How Moms Can Save Time By Never Having To Clean Up A Stain Again

Tips from a Professional Carpet Cleaner in Bakersfield California.

Work at home moms are a unique and talented group of women. Women today make up 59% of professional workers and the number of self employed moms continues to grow. As you know, a entrepreneur mom has a lot on her plate. From the moment you wake up in the morning, you are probably thinking about how to multi task everything you have to get done for your business and your family.  One study shows that women spend on average 45 minutes a day cleaning. With a little help from me, the world’s friendliest carpet cleaner, you will read some fabulous tips about how to avoid future chores by circumventing stains BEFORE they happen.

As a carpet cleaner, I get to see the “behind the scenes” spills that everyone tries to hide. Once your furniture and carpet gets stained it’s going to take hours of your time to clean up. As a work at home mom, you already have enough tasks to manage without adding unnecessary chores to your list. Almost 100% of the stains we clean up could have been avoided by simply stain guarding your fabrics with these quick and easy tips. This year, make it a point to save yourself time by protecting your carpet and furniture before it gets stained.

Here are some wonderful resources to turn your carpet into an indestructible surface.

First things first. There are some stains that can’t be removed, even if you stain guard your carpet there is still a chance for one of your kids to do something unimaginable. In a “worse case scenario,” I actually have to cut out a portion of carpet and replace it with brand new carpet. If your carpet has gone this far, you should just call a professional. But if you still have relativity stain free carpet you’re in luck.

Before you stain guard your carpet make some rules. I suggest having a no shoe policy in your living room and hallway. Shoes carry things that you’ve probably never thought about. Everywhere you go, your shoes collect bacteria, gasoline from the gas station, fertilizer from public lawns, unmentionables from bathrooms, just to name a few.

If you have white or light carpet, put down a few area rugs. Pick a bold accent color like red or brown. Dark colors hide dirt;,so even if something does end up happening to your floor, no one will be able to tell.

All right, here is the tip you’ve all been waiting for. I’m going to tell you a top secret product that usually only carpet cleaners hear about. You can buy an industrial strength spray of stain guard that will stop your carpet from absorbing stains. Why is a carpet cleaner telling us about this? Well, I realize I could be educating you out of ever needing a carpet cleaner again, but that’s ok. I sincerely believe in helping people. Eventually you are going to meet someone who didn’t stain guard their carpets, and who needs a carpet cleaner… When that happens, you can refer them to me. One of the best stain guards is called Teflon Advanced Dupont Carpet Protector. You can usually buy it at specialized cleaning stores or online (it’s about 150.00 for a large bottle that will last you a few years).

Professional carpet guards work differently than”scotch guard” because they protect against oil, dirt and water based spills. Scotch Guard only protects against water based spills and will actually makes oil based stains harder to remove. To apply the Dupont Carpet Protector, you’ll need to spray it evenly across the surface you want to protect. If you are stain guarding a piece of furniture then you can use any sized spray bottle. If you are stain guarding a large carpeted area you’ll want a larger spray pump that you can find at any home improvement store.

I hope these preventative stain guarding secrets will save you time and money over the next few years. Next time one of your kids accidentally spills juice on your white carpet, you’ll be able to calmly soak up the spill with a paper towel. If you have any questions about carpet cleaning tips, join me on Facebook.

This guest post is brought to you by Bryant Jaqeuz.

Blogging Moms: How to Pick a Blog that Lives Longterm

Blogging is a great way to make money while you’re at home. If you’re a work at home Mom, or you want to work for yourself, the internet is the new frontier. Whether you’re a WordPress, or a Blogger girl, starting is fairly easy. What most people don’t know before they hit “Publish”, for the first time is that many blogs dry up after six months. Staying fresh is tough, so how can you do it?

Research Your Niche

Whether you’re starting because you want to make money, or just because you have a passion for something, the best thing you can do is research the subject you want to blog about before you even think about themes and domain names. Generate some keywords associated with the niche you’re interested in and type them in to a few search engines.

Is the internet already littered with blogs similar to the one you’re thinking of starting?

If the Answer is ‘No’

Great, you have a niche. You could also be holding on to a dead fish. The internet is at a stage where most things have been tried and tested. If there aren’t blogs on a subject it might be because it’s just not interesting and won’t make money. It’s something to consider.

If the Answer is ‘Yes’

Don’t be discouraged. There are lots of blogs on almost every subject on Earth and given that blogging is free, who’s to stop you creating another one? The trick to making your blog stand out in an ocean of other blogs is to figure out what is your point of view on the subject you’ve chosen.

One blog that has a very clearly defined point of view is a tennis blog called “The Fanchild’s Two Cents”, written by Chris Oddo. Chris is very careful to present the players in the most honest and positive light possible and consequently, the blog is a great read. He defines all the big personalities in human terms, reminding us that tennis players are people, even Roger Federer. It is also a great introduction to a world that is so often full of hot air and hype, especially when McEnroe is commentating.

Generating Content

In the first few weeks, generating content will be easy. Ideas will flow without a problem and you’ll be publishing regularly. The tough times come at around the six month mark. This is where planning is very important. If you’ve researched your niche thoroughly, you’ll have an idea of just how much content you can squeeze out of the subject.

If planning posts you’ll be writing in three or four months time is too restrictive, try creating an arc for your subject.

Let’s say you’re blogging about fat loss and you’re documenting your own journey from your current weight, or dress size, all the way to your ‘dream body’. You can expect that the first few weeks will be full of posts about how much your muscles ache and how tough it can be to keep your motivation up some days. It’s unlikely you’ll be posting about benching 100kg because you won’t be physically doing it for some time to come. You can have it marked out as a future post in the hope that you will actually bench that 100kg. What a great feeling to finally arrive at the day when you can write that post.

Monetizing your Blog

Many people can’t resist the desire to monetize their blogs. This is a big subject and you would be wise to learn about what techniques would suit your particular niche and how you drive traffic to your blog before signing up with a particular ad network.

And Finally…

Blogging is many things. It can make you famous. It can make you rich. It can bring both. It can melt social isolation and bring you in to contact with a community of like-minded people. It can help you tell your story.

Guest post contributed by Sally Shaws, a freelance writer interested in healthy living who also regularly blogs about ways to boost your income and earning extra money online. She also writes about the process of volunteering for medical trials alongside her blogging and fitness interests.

What to Look for in a Web Hosting Provider

One of the most important aspects of running a website is who your hosting provider is. Your hosting provider determines the success of your site based on the scripts and codes that are available with their hosting, the amount of space and bandwidth you are allotted for transfer and how stable they are as a provider. It’s easy to find a Godaddy promo code, and many other hosting websites now also offer promo codes, but price is not the only thing to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Reliability is probably the most important factor in choosing a web hosting provider. No matter how cheap the hosting provider is or how many bells and whistles they offer, none of those things do you any good if your website is not available because your hosting server is down. You also want reliability to ensure that uploading updates to your web page is simple and quick, and that problems do not develop with your coding or databases.

Another very important sign of a good web host is that they have a solid support team. If at all possible, you should find a web host that offers 24/7 support, preferably with a variety of contact options. Depending on your situation, you may want to use chat, email or phone support, and many good hosting providers make all of them available.

You’ll also want to find a web host that offers many levels of hosting, and a variety of scripting and database options. To begin with, if you find that you don’t initially need large amounts of storage and data transfer, why pay full price for them? Many hosts allow you to upgrade your bandwidth and storage packages and as your needs change. Additionally, even if you do not need to use a database or special scripting language at the moment, your site may eventually need them, and it is much simpler to add these to your hosting account than to try to move your website to a host that does.

Before you make any final decision on who you will choose as your hosting provider, you should look for reviews from customers online. The testimonials you see on the hosting website will always be glowing, but to be sure you are making the right choice, you should do a search for reviews of your intended host. If most of the match up to what they promise, you will know you have made the right choice.

This guest post is brought to you by Valerie. Valerie Spate is a freelance writer and blogger and enjoys spending time with her children.

Moms Using Craigslist To Make Money At Home

Craiglist is a great resource for full and part time jobs. It is also a wonderful resource for moms who want to make money at home. When the kids are at school or the little ones are napping is a good time to start.

Thinking about what you can do, what you like to do, and what you need to invest to get started is the first step. If you have a computer with an internet connection, the opportunities are limitless.

Before searching craigslist, assess your skills, talents, abilities and education and how they lend themselves to a work-at-home job or business:

- What do I like to do?

- What can I do well?

- Will any of the things I do well translate to a part-time job/business? (The answer is always yes.)

- Can I begin on a small scale with little or no investment money?

Armed with the answers to the above questions, it’s time to start your craigslist search:

- Click on the link to your state.

- If you live in a small town that’s not listed, choose the nearest large city.

- Look under “jobs” and choose a skill category.

- Choose “telecommute” to sort list for work-at-home jobs.

There are work assignments that are well suited for telecommuting and at-home businesses. Writing skills can be used to make money as a “ghost writer” for blogs and articles and can also be used to write other web content.

Other jobs for writers on craigslist are editing, proofreading, and transcription work. Good writers tend to make good transcription writers. If you have average typing and excellent listening skills, you can listen to downloaded audio files and create documents. Begin by transcribing for others, advertise your services on craigslist, then start your own transcription business.

Under craiglist’s “for sale” category, there is a “free” link. Miscellaneous items from household appliances to furniture are given away; pick up these items and resell them. You can also sell items you make like jewelry or clothes. Listing the items is free, so no money is needed for advertising costs.

Focusing on what you have available, like the books and magazines you’re no longer using, is another good way to get started. After you begin making money, you can invest a portion in buying new materials or used books. The thrift store is a good source for inexpensive used books.

Erick uses craigslist to advertise his business, he knows what it takes to start a strong business. He currently blogs for cash for my auto a company that estimates the value of trade in cars.

Tax Tips For the Self Employed

The most current tax deductions are important and careful record keeping of the following deductions is warranted. The following general deductions can be claimed in a tax return; office supplies, telephone cost , home office, furniture, equipment, insurance premiums, entertainment and gifts, social security, travel and meals, mileage and software. Eligible deductions must be necessary and not extraordinary.

Budgeting your finances is an additional tax tip for the self-employed as the survival of the business depends upon strict budgeting of the income and incurred expenses for the success of an organization. This can include keeping track of all expenses and retaining the receipts. Calculating how much your self-employment taxes and comparing it with the actual income is an invaluable tax tip for the self-employed. A self-employment tax is a Medicare and social security tax for self-employed individuals and is similar to the taxes withheld from employees by an employer. These taxes can be estimated and paid in quarterly payments and is generally for taxes that are not subject to withholding. Carefully tracking the expenses and revenue projected can help the self-employed be prepared for a possible audit by the IRS. Keeping separate banks accounts and credit cards for your personal and business use apart helps avoid confusion at tax time.

All of your self-employment income is taxable by the State and Federal. Sometimes calculating your income may be difficult so consulting a tax professional in your state is advised during the year as tax laws often change. Another tax tip for the self-employed is the ability to combine part-time work that you complete at home with regular job.

Increasing expenses at the end of the year by purchasing additional office furniture, equipment and supplies can be included in that years deductions.

For information on tax tips for the self-employed see IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, IRS Publication 535, Business Expenses and Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, available at http://www.irs.gov or call the IRS forms and publications order line at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

 

Article is provided by Viktoria, SEO and Internet marketing manager at Guardian Pool Fence Systems – The safest pool fence you can find.

 

How Can a Young Mom Thrive as an Online Entrepreneur?

If you listen to the opinions of various economic experts and forecasters, then you would be forgiven for thinking that there was little point in getting out of bed in the morning. Not only are extended lie-ins not an option for the nations young mothers however, but this negative perception of the economy is not reflective of the vast number of opportunities available to stay at home parents who want to become online entrepreneurs The truth is that with e-commerce driving online fashion and retail businesses forward in 2012, there has never been a better time to make money from the comfort of your home.

 

The Journey from Novice to Entrepreneur: Opening your Own Online Fashion Shop

 

E-bay and Amazon blazed a trail for e-commerce business models at the turn of the century, and  today there remains ample opportunity for young and stay at home mothers to create and manage an online fashion shop. In fact, the journey from enthusiastic novice to experienced entrepreneur is becoming shorter with each year, and can begin with a few basic steps:

 

•   Make sure that you have the technical tools for online business. A functional personal computer is a must, as is a reliable and fast Internet connection and good quality digital camera.
•   While fashion items and accessories undoubtedly offer the highest profit margins through online sale, it is still important to identify what garments to sell and to which target market.
•  With these steps followed, you must create one or numerous online store fronts through which to sell your goods. Websites like E-bay will give your burgeoning business a visible presence, and allow you to build a reputation as a reliable and high quality trader.

 

Tips for Success: How to Make Money from Your Online Store

 

These initial steps will create the bare bones of a business, but how do you go about making a financial success of your online fashion outlet?  Well the key lies in generating the most amount of profit from your investment, and ensuring that your sales price is viable for both you and your potential customers. Consider the following:

 

• Finding a genuine fashion wholesaler is the ideal place to start for new stores. These outlets sell good quality retail stock in bulk for vastly discounted prices, and savings of up to 70% can help you to set an attractive resale price.
•   Some wholesale fashion stores often sell items in packs of 6 or more, so take an affordable amount of money and invest it into suitable and seasonal garments. Be sure to start small and build upwards slowly,  and budget for how much of your revenue can reinvested into new lines of stock.
•   Whether you can spend just 1 or 10 hours a day managing your business is unimportant, as it is your quality of time management that is most crucial. Invest your time into sourcing stock that provides the best value for money, and also creating the best possible visual representation of your stock and brand.

 

The Bottom Line

 

With a few basic tools, an online store front and the support of a genuine wholesale supplier, it is possible for you and other young mothers across the country to establish a range of retail fashion outlets. Not only this but it is also possible to become profitable, so long as you are willing to invest time in finding the best possible discounts on wholesale items. Remember, while the economy may be struggling, the worlds of evolving technology and e-commerce have never offered a greater opportunity to individuals with ambition.

 

 

This guest post comes from Tom.

 

January’s Breakdown

January was an okay month for me. It was not one of my best months but it definitely was not one of my worst months either. I only took 2 days off and I worked hard many of the others. I didn’t meet the goal that I set in place for the month but with everything that took place it is understandable.

February is a month that I am looking forward to working hard for and finally not having to stress. All of the birthdays and holidays are out of the way so this month I can use income to pay bills and to save I hope everyone else is developing their online careers like I am and you can find my breakdown for the month below.

Private Clients: $2,265

Interact Media: $9

Klat: $125

Odesk: $230

Jingit: $5

MyLikes: $1

Using Social Media to Gain Clients

Making money online can be fairly simple, however, overlooking social media sites as success boosters can lead to a waning clientele and lower-than-you’d-like profits. Your online reputation and visibility is important when you are vying for business with thousands of others on the web, and to have the best chance at gaining a large enough client base you need to have a strong online presence.  A few of the several social media platforms every online professional should have an active account on include:

 

Facebook

Facebook is one of the most important social media platforms any woman interested in working from home should be utilizing. Not only will it help you better monitor your online image, but it will allow your clients to spread the word about you through becoming a Fan or Friend. For the best use, make sure to create both a profile for yourself and a Page for yourself as a professional. Both need to look professional, should state what services you offer, and should link to your website.

 

Pinterest

If you are selling products or find yourself regularly blogging about useful in-home tips, Pinterest is a great way to drive traffic to your site. On Pinterest, you can post pictures and links of your products and you can also post links to a particularly helpful blog post you have written which may entice users to become regular readers of your blog. The more readers you have, the more likely advertisers are going to want to pay you for space on your site.

 

Twitter

Twitter is possibly one of the easiest ways to updates clients and potential clients about what is going on in your professional world. While many business people simply link Twitter and Facebook together to get a two-for-one posting with ease, you should never do this. Take the time to post individually to both sites about different information. It will keep people following you and will help drive up your page rank which with overall increase your online visibility.

 

Finding success online won’t come overnight, but you can definitely make it come quicker with the help of social media. Facebook and Twitter aren’t just for self-obsessed teens, and Pinterest isn’t just for those looking for DIY projects. These social media platforms are full of potential clients that can drive up your page rank, turn additional potential clients on to you, and give you the business you need to be prosperous. Whether you be a crafter, a blogger, or a freelance writer, you need to be using social media, and you need to be doing so on a daily basis.

 

Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading VA loan provider, actively supporting the military community. 

 

How The New Year Has Been Going

My new year is starting off great. I am taking it easy at the moment from weeks of intense typing. I am also trying to find which law schools I want to apply for while advancing my writing career. By goals are ahead of what I expected so everything is coming together nicely. Getting taxes in order is really tricky but all of the talk about it on the forums helps out a lot.

I have also started a new blog which I plan to monetize in the niche of reviews. This year I want to start focusing more on webdesign and monetizing websites as it seems to be something that pays a pretty penny and is a nice break from writing.

I ended the year with an excellent start which has enabled me to explore quite a few different avenues. Some of the avenues are listed while others will be revealed in by e book that will be released later this year.

 

This year I look forward to exploring new online making money methods with you so we can reveal some of our hidden talents.

How to be productive when working from home.

The beauty of working from home is of course, working from home, but what are the cons? If you’re sat in your dreary business park office on the outskirts of town you could be forgiven for thinking there are no cons and that working from home is like a heavenly dream where tea flows hot from the kitchen tap and the 10am kit kats have no calories. But no. There actually are a few cons to working from home and the main one is motivation.

Yep, when you have no boss looking over your shoulder, it can be easy to find yourself lost in Facebook or CNN? You will find yourself procrastinating on the weirdest of thoughts, ideas and places, because you can. So how to combat this and maintain productivity? Here are a few tips:

For a start, make sure your office space is just that, a designated space for work and not play. Having a room or even corner of a room set up with all your work needs is crucial to feeling in the work ‘zone’.

Limit the time you spend on social media sites if it’s for personal use. Give yourself a morning break and a lunch break if you want to catch up on personal emails and try to use the rest of your working day for work, it will feel good!

 

Try and get at least some time outside during the day. I’m currently walking to lose weight so I try and fit in at least 30 minutes exercise per day. It really refreshes the mind too!

Be hard on yourself and if that means bribing yourself with food, TV time or wine, do whatever it takes. Soon enough you will be in the swing of things and productivity will be automatic. Work at times that you know is productive for you. No one said you have to work 9 to 5. If you are a morning person, work 6 until 4, if you are a night owl work from 7. Working from home is the one chance you get to create a working environment that suits you so make the most of it and soon you will find your work from home mojo!

 

This guest post comes from Carla Marshall.