Starting A Home Based Business

Starting a home based business is attractive to almost everyone these days. The world has changed significantly during the past few years, and starting a business in 2012 is a very different proposition than it was in years past. We have fully arrived at the intersection of a global economy and unlimited possibilities. The sky is the limit once you know how to begin. My experiences have been in the area of starting an online home-based business which is run exclusively on the Internet.

According to many publications and blogs written by those in the know, we are in the midst of a digital gold rush that has new online entrepreneurs running for riches. I don’t think of my own business in this way, but I do see why so many of us are opting for the lifestyle afforded by working from home, or from wherever you happen to be that has an Internet connection.

I’ve worked from my family’s summer cottage in Finland, an Internet Café in Amsterdam, on a blanket by the beach in Santa Barbara, many different airports around the world, and from my home office in Santa Clarita, California.

The decision to come online was one that I made after long and careful consideration. After working as a classroom teacher in Los Angeles for almost twenty years, as well as working as a real estate broker and residential appraiser, I knew that I was ready for a change. My criteria was simple; I wanted to be able to work from home and earn as much money as I was presently making working as a teacher and in real estate. I never realized that I would be able to more than double my income while working less than half as many hours each week.

You can do the same thing as I have done, or do it in the way that fits your personality and goals. I have students on six continents following in my footsteps, and each one of them began with just an idea and a dream.

First, make a list of everything you are interested in, whether or not you are actively involved in it at the present time. My list would include photography, tennis, small dogs, traveling by car, and more. I have a grandson who loves skateboarding and snowboarding, and this is the area he now specializes in online.

Next, do a search online to find out what people are buying in the area you have chosen. In the case of skateboards and snowboards people are purchasing books, videos, equipment, training information, clothing, travel packages, and more. You want to make sure there will be ways for you to monetize anything you set up, instead of just free information.

Now it’s time to set up a WordPress site for you to start writing about your topic. This is easier than ever these days. We no longer need to learn how to program or write code or even use programs like Dreamweaver or Front Page to build websites. It’s all just a few clicks of the mouse with WordPress. You’ll be setting up a blog where you can share your information and experiences with readers. Including pictures is also beneficial.

Finally, you need something to sell. I recommend becoming an affiliate for Amazon to begin with. Go over to Amazon.com and scroll down near the bottom of the page where it says ‘Make Money With Us – Become An Affiliate’ to sign up. They provide detailed information on how to do this.

Spend some time several times a week writing a few paragraphs about your topic and sharing your personal experiences. My sites are about starting a home-based business and I give examples of how this works for me. One of my students writes about customer service and shares her thoughts and experiences on this topic.

It’s all about visibility, credibility, and profitability, and that’s what you’ll be creating with your blog, your experience, and quality products to promote. It will take you about a month to get up to speed with what I am sharing here, and then you’ll be ready to take your home business to the next level. I’ll be here to answer your questions and provide you with valuable resources on how to do this for your topic.