All those emails you get telling you to fire your boss by calling a toll-free number or simply fill out this form may not look like much more than email pollution, until you get mad about something at work. Then those signs take on a new identity and you find yourself looking at those annoying emails more and those phone numbers and forms are looking better and better because you really want to find a way to be your own boss.
There are three aspects of working from home that prevent people from making the switch from their job to having a career working at home. Fear, uncertainty and motivation. Many are afraid of what will happen to their standard of living if they quit their job while others are uncertain about the type of job they will want to do at home. Motivation for start a home-based business is usually stronger after a disagreement with the boss or another supervisor at work, but most of the time it is short-lived.
Take a look at these three aspects, in random order and determine which one is the most responsible for holding you back from fulfilling the dream. Leaving a job you really are not happy doing to start your own business doing the same thing is not really making a change. The only difference will be that you have no boss to answer to, it is now for the first time in your life all about you, your are now the go too person for everything. The job will still be the same and is that what you really want to take to your home-based business?
If you are going to make the change, it should be doing something that you truly enjoy. It is often said that a job that you love to do guarantees your success and that is definitely true with a home-based business. Getting up every day and being able to make money doing something you enjoy makes going to work much easier.
Fear can be a powerful tool in keeping you from heading off on your own. You have probably become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and the thought of failing to meet the mortgage payment or not having electricity can be a powerful deterrent to keep many people in their current job, no matter how much they hate what they are doing. If you lack the trust in your own abilities to be able to support yourself and your family without someone else's influence, then working at home may not be the right move for you.
This brings up motivation, good research. If you have a home-based business doing what you love to do, that can provide the motivation to get you up in the morning and get to work to that great 20 second commute to your office. You are going to have fun doing your job and you are going to get paid for doing what you like to do. Now that you are motivated to get out of bed, consider paying the bills. Before venturing out on your own, you have researched your product or service and know there is a market for it in your area and or online.
If it helps, hang a copy of your bills in front of your desk to provide the motivation to continue selling your product or service. You will be on your own with a home-based business and if you do not work, the bills do not get paid. That is a powerful motivator.
Marcel Tardif
Copyright (c) 2008 Marcels Global
Gone are the days when a fledging writer had a limited amount of print sources to submit ideas and articles to. Competition was high and the chance to make it to the big time slim. The Internet has changed all that. A whole new world of opportunity is now open to the writer, offering thousands of new writing outlets. From formal magazine articles, newsletter content and marketing or sales copy, to short ebooks, blog entries and SEO keyword articles, just about anyone with a basic understanding of an article form, a good grasp of the English language and the ability to do basic research can write and sell a myriad of web-based articles and copy.
Just one simple search for freelance writing jobs online will result in hundreds of hits for sites that specialize in teeming writers up with potential clients. To be honest, many of these buyers want extremely cheap (as little as $1 or $2 each), articles that they can either use on a variety of websites or sell to other again and again, but even these low-paying clients are a great place to begin to build a portfolio and learn the ropes of freelance writing online.
Once you've learned how to quickly turn out quality work, not only will your client base expand, but so will the amount of money you can earn. It's not uncommon for a highly seasoned professional writer who is capable of taking a simple idea and come up with a thought-provoking and unique slant, then contacts the appropriate sources and turns out an informative and entertaining 2,000 word piece to garner $400 or more for a single article!
But, even if you never quite hit that level of professionalism and talent, just about anyone who's willing to hustle can make $15 to $25 an hour writing dozens of smaller 100 to 400 word articles and blog entries per day.
So, where can you find clients for your online writing? There are several types of sites available. The first is a content related site that allows writers to submit already written articles, set a price and sell them through their site for a 10-30% cut in the profits. These sites usually charge a hefty fee when an article is sold, bit does not charge a monthly or annual membership fee in order to participate.
The second is a type of bidding clearinghouse where a variety of buyers post specific assignments for writers ranging from short articles to ebooks and press releases, and allow providers (writers) to bid on their projects. These sites usually charge both a membership fee and percentage of each sale. However, they usually all handle client payments and offer additional provider portfolio and marketing services.
The third way that some writers market their work is through their own websites that feature their portfolio, stock articles for sale as well as an invitation to submit work proposals for consideration. These sites are normally reserved for seasoned professionals with an established client base and other marketing tools available.
As you can see, online writing is becoming a hot side job for many would-be as well as professional writers. With s many people looking for writers to keep their websites and email newsletters up to date and current it seems as if there's currently enough work out there for any writer willing to work hard and make their services available.
Both Marcel Tardif & Matthew Hick are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.