Audio Editing and Writing Services

Earlier today Twitter was working long enough for me to find out that fellow WAHM Marie Ynami at Mommy Community tagged me to participate in this meme about Why I Love Working From Home. And since I truly enjoy what I do (for the first time ever since I graduated college ** years ago), I wanted to share the positive side for other moms who aren’t sure if working from home is right for them.

1. I can get my kids out the door for school and meet them at the bus stop in the afternoon.

2. I’m saving money on gas (my DH spends enough as it is with his commute across New England!)

3. I save money on clothes since I can live in jeans and sneakers (or even pjs, depending on the day!)

4. I can still volunteer at my children’s school.

5. I don’t have to deal with office politics.

It’s late so I’m cutting my list off there. Now for some other WAHMs to tag…

Lisa Braverman, Treece, and Tracy Roberts

Recently Kelly McCausey wrote about her need to convert her paper planner to a digital calendar and I’m so glad she wrote an update because this week I have decided I need to make that same step.

My paper planner was perfectly fine when I started my internship last summer, to keep track of projects and deadlines. It became a regular fixture on my desk and served it’s purpose well for my regular weekly client projects. However, with new clients come new and bigger projects and soon my paper planner became a mish mash of scribbled notes and job quotes.

Not that I’m complaining! Taking on new clients is always exciting but short of getting one of those huge desk-sized calendars, it’s time to find a quicker way to login projects and check them off when they’re done.

I’ve dabbled with Google Calendar but need to check it out more (and actually remember to login everyday). A couple of clients use a basecamp program, which is really cool because you can check off jobs and it automatically crosses it off your digital to-do list. However, that seems to be more for those who have a team, which is not me.

I’m looking forward to getting more organized so I can fill my time with efficient client work rather than trying to decipher my scribbled notes.

By: Carrie Lauth

You can’t go anywhere online these days without hearing the word “outsourcing”. When you see a successful internet marketer saying that word, do you roll your eyes and think, “yeah, that’s all well and good for you, but…. I can’t afford it!”

If your online business is new or you have not reached your income goals yet, you may decide that outsourcing is out of your reach. I know because I used to think that way, but I quickly got over it! I’ve discovered a couple of creative ways to go about getting help with your business, even at the start.

Firstly, let me share a couple of the benefits I’ve found from outsourcing. One of the greatest ones is the impetus it gives me to work hard in my business.

For example, let’s say I hire a VA to add a bunch of PLR (private label rights) articles to a site. I’ve paid her and she’s done the work, now I am compelled to go in and do MY work, which is to edit and slightly rewrite the content to give it my voice. I also make the content more search engine friendly and add my affiliate links or other call to action. The fact that I’ve already invested in the project means that I’m highly motivated to start recouping my investment.

Secondly, we all know that as self employed people, it’s all too easy to procrastinate. If I feel myself putting something off that I know will move my business forward, I outsource all or part of it. That gets me over the motivational “hump” and once I can see the project taking shape, I’m excited about making it a success.

So, to quote Nacho Libre, “let’s get down to the neeety greety”. How DO you outsource when your business is just barely making a profit?

Use Found Money
Can you list some stuff on eBay or Amazon.com to earn an extra $20 or so this week? You weren’t counting on that money so why not use it to get rid of some of those business tasks you dread?

Barter
Do you know a VA who is just starting her business who might trade an hour or two of her services for a rockin’ good testimonial posted to your blog, website or newsletter? Do you offer advertising on your site? Maybe you could advertise for her in exchange for some of her time. Do you have a product for sale? Maybe you could trade out your offerings. Ditto for service businesses. Let’s say you have a talent for some aspect of internet marketing, say, graphic design. Maybe you could do your VA’s new web set and she can do some SEO on your content site. Get creative.

What Do You Hate?
If there is something that is necessary to your business but that you absolutely hate doing, take a leap of faith and outsource that one task first. The renewed energy you have now that you don’t have to do that dreaded job will likely pay off bigtime. Build your business on your strengths. If you’re a great writer, write lots of articles and ecourses and info products. If you hate updating a content site, outsource that. Do the stuff that you love that makes you the most money in the least time. Remember the 80/20 rule?

Child Labor
Just kidding of course! But seriously, just the other week on Wahm Talk Radio, CPA Kristine McKinley shared that the Tax Man allows you to pay your kids and reduce your taxable income. Did you know that a child in elementary school can be taught how to copy and paste PLR articles into your blog? Ask me how I know!

I hope these few tips help you get excited about outsourcing. One final tip: Commit to spending the freed up time on a *high leverage* activity. Don’t waste it. Ok? And don’t say “I can’t afford it”. Say “HOW can I afford it?”
Article by:

Carrie Lauth is a work at home mom of 4 who is extremely grateful to the Virtual Assistants who help make her business run more smoothly. For more internet marketing tips from a Mom’s perspective, visit www.carrielauth.com/blog and for outsourcing help, visit carriefaq.com/outsourcing-help.html

Truthfully, I don’t know the answer to this question but it’s been on my mind for the last week.

I had a terrific brainstorm for an ebook complete with audio and even had time to write about 12 pages. I was on a roll! I know and understand the target market and there seems to be a need for this product but it has NOTHING to do with business, working from home, or virtual assistance.

There are many in my WAHM circle who have established their expertise, or brand, and have multiple items for their affiliates to promote. Cara Mirabella is The Household Helper, Aurelia Williams is the coach providing Real Life Guidance, Alice Seba is the Internet Marketing Sweetie, and Nell Taliercio is the Telecommuting Answer Lady.

So the question remains: Which comes first - the products or the brand? Or can anybody prepare a good product without first establishing a brand name?

My dear friend Aurelia has inspired me with her Monday Motivation posts to get my mind focused, ideas organized, and to work more productively. While I meet my deadlines in time and have a planner for those projects, my own writing projects get shelved because I waste too much time on Twitter or blog hopping.

So, here is my effort to get motivated for this week (which will be difficult since the kids are on Spring Break):

Monday: Bill clients; write posts for my Surviving At Home blog; edit Wonder Years Radio interview; menu plan for the rest of the week; rake leaves out of mulch beds.

Tuesday: Edit Wonder Years Radio episode; get ahead with client podcast episodes; bring girls for their annual checkups; clean master bed/bath.

Wednesday: write some guest blog posts; visit forums; work on 30 Days to a Better Blog steps; meal plan for next week; organize/cleanup my scrapbooking stuff in the dining room (you don’t want to know what a disaster that room is)!

Thursday: More client podcasts due; formulate some project packages here; start writing that ebook that has been at the back of my mind for weeks now; ship the girls to their grandparents’ house for two days; bring our new puppy to training class.

Friday: Edit articles for Mom’s Talk Network newsletter; grocery shopping; 1st pedicure of the season.

Knowing me, I will probably skip around the list but so long as it’s all done by Friday, I’ll be happy!