Friday: It Doesn't Mean Much When You Work from Home

I had a friend text me this morning and state she was so happy it was Friday. Hmmm...Friday. What's that again? After working from home for so many years I have realized that Friday no longer holds the same joy in my heart. After all, I still work Saturday and Sunday...and sometimes Monday again.

However, this weekend I have made a goal to not work as much...so perhaps this Friday really is something to look forward to.

Today I'm submitting applications to diversify where I write a little more. As a freelance writer you should never solely write for one client. Why? Because if they drop you without notice you have no income and no immediate backup. Ideally a full-time freelance writer working at home should have at least two steady clients and at least 10 filler clients the rest of the month. I have two steady and one filler. Guess I need to diversify a tad more.

Working from Home is Work

I work from home, yet people assume since I work from home I don't really work. Boy is that wrong. In fact, I work MORE than if I had a job outside of my home. Why?

When you work from home you have to balance home stuff (chores, distractions, etc.), children (in my case there are two), and work. Also, clients don't pay you as much when you work at home because they don't have to compensate you for things like travel time, work clothes, gas, etc.

Yet Another Work from Home Reality - Starting the Day Off Wrong

Today was one of those days that make me dread the fact I work from home. Not because I really hate working at home, but because I hate how at-home issues make me not want to work that day.

I woke up at 5:00am ready to hit the keyboard and make some money. I have tons of writing work piled up -- and it's not going to go anywhere today that's for sure. I go to my trusty Keurig and pop in a pod, pull out my favorite International Delight Heath Bar coffee creamer and hear the Keurig doing it's usual loud sputter. I go to scoop up my steaming mug and sneak into the bedroom to start work and...wait? No coffee? There was nothing but a few piddly drops at the bottom of my mug! I tried every troubleshooting trick in the book  and finally came to the conclusion (sadly might I add) that my precious Keurig was dead. We had a good (almost) two years together, but, why for the love of all things could you not break the day before! You brew one cup at a time and you can't break the day before so I have a warning?!

How to Work from Home as a Freelance Writer Successfully

The issue with the term “work from home” is that most people hear this and take it too literally. They become lazy, irresponsible and just assume that they are going to make it big or become wealthy overnight – all of which are wrong. So how come so many people work from home as a freelance writer and make a successful living, but you can’t? Consider some of the following:

The Work from Home “Dream”

Those that want to work from home as a freelance writer often do so not because they love to write, but because they want to make money and work for themselves – this is issue number one. The other “dream” misconceptions of working from home as a freelance writer:

·         I can make my own hours

·         I can be my own boss

·         I can choose when I work and how much I work

·         I can write on whatever I want to write

·         I can become rich working 20 hours per week

·         I can be a writer; I did good in school

Let’s talk about these “dream” misconceptions and how most likely they are destroying your chances of ever being a successful freelance writer.

I Can Make My Own Hours: Yes and No

Sure, you can make your own hours, but do those hours work around the people you are writing for? As a freelance writer, you still work for someone in terms of writing. What if that client is available 6am to 4pm, but you only work 5pm to 11pm? How will you contact your client with issues or questions? If you answer “I’ll wait until the next day”, then right there is your freelance writing failure. Though you can make your own hours, you still have to plan those hours around your clients.

Bottom line: If you are selfish with your hours, you might be surprised how many clients you lose or don’t get altogether.

I Can Be My Own Boss: No

A freelance writer still works for someone and answers to someone. Whether it is an editor at a newspaper, CEO of a copywriting company or the owner of a company you are writing a press release for, you answer to some sort of client and that client is, technically, your boss. If they are unsatisfied, they fire you. Therefore, if you think you will work from home as a freelance writer successfully by saying you work for no one, then you have just axed your chances of writing successfully.

Bottom line: Even great authors like Stephan King and John Grisham report to an editor at their publisher’s office and they still have to report on time and do the job. Everyone answers to someone.

I Can Choose When I Work and How Much: No

You can pick and choose what clients you take on, but that’s as far as your power goes. Clients will give you assignments, which might take you longer than your scheduled hours. If you don’t do it, you won’t get more work from that client. It’s quite simple. Those looking to work from home as a freelance writer need to be flexible with their working hours, flexible with how much work they take and always strive to do the best. Why? Because one week you may have work and the next none.

Bottom line: Take what you get when you get it, get it done and do it no matter how long it takes.

I Can Write on Whatever I Want to Write: No

If you have been freelancing for years and built up a large enough clientele or work for a newspaper, then yes, you can. However, most who start to work from home as a freelance writer do not have that luxury. Therefore, being an avid researcher is important so that you can write on any topic presented to you. You cannot just pick and choose. If you do, you will be surprised at how little you make.

Bottom line: Learn to research and learn to write on what you are told to write. Pretend you are starving and work is your food. Take the food you get so you don’t starve to death tomorrow.

I Can Become Rich Working 20 Hours Per Week: No

The whole “get rich, work less” jargon was created by the schemers of the work-from-home industry. They lure people in saying work 15 to 20 hours per week and make $5,000 per month from home. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. This is no different with working from home as a freelance writer. Freelance writers have to work long hours, long weeks and sometimes for little pay. Even famous writers work more than 20 hours per week. Do you think Stephan King wrote all of his novels working when he felt like it or just 10 hours per week? No. Stephan King writes a minimum of 2,000 words per day for eight hours per day the entire week. Sure he’s rich, but he didn’t get there nor keep himself there only working a few hours a week.

Bottom line: If you think you will make it big working a small number of hours per week, you will be surprised at how little you make. Get to work and get working hard.

I Can Be a Writer; I Did Good in School: No

Those who want to work from home as a freelance writer often fail because they say they are a good writer. Writing a term paper in school is nothing like writing a 400 word article on the effects of a prescription drug and hair loss or installing a vinyl fence. Those who look at freelance writing as “homework” ultimately fail. Those who are passionate about writing, who write naturally and without effort are the ones that are successful. You have to be naturally witty, entertaining and more so conversational. A client that asks for an article on vinyl fences doesn’t want a book report. They want something interesting for their readers to learn from.

Bottom line: Not everyone is cut out to work from home as a freelance writer. Just because you were good in school doesn’t mean you are good at professional writing.

10 Home Business Ideas You Can Start Now

Are you bored of your job or fancy a career change, ideally having a vocation that takes place in the comfort of your own home so you don’t need to brave winter weather or traffic jams? Working in your pajamas sounds enticing but you don’t quite know how to work from home? Unsurprisingly, it can be a difficult leap to quit a steady job with regular income to take the plunge into working at home, especially as it invariably involves starting from scratch, building up a regular client base and having uncertain income, at least for a while.

Don’t despair, though; there are so many ways to earn a living at home that the Internet is awash with sides offering work from home ideas, meaning if you’re stuck for what to do you can just try something you found online. It shouldn’t be too difficult deciding a career path anyway, especially with the Internet’s limitless potential. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Wild West rootin’ tootin’ gunslingin’ poker player born in the wrong time (or the cigar smoke and guns frighten you a tiny bit) then you could try your hand at online gambling – you can play in your robe without fearing for your life.

There are more sensible ways on how to work from home of course; eBay has opened the doors for countless people to make a living selling their unwanted items, which might be more a hobby than career. However, there’s nothing to stop you purchasing wholesale items and selling at reduced rates online, or finding bargain goods at garage sales and making a profit on the most famous online auction site. For the more romanticised ideals of working from your home office you could focus on your talents and put them to good use; for instance web design is a good option in the web-dominated world of today, or freelance writing to provide words to the legions of new websites.

For something a bit different to the ordinary work from home ideas, you could try something like photography. Admittedly this will involve venturing out of the house to take photos, but that will be as and when you feel like it – and it’s not like taking photos will require formal dress and a commute to the office. Armed with your incredible pictures, you could sell them at markets or use your web design and writing skills to create your very own online store to sell them.

Working from home is a dream for many and a genuine departure from the rat race. Once you have chosen one of the many work from home ideas you’ll be well on your way to vocation freedom.

10 Ways to Spot Work from Home Scams

Legitimate work from home jobs are hard to come by, especially in a time where the Internet is in full force and the work economy going down hill. More employees are looking for self-employment status through work from home jobs, but just a basic Google search brings up numerous questionable at home job opportunities. So how do you spot a legitimate work from home job and what is a red flag? Consider some of these common red flags for at home opportunities before giving any personal information out.

Too Good to Be True

Jobs that offer you the chance to make thousands of dollars for only 10 hours a day of work are the biggest red flag, yet these at home job scams capture the attention of hundreds each day. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Up-Front Payments or Fees

The second largest red flag for at home job scams is the requirement of an upfront payment or fee. An employee should never have to pay to get a job or work for a company. Any company that requires employees to pay a fee to get hired, fee to buy specialized equipment or up-front payment are typically scams.

Wiring Money

If a company requires an employee to wire them a fee or wire funds in order to test a direct deposit, they are certainly a scam. Employees should go through proper channels for direct deposit, but first should have a job, have a contact and be employed with the company before giving out any personal information.

Refusal to Provide Contracts or Written Agreement

Work from home jobs consist of contracts and written agreements. Any legitimate at home job will provide an employee with a written contract or agreement stating their employment status, payment, etc. Companies that refuse to provide this should receive an automatic red flag.

Grammar/Spelling Errors in Job Posts or Company Site

Look at the company’s website. Is it poorly put together? Are there numerous spelling and/or grammatical errors? Do sentences read right? Any company website that is worth looking into will have a well laid out website with no spelling errors or grammatical issues.

Not Listed or Bad Ratings with the BBB

Check the company at the Better Business Bureau. If they are legitimate, they will have a registration with the BBB. Check for any complaints against the so-called company name as well for possible scam alerts.

Free or Poor Website Hosting

A legitimate work from home job will be from a company with a good website. Free hosting sites such as Geocities and Bravenet are common hosts to Internet scam sites. A company that takes the time and funds to pay for web hosting is usually a good start.

Contact Information

Visit the company’s website for contact information. Companies should have local numbers and addresses listed under their contact information. Sites that only list P.O. boxes or free email addresses such as Hotmail, MSN or Gmail are a red flag.

Flashy Testimonials

A company does not need to list testimonials from employees to get new ones. Any company that flashes testimonials from employees praising how great the company is and more so, the large amount of money they made from it, should be flagged. Though some companies are legitimate, most are baiting you with made up praises.

Extensive Application

Legitimate work from home jobs have legitimate job applications. Any company that uses an application that requires extensive personal information should be red flagged. This information includes banking information, social security numbers, spouse information, etc. No employee should have to provide personal information until they have been officially hired for a company -- even if they are conducting background checks.

Find work from home jobs in the writing and outside of the writing field as well as work from home how-to's at our affiliate The @ Home Employee.

Types of Freelance Writing Jobs

Do you enjoy to write, but want to work from home? Well, the freelance writing industry has taken off as a popular way to work from home, make a living and do what you love. Freelance writing is not for everyone, but luckily if you enjoy to write you can find a niche that works for you and possibly turns into a rewarding at-home career.

Content Writers

Content writers have unlimited possibilities in today’s freelance writing industry. Since more companies are turning to the Internet, the demand for quality content is growing. Content writers will write web pages, articles and provide the written word for websites consumers visit every day. To be a content writer, freelancers need to be familiar with SEO and learn how to be a quality writer at a fast pace to earn a worthy dollar. Read up on "Writing Online" -- a helpful guide to learning about SEO, finding online writing jobs and how to be successful in the content writing world.

Medical

Doctors offices and pharmaceutical companies are looking for technical writers that can create brochure content, newsletters and more professional pieces that focus on medically-related topics. These types of writers must be very accurate and on task.

Technical

Technical writers work on the how-to industry for computers, technology and software. Companies often require that their technical writers have experience in the industry as well as some sort of degree or education in computers or technology. Writers interested in technical writing would benefit from reading "From Idea to Print", which guides technical writers into the industry step-by-step.

Copywriting, Marketing/Advertising

Writers that can create a pitch and sell a product should look into copywriting for marketing and advertising. These types of writers strive to get consumers to take action, purchase a product, sign up for a service, etc. You have to be a successful salesman via the written word to work in this industry.

Catalog

Catalog writers are still in popular demand. This type of writer has to sell a product, write a back story and create an intrigue in the customer’s mind to purchase a product. These products range from books to clothing to jewellery and the writer must write to compel a person to buy. Demand is still there for this type of freelance writer, but requires experience in writing to get into the industry.

Bloggers

Bloggers are growing in popularity over the past decade, but are typically independent. Though some companies will hire bloggers for their company, most individuals start their own blogs and monetize them. Note that the blogging industry is extremely competitive and requires extensive work on your own, with little rewards in the start. Refer to the Blogging page for more information about blogging for pay.

Resume

Resume writers are in high demand. These individuals write attractive resumes for businesses and private individuals. This can be done through resume service companies or independent companies. Writers interested in resume writing should read "The Resume.com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes" before signing up for resume writing careers.

Business Plans

With today’s economy dwindling, more small businesses are popping up on the radar. In order to fund their dreams, these small business owners must get private funding, which requires an extensive business plan. Writers interested in business plans are required to have business and finance backgrounds, specifically in business plans. Follow up on getting into the business plan industry with "Anatomy of a Business Plan" for step-by-step business plan instructions to increase your skills.

Want to get into the freelance writing industry? Aspiring freelance writers can get inside information on each of these categories in the Savvy Freelancers Guide eBooks coming soon. Become your own boss and take care of your financial security...the savvy way.

End of the Week Report

Normally I end my week on Sunday morning, however today I could not find my writer's mojo. I woke up at 6:00am with every intention of writing, but it seems cleaning was more appealing to my tired mind.

Each week I set goals for how many articles I will complete and an overall earnings goal. This week my goal was a rather simple one -- $500. Every freelance writer should set a weekly and monthly goal. This is the last week my goal will be $500. In fact, next week's goal is $750 and the week after that I'm bumping it to $1,000. Time to buckle down, work and get ready for Christmas -- that means new schedule.

Tip of the Day:
Set a schedule for your work week. Whether it is two hours one day and 10 the next; a schedule will get the job done. For example, I have a schedule based around my son's visitation, school and life in general. I work Tuesday through Saturday (taking Sunday and Monday off). I wake up each day at 6:30 to start working and try to have everything done by 2:00pm. On days my son is at preschools (two days per week), I set higher daily goals since I have more alone time to get them done. No matter the day, I still try to get done by 2:00pm. What's your schedule? Feel free to share your opinion on schedules and what works for you.

So how much did I make this week?

This Week's Goal: $500
Actual Earnings: $656


Next Week's Goal: $750

Working from Home (and Actually Working) as a Freelance Writer

Sure working from home is just about anyone's dream. You wake up, get dressed (or not), sit down and start typing away. Perhaps even enjoy a hot cup of coffee. No traffic, no fancy suits, no boss....it's a workers dream! The only problem is you are at home and not at work -- that means no "work mode".

Whether you have children, a spouse or just live alone, there are going to be distractions that prevent you from getting the job done. You tell yourself you can go shopping all day and you will work later. You can watch a few movies and you will work later. You can sleep in and you will work later. All of these are excuses I have used myself. The problem is, the further out of "work mode" you get, the less gets done as time goes on. Eventually you struggle to even work for an hour. So how do you actually work? Well, everyone is different, but after two years of working from home straight (and still making a living), I have come up with a few tips to get the job done (no pun intended):

GET READY: Sure you want to work in your favorite pajamas, but would you show up to the office like that? Though you dont have to put on a suit and tie to work from home, getting ready with a shower, brushing your teeth and hair and putting on clothes for the day will make a difference.

CREATE A WORKSPACE: Not everyone who works from home has the luxury of a spare room for an office, but if you do, I suggest making an office where you actually work. Set up a desk with your computer and all the fixings just like you would if you worked away from home. If you dont have the space for an office, still set up a desk/work area. Even if that means taking away a corner of the living room and dedicating it to a workspace.

CREATE A SCHEDULE: You may work from home, but you still have to work. Only this time you have the luxury of making your won schedule. Look at what is going on around you -- what time the kids get out of school, wake up/go to bed, what time your spouse gets home.

Basically, if it happens in your house or in your life, then it needs to factor into your schedule. If you have to, schedule blocks of time to work, even if they are chunked throughout the day. I, myself, have a  two year old who I plan around. I wake up at 6:00am Tuesday through Saturday to do an hour of work just before he gets up.

Unfortunately, working from home isn't for everyone. Some people need that schedule, need that boss and need that structure. Give it a solid effort for a month and see how you do. It takes time to adjusting to being your own boss, but in the end, you have to weigh the pros and cons of working for yourself and actually making money. Working for yourself means you supply insurance, you supply the work, you make sure you get paid, you set the schedule and YOU make sure YOU work.

Bottom line.