10 reasons why you should monitor your employees e-mail and Internet use at work

There a variety of legal reasons why you need and should monitor your employees e-mail and Internet use at work. Here are ten reasons why you should monitor your employees e-mail and Internet use at work.
1. You don't want them sending confidential files or other confidential information to people via e-mail that aren't suppose to know the information. You need to be concerned about them talking about work related information that isn't suppose to leave the office.

2. You don't want them looking at any inappropriate pictures while at work. You don't want your company to get into trouble for employee's sneaking around to look at pornographic images or anything else sexual.

3. You don't want them to cheat the time clock. You don't want them to waste your companies money by paying the employee if she or he is just surfing around on the Internet that isn't work related.

4. You don't want them being distracted by talking to buddies through instant messages while working. Employee's would be able to accomplish more work if they didn't chat with buddies while working. It will save you even more money if you don't let them talk to buddies through Instant messages while working.

5. You don't want them to get any viruses on the computer from surfing the Internet. You want to protect your computers. A virus could end up costing your company even more money to get rid of the virus. Employers have the right to limit what websites a employee can access on the Internet. Employers have a right to see everything that an employee does on the Internet since they are using the company computers to access the Internet.

6. You want to make sure that the employee's aren't talking about inappropriate things on the Internet to people through instant messages. You don't want that type of thing going on through the Internet during working hours. It is a bad idea to let that happen since it will just cause problems sooner or later.

7. You don't want a hacker to get any information such as employee's social security numbers. You want to make sure that all confidential information is staying that way without being exposed to hackers.

8. Make sure that employees aren't downloading a ton of illegal music off the Internet. It is illegal to download music unless you pay for it each time you download it.

9. Make sure that the employees aren't downloading illegal DVD movies. The law doesn't let a person legally download DVD movies off the Internet.

10. Make sure that your employees aren't stalking anyone on the Internet. You don't want to get in trouble with the legal system by allowing an employee to stalk a person on the Internet.

10-common-mistakes-hurt-freelance-income

Large numbers of freelance writes tend to keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and it really holds them back from becoming financially sound and stable. Below are some freelance writing mistakes that people commonly commit. Some of the most common mistakes actually have nothing to do with writing but with self promotion and handling a steady work flow. Avoid these mistakes below and you will see your freelance career accelerate and your income will increase instantly.

Keeping a Schedule and Sticking to it
Any freelance writer knows that it is not the writing you're selling, it's your time. For most of us, writing comes naturally and easily but it may not be so simple when planning a time to write. Working as a freelance writer from home I know that it can be hard to stay on a schedule everyday, and most freelance writers seem to have the same problem. One of the main reasons most freelancers end up wasting a lot of time is because they do not devote specific hours to work only.

If you are like me you are doing laundry, cooking, and writing all at the same time. One way to save some time is to hand off undesirable routine tasks like laundry, cutting the grass, and cleaning to someone who makes less money than you do. You can also save yourself some time by hiring an assistant to make photocopies, send out the mail, go to the bank, etc. The main thing to remember when working as a freelance writer is that you have to free up your time so that you can concentrate on your writing and start making more money.

Self Promotion
Self Promotion is one of the most important tools that a freelance writer has, and if you don't use it you will never succeed. Most freelance writers stop promoting and marketing their skills once they get busy and this is where most of us fail. The result is gaps between work and no new leads. The key to maintaining a steady freelance writing career is to continually self promote - even when you are really busy. Many freelance writers' lives are defined by a criss-cross motion of writing and self promotion when it should really be a continual flow. The two should be intertwined with each other creating a steady flow of work and income stream.

Not Charging Enough
Most freelance writers have the "starving artist" mentality that holds them back from really making any substantial income. Just because you are a freelance writer does not mean that your work is not as good Joe Reporter at the New York Times. In fact a lot of freelance writing is exceptionally good and not commonly found. Most freelance writers are afraid that if they charge too much the client will find someone else for less. Gaining business by charging too low is only going to lead to failure in the long run. If you start out low and then try to charge more later you may loose many or all of your clients.

Often, you will be surprised what your clients will tolerate concerning pay. Sometimes you have to push the limits to get what you want but if your work is quality most people will not mind paying a little more.

Finding a Niche
The best way to corner the ever growing market of freelance writing is to become a specialist. You can streamline your writing by subject or medium, but it is not going to sell if you do not have marketable talent. Think about what kind of writing the most people will be looking for, and also what you know. Make sure that you have reliable sources of information and that your work fits into a market niche that has not been captured yet.

It is also best to choose one or two mediums and stick to them. Since the world of freelance writing has so many different mediums it is almost impossible to succeed unless you choose a medium. If you are an online content writer don't write magazine articles. If you are a commercial writer, stay with either television or radio. Whatever medium you feel the most comfortable using, and have the most knowledge on is the one that you should stick to. Too often, writers make the mistake of taking an assignment that they really don't know much about, or how to format it.

Being Unique
If you are serious about being a freelance writer, and charging for your services, you better make sure that your work is worth the extra buck. Clients will pay more for works that are not commonly found, especially with online writing services. Before you take an assignment make sure that you are fully prepared to fulfill your client's needs and wants. Other than just finding a niche you also have to be fresh and new. Clients are not looking for a repeat of a repeat and will pay more for exclusive works.

Not Being Clear About Guidelines
One of the biggest mistakes that most freelance writers make is to take assignments they are not clear on. You should never start researching or writing until you are crystal clear on what the terms are. How long is it supposed to be? When is it due? Will there be any re-writes? What format? When will you get paid? Are there any fees? Etc., etc. Make sure that you go over any areas of the contract or agreement that you don't understand before you say yes. When it comes to freelance writing there is no manager or boss telling you what to do. It is your responsibility to make sure you know what you are doing before you start.

Not Focusing on the Client
Most writers naturally focus on the writing task at hand but you can be more successful if you really focus on the client. Each new client is a new relationship and you must focus on what it's going to take to make it work. Listen to what your client says they want and understand what they need. Needs and wants are not the same thing, so be careful when researching and writing your assignments. Make sure that all of the needs are covered fully and that most of the wants are included. Usually most clients are quite flexible when it comes to wants and will not be upset if they are not all met, but all of the needs must be met in order to produce what they really want.

Potential of Profitability
We've all heard the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" and the same goes for freelance writing projects. Don't simply judge a writing opportunity by how much money you are going to make. Each writing bid should be closely examined to determine whether or not you will have an ongoing relationship with this client. The idea is to keep making money over and over again with one or two clients. If there is no potential to make money in the future, either residuals or a continual flow of work, than don't take the bid. It is more important to build lasting relationships with your clients than it is to make a few bucks right now.

Being Difficult
Most clients prefer not to deal with people that have too many questions or stipulations that get in the way of what is really important, and that is you writing for them. As a freelance writer you have to be agreeable, flexible, and helpful. If you can accommodate the client's needs and wants easily then they will come back to you again and again. If you are difficult, argumentative, slow, and stubborn your clients and potential clients will look elsewhere for a writer. Of course, you must hold your ground on pay and other things like due dates and length, but don't let the client walk all over you or take advantage of your helpfulness.

Saying Yes Instead of NO
As freelance writers we tend to get a lot of requests for work and even though you may want to take on each and every project, it is just not a reality. Unfortunately writers who take on too many assignments usually end up failing in the long run. If you accept everything that comes your way you will see your work start to back up and then you will loose customers because you couldn't meet deadlines and the work is just not detailed enough.

If the writing opportunity does not increase your income or help accelerate your writing career than don't take it. If you are extremely busy, see if you can get extended deadlines or just say no. Of course, it's easier said than done but will pay off in the long run if you don't overload yourself with work. Another plus to this is that you don't get as many writer's blocks and you don't get burned out quite as easily.

10-common-mistakes-by-freelance-writers

As I sit here looking through writer portfolios and resumes online, I am starting notice that there are several things that freelance writers do online that actually hurt their career and promotions. If you're like me, you browse writing sites daily for new markets, writers for hire, and readers. But, there is one major problem with all of this. Most freelancers have no idea what to do when promoting their services online. Take the following tips into consideration the next time you go online to promote your writing services. If you avoid these common pitfalls you will see more assignments and viewers come your way almost instantly.
Of course, simply avoiding these mistakes is not going to make you rich and may not even bring you work, but from an editors point of view it certainly will get you noticed more if you correct your errors. When I am looking for new writers for upcoming projects, it is easy to see from a single glance if your profile or resume is worth giving read. I quickly pass over the ones that are unfinished, don't include contact information, or are not updated. I'm sure most of the writers I don't choose are exceptional writers but I will never know because I figure, if you can't take the time to get your advertising right than what can you do for me?

Just taking a little pride in what you do will push your freelance writing career ahead in leaps and bounds. When promoting your services online it is most important that you don't forget why you are writing. The following mistakes should be avoided at all costs because they can sabotage any freelance writing career, and people will not take you seriously.

• Not Including Contact Information - This is one of the most irritating mistakes that freelance writers make when promoting their services online. After taking the time to read your complete portfolio or ad, an editor or publisher wants to be able to contact you. More often than not, freelancers forget (or just don't include) their contact information. If there is no way to reach you how do you expect to get work?

• Incorrect or Misleading Information - When you are writing online ads to promote your writing services be as truthful as possible. Don't tell lies. If you say you wrote for a publication you better be able to back it up. Phone numbers and email addresses should also be in working order. It may seem like a surprise, but 5 out of 6 freelance ads are likely to have wrong or disconnected phone numbers, non-working email addresses, and broken links.

• Not Stating Your Pen Name - If you write under a pen name, be sure to include it in your freelance portfolio or online ads. If you post an advertisement under your real name and forget to include you pen name publishers and editors may not be able to find any of your work because they will be looking for the wrong name. Make sure that your real name (for payment) and pen name are both identified when posting ads or adding to your freelance writing portfolio. Many publishers need your real name in order to verify your payments. Most companies will not send a check or payment to a person or company that cannot be verified as real.

• Not Updating Your Information - This seems to mainly be a problem with freelance writer online resumes and portfolio's. Unlike ads that are deleted once expired online resumes and portfolios will exist until you physically delete or edit them yourself. If you posted your resume on a website go back and update it every month to two months. No one wants to see what you did 5 years ago, or even 2 years ago. We want to see that you are working now and continuously writing, even if it is unpaid.

• Not Using Your Name - When searching resumes and writer ads online I always skip over ones that have no name or abbreviated names like J.C. or R.J. I will never hire a writer that doesn't take the time to introduce them self, first and last name. If you can't type in your name, with capitals, then don't bother.

• Ads and Resumes Without Punctuation and Capitals - This is one of the worst mistakes that you can make as a freelance writer. When you don't take the time to use capitals at the beginning of your sentences, or commas, exclamation points, or periods it doesn't say much for your writing skills. Always use capitals at the beginning of sentences, and don't forget to use correct punctuation and grammar.

• Speaking as if You Were in Online Chat - LOL, seriously not funny. When writing your online portfolio, resume, or advertising make sure that you use proper English. Take the time to completely spell out each word. Don't use abbreviations that are not commonly used like ppl for people, or TTYL for talk to you later. Using these "short cuts" only shows how unprofessional you are and will not get you very far. Save the small talk for chat.

• Ads and Resumes with Inappropriate Pictures and Graphics - When creating a photo or graphic icon for your online advertising or resume it is important not to draw attention from your skills. Post a recent picture or logo that is clear, and conservative. Unless of course you write about obscure material, than just submit what ever seems fitting. If you are posting a professional ad or resume for your writing services do not add pictures of you with friends or your dog, or anything that even remotely looks sexual. If using a photograph of yourself, dress conservatively and keep your hair out of your eyes for the picture. Try to stay away from childish icons and graphics, as well as overly flashy or extreme visuals. Keep it clean and simple, just as you would on paper.

• Not Stating Your Talents and Skills - If I have seen one, I have seen a thousand ads that state something along the lines of this, "Freelance Writer For Hire - I can do it all! Call Writer Joe at 555-0987". Being non descriptive is not going to get you any freelance work. After all, that's what writing is about; being descriptive. Instead of being so broad and saying you can do it all, focus on a specific market niche that you are well educated upon. If you write for magazines say so, if you write online content say so, and if you write books - say so! Each editor and publisher is always looking for something different. If you focus on a target area of the market you will be more likely to succeed.

• Posting your Ad or Resume to the Wrong Category or Website - This one may be the worst of all for freelance writers trying to promote their work or services. Before you post make sure that it is on the right website or in the correct category. There are many freelance writing websites and each one offers something different. Some are for film and screen writers, or book writers, poets, and technological writers. Just make sure you are in the right place before you post. Posting in the wrong place not only severely limits the amount of exposure you will get, but on some blogs your ad or profile may be deleted by the community if it is in the wrong place.

9-awesome-online-courses-take-over-summer

Do you have some time to spare this summer? If so, a great thing to do in your free time that is both fun and educational is to take any one of the available online education courses. There are thousands of courses available in all sorts of subjects - from health, to e-commerce, to business. You can learn a lot, and learn new skills for your job, too. Read on to discover some of the most awesome online courses you can take this summer.
Intro to Computer Science: In this course, you will discover the most important concepts in computer science, and you also will learn how to write your very own computer programs. These projects occur in the context of building a web crawler. After you take this free course, you will have a solid foundation for Python programming and will have constructed a functioning web crawler.

Web Application Engineering - How to Build a Blog : This free class starts you from the very basics of how the Web operates, and then you will be walked through all you need to know so that you can design your very own blog application. You will learn how to scale your blog so that it can handle large numbers of visitors.

Circuits and Electronics : This free course by MITx is designed to be the first undergraduate course in electrical engineering, or in computer science. You will learn about resistive elements, switches, amplifiers, energy storage, and digital circuits. You will spend a good deal of time on design and lab exercises.

Business English : Do you need to improve your English language skills that you use in business? This free course helps you to build a strong knowledge base in how to use proper English in a business organization and how to grow strong business communication abilities.

E-Commerce for Business Administration : This free course gives you a great introduction to business models that are based on the Internet. Information professionals will learn how to recognize the many opportunities that are available in the e-economy, and learn how to overcome the obstacles. You will learn about information systems management, knowledge management, and e-marketing best practices.

A History of the World Since 1300 : You will study in this free course about modern world history since Ghangis Khan's time. You will learn about the various people, plagues, wares, conquests and empires that have affected the world in the last 700 years or so.

Listening to World Music : More music is available to use with the click of a mouse right now than most of us can imagine. Sadly, we do not listen to the huge diversity of music that is right there for us to enjoy. This free class will open up the global world of music to you. You also will learn briefly about the history of music recording, the music industry, and much more.

Software Testing - How to Make Software Fail : When you are writing software, destruction is often as valuable as creating. You will learn in this free class how you can find bugs and smash software, as you learn the many different methods of testing that will help you to build stronger, bug-free software.

Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics : This free astronomy class from Yale will teach you about extra solar planets, dark energy and black holes. There is a great emphasis in this course about not just what we know about the universe, but what we do not know, and how astronomers are trying to unlock these mysteries.

7-ways-being-stay-home-mom-dad-work

I'll be the first to admit that being a stay at home mom or dad isn't going to work out well for everyone. Some people don't thrive on being home with their kids so much, despite being loving, caring parents. But most parents can make staying home with the kids work out for themselves and their family. Here are some tips to help.
1. Work out a routine that works for you.

I'm not so much on the solid daily schedule thing, but it is a good idea to have a basic routine to your day, something you and the kids can count on. If you want a schedule because that's best for you, go for it.

There are times of day when you and your kids will prefer to eat, prefer to play, prefer to take a break, and so on. The better you can accommodate these preferences, the easier your day will usually go. Kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, really need that routine to be comfortable and won't be happy if you take that away from them. Take advantage of that to ensure that there's time for your needs too.

For many at home parents, this will mean making time to get out of the house and with other adults, probably without the kids. The lack of social time with other adults is one of the hardest parts of being an at home parent. Make sure your routine includes time for you so that you don't feel as though your needs are always neglected.

2. Keep up with your own interests.

No matter how many kids you have at home with you, you aren't just a mom or a dad. You're a person with your own interests, and you should take time for them, whether it's taking a class or working on a hobby.

I consider this a very important example to show your children. They need to see that being a parent is not just about raising kids, and that the world does not revolve entirely around them. You're a person and you have the right to enjoy some of your own interests.

Of course some of your interests are great for sharing with your kids. You may have a hobby that you can work on together, and that's a wonderful thing.

3. Keep up on your skills for future employment.

Most stay at home parents aren't going to stay at home forever. Some will go back to work after just a year or two, others will wait until all the kids get into kindergarten, and still others will stay at home until all the children are adults.

Still, you can't assume that your situation now will last forever. Death, divorce and unemployment of your working spouse can be nasty surprises that mess with the best of your plans, and of course you need to think about your own eventual retirement. You don't want all of your work skills to be entirely out of date.

You have a number of options to cope with this. You can choose to work from home as you raise your kids, for example. Once you get things going, this has the advantage of bringing in more money while you're at home. The disadvantage is that it's not always easy to get started by either finding a legitimate home based job or by starting your own business, and it can take time away from your kids. It doesn't work out for everyone.

You can also take classes to keep up your work skills or build up skills for the career you'd like to have in the future. Having your last work experience be years back isn't going to look so good if you haven't done anything to improve your skills in the interim.

4. Make time for your marriage.

With so much of your day focused on the kids, it's easy to neglect your marriage. Don't.

Find a way to make date nights. If you have local, willing grandparents or other family, this may be easy. My husband and I had that for a long time, and it was wonderful, and we look forward to being able to move back near family someday to have it again.

Even without that, it's possible. You can pay a sitter, of course, or just take quiet time together after the kids are in bed. Even something as getting a movie off Netflix or from Redbox can give you some quiet couple time.

5. Encourage lots of independent play.

Children do not need you to guide their play at every minute. Playing with your children can be a wonderful thing, but they need to learn to play on their own and with other children. Find out where other kids of a similar age are in your neighborhood, and start encouraging appropriate friendships. This is also a great way to get more time for your own interests, as kids playing with friends may not need your attention as much, especially when you get to where you can take turns having the kids play at each others' homes.

How much independence you allow will depend on the age of your children and where you live. Some places you'll be safe to give more independence at a younger age than other places.

Plenty of outdoor play is important too. Fairly young children can be quite safe playing in a properly fenced backyard with little supervision, so long as there's no trouble such as a swimming pool or an unlatched gate for them to get into. Evaluate your own yard for when you think you can let your own kids play out there, and be aware of risks that can change, such as the gate not being quite properly latched.

6. Know your budget.

Finances can be a huge issue for single income families, and one of the biggest stresses overall. It's not always comfortable to realize you can't have all the things that would be possible in a dual income family, but you have to make it work.

This is why many at home parents are into coupon clipping, thrift store shopping and other ways to make the family income go farther. It's necessary. If you learn to enjoy it, this won't even be a bad thing. There's a thrill to finding a great bargain on something you need.

7. Get out of the house with the kids.

Just because you're a stay at home mom or dad doesn't mean you have to stay at home all day with the kids. You can take them out.

These don't have to be big outings. It can be as simple as a walk to a nearby playground, or as time consuming as a day trip to the museum. Just get out and enjoy what your community has to offer.

7-reasons-why-freelance-writing-is-best

Please don't hate me if I say "there are many jobs out there" because I do understand how hard it is to find a job in the market today. So if you have a job, hold onto it for dear life and don't let go-no matter how much you hate it.
That being said, there are many jobs out there and I have sampled my share. I've been a 3rd shift cashier at a gas station. I've managed a pizza shop. I've been a "door to door" salesperson of overpriced (but worth it!) cutlery and I've assembled, tested, and boxed many items in the repetitive factory job.

Of all the jobs I have had in my entire life, there is one major reason why my current job (as a freelance writer) is the best job ever. That reason is personal, but it is shared by at least 95% of freelance writers today... and that is because I love writing. I always have, and I always will. When it comes down to it... nothing beats doing what you love most.

However, there are many more reasons why freelance writing is the best job ever. If you're a freelance writer like myself, then you might agree with these extra perks. On the other hand, if you're merely an aspiring freelance writer-then this article might help you understand exactly what to expect when you live the freelance writer life.

1.) You Can Be a Know-It-All

Even if your friends and family members won't always listen to you... as a freelance writer you can offer your advice to hundreds (or more) of complete strangers. Whether you offer general parenting tips, or a step-by-step tutorial for a software program... your words are likely to be followed and thus-you can be a "know-it-all."


But wait, there's a catch! This means that-oh yes-you have to be a know it all. Your advice must be good advice. Your "how to" guides must be well researched, easy to follow, and accurate. For some, this can be a lot of pressure. For others, it's a challenge to test your devotion towards helping others.

2.) Freelance Writers Have Their Own Type of "Job Security"

Technically speaking, job security depends on the shelf life of the product or service you sell, and the importance of the role you play in selling that product or service. Factory workers, secretaries, cashiers, even pizza shop managers can always be replaced.

Freelance writers can also be considered 'a dime a dozen' (and those are the low-priced writers that you should avoid!) but those who are actually any good at what they do can depend on the most ironic case of job security ever.

Now I say this very carefully, because freelancers are always struggling to find work and thus do not feel there is any "security" in their job at all. That's the catch with this benefit... but to offer a different perspective you have to consider the shelf life of the product you are delivering. Articles, for example, can have a shelf life of one week up to 5 years (rough estimate) but there will always be a need for content... and there will always be a need for a freelance writer.

The most secure thing about being a freelance writer, of course, is the fact that you can never lose your job. Sure, you can lose a client but you are still (self) employed, with the same title. Another catch is that you will lose your clients, because almost all contracts are short term... but a successful freelance writer will know how to keep the work coming in...

3.) Freelance Writing is the Most Casual Job, Ever!

Name one other job where you can work in your pajamas all day... or naked even (if that's how you prefer)

There are no dress requirements for a freelance writer, though I do recommend having at least 3 nice outfits ready for brunch with potential clients who happen to be local. Face to face networking is only an option for a freelance writer... but the point is that freelance writing is the most laid back, relaxed job that you will ever find.

There's no catch with that...

4.) Total Freedom

Personally speaking again, freelance writing is the greatest job I have ever had because just like being a writer isn't a choice, the job isn't necessarily a job-that is it doesn't feel like work.

Freelance writing is more of a lifestyle, where everything you do and everywhere you go can be part of your job if you write about it. This opens up the door to do more, to go more places, and to sample more products. If you can write a review about those new shoes... then it's much easier to convince yourself to go ahead and buy them.

As your freelance writing business progresses and you learn about the things you can consider tax write-offs, this is where an individual can go crazy! Freelance writers can take the family out to dinner and use their portion of the bill as a tax write off, providing they use that meal to produce a published article or review on. (Tip- You can write off a larger portion of the bill if you sample a bite of everyone's meal.)

So, it's worth saying again... you look at life differently because you live a different life. But wait, there's a catch! This means that you are always working. Unlike cashiers and secretaries and factory workers, you don't ever "get out" or "come home" from work. Since you are always looking for something to trigger an article or two, you are always thinking about work.

Freelance writers who have a family really must devote more energy into balancing work with a personal life that has nothing to do with work. (Personally speaking, again, I know how hard it can be. My family has grown quite used to my toting around a notebook and camera wherever we go...)

5.) Be Your Own Boss

This is something that many individuals have noted about the job and it offers a tempting sound to it. In fact, I drink my morning coffee from a clever cup that reads 'I'm self employed and I hate my boss' even though it's only partly true.

It is nice not to have somebody else riding you, telling you what to do and how to do it... treating you like a child. It is nice to be the one who calls the shots... but wait, because there is another catch!

Since you are your own boss, you have to do more than just write. If you want to be successful as a freelance writer, you also have to find work... consistently... and you have to keep good records of all work and income. There are many tasks you must do, things that you might hate doing but since you don't have a boss to do it for you-it's your job. Oh, and that bit about not having anybody tell you what to do and how to do it... that's not necessarily true either. Your job as a freelance writer is to work with a client, under their terms.

6.) Freelance Writing Offers More Variety than Any Other Job

I can't count how many times I used to think that I was sick of pizza. After making it all day, every day... I wouldn't eat pizza. And that was sad, because pizza is my favorite food. Luckily, I can eat pizza again and I have a job that gives me more of a variety.

One day I can be writing about parenting, crafts, and pet care. The next day I could be writing about international shipping and wrought iron fencing. You never know what the day, client, or assignment might bring.

The catch to this is a small one... the variety is good but that means that you won't always enjoy everything you write about. Once in a while, you might have to do a lot of research and write about something that is beyond boring to you... but if it pays the bills then a dollar is a dollar. And that, my friends, is the beauty of being a freelance writer. Oh, and there's one more benefit that I must end this article with, because it is the most definitive characteristic of the freelance writer lifestyle...

7.) A Better Appreciation for Money!

You will learn 27 different ways to eat Ramen noodles as a freelance writer... and whether you publish these recipes or not the point is that you learn to stretch every dollar as thin as possible. Unlike "regular" jobs with reliable income in a regular paycheck... you are never certain enough with your own income to spend more than you need.

So there you have it! If I left out any of the benefits of being a freelance writer... please feel free to comment and add your own opinion on this wonderful lifestyle...

6-affiliate-marketing-strategies

What makes affiliate marketing so appealing to entrepreneurs is that it does not require having your own website, dealing with customers, refunds, product development and all the other stuff. This is arguably the absolute easiest way to launch a business online.
Here are some powerful tips on how to sky-rocket your affiliate commissions in a short amount of time.

1.) Discover what are the best affiliate programs and products on the market.

It's a no-brainer that you would want to promote a program that will allow you to achieve affiliate success in the shortest time frame right? There are several factors to consider in selecting such a program. Choose the ones that have a generous commission structure, 50 percent and higher. Have products that align with your target market. Have an easy to understand affiliate member's area for tracking commissions and has a good track record for paying out affiliate checks on time. Don't be afraid to quit that program it they are not fitting your needs.

2.) Write product reviews and create Squidoo lenses for them.

I can assure you that you are not the only affiliate promoting the program. In fact, there may hundreds if not thousands of affiliates promoting the same program as you. If you start writing reviews related to the product you are promoting, you will be able to separate yourself from the crowed. Squidoo is a good tool for your reviews because it's free and their pages get indexed quickly in the search engines.

3.) Give away something for free in exchange for your visitor's name and email address.

People don't buy on the first offer! You may want to send out your message at least seven times to get the sale. This is one of the the many reasons why you should collect your visitor's information in exchange for a free gift. You can create follow-ups messages for your contacts to remind them to make a purchase through your affiliate link.

Also remember to get your prospect's contact information before sending them to your affiliate merchant's website! Keep in mind that you are providing free advertisement for the product owners. You get paid only when you make a sale. If you send prospects directly to your merchant, there's a good chance you won't see them again.

But when you get their names, you can always send other marketing messages to them to be able to earn an ongoing commission instead of a one-time sale only. This is also a great way to build your email list of dedicated subscribers.

4.) Publish an online newsletter or Ezine (e-magazine).

It is always best to recommend a product to someone you know than to sell to a stranger. This is the purpose behind publishing your own newsletter. This also allows you to be perceived as an expert in your field and develop a relationship based on respect and trust with your subscribers.

5.) Ask for higher commissions from your affiliate merchants.

If you're already successful with a particular program, you should try to approach the merchant and negotiate a higher percentage commission for your sales. If the merchant is smart, they'll likely grant your request rather than lose a valuable promoter. Remember that you are not a liability to your merchant; so don't be afraid to request higher commissions. Just try to be fair when negotiating.

6.) Write strong and compelling Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads.

PPC search engine can be one of the most cost effective means of advertising online. As an affiliate, you can make a small income just by managing PPC campaigns with Google AdWords. Be sure to monitor your PPC ads to see which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of.

Try out the strategies above and see the difference it can make to your commission checks in the shortest amount of time.