CWAHM.com & Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com, co-authors of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

Q I have been a full-time caregiver to my elderly parents (one parent has Alzheimer's) for the past three years. I would like to be able to make some extra money from home that allows for a flexible schedule. Can you recommend a topic on your website that would best suit my situation? Thank you for any advice you may have.

A One business that we think would work for you would be to start a virtual assistant business. It provides the flexibility that you need, plus it would allow you to make a good income. Here's an excerpt from an article by Diana on starting a VA business that we thought you might find beneficial. And she's always available via email at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com if you have additional questions.

Starting A Virtual Assistant Business

Setting up a virtual assistant business is relatively easy, but it's important to have a complete plan of action set out in advance. I'm a firm believer that the initial planning phase of a business is crucial to its success. This ensures that you don't leave any vital steps unaddressed and also prevents any unexpected surprises down the road. Therefore, I recommend first writing a complete business plan for your business. This plan doesn’t need to be anything technical, just how you plan to operate your business including advertising methods, pricing, business hours, equipment and supplies needed, etc.

The next step is to select the appropriate name. Take your time here as you want your business name to be an asset by appealing to your potential clients. Your name needs to clearly express what services you provide and not limit you if you choose to expand your business into other areas. Decide on a name that people would want to call if they have virtual assisting needs.

Now you must decide how much to charge. Don't undercharge your services. Many make this mistake. They feel if they price their services substantially below everyone else, they'll get more business. That's true--you might get more business, but you'll also be working outrageous hours and not making the kind of income you should. The average prices being charged by Virtual Assistant's today are between $35.00 and $100.00, depending on the specialty. I personally recommend starting no lower than $35.00/hr.

Now you need to get clients. The key to successful marketing is to tell clients what benefits they will receive by answering their main question, "What's in it for me?" Keep in mind, you're not selling your services, you're selling the benefits of your services. What can you offer them that would make their business run more successfully? An example of
this would be accurate dependable service done on an “as needed” basis.

It is also important to have an impressive marketing piece. Your brochures, letterhead, flyers, business cards, etc., should look sensational. Think back on what has caught your eye in the past. Now design your material with that in mind. The most important requirement is that it must be professional and convey that you are more than someone typing documents. Businesses want to deal with other professionals. They don't want to risk their work, and possibly their clients, on someone who is not. Let them know this is
exactly what they will receive when they seek your services. Places such as Vistaprints offer affordable printing.

Once established, word of mouth is your best advertisement. When people get professional, accurate, and friendly service they tell others. If you offer such exceptional service, you can be assured that you will need to advertise only at the onset to get your business started. From then on, your repeat clients, and referrals from them, will keep your business thriving.

May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.

Psalm 115:14 (NCV)

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

Until next week ....

Jill Hart of CWAHM.com & Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com, co-authors of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

The hosts of The CWAHM Network are taking on your questions! We want to dialogue about what's going on in the work-at-home world and we want to answer your questions about working from home.

Q: I am a farm wife & mother of 4 children. I have home educated all four, and our youngest is now 14. Our second son helps my husband farm, and he along with the 14-year-old take care of the cattle, so there isn't much left for me to do other than the bookkeeping. So I have been praying about doing something at home. I have been considering either medical transcriptioning or coding. I am taking a medical terminology class, which I enjoy very much. My husband is concerned about my stress level, as I have fibromylgia and chronic fatigue. I am leaning toward the coding, at this point, but I am still pretty open to any suggestions on how to proceed. Thank you very much!

A: Congratulations on taking the medical terminology class. That's awesome. That's something that a lot of virtual assistants provide and do very well. With both the terminology and coding, you should be able to work it so that you have more leaway with your schedule. Even the type of doctors you go after will make a difference. For example, some heart surgeons might need next day or 48 hour service. However, say you target chiropractors or therapist who requires 3 days or longer to get the work back.

Also, think about what other tasks you could do. For example, some doctor offices might need help not only with their transcription but their social networking or sending out cards. Things that wouldn't require a 24 hour turnaround. So when you think of your business, think of things you can add to your services that wouldn't require 24 hour service.

I think if you consider some of those, you'll be fine with the fibro and chronic fatigue. One big advantage of doing this is that you can stop when you need. You can even take a power nap in the afternoon when needed. Often you might have to make up for it in the evening, but it's so nice to be able to not work until exhaustion such as at the office where you needed to work 8 to 5.

Hope this helps!
- Diana Ennen (VA of 25 years!)

May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.c

Psalm 115:14 (NCV

Submit your work-at-home questions by going to the Ask Jill link on CWAHM. Or, simply click here.

Until next week ....

Jill Hart of CWAHM.com & Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com, co-authors of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

by Jill Hart & Diana Ennen

We know what it’s like. You have a great idea and are ready to begin building your business, but how do you know where to start? What are the first steps that you should take? Below are a few tips to get you started in the right direction.

Have a Plan & Work That Plan

The first step toward starting a business is to have a plan in place. Most successful businesses take the time to make sure they have a blueprint to success, a plan. When you have a blueprint and a direction to go, you will be so much more successful. There are many free resources across the Internet that can aid you in structuring and thinking through the writing of your business plan. Once you get the plan in place, follow it!

Don’t Try To Do It All Yourself

A wise business owner knows that they can’t do it alone. Even if you have a small budget to begin with, you can enlist the help of a virtual assistant or possibly volunteers or mentors. Get more on board who have experience that can help you in your business.

Know Your Audience (and why they would be interested in your products or services)

Who are you trying to reach? Who needs your product or information? Take the time to do market research and list out who you are selling to and where you can find them - both online and offline. This will help you both when creating the product/service and in your marketing efforts. Also, make sure you keep in touch with your audience and find out how they feel. You can easily create surveys and find out valuable information about what they really think.

Be Clear On Your Rates

You must be clear not only with potential clients, but you must know for yourself what you need to earn. Be brutally honest with yourself about how much you need to earn to keep your business afloat. Now set realistic goals and figure out how to make that happen. Remember in setting your rates that often times you are selling the value of your services or products, and not necessarily the service or product itself.

You Gotta Want It

Someone asked me once why I thought some entrepreneurs succeeded while others, just as talented, failed. My answer? Those that succeeded wanted it bad enough to do whatever it took to make it happen. Running a business isn’t easy, especially in the beginning. There will be long hours, tough critics and disappointments that can’t be prepared for. The entrepreneur who works through the tough times is the one who succeeds in the end.

Get Busy

Don’t wait until you “have it all together” to take that first step - it will never happen. If you have a great idea and have done enough planning to know where you’re headed, go for it. Be prepared to learn some lessons. Be prepared to make changes along the way. But, if you never take the first step you’ll never know the joy of the journey.

----------- Jill Hart of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. and Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com are the co-authors of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. For more tips visit http://SoYouWantToBeaWAHM.com.