Balancing your Online Home Business Life

Running your own online home business, however, does require discipline, not only due to the many distractions in your home environment but because you have no set rules or working hours that you have to adhere to, so herewith some tips to help you balance your work at home life.

It is highly advisable and really important to get into a routine as soon as possible and decide how many hours a day you are going to dedicate to your online home business then decide when those hours will be. Then it is a matter of ensuring that you do put in the hours required daily to ensure the success of your online home business.

Make use of To-Do Lists. Urgent tasks can be added to your daily list, tasks that need to be done in a week or two can go on your short-term list and major projects added to your long-term lists. Listing your plans and tasks will prevent you from becoming distracted and help keep you focused and motivated to ensure you accomplish all that you set out to do.

To save you being interrupted throughout the day it is a good idea to advise your friends and neighbours that although you are at home, you do have an online home business that you work hard at and let them know when it is convenient to visit, otherwise you will have people popping in throughout the day and you will find it hard to settle down to get any work done at all.

Try and get your chores done first thing before you switch on that computer and get involved with your online home business, because as you know the hours can fly by so fast when working on the internet.

Be sure to set yourself break times for meals otherwise you may also find the day goes by and you have not yet had lunch.

Don’t allow yourself to become house bound and totally absorbed in your online home business. You need to balance your life. Beware of falling prey to cabin fever! Spend quality time with the children, make time to get out and meet your friends, enjoy your shopping sprees or partake in your favourite sport.

Don’t forget to keep invoices, receipts and slips and claim for everything that is tax deductible for your home based online business, including your office space.

Be sure not to forget to attend to the maintenance of your computer. Back-up regularly and defrag your hard drive to ensure maximum performance of your pc.

You don’t ever have to miss another child’s school play or sports day. That is the great advantage of the internet and with an online home business you can make up the time working at night.

If you have a dog, working at home will change your dog’s life too. They will thrive and just love having someone at home all the time, instead of having to wait a whole day for human company.

Your dog will provide you with the very necessary daily walk that you also need having sat for long periods in front of your computer.

Having an online home business can sometimes get lonely, so at least you can never be accused of talking to yourself when you have a dog to share things with!

You dog will quickly slot into the new routine. The walk and play times not only give you the exercise you need but the very important break for your eyes. Looking at a computer screen all day is not good for them.

You may find it quite a juggle at first to settle down to working at home online but once you get into a routine you will relish the freedom of running an online home business and being able to come and go as you please without having to ask for permission.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-business-articles/balancing-your-online-home-business-life-200667.html

About the Author: Cynthia Minnaar enjoys the freedom of working at home online with her own online home business , the site for online home business startup ideas, extra income opportunities & internet income training. Start your own online home business & launch 6 automated streams of residual income today with an income generating site set up free within 24 hours. You may publish my article if you include the bio.

Deciding To Start Your Own Business

What a scary thought! Who would want to make that leap of faith and start their own business? Do you really have the self confidence to do it? Take a deep breath and think about it.

If you are contemplating starting your own business, I know these thoughts are running through your head. They certainly raced through my mind when I was thinking about it. This is a decision that needs thorough thought. Don’t jump into it without thinking.

Have you thought about opening a store? The investment for an “on the street” business is great – thousands and thousands of dollars. That excludes most of us. A workable alternative is a “work at home” business. The increasing popularity of the internet has really opened up that field. The instability of so many businesses has created a need for many people to work for themselves.

It is very possible to start an “at home business” with very little investment. This allows the “little guy” (you and me) to be self-employed. If you search the web for online businesses, you will find many that do require a large initial outlay of cash. That wasn’t for me. I wanted an opportunity to start with little or no cash output and then I could determine expenditures on advertising and other things. This would allow me to control my budget. Not having a lot to spend, I was aware that it is possible to find free methods of advertising which would require more time than money.

Some people will quit their “day job” and jump into a business. I do not advise this unless you are very financially secure. I continue my full time job, devoting all the hours I can in the evenings and weekends to my new business. This takes a lot of determination! You really need a lot of self confidence to believe that this business will succeed and you will be able to do it full time in the future. You really have to want to change your lifestyle. The thought of being in control of my destiny fuels me. I am determined to succeed.

Work at home businesses are also perfect for part time work. Those of you who just want to supplement your family’s income for vacation money, Christmas money, money to pay the bills would do well with an online business. You can control how much you earn and how much time you spend.

n this day of corporations constantly downsizing, no job is secure. Wouldn’t you rather be the one in charge? Wouldn’t you rather not have a long commute each day? Make the move! Start working for yourself.

Jan Wilhelm invites you to visit http://www.profitsr4u.com/. Not only is this site for the "want to be" internet marketer (lots of work at home and affiliate opportunities), but it is also for those already having a business (ways to improve your business.).

Also visit http://www.fitness-health-exercise.com/. There you will find articles on general health, health issues and fitness. There are also products to help you reach optimal health and fitness. Recipes and cookbooks also. Email me at jlw2fl@aol.com

Growing a Business Starts With a Good Marketing Plan

Turning a growing business into a successful business takes patience, an understanding of your customers and ingenuity in creating a strong marketing plan that is unique to your product and service. Grabbing attention from potential clients can mean the difference between a business that survives and a business that thrives!

Marketing is a term that is often used synonymously with "advertising." But it is more than that. Advertising sells a product, while a good marketing plan sets your business and your product and service apart from the pack, and makes you an industry leader that everyone turns to. Marketing is more than a selling tool; it is a way to build long term relationships with clients in order to create an environment that entices future business.

Understanding Your Clients/Customers: Statistics show that 80% of most sales come from a mere 20% of a businesses client base. The best way to increase results among that 20% is to get to really know your customers. Research is vital when marketing to existing customers. Some things you'll need to know before implementing a new marketing strategy are:

-Who your current clients are

-What your clients needs are

-Why they use your product or service

-When they use your product or service

-Why they buy your product and service

-How your product or service can better benefits both your existing customers, as well as future clients

Getting To Know Your Competition: No matter what business you're in, there's always a similar one on your coat tails, trying to better position themselves in your market. Customers can be fickle, and may decide to jump ship if they think they'll get a better deal elsewhere. The best way to prevent losing customers to new or existing competitors is to keep a close on what's going on in the industry and who the new players are. Take special care to watch for promotions and marketing schemes that may help your competitors lure away your customer base.

Find A Market Niche: Customers are always on the look out for something new and different. Maybe they want to keep using your tried and true product because of its quality or availability. Don't take their loyalty for granted. Always be on the lookout for better prices; special offers; more selection, virtually anything that will interest them into ordering again and again and again.

Niche marketing can be a good way to keep the customers you have and gain new ones from word of mouth advertising. Some businesses are known for their great prices; while other charge more, but rely on their high quality to make the sale. What is your business "known" for? If the answer is nothing, your next marketing plan should start there.

Limit Yourself: No one (or business) can do it all - and you shouldn't try. Don't try to have the best prices, biggest selection and highest quality in town. Figure out what your customers want and expect and then give it to them in the best way you know how. Trying to be too many things to too many people will result in weak expectations; poor sales; and dwindling customer loyalty.

No matter what type of marketing plan you devise, the key is to know your customer; be prepared to give them what they want and need; watch your competition and find your own niche in the industry. Once you can accomplish that, any marketing strategy is bound to work.

About the Author: Matthew Hick

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