Need some creative ideas to stave off boredom in your children so that you can get some work done? Check out my ebook Boredom Busters, available for Kindle, Nook and as a PDF through Smashwords.
I detail dozens of ways that your elementary-school age children can entertain themselves. Win a free copy by leaving a comment on this blog post by Feb. 7.
With a little effort and lots of patience, your children will soon be occupied and out of your hair.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: App Creator
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: An app creator develops applications for mobile phones, like Android and iPhone.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: The ability to create and market apps.
Job outlook: If you have the skills, this can be a good fit for at-home employment. However, the marketplace is getting crowded with apps, so you’ll likely have to develop many apps in order to make a decent living.
Possible employers: Apple’s App Store and Android’s App Store provide information for app developers.
Preparation: Think beyond Apple and Android for apps to expand your audience potential. Apple and Android require an approval process before apps are posted to their stores. Have a marketing plan developed for your app while waiting for approval.
Get your foot in the door: Start with one or two apps and have a timetable to add more apps to your library.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: An app creator develops applications for mobile phones, like Android and iPhone.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: The ability to create and market apps.
Job outlook: If you have the skills, this can be a good fit for at-home employment. However, the marketplace is getting crowded with apps, so you’ll likely have to develop many apps in order to make a decent living.
Possible employers: Apple’s App Store and Android’s App Store provide information for app developers.
Preparation: Think beyond Apple and Android for apps to expand your audience potential. Apple and Android require an approval process before apps are posted to their stores. Have a marketing plan developed for your app while waiting for approval.
Get your foot in the door: Start with one or two apps and have a timetable to add more apps to your library.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Missed Opportunities
We recently canceled our gym membership, which we'd had for at least five or six years. When talking on the phone with the finance person about canceling, I kept waiting for him to ask me why we were leaving. He was very nice and polite, but didn't even inquire as to our reason for canceling. (It was because we were only using the treadmill and didn't want to pay for fitness and swim, only fitness. And we have a treadmill in downstairs, so it seemed like not a wise use of our finances.)
That was a missed opportunity to hear from a previously satisified customer who no longer found the gym to be meeting her needs.
How often do we miss opportunities to promote our businesses? Do you carry business cards with you to give to those who express interest in your product or service? Do you talk about your business--not annoyingly, but as others talk about their jobs in social settings?
Remembering to mention our businesses in casual conversation and in encounters with family, friends, other parents, etc., can help us grow our business. We don't have to be pushy, but don't let those opportunities pass by saying nothing at all.
Until next time,
Sarah
That was a missed opportunity to hear from a previously satisified customer who no longer found the gym to be meeting her needs.
How often do we miss opportunities to promote our businesses? Do you carry business cards with you to give to those who express interest in your product or service? Do you talk about your business--not annoyingly, but as others talk about their jobs in social settings?
Remembering to mention our businesses in casual conversation and in encounters with family, friends, other parents, etc., can help us grow our business. We don't have to be pushy, but don't let those opportunities pass by saying nothing at all.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Virtual Assistant
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A virtual assistant provides administrative work for small businesses from a remote location.
Education: None necessary, but a bachelor’s degree is probably helpful.
Skills: The ability to juggle many tasks during a day, such as bookkeeping, travel arrangements, administrative duties, transcription, correspondence, and other services that can be performed remotely via e-mail and telephone.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of secretaries and administrative assistants is expected to increase by 11 percent, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations, between 2008 and 2018. … Job opportunities should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of computer software applications, with experience as a secretary or administrative assistant, or with advanced communication and computer skills. Applicants with a bachelor's degree will be in great demand to act more as managerial assistants and to perform more complex tasks.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Check out virtualassistantjobs.com, virtualassistant.org and teamdoubleclick.com.
Preparation: Join the International Virtual Assistants Association for certification opportunities and continuing education courses.
Get your foot in the door: Most companies let you set your own work schedule, so start with a few hours a week and work your way up as you adjust to the job.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A virtual assistant provides administrative work for small businesses from a remote location.
Education: None necessary, but a bachelor’s degree is probably helpful.
Skills: The ability to juggle many tasks during a day, such as bookkeeping, travel arrangements, administrative duties, transcription, correspondence, and other services that can be performed remotely via e-mail and telephone.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of secretaries and administrative assistants is expected to increase by 11 percent, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations, between 2008 and 2018. … Job opportunities should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of computer software applications, with experience as a secretary or administrative assistant, or with advanced communication and computer skills. Applicants with a bachelor's degree will be in great demand to act more as managerial assistants and to perform more complex tasks.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Check out virtualassistantjobs.com, virtualassistant.org and teamdoubleclick.com.
Preparation: Join the International Virtual Assistants Association for certification opportunities and continuing education courses.
Get your foot in the door: Most companies let you set your own work schedule, so start with a few hours a week and work your way up as you adjust to the job.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Transitioning From Office To Home
Do you currently work in an office and wonder if you could transfer that work to a home office? Then check out January's At Home News for tips on how to put together a plan to make the transition from office work to work from home.
Signing up for the newsletter is free--just click on the newsletter tab for the form.
Until next time,
Sarah
Signing up for the newsletter is free--just click on the newsletter tab for the form.
Until next time,
Sarah
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