Motherhood is not just a state of being – it is probably the best career training out there! Even women who wonder before giving birth when their motherly instincts will make an appearance, find themselves becoming a nurturer, teacher, protector, counselor, role model (aka leader), and much more once their little one arrives.

 In our increasingly virtual world, mothers have the opportunity to apply these skills outside of the traditional workplace, and many are finding entrepreneurial online endeavors to be the ticket.   It turns out that moms – creative song-maker-uppers and game inventers, choosy consumers, and relationship builders– are great at running web-based businesses as well. Below are seven ideas to get you started in and  serve as a launching pad for something all your own.

An upfront tip – for many of these ideas, it really helps to have a PayPal account and access to a computer you don’t have to share.

1.       Sell your photos

Did anyone else perfect the art of one-handed photo taking (really one-handed anything) during maternity leave or those first few months after your child was born? Amateur photographers and those who have practiced their art more seriously can contribute photos to a number of online sites and make money each time they’re purchased by another web user.

Anyone with a blog, website, or online marketplace has a need for photos and illustrations to make their content more attractive and eye catching. Visit sites like Fotolia, Shutterstock, Bigstock Photo, and iStockphoto to view their submission criteria and find one to try.

2.       Write for others

There are countless opportunities to put your writing, copywriting, and editing skills to use on the web. An easy one to start out on is CloudCrowd, which connects companies who need projects small and large completed with people who are up to the task. You select the tasks you’re interested in working on and usually get paid the same business day. CloudCrowd uses a Facebook work application so it’s a familiar and easy tool for anyone with Facebook experience.

 Another option for budding writers is Demand Studios, a site that promotes itself as a place for more experienced writers to set their own schedule working for premium publishers. Bloggers, copywriters, filmmakers, and anyone who considers themselves an expert in a particular field can also find work here.   

 3.       Write for yourself

 Most of us are sitting on a book idea (or ten) that we know could be a hit. The idea of getting a book published for actual consumption is just a little daunting, isn’t it? The advent of the eBook has changed that threshold significantly. 

 Once again, there are several services ready and waiting to assist with your eBook venture; here are two. Booktango helps you translate your ideas to a final product through its publishing and selling tools, cover design assistance, and access to retailers. You receive 100% of the royalties for sales through Booktango and 90% when you sell through their distribution and retail partners.

 ClickBank is another site with low start-up costs (a one-time $49.95 product activation fee) and an advertised global reach that helps writers sell their virtual product. They claim a massive affiliate network and customer support with experience promoting niche products. That means that your eBook on how to make Japanese paper lanterns might have a built in market!

 Two of the web’s largest freelance sites are Elance and Odesk, which act as a medium for clients and contractors of various types to connect and agree on projects. Writers can search for work, propose a timeline and rate for their services, and use a project workspace to complete the assignment. Odesk jobs tend to be based on an hourly rate, while many Elance jobs are fixed rate. Writers searching for online work would benefit from creating a profile on both.

4.       Be a personal assistant

I first read about Personal Assistants in the book The Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss, and I remember thinking both “wow, that would be wonderful to have,” and “hey, I could do that myself!” I’ve included it as a job idea for a mom with terrific administrative and organizational skills, great research abilities, and excellent communication skills – all of which would put you at the top of the virtual assistant game. But it is also something a mom pursuing a different kind of entrepreneurial endeavor might want to consider for taking on tasks that aren’t core to your business in lieu of hiring an actual employee.

Sites like AssistU.com can help you determine if being a virtual assistant is a good fit for you and even offer flexible mentoring and training programs to enhance needed skills. 

 5.       Offer a less-common service

 This is a fun way to start generating a little income without investing a lot in a new business venture. Take a few minutes and list out any little thing you’re good at or seem to know more about than most of your acquaintances. Every one of those items has the potential to become a Gig you offer on Fiverr.com, a site that lets you offer a very specialized service to anyone and everyone for $5 a pop.

Think what you have to offer is a little too goofy? Not useful enough? Think again. One of Fiverr.com’s top-rated sellers offers to call and deliver a happy birthday message as James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano.

6.       Flip a domain

This one can take a little more time and strategy, but the pay-off is worth it. Flipping a domain (the unique web address you type into the browser when you go to visit a website) is much like flipping a house. You find what looks to you like a hidden gem, buy it, make some improvements, and sell it later for an amount exponentially higher than what you originally paid.

You may be able to come up with some unused but catchy domain names on your own right off the bat – or visit sites that provide tips on buying domain names, like this blog. Once you’ve purchased a domain, read up on the art of flipping websites and on link building strategies to generate traffic to the site. The resources I’ve linked will provide guidance regarding when you’re ready to turn around and sell the domain on a site like Flippa.com.

Flippa functions like an eBay for web domains, where sellers can set a reserve price and a buy it now price and the domain is awarded to the highest bidder. When I last visited Flippa, there were 3,244 other buyers and sellers on the site – proving how valuable finding the right domain (and for many buyers, a well-developed domain) can be.

See how easy it can be to dip your toes into the water of web-based business? I’m terrible at impersonations, so I won’t venture into the business of selling custom birthday messages anytime soon, but I can offer my intimate knowledge of “food on a stick” to anyone visiting the Texas State Fair for the first time – and there may just be someone willing to pay $5 for that advance information!

The economy has forced us to be more creative than ever when it comes to making money. Many of us have been laid-off, or are having a hard time re-entering the workplace after years of childrearing. As a result, more and more of us are considering starting an online business.

We have researched seven online businesses that have the potential to reward you with a steady stream of income, and don’t demand a huge start-up investment. When considering what home based, online business is best for you, be sure you select one that you’re passionate about and have the skills and experience to support your passion. Let’s ponder a few ideas.

1.    Virtual Assistant

What it’s all about: The world of Virtual Assistants (often referred to as VAs) is on fire. People are hiring VAs to help them become more efficient in their daily business activities. So how about becoming a VA, or creating a website that helps VAs and employers connect? Cushion the site with webinars, educational material or even sell modestly priced programs such as a “7 Step Program to Becoming a VA.” Virtual Assistants can perform nearly any task a traditional assistant might perform such as: data entry and/or management, transcribing, placing want ads, drafting business correspondence, etc. Keep in mind that VAs can help with personal as well as professional tasks.

What it takes: This might be the right business for you if you enjoy working with people, you’re extremely organized, you have a moderate savings to invest, and you’re okay with waiting to see a ROI for several months. Bonus if you’ve worked as a VA.

2.    Micro-Consulting

What it’s all about:  There is a big trend called crowdsourcing right now and there are new companies popping up that are getting some attention.  One such company is AskYourUsers.com, which Techcrunch describes as “a simple service that helps you find people for micro consulting  projects lasting no more than 15 minutes — and it uses your LinkedIn network to help you find them.”  You can set your own pricing and work on short projects, which can allow the flexibility you desire.  If you have a special skill or talent, consulting makes for a great online business.  Niche consulting can help you stand out in your field if it’s already packed. Take inventory of yourself: What are you passionate about? What are people often asking you for advice on?

What it takes: Don’t go into the consulting business if you aren’t prepared to be completely committed to your clients. People skills rank high on the list of traits you’ll need for success. Consulting doesn’t require a huge start-up investment, and ebooks, webinars and products can help generate additional revenue.

3.   Creative Crafts

What it’s all about: Don’t laugh, the online craft business is huge, and growing bigger every day. Many craft-sellers start on sites such as Etsy.com (a site that sells handmade goods) and then develop their own website to feature additional goods, ebooks, videos, etc. For the month of January of 2011, Etsy reported a whopping $33.5 million of goods sold. Clearly, people want handmade goods, and they are willing to pay more for them too. Research a few ideas to get a feel for competition before you settle down and get crafty.

What it takes: Creativity and commitment to your craft are must-haves. To get your online craft business up and running, you’ll have to invest in materials, and of course spend some time creating the crafts you’ll sell. Crafts can turn a profit, but don’t expect to get rich overnight. Networking and using social media are likely to have a positive impact on your product’s exposure- so get those Tweets rolling.

4.    Go Get the Green

What it’s all about: The environment. Whether you’re making re-usable shopping bags or suggesting the best eco-tours of South America, the environment sells. Going Green gives you an opportunity to take a common product or service and transform it into a niche one. Bracelets made with sea glass, dog brushes made with all natural materials, organic nutrition bars for toddlers… you get the picture.

What it takes: A desire to better your family, your community and the world- while turning a profit. Education in the environmental or health field certainly couldn’t hurt; but it isn’t a necessity. If you have a knack for innovation, Going Green could mean good business.

5.    All About Apps.

What it’s all about: Every day you hear about new Apps that do all sorts of neat stuff. In fact, there are more than half a million apps on the market. So, your app has to be better, or do something more unique than the rest in its field. Does your app solve a problem for its user?  Consider running your app idea by a focus group for suggestions.

What it takes: Research and planning can’t be overstated; and neither can the need for your app to solve a problem or do something super cool that no other (or few) apps are doing. Plan on spending $2,000-$5,000 on an app developer, and perhaps another $500+ on marketing. You don’t need to be ultra-tech savvy, but it doesn’t hurt. Apps can be risky business, so this is only a good venture for those who can afford to swallow a financial loss.

6.    Virtual Party Planning

What it’s all about: People are getting more and more creative with their parties; especially children’s parties, but other kind of parties too (think: spa parties, martini parties, mystery parties, etc.) That’s where virtual party planners get in on the action. You’ll likely do best if you focus on a niche (but not one that’s too restrictive)- something like: “Terrific Toddler Parties for Under $100.” Maybe you’ll incorporate a retail section on your site where you sell toddler party supplies, ebooks such as “The Ultimate Superhero Party,” “Designing a Delicious Candy Buffet.” Adding a few videos that feature decorating tips or party crafts might be a nice touch.

What it takes: You’ll want to start snapping shots of your great parties now, so you have some to feature on your website. You’ll also need to do some extensive research on party products so you can advise your clients where they can find the party items you suggest. All in all, it is a financially easy business to get started in; overhead it almost zilch. Best yet, since you aren’t actually setting up the parties, just creating them, you won’t have to invest in loads of party decorations and supplies.

7.    Social Media Expert

What it’s all about: You might not be aware of this, but thousands of people are making a living as social media “experts.” There isn’t a genuine industry standard for the “expert” qualification, and skills range significantly. That said, there are people right now, working in the comfort of their PJs, getting paid to create Facebook posts, Tweets, and craft Pinterest accounts. Almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. Companies large and small are hiring social media experts to keep their name at the top of the consumer’s mind. Check freelance sites such as Odesk.com to find those looking to hire social media experts. Bonus: You can have your business up and running in no time (like less than an hour!)

What it takes: Clearly you need to have some familiarity with social media and how it is being used to market companies, people and specific products. A background in marketing is a plus, but not necessary for success. Developing a concise, engaging writing style is important. Since this is freelance work, you’ll have to be self-motivated, and willing to spend a portion of each week looking for work.

Every single one of us is special- we all have talent. Tapping that talent and crafting it into an online business isn’t easy, but thousands are successful at it every day; you can be too.

Need more ideas? Click here for 6 more online income generating ideas to consider or reconsider.

1. No commute! In 2007 the Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact of Telecommuting and e-Commerce (PDF), conducted by TIAX estimated that telecommuters in the U.S. alone saved 840 million gallons of gas in a year.  That CO2 reduction is equal to removing 2 million vehicles from the road every year.

2. Turn off your monitor when you’re not at your desk.

One computer left on 24 hours a day will cost you $115 – 160 in electricity costs a
year and dump 1,500 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere.
A tree absorbs between 3-15 lbs of CO2 each year. That means that 100-500 trees
would be needed to offset the yearly emissions of one computer left on all the time! – Tufts Climate Initiative (PDF)

3. So for that matter – turn off the computer at night!

4. Use a laptop. Laptops only use 1/4 of the energy that a desktop does.

5. Get the flat screen already. If you’re still using the now ancient CRT — consider writing off a lovely LCD monitor on your taxes next year.  LCD monitors use 1/3 of the energy that a CRT does and your eyes will thank you as well!

6. Invoice electronically. Encourage your clients to accept your invoices electronically and let them know there is no need to print it out on their end to send back to you with the check.

7. Sign contracts digitally. These pesky contracts and proposals that go back and forth are generally quite a few pages.  Use .pdf’s and sign them electronically.  It’s legal and saves paper.

8. Reduce printing. If you absolutely must print (viewing pdf’s while on a conference call can be just as effective folks!) — use both sides of the paper and eliminate unnecessary images (or make them smaller).

• About 85 million tons of paper and paperboard.
• Each year, more than 2 billion books, 350 million magazines, and 24 billion newspapers are published.
• The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year.  – epa.gov

9. Use an earth friendly signature. Add a line to your email sigs encouraging people not to print out your emails if it’s not absolutely necessary.

10. Recycle — and pass it on! Make sure you’re doing all that you can to reduce, reuse and then recycle.  I love the idea of making household recycling efforts part of our kids chores.  Kids love helping the Earth and it helps them to learn good habits right from the get go.

Some great Earth Day resources:

1. Earth Day 2010 Action Center
2. Pick 5 actions for the world
3. What’s Your Ecological Footprint?
4. What’s Your Transportation Footprint?
5. Earth Day Network

Do you have other ideas on how Freelancer’s can save the Earth?  Speak your mind!

This article is a guide to proper forum etiquette so that you don’t waste your own and many other peoples time.

The first thing you need to know is that forum owners deal with a ton of spam. I could easily spend an hour a day cleaning up spammy posts in the forum and deleting and banning members that don’t abide by forum rules. It’s unnerving to have to waste my time doing that rather then engaging in conversations on the forum and providing my members with useful information.

So from the forum owner perspective, spam is a very bad thing. On the other hand, to help out forum participants and to try to deter them from spamming every forum in the message boards, most forum owners will provide an advertising section of some sort where you can post an ad.

If all you are planning to do is post ads on forums, then look for this particular section of a message board. Especially don’t post an ad in the introduction section of a forum.

But here is the thing about ads. Nobody really reads them. Your time would be far better spent actually engaging in conversations on the forums you frequent. You will gain the trust and loyalty of the forum population if they get to know you. They will much more likely decide to sign up for a biz op under someone that they talk with in a trusted forum then from some fly by night forum spammers post. Doesn’t that make sense?

You’ll likely be taught that posting your website link on many forums will help to build your websites backlink popularity which will in turn increase your websites ranking in the search engine results. The truth is, your post is most likely going to be deleted as soon as the forum owner or moderators find it. All you really will have done is wasted your time.

How you can be certain that you will build your backlinks by forum posting is by putting your website link in your signature on a forum and including your signature in your quality posts. The website owner will be grateful to have you contributing content and in turn will be happy to allow you a small advertisement in your signature when posting.

Another trick you might not know is this. If there is a keyword phrase that you would like to rank well for in the search engines, use this as the ‘anchor text’ in your website link. That means if you want to rank well for a term such as ‘ameriplan business opportunity’ – then you would type that into your signature and have that link to your website.

Keep a folder of forums in your favorites on your browser and spend some time every day going to each of the forums. Make it a goal to leave at least one quality post and a few welcome posts to new members. It’s an easy thing to do while you enjoy a cup of tea in the morning and you’ll find that you are actually making friends and contacts that are genuinely fulfilling.

Informative and engaging comments, coupled with a well optimized signature will win you far more traffic and prospects in the long run. And you might even pick up a thing or two through your engagement on the forum.

As a small business owner it’s so easy to get caught up in the mentality that you have to wear every hat in your business in order to save money. In the beginning, that may be so. But as you begin to grow you’ll find that you end up making less money by trying to do it all on your own.

If you find that you have clients or customers that aren’t being attended to by the end of the day (and we’re talking real world 9-5 time here freelancers. Staying up to midnight at the cost of quality time with your family can’t possibly be the vision you set for your life when you decided to work for yourself!) If you do find that you end up leaving many things undone by the end of the day and don’t look forward to the morning… guess what? It’s time to hire help!

Consider [slider title="getting yourself a virtual assistant"]If you’re interested in finding a VA, I’m happy to give you some references personally. Or consider posting over on the FreelanceMom Forums. Another fantastic option is to post projects on elance. Elance is a place where business owners post projects and freelance professionals bid on the work. I’ve used elance from both ends – buyer and provider, and haven’t found a service that I like more than what they provide there. By the way, the freelancers who will bid on your work have portfolios for you to view as well as feedback from previous projects they have done. And it’s free for you to use – the freelancers pay a subscription to bid there, but buyers do not.[/slider] to begin with. What do you do on a daily basis that doesn’t require your most valuable skills and that someone else can handle for you? I’ll give you some examples that might really get you excited to take this step!

1. Imagine if you had a trustworthy personal assistant that you could direct your email to. We are all guilty of spending way too much time sorting through email. And you and I both know how many diversions await us in the midst of all the spam!

Instead, you either set up your email via the web, or have your assistant install Eudora on their computer to only handle your email. They go through your email as it comes in a few times a day and they forward to you what requires your attention.

During the first few weeks of this you’ll find that a lot of what comes in is really not something that necessarily requires your attention. So you email your assistant back with a ‘template’ reply. She sets up a template in Eudora that she can use to reply to any future request like this in the future.

The template alone saves you time. Even if you don’t hire an assistant – consider automating some of your replies in this way yourself. It’s so much easier than continually typing in the same answer all the time.

Having someone else go through your spam is going to be liberating. Set yourself up an email account that you won’t advertise on the web, so all the spam bots won’t easily find it. The mail that comes into this account from your assistant and from colleages and customers/clients that you give it out to will all be relevant emails that you must address.

How much would a service like this be worth to you? If you’re capable of making $50-$100 an hour in your business – then wouldn’t it be well worth it to pay a VA $10-$25 to handle your spam? If an hourly rate makes you uncomfortable talk with your assistant about a retainer. Lay out the services that you require and the amount you can comfortably afford and work with them to come up with a fair agreement. Make sure all expectations are clear and make sure they are following through on their end. Eventually you’ll find the exact right fit for you and having a VA will inspire you to take your business to much hire levels than you thought you’d ever have time for!

2. Does your business require a large amount of customer support? Especially if you are selling ebooks or any technical service like a sitebuilder to your customers then I bet you have had those phone calls with a single customer for a half hour. How much money did you lose? In the end what is that customer paying you? $25/month for your service? The support was necessary – but in the end the sale is a wash.

Imagine not taking those calls? A VA can handle your support for you. And skilled VA’s can help you to set up your business in such a way that you can eliminate much of the phone time necessary to handle customer support.

As your assistant becomes familiar with your business they can begin taking customer questions and compling them into an FAQ. On your support page it will be the first thing you offer to a customer. If they can do a quick search on their question and get a clear answer most of them would rather do that then pick up the telephone. In addition to the FAQ, you can set up a help desk system and a live chat. There are many open source solutions for this that are free – and other great solutions that don’t cost much money at all to get up and running. Now those cumbersome phone calls can be handled by a VA through the help desk efficiently with template replies set up to the majority of questions that would come through. A support request that used to take 30 minutes can suddenly take less than 5.

And remember – a VA doesn’t bill you like a secretary in a brick and mortar business would. They bill you for the time that they work. Not for the time they sit at their desk. The exception to this is Live Chat. You’ll want them to have the chat open but most of the time noboby will be requesting a chat. So this is a fuzzy area. The solution is to offer them a flat rate to handle the chat each week – together you’ll find a fair rate based on the amount of traffic your website gets.

3. Bookkeeping. VA’s often have a great deal of experience with it. You can get a Quick Books online account that they can use so that you can both access the data – or if you require a shopping cart then go with 1shoppingcart.com and a desktop version of Quickbooks that you can download your data into. No idea why you can’t do that with QuickBooks online — maybe it’s changed, but o my knowledge you can’t. If you want to use QuickBooks on your desktop – set up an account with GotoMyPC.com and give your VA access. At times you agree to they can access the computer and enter all the recipts, refunds, invoices etc. A huge time saver for you… you now have all that free time to dream up new products, make proposals, attend speaking engagements or any number of bigger picture items for your business.

You’ll be amazed at what can be taken off your plate. You can focus your energy on your mission statement again and take your business to higher, more efficient levels… and still have a personal life! This is called working smarter, not harder. Let me know how it goes!

Interested? I thought so. You might want to keep an eye on BlinkWeb. It’s created by Brad and Matt Callen who are two of my favorite internet marketers. I wouldn’t dream of not reading an email that they send my way.

Check out the video for BlinkWeb – it looks fantastic and is almost ready for launching.

Is fear of failure stopping you?

Have you failed before you have even begun your home business – simply because you are afraid you won’t succeed? Relax, you’re no different than almost every other entreprenuer. We’ve all felt overwhelmed or afraid at one point or another.

Fear is probably the main thing that actually holds people back from starting their home business or pursuing any number of dreams that they have for their life. Starting a home business takes guts. You may have to try several different ventures before you find one that you succeed at and that is a good fit for you.

Moms face some unique circumstances that most probably contribute quite a bit to our trepidation. We fear the impact a failure might have on our families and finances. If you don’t have the support of your spouse and family behind you, fear can be an even larger obstacle.

Listen, you aren’t alone. There is a large network of women who have inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles and succeeding. Seek out companions and colleagues that you can gain encouragement from, bounce ideas off of, and celebrate large and small victories with.

Join us in the FreelanceMom forum to talk about your business ideas and whatever obstacles you are facing. Chances are, one of us has been there before and will have some great advice for you.

It might be burn out for those of us who’ve been freelancing for many years, it might be distraction that you’ve earned the luxury of having by working so hard for so long. Whatever the case may be, at some point a freelancers job becomes stagnant.

Simple projects shouldn’t sit on the back burner for days or (gasp) weeks! You know that… but the element of comfort you’ve achieved doesn’t allow you to fear being so far behind any longer. You’ve got to take responsibility and kick your own butt!

If you don’t have a mission statement, this might be time to write one. Re-assess why you’ve chosen the work that you have. What type of service do you aim to offer your clients. What excites you about the work, and why are you grateful to have it? Get excited about your business again.

In the morning – sit down with your cup of joe and write a list of all the things (however small) you have been putting off. Make stars next to ones you could consider outsourcing.

Outsourcing is a big step for your business, but it’s can be a god send for securing your future with clients. If you don’t have time or motivation — outsource it. Especially outsource it if the rate of pay is what’s keeping you from tackling the task. It can be hard to take care of clients who pay lower rates when you have plenty of higher value work. So find an assistant who is capable and can work somewhat below your ‘lower rate’ and give them the work.

Often times people procrastinate because they are perfectionists. Look – it’s better to get the job done and then go back to make a few corrections then it is to get the client angry because you’ve got nothing to show them. Quit procrastinating. Dive in and bang it out.

Set deadlines for yourself. Make them tight deadlines. Try BEFORE the client wants the work done. If you push of small jobs until the last minute — you’ll find yourself in trouble. What to do when your phone rings with new work? Set your deadlines and stick to them. Many of us work much better under pressure. Create some pressure. Set some goals and measure your success.

Don’t get overwhelmed by your list of to do’s. Just prioritize at the beginning of the day — make sure to take everything into consideration when you’re prioritizing. How long has the client been waiting? How time sensitive is the project? How quickly could you knock it out? Get your list put together. It really helps to think about how it’s going to feel to get this stuff done — go ahead and set a dollar amount on what you could potentially make that day if you move this forward.

Remember how things flow. New work always shows up. Don’t hang on to work because it’s somehow a security blanket for you to know you have it. Get it done, and watch the flood gates open with new opportunities.

Remember your mission statement – how your work fulfills you. How that in turn helps you achieve your long range goals and dreams. We’re one of the most fortunate breeds of workers. We’re working from our home office. We have the freedom to take breaks and walk in the woods, hug our kids or listen to music. This is the life! Live up to it and go get em!

Don’t stop there! There are ways to promote your business in forums without posting advertisements. Try stirring up some useful conversations. It’s critical to NOT turn this into self promotion.

Talk about failures in other businesses that you might have faced. How is this one different for you? What have you done that works or doesn’t work when recruiting? Talk about it! Brag a bit when you have a new recruit or you get a bonus from your company. Treat the forum population like your close circle of friends – not the classified section in a magazine!

Start a thread about the business goals that you have for the month. Ask people what their goals are. Get people talking, and talking about business. The more they get to know you, the more likely they are to trust you and to trust your reccomendations for good companies.

Healthy competition can push you to do your absolute best. Take a look at your competitors often and ask yourself how you can do better. What could you give to your website visitors or your customers to sweeten the deal? Where are your strong points and weak points?

At the same time, consider finding ways to partner or network with your competition. Get out of scarcity mind and realize that there is enough business to go around and then some! Having friends in your niche means that you have trusted sources you can refer overflow work to or receive overflow work from!

You might also find ways to cross promote with your competition that is mutually beneficial. This can be as simple as linking to eachother’s websites or something greater like creating an info product together.

Appreciate and learn from your competition. Good role models help us to achieve our business dreams!