Combat Workplace Stress With Your Own Business

You may not realize it, but working your 9-5 job may be more damaging than you think. We all complain about our jobs and try to prepare ourselves every weekend for going back to work at the beginning of the week, but little do we know, the stress and negative emotions may have more of an impact on your health.

One of the most common stressful things that come from your job is being overworked and yet having absolutely no control. As soon as you arrive to your job, you are put to work - however, your freedom is limited to none. The projects you are given are usually not your ideas, and you seem to be working off of someone else's schedule. Peter L. Schnall, MD, occupational stress expert at the University of California, says that these high-demand, low-control jobs are the cause of much psychological strain. Being able to own your own business where everything is in your control will help decrease stress and let you know that everything is being handled the way you want it, and you are not being controlled by someone else.

Another stressful situation for employees is that of someone who works all the time, puts in 100% in everything that they do, shows off their bosses and works nonstop - even after arriving at home, and receives no credit and no recognition. When you are an eager person, willing to give it your all in what you do and receive no compensation or approval, this can be extremely stress inducing and is not good when trying to achieve your goals. Look at your career goals and decide if you would rather work your tail off for no reward, or find what you want to do, do it, and receive your proper credit. In a home business, you will display your eagerness to succeed and people will recognize it.

Along with the two examples above, this all can lead up to serious fatigue and that's a very dangerous position to be in. When you are mentally beat down, this leads to weaker defenses in your physical body, which leads to general weakness and lethargy that is not healthy at all. If you feel so frazzled that you might end up having a breakdown, that's when you need to seriously take a step back and find out how to fix the problem.

Don't endanger or restrain yourself by working in a place that causes you stress and health problems. Fortunately, with so many opportunities arising from home businesses, there is another way to save your health and to continue working in a stress-free, healthy workplace - your home!

Not only is it important to consider a home business, it is also important to consider what type of home business you run.

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What Does It Take to Become a Successful Direct Marketer Online?

Have you been tossing around the idea of a new career - as a direct marketer online? Are you wondering what it will take, and whether it's really the right choice for you?

If you've been searching the internet for online marketing opportunities and companies you've likely heard about all the great ways your life will change, all for the better. A lot of people are selling online marketing pipe dreams. Do these sound familiar...

• Work when you want
• No customers to deal with
• Work at home on your computer
• Never be laid off or downsized
• "Make a ton of money"
• "Never miss another of your son's soccer games"
• Fire your boss
• Join our upside-down, instant-cash matrix now and get rich!

But have you had an in-depth look at what it will really take to be successful? Don't be burned with such empty and false online promises. Starting a business requires some serious thought.

• You have to work. Nothing happens until something moves, and that means what you're selling. The more focused time you invest in your business, the more money you'll likely make.
• You must have customers. You can't do it all on your computer. You'll need to talk to people -on the phone and in person.
• You must have cash to invest in marketing your business. To get those people to talk to, you'll have to find them - with marketing and advertising. Starting any business takes investment.
• Your hours may not be your choice. You may have to work when people are home and you can reach them by phone. That can mean evenings and weekends.
• Even though you'll likely be working with a system your company has made available, you'll still need to do the work, get on the phone, place those ads, and learn the skills.
• Does your company have a skills training and mentoring program? If not, where will you get the training you need? Personally, I'd run if this was missing. It would be a deal-breaker.
• If you are choosing a multi-level business, your compensation will depend on the success of the people who join your team. As they sell, you get a percentage of their sales. Many of these will not succeed (probably up to 95%), so you will be constantly looking for new team members. Have you the skills to coach and train others?

A lot of people look at online or internet direct selling as a "spare time" business. Sure, you can start it as a part-time business. However, don't expect to make thousands per month quickly. It takes work, planned action and personal responsibility to succeed.

Never invest in an opportunity that you are not sure about. Instead, find something that you are interested in and will enjoy doing. In other words; do what you like doing, and the money will follow.

Ask yourself if you are committed to the success of your business. And don't fool yourself - this is a business.

Do you have the self-discipline? Can you stick to a schedule you've set up? Are you able to be accountable?

Are you ready to take advantage of the training and mentorship your company offers?

And finally, do you have a big enough dream to keep you going?

Online marketing can be very rewarding and fulfilling. If you're willing to put in the time and do the work, there are many benefits, from building income to meeting new friends, having time for travel, and creating a lifestyle of choice. Just choose wisely.

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3 Reasons Why ANYBODY Can Build A Website and Make Money!

Want to build a website? Not sure where to start?

If you're like most people, the prospect of building your own online website business interests you. Buy you may be intimidated by all of the technical jargon out there.

You may feel like it would take you forever to learn how - or that there's just too much to cover.

But that's actually not true.

You see, about 10 years ago, that may have been true. It was quite technical to build a website - and even harder to make money with it.

But today things have changed drastically. Here are 3 reasons why anybody can build their own website to make money online.

#1 Easier-To-Learn Website-Building Tools

When I started out building websites, you had very limited options. Most people bought software like Dreamweaver (which was very expensive - and difficult to learn to use) and spent a few months practicing on it.

They built their website offline and then used FTP to uploaded it to the World Wide Web through their webhosting service.

You usually had to have at least some rudimentary programming knowledge and know HTML to build a half-way decent-looking site.

It could be slow and arduous - especially for those of us who aren't that technically savvy.

But that's actually not your only option anymore. While you can still use old methods if you choose, there are a ton of new, simpler tools you can use to build your site. And the great news is that you don't need to know any programming to do it.

There are WYSIWYG site builders and drag-and-drop web design tools. You can get super-simple software or build your site online.

For example, I recently tested out 2 new website builders - and both of them took me less than half a day to learn (and I am not a techie by any means - I still have to call my husband to update my computer virus software).

So there are better website builders out there - builders that make it easy for you to create and design a show-stopping website - without you having to learn a single line of code!

#2 You Have Something Unique To Say and Share With Others

Another reason that anybody can make a website is that everybody has something unique to say and share with the world.

People think that there are so many websites out there that they couldn't possibly compete. But that's just not true.

OK, so you probably shouldn't go head-to-head with Amazon or Best Buy. But I guarantee you that you can contribute something that others haven't heard before - just because of your own unique view and life experiences.

For example, there are tons and tons of websites out there on how to build a website. But one thing I noticed was that many of them were too technical (because they were written by very smart, tech-savvy people who'd build tens or hundreds of websites using programming, CSS, PHP etc).

So they were completely intimidating for a newbie.

Several friends of mine (who knew I'd been making my living full time from my website businesses) kept complaining to me about how they wanted to build a website - but didn't understand all the mumbo-jumbo out there.

They just wanted a simple, straightforward, step-by-step guide for people who didn't want to learn programming or spend months designing a site.

So I started a site to help these friends - and others - on how to build a website for beginners who didn't even know a line of code. It's a niche site - building a website - but specifically and only for beginners.

I have another friend who is a diabetic. Instead of building a massive site on diabetes (which is a big subject), she focused on her particular interest - natural supplements that she has found useful in lowering her blood sugar.

Another friend is using her skills as a raw food chef to design a video series she'll sell from her website, teaching people how to get healthy with raw foods.

There are so many ways you can build a site that is unique. Even if you just want to build your own blog with a record of your favorite vacation. There will be lots of people who could use tips and would appreciate your feedback on your favorite hotels or sites to see.

#3 There are More Ways To Monetize Your Site Than Ever Before

The third reason anybody can build a website and make money is that there are so many more ways to make money than ever before.

Again, when I started out 10 years ago, there were a few things you could do. Affiliate programs and maybe sell your own eBook. But even those options were limited (there wasn't a lot of affiliate merchants and only a few ways you could distribute your eBook).

But today the options are mind-boggling. For example, you can take 5 minutes and place Google ads on your site - and start making a revenue share from people clicking on those ads.

You can write and sell your own eBook from your website as well as through Amazon and even the Apple store. You can sell video downloads from your website.

And affiliate programs are better than ever. (Affiliate programs are where you refer your website visitors to an online product. If they buy, you get a percentage of the sale).

You can refer your visitors to anything from gourmet chocolates to motorcycle parts to outdoor fountains to pool equipment. Basically, anything you have an interest in - there's probably an affiliate program for it.

You can also make money through professional referrals. For example, if you run a website on cosmetic surgery, you could make money from local cosmetic surgeons advertising on your site.

There are so many options these days on how to make money, it's simpler than ever. In fact many people use several of these ideas on their site to produce multiple streams of income.

So those are 3 reasons why anybody can build a website and make money today. While it does take an investment of time and energy, it's so much easier than ever before.

If a complete 'non-techie' like me can do it - you can do it too my friend!

What Is a Solo Ad? (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this article series, we discussed what a solo ad actually is and one method of buying them. In this article we will look at the other method of sending solo ads using Ezines.

As every online marketer knows, it is vital to build a list of potential customers and buying customers to whom you can sell your product and services. To sell your products and services, you need to these customers to your website and one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your website is with solo ads. For a more detailed explanation of how a solo ad works, please refer to Part 1 of this article.

Ezines are basically online newsletters or magazines sent to subscribers by email. There are small ezines with a few hundred subscribers to large eznies with hundreds of thousands subscribers and there are topics on just about everything

The great thing about solo ads with ezines is that you can reach a large number of people who you already know have an interest in your product or service. The ezine publisher will send out your solo ad independently of the ezine itself.

It is a really simple way to send out a campaign to a target audience. Find the right ezine that is related to your product or service, write your copy, pay for solo ad and the publisher will send it out to their subscriber list. And you know in advance they are interested in what you offer! Basically, you are using the ezine publisher's list to boost your own list. The publisher already has a list on many subscribers and when he sends out your message it is, in effect, the publisher endorsing you and your business to his subscribers.

As there are so many ezines available, before you buy your solo ad campaign, you have to check that the ezine is right for you. Do visit the publisher website and look at past editions of their ezine. Also, subscribe to their mailing list and read a few issues. If the ezine is aimed at your target audience it should be relevant to you and if it is not, why should it be relevant to your potential customers? You have to sure that it is a quality publication that subscribers will look forward to receiving as your solo ad will be seen to come from the publication - not you.

Finding your way through the sheer number of ezines available can be a lot of hard work. If you want to save time and find proven lists there are a number of ezine directories available online. Some provide not only all the research, prices and lists you need but also non-ezine advertising resources, marketing advice and consulting services.

With any solo ad, whether it is sent via an online marketers list or to an ezine subscriber list, you must ensure that your ad is well written with clear benefits so that the reader will click on the link within your text and provide you with their name and email so that they can be added to your prospect list.

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Starting Your Own Childminding Business - Our Story

I started working as an Ofsted-registered childminder nine years ago when our daughter was born. After two years of quality time with her I felt ready to go back into part-time employment.

The hours involved early starts and as my husband was a lorry driver also with early starts child care was immediately difficult. We managed to juggle childcare with a number of different arrangements. However this often fell apart when either two people would arrive to collect her from nursery or sometimes no one would turn up and I would get a telephone call from the nursery telling me that our daughter was still there. I had to leave employment and return to childminding. If I was going to offer childcare as a service and do it as a business I wanted to do it well, my ethos was to try to provide quality, flexible childcare.

Starting any small business, especially a childcare business, is dificult to begin with. It takes time to get known and trusted. As time went by I became known in the area and I gained more children. This eventually progressed to the point that I needed an assistant especially at meal times and afternoon school pick up time as I had children to pick up from two schools at the same time. At this time my husband was looking to change his job so the solution became evident. My husband became my assistant, however this posed other problems. He could not have the children on his own because he did not have a paediatric first aid certificate. We also needed more children to now cover two incomes. By becoming a registered childminder in his own right we were able to address both of these issues at the same time so in September 2010 he became an Ofsted-registered childminder. You will need to address similar problems as your business grows. You will progress to the point where you may need assistance but to be able to justify the cost of employing someone you may need to increase in size even further. This can be really challenging and for some periods may mean working long hours.

When my husband joined me we had a parent approach him specifically as she particularly wanted a male childminder as she felt her children needed a male role model in their lives. So don't be put off by employing male childcare staff it may even bring in more business!

Throughout our time working together we have continued to keep in mind our initial ethos of providing quality, flexible childcare. Its worth trying to stick to your initial goals don't provide a lower quality service just because your business is growing, if you do you may find your business shrinking again. For us it has meant that at times we have taken on work that other childminders have shied away from such as early starts, (07.00) and even Sundays. We now tend to start at about 07.45 and our last children go home about 18.20 although at one time our last children would not go home until nearly 19.00. Bear in mind though that offering such a service can easily put a strain on your own family and personal life.

Trying to run a successful and profitable business whilst also being good parents and having time for each other is a struggle. The best advice is to provide a quality service and eventually you are able to be more selective about what you choose to take on. Also as your business grows you may well find yourself in more of a management position looking after your childminding assistants rather than the children themselves. That may be where you want to end up for us we prefer to keep our business at a size that enables us to continue doing what we love looking after children. Remember it takes time to establish trust in any kind of new business and this is especially true when running a childcare service. It also takes time to determine the balance between trying to run a successful business while not encroaching too much on family life.

What Is a Solo Ad? (Part 1)

Every online business, to make money online, needs a mailing list of customers who will buy from them.

Building a list is hard work and takes time to drive targeted traffic to your website.

One of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your website is with solo ads.

The solo ad will contain information about your product and service and contain a link to your website or landing page. If the reader considers your offer beneficial to them, they will click the link to find out more information. To receive more information, you ask the reader to provide their name and email address into a form on your website or landing page so that you can send it to them. This person is now a prospect on your list.

The primary advantage of a solo ad is that it is the only message that a reader sees and it is sent by someone the reader knows and trusts.

While these ads do generally cost more than other online advertising, if you have proven ad copy and if your website is converting visitors into prospects, it provides a very good return on your investment.

The ad is normally in a text format, just like a regular email, and because it is only sent to people who are interested in what you have to offer, you are communicating to an audience who are more likely to buy from you, or at the very least, have an interest in what you have to sell. For example, if your website sells golf accessories, you may have some success if you advertise with a sports or leisure magazine. However, your return on investment will be higher if you know that your message is going to people who are specifically interested in golf and golf alone.

There are two ways that you can send out a solo ad.

This first article deals with buying 'names' from an online marketer who already has a big list of subscribers. Part 2 is about using Ezines.

You can contact an online marketer with a big list of subscribers and they will send your message to a section of their list for a fee. You will not know the names of the people who will receive your message. You purchase your solo ad based on the number of people that the list owner will send the message to - normally starting from around hundred names up to a few thousand.

When purchasing a campaign from an online marketer with a big list you will obviously pay more for your message to be sent to more people. Often a list owner will guarantee a set number of 'clicks'. This means that they will send out your message to a pre-determined number of people and guarantee that these people will open your email message and 'click' on the link to your website or landing page.

It is always worth contacting the list owner prior to purchasing a campaign to ensure that their list will be receptive to your offer and when they will be able to send it out. Unless you have established a good relationship with the list owner you may have to wait a week or two before your ad is sent out and you may not have the option of the exact day that it is sent. Also, some list owners will write the ad copy, so make sure that they fully aware of the benefits of your product or service.

Do 'shop around' as there are many list sellers who charge different prices for sending out to the same number of names. You do get what you pay for, so sometimes the cheapest is not necessarily the best. Always check for testimonials from others who have purchased from the list owner.

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What Does Work-Life Balance Mean Today?

Work-life balance is a term that refers to maintaining harmony between your career and personal life. Enjoying a work-life balance is necessary for business success today, as overworking yourself can lead to burnout.

As mentioned above, "work-life balance" is a fairly new term. Traditionally, work was necessary for day-to-day survival for most people, so the average person did not see it as separate from "life." Most people worked alongside their family members, for their own sustenance or profit, and often on property they lived on, juggling chores and family duties throughout the day.

Only in the mid-1800s, with the birth of industry, did work become separate from daily, necessary tasks. Factory labor required consistency, travel away from the home, and set schedules to achieve business success, leading to a greater work ethic in society, but also the division of life and labor.

In our modern world, many strategies exist for balancing work and life, such as:

1. Taking regular vacations
2. Sprinkling short breaks throughout the day
3. Using days off strictly for family and leisure
4. Requesting flex hours at work
5. Scheduling time after work specifically for hobbies
6. Telecommuting or focusing on home-based businesses

The last one may be the most interesting because, in a way, it is actually bringing back the conditions that existed before the industrial revolution. Many people are once more working where they live, near their families, and for themselves. Instead of blocking out eight-hour periods for work or leisure, the average telecommuter or home-based entrepreneur handles both business and personal duties throughout the day.

In our view, this offers an alternative solution to the work-life balance problem. If this division was created artificially, it could also be removed.

As the economies of developed countries start putting more weight on providing services instead of goods, and more menial tasks are becoming automated, average people have more opportunities to make a living doing activities they enjoy. Work and leisure no longer have to be so separate.

Basically, entrepreneurship, telecommuting, home-based businesses, and freelancing all offer opportunities to work toward business success on your own terms, making work a part of your life and life a part of your work.

As the Chinese philosopher Confucius said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Perhaps that is the ultimate key to work-life balance and business success.

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