Written by
December 5, 2016 0 Comments

5 Questions to Find Your Home Office Style

If you work from home, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your home office. While we’ve discussed style options and functionality in the past, it can be helpful to start with some solid questions to help determine what will work best for you.

Answer the following questions to begin a home office design that best fits your function and style!

How does the room function?

You can change room functionality, but it’s not always feasible or budget-friendly. Most of the time, we’re going to be using what we have already available.  Does the room have good lighting?  If not, that’s something you need to consider.

Are you too close to a window?  Too far from any natural light?  These are all considerations.  Additionally, is the room too small and is there another spare room available? You’ll need to make note of everything you intend to put in the room, so space is another crucial element to your design.

Which colors?

What speaks to you as far as color? Bright red is beautiful and popular, but it might not calm you as far as a workspace.  What colors are serene and calming to you?  Blue and green are known for these qualities, so they can be a good place to start.

On the other hand, if bright colors inspire your creativity and passion, they can certainly have a place in your office design.  Think of a colorful, bright or 3-D accent wall that might add some unexpected fun to your workspace.

What kind of furniture?

Your desk, chair, bookshelves, and so on – all important parts of an office.  While most will likely have all of these items included in their home office, some may need more or less support or ergonomic furniture.  Another popular item to consider is the standing desk and if it makes sense for you.  These are all decisions that will impact the look, budget, and functionality of your space.

Are you going more for style or function?  These days, you can basically have both depending on budgetary restrictions.  Once you choose your function and color, furniture is a great next step.  Choose what you need, match for color or functionality, and begin choosing these larger statement pieces.

How do you organize?

Everyone needs a system of organization, whether basic or extensive.  Now that you’ll be thinking of your furniture needs, it’s important to factor filing and organizational systems into this.  Do you want a filing cabinet?  Do you do better with mostly online filing?

There are tools and programs that allow you to file all receipts and papers digitally, as well as traditional filing systems that are available at all office stores. Choose a system from the beginning, as this will integrate more seamlessly into your design.

What’s your style?

Do you need a beautiful space to work or does functional matter most to you? Some people will be very content with a very basic office without much color – but a lot of functionality.  These offices can still have several systems and items in place that work best for the worker.  If style is important to you – since you will be spending a lot of time here – take the time to truly make the space your own.

It can be fun to include your child’s artwork, fun books, small decor items that match your style, and much more.  When someone walks into your office, they should still get a sense of your style and how you like to design and work.

Continue Reading

Written by
May 23, 2016 0 Comments

6 Tools for Work From Home Teams

 

Working from home comes in many forms, and one of those includes working on a team.  While some of us may just do freelance work for various clients, there are times when we might land a part-time or full-time job with a company that has other virtual (or in-person) employees.

While it’s no secret that working from home boosts most people’s productivity, adding a team into the mix can be challenging.  Communication isn’t as simple as walking into another colleague’s cubicle, and keeping files and conversations in one place can seem tedious.  Read along for some of the top tools for work from home teams and co-workers.

Basecamp

Basecamp is billed as the “leading web-based project management and collaboration tool,” which manages files, to-do lists, schedules, and much more.  When you join as a team, you can create separate folders for each client or project, and within those folders, you can have conversations, exchange files, keep information, utilize checklists, and more.  

This is an excellent place for collaboration, and it keeps everything from each team member in one place – no searching through zillions of emails, Google Docs, or other word documents that are just disorganized.

Basecamp begins at $29/month and you can learn more about it here.

Skype

Almost all of us use Skype for personal use, but did you know that it can be great for teams?  Not only do you get face-to-face interaction, but you can hold mini meetings throughout the day.  Phone calls are helpful, but seeing each other brings a new level of professionalism and accountability.

If your team is up to it, suggest that you keep Skype up and running on a daily basis.  You can call each other when needed, or use the chat feature to communicate quickly.

Skype is generally free to use.  Learn more about it here.

Free Conference Call

FreeConferenceCall.com is a completely free conference call service that allows you to host online meetings and record and share any call.  This is great for group meetings, as well as client calls that you need to hold with your whole team.

To host basic conference calls, simply sign up on their website and you’ll receive a conference number along with an access code.  You can send this information to your co-workers or clients to meet you on a call without having to fumble with three-way calling.

Learn more here.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a “social media management tool created to help businesses grow their social media presence.”  Simply put, it allows you to schedule all of your posts on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn business and personal pages, and so on.

You can link all of your accounts in Sprout and choose which profiles will receive the post(s).  You can schedule posts as far out as you’d like, making it easier to manage multiple clients.  This is an excellent tool for teams, as many times several people are managing social media profiles for one client or employer.  This keeps things organized, and you can easily see which posts are scheduled for when.  You can also easily export reports and data to share with clients and/or team members.

Check out Sprout Social and its capabilities here.

Go To Webinar

Go To Webinar is an affordable webinar service that’s helpful for larger teams or those with clients.  It’s incredibly helpful if your whole team is virtual, as your boss can give presentations or teach concepts via a webinar.  It’s also an excellent tool for communicating with numerous clients on a larger scale.

You can record your webinar, receive analytics and data, and add numerous features to your presentations that make them memorable and easier to use.

Learn more about Go To Webinar here.

Calendly

Calendly’s tagline says, “Say goodbye to email tag for scheduling appointments, interviews, calls, demos and much more,” and that’s just what it does.  If you’re tired of email tag to make a simple appointment, Calendly is for you.

You can utilize the free version with fewer features, or upgrade to the paid version starting at $8/month.  This is an excellent tool for teams, as you’ll likely be scheduling team calls and client calls frequently when working from home.

Keep things streamlined by sending a simple link to your colleagues and clients to pick a time to speak or meet with you.  Since it connects directly to your Google calendar, It gives the other person the option of choosing a time, while also giving you the accountability of keeping your calendar updated – a plus for your team and your productivity!  Learn more about Calendly here.

Continue Reading

Written by
January 11, 2016 0 Comments

4 Steps to a Great To-Do List

The to-do list is a much talked about item, and that’s for good reason. Especially when working from home, staying on a schedule and keeping on task is crucial. Rarely is someone going to be managing your every move, which makes a to-do list a priority!

You can create a standard list to get through each day, but creating more of a “system” with your to-do list makes it more likely to stick.  Here are a few best practices for creating to-do lists that work with you.

Coordinate for you

Color coordinating is a great way to organize your list.  You can do this by client, task, priority, and so on. Although it’s useful, color coding isn’t for everyone, but you do need to find some type of system that works for you.

If you’re more visual, color coding is a great idea. If you like to group things by task, a more segmented list might be better for you.  Play around with your lists for a few days at a time to determine the best fit.

Prioritize

Whichever list you choose, prioritizing will be a constant necessity.  For example, do you have a specific task due on Friday? Be sure you aren’t placing that over an email piece due on Wednesday!

You’ll get in the flow of your tasks and priorities as your home based career continues.  You can always modify a list – sometimes it’s helpful to create one on the web via Google Docs or utilize a Word Document so you can change easily.

Repetition is key

Your to-do list isn’t going to be helpful if you use it for one week then quit. Get into the habit of adding every major (or even minor) task to your list. It’s truly an exercise in organization, and organization prevents you from missing items.  

It can take a few weeks to really get in the habit of using your list, but once you do, you will find that you’ll be storing far more information on your page and less in your brain.  This allows you to be more efficient and keep your mind on the tasks you need to complete.

Cross it out

Crossing off your items is half the fun! Not only does it allow you to keep track and feel accomplished, it can be important in billing your clients and employers.

The to-do list keeps track of your work, so be sure you’re giving yourself the credit by acknowledging when it’s done. If something is halfway completed, you can always update and make a note indicating the change.  These small movements in your list give you a sense of achievement throughout the day, and with longer projects, it can keep you feeling positive about your status.

A to-do list is always a must-have, and it can truly work for you in your work from home career.  Create one that works with your personality and work habits, prioritize what’s important, repeat daily, and cross it off – you’re well on your way to to-do list (and productivity) success!

Continue Reading

Written by
December 28, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips for a Healthy Home Based 2016

It’s that time of year – resolutions and goals are everywhere! We commit to being the best versions of ourselves in the new year, and one of the items on almost everyone’s list is the health category.

We can always strive to improve our health, and when working from home, health needs to take priority. It becomes easy to sit all day, eat all of the unhealthy foods in the house, and just generally lose sight of a healthy lifestyle.

Take breaks

When you take a break, the result is really dual-purpose – mental and physical. Taking a break gives your brain a break, and you can turn it into a physical break by taking a short walk, getting some fresh air, or doing a brief workout video.

Even if you’re extremely busy, make it a deliberate point to take short breaks throughout the day – 5-10 minutes is all you need to break up the work day!

Schedule fitness

At the top of all resolution lists is fitness! Just as you schedule important tasks to complete, conference calls, and daily to do items, scheduling fitness can really keep you healthy when you work from home.

Know yourself! If you like to get things out of the way, a morning workout might be your best bet. If you need a few cups of coffee to get moving, maybe an afternoon or evening workout suits you better. It’s not important when you do it, but that you schedule it and get it done.  Not only does fitness keep your body healthy, it actually makes you more productive and effective in your home based job.

Mental fitness

Mental health and fitness begins with balance. When you’re working from home everyday, it becomes easy to stay isolated.  Schedule coffee dates and meetings out if you can, and don’t be afraid to throw in small social meetings as well.

Working from home is very different from a traditional office environment, and it’s important to keep a healthy social life.  Maintain contact with friends and family throughout your week, and be sure that you’re venturing out of the house regularly.

Keep it positive

A healthy mind and body is nothing without a positive attitude. Health begins with your attitude, and the more that you can maintain a positive one, the more you’ll be able to accomplish. Think of your positivity as the fuel to your new, healthier lifestyle!

When you combine physical, mental, and an attitude of fitness, you’ll be well on your way to a happier, healthier new year! It’s more important that you factor in healthy habits when working from home, as there is much more opportunity to sit around and eat poorly.  Adopt these simple habits and see a change in your effectiveness and health in 2016.

Continue Reading

Written by
September 4, 2014 0 Comments

Five Terrific Jobs for Moms

As a mom, you may want or need to work outside of the home. While you may be qualified for all sorts of positions, you are hoping to find one that gives you the ability to bring in some much-needed income while still having enough flexibility to be there for your kids when they need you — and even when they don’t. With this in mind, the following five jobs for moms are ideal for those who would prefer not to work a typical 9 to 5 schedule:

Real estate agent

Real estate agents usually set their own hours, but they also work some odd times like on weekends and nights, SheKnows notes. If your spouse works a traditional schedule, this can be an ideal situation because chances are good at least one of you will always be home with the kiddos and you won’t have to spend some of your hard-earned money on daycare. Some Realtor moms just list a couple houses at a time, so that they can still devote a lot of their days to their family.

Small business owner

Do your friends freak out when they see the gorgeous postcard-worthy photos you post on Facebook? Are your cupcakes or cinnamon rolls legendary in your neighborhood? It may be possible to turn your talent into a money-making venture by opening up a small business right from home. You can set up a website that sells your products or services, and spread the word via social media and word of mouth that you are now available to shoot family portraits, or pet sit, or cater birthday parties. If you are super crafty, you might also find that a website like Etsy is a terrific place to open your own store on the Internet.

Insurance agent

The insurance industry is great for moms who want to telecommute. Many different companies have jobs that allow people to work from home. Insurance agents also tend to have an entrepreneurial spirit that can be very appealing to moms who are also looking for some freedom in their schedules. Lead aggregation services like Quote Wizard enable moms to pursue life insurance business opportunities in between dropping the kids off and picking them up from school.

School teacher

As Business News Daily notes, working at a school is the perfect way for a mom to be on the same schedule as her kids. In an ideal world, you might also be able to find a position at the same school your kids attend. If you do not want to work as a teacher, there are still plenty of other openings in schools that are ideal for moms; these include working in the school’s library, being a lunchroom and playground aide, assisting in the front office, and being a teacher’s assistant.

Pharmacist

Careers in the pharmaceutical industry can be ideal for working moms who are looking for job flexibility. As Forbes notes, the positions offer an outstanding balance between working and home life, and they typically offer a great salary and benefits.

These are just a few flexible jobs for moms seeking something different than the corporate world.

Check out these other great articles about home-based jobs as a work from home professional. Also check out our home-based job descriptions and current job postings for mom professionals.

 

Continue Reading

Written by
July 15, 2014 0 Comments

5 Social Media Lessons for At-Home Businesses

If you work from home, online marketing may be key to your success. Strategic use of social media can maximize your reach and resources including skills, successes, contacts and supporters (particularly those who can give you a professional reference). You don’t need to blanket social media. Your time is limited, so focus on key sites you are comfortable using and attract the type of customers you want. Here are five strategies to get you started.

Link In to Other Businesses

If you aren’t already on LinkedIn, you need to get on it. “LinkedIn is today’s Yellow Pages,” says Brad Friedman, a Denver-based social media consultant. “Business introductions are made, potential deals discovered and new employees or employment opportunities” happen on LinkedIn.

According to the latest stats from eBiz/MBA, LinkedIn is the third most popular social media site in the U.S. If you aren’t familiar with it, think of it as a business-minded version of Facebook. It’s free, easy to use and offers great online networking resources.

Even the Smallest Business Needs a Website

Get a website. It will help people find and contact you because even the Yellow Pages is online!

While today’s DIY technology makes it relatively easy to build a basic website, consider outsourcing this to a local firm that specializes in small business marketing. This way, you will (1) make a contact in the community, (2) support another local business and (3) get it done right by someone you can physically meet with if necessary.

A competent Web service will provide or refer you to a skilled writer who will ensure your site content is appropriate, relevant to your business, and optimized for search engines with keywords and metadata to boost visibility in Web searches. Request a WordPress-based site, which provides a back-end content management system that you can easily maintain on your own.

Use your site to blog about your product or service. Ask customers for permission to feature them and how they use it. Write about issues that customers need to know about, and provide links for more information. Invite them to comment or guest blog.

Make a Separate Facebook Business Page

If your business is a B2C (Business to Customer), you will likely benefit from a Facebook page. Be sure to create a separate business page for it: don’t combine business with your personal profile. Use Facebook’s tools and suggestions to create a page that works.

Why Facebook? Because it’s nearly impossible to be entirely free of it. According to the Pew Research Center, 57 percent of all American adults and roughly 73 percent of teenagers use Facebook. Even half of all Internet users who aren’t on Facebook live with someone who is.

A Facebook page extends your business reach and acts as a kind of super magnet for your product or service. Keep your page tightly focused. Take for example a company like LifeLock. People who visit their Facebook page get the information they expect and judging from the numbers who Like it, find value in it.

Make Real-World Connections Through a Business Meetup

Meetup.com helps organize social and business groups in a given geographic area. Use it to find a business group that matches your interests. Many Meetups are free while others charge a small fee to help cover meeting room costs and other expenses.

Also attend Meetups that attract the kind of customer you are looking for. It’s not unusual, for example, for a writer to attend a Web developers’ Meetup and vice versa. In addition to finding potential customers, it’s an opportunity to learn about the issues customers face and gain insight into their interests and concerns.

These social sites will allow you to get “out” even if you work from home. Online marketing provides a great way to market yourself while being able to stay home with your family.

Check out these other great articles about marketing and social media as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

Continue Reading

Written by
February 13, 2014 0 Comments

Is a Home Business Good for Your Marriage?

Candid Couples Give Relationship Advice on the Effects of a Home Business on their Marriage: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

There are many things to consider when starting a home business. What type of home business will you start? What equipment, inventory or supplies will you need? Who will your potential customers and clients be? Who will be your primary competition?

However, one question few women tend to think about is, “Will my home business be good for my marriage?”

The answer depends on you and your approach to home business. You can count on your home business changing your life to some extent. It will add additional duties to your day, leave you with less time and may change your priorities. But does that mean it will be negative for your marriage? Or can it actually be good for your marriage? We asked some seasoned home-based working moms to give us their relationship advice and got some surprising answers.

“My home business has had a very positive effect on my marriage. When my husband arrives home from work I can’t wait to share some of the successes of the day. Also, I can contribute so much more to the family income. That takes an enormous pressure off of us,” Diana Ennen, Owner of VirtualWordPublishing.com shares.

Laurie Hurley of HomeTutoringBusiness.com adds, “We are more in tune with each other now that I work from home. It has been very good for our marriage.”

Another home business owner shared that it has actually brought them closer together as a family. “We bounce business ideas off of each other and everyone, including our three children, feels like it’s their business as well,” Julie Held, Owner of Stuff A Friend, added.

However, along with the positive, there are some negative ways a home business can impact your marriage. A very common mistake many people make is putting their marriage on autopilot when they start a home business. Some may wrongly believe their marriages are strong, secure and don’t need regular attention. The truth is no matter the stage, marriages need nurturing, affection and attention.

“I allowed my business to take over my life, and I neglected my family and my home. My husband was very patient through it all, and that made me really wake up. Now I make sure that I am connecting in a meaningful way to my husband and kids every day,” Darlene Hull, Owner of Mom-Defrazzler.com shares.

Another member shares how her home business saved her marriage. “We were on divorce road when I started my home business. Now we are conscious of where we need to improve because of things we’ve learned through my business self-development programs. I think we are happier now than when we first married,” Jhanna Dawson, owner of HighDesertBandB.com, adds.

So how can you ensure a happy marriage and a successful home business? We asked some members of HomeBasedWorkingMoms.com for their suggestions. Here are their tips:

  • Nurture your relationship and plan quality time and regular date nights with your spouse.
  • Have the same goals for your family, your marriage and your future together. And never let your spouse feel he is second behind the business. Jan Van Blarcum, CreativeTutors.com
  • Set specific hours to work and be diligent about keeping those boundaries in tact. Darlene Hull, Mom-Defrazzler.com
  • Prioritize family time and coordinate activities with your spouse on a family calendar. Jhanna Dawson, HighDesertBandB.com
  • Outsource when needed. Hire a house cleaner, nanny or an assistant. We put our family first and remember to keep our priorities: God, spouse, family and work in proper order. Jodi Stott, Isagenix
  • Talk about everything and discuss your options. Julie Held, Stuff A Friend
  • Look to the Lord when you don’t see eye to eye. Holly R. Boyd, A1Organizing.com
  • In business, learn to say no and mean it. In your personal life, learn to say yes and mean it. Candy Beauchamp, OffAssist.com
  • When you are with your spouse or kids, be 100% with them. When you are working, focus 100% on your work. Lisa Druxman, StrollerStrides.com

Regardless of what stage your home business is in, sit down with your spouse to discuss these bits of relationship advice and other pertinent topics. It could help you avoid significant conflicts in the future. And who knows, maybe your home business will help make your marriage even stronger too.

Lesley Pyle is the founder and president of HBWM.com Inc. which includes the national association of Home-Based Working Moms helping moms network, learn and grow in their role as a Home-Based Working Mom and HireMyMom.com connecting at-home Mom Professionals with home-based jobs and projects in virtually every career field.  Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Home Office Computing, and many others.  Twitter @lesleypyle and @hiremymom

Check out these other great articles about tips for moms as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

Continue Reading