If you manage to stay healthy this entire winter and not catch any type of cold, well, consider yourself very lucky. But if you do get sick… I want you to give yourself a break.

Yep. That’s right. I’m telling you to take a little time off of your business. And don’t feel guilty about it.

I just spent the last week and a half feeling like h-e-double-hockey-sticks. It wasn’t fun. Everything hurt, including my head which was full of pressure from my sinus congestion.

I made some attempts to work and catch up on email, but I wasn’t getting much done.

Instead of feeling guilty over it, I got a lot of rest. I drank a lot of fluids. I took my medicine. And, I am finally starting to feel better. So much better, that I’m writing several blog posts tonight and post dating them. I would never have had the energy or stamina to write several blog posts in one sitting last week!

Click Here for some tips on how to stop a cold before it gets the best of you

True, you are going to have to act fast, and get aggressive, but it can be done.

Click Here for a list of Valentine’s Day marketing ideas to get you started.

Once you have an idea of how you want to promote your business / product / service, it’s time to get serious about getting the word out. Here are some ideas:

• Write a blog post about your Valentine’s Day sale / promotion
• Put the link to your blog post out on Twitter & Facebook
• Take pictures of your Valentine’s Day themed items and share them on Instagram. Be sure to include the link to where people can buy your items in the picture description.
• Link to your items on Pinterest
• Ask your bloggy friends to write about your Valentine’s Day items / sale
• Send out some info about your Valentine’s Day items in your next newsletter

You don’t need any special degrees – and you don’t have to invest a lot of money in special software or programs. In fact, there are many video and conference tools to choose from that are no cost to you!

About 3 times per year, I hold a special 4 week workshop, where I teach people how to teach their own online class. The How To Teach An Online Class Workshop will start on February 6, and is limited to 25 students.

When you register, you’ll receive weekly lessons and have access to group coaching calls and private email coaching with me.

Here is a condensed version of the first lesson – you can grab it for free by clicking here

Normally, this class is $149 – but right now, you can grab the early bird pricing and pay only $75. I even have an option to pay in two payments!

If you want to earn extra money this spring by teaching your own online classes,
Click Here to register for this workshop now!

If your marketing has been a little “blah,” and your sales are “blah,” it’s time to add a little spice!

I have several ideas to help you add that spice!

1) Send out press releases! Send them to your local media – television and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, etc. Also distribute them online! This will give you links back to your site, which helps your search engine ratings.

Right now, my Cut n’ Paste Press Releases are on sale for only $10. You’ll get five pre-written press releases and a mini-workbook that will teach you how to submit them. To purchase, click here 

2) Spice Up Your Copywriting (aka sales writing) The words you use in your item descriptions, sales pages, and blog posts have a lot to do with how many sales you make. If your copy sucks, so will your sales!

Right now, my Guide To Great Copy is on sale for only $10. You’ll receive a 25 page workbook, a copywriting glossary, a checklist, and swipe files! To purchase, click here  

3) Advertising – If people do not know your business exists, they cannot buy from you. Right now, you can get a 1 month ad on IndieBizChicks.com for only $20 (more than half off!) Your ad will include a 125×125 graphic that will appear on the side of each blog page from February 1 – 29.

To purchase your ad, click here

4) And to help you add a little spice to your blog this year, I have my Working With Brands 8 piece workbook set on sale for $10, too! You’ll receive workbooks on how to find brands to work with, the ways you can partner up with brands, checklists for social media, instructions on how to write a one-sheet and more!

To grab this deal, click here

These special prices will only be good through Saturday, January 28th!!

I think Stephanie’s work is pretty amazing. Just look at the colors. Seriously – go look at her Etsy shop. She’s got lots of real life ideas on using color to decorate, stimulate creativity, and more. And she has some good business ideas, too!

Learn more about her – and get her best tips – during the Twitter Party!

I recommend using TweetGrid to keep track of the discussion. You can log in by clicking here.

Remember to use the hashtag #indiebizchat when you enter in your tweets.

** Not sure how to join the Twitter Party? Click Here to watch the Twitter Party Video for instructions.

When you’re passionate about what you do, it feels like a privilege to be doing it.

Yes, everyone gets lazy sometimes. You might procrastinate on a task once in a while….  You may question yourself and say “Is this what I’m really meant to do?”

Maybe you’ll quit for a while.

But then you’ll realize it’s inside of you. It’s who you are.

When you feel that way – you’ll know that what you do is much more than a business.

You’ll know that this is what you’re passionate about – and this is what you are truly meant to do!

It’s a good idea to make a list now of what you really want and what is most important to you in your “dream scenario.” This list will come in handy as you compare your choices. You might not find something with everything on your “wish list,” but the list will help you  find one that comes close.

It is also important to remember that there is a difference between a “job” and a “business.”

There are jobs out there – data entry, customer service, and the like. You will work for a company and get paid a set wage. Most likely, you will not receive any benefits, and they may not take taxes out, either. These are called “telecommuting positions.”

With a business, you can join an established company – such as a direct sales company, or you can start an independent service based business, such as virtual assistance or graphic design. You will be working from home, but you will have to find clients. Your hours and pay may vary, and you’ll be responsible for your own taxes. This is known as “freelancing.”

Both options have their pros and cons. Make your list and find out which one will be best for you!

Click Here For More Information On Work At Home United

What is the product? The company has to have a product or service to make money. Anything that doesn’t is some type of  pyramid scheme. If you can’t identify what the company actually does, then walk away.

What is the company’s reputation? How long has the company been in business? I’ve seen lots of people get involved with companies that have folded over the years. And this includes direct sales companies! Before you invest in a kit, make sure the company will be around for a while, and that people have good things to say about them and their products!

What are the costs? There are  different ways to “work from home.” If it is truly a work from home job, such as customer service, where you are answering incoming calls routed to you from a call center, there shouldn’t be any upfront costs. If it is a business, there will be some type of fee to get started. I’ve seen some companies charge a very small fee and others that charge over $200 for their kit. Make sure that the company has a refund policy, in case you start working with them but realize it’s not for you.

Is this something that you can really see yourself doing? Whatever you choose, it has to be authentic. If it doesn’t feel right, it will show, and you’ll probably end up procrastinating on it and never making any money. But if it’s something you enjoy and are passionate about, you will be successful!

Click Here to learn more about Work At Home United (I work at home with them!)

I had always been interested in working from home, even as a child. It was always something I had wanted to do, I just didn’t know how to go about it. Of course, I knew about direct sales (party plan) companies, such as Tupperware and Avon, but I just really didn’t see myself in one of those businesses.

I didn’t want to go door to door and I didn’t want to bug people to have parties. And the point of working from home was to be at home, so what was the point of joining one of those companies when I’d always be at someone else’s house – usually at night. I am the kind of person who likes to be in my pajamas, on my couch, at night.

I started looking for something to do from home in January 2003. I signed up for a newsletter from a website with work at home information on it, and in one of the first newsletters I received from them, I saw an ad. The ad said that there was no selling, no stocking, etc, etc and I thought “Yeah, right.”

I was so suspicious and so closed-minded that I didn’t even request information until late March. Almost 3 months after I got the newsletter!

Shortly after I requested information, I got a phone call that explained what the company was and what it was all about. I decided to give it a try. And yes, I actually worked from home and I actually got a paycheck each month from the company.

I was working about 10 – 15 hours per week and making about $1.500 per month in August 2005 – and that is when life got crazy. I was married at the time, and my then-husband wanted us to move back to Alaska, where we had previously lived for several years. And so, we did. Shortly after we got back there, his business partner died, and that sent everything into a tail spin. My ex didn’t take it very well at all, and my main focus was being there for him and keeping him together.

It wasn’t long after that when more things happened – our marriage started falling apart and I had the idea for this site. My attention was divided into two parts – trying to make my marriage work and figuring out how to build a website.

There really just wasn’t room in my life for Work At Home United at that point – and so I let it go.

But I never stopped thinking about it.

If you read this site, you’ll know that I quit my full-time job back in July. I’ve been supporting myself entirely from this site since then, and I’m very proud of myself.

But at the same time, I admit that it is very stressful. There are days when I sell several ebooks and there are days when I don’t sell any. There are days when I make a couple of hundred dollars, and days when I wonder if I’m going to have enough money to pay my rent, buy groceries, etc.

I am really sick of being stressed out and worried.

And so, I decided to start back up with Work At Home United. Having that to fall back on will be a big relief!

If you would like to earn some extra money each month, you should definitely request more information about this company.

I was totally skeptical back in January 2003, when I first heard about them, so I understand if you’re skeptical, too.

If you do request information, I’ll be the one contacting you. I’m not going to bug you. I’m going to email you and I’m going to show you a webcast! Pretty simple!

And this can be worked around your schedule! You don’t have to give up your current business! I’m not giving up this site!

But I am sick of being stressed out – and knowing that I can work with Work At Home United, from my home, is really awesome!

Click Here To Learn More About Work At Home United

With Work At Home United, you set your own schedule, so you can work it around your family, a day job, and any other business you may have.

I personally work with Work At Home United, and these are just a few reasons I chose them:

There isn’t a big start-up fee – I’m not willing to invest a lot of money into something; especially if I’m not sure I’ll even like it!

It’s not direct sales – I respect the people who work in party plan companies, but that just isn’t my cup of tea

It truly is “Work From Home” – Sometimes, the people who “work from home” are rarely working from home! (a prime example is direct sales reps!)

I choose when I want to work – I already have a business (this blog!). Plus, I have family responsibilities, friends, etc. I need something that works around me!

I don’t have to sell anything – (if I wanted to sell something, I’d join a party plan company!)

Since I’m not selling anything, there is no inventory taking up space in my house –  (who does want that??? NOT me!)

I don’t have to deliver anything! – (again, if I wanted to, I’d join party plan!)

For more information on Work At Home United, click here

(and if you decide to request more information, I’ll be the one giving you the information. I’m someone you already know and trust – so don’t be scared to request the info!)