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<title>Latest Home Based Business Articles</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/</link>
<description>Articles at BetterLifeAdvice</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<item>
<title>10 Effective Advertising Tips! 80% of All Advertising Is Wasted Due To This Common Mistake.</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-effective-advertising-tips-80-of-all-advertising-is-wasted-due-to-this-common-mistake.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-effective-advertising-tips-80-of-all-advertising-is-wasted-due-to-this-common-mistake.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:01:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Writing a classified ad to sell your product isn't as hard as you might think, if you spend time researching effective copy writing strategies.

Here are a few to try NOW!

1. Never try to sell expensive items from a small classified ad.
Use the two step method. Request the reader visit your site
for free information or email an auto responder address
for more details where you will respond with longer
ad copy to effectively sell your product.

2. Study how other marketers write their sales copy. This is a no brainer. Simply study the ads in newsletters you are subscribed to. 
Or surf to a few of the free classified ad sites and study the ads placed there. Don't copy their ads word for word but use them as an effective design to write your own adverts.

3. Advertise in the right Newsletter. That's right. This is basic stuff. Don't place your ad for cooking lessons in a Sports Trivia Newsletter. Or High Tech EBooks on Java-Scripting in a Romance 
Writers Newsletter.

4. Target several appropriate publications. Subscribe to the
publications and study their classified ads for several editions
before placing your ads. Practice writing adverts following their
basic ad writing guidelines.

5. Advertise in more than one publication at a time. Why?
You want to pull in as many interested readers as possible in
order to make sales.

6. Change your ad copy if it's not working. If people read the same old
ad copy in the publication every month they will get bored and 
probably ignore your copy. It's human nature to do this. 
Freshen up your copy with new headlines, different lengths, new
wording, power words, appropriate humor, details, interesting facts, 
testimonials.

7. Key your ads to find out which ones are working. Or simply have
several email addresses or auto responders and calculate which
email address receives the most response to your ads.

8. Keep records of everyone who responds to your ads. Follow up
with appropriate messages about your product. Of course give
them the option to opt out of receiving further correspondence.

9. Free Classified Ad Sites are a great way to test your ad
writing skills before placing paid ads in publications online.
Study how other marketers at these sites write their ads. 
Respond to their ads to see how they further market their
product. Don't forget to set up a free email account
especially to handle your request.

10. Study offline publications. And, advertisements you receive
by snail-mail to see how they put it all together. This will
help to build your ad writing skills and confidence in your copy writing abilities.
80% of All Advertising Is Wasted Due To This Common Mistake

You’re flipping through this publication as you wait for your latte, when suddenly you decide to stop and read an ad. What made you stop? I’ll bet it was an attention grabbing headline.
It is a scientifically proven fact that 5 times as many people read headlines as read the body copy of an ad. So with the headline, an advertiser has spent about 80% of their advertising dollar. It doesn’t take a genius to realize then the headline is the most important part of any ad.
Yet, most small business advertising is wasted for lack of an effective headline or, worse yet, no headline at all. Don’t make this same mistake.
The headline is the first thing that your reader or prospect sees when they open your letter, browse a magazine, or flip your postcard. In that moment, (about 3 seconds) your reader decides whether or not to read any farther.
So first and foremost, any advertisement you produce must have a headline and your headline must grab your reader's attention immediately. If you don't grab them by the throat and hold them right away, you never will. 
Writing powerful headlines takes some hard work but it can be done if you follow some simple guidelines. 
1. Your headline should give the reader a reason to stop and read now instead of later – a carefully chosen word or two can create urgency
2. Your headline should communicate something the reader considers valuable – they need to be able to justify the time spent reader your ad
3. Your headline should scream how you might offer something that is unique or at least interesting
4. Your headline should point to something very specific for the reader – use facts and how to’s
Using these points as a guide to create your headlines allows you to create headlines that hook your reader quickly, offers them a benefit they want, and gives them a reason to read on.
Never use boring, conventional or overused statements and never use a headline to trick your reader into looking on.
Attention Getting Power Words for Your Headlines
Look at powerful headlines and you will see that many contain one or more of the following words that sell.
Discover Easy Free New Proven Save Results Introducing
At Last Guarantee Bargain Easy Quick Sale Why How To
Just Arrived Now Announcing
Start of by writing some headlines that clearly communicate your promise, benefit or USP. Then look for ways to make them even more powerful by adding a power word or two and checking if they contain at least 3 of the guidelines provided above. ]]></description>
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<title>10 Eye Popping, Jaw Dropping Ad Copy Secrets</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-eye-popping-jaw-dropping-ad-copy-secrets.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-eye-popping-jaw-dropping-ad-copy-secrets.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:53:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ 1. Use a hand written letter on your ad copy instead of text. Write the ad on a piece of paper, scan it and publish the ad on your web page. Adding a personal touch will always increase your sales.

  2. Publish a list of famous and respected customers who have bought from you on your a copy. People will think that if these people bought from you, they should also trust your business and purchase your products. Make sure to get their permission first

  3. Show before and after photos for your products on your web page copy. Show the problem picture and then beside it, show the picture of the resolution to the problem when they use your product.

  4. Include an article or review that has been written about you or your business with your ad copy. This will show people that your business is respected and will increase your credibility.

  5. When you offer free bonuses in your ad copy, also list the dollar value beside each bonus. People will feel they're getting a good deal and it will increase the value of your product.

  6. Hire a famous person to endorse your product or service. Make sure the person is well known to your target audience. Include their picture and statements on your ad copy.

  7. Include your own picture on your ad copy. This will show people that you're not hiding behind your ad copy and will increase their trust. Also, include your contact information below the picture and a brief statement or quote.

  8. Tell your potential customers on your ad copy that you will donate a percentage of their purchase price to specific charity. This will show them you really care about the people. They may just buy your product to donate to the charity.

  9. Ask your potential customers plenty of yes and no questions in your ad copy. The questions should remind them of their problem and make them think about what will happen if they don't purchase your product.

  10. Tell your potential customers they will receive a free prize if they find the five words in your ad copy that are misspelled or spelled backwards. The longer you can keep someone reading your copy the greater chance of them purchasing.  

Get a boatload of FREE proven headlines, articles, ad copy, viral marketing materials, FREE software, and a home business where YOU keep 100% of the profits!  www.freesoftware4life.com ]]></description>
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<title>10 Important Questions To Ask Web Developers Before Dishing Out the Dough</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-important-questions-to-ask-web-developers-before-dishing-out-the-dough.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-important-questions-to-ask-web-developers-before-dishing-out-the-dough.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:45:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Assuming you already have a fairly good idea of what you want on your web site and will more than likely be writing your own copy or having it written for you, here are 10 questions you need answered to help you create an effective web site without breaking the bank or delaying your plans. 

1.  Price by project or by the hour?  Accepting an hourly rate agreement gives you little control over costs unless you put a spending cap into effect.  If you have to exercise the spending cap, what if your site is only partially complete?  Inevitably, you will have to dish out more dough to get it finished and this is a strain you want to avoid as you start your new business.

2.  Once the site is complete who will maintain it?  If the developer offers this service, what are the costs and turn-around time?  If you'd rather assume modification control, do they offer access to and training on editing software?

3.  What is the expected completion date for the site?  You want to be in a position to plan ahead for the launch.  Having this information will allow you to organize your marketing efforts and prioritize all other plans that tie in to "going live".

4.  What is the payment structure?  Do they want all of the money up front?  Half now, half upon completion?  Make sure you hold back partial payment until your site is complete and you are fully satisfied with the results.

5.  Will your designer submit your site to the search engines or will this be your responsibility?  If this is your responsibility, do your homework to ensure you cover all the steps. (Keywords and META tags must be done prior to submission.)

6.  Who will be responsible for search engine optimization? This is usually an add-on service, so find out if your developer includes it with site development, offers it at an additional cost, or if you will have to contract it out to a third party.

7.  Who will hold the master key to your site? Make sure you do! Don't leave this critical component of your business and marketing strategy in the control of a third party.  Get all passwords and access to all data.

8.  Will your developer teach you how to read your web logs/stats so you can understand the how, what, where and why of your visitors? 

9.  Has the developer designed other sites for your niche market?

10.  Has the web designer provided a portfolio, testimonials or references from others in your niche market?  Have you verified the references?

A web site is a major component of your marketing strategy and business success. Do your due diligence in selecting a web developer and don't hesitate to ask as many questions as it takes to fully understand both your and your developer's role in the process.

2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source ]]></description>
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<title>10 POWERFUL Reasons Why You're Crazy NOT To Start A... Home Based Business In 2006</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-powerful-reasons-why-you-re-crazy-not-to-start-a-home-based-business-in-2006.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-powerful-reasons-why-you-re-crazy-not-to-start-a-home-based-business-in-2006.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:37:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Home Based Business's are spreading across North America and have become widely recognized as one of the most desirable business's to start for several reasons.

Just think for a minute what it would be like to work from home and never have to worry about waiting in grid lock traffic or to answer to your boss's demands.

Wouldn't that be great?

In todays fast paced world a little extra income doesn't hurt in order for the average guy or gal to get ahead in life so they can enjoy the little extra's life has to offer that there current job doesn't allow them to do.

I know from experience because that's what made me take the neccessary action steps required in order for me to enjoy the quality of life I wanted to live and provide for my family.

But, the problem that usually occurs is people need to be motivated by something or inspired in order to take action.

Well, the purpose of this article is to do exactly that, inspire you.

I'm going to cover with you the 10 main reasons why You should consider starting your known 'Home Based Business' and the benefits behind each of them.

I guarantee once you read through them you'll agree that a 'Home Based Business' might be worth considering.

With that said, let's go to reason #1.

Reason #1. Be your own Boss.

Ever dream of being your own Boss?

Well starting a 'Home Based Business' is a step in the right direction and the best part is, you'll never have to answer to anyone else's orders, just your own.

Reason #2. Work when you want to.

This is probably one of the best reasons in my book for starting a 'Home Based Business' simply because you get to set your own schedule for what hours You want to work.

This is especially beneficial for stay at home moms who have children to tend to and need some flexibility in there work schedules.

Reason #3. Freedom to do what you want when you want.

How's that for a reason to get started. By being your own boss and being able to schedule your own work hours you NOW have the freedom to do what you want when you want to with whom you want at anytime.

It's a great feeling to be in control of your own life and do what you want when you want.

Reason #4. No more worrying about job security.

By having you own 'Home Based Business' you never have to worry about receiving a pink slip from your boss or a "SORRY", but the company has to cut back on its employee's and You happen to be one of the one's who has to go.

Reason #5. It doesn't interfere with your current "J.O.B.".

That's right, you don't have to quit your current J.O.B. in order to get started. You can start on a part-time basis until your able to replace your current income with the income you generate from your business.

Remember, you get to set your own hours for when you want to work your business.

Reason #6. It will make you a more confident person.

By setting out and starting your own business it'll make you a more confident person because it takes alot of confidence to start something you have no idea what the outcome might be and the risks involved, whether there financial or personal.

Reason #7. It builds a sense of pride.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to tell your friends and family or just somebody you meet that you're an entrepreneur and you run and operate your own successful 'Home Based Business'.

Pride also works as a motivator because the more successful you get the harder you'll want to work in order to achieve the goals you have set for your business.

Reason #8. It's all for the MONEY.

MONEY is a pretty obvious reason for starting a 'Home Based Business' because Why would you otherwise start a business if you weren't planning on making any MONEY.

It also builds a sense of security for your way of life and the things you enjoy doing because the facts are... nothing for FREE. Everything has a price.

Reason #9. You get great Tax benefits.

You heard right, you get Tax benefits with running your own 'Home Based Business' because now you're entitled to home business tax deductions.

This is a category in it's own and getting a good CPA who has experience with home based business tax returns will be essential in order for you to maximize your return for the year.

Reason #10. Wouldn't it be great to retire early.

If your business turns out to be a SUCCESS and you invest and put your money to work for you, wouldn't it be great to retire early and do the things you've always dreamed of doing, but never had the time or money to do so.

There you have it, "10 POWERFUL Reasons Why You're Crazy NOT To Start A... Home Based Business In 2005".

Now, if those 10 reasons don't get you excited about starting a 'Home Based Business' then I have failed to inspire you.

If you need to read through them again, do so now.

These are the very reasons I contiplated before starting my home based business and in my mind are the most common.

Write down for yourself why You would want to start a 'Home Based Business', I bet you'll come up with several of the reasons I've listed above.

With that said, there's one more thing I want to mention and that is if you are seriously thinking about starting a 'Home Based Business', whether it be online or offline, make sure you put together a 'Step-By-Step' business plan on the actions you must take and make sure you start a business you enjoy doing. ]]></description>
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<title>10 REAL AdSense Secrets</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-real-adsense-secrets.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-real-adsense-secrets.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:29:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Get Rich Quick Scams Revealed
Read this article before you consider paying for a "get rich quick" program. 
From: AdSense Secrets
Everybody would love to make lots of money quickly, working from home, and only doing a few hours of work per week. I've spent the past two years trying to find a great way of doing this. Only over the course of the past few months have I found any "get rich quick" programs worth buying. I've been trying to make money online for a long time. I had a few small websites, but they never made much more than a few hundred per month. It was easy money and didn't require much work on my part, but I knew there were people out there doing better than I was and I knew I could do as well as them. 
Now, I've seen a lot of "get rich quick" programs. Most of these people make claims about earning $2000/day with Google or something similarly insane. Almost all of these people are complete liars. Even if they were making $2000/day with Google AdSense, it'd be because they had high- traffic websites with a lot of quality content. I'd know, because in one whole month, I never even made half of what they promised I'd make daily with their programs. Maybe you've already been scammed by one of these fraudsters. Anyway, I finally got sick of what was being offered. 
I decided I'd look through the all of the "get rich quick" programs I could find and see if there were any that were actually legitimate. I found that there were owners selling their programs for well over $100, but the information in them could be found almost anywhere online for free. Additionally, they all contained out-of-date information, had no e-mail support, no money back guarantees, and broken links in the downloads section.  
In conclusion, almost all of the programs I found were completely useless. The owners knew it, but they couldn't care less about their customers since they didn't offer refund policies! Amazingly, while looking through all of the programs, I actually did find a few legitimate programs. They were run by ordinary people like you and me, and they had found some great methods of making money from their home by doing very little work. 
I spent some time working with those programs, and my income is now ten times what it used to be. These programs provided a large amount of great information on how to make extra money on your computer doing very little work. Numerous customers had provided great feedback and reviews for their products. Many of them have started to make money just days after buying! 
Their programs have excellent prices, and the authors have a group of paid staff who are dedicating to helping you or providing assistance if you need any. I must say I was amazed! If you do decide to purchase any of the programs listed below, I recommend you join quickly. Most of the owners tell me they are getting an overwhelming number of sales and plan on raising prices in the near future, so order while prices are still low! 
To Your Online Success,
  AdSense Secrets ]]></description>
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<title>10 reasons for starting a profitable home business online.</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-reasons-for-starting-a-profitable-home-business-online.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-reasons-for-starting-a-profitable-home-business-online.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:21:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's possible to start a home business online with very little 
outlay and you can easily earn from $100 to thousands per day.

1. You want to escape the rat race. You'd rather spend the 2 hours 
you waste every day with your family, or on a hobby. Running your 
own business online you can stop the commute, and you can feel good 
because you are helping to cut pollution too. 

2 You can work part time building your new home business online until 
you see it taking off. You aren't giving up your bill paying regular 
job to jump in without any income. 

3 It's possible to start a home business online with very little 
outlay. Webhosting is cheaper than a bricks and mortar shopfront. 
You already have the pc to access the net, it can start working 
for it's keep. 

4 You can choose your own hours. If you have an appointment to keep 
in the morning, start your online work in the afternoon. No one can 
tell you "you can't have that week off in August, Bill got in first" 

5 If you work harder you can benefit directly, you put more hours in 
and your online business makes more profit, your wages go up. Your 
salary isn't fixed by someone elses view of what you're worth. 

6 A lot of online business tasks can be automated, using readily 
available tools. Emails can be automatically sent by 
autoresponders, even regularly asked questions can be sorted and 
answered by software. 

7 A website works 24 hours a day without complaining. Even if you're 
on holiday your online business website can be working online for 
you bringing in money. 

8 Your online business can be as far reaching as you want, it can 
offer something for your local community. It can equally sell to 
people around the world, without penalty. It doesn't cost any extra 
to send an email to Australia, or for your website to be used to 
make a purchase by someone in Europe. 

9 Starting a home business online means you have a continuously 
growing market as more and more people come online everyday. 

10 It's dress down day everyday. You can work in your pyjamas if you 
want, nobody's going to stop you in your own home. No more suits and 
ties unless you want to wear them, but that's your choice. ]]></description>
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<title>10 Reasons Why You Should Become A Virtual Assistant This Year</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-reasons-why-you-should-become-a-virtual-assistant-this-year.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-reasons-why-you-should-become-a-virtual-assistant-this-year.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:13:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ First of all, what is a virtual assistant (VA)? I like to explain it as a word processor gone wild. A VA is someone who works with clients, providing them with top quality support services without having to be physically present at a clients office. VA services are becoming more and more popular thanks to today’s technology such as email, the Internet, online instant messaging, fax, phone, and overnight delivery. Gone are the days of offices needing their support staff in the same building. 

If you have a secretarial background or other support staff expertise and a love for computers and all the technology it offers, then here are ten very good reasons why you should start your own VA business this year. 

1. Make An Income You Can Live On

It was reported by virtual assistant trade organizations that the average full-time VA working in the US would gross about $39,452 annually. Now that isn’t a bad income! 
That is the type of money you can live on, even if you are a single mom. 

2. The Need For VA’s Is Only Going To Get Greater

According to the George Washington University forecast of emerging technology, Virtual Assisting will become a  $130 Billion Industry by 2008. Thanks to our growing technology, and the fact that it’s easier to just source out work to a VA due to the fact that a business doesn’t have to pay for any benefits when they out-source, this type of service will only get bigger and more in demand. 

3. Are you feeling unfulfilled, unchallenged, and unmotivated?  Is your current corporate job beginning to feel like a real drag?

Are you dreading getting dressed up, driving your commute to work, and working with a boss who is ungrateful and unappreciative? Do you love some parts of your job and despise other parts and wish you could do the parts you love more? Then becoming a VA might be something you need to look into. 

4. Want to continue your professional working life without having to leave home? 
Want the flexibility to work from home and have a better balance between work and life? 

Maybe you’re thinking of having kids, or have had your first baby. You so want to continue your career, but you also want to spend more time with your children. Take a good hard look at the world of a VA. This type of home business will continue to give you the satisfaction of a career, while also offering you the ability to be there for your kids doctor appointments, their first step, school field trips, and running them around to after school events. 

5. Gain the ability to work with people you want to work with. 

Do you tend to click with certain types of people more than others? With a VA business, you can decide who you want your clients to be. Authors, salespeople, consultants, coaches, executives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners are just a few of the types of people you could work with. 

6. The ability to do more than just one thing.

Looking for a little variety in your business? Don’t want to get stuck doing the same thing over and over again? Here is a list of just some of the things you can do as a VA. 

Administration
Writing services (technical or creative)
Business/employee communications
Proofreading and editing, research (online or traditional)
Word-processing
Spreadsheets
Data entry
Database management
Message management
Scheduling
Bill paying
Simple website design
Newsletter distribution
Bulk mailing
Reminder services
Event planning
Special projects
Concierge services
Secretarial services
Research
Data processing/data management
Desktop publishing
Transcription services
Mail and email services
Telephone/fax services
Internet services
Bookkeeping
Purchasing services
Writing/editing services
Marketing services
Personal services
Santa letters
Proposal Writer

7. The ability to Niche yourself. 

Choose just a few of the ideas above and take it one step further. Niche yourself. You might already possess knowledge in a certain area. You can contact those businesses you are already familiar with and work with them. Maybe in the past you had worked as support staff for a marketing company. If marketing is your thing, you can let businesses know that you can not only be their VA and take care of all their typing and database applications, but that you can also use your expertise to help them market their business. 

8. Use the equipment you already have.

If you’re reading this article, then there’s a good chance you already have a computer, a printer, and fax capabilities. Why not start putting that equipment to good use and make some money? 

9. The choice between working full-time or part-time. 

Maybe you don’t want to work full time, but you need to do something to call your own. That’s great! You’ll be your own boss; you can decide how much or how little you want to work. 

10. Being able to say you love the way you make money. 

If just the thought of working with your computer and current technology makes you giddy, why not make money doing something you love? Grab hold of the opportunity to make as much money as you’d like and the ability to work from your home.  You have the opportunity to decide who you want to work with, the type of work you want to do or not do, and your niche area. If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you visit *** to learn more about starting your own Virtual Assistant Business. 

For More information on this business visit: http://www.bizymoms.com/cart/careers/va_kit.html ]]></description>
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<title>10 Setup Secrets For Your Home Based Business - Ten Of Them!</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-setup-secrets-for-your-home-based-business-ten-of-them.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-setup-secrets-for-your-home-based-business-ten-of-them.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:05:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Setting up a home based business doesn't have to be intimidating, expensive or time consuming. When you decide to make your living working from home, you simply need to go through a basic set up process to ensure you are ready. 

Here are the steps for setting up your home business for success: 

1. Attitude 

- The key to your business success is your attitude. 
- Treat your business like a business. 

This is critical whether you are working part-time or full-time. For example, the mom who works from home around her family. She always puts her family first, at the same time developing her business. She says, "I may work part-time, but I have a full-time attitude." To put another way, "Have a hobby attitude, get a hobby income, have a business attitude get a business income." 

You can be successful working part-time and you can be successful working full-time but it is unlikely that you will be successful just working in your "spare time". 

2. Describe Your Business 

Be able to describe your business concisely; a powerful one or two sentence description that someone can repeat in describing your business to others. 

A unique and memorable tag line can also be invaluable for promoting your business. This is often referred to as your "elevator pitch" or "audio logo". Think about it, if you ask someone about their business and they describe it as "a errr, well, I kind of take care of, you know, well in as much as..." would you be impressed? Would you think that you should really hire that person? It's much better to be able to speak briefly, confidently and memorably about your business and what makes it unique. 

3. Know Your Product or Service 

Once you have chosen the product or service to sell you need to know your product intimately. If you are selling e-books for example, then know the content and its value. If you are selling software then use it and know it "inside out". 

You will develop a reputation of providing quality information and because of your product knowledge, you can become the preferred supplier. 

If it is not practical to use certain products (for example a woman may choose to sell man's shoes or vice versa) then you won't be using the product, however you can still know the benefits and features of the product intimately. 

4. Get a Domain Name 

Welcome to the twenty first century, you need a domain name for your business! You'll need an account with a reputable hosting company who will provide a "space" on the web for your domain name and site. The fees can be as low as $4.95 per month and go up from there. If you do not have any knowledge of HTML there are hosting companies that provide "site builder" software via the web. This can be a great option but be sure you like the application before you plunk down your money as you will probably be using it a lot! 

5. Email 

Once you have your own domain you will have one or more email accounts for that domain. This can assist in the promotion of your business and promotes a more professional business image. 

Using email smartly can help you in the task of organizing your business communications. For example, sales can arrive via sales@your-company.com, support and help requests via support@your-company.com and so on. 

By setting up some basic rules in Outlook or other email program you can have the mail conveniently sorted into folders for you as soon as it arrives. 

6. Payment Processing 

You will probably need a way to process credit cards. You could use services such as:

- PayPal https://www.paypal.com 
- StormPay http://www.stormpay.com 
- 2 Checkout http://www.2checkout.com 
- Clickbank http://www.clickbank.com 

Paypal now has a Pro level of service that includes a virtual terminal, helping to keep the costs low. Once your business picks up you may need to look into your own merchant account for credit card transactions but any of the sites listed will certainly get you started and may be all you need for the life of your business. 

7. Computer Protection 

Your computer is the lifeline to your business dealings and must be protected including the data that is stored. You will need a virus scanner, personal firewall, anti-spyware and anti-adware and preferably an email scanner with the ability to delete suspect of spam email from the server before it is downloaded to your computer. 

Some suggestions are: 

- AVG Anti-Virus: http://www.grisoft.com (free version available) 
- Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org 
- Microsoft Anti-Spyware: www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx 
- Adaware: http://www.lavasoft.com/ 
- Mailwasher Email Scanner: http://www.mailwasher.net 

A good all-round selection is one of the Norton products as they are kept up to date and have many if not all the features mentioned. 

8. Working Environment 

Getting organized is highly important, to ensure that you complete projects on time but also pay your bills on time and even bill your clients on time! 

Having a working environment that help rather than hinders you work is also highly important. It can be tough but you need to establish a definite workspace for both yourself and any other people that are around.

- A space that you can call your own, free from distractions for your scheduled time. 
- A comfortable chair and organized desk. 
- Stationery supplies as required. 
- Ensure you have a good computer monitor if you will be staring at it for long periods of time. 
- Consider the value of a broadband connection. Your time is valuable and a broadband connection can allow you to get more done in a given time frame. 

9. Administration 

Use good record keeping practices... please! 

You may need to consult a tax advisor who can let you know about the best way to set up your financial records and what records need to be kept. Your advisor can recommend record keeping systems and software may simplify this aspect of your business. 

Additionally you can obtain advice on the best arrangement for your bank accounts. You will most likely be advised to have a separate account. Many banks now offer free checking for small business so do your research in to the options available to you. 

Keep track of your various logins, usernames and passwords. This can be quite a big deal once your have a number of business resources online. 

There are other useful tools for this also from a simple paper notebook to free and commercial password keepers. One popular solution is PasswordSafe.com. They provide a free web based service for storing username / passwords so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. They've been around since 1998 so the service is both trustworthy and reliable. 

10. Schedule 

Develop a schedule that works for you, your family and your business. When you mark off a block of time for work, then use that time for work. Equally important is to schedule time for your other commitments - family time, self-education (reading, listening and viewing), "health time" (exercise, cooking and eating), and leisure time. During these other times don't work. Remember, one of the reasons to work from home is to spend more time with your family and you don't want your working at home time to consume your family time. 

You are working for yourself and your schedule (by your choice) is your "boss". When you have people calling you or dropping around unexpectedly or maybe out-of-town visitors may want to catch up with you then you need to make a choice. Are you committed to your own business success? What will be your choice in these situations? Only you can decide what is important to you. 

In a family environment you may need to negotiate with your family and have your business time agreed upon, during which you will not be interrupted. Put this schedule prominently somewhere so all family members are aware of your work schedule. 

These are the ten basics of working at home. Some of these items may change a little depending on the type of business you choose but in essence, this is it. A home based business can be the most fun, most rewarding experience of your adult life as long as you realize there are a few simple rules to keeping everything on track along the way. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>10 Steps To Running A Home-Based Business</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-steps-to-running-a-home-based-business.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-steps-to-running-a-home-based-business.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:57:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The failure or success of a business often relies on the most fundamental operations-the ones that often get overlooked as a tipping point process in the daily business cycle. Fortunately, one of the leading business sites, AllBusiness.com, offers advice and solutions that help businesses succeed. These 10 easy-to-follow steps will help your home-based business become a success.

1. Plan ahead. Take the time to make plans for every eventuality that may arise. From natural disasters to unexpected financial problems, you will need a plan that you can readily access to get you through a difficult time.

2. Put money aside. Don't begin your business with delusions of overnight success. You'll need funds to tide you over while your business grows. Put some money aside to tide you over until you do start earning revenue.

3. Organize your time. Being a responsible business owner means managing your time wisely. Initially you will need to spend extra time making your vision a reality.

4. Organize your space. You can't run a business effectively if you are wasting time looking for an important receipt under reams of loose paper. Take time to organize your home office and make sure you can function efficiently.

5. Stay focused. Family responsibilities, chores, TV and the warmth of your own bed can all distract you from the task at hand. Remove as many distractions as you can from your home office and stay focused.

6. Figure out tax laws now, before it is too late. Do your research now so you will be prepared come tax time.

7. Advertise. You can't afford to wait for your customers to come to you-you need to go out and get them. Advertising is an investment, and spending money now to market your business effectively can pay big dividends.

8. Get the proper equipment. Office equipment is an extra expense, but you need the hardware to run your business correctly. To compare features and prices, check out the Business Products comparison engine at AllBusiness.com.

9. Cover your assets. Don't wait for a natural disaster to destroy your entire inventory-now is the time to purchase the insurance you need.

10. Don't get discouraged. Success does not come overnight. It will require dedication, hard work and a lot of extra effort to make it a reality. This is your dream; do all you can to keep it alive. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>10 Things To Keep In Mind While Picking Office Furniture</title>
<link>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-picking-office-furniture.html</link>
<guid>http://www.betterlifeadvice.com/business-economy/home-based-business/10-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-picking-office-furniture.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:49:56 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Office furniture â€“ the term usually conjures up images desks, cubicles and chairs. We rarely think beyond it. But these days, there is more to it than a single functional unit. Today, your office furniture has to do more for you; it has to multi-task just like you do. Moreover, it has to accommodate your stationary, your rolodex as well as your technology infrastructure! 

Yes, now think of office furniture. Do you see something different? Thought you would! Now you have cubicles, chairs etc. and a desk with your laptop or PC, a printer, fax machine, headphones, phone(s), files, CDs, pictures, maybe even a coffee machine.  And it has to do this in style. So whether you are planning to buy office furniture for you home office, or a relatively bigger office where you are in charge of the dÃ©cor, there are a few basic rules which are well kept in mind.

Identify the needs

The first thing to do when thinking of buying office furniture, is to keep work related requirements in mind. Do you use too many gadgets? Do you need a lot of space to store things? Do you doodle as you talk over the phone? These and many such questions will give you a good idea about how â€˜functionalâ€™ your furniture needs to be.

All about logistics

Ask yourself logistical questions - How many employees do you have? Do you work from a home office or do you have a separate office space? How many hours do you plan to spend at work? Are you spending too much time sitting down? This will help you decide exactly what you need to spend on and what you can hold back on.

Create a list

Before buying furniture, make a list of what all you plan to buy and compare it with your needs. Further divide the list into â€œmust haveâ€ and â€œnice to haveâ€ categories. This will save you a lot of trouble when you are picking things up and will let you stick to your core needs.

Stick to your budget

Identify a ceiling budget for your furniture shopping spree right at the onset. Else you may end up overshooting just because you had to have that overpriced and classy desk chair. 

Functionality or style?

It is usually wise to purchase furniture which is more functional rather than just stylish. But this would largely depend on the reason for the purchase, and for what type of business you are purchasing it. If you need chairs for the reception area of your employer, you might want to invest in stylish furniture. However, if it is for your home business, you might reconsider doing that. But if you get both style and function, which is not so rare these days, go for it!

Purchasing the work desk

The work desk is by far the most important piece of furniture you shall purchase. And because you are going to be using it so often, it is well worth investing a little extra so as to purchase a nice, sturdy functional and comfortable work desk. Make sure the surfaces of the work desk are non-staining thought. 

Storage areas and wall units

Every office needs storage space. Make sure you purchase storage cabinets and units can be installed nearby the desk and well within reach.  Also, make sure that they are sturdy and strong. Storage spaces are usually the first to fall apart from wear and tear caused by frequent opening and closing of the units.

Renting office furniture

Many big and small businesses consider renting furniture for their office space. This may not be the best option if you are planning to stay at the same place for the long haul. However, it is a great option for businesses which need to be mobile as it saves you heavy investments.

Health and safety

Whether you are purchasing furniture for yourself or your employees think about the ergonomics of your investments. Investing in good furniture is always profitable in the long run. You do not want to purchase a bad chair and have your employees stay at home because they developed a backache, do you? And nor do want to expose yourself to fatigue, eye strain, headaches etc. Buy furniture that is people friendly and made especially for work areas.

Furniture too has personality
All said and done, the most important thing to remember is to invest in furniture that goes with your personality. Yes, you want something functional, and comfortable, and within budget. But who says you cannot find the perfect style too? The style of the furniture you choose should compliment your personality. This is the furniture you will use day and in day out, 5 days a week more than 8-9 hours a day. You do not want to be stuck with something that is functional but will simply not inspire you to work! ]]></description>
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