If you’ve been around the internet marketing world for any length of time you know what blogging is and how it can benefit a business owner. You’re probably using a blog yourself and have seen firsthand the effects it has on increasing traffic and building relationship with your readers (a.k.a clients, potential clients, someone you may be able to partner with on a joint venture, etc).

In this day and age blogging should be an essential part of every business whether it’s an online business or offline brick and mortar one. Most online marketers understand this. Many offline business owners don’t. That’s where a skilled VA comes into play.

Many VA’s look for an area of their business they can stand out from the crowd and be the go to person. If you love WordPress, enjoy letting your creative juices flow, like getting your hands ‘dirty’ behind the scenes, learn to  Become A Blog Consultant and work from home!

Your community needs someone like you, a blog consultant, to teach them about blogging and how it can be an asset to their business. You’ve got your work cut out for you. Most offline business owners don’t even know what a blog is. It’s your job to educate them and let them know the truth – blogging is smart for business:

For starters, blogs are great for a business on a tight budget. A blog will cost them far less than they’d pay if they went with a large design firm and a traditional website. Good blogging activity will help them pull in local business – which is ultimately their goal.

There are so many other reasons that blogging is smart for local business owners. You will find these reasons along with great resources to share them with potential clients within the Become a Blog Consultant course.

This course was created to take you by the ‘hand’ and walk you step by step through the process of creating a profitable business as a blog consultant. The course starts at the very beginning, explaining why your community needs you, and covers important topics like developing your brand, content for your website, customizable graphics you can use, web 2.0 strategies for local businesses and much more.

You can learn more about the course and the business by visiting this site. Watch a quick two minute video for a real life client example and sign up for a 16 minute audio that will help you decide if this is a good fit for you and your skills.

Become A Blog Consultant

Article Writing is one of the Top 5 Skills Demanded By Businesses

I just read a recent hiring trend report from Elance.com hiring trends for February and found that article writing is one of the top 5 skills that businesses are outsourcing to freelancers. It’s really no surprise, especially since Elance caters mostly to online businesses. After all, what is the Internet made of? Images and WORDS… and it’s those words that are crucially important.

And believe me, most Internet marketers don’t have either the skill or the time to write – or both – and that means a lucrative opportunity for people like you with some writing skills.

But outside of article writing, there are other in-demand skills for online ghostwriting, such as copywriting, blogs, press releases, email marketing, white papers and more. This means less competition for you and more opportunities to specialize and actually charge MORE for your services.

If you’ve been thinking of breaking into ghostwriting and doing it quickly, I recommend this guide to ghostwriting.

It will show you:

- How to market your services without spending on advertising

- Where to find clients with deep pockets – Why and how to put up a professional website

- Which industries are virtual gold mines for ghostwriters

- How much to charge to actually make profit

- How to set yourself apart from your competition

- How to develop your portfolio especially when you haven’t
had a single client yet

…and more!

To have a successful ghostwriting business, you need the right tools and strategies that successful entrepreneurs use. This guide gives you the stories of two successful ghostwriters who earn a full-time income writing from home.

Not only are they inspirational, but they give great tips too.

The best part is, because this guide is written for Moms, the price is just right. In fact, you’ll easily earn back the cost of this guide with your first writing assignment. I better just stop writing about it and let you check it out yourself. Click here to learn more about the Just Add Sweat Home Business
Ideas for Women,  Get Paid To Write: Become A Ghostwriter.

It Keeps Getting Better All The Time…

I just logged into my Sweetie Saturday Report Club membership to grab my February goodies and as always, I’m impressed. If you’re not familiar with the The Report Club, it’s put together by one of my favorite and ultra-practical Internet marketing teachers, Alice Seba. The club is an incredibly affordable way to receive concise, no-fluff, no fad guidance for your online business.

This month’s report is all about creative ways for using WordPress – and was put together guest writer and tech expert, Lynette Chandler. There’s tons of information to get you set up to work at home, or start a blog for your business. The quick guide offers 40 types of sites you can build with WordPress (it’s not just for blogs anymore) and tons of suggesting for adding features and functionality to your websites.

But there is more…Alice also puts together her monthly Essential Biz Notes which are personal thoughts, ideas and strategies from her about online business. Once again, she gave me a virtual boot kicking and shares a very useful rant about breaking out of the profit-limiting mold that we can sometimes be forced into.

Anyway, I’ve got some more reading to do…and then will be getting some work done. Click here to learn more about this month’s reports and the Sweetie Saturday Report Club.

And hey, there’s also a recently added a private members-only forum where you can ask questions and share ideas – it’s another great perk to this valuable membership.

Becoming a mom – it’s the most life-changing event we go through. Our children become the center of our lives, and we must make adjustments to in our schedules and priorities make sure they’re cared for. Instead of hiring nannies or using day care services, more and more moms are choosing to start their own online businesses so they can be there for their kids and still contribute to the family income.

This is especially true right now during the tough economic times we’re living in. Even if you’re comfortably existing on one income, you may find yourself on no income soon enough if your husband gets laid off, downsized, rightsized, outsourced or whatever they’re calling it these days. Do you have the recommended 6 months’ living expenses tucked away in savings in preparation for this event?

Statistics show many of us do not. This is all the more reason for mom to look for ways to make money online before the disaster strikes.

Starting an online business has a number of advantages for moms. These include:

• Start-up costs can be kept low. So even if you are not currently working outside the home, starting an online business is usually within reach with small adjustments to the budget. Setting up a website means acquiring a domain name and hosting space – and with tools like WordPress available at no cost, you can literally be up and running for around $20. You will also want to invest in some education. Learning the basics of how to market your website online are not difficult, but be careful where you get your information.

The Natural Mom Business Guide is one solid source of info. It includes an ebook with detailed information about researching your target market, the various ways to make money with a website, and how to get the traffic you need to earn income. It even has video and audio tutorials as well as printable “cheat sheets” you can keep by your computer to remind you of the essential steps you need to take in your business to build traffic and make more income.

• Doing business online doesn’t require one to keep regular hours. You can work early in the morning before the kids get up, during the baby’s nap, or late at night when everyone is in bed. And with the automation that the Internet has to offer, orders can be processed and virtual products delivered while you are sleeping or taking care of the kids.

• You can get some work done with the kids right by your side. Older children may even be able to help you with simple tasks. Did you know that the IRS allows you to deduct wages (up to a certain amount) paid to a child who is age seven or older to work in your home business from your taxes? I have even trained my oldest son to add articles to my websites. He earns a nice wage for doing so, far more than an allowance, and is providing a valuable service to me.

There are all sorts of online businesses that are great for moms. You could sell your crafts or start a recipe website, or you could start a podcast. You might offer services such as writing, transcription, web design or virtual assistance to customers around the world. Or you could create and sell information products. Even blogging offers impressive money-making potential. The possibilities are many, and there’s sure to be something out there that’s just right for any mom.

Moms make up a large portion of the people who are making money online. This allows them to take a hands-on approach to raising their children while still making money to support the household. They don’t have to count on a sitter to take care of their children’s needs, and they don’t have to make a commute part of their daily routine. It’s no wonder that the number of moms starting online businesses is growing in leaps and bounds.

If you need some assistance choosing a niche, get some coaching from an experienced online marketer. Take the leap – you’ll be glad you did!

Carrie Lauth is an internet marketing mom who loves to help other moms launch profitable websites. She created the Natural Mom Business Guide for women who want to market to the “natural family” niche. To learn about how she can give you one-on-one coaching, visit Natural Mom Business Guide today.

The small business sector is on fire. There are thousands of new businesses springing up every day and the ease and affordability of Internet access has made much of the growth in entrepreneurship today possible. This is wonderful news for freelancers and here’s why.

As business continues to heat up for online companies, managers are feeling the pressure to have quick access to reliable specialists who can

* Update the design of a website
* Write content for web pages, article marketing campaigns and brochures
* Proofread ebooks, manuscripts and promotional copy
* Provide customer service for web based or telephone help centers and
* Manage administrative and accounting tasks with ease and professionalism.
* Assistant with Blog maintenance, forum maintenance and article writing for niche blogs

Many small businesses can not afford to hire employees. They may not have the office space or have enough work for a full time person. This makes temporary help so attractive.

The challenge today for a business owner is knowing where to turn to for this temporary or “as needed” assistance. A temporary employment agency can be costly and putting an advertisement in the newspaper can be time consuming and costly without necessarily providing the person that is really needed.

As a freelancer you know this already, but now there’s a freelancer’s directory that is helping to make that message loud and clear for you—the highly skilled female freelancer.

Shelancers is an online directory of professional female freelancers including graphic designers, bookkeepers, copywriters, virtual assistants, marketing specialists, website designers and many other professionals. This is a directory on a mission to help female freelancers push their businesses to the next level of success. Promotion and education go hand in hand at Shelancers.

“I decided to join Shelancers as a cost effective means of building up my client base. Shelancers is positioning itself as the “go-to” online directory for small businesses looking for the right professional to get the job done on time. They are also passionate about helping women to achieve financial success by sharing information on the best ways to succeed as a freelance professional today,” explains CAM Virtual Assistant Services.

Business owners who choose Shelancers are selecting a directory that features freelancers who are benefiting from the professional information and resources created specifically for Shelancers’ members. Resources include monthly reports, audio recordings and an active online discussion board where members can pose questions and discuss best practices in their fields.

The Shelancers directory also offers users easy online navigation tailored specifically for the needs of business owners/hiring managers. Service providers are listed according to service categories (e.g., accounting, web design, copywriting, virtual assistants, marketing, etc.). Each listing provides freelancer contact information and available client feedback to help hiring managers/owners to readily secure references, quotes and samples of relevant work.

If you’re a freelancer looking for a directory with the right services and support to position you for long term success it’s time for you to visit Shelancers

2008 is winding down…

And most all those resolutions we began earlier this year are now just distant memories.

Life gets kind of blurry this time now… as we charge into the much-anticipated ‘new’ start…again.

Lots of changes for most of us, new schedules, new plans, new goals…

And as the kids prepare for the holidays we love, we also consider how expensive things are getting and have been…and perhaps how things will change in our job, our life, our business in January.

Before you focus too far into the future, take a good, hard look at today.

Are you where you need to be to make this your best year yet?

To reach your full potential in life, family, and business?

It’s OK if you can’t answer yes.

Maybe you plowed right through the last few months, taking care of business as usual, but still not seeing the results you want…

Maybe you’ve been studying internet marketing, buying big box homestudy courses, reading every newsletter with great interest and wondering why you’re not having the same results as ‘the big boys’…

Or maybe you’re starting out, doing your research, plotting, planning and hoping that something about this ‘internet marketing stuff’ will work for you.

Whatever the reason, you are ready to:

• Focus on your online business without losing sight of your life.

• Find out what it takes to make your site, your offer, your product unique and set yourself apart from the rest.

• Layout your step-by-step plan for growing a strong, profit-generating online business.

• Get more done AND have more time each and every day.

• Connect with other positive online marketers, men and women with the same interests that you have.

• Bust through those mental walls (and or technical hangups) that have been holding you back.

You know it’s time to pull out the stops and make it all happen.

But what you may not know is that you don’t have to do it alone…

NOW OPEN – Internet Marketing Barefoot Boot Camp registration!

Six INTENSE and interactive sessions of coaching that Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive created specifically for internet marketers, LIKE YOU!

Six power-packed strategy sessions, exercises, and a host of resources that will transform your mindset, your business, and your life.

Her easy-to-understand (AND PROVEN) blueprint model that will get your profitable as quickly as possible. She doesn’t promise you overnight riches, but she DOES promise to teach you what works for her!

Where you are at next month, next year, five years, and even ten years from now, all starts with today.

You can get more details at Barefoot Boot Camp

Carrie is not the same-old hypey, aggressive marketer you expect to hear from… there is something different about her – but you need to check it out for yourself!

Go to this page and let her tell you in her own words! You will be glad you did!

But hurry – Carrie limits these classes for maximum interaction and there will only be 75 total slots sold! (last I checked, there were
just 62 left)

Do you have a product you currently market or are contemplating marketing?

We all need technology and new programs to make our online businesses run more smoothly. After all, computer technology is what allows us to sell our products online to our audiences. But sorting out all the details of new programs and determining what programs best suit our businesses and budgets can be very time consuming.

As an online product seller, one thing is true across the board: you need a shopping cart program. However, not all shopping carts include the same features nor are they priced the same. At one extreme you have free carts that may not be secure and offer no extra business features but the other extreme is the shopping cart that has many features but costs well over $100 per month.

With such disparities, it is important to do your research and price comparisons but if too much time is spent on research, then you are not able to focus on the money-making aspect of your business. Or, if you commit to a certain program and then determine it’s not right for you, you will have lost some hard earned money.

If you need a guide to explain the different features of an online shopping cart and what extra features will help your business grow, join us at the Shopping Cart FAQ teleseminar on December 17, 2008 at 9pm EST. Your personal guide is Regina Baker, your ecommerce solutions advisor who will answer all your shopping cart questions.

Over the years Regina has heard from numerous home based business owners the despair about not having $100+ per month to pay for an online shopping cart. Or feeling like they’ve wasted money on carts that had so many features their small businesses just could not use. Before you make a mistake in choosing your shopping cart, hear first hand how Regina has become the ecommerce solutions advisor overcoming some mistakes she made along the way, and her strategies for choosing the right shopping cart.

If you are new to internet marketing, you will leave the teleseminar with a full understanding of how an ecommerce website and shopping cart work in unison. Discover how to fully automate your ecommerce business so you can truly make money while you sleep.

If you are an experienced internet marketer, you might evaluate your current shopping cart and learn from Regina how you can make your ecommerce business run more smoothly and more efficiently. Improving your business automation will leave you more time to develop other money-making projects.

Don’t miss this opportunity to have access to Regina Baker’s e-commerce expertise at the Shopping Cart FAQ Teleseminar — for only $1 come and learn something new, ask your burning questions, and leave with a better understanding of how your business can grow with the right shopping cart.

To register for this informative Shopping Cart FAQ Teleseminar on December 17th at 9pm ET, simply Click here!

I’m often asked what a mom can do to work from home if she wants a business, but wants to have the benefit of a paycheck. My answer to that is get into a service based business. These businesses are a great option for moms who want to be paid hourly, but wants the freedom a business offers instead of working a job.

You can read more about VA work and this learning product HERE

One of the fastest growing home-based businesses today is Virtual Assisting. This isn’t a fluke thing; it’s happening because companies large and small are finally embracing the fact that it’s smarter and more cost effective to outsource much of their work. There’s a high demand for assistants with specialized skills to do the various time-consuming tasks that business owners don’t want to do.  Becoming a Virtual Assistant is practically a ‘recession-proof’ career, whether you’re taking time off from your career to raise children or continuing to keep active in the business community as a retiree.

Becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA) doesn’t necessarily require specialized training depending on the services you offer. You can build a highly successful business without any certifications at all.

What it is and who it’s for:

How to Become a Virtual Assistant walks you step-by-step through the process of starting and operating your very own VA business.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant is for anyone looking to work from home. It’s for those who want control over their schedules, who want to decide how much they earn per hour, who wants the freedom to take a day off when they want. How to Become a Virtual Assistant really is for everyone.

What You Get:

The How to Become a Virtual Assistant course includes:

•2 hours of audio outlining everything from getting a business license to keeping your clients happy.
•Accompanying workbook with notes
•5 customizable website templates to get you started
•A professional newsletter template so you can stay in touch with your readers and clients
•A video critique of a new VA’s website to show you how to optimize your site for maximum results.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant is full of real advice by real virtual assistants who have found success. They offer this information so you can avoid costly mistakes.

What you can expect to learn:

How to Become a Virtual Assistant teaches prospective Virtual Assistants everything from how to set up their business to how to keep clients coming back for more. It walks you through choosing domain names, hosting and even offers website templates so all you have to do is fill in your content. It covers how using a blog and a newsletter can help increase your business and you’ll learn about price and payment options, advertising, contracts and retainers.

What it costs:

How to Become a Virtual Assistant is a worthwhile expense when you look at what you’ll be earning as a Virtual Assistant.

Take a look for yourself, you’ll see what I mean, you’ll see why I enjoy working from home so much!

A career in the real estate industry bring with it thoughts of flexible schedules and big commission checks. But how flexible is being a real estate agent? Many moms think about a real estate career but wonder if they will have to commit all their evenings and weekends to working with clients.

Will You Have to Work Evenings and Weekends As a Mommy Real Estate Agent? by Tina McAllister

Are you a Mommy thinking about a career in real estate? Wondering how it will fit into your schedule as a busy Mom? Real estate can be an enticing career. For the most part, you are the captain of your own ship, you are your own boss.

Many people like to go into business for themselves because they want to be in charge, they want to be the boss. Then they quickly learn that when you own your own business, EVERYONE is your boss. Every single customer is in essence your boss! And this can’t be more true than for real estate professionals.

There is a certain amount of flexibility when you work real estate. Let’s face it; you don’t typically have clients wanting you to meet at 6am. Or even 9am. In fact, many agents joke that other agents are late-risers. But as a Mom, you probably don’t find that an issue since the kids probably already get you up first thing!

You WILL have to work some evenings and weekends!

But with that “no set hours” sense of freedom comes the reality that a real estate agent needs clients. She needs to talk with clients, meet with clients, show clients properties. You get the idea.

And your typical client will have a working schedule from 8am to 5pm. You may be able to call or email them during the day. But listing appointments and showing homes will most likely take place during the evening and weekend hours.

So…if you’re thinking that real estate is a business you can work while the kids are in school or while your babies take their naps, think again. But you will be able to do work during those hours, and with a little help from others, you can streamline your business so you don’t feel like every evening and weekend is being spent away from the very family you want to financially support! You are still in control and you can set limits on when you are able to meet with clients, and it’s important you do so from the start in order to create a healthy balance between your real estate business and family responsibility.

Tina McAllister is a ghostwriter for busy professionals and the author of The WAHM Agent. She also runs WAHM Biz Tips, a site providing business tips and more to work at home moms.
Article Source: WAHM Articles

If you’re a mommy looking to begin her real estate career, your first step will be getting your education. And before you step foot inside a real estate licensing class or spend a penny on your licensing courses, you’ll want to consider a few things.

What a Mom Should Consider Before Attending Real Estate School

by Tina McAllister

Once you’ve decided that real estate is the career for you, you need to get educated! Your state’s licensing requirements will let you know your options. Some states allow you to obtain your pre-licensing education online. But there are states where online licensing courses are currently not an option. For example, in Arizona, those who want to earn their real estate license must take classes in person at an accredited real estate school.

Your state’s department of real estate will inform you as to which schools are accredited to provide the required licensing courses. There may not be a lot of choices when you look for real estate schools in your area. But if you have several to choose from, make sure you look into each one carefully. Price should not be the only issue, though it is a critical component!

When you are looking at attending a real estate school in person, typically the classes you will be required to take in order to take the state exam will be bundled together for one price. And in fact, the bundle is usually a savings off of taking each class piece-meal over time. Prices vary all over the country, but expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $800 for your pre-licensing education. The more schools that offer the pre-licensing courses, the more competition…so that means you have bargaining power. If one school costs a little more, but is closer to home or has a better schedule, don’t be shy about asking that school to match the competition’s price.

Time-wise, you should look for a school that offers enough classes to fit your schedule. As a mom, it may be difficult for you to take any accelerated schedules that cram all the courses into the shortest time frame possible. But if you can, go for it! Sometimes it’s nice to just whiz through and get it all done so you can move onto that state exam while it’s still fresh in your mind. And you don’t want to be in a situation that if you miss a class you have to wait another couple weeks before it’s offered again.

Other factors to consider are the drive time and even the parking situation. With the cost of fuel these days, you don’t want to drive clear across town every day or several times a week, for several weeks. Factor in the cost of gas and your pre-licensing school costs just skyrocketed! And parking can definitely be an issue of concern as well. Imagine getting to school with just minutes to spare. Yet you can’t find any place to park!

Being required by the state to attend a real estate school in person shouldn’t be seen as a deal breaker. While you will definitely have to carve time out of your busy schedule to make it to school, it also gives you time away from all other responsibilities so you can concentrate on learning everything you can about real estate. And that’s a good thing!

Tina McAllister is a ghostwriter for busy professionals and the author of The WAHM Agent. She blogs on business tips and more for the work at home.
Article Source: WAHM Articles