Did you know that in less than a week’s time you can publish your own ebook and begin earning a profit from online sales? With quality writing and strong marketing, some authors are making thousands of extra dollars each month from ebook sales. Of course, not everyone is finding the same success, as results on these things always vary. But then, on the other hand, some authors aren’t just making thousands per month, they’re actually making several thousand dollars per day!

While you may think that self-publishing is a difficult task too far beyond your reach, our research tells us just the opposite. According to those who have been there and done that, the actual process of self-publishing on Kindle or other ebook outlets isn’t too difficult at all. Furthermore, a lot of authors who’ve had previous book deals with established publishing houses are finding that, in a lot of ways, they actually prefer self-publishing.

And, no, you do not have to be a well-known author in order to find success on one of these venues. And, no, you don’t have to set your books at a high price in order to earn a profit. In fact, some of the authors that are finding the most success with online publishing were previously unknown and– get this, they are making a killing selling .99 cent books!

If you don’t believe me, take a look at some of the authors who’ve found notable success via online publishing:

Amanda Hocking

J.A. Konrath

Zoe Winters

H.P. Mallory

And, folks, this is just a tiny sampling of the authors who’ve carved lucrative careers for themselves in online publishing.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book (fiction or non-fiction), you owe it to yourself to look closely into the possibilities of self-publishing. While at one time doing so held a certain stigma, those who understand how digital technology is rapidly changing the publishing landscape also understand that, while print will (hopefully) never be obsolete, consumers have spoken and guess what they said? Ebooks rock!

One final thought before we send you away with a few links for further exploration; you do not have to own a Kindle, a Nook, an iPad or any other type of reading device to begin a self-publishing career. You don’t even necessarily have to read other people’s books on these devices if you’re curious to check a few out before you take the plunge (you can actually download a Kindle app right to your computer and read from there, and there are lots of other places that sell ebooks that can be read on your computer). So, if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of self-publishing before, we want you to know that this is an excellent work at home career choice.

To learn more, thumb through a few of these links:

Who Said It’s Hard To Sell Fiction On Kindle?

A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing

Kindle Primer (A virtual how-to post to help you get started right away)

The Rise of the .99 Cent Kindle e-book

How to Publish on Smashwords

CreateSpace

Aaron Shepard’s Publishing Page

So what else do you need? Absolutely nothing! The world of self-publishing awaits…so get to writing, ladies!

Work at Home with Etsy

When it comes to working, the enlightened advice always seems to be, “Do what you love.”  Unfortunately, people believe that they don’t have the luxury to do so (many of them are right), and opportunities for moms to work at home seem lacking.  If you love to craft, however, Etsy may be able to help turn you from a crafty mom to a work-at-home mom.

For those of you who have yet to discover Etsy, my advice is to go there now and see the wonder for yourself.  It’s a charming website that gives anyone who tries an equal opportunity to work from home and sell their wares to people across the world.  Your wares—be they clothing, candles, accessories, or even baked goods—sell based on who wants them.  This means you’ll have to do your part in advertising to improve your chances of sales, too.

Do you knit or crochet?  Do you make jewelry?  Do you sew?  Can you make soap or lotion?  Are you well-versed in web or graphic design?  Are you a photographer?  Do you want to work from home?  Consider selling your products or services on Etsy.

If you’re met with a positive response, you might even go through your neighborhood and inquire local boutiques if they’d like to sell your wares.  Having a successful Etsy store may give you increased credibility.

Preparing For Business

Becoming a work-at-home mom via Etsy isn’t just about crafting, though.  You’ll need the following materials to successfully advertise, present, and send off your wares to buyers.

• A computer to access Etsy and communicate with buyers
• A camera to take well-lit, clear, and high-quality photographs of your wares, which you will upload via computer onto your Etsy store
• An inventory of products already made to present to potential buyers
• A business plan to keep you on track with your goals.  How much money do you hope to make?  What is your spending budget?  Who are you selling to?  How will you advertise your business?
• Enough funds for the monthly membership fee for owning a store on Etsy (generally under $20 a month).  The site has a built-in shopping cart system and payment/fulfillment structure.
• Access to transportation to the post office, as you will be shipping your products out to people across the country yourself.

Marketing Your Business

• Evaluate other Etsy stores.  Which ones are popular and what do they sell?  What are other stores selling similar items to yours?  What’s working and what’s not?
• Choose a niche.  As with blogs, it’s easier to market your business if you do or sell something specific, like painting or photography (but likely not both).
• Make a memorable logo and store name.  If you’re having trouble with these, you can browse Etsy for people who will do this for you.  Some will even design and print your business cards.  Luckily, most reputable Etsy storeowners are prompt on shipping (something for you to heavily consider when opening your business).
• Advertise on other forms of social media, like your Facebook page or Twitter feed.  If you have a blog, be sure to add a link to your Etsy store.  Hand out your business card to friends and family like candy on Halloween.
• Don’t expect to make it big at once.  As with any work-at-home opportunity, success will likely be slow and gradual.  The harder you work and the more avenues you push, however, the sooner and bigger success will arrive.

Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching physicians assistant scholarships as well as occupational therapy scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.

Be sure to also check out our growing directory of companies that offer work at home jobs for moms. ~Work at Home Mom Center

So far, we’re offering places to find call center and customer service jobs from home. As well, we offer leads on where you can make a few dollars as an online juror and find other assorted work at home jobs for moms. Moving forward, we hope to also share where you can find work at home attorney jobs, at home pharmacy jobs and more. Telecommuting jobs are gaining in popularity and, as we learn of new opportunities, we have every intention of sharing them with you.

If you’re new to the site or if you’re looking for specific information on work at home jobs for moms, be sure to visit our article archives for a vast selection of topics covering the world of telecommuting. We know that it’s easy to get discouraged when looking for work from home opportunities, but we want to encourage you that real work at home jobs for moms do exist and we’re here to help you find the one that’s perfect for you. If you ever have questions or comments, please contact us on our contact form.

So, what are you waiting for? There are legitimate work at home jobs for moms out there and the perfect position is waiting for you. Take a deep breath, focus and visit our growing list of possible work at home employers, now!

The following tips are ones that I’ve used at various times to beat the procrastination monster:

1. Work with a timer. I’m a fan of dividing my work time into smaller portions. In fact, I also use this method to get chores done around the house. For instance, I’ll set my timer for 20 minutes and tell myself that I only have to do a task for this long. Whether it’s vacuuming floors or writing an article, when my timer goes off, I move on to something else. Since most work at home jobs for moms are performed online, I highly recommend this timer, as it’s the one I’ve used for years. It sits right on your desktop and it gets the job done.

2. Take it one step at a time. Sometimes just getting started is the real barrier in completing work at home jobs for moms. We begin to think about all that we have to do, we become overwhelmed and we convince ourselves that it’s easier to hang out on Twitter a little while longer  or play a computer game instead of working. My suggestion, however, is to take baby steps. When you’re not in the mood to work instead of gallivanting off to your favorite work at home jobs for moms forum, set yourself up to work first. For instance, when I’m in procrastination mode, I tell myself that I don’t have to work, but I’m just going to open a new document and type a single sentence before I go play. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to push myself toward typing more, but if it isn’t, I set my timer for a few minutes and tell myself I’ll return to my work when my timer goes off (and I go play somewhere in the meantime). Often, I’ll even set my timer for a few minutes and tell myself that it’s okay if I write something completely crappy and unusable, as long as I don’t stop writing for those few minutes. Believe it or not, these baby steps (and my handy dandy timer) are all it takes to get my juices flowing and help me enter a full-on work mode.

3. Stage a friendly competition. Work at home jobs for moms can be lonely, since you don’t technically have co-workers. This loneliness, however, often leads us to find online networks with other home workers or self-employed individuals. When you’re in a work slump these relationships can really come in handy. For one thing, engaging in a competition for who will complete the most work-related activities over a set period of time can really boost your energy. All work at home jobs for moms are not the same, however, so it really helps to find a forum of others working in your field when you select a competition. If you haven’t done so already, visit the WAHM.com forums to find a forum that’s perfect for you. WAHM.com is also a good place for information on various work at home jobs for moms.

4. Step away from the computer…or telephone…or whatever. Get away from your desk for a while by taking a walk, engaging in a little exercise, spending time with the kids or working on a hobby. Sometimes your procrastination isn’t due to laziness…you might just be overworked. Burnout is common in work at home jobs for moms and it’s important to know your limits. When you just can’t push yourself any further, place yourself in time out and DO NOT return until you feel rejuvenated and ready to move on.

5. Find your golden time of day. For me, I find that I’m at my personal best at 5:30a or 6a. Even though I’m not a morning person in real life, I find that training myself to arise early helps me hit my “productive spot”. I can get more done before 10a than I can get done all day when I arise later. I also know that I’m no good working in the afternoons, so I’m almost certain to miss my goals if I sleep in and start working late. I often take afternoon breaks and hit another “productive spot” later in the evening, which helps me prepare for the next day. When I work with my natural rhythm, I don’t burn out as often and procrastination is kept at a minimum because I’m more focused than ever. While most work at home jobs allow you to design your own work schedule, some do not. So, while this tip may not work for everyone, if you’re able to do it, by all means, work to find your optimal work hours and schedule yourself accordingly.

Just like other jobs in the workforce, work at home jobs for moms can often be draining and it’s easy to lose focus when you become overworked or when there are too many distractions in your immediate area.  Learn to work around interruptions (and train your family to respect your work hours, if possible) in order to maximize your productivity. Work at home jobs for moms are usually not as stressful as other jobs, but they can easily become so when procrastination persists and you miss your work goals. Use these tips to kick yourself in gear and be sure to share any tips for tackling procrastination in work at home jobs for moms in the comments section below.

If you work from home, you know how challenging it can be to manage your time effectively. With so many work deliverables looming over your head, as well as the distractions of running a household, getting it all done can seem overwhelming. And now with the holidays quickly approaching, it probably seems more challenging than ever before. Fortunately, by putting tried and true time management skills to work, you can get it all done and still have time for that much needed glass of egg nog at the end of the night.

Designate office hours. The best way to make sure you stay focused on your work is to determine set hours for getting everything done. Therefore, if you plan to work from 9:00 to 5:00 make sure you have no other distractions during that time. This will give you a clear distinction between work and home life – and keep you focused and productive.

Tackle your biggest tasks in the morning. If you have a project that will require lots of research and focus, make sure you schedule it first thing in the morning when your mind is fresher. It will give you satisfaction to cross it off your list – and will leave the less brain-taxing tasks for that low-blood sugar time in the afternoon.

Give yourself a break. Whether you like to take an hour for lunch or prefer a late afternoon break, make sure you give yourself time to relax and recharge. Maybe it’s time to eat a sandwich and catch up with friends online, or a chance to fit in your workouts, stepping away from the office is essential too.

Set aside time for household chores. One good way to get things done around the house is to designate a few minutes to throw a load of laundry in or take out the trash. These may be good ways to catch a short break and can help you stay productive around the house too. Be warned that these should not cut into your work time so anything more than 5-10 minutes should be saved for the evening or weekends.

Schedule your holiday shopping. If you’re a working mom, you know it’s vital to get your holiday purchases made while the kids are at school. Therefore, plan to go out once or twice a week during your lunch hour to get your shopping done. If you put it on your calendar for the weeks leading up to the holidays, you won’t feel burdened and will be able to power shop when you know your time is limited.

Plan ahead. Whether you prefer to use a daily planner or you like to keep everything in your Smart Phone, the best way to make sure tasks get accomplished is by scheduling your priorities. At the end of each week, take some time to prepare your “to-dos” for the week ahead. That way when you sit down on Monday morning, you’ll have a plan in place for the entire week.

By creating a clear distinction between your work and home responsibilities, you’ll be better able to concentrate on the job at hand – which will free up time to get ready for the holiday festivities ahead!

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, where recently she’s been researching kinesiology degrees and programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.