Data Entry

Ever since the development of computer or even the invention of typewriters, the demand for data entry has hiked up. Data entry, according to most resources, is the process or act of transcribing a certain group of symbols or language in a certain form into another form, depending on its use. This is usually and predominantly seen in computer program development settings. This also includes transcribing documents that are handwritten, data from spreadsheets from another program, number series or sequences, letter patterns and symbols that are used to build programs and simple data such as names and contact information.

Anybody can do this job; however, it takes meticulous effort to be good at it. Speed and accuracy are two essential things considered when assessing skills. A single mistake can render a program useless or even take a whole lifetime's work down. That is why qualifications to be able to be accepted in big-time data entry would be expertise in ten-key typing among other things.

Those who are already in the path of the this type career are expected to be quick and accurate typists who are able to read both typewritten and longhand documents. This area needs a lot of focus and concentration. Also, even if we think that this type of work is not demanding on the body, some people experience occasional fatigue and back pains due to the sometimes lack of good posture, stretching and rest. So most therapists would require them to take breaks to preserve eyesight and prevent the carpal tunnel syndromes. Therapists usually instruct them on how to stretch and shake off muscle tension.

Opportunities of making money from this job are increased nowadays. This is even possible for those considered novice by trying out light or entry program jobs. Beginners are given the chance to improve themselves slowly, making the growth not exclusive only to skills but also to income.

The Internet also helps the industry by allowing aspiring data entry transcriptionists to work from home. Employers are many and you would probably know basic tools. Aside from the related software, having a time tracking application is also very useful for online workers. But caution is advised. Make sure that the people you are working for are not into scams, they might make a run with your hard work. Data entry has paved a new opportunity for people who have certain skills or people who would want to develop them. So, with caution and growth in mind, for sure anybody can succeed in this area.

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How to Survive a Bad Economy

You're out of work. Your husband (or wife or roommate) is about to become unemployed too. You are getting unemployment compensation, but that's not enough to pay the rent (or mortgage). You can't find a job and your friends can't help because they aren't any better off than you. Now what? How do you survive in a bad economy?

Sound familiar? It's going on throughout much of the world, not just in your neighborhood. What can you do? How can anyone, anywhere, survive in a bad economy? The government can't help. The government probably created the bad economy in the first place.

Well, in the United States, and in much of the rest of the world, it is still possible to be an entrepreneur. That's right; be an entrepreneur. You can start and run your own small business. Many people before you have been able to survive in a bad economy in exactly that way; not only survive, but also prosper.

Since my experience and knowledge is mostly about the U.S., this article refers mainly on the U.S. The U.S. has a very strong entrepreneurial tradition. However, I do know that most of this information can be used in many other countries as well. Canada, Great Britain, India, China Australia, Italy and Russia have entrepreneurs also.

One of the problems with becoming a small business person is that government education doesn't prepare you for it. No, in today's socialist thinking countries, government education leans toward preparing you to becoming government employees or welfare recipients. They want you to rely on the government to survive in a bad economy. Besides, they'll tell you that things aren't so bad. Just "vote for me; I'll take care of you."

So, if you don't have an entrepreneurial education, how do you learn to start your own small business? Besides, don't businesses cost money to start?

Let me answer the second question first. Not all small businesses cost a lot of money to start. In fact, you can start some small home-based businesses with resources you already have; maybe just some of your time; maybe just your sewing machine or kitchen; maybe just your computer.

Now, back to that first question; "How do I learn to start my own small business?" Okay, let me give you a few quick answers:

Find someone who is already doing it and learn from them. Flattery could be helpful here. "I see you are successfully running a business. Do you think you could teach me? I'd be willing to work for you (maybe for free) and I promise not to go into competition against you." That's just one thought about how to go about it.
Read about starting businesses in libraries or on the internet.
In most cases, there are great e-books and courses available for purchase that can save you months, or even years of trial and error experience. Many of these resources have been created for you by people who have already done what you are trying to do. The investment in your education is well worth it so you won't have to reinvent the wheel.
Get your own direct experience. Once you get some knowledge, make a plan and get out there and do it. In many cases, your first one or two attempts won't be real successful, but the experience of doing, win or lose, it will end up being your best education. I know of successful business people who have had a dozen or more "failures" before becoming wealthy and successful. Experience is a great teacher.
Make a plan - even a quick plan - and get started. The biggest secret is to GET STARTED. Too many people think themselves to death and never accomplish anything.

What can you do to get started? Start by making a list of things you can do. Make that list as long as you can. Somewhere on that list could be your new business. Think not? I know a guy who started a local car service by taking non-drivers to their doctor appointments and to and from the airport.

What can you do? Can you teach young mothers to sew new clothes for their children? Can you give music lessons? Can you run errands for home-bound seniors? Look around you and look at your own knowledge.

Still can't think of anything? I know one guy who drove his pickup truck out to cattle farms and found someone willing to let him take some cattle manure. Yep, he made a business out of manure, selling it as fertilizer to home owners in the city. Find something and start doing it, today. You can improve on it tomorrow.

by : Mel Weiss
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What Niche Do You Want For Your Home Business?

It is important that before you undergo any business, ample time is made for research and feasibility. Nothing beats being ready for your endeavor. Do not make the mistake of just starting something without learning the ropes, the ins and outs.

That's where niche comes in. One of the surefire ways to earn money online is to create a niche business - something that will set you apart from all the others.

A niche is described as a specialized target segment of a particular market. It is what's going to increase your chances of success as a home business entrepreneur.

For example, if you are adept in writing articles, then you might consider offering copywriting services or virtual assistance. Not everyone has the talent to write, hence, your writing skills can set you apart from all the others. Also, if you are good in website design then you might want to consider offering your services to small and medium enterprises. Couple your talent along with reasonable rates; you will certainly attain a lot of customers.

So how do you come up with your niche?

Start looking for your niche by discovering your passions, strengths, and desires.

Here is a handy tip: take a piece of paper and pen and then write down all of your skills and talents. Figure out which ones sound unique or extraordinary. From all the things on your list, decide which one can be your niche. Do you think selling purely native bags can make you stand out as an entrepreneur? Or do you think offering garage pads in your area will fare better? Always remember that the niche should be something that is not everyone can easily offer.

Do not stop at listing down your greatest skills, though. The search engines are your next pit stops. Do your research. Just type in the keyword or keyword phrase into the search engine. Enclose the keyword or keyword phrase with quotes. This limits the search results that feature the keywords. Then, examine the results and check each of them out. If you keyed in "copywriter," for instance, see if there's a huge demand for them. Also, while you're at it, check the going rates. This can help so that you won't end up charging more than what a lot do.

The third thing you can do is read news clippings about the industry that you want to join. Check the stock markets and browse related websites. See if the niche that you want to promote is in demand or has all the makings of a steady industry. If you want to enter the world of content writing, for instance, check if there are a lot of opportunities for writers like you - examples of these opportunities are new websites that would need content, companies that would need marketing collaterals and individuals who would need ghostbloggers.
by : Sean R. Mize Next...

Using Niche Marketing For Your Online Work At Home Business

Many online entrepreneurs get started using affiliate marketing and the most successful still employ this method. Affiliate marketing has recently been taken to the next level by those who are making money with niche affiliate marketing. Niche affiliate marketing can turn a huge profit for those who understand the principals but in order to use this method you must understand what affiliate marketing is and how to integrate the niche marketing strategy into your system. To be successful you must also understand how to choose and promote a product and it is the goal of the article to discuss these items.


Affiliate Marketing is a simple strategy where somebody promotes another companies products and services and receives a commission for their efforts. There are thousands of companies offering affiliate programs that you can sign up for and the amount of money you can make depends on the commissions offered and the sales to click ratio of the company's sales page. Promotion can be done using numerous methods including building your own promotional website, pay per click advertising, email marketing, and other methods. Affiliate marketing has gotten to be a huge enterprise on the Internet and therein comes the problem. Often times the most successful affiliate companies are saturated with affiliates and you may well be competing with thousands or even millions of others trying to promote the same service or product that you are. This is where the beauty of affiliate niche marketing comes in.

Niche marketing is the latest craze among Internet marketers today because this method concentrates on very small and specific areas of products. Because niche marketing involves finding small profitable segments of a much larger market, it involves a lot more work but if you are willing to put forth the effort, it can me a very profitable system. Niche marketing is designed to meet the unique needs of a targeted audience and helping real people solve real problems that they live with every single day. Niche marketing is the ideal choice for new Internet marketers who don't have a lot of money to get started but it does take some hard work and effort and finding the right product can make or break a new niche affiliate marketer.

Market niches can be geographic areas, a specialty industry, ethnic or age groups, or any other particular group of people. Niche products need to be chosen carefully so they appeal to the specific market you are selling to. Your product should be optimized for a highly targeted audience and should stand out from the crowd who is selling a broad range product. You would want to find a product with a large number of monthly searches but a low amount of competition. For example if somebody was to promote shoes on the Internet, there would be millions of competitors. But if you chose to promote Brand X athletic shoes then the competition would be much less. Once you have decided on a product then it is time to build a promotional website and to take steps to get traffic to your site.

No matter how great a product you choose to promote, you will not get any sales without getting some type of traffic to your website. Obviously you can choose to promote the product through alternate methods such as PPC advertising but this can be expensive and uncertain. Building your own promotion site is the most effective and least expensive route to take and getting traffic can be easy if you optimize the site correctly. Internet marketers that have been around for any time at all understand the need for and the effectiveness of article writing for traffic building. If you want traffic to your website then article writing and submission to the main article directories is not only recommended but is also a necessity. Writing keyword rich articles and posting them to high traffic web sites is a great way to make sure that you get maximum exposure within your niche market and there are many article directories that allow you to submit your articles for free.

Affiliate marketing can be a great way for an Internet marketer to make money but if you are just starting out then it is unlikely that you can beat the massive amount of competition online. If you want to be successful online with affiliate marketing then using niche marketing can be one of the best ways to do it. This method is definitely a lot harder to employ but the results can be spectacular if you are willing to invest the time and resources to find a profitable niche.
by : Rick Churchill

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Why to Find a Niche for Your Small Business

Today, everyone is talking about niche marketing niche businesses and niche websites, but not many people know how or even why to find a niche for themselves. Specifically, you don't know how or why to find a niche for your business. Many people aren't even sure what a niche is.

Before you start a business of any kind, you need to find your niche. For your business to be successful, you need to find a niche that works for you; but why?

First, if you aren't sure, let's discuss what a niche is. After all, how can you find a niche if you aren't sure what it is?

For our purposes, a niche is a market segment, or a small part of a large market. Look at the world as a large marketplace, kind of like a huge shopping mall. A niche is like one kind of store, like a shoe store. If you look closer, you'll see one or two stores that specialize only in casual women's shoes. That would be a niche. When you want to see casual women's shoes, you would go there. If you are looking to buy fresh coffee beans or bananas, you wouldn't go there.

Now if you are starting an internet business, you might think that you want to try to sell to everyone on the whole internet. Why would I want to find a niche and limit myself to a smaller number of people? Wouldn't I make more money selling to everyone? Not really. Here's why.

When people come to the mall, they aren't looking to spend time or money on everything in the world. They want to buy a pair of shoes or a suit or a birthday gift for a friend. They are not going to go into every store looking to buy something. They are going to look at the mall directory for stores that offer what they want.

If you want to start a home business, you want to start as simply as possible. You might want to have a lot of customers, but you only want those who want what you are offering. If you buy advertising, you only want to pay to reach those people who need or want your service or product, not for everyone in the world.

The internet is just like the mall. People come for information; information about nutrition for their child, or first aid for their dog. They might want to know how to fix a leaky pipe or how to pick the best digital camera for under $50. They want specific information or products. On the internet, there is a "mall directory" - it's called a search engine. There are a number of search engines on the internet. Three of the biggest are Google, Yahoo and Bing, but there are many more.

In order for enough people to find you, you need for the search engines to show them where to find you. People go the search engines to find one thing at a time; they are trying to find a niche that has what they are looking for. That's why you need to find a niche for yourself. After all, if you are selling cigars, it won't help you to have little Tommy Teenager come to your site looking for pimple cream.

Here are a few benefits of choosing a small niche when you are about to start your small business, especially to start a home business:

Advertising efforts are easier because you have a target market.
You don't have to spend your valuable time explaining your service or product to people who are not true prospects.
Because your own mind is clear about your target market, you can learn that market better and serve that market better.
Because your efforts are concentrated in one niche, you can easily become the "expert" in your market.

That, my friend, is why you want to find a niche that works for you.

Before you start a business, find your own niche. You can't be everything to all people and you can't please all the people all the time. The smart entrepreneur knows how to concentrate his efforts.
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Four steps to building a home business

Building a business in the home is achievable if the business owner treats the home business as a real business, has a sustainable idea, knowledge about the business, and a plan. Building a business is difficult and building a business in the home is more difficult because of the distractions the home environment provides. Therefore, anyone who has a business in the home needs a solid foundation upon which to build to minimize the risk of failure.

Develop a business mind-set

One of the first prerequisites of a successful home business is the development of a professional approach to doing business. The first decision an aspiring business owner need to make is whether this is a real business or a hobby. This is important because real business strives to make a profit and those who pursue a hobby are happy just to have something to do. This involves getting business cards, professional looking stationary, and a space to work in totally set aside for doing business.

A key ingredient to home business success is good management or leadership. As a manager, the home business owner must keep the books, pay the bills, market the products or service, do the inventory, and perform all the other mundane tasks of owning and operating a business. This means setting business hours, dressing for business, and seeking new projects for the business.

Develop a sustainable idea

Home businesses, like any other business, begin with an idea or dream regarding the business by the owner. Many attempts at starting a home business fail because some people do not know what they want to do. The romance or idea of being in business is more attractive than actually running a business. Therefore, the individual building a home business must decide what type of business to enter. Research is necessary to decide what industry is best match the owner’s personal interest. The best advice to follow when deciding what business to enter, involves doing things the owner love doing in a field he or she is knowledgeable.

Develop knowledge about the business

Research supports that the knowledge of the owner directly correlates to the success of a small business (Pansiri & Temtime, 2010) therefore, home business owner can improve his or her chance of success exponentially with the more knowledge he or she gain about the business. The use of knowledge the home business owner gains is the variable that fuels business growth. Recognizing that the right mind-set, the sustainable idea, business knowledge are important are three of the most powerful lessons a home business owner must learn but, the most indispensible lesson of all that becomes the glue that holds everything together is writing and adhering to a plan of action.

Develop a business plan

This plan of action is a business plan. Taking the time to write a business plan for a home business helps the business owner to put down on paper all he or she has in his or her mind. The business plan is a blueprint for building the home business systematically. Having a business plan helps the home business owner to maintain focus as he or she goes about building the business. The business owner who develops a clear action plan for building an effective home business is planning for long-term success.

References

Pansiri, J., and Temtime, Z. (2010). Linking firm and managers’ characteristics to perceived

Critical success factors for innovative entrepreneurial support. Journal of Small business and

Enterprise Development, 17(1), 45-59. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
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10 Businesses You Can Start for $500 or Less!

Long time statistics have shown that 9 out of 10 new businesses fail in their first year. Lack of planning and financial ruin is one of the most common causes. Starting small is a way to insure minimal risk in new business. The founder of Dell computers was a college dropout on a shoe-string budget who started his business out of his garage. One in three computers sold today is a Dell.

The following is a list of just some of the businesses you can start for $500 or less.

1. Housekeeping – Requirements/ household cleaners, mop, broom, vacuum, towels, bucket, business cards – approximate cost $150. Molly Maids is a multi-million dollar business started with a broom, a mop, and quality and reliable service. I can guarantee you that the CEO of Molly Maids doesn’t clean houses any longer.

2. Gardening or landscaping – Requirements/ mower, edger, blower, rake, shovel, clippers, business cards – approximate cost $450. Some education won’t hurt you here, but even without it, how much money did you make mowing the neighbors yard when you were young?
3. Internet sales – Requirements/ computer – approximate cost $500. It’s likely you already have a computer at home so this just might be the cheapest and easiest business to start. It has been estimated that by the year 2020, nearly all retail purchases will be done over the World Wide Web. Getting on the bandwagon now may set you up for a prosperous internet business in the near future. Look into working with “drop ship” companies to avoid up front expense and storage fees.

4. Mobile food service – Requirements/ business cards – approximate cost $30. With a half hour lunch break, employees at many companies have little time to leave work and order lunch. Providing a morning menu for lunchtime delivery can be helpful to these people and provide a good source of income for you. Your job? Call in the order, pick it up, and deliver it; for a fee of course. Delivering 15 lunches to one company at $3 to $5 profit apiece can add up quick. Or how about a hot dog cart at special events?

5. Pool service – Requirements/ pool cleaning supplies, start-up chemicals, brush, net, hose, business cards – Approximate cost $400. States with warmer climates have many homes with swimming pools needing weekly care. Service to numerous homes in the same area can net you a small fortune. Business cards on the door or mailbox lets the homeowner know you are available. It may take some time to get a solid clientele, but be patient; established pool service routes can be very valuable if and when you decide to call it quits.

6. Consulting service – Requirements/ know-how, business cards – Approximate cost $30. What do you know that might be of monetary value to others? Sell your smarts!

7. Delivery service – Requirements/ the car, scooter, or bicycle you may already have/ business cards – Approximate cost $30. A great business within large city limits. Corporations, small businesses, restaurants, etc. may be in need of delivery services. Whether it is paper documents, payrolls, food, or other items, delivery services can be a steady and profitable business.

8. Painter – Requirements/ brushes, rollers, edger’s, towels, tarps, business cards – Approximate cost $200. Visit local hardware stores to let them know you are available for work and will purchase paint through their stores. Their referrals may keep you busy for months at a time.

9. Handyman – Requirements/ basic tools, business cards – Approximate cost $500. Depending on they type of jobs you acquire in this business, a contractors license may eventually be required. Check with your local and state government offices to determine at what point you will need one.

10. Daycare – Requirements/ toys, educational materials, bedding, a safe and clean home, love – Approximate cost $300. This business requires patience and child care experience. If you care for more than three children at one time, it’s likely you will be required to be licensed. Check with your local and state government offices for restrictions and requirements.

Most of these business start-up ideas will require an additional two items you likely already have; an automobile and a telephone. But otherwise, they are super simple and easy to start new businesses suitable for nearly anyone wanting to become self-employed.

The key to having a successful business is to do what you would enjoy doing anyway. Make a list of the things you like to do and follow that with an extended list of ways to make money in a related business. Be creative with your business idea, there are many more options available for you than you probably realize!
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