Melissa Rich Author – Your Virtual Home Office Can Be a Reality!

When selecting your work from home job-always choose something that you enjoy doing. If you are passionate about your work, chances are you are going to continue to build your area of expertise.

Studies show that people that choose an occupation based upon a well liked hobby, remain in the field longer. Take your skill set, likes and interests and and put together a game plan on how to make money with your idea.

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Setting up a home office is so important. First you will want a quiet place to work without any interruptions. Select a location that is out of the main area of the house and gives you complete privacy when needed. If you are working with small children, using your private office for conference calls or uninterrupted work time is not only nice but necessary.

Set up working hour boundaries with the family and stick to your times. I know I am guilty of checking emails throughout the night and this can be unfair to family that has waited for you all day.

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When you are starting out working from home, locate a few chat boards that you feel comfortable with and become a member. There are so many people out there looking for work and the chat boards are great resources for a newbie. I joined several chat boards when I first started working from home and made friends along the way.

It is a great way to talk about working from home as well as other day to day things that happen for Moms and Dads. We all think we have unique experiences but in this industry, we find that our experiences are quite similar. We all have the same goal: to work from home and take care of our families.

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As you develop and design your business or company logo, please consider the importance of color. The color within your logo will become part of your business identity. Studies show that color affects moods and therefore, the color of your logo will bring about certain emotions. For example, the color red implies boldness and self-confidence; however, the color red can also invoke anger.

Research the effects of color prior to designing your home-based business logo to ensure that the color selected matches your home-based business strategies.

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If you will be seeking financing from a financial institution for your home based business, you will probably be required to provide a complete business plan.  A business plan should provide information to the bank that will validate the profitability of your business venture – at least on paper.  A business plan will include very specific information including business projections, target market, competitor analysis, competitive edge, and key selling points.

Preparing a business plan can be time consuming and complex, but there are a wide range of resources to assist you including business plan templates, small business development center, and business plan consultants.

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When you are working in a virtual world, you really have to be extra careful when banking. Should you participate in direct deposit? I am a firm believer that if it is meant to happen-it will, but I don’t want to help it along. In my own personal transactions, I have used Paypal services for payments received from companies – as well as old fashion checks in the mail.

If you feel comfortable with the company you are working for, then by all means use direct deposit. Snail mail seems to have gotten slower over the years. Remember on direct deposit, if the company has authorization to put funds in your bank account, they also have authorization to remove them. Make sure you check out the company to verify they are issue free. The BBB is a great source for complaints on companies.

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As of last week, my daughter is returning to school and I am excited about the new school year beginning. Over the summer, my 12-year-old daughter was home with me day in and day out. While I was working, she grew restless and we had to find a work/play balance.

Now that she has returned to school, I am looking forward to an increased business drive and sense of motivation. Having youngsters at home, while maintaining a home office, is a tough challenge. Chapter 14 of my book contains tips, tactics, and strategies for managing families while working from home.

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I started working from home by spending hours, days and months of research. It was not a quick process. Looking for work became my full time job.  Just like most people, I paid money for a guide that had the top 100 companies that hire work from home staff. Like most guides, it was not worth the paper it was printed on. The best way to get started is to First-define your skill set. If you have experience working on the telephones, then start in customer service. Gain experience with a company to get your feet wet in this industry.

Do your homework! Check out every company before going to work for them. Contact the BBB or state agency where the company is located and definitely check out some of the top WAHM chat boards. Being a newbie in any industry is tough, but being a newbie in the work from home industry can cost you money.

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Each telecommuter is different and unique in the decorum that best fits their needs and personality. Often times, the home office is a reflection of the work-at-home worker.   Some home offices are ornately decorated with careful attention to detail, while other home offices are sparsely decorated.    Many home offices are filled with personal mementos and photos, while others focus primarily on business functions.

My home office is very sparse into terms of décor and that is what I prefer.    I have found that a professional home office inspires and motivates me.    Others prefer a soothing home office environment and find that they do their best work in a calm relaxing environment.

As you establish your office, you will need to find a balance between professional and personal décor.

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When I first started working from home,  there were only had a handful of jobs available in the work from home market. Today, many businesses are using remote teams to save on overhead costs. Here are a few job opportunities that I personally have read about:

Clerical

Telemarketing

Survey

Medical Billing

Medical Transcription

Coding

Dispatch work

Reservations

Customer service

And the list continues.

Just remember to check out all opportunities before you spend too much time and effort on them.  Never give money to anyone to work for them. There are great opportunities out there, but just as many scammers using your inexperience to boost their pocket book.

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