How to Start Your Online Work at Home

 

I'm always looking for ways to save money and make more of it, especially as I have my own family now and I want them to have every advantage possible. That's why I knew that I needed to find a way to work from home when my daughter was born last year.

 I didn't want to miss out on her first steps, her first words, her first day of school, or any other milestones because of the commute or because I had to stay late at the office.

                      

1. Get an idea of what you want to write about

Browse jobs. The more data you have about a certain type of work, topic, or, task that you want to get hired for, the easier it will be for you to start your home business. For example, if you are looking into online writing jobs, make sure that you check job boards like Problogger Jobs and Elance regularly so that when someone needs an online writer, they will hire YOU! Set up a portfolio.

There are so many different types of content writing jobs and each one comes with its own set of requirements and procedures. For example, if it's a smaller business looking for a writer they may not even need anything as fancy as a full-fledged portfolio because they just don't have time for lengthy applications.

 

2. Decide on a platform

Content platforms are everywhere these days. If you're looking for an easy place to start, look no further than Google or any of its sub-platforms. You'll find a lot of content writing opportunities on Gmail, Drive, and Docs—the work is plentiful, and pay is generally between $10-$15 per hour. Some tools will help manage your time better (Freedcamp), but don't expect to make more than $1,000/month as an entry-level content writer. 

When you get going, it can be more lucrative; just know that it requires more experience and expertise before making a full-time living from content writing gigs online. For example, A decent copywriter will make ~$75k+ in six months – once they have written 500+ articles! That said... Never be happy with your salary!

3. Define the topic

Doing simple keyword research will help you define what your content writing is all about. What are people looking for? What do they want to learn? This doesn't have to be too in-depth; a few seconds on Google will give you a list of questions and terms that people type into search engines when they're looking for information about what you do. 

You can even use tools like Bitly or Google Keyword Planner, which show you trending keywords and related data. Then, once you know what questions people ask about your topic, try answering them with your content and linking back to your site if it helps shed light on an area that might not have been covered elsewhere online.

4. Gather material

To start an online business, you first need something for your customers and potential customers to purchase. This will be in the form of a product or service. In our example, we'll assume that you have decided on a service for people who are looking for jobs at home. 

To get started, gather material from research (e.g., interviews with successful work-at-home job seekers) on where these people find employment opportunities and how they go about applying. You can use these findings in your content creation and marketing process as well.

 

5. Write your first draft

Writing your first draft is a matter of what steps you need to take and in what order. First, you need a topic or niche for your site—for example, freelance content writing or blogging as a business. Then you have some basic needs—hosting, design/template, and possibly even a custom-made WordPress theme (or hire someone who can make one for you).

 With those two things in place, you're ready to start writing content and getting readers on your site. Don't expect success right away, though: it can take weeks or months to get enough traffic coming in so that you can start making money with ads or sponsored posts.

 

6. Add links and images

This post isn't about writing a full, detailed description. It's about adding some links and images. Here are a few ways you can do that: Add a call-to-action button under your title; Link to an external site with more information;

 Add some images from relevant sites or Google images/stock photos; Link or embed something (like a YouTube video or SlideShare); Embed Tweets or Facebook updates and include something in your post that invites readers to share it. Remember, it should be useful and helpful, not just self-promotional.

 

 7. Edit, edit, edit

 

When you're working from home, it can be easy to lose track of time and not pay attention to how long you've been on a particular task. A good editing strategy is critical for maximizing your productivity. I do something called Pomodoros which works like a charm in getting me going again.

 It means I set up a timer for 25 minutes, then work on that task with no distractions or breaks until it goes off (at which point I have a 5-minute break). Then once that round is done, I repeat. This ensures all my tasks get my full attention and nothing falls through the cracks because there wasn't enough time.

 

8. Promote and share

You want as many eyes on your content as possible. To do that, you'll need a strategy for sharing and promoting what you create. Don't expect people to just stumble upon your website—take some steps to make it easy for people to see and share what you've created. 

The easiest way is likely a Facebook group or group of some sort on Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, or another network where people with similar interests gather and share information they find interesting. Even if your friends don't get behind your work right away, be patient: sometimes it takes time for information (and good work) to spread across networks.

9. Establish your schedule

The number one key to starting an online work-at-home business is having a schedule that works for you. Having a set schedule allows you to work around other aspects of your life, as well as make sure you're dedicating enough time to your new venture. Be realistic in determining how much time you can put into your online business daily—and don't be afraid to adjust it later if need be.

 If you find yourself needing more hours, consider hiring someone or outsourcing specific projects that take up too much of your day. Starting an online business takes time and effort, but setting up an effective schedule can get you up and running faster than expected. It also frees up valuable time for family, friends, and fun!