Now that I have three children I truly value my time. With the demands of family life, working from home is the method of choice that appeals to me. A traditional career just does not fit the needs of my family or satisfy my need for flexibility and creativity. The good news is that the internet has opened up a wealth of opportunities for you and I to live out our calling, while making money right from our own home.
What Are You Dreaming About?
I asked myself what kinds of things have I (and other moms I know) always dreamed of being or doing?
Have you always wanted to be a writer? I have a business idea for you.
Are you really good with details and enjoy working as an assistant? I have a business idea for you.
Maybe you always wanted your own boutique or consignment store? I have a business idea for you.
Over the next few days let’s explore these nontraditional homebased businesses ideas that you probably already have the skills to start.
Let me caution you of two things before we get started:
1. The information I’m providing is the basics to get you started. You will need to do further research to wow your potential customers, but the time you spend will be worth the investment of time.
2. None of the ideas we are going to discuss is about making a fast buck. This is about focusing your skills, talents and passions (your calling) into a business. We are talking long term solutions not short term schemes.
Each idea requires persistence, but with the right amount of dedication and planning on your part you can make money doing what you love. What could be better than that?
Use Skills You Already Have
The first business idea we are going to examine is professional blogging. First of all, what is a blog? Blog stands for web log. When I hear the word log, the next voice I hear is Captain Kirk - "Captain's Log, Stardate 1234". A web log or blog gives you the opportunity to record your thoughts, ideas, rants, reviews, etc. online for others to see. This form of communication allows you to receive immediate feedback from the people who read your posts. 
The popularity of blogging has opened a door of opportunity for mothers to turn their dream of writing into a reality. Professional blogging is an industry that I’m sure many moms don’t know about. I know this because when I bring this up as a business option I usually get a blank stare. If you believe this might be the right business option for you, consider the following:
This business is right for you, if you…
* enjoy writing and you can tell a good story
* are not looking to make a quick buck, but will take the time to establish your web presence and readers
* are thick skinned - you don’t mind people disagreeing with you.
* want to give your opinion about the things that are important to your industry
* are willing to do the research that is necessary to write informative and accurate blogs
* enjoy interacting with other people online
* are creative and innovative
* will treat your blog as a business (you are essentially a freelance writer) and your readers as friends
To get started…
* What are your experiences? What do you know about?
* Determine what you are passionate about; don’t try to be all things to all people
* If you don’t know what blogging is, learn about it.
* Learn the industry terms
* Study the influencers
* Determine the blog platform you will use
* Learn dos and don’ts of good web design
The startup costs include…
* blogging software – free options that many people use are Wordpress or Blogger
* graphics for the site
* web hosting fees
Your ideal customer…
* depends on the type of blog you are starting
* is NOT everyone; you need to be very specific about who your ideal reader is
* will make your business a success by telling others
Your customers will find you by…
* word of mouth
* search engines (google, technorati, etc)
* links between your site and other sites
* through your interaction on social media networking sites
Just like some of the other business ideas we will explore, professional blogging is NOT for everyone. But for those who are passionate about writing and really have something to say that you think other people want to hear, it could be your dream career/business realized.
I'm interested to know your thoughts. Leave me a comment about business ideas you would like me to research and talk about.
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Comments
Excellent article! My wife and I have been looking for some ideas for her to bring in a little extra side income. She's a stay at home mom, but feels she could contribute to our finances if she could find a home-based business. I can't wait for day 2!!!
Thanks Kendra,
Martin Cisneros
Hey Kendra, I started following you after the party! I love this advice. I am from Phoenix, born and raised but in NC now. I am passionate about the recycle reduce, reuse, philosophy, but my main purpose is to help people, while changing the environment we live in...I love your spirit, as I too, have a knack for helping people do what they love! I cannot wait for your online classes to begin!
Kindle
This is very useful and relevant information, both for other Examiners and for the world at large. Sometimes it seems as if we blink we will miss the latest in the technology which seems to be changing the world at an ever-increasing pace. Thank you for sharing the resources available for bloggers.
Thank you, Susan for your encouragement. If there is any other information that I can provide you with regarding professional blogging, please let me know.
Thanks for the info Kendra. I have been toying with the idea of blogging for a while, but didn't know where to start. Because you are a person that I trust, I feel more confident that this could be a real business. I will definitely do more research to see if this is something I really want to do.
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