If you are considering entering the exciting work-at-home field there are some things you need to know. Here are some basic steps that may help you get started finding paid work from home.
Creating your online presence
Getting started working at home will require setting up an online profile. This can be done on sites like LinkedIn, at writing sites or on freelance marketplace sites.
Put as much relevant information into your profile as possible. It might also help to beef up your biography with your work experience. Then you can begin the next phase of marketing yourself.
A) Set up a blog - set up a free blog. Make sure your "About Me" page talks about your skills and includes relevant parts of your resume. The two blog sites that are highly recommend are Word Press and Blogger. Both allow you to set up a personal blog at no cost. Consider putting your name in the tags of each post added to your blog. If you elect to use Blogger, you can also monetize the blog with AdSense and Amazon.
B) Join LinkedIn - LinkedIn is a networking and job site. For those who are looking for work at home opportunities, they offer a free profile, online resume and the ability to request references from prior business associates, employers, etc. This is a perfect way to set up a link to your resume and provide references immediately. This will help potential new clients find you. If you are looking for work at home opportunities Linked In referrals provides instant credibility.
C) Start social bookmarking - Once you have accomplished the preliminary steps, go to the most popular bookmarking sites and put links pointing back to your profile. Always make sure they are associated with your name. This can be done on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon and others.
Beginning the job hunt
The first thing you need to do is be realistic. It may take you as long (or longer) to find a work at home job as it would to find an office or factory job. You also need to understand that rates are going to be very competitive and you will be bidding on jobs with potentially hundreds of other freelancers. Keep your rates as high as you feel that your skills warrant. When submitting proposals for work, explain why your rates are where they are including your experience, skills and other positive aspects of your work ethic.
Stand out and get recognized
One of the most difficult things to overcome is standing out from the crowd of competitors. There are some things you can do to ensure that you stand out however which include:
• Write strong cover letters
• Include links to prior work
• Follow all directions in posting
There are hundreds of work at home websites. Each site offers a variety of job opportunities and have unique systems. They also offer different levels of service. Verify all sites where you are considering work at home opportunities and make sure they are legitimate. You should check with the Better Business Bureau to confirm their reputation before you sign up at any site to help protect yourself from being scammed.