Home Business

What Will The New iPad Mean for Home Business?

What will Apple's new iPad mean for your home business?

At a cost of just $499, this lightweight mobile device could be a portable office taking your home based business mobile.

Some of the iPad's features include:

• Internet browsing on a large portable touch screen
• E-mail both checking your inbox and composing messages on an almost life-sized keyboard
• Calendar to easily keep your appointments straight when on the go
• Address book to keep your contacts all in one place
• And more.

For the full Apple Keynote from Steve Jobs visit main iPad page at apple.com and watch the full video.

Create Your Home Business Website or Blog with WordPress

There may be no reason to hire a Web designer when setting up your online home business, if you create your home business Website using WordPress.

WordPress Stickers Everywhere
Originally uploaded by teamstickergiant

Though WordPress is mostly known as a blogging platform, it is a versatile tool almost any home based business with need for an Internet presence (and that's just about everybody, folks) can use.

Self hosting your WordPress blog or Website is probably the best idea if you plan to use the platform for operating a business

Ultimately, it will give you much more flexibility and control over customizing your site and does not necessarily require a Web designer or developer to show you how.

For more read this "Simple Guide to Create a Self Hosted Website/Blog using Wordpress 2.9.1" at K2SEO.com.

Home Business Startup Mistakes

Nikki Key of The Daily Idea has this list of startup mistakes that can also apply to your home business (See video below.)

Taken from a similar post on startup mistakes by blogger Steve Pavlina, Nikki adds some spice harkening back to her own efforts to build a successful lemonade business at age 11.

But most of these points can easily be applied to just about any home based business or work from home opportunity you might be contemplating.

Key mistakes include:

• Marketing to the wrong people
• Spending too much or too little and
• Failing to be yourself 

Silly mistakes, but easy to make, for any entrepreneur.

For the complete list read Pavlina's "10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed" and check out The Daily Idea for more regular words of wisdom, business related or otherwise, for daily life.

Blogging as a Home Business

Blogging as a home business can be one of the most cost effective home based business ventures to start and maintain.

I'm blogging this.
Originally uploaded by Foxtongue

Blogs created as a home business require little startup investment and offer almost limitless growth potential if planned and operated properly.

Blogging guru Yaro Starak explains:

Blogging is not a bad job, but it is still a job – and you may not want a job forever if you share my belief that happiness comes from freedom.

Instead, Yaro recommends a couple of simple ideas that will get you thinking like an entrepreneur instead of just a blogger and help you create a business that can grow and expand over time.

For more read his posts "The Key Resource for a Sustainable Blogging Business" and "Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Professional Blogger?" at his blog Entrepreneurs-Journey.com

How To Choose An Attorney for Your Home Business

No matter how large or small, any business, including a home business, may someday need an attorney, but how do you choose an attorney for your home based business.

In this video, attorney Joseph Zellmer explains some of the key things you should look for when your small business is seeking legal representation...and surprisingly, checking referrences may be only part of the job.

How about "intangibles" like whether you like the prospective attorney and whether they follow through on your promises?

There are many other considerations when it comes to legal issues connected to even the smallest home business, and to have a look at more of them see the Small Business Legal Tips channel on YouTube or check GotTrouble.com.

Nine Home Business Startup Stories for 2010

Recently Inc.com ran a feature on nine home business startup ideas for 2010 based on nine existing home based businesses and their success stories.

Down Home....
Originally uploaded by Јerry

Some of the work from home businesses suggested included:

• Content Aggregation
• Children's Wholesale and Retail
• Government Contracting
• Specialty Travel
• And more

Now, we've stressed before the importance of evaluating your talents and skills for any home business you start, but certainly these entrepreneurs' stories should create food for thought as you consider possible home business you might start in the coming year.

For more read "9 Businesses You Can Start in Your Pajamas in 2010" from Inc.com. We hope it will inspire you for your next home based business venture.

Six Steps to Starting a Home Based Business

When starting a home based business, begin by considering your talents and skills.

Steps in many colors
Originally uploaded by jurek d.

These are two of the most important steps toward finding success in home business, according to About.com Canada Small Business guide Susan Ward.

In part one of Susan's series on "How to Start a Home-Based Business That Will Succeed" she looks at "Six Steps to Starting a Home-Based Business."

Interestingly, while Ward clearly points out in part two the importance of "profit and planning" while considering a working from home opportunity, clearly it is important first and foremost to be sure the business fits you.

Pick the home business that suits your abilities and don't make the mistake of getting into a business with only profits in mind.

Does Your Home Business Have a Marketing Plan?

Ideas for a New Marketing World: Day 60, originally uploaded by 33 Interactions.

Does your home business have a marketing plan, in other words a way that you intend to let others know about your product or service.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

If a man has good corn or wood, or boards, or pigs, to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods.

Marketing is a way of making sure potential customers know what you have to offer and where they can locate you, whether on the Web or around the corner.

A marketing plan should help:

• Identify your customer
• Target a specific need, and
• Communicate a solution to that need

As Tami Ross explains, marketing is NOT the same as advertising and may take a good deal more creativity on your part. Read Tami's "Why Successful Marketing and Advertising Is a Two Step Process" for more on how to get your home based business marketing plan in place.

How to Establish a Web Presence for Your Home Business

Establishing a Web presence for your home business is an important priority and, depending on your product or service, could allow you to attract customers not just from around the corner but around the world.

Though the video on this page by Network Solutions refers specifically to a more traditional bricks and mortar business, the same simple principles can apply for making your home business into a world wide vendor of products or services.

But be ware when getting your home based business online of Web gurus who insist they possess a special secret guaranteed to get your Website noticed.

Mostly, Search Engine Optimization, the means by which you get your small business Website noticed amongst the millions of choices out there, involves a set of strategies available to anyone and just a lot of hard work.

For another perspective on how to develop a simple Web presence, watch "Beginners! Create a Website Here" from Lisa at 2CreateaWebsite.com.

How to Start a Home Based Henna Tattoo Business

Starting a home based henna tattoo business can be an enjoyable and potentially lucrative home business opportunity.

henna tattoo art
Originally uploaded by oddsock

Getting into business can be fairly hassle free. For details check out "How to Make Money with Henna Tattoos", an informative article from eHow.com.

You can even consider making your own henna paint to avoid some of the cost of materials to start.

According to Erika Harrison of The Henna Page, great possible locations to set up your henna service include health food stores, tattoo parlors, new age shops, nail salons and coffee shops.

Read more of Erika's startup advice in "Starting and Marketing a Henna Body Art Business" and for more on working with salons in particular read Holly Pagnacco's "Doing Henna in a Salon" or check out the special section on henna as a business at The Henna Page.