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.

Whether you are writing for your own website or you are a freelance writer for other websites, you probably have heard some buzz about search engine optimization.

Probably the best way to help a website show up in search results is to have plenty of unique, relevant content that is optimized for search engines.

I know a lot of women who are members of the FreelanceMom Forum write for a living (or would like to). Learning how to write implementing SEO techniques could add some desirable new skills to your portfolio.

The Daily Writing Tips blog wrote a good article for beginners that I want to share with you. I hope it’s useful!

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!

Here are some tips for bidding on projects at elance that I published in the FreelanceMom News awhile back:

1. Before bidding, research the client. See what other jobs they have posted in the past. Get a feel for which providers they choose. They may only choose lowballers. If that is the case, you might not want to bid. Or, you might want to lowball simply to get your first gig and get feedback.

2. Check what the client has left for feedback. If they have given low feedback, check out the provider they gave it to. If that provider has great feedback in general – you might want to think twice about working with this buyer.

3. Make sure your bid is original. Don’t copy paste the same text into different bids. That means, REALLY read the project description and address it in your bid. The more familiar you seem with their project, the more your bid will stand out from the rest.

4. If they have a website, visit it and try to casually comment on it if it seems applicable.

5. The tone of your bid should be somewhere between friendly and professional. You don’t want to be too casual, but you don’t want to be too uptight.

6. Don’t sound desperate :) Do sound confident.

Let me know if you land one!

I think the most important thing mentioned is to make sure your performance is outstanding before you approach your employer about telecommuting. They need to be able to trust you and the integrity of your work ethic – and they also need to strongly value your work so that you can be certain they will consider your request favorably.

I also like that they ask you to honestly consider if you will be able to perform your job from home. Are you easily distracted? Do you have an office in your house or will you be stationed in the center of a chaotic household? You’ve got to prepare if you want to work from home. Make sure you approach the whole concept professionally. If you take professional steps before you approach your employer, they will be much more confident in making this leap with you.

(RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY DIVISION)

Our continued growth has created new openings for self-motivated individuals seeking to work from home.

The primary responsibility for the Lead Generator will be to locate and attract top quality candidates to any of the nationwide openings available through our high profile clients.

Responsibilities will include:

- Prospecting new candidates through cold calling. (“SELLING” our client’s opportunities)

- Pre-Qualifying potential candidates

- Setting appointments for recruiters with prospects

- Submitting required reports, and inputting candidate data into our database

The right individual will posses the following qualities:

Ø Over Achiever

Ø Persistence

Ø Goal Driven

Ø Strong ability to handle rejection

Ø Maintains a positive attitude

Ø Destined for SUCCESS

Ø Skilled at reading individuals

Ø Quick Thinker

COMPENSATION: Start out with an hourly pay of $10 to $15 per hour and convert to commission after 30 days, paid per lead and per appointment. Can average between $15 to $30 an hour. MONTHLY PHONE STIPEND ALSO PROVIDED. This is a contract 1099 position.

HOURS: Must be capable of working at least one Sunday night (7:30PM – 10:00PM) a month and one late night (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday) per week. Remaining hours can fluctuate between mornings and afternoons. Must work a minimum of 15 hours a week, broken into 2, 3 or 4 hour shifts.

REQUIREMENTS:

Sales experience required, 1+ years
Must have at least 1 year of outbound calling/telemarketer experience
Sharp listening skills
Fast Learner
High Energy with great telephone personality
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Strong typing and good computer skills (Microsoft Office, Internet)
Familiarity with contact databases
Consistent, independent worker
Willingness to be a team player
Prior Staffing/Agency experience preferred
Private Workspace/Office with separate phone line (long distance, voice mail, call waiting), DSL, faxing capabilities and Microsoft Office
This is a sales position, daily and weekly quotas will be required.

OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER GROWTH INTO A RECRUITER OR ACCOUNT MANAGER POSITION.

Searchable Keywords:

Lead Generation, Cold Calling, Telemarketer, Outgoing Calls, Outside Sales, Inside Sales, Work from Home, Telecommute, Recruiter, telemarketing, generator

Wordtracker is the web’s leading keyword research tool. Our business continues to expand both in the UK and globally. To further stimulate this growth we are looking for a gifted Search Engine Marketer to join our team in the UK.

The qualified person will already have achieved success in the SEO industry and will be looking to make a major contribution in the years ahead. They will be able to demonstrate leadership as well as the ability to work as part of a dynamic team.

Read on…