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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Work-from-Home – When, Why, and Who 4
Chapter One
Work-from-Home Jobs VS. Running a Home Business 5
Chapter Two
Pinpointing People Who Should Work From Home 7
Chapter Three
Work-From-Home Pros and Cons 13
Chapter Four
Technology and Work-From-Home Tools 17
Chapter Five
Work-From-Home Job Search 23
Chapter Six
Anatomy of a Work-From-Home Scam 36
Chapter Seven
Ways to Distinguish Scam From Real 40
Chapter Eight
Other Important Aspects of Working From Home 43
Conclusion
Working From Home and Fulfillment 50
Resources 53
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Introduction
Work-from-Home – When, Why, and Who
Some people prefer staying at home due to lack of job opportunities (or are
being picky at it), or would want to oversee the growth of their children or just
about any reason a work-at-home enthusiast can add.
Working from home has been operational long before someone had
invented a name for it. Old settlers who produce their own crops and process it into
a certain form of finished products (such as preserves, cheeses, bread, etc.) can be
credited as the pioneer in the field of home-based work.
Working from home may likewise be in the form that an individual has a
current office job but is given the option by the employer to finish or accomplish
assigned tasks at home. They may be headhunters for various posts who can recruit
and entertain applicants through the use of the Internet, i.e. through email
messaging and the likes.
Searching for one’s dream work-from-home job is not an easy task. But it can
be done a lot easier if you are armed with enough knowledge on how to breeze
through it.
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Chapter One
Work-from-Home Jobs VS. Running a Home Business
It’s high time to clear the air about working from home. Working from home
is actually not just about setting up shop in the comfort of your home and tackling
just whatever task you would like to work on. There is a distinct line between
operating a home business and working at home.
Many glazed-eyes work-at-home job searchers think that working from home
automatically entails NOT having a monstrous boss breathing down your neck.
However, this is not always the case. Working from home comes with two options –
performing tasks for an employer who asks or allows you to do your work from
home as a telecommuting employee and running your own home business as an
entrepreneur.
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Working from Home as an Employee
Telecommuting is one perk that many companies grant for their employees.
Similar to having a flexible schedule, it is one of the most asked-for benefits that
workers would even trade a high salary for. However, it’s different from working
from home with your own business. If that does not say it all yet…
Running a home business is about being your own boss, together with all its
pain and glory. Not everyone can pull this off easily so many would resort to doing a
work-at-home job first. A home business usually entails wearing all the hats from the
production, bookkeeping, financial management, supplies acquisition, marketing
and customer support. And this is the very reason many work-from-home job
workers do not easily tread it. However, properly organizing your work and
delegating/outsourcing redundant tasks can make your life much easier.
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Chapter Two
Pinpointing People Who Should Work From Home
Works at Home Moms are not just Doing Laundry and Preparing
Meals
Katherine Hepburn once said, “It is either one or the other. You cannot have
a wonderful career and a great family life.” Meryl Streep rebutted this by saying,
“Oh no, I can’t be like Katherine Hepburn anymore. My career’s going well and my
family’s fabulous.”
Sure, Meryl Streep is an actress and she probably had her own ways raising
her four children and earning fourteen Academy Award nominations, but the key
lies in effective balancing and time management – which any mom can actually do.
Some people wonder how people can actually work at home where there are
so many distractions. Let us just say that there are some people who could work
better in their pajamas than in corporate suits.
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If you are an avid watcher of “Desperate Housewives”, you know how up to
her neck Lynette Scavo is with her four children. Then she goes off to work and
starts missing her kids. At least, if you are a mom working at home, you will never
feel that way.
For most work-at-home moms, their jobs are done in the evening when
everybody else is asleep. It’s all in the day’s work. This is the career they chose and
they sure are dedicated to it.
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Disabled Persons are Still Capable of Earning from Home
There are days you do not want to get up from bed. You’re not in the mood
to go to work. That’s normal. But whenever you get that anxiety, reflect on those
who cannot go to work at all.
In the United States, over 200,000 people have disabilities. Statistics show
that seven percent work for the federal government. Now, there are still
opportunities for people who are disabled – most of which are offered by the
federal government.
Since 1980, the total disabled federal employment has remained the same.
Because of this, a goal has been made to expand the total disabled employment
opportunities all over the government. All agencies of the federal government must
have a law that will allow them to reach to those who need their help the most.
There are many hiring options for disabled individuals. Disabled people
looking for job opportunities with the federal government must be really active and
start networking with the local agencies. By contacting their resources and seeking
non-stop all available federal opportunities for employment presented to them, they
can actually get the position – regardless of their disability.
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Retirees Don’t Have to Just Retire If They Don’t Want To
In the United States, the earliest age one can retire is 62. He will still be
receiving full retirement benefits, regardless of what age he retired. Those who were
born before 1938 have the normal retirement age of 65.
For every year that follows, two months are increased. For those born until
1955, the retirement age is 66. For those who are born afterwards, 67 is the
retirement age.
But there are still those who do not wish to stop working regardless of how
old they are. Some companies in the United States do not hire senior citizens all for
the legality of retirement.
To senior citizens who wish to defy the norm, but defy it properly, they resort
to business opportunities based at home, targeted especially for them.
Check with your local city hall or the nearest country courthouse on your
locale or your state for the license, tax or permit requirements of the work-at- home
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opportunity that you fancy. After checking that these are legal, then that is when
you can work for them.
Here are some ideas retirees can opt for, if they would like to have a little
cash coming in regardless of their age. Some require having a boss, others are stuff
you can do at your free time – as long as you have the resources.
1. Shuttle service
If you have your own car, you can use it to deliver commuters to the city.
2. Seed packets
If gardening is your thing, you can collect and label the packets of plants that
are quite popular to your neighbors.
3. Crossword puzzles
If you have a knack for writing,
volunteer to make the
crossword puzzles for your
local paper.
4. Genealogy
If you like research and history,
you can actually document
family archives. In doing so, you can trace their genealogy. Provide your
customers with full records of their descendants.
5. Flea Market
This is a very popular option. By piling old stuff you do not need, you can
conduct your own free market. Alongside the stuff you are selling, you can
also offer drinks and snacks.
6. Slide Shows
If you are a techie, you can offer to create slide presentations to interested
parties.
7. Seminar Promotion
Volunteer to arrange learning and business seminars in your town or
municipality. Be the one to reserve the hall and to promote the seminar.
8. Umpiring
If you’re into sports, you can work as an umpire for little league, institution
or company teams.
9. Adult Day Care Center
You can operate an adult day care center. Offer your services to elderly and
handicapped people.
10. Bookbinding
If you love books, then you’ll surely love setting up a bookbinding or book
repair service.
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These are just ten work-at-home opportunities that you can actually take on.
They may be small but they mean big to their neighbors. In the end, they’re not only
raking in money, they’re also providing top notch service.
Still, some prefer to work from home due to various reasons. People who
might want to look into working at home to beat boredom and be able to earn from
some form of income. People who are not financially stable get into home-based
work to earn extra cash. These groups of people might or might not have a
permanent day or office job but want to have some form of extra income generating
work that they can do at home.
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Chapter Three
Work-From-Home Pros and Cons
It’s Not Just a Cozy Home that Makes People Work from Home
Though most people want the stability of cash flow offered by office work,
some individuals likewise see profit from home-based work. Below are some of the
advantages of working from home:
Time
If you work at home, you would be
able to have more time to spend with your
kids or any other family member. Work may
be done during your free time from
housework, or when the kids are asleep, or at
school.
If you are not in the mood to do the work, you might re-focus your attention
in doing some housework to reengage your mood and be able to rejuvenate the
motivation to work again, thus an increase in your productivity.
In an office setting, you cannot simply leave your desk to unwind. You have
to complete the mandatory number of hours of work even if you are not so
productive during the day.
Interest
Being able to work at home gives you more chance to engage in a type of
business or work that best suits or matches your interest.
Being able to tap income-generating work from your interest probably is one
of the best points in home-based work.
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Not only would you not feel the burden and stress which is usually
accompanied with working at office based jobs, but you would not even feel that
you “HAVE” to work to earn, since you are only doing so when the urge or rush of
energy flows.
Less expense
Going to the office usually is accompanied by a variety of expense. This
usually includes one or more of the following:
o Transportation expense.
This may be in the form of bus fare, gasoline expense, or train tickets.
o Food expense.
You have to eat during the course of time performing work at the office. If
you don’t bring a packed lunch, or you’re struck with the urge to have some
sweets from the vending machine at the office, you have to make use of
some amount that may have been stashed for some other use.
o Miscellaneous expense.
Being out of the house exposes you to various forms of
expense-generating activities or probable purchases.
When NOT even a Cozy Home can Make People Work from Home
If you prefer to work from home, you need to take into consideration the
following disadvantages:
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Lack of social life
Juggling time between the kids and work at home may be an all-consuming
effort that could leave very little time for social interaction with other people.
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Personal grooming
Unlike having to dress up to go to work, individuals who work from home
might not find the need for proper grooming or going with the latest fashion. Not
being able to look your best might contribute to your lack of self-confidence, which
through some chain of events, could result to unproductiveness.
With the mentioned work-from-home pros and cons, you are now more
empowered to come up with an informed decision on what to expect or what trials
to surmount if you choose to finally settle for a work-at-home arrangement, may it
be a business or a telecommute job.
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Chapter Four
Technology and Work-From-Home Tools
It would be hard to imagine anyone living in the present millennium who has
never even heard of the internet. Practically every nation in the world is hooked into
this technological wonder that has changed the world’s landscape in ways that were
once far from imaginable. Now every human activity seems to have some
connection, whether direct or indirect, to the Internet, may it be in academics, the
military, finance, entertainment, and of course, work. The Internet is also
responsible for creating great possibilities that now enable people to learn, have
fun, and most importantly, work practically anywhere they want.
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(electronic commerce), which expands businesses into various locations, allowing
people to work anywhere, even at home.
Many people think that the World Wide Web is the same as the Internet;
however, the former is just a component of the latter. As discussed, the Internet is a
gathering of computer networks that are interconnected by means of cables, wires
or wireless connections, while the Web is a gathering of documents that are
interconnected by hyperlinks. The Web exists within the Internet, and it just so
happens to be among the most frequently used
components that it is often confused with the big
network itself. Nevertheless, the Web serves as a great
tool especially for people working at home, because it
is a very effective venue for marketing products and
services or acquiring projects and clients.
Another widely used tool is the online chat, which provides a more casual
venue for instant communication with many people all over the world. Of course,
the World Wide Web is also a very useful tool as it helps people gain access to and
post information all over the world.
These tools are quite helpful for businesses, especially those that operate at
home. Email provides a quick and cheap way to communicate with clients and
suppliers anywhere in the world. Online chat provides the possibility of meeting with
associates without having to commute or travel. The Web is a great place to make
yourself known and is thus an indispensable marketing tool. Other components of
the Internet are quite useful in running businesses whether at home or in large
corporate settings.
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The Internet has brought so many possibilities to the people of today. Its
applications in business are quite remarkable, and there is no wonder why more and
more people are taking advantage of the Internet as an option to make a living.
Thanks to the technological advantages of today, more and more people are
being enticed to work at home. In fact, over 20.7 million people worked at home
back in 2004 and the figures by now could have already more than doubled. For
others who may be interested to work at home but are quite hesitant, a major factor
for their reluctance is the perceived difficulty of setting up a home office.
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Most home offices have service businesses and thus there is usually no need
to make room for inventory unlike those in the retail, manufacturing, or wholesaling
business. There is also usually no need to have a conference room for meetings
because people who work at home tend to meet their clients online or in their
respective offices for presentations and other purposes.
Now what most people may be concerned about setting up a home office
would be the costs. While many would cringe at the thought of the money to be
spent to equip the home office, it would be good to know that the price of
equipment has dropped dramatically. Phone service prices have also become more
home-office-friendly with the emergence of packages that allow owners to get
unlimited calls even for long-distance ones at a fixed price. Many of these services
also come with high-speed Internet connection that is usually considered a must for
work-at-home schemes.
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As for the phone, you might need to get a more functional phone since there
might be an increased need to contact people when you have a home office.
Usually, a cordless phone that has capabilities like speakerphone, phone
conferencing, call waiting, voice mail, among many other things would be beneficial
for a home office. Such devices usually go around $200 more or less.
There is no doubt that more and more individuals are enticed to work at
home. Thanks to the modern conveniences made available by technology, more
than 20.7 million people have decided to bring their work at home both part-time
and full-time. There are those who have already successfully set up a functional
home office but have noticed that they need something more to make their work at
home pursuits easier. Such people have discovered the need to get other devices
specific to the type of work they have at home. Considering the contribution they
can add to one’s productivity and profitability, the effort and investment would be
worth taking. Here are some devices that might be required of certain work-at-home
schemes.
For transcription services, you would greatly benefit from playback pedals or
foot controls. This device controls the playback of sound clips for transcription. Using
a foot or both feet, a transcriber can play, rewind, fast forward, or pause sound files
being transcribed. This frees the hands, which are needed to type data. Normally,
people would not see the need for the hands to be free for typing, but transcribers
would know how much convenience they would get if their hands were freed of
another task.
For people who deal with clients and give presentations frequently, they
might benefit from audio-visual presentation devices such as portable projectors
with speakers. Clients are greatly impressed by presentations using multi-media
devices and having a portable projector would come in handy for this purpose. This
could also boost the acquisition of clients, increasing opportunities for profit.
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Some people working at home might also benefit
from headsets and web cams, especially when there is a
need to meet with clients or suppliers online. You might
also benefit from VoIP (voice over internet protocol)
devices, to cut the costs of long-distance telephony. This
can help home workers reach people in various locations,
thereby expanding business productivity.
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Chapter Five
Work-From-Home Job Search
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A medical transcriptionist is a person whose task is to document what is said
(if he is there in the room) or what is heard (if he’s listening to audio tapes). Medical
transcribers are the gadgets or devices used while conducting medical transcription.
Most transcriptionists are those who are interested about medicine. Some
are even working students. They are medical transcriptionists by day and medical
students by night. It is like hitting two birds with one stone.
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Every three years, CMTs must attain continuing education credits in order to
be recertified.
One can start looking for medical transcriptionist job leads through job
boards, online forums, and work-at-home blogs that post these telecommute job
openings every now and then. Aside from learning a bunch of information from the
basics to updates about the MT industry, job openings are posted on online medical
transcription forums such as MTStars.com, MTetc.net, MTjobs.com, etc. You can
even try to send cover letters to MT companies since the boom of this industry
made transcriptionists ever in-demand.
Internet Marketing
However, many Internet marketers are now becoming more adept in other
ways of selling their products. Learn these other methods, mostly indirect, that allow
Internet marketers to generate sales:
E-mail marketing
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alone. With e-mail marketing, either you buy an e-mail list
from a very trusted source (be very careful or you’ll be
accused of spamming), hire an email marketing company
to help you, or generate your own opt-in email lists
through your blog or website. Newsletters are then sent
that contain links to products that the Internet marketer
sells.
To get started with e-mail marketing, there are two basic routes you can take
– to hire a service provider or to do the e-mail marketing ala DIY. Of course, a good
budget will be required to be able to carry out the paid mode. Well-known email
marketing companies include IDG Communications, Murgent, Datran Media, World
Data and Xactmail.
E-commerce Sites
Many Internet marketers work on their own sites or hire help to set up their
websites that include their products. A cart for online shoppers is also an important
part of this site to facilitate shopping. Oftentimes, credit card payment is allowed
with these e-commerce sites to further augment good online
shopping experience.
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ecommerce site, freelance sites such as Elance.com and Scriptlance.com can help in
looking for an expert that will make your dream e-commerce site come true. Just
note all your project expectations and wait for all those bidders to come pouring in.
After putting up your e-commerce site with all your products displayed, the next
step is getting traffic to your site. A wide variety of traffic generation methods can
be explored, such as search engine optimization, blogging, forums, and PPC or paid-
per-click campaigns.
Forums can be useful too if you have a product that requires support; it also
helps build a community that will eventually support your e-commerce site.
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If your budget permits, get the highest bid for the keywords you would want
your e-commerce site to show ads for.
Info-Products
If you have the skills and time to create your own products, you can save
money by doing it yourself rather than hiring developers for software and
ghostwriters for e-books and reports. However, you can’t just get an application
developed or an e-book written without any research. You have to make sure there
is a market for that product or it is very in-demand. If you can, run an extensive
market analysis research first. You don’t want to waste time on a good-for-nothing
product that will of course, never sell.
You may find out about what topics are in demand through this site:
http://inventory.overture.com.
Many people recommend outsourcing the product creation work. If you have
the money and you will be hiring people, you can either look for competent ones
who are usually easy to search through keying in “software developer” or “e-book
ghostwriter”. Constant communication between you and your contract worker will
help ensure that you will get the best out of your arrangement.
When the product gets done, marketing it well should be your next focus.
The Internet marketing part of this report should help you on this endeavor. Making
sure that the benefits are tangible and not just exaggerations is a great way to make
your sales letter work. A well-written press release is useful, too, in making other
sites or blogs give attention to your product. You should provide quality customer
service either through e-mail or phone. You can also offer upgrades that will make
sure that you keep on earning from your previous customers.
There are dozens upon dozens of ways Internet marketers can generate
income. The secret to excel in this industry is to have genuine interest and be
updated with the trends, especially on the needs of people who are Internet savvy
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or are relying on the Internet in doing their routine tasks. Creativity and some other
computer skills won’t hurt, too, if you are gearing towards a successful home
business as an Internet marketer.
eBay Business
Another work-from-home business that you can try is the eBay buy and sell
business. You just have to offer the right products and possess some e-Bay-selling
skills to succeed in this business.
In order for you to buy or sell on eBay, you must be registered. It’s so easy,
so quick – and best of all, it’s free! When you’re a registered eBay user, you can shop
on eBay and become part of the world’s largest online community of buyers and
sellers.
Upon registering, you would be asked for your basic contact information.
This is the first step to building a trusting relationship with eBay and the other users
on the site.
You will be asked for your email because buyers and sellers communicate
through this medium. Enter a valid email account – one that you usually check.
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You will be asked to create a user ID. This ID will serve as your identity on the
site. Choose one that can easily relate to the products that you are selling on eBay,
that is, if you registered to make your own eBay business.
If you’re buying on eBay, there are two modes of purchases available. You
can either go for the “Auctions style format” or the “Buy It Now" which is fixed price
format.
Auctions are very simple and it’s really fun to participate in. The highest
bidder of the item wins. If you are not a buyer, here’s one tip that will make you
want to still bid: bidding on weird items, usually the useless ones or those without
value is one way that companies market their businesses. Since that item will gain
lots of eyeballs, the brave companies will surely enjoy the attention.
After pondering on these matters, that’s when you list your item. You have
to fill up a Sell Your Item form.
Doing business on eBay is not daunting. All you need is the right products to
sell, a computer, an email address, some capital, research and determination to
succeed.
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Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants often work from their own home office. That is why they
are deemed as virtual. Worldwide, there is an estimated 5000 to 8000 virtual
assistants. As the Internet industry grows, the need for virtual assistants increase.
And as many online entrepreneurs start a-popping, virtual assistants become more
in-demand as ever.
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working as a virtual assistant. These are referenced from Elite Office Support’s
founder.
1. You must know the type of services you want to offer. Check if your
background can support these services.
10. Don’t start without covering all the financial and legal steps required.
11. Market like there’s no tomorrow. Aside from having a good online
presence, word of mouth will always be helpful in securing you more
projects.
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Since working as a virtual assistant is about providing support to clients, a
secretarial background and customer service support experience can help
immensely in this field.
Professional Blogging
If you don’t have a blog, you might be hibernating too long. A blog or web
log, used to be referred to as online journal, has become one of the most loved
online media with which people with same interests commune. It is said to be a
place where people spill all their angst and other worldly thoughts.
Professional bloggers are those who post on blog sites either owned by a
network or individuals. Professional bloggers earn a profit just by writing posts for
these sites based on the posting interval issued by the blog site owner.
Online Ad Networks
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online ad networks to get the most out of a blog’s earning potential. However, each
of these networks Terms of Agreement and Service should be consulted first before
using any of them as any violation might cause headaches. Payment methods of
each ad network vary. It would be worthwhile to study data related to CPC (cost-per-
click), CPM (cost-per-thousand-impression), and CPA (cost-per-action).
Affiliate Programs
Sponsors
Blogs with considerable traffic may benefit well from sponsors. This is just
like running online ads, usually in the form of banners. These sponsors are also
regularly mentioned in blog posts, usually every week. Blogs with technology and
business theme often get sponsors; but with the success of many niche blogs, a
wider variety of blog themes is starting to attract more sponsorship attention.
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Another professional blogging stint is through writing for blog networks that
are either focused on just one niche or have a wide array of topics. Some of the
most prominent blog networks include b5media, Creative Weblogging, Weblogs Inc.,
and Know More Media. The life of a professional blogger is more than just putting
words on a page. You have to be very passionate about the topic you are blogging
about. Applying for the blog topic is the usual drill on getting into a blog network.
Sending sample posts that are related to the blog topic you are applying for is
also a common practice among blogger headhunters. However, it is not usually
required to be an experienced blogger to get hired as a blogger for blog networks.
Comfort in using the computer and Internet will do.
Some people get book writing offers because of their blog’s success. So, you
don’t just have to think about the direct money-making potentials of professional
blogging. It can increase a person’s credibility and open doors for better
opportunities.
A blogger researches and scours the subject delegated to him on the web
and from news sources. He takes notes of all information and summarizes it on his
blog post, and infuses his own opinions. Just like any profession, bloggers must
establish themselves as experts.
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Chapter Six
Anatomy of a Work-From-Home Scam
While most people juggle more than two jobs at a time to meet the rising
cost of living in today’s world (whether one may be an office work and another a
home-based job), many capable individuals can stay at home and not worry a beat
about earning.
But before you engage on various types of work from home jobs, you must
first check the validity and legality of the work.
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Guarantees Large Income with Very Little Effort
It’s easy to know if a home business program is trying to victimize you. Check
its sales pitch page and look for a too-good-to-be-true pitch like, “In 1 day, you will
earn $10,000 without lifting a thumb.” If it’s
too good to be true, it probably is.
Price Differences
If the products you are required to sell or services involved are of very low
quality but are being sold at a price higher than its real value, which your intuition
should inform you, you must be wary enough not to engage yourself on such work.
Not only would the probable consumers be deceived, but also such work does not
last and would only be an unstable source of income for an individual.
Not all work from home projects that are advertised over the Internet are
legal or free from scam. Another way to check if a home-based business opportunity
might be a fraud is when an upfront fee is required for any product that the business
will provide. Let it put your senses on red alert, although not all who have such
policies are scams.
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Initial fee for joining
Phishing
Phishing is an activity
of criminal act through
techniques of social
engineering. Phishers, people
who engage in phishing, tries
to fraud sensitive information
that they have acquired from
other people. Such information
may include credit card details
and passwords. They would try
to masquerade as a
businessperson in certain
companies that you can fully trust.
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Most of the phishing techniques are accomplished through the use of
deceiving technical designs creating a link in an email which looks like it belongs to
an organization; but in reality, that organization is not authentic. The prominent
tricks are misspelled address of the websites and utilizing subdomains.
There are ways in which you can protect yourself from opportunistic
phishers. Before you transact anything concerning the job or fill the contract on job
placement, there are tips you need to follow:
4. If you are in doubt of the job, go and ask your country’s agency on
labor. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is one agency in which you can
ask to assure your financial safety.
Many home-based jobs are available nowadays. Some of those are real and
legal while some are not. We have to be smart enough to take time in observing
whether they are scams unless you don’t care about losing money. Some of the
precautionary measures are already given out; a little understanding is the only
thing you need in order to avoid being fooled by phishers.
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Chapter Seven
Ways to Distinguish Scam From Real
The Better Business Bureau, which is also known as BBB, is a non-profit and
non-government organization supporting the objectives and ideals of bureau and
stands as the link between business and consumers. They report and collect
information to help people who call to their agency make decisions. The
organization works with other agencies, police, associations, and the government to
be of assistance to the people and make them informed.
You can inquire at their site through sending questions that will be answered
as soon as possible by the agency. The BBB also offers tips and advices on how you
can avoid being scammed. According to them, the most common pattern of a
scammer’s scheme is receiving the information through the Internet and the
newspapers, luring the consumers on big income that they can receive through
joining.
The BBB has revealed two things based on its experience after answering to
the scheme of stuffing envelope. The consumer will either end up receiving no reply
from the said firm or they receive an instruction telling them to post advertisements
just like theirs. They will gain income here through encouraging others to join and
send you money then instruct them to do the same thing also.
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o What tasks will I have to perform? (Ask the program sponsor to list every step
of the job.)
The answers that you will get from your potential employer will help in
rounding up whether the opportunity will meet your expectations - physically,
mentally, emotionally, and financially.
Sure, we would all love to work at home. We can get up at any hour we want
to. We are our own bosses. One problem regarding working at home is how sure you
are, as the employee, about your employers.
Here are some ways for you to know a scam in a blink of an eye:
1. You must always check the company’s address and number. Double
check that they are listed and that their offices aren’t simply post office
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boxes. It may be a work-at-home opportunity for you, but that doesn’t
have to mean that it must also be work-at-home for them.
2. If they have a website, that’s one assurance that they are legal and they
will not dupe you. A website shows professionalism on the employer’s
part. But it must not be just any simple website with a splash of words
here and there. There must be further details on what exactly you should
be doing for the company from your home.
3. Always make sure that you are in close contact with a person that is
responsible for your payment. Ask them first-hand when you can accept
your paycheck. Get their contact information and keep in touch with
them as much as possible. It is fair enough that you get paid for the work
you do.
Now as a home worker, you are an independent contractor and you wouldn’t
be getting the traditional employee benefits. For that reason, it is then your duty to
get your own health insurance or any form of compensation that is attributed to a
regular employee.
You must be responsible in tracking down your expenses. Some work- at-
home business opportunities pay their employee on a project basis. Therefore, what
the employee earns vary from month-to-month. Not only must the home worker
track his expenses, he must also keep a record of the work he is doing, so that he
will get paid for these correctly.
Just make sure that whatever transaction and action are going on between
you and your employer are legitimate. You can find countless work-at-home ads out
there promising hundreds and even thousands of dollars a month – all at your home.
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Chapter Eight
Other Important Aspects of Working From Home
Basic Legalities
After you have registered, you need different documents like the business
permit, the license, and the clearance. It is also important to manage the business in
accordance to the laws in your area. These laws may vary from one city to the next.
Such specific laws that must be taken in account include zoning laws.
If you will hire regular workers, pay them the wage that is due them; not
doing so may result to your business being shut down or worse, getting severely
punished by the government. A home business operator is required to pay the
appropriate tax.
If you have a market business, how are you going to market it? Most people
think that online advertising is the only answer to this question. But there are other
ways.
The basis behind any online promotion campaign for your website is to get
more visitors. If it is good enough, more visits will equate to more sales. This can
only be done by getting the address of your site “out there” thus making it more
visible to possible customers.
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If you trust banner ads, using a large one such as 468 X 60 or larger can help.
The larger, the better. This must be placed at the top of every page with your
website address clearly visible.
Many people prefer to print out larger webpages with tutorials, articles,
stories, and the like so that the customers can read the information later. Then if
they choose to, they can actually bookmark your site for future reference. Without
your URL on the banner, people may simply re-read the content but never visit the
site again.
You can also put your website’s URL on all day-to-day business items. By
using many document type items such as the invoices, faxes, checks, products
packaging and business cards, your URL will also be visible to potential clients.
People may be curious to check out your site.
Podcasting is also helpful in getting the word out about your home business.
As long as your company name and telephone numbers are included on podcasts,
more people will know about your business. This is a great idea as it gives potential
customers the chance to learn more about your company. It also allows them to
know how to contact you, just in case the need for your services and the demand for
your products arise in the future.
As for article marketing, write relevant articles that either chronicle your
business through a series of how-to’s or other instructive write-ups. Get these
articles submitted on article directories for other web publishers to get hold of them
and post them on their sites. Don’t forget to include in the resource box your
business website’s URL and a brief but meaty description of your products and/or
services.
Publicity is always good. Press releases or news releases about your business
can be sent to various sections of the media. These sections of the media must at
least be connected to your type of industry in order for you to reach your target
market better and increase the possibility of success. Newsworthy stories are those
that appeal to readers of the media publications you submit your press releases to.
By participating in forum boards, you could also promote your business. Here
you can also obtain ideas from the consumers. It hits “two birds with one stone”;
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you’re spreading the word about your business, and you’re also learning more about
the industry – what your competition offers to their clients, and how you can top it.
Work/Life Balance
There are so many things you can do after work. On average, an employee is
expected to work for a minimum of eight hours a day. Working overtime is
sometimes necessary and oftentimes unavoidable if you are trying to make a home
business take off, especially if there are additional bills to pay. Nevertheless, if you
make this a habit, it can greatly affect your physical, social, and mental aspects.
To prevent stress and a gap between you and your family, reserve weekends
for family outings or bonding time with your loved ones. If it’s summer, go out for
picnics or drive to nearby beaches. Occasionally, engage yourselves in outdoor
sports or any activity that could relieve your mind from thinking about office
concerns.
You must discipline yourself to leave office work in your home office. Do not
extend your working hours when in fact you should already be unwinding, relaxing
and enjoying yourself. Sometimes, though, you have to bring work home. But if
there’s no reason to, just seize the free time and rest. Recharge your batteries.
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Save Money while Running a Home Business
People opt for home-based businesses because of the low overhead – but
that does not necessarily mean that they don’t have trouble with financial concerns
as much as other industry owners. In a business, be it a corporation or home-based,
money saved is also an increase in profit.
Here are ways how you can pinch your pennies if you are managing a home-
based business.
4. Negotiate discounts if you are buying long-term. If you feel that you will
regularly go to a place for a particular item that you cannot buy in bulk
because of the lack of storage space, you can ask your supplier for the
bulk rate, giving him your word that you will be buying from him
consistently over a long period of time.
5. Buy from trade shows. There are exhibitors who offer discounts, or their
booth samples can be sold at discounted rates. Take advantage if such an
opportunity arises.
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goods and services is taxable. Have your accountant’s second opinion.
You can also join barter exchange, an organization that regulates
bartering among its members.
8. Ask for an efficient price. When you’re shopping for any product or
service, ask for a reasonable price. You have the right as a consumer to
do so. Worst-case scenario is the supplier saying “no.” At least, you asked
right. Consider how much you can save when he says “yes.”
9. Do not pay bills until you have to. Sure, you have to take care of your
credit rating by paying in full and on time but do not pay early if there is
no reason to do so.
11. Promote yourself. Use public relations and promotion techniques so that
you can gain exposure for your company in your community, reaching out
to your target. This is very effective and less expensive than advertising.
12. You must always capitalize on the cheapest yet most effective marketing
method if you are running your own home-based business. This is word-
of-mouth.
If you’re considering starting your own business, you must carefully plot out
the steps, strategies, and methods in doing so. Your itinerary must span activities for
not only days, but also for weeks, months, and even years.
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Time management is the act of budgeting your time according to your preset
activities. You do this to make sure that each task is done right. You have to consider
the amount of time needed on a task. This is applicable for office ventures, as well as
the work-at-home opportunities.
3. There is also great opportunity for your speedy growth with regard to
positions and benefits that you are entitled to. Since you are spending
most of your time working anyway, you will be more familiar with
company policies and procedures. If your immediate supervisor sees
topnotch performance, you will be on the rank for a promotion.
2. You will not have the opportunity to land a second job if you have full-
time work. Having a full-time work requires a sense of dedication.
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Rewards of a Part-time Work
1. You have supplementary income if you have part-time work. Most
people who have a lot of financial responsibilities often have a secondary
job in order to supplement their major income.
3. You can keep pace with the growth of your career because you are the
master of your time. You are your own boss and you can monitor how
much you can make in a day depending on how much work you did.
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Conclusion
Working From Home and Fulfillment
With the great advancements that have been made available to people living
today, great possibilities have also been made accessible to a growing number of
people. One of the remarkable options that are now available to more people is
working from home. While in the previous century, the average person is bound to
go to work in an office or some other place away from home, today’s people can
easily work without having to leave their house. More and more opportunities to
work from home are emerging everywhere and these allow people to do what they
love and earn at the same time.
Practically anyone who needs to work but still stay at home can benefit from
a work-at-home arrangement. Usually moms who have to take care of their kids and
do some chores would benefit from work-at-home opportunities.
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Retirees who are already tired of working in offices may also like to earn by
working at home. People with disabilities are also given the chance to generate
income by working at home. These people can take advantage of the things that
they love and make money out of them.
Like any job opportunity, work-from-home has its own set of pros and cons.
By working at home, you can be more productive and profitable as more time can be
spent on working and you work at your own comfortable pace and time. You save a
lot of time, money, and effort because there is no need to commute, dress up, or eat
out for work. No fussy bosses can hamper your productivity. Best of all, when
working at home, you can earn by doing things that you love instead of doing tasks
spurted out by the bureaucracy.
However when working at home, you are more vulnerable to distractions like
kids and spouses. People working at home may also fall victim to scams that target
people who work independently. There is also the possibility of losing your social life
because work would be very much integrated to it.
Working at home these days has been made quite so easy because of the
various tools that are now available. Perhaps the most indispensable tool is the
Internet, which helps people connect instantly and cheaply with their clients, bosses,
and other people involved. The home office, which is usually comprised of a
computer and a phone, also makes working at home a breeze by providing the
modern conveniences of technology. Other office devices that could greatly make
working at home easier would include printers, scanners, web cams, and copiers,
among other tools.
People might think that there are only few opportunities for working at
home, but the work-from-home job search yields a lot of breaks. A good work-from-
home opportunity would be data entry or transcription where you can type
paperwork for doctors, lawyers, and other clients. You can also delve into Internet
Marketing and take advantage of the power of the Internet to reach millions of
people. You can also go about e-bay auctioning and sell stuffs. Other work-from-
home opportunities include virtual assistant services and professional blogging.
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With work-at-home schemes
however, you should be careful in
order to avoid falling for a scam. Scams
can easily be spotted by knowing the
anatomy of these malicious schemes.
Scams usually employ too-good-to-be-
true statements and they often ask for
unreasonable upfront fees to start
working. To know veer away from scams, it is important to consult legitimate
websites or learn from people who already have experience working from home.
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Resources
BBB (http://www.bbb.org)
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