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Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Today

Tips to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Admittedly, it took me a long time to put any effort toward my LinkedIn profile. I’d signed up for an account years ago, but since I was a freelance writer and the site seemed more for corporate types, I put zero effort towards sprucing my image up at LinkedIn. Recently, however, I’ve begun to see the value in LinkedIn and have taken more of an interest in how my profile appears.

Here are a few quick tips I’d like to share:

LinkedIn Profile Tip #1: Add a Photo of Yourself

I know a lot of us who work online value our anonymity, but when you’re seeking new business connections, an actual photo really does make a difference. Ask yourself this: are you more inclined to do business with a professional who offers you a real name and image or someone offering a make believe screen-name with a cartoon character as their profile pic? The former, right? Simply put, if you want people to respect you as a professional, unless you’re in a witness protection program, it’s in your best interest to offer a professional looking photograph along with information about your business and your skills.

LinkedIn Profile Tip #2: Add a Background

With a proper photo in place, the next step in improving the appearance of your LinkedIn profile is to add a background. Same as you would for Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus, LinkedIn also allows you to get creative with a unique background to make your page look more appealing. The typical dimensions for a LinkedIn background are 1400 x 425. I recently changed mine using the preset Twitter Background selection in Canva, removed the text from a free one I liked and uploaded it in a matter of seconds.

LinkedIn Profile Tip #3: Use Your Headline to Really Sell Yourself

Get creative with the headline in your LinkedIn profile. Don’t just put something ordinary like ‘photographer’ or ‘writer’, but use that space beneath your name to really spell out who you are and what you do. Try something like ‘Director of Photography at XYZ Corp.’ or ‘Editor-in-Chief of Blah, Blah, Blah Blog’. If you need a few ideas, spend some time cruising LinkedIn and see how others are making use of this free space.

LinkedIn Profile Tip #4: Include a Well-Written Summary

For a long time, I left my LinkedIn profile with just the most basic resume information available for viewing. After several potential clients asked for my LinkedIn profile link and a few clients even asked me to help them work on retooling their profiles, I began to realize the need to improve my own professional image on the site. In addition to implementing some of the very tips shared here, I placed my focus on publishing a solid professional summary.

Beyond space to write about your experience, education and skills, LinkedIn offers a separate field dedicated to a summary of all of these things. Think of your summary as a generic cover letter. One where you’re putting your best foot forward in showing a potential client who you are and how you can help improve their business with your skill set. Let a bit of your personality shine through in your summary and be sure to double check your copy for correct grammar, spelling and punctuation before publishing.

Any Tips For Updating a LinkedIn Profile?

Have you updated your profile lately? Do you have questions about what to include in your LinkedIn profile? Share this post with a friend who needs it and be sure to leave your tips and questions in the space below.

(Flickr, Sean MacEntee)

3 Sites Where You Can Find Work at Home Jobs Right Now

Do you want to work at home, but are having a difficult time getting started? Not sure where to look for jobs that match your skill set? Well, if you’re a writer, a blogger, a social media enthusiast or all of the above, bookmark these sites and check them daily:

Problogger Job Board
Freelance Writing Jobs
Write Jobs

Bonus: Looking for something other than writing, blogging or social media gigs? Try Dream Home Based Work.

Of course, these aren’t the only places featuring work at home jobs, but they are the ones I most often recommend to budding freelancers. The usual job search engines and classified sites can be good, too. Just filter your search parameters by those that include a telecommute option, broaden your location choices and you’ll find plenty. Be forewarned, however, that there are a ton of work at home scams floating around the web, so be certain to research an employer before giving up too much personal information and before committing yourself to a job. Oh, and never EVER pay to work!

The Work at Home Mom Center is always here to help assist with your progress, so if you ever have a question about your path or even about a specific job offer, just reach out and ask for help.

Never Held a Work at Home Job Before?

Don’t fret, everyone had to start somewhere. Speaking as one who’s done everything from direct sales to mystery shopping before finally discovering a freelance career path, I’ve learned a few things about landing work at home gigs or even starting a business from scratch. Ditto for our faithful readers, so stay tuned to this blog as we continue to grow and share. I also highly recommend that you do a little prep work starting with our Ground Zero Tips so you’ll be ready for the opportunities heading your way.

It All Starts With You

It’s also necessary to put on a fresh coat of confidence each and every day. Working from home presents you with a brand new learning curve, which can feel overwhelming. More than one work at home mom has felt the sting of rejection, self-doubt and fear that sometimes accompanies working with new tools, demanding clients and even acquiring new skills. Then there’s the funny looks, off-handed remarks and questions that will sometimes be presented by friends and family members who don’t quite understand the concept of working from home and who may even try to convince you to get a “real job”, instead. You can do this, though. Working from home is a legitimate way to earn money. You are also just as smart and capable as the next wahm and, with time, you will become the seasoned professional you strive to be.

Where Do You Find Work at Home Jobs?

Work at Home Mom Center is all about networking, sharing and learning. Before you go, if you’re already working from home, please share your best advice for finding new clients and gigs. If you’re brand new and have any question whatsoever, we welcome any and all in the comments section below.

(Photo Credit: Flickr, Oliver Hartmann)

Tune In to Podcasts While Working From Home

Do you use podcasts to learn about new ideas while working from home? If not, you’re missing out on a wealth of information being shared by some of the foremost leaders in the business world. From interviews with experts to hard and fast tips designed to help your business run at optimal levels, there are a ton of free podcasts available on-demand, which can help you be a better more productive work at home mom.

Where to Listen to Free Podcasts

Podcasts are available for just about every device imaginable…except, of course, television and radio. Made for new media distribution, you can find informative talk shows and entertainment on various apps made for your smartphone or tablet, as well as your personal computer. I even listen to podcasts on my Roku streaming device. Simply head to your favorite app store and select the podcast player that’s right for you. I actually have a few that I’m pretty fond of, such as:

Stitcher
TuneIn
Soundcloud

Really, Stitcher has just about everything I need, with the exception of one or two entertainment podcasts not yet available for that app. Also, there’s no Stitcher app for Roku, so I use TuneIn as a backup for times when I want to listen on my television, instead. There’s not too much that Stitcher doesn’t have in the way of business podcasts, though, so I highly recommend it for people listening outside of iTunes (sorry, I’m not an Apple user, so I can’t really speak to what’s on iTunes or not, but users tell me that all of the same programs are there, too).

Suggested Podcasts

I subscribe to a number of different podcasts, which I’ll list below. Some are just a few minutes in length while others run close to an hour or more. Needless to say, you probably won’t have time to keep up with them all on a regular basis, but they’re nice to have for those times when you need a little inspiration or even just “shop talk”. Working from home, especially online, can get a little lonely when few people in your personal circles really understand what it is that you do and how you keep it all together, which is why listening to conversations from people in the know can be a real boost when you need it.

So, without further delay, here’s a snapshot of the business podcasts on my station playlists:

  1. The Smart Passive Income Podcast
  2. AskPat
  3. Jay Today TV
  4. Biz Women Rock!
  5. Social Media Marketing
  6. The Social Media Examiner Show
  7. B2B Content Marketing Leaders
  8. The Self Publishing Podcast
  9. Tropical MBA
  10. SEO 101
  11. The Tim Ferriss Show
  12. Social Pros Podcast
  13. Rainmaker.FM
  14. 1 Day Business Breakthrough
  15. Maximize Your Social
  16. The Lede from Copyblogger
  17. Screw the Nine to Five Podcast
  18. Marketing Over Coffee
  19. Simply Measured
  20. Social Media Happy Hour
  21. The BeanCast Marketing Podcast
  22. Eventual Millionaire
  23. Marketing Access Pass
  24. Inside PR
  25. For Immediate Release Podcast
  26. Chris Ducker Startup & Small ‘New Business’ Strategies for Entrepreneurs
  27. The Podcast Answer Man
  28. The Audacity to Podcast
  29. The Podcasters’ Studio
  30. The Art of Podcasting
  31. Amy Porterfield
  32. The Digital Marketing Podcast
  33. Six Pixels of Separation
  34. Social Media Marketing Happy Hour
  35. Entrepreneur On Fire
  36. HBR IdeaCast
  37. The Growth Show
  38. The Marketing Champion
  39. The Content Champion
  40. The Chalene Show
  41. Build Your Tribe
  42. PNR: This Old Marketing
  43. One Minute Tip
  44. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Whew! Didn’t realize I had such a long list. And that’s just business podcasts! There are so many more for entertainment, news, parenting…you name it and there’s a podcast for it. And if you don’t find one you’re interested in, by all means start your own!

Other Podcasts for Work at Home Moms and Entrepreneurs

What are some of your favorites? Do you have a podcast that you’d like to recommend to our readers? The Work at Home Mom Center is all about sharing, so please leave your podcast suggestions in the comments section below.

PayPal Alternatives For Work at Home Jobs For Moms

In any discussion about work at home jobs for moms, it’s necessary to also discuss payments. In particular, this conversation revolves around the best way to receive payments. In some cases you won’t have much of a say in the matter, especially if you are looking specifically for work at home jobs for moms. Most likely, your employer will already have a system in place and all employees will be paid in the same way (many employers also use PayPal, but many do not). If you are a freelancer, a consultant or operate any number of other online businesses, however, it will be up to you to choose how you will receive payments. In most cases, PayPal is the go-to payment processor. Most of your clients will also already have PayPal accounts, thus making it that much easier to embrace the behemoth as your default payment processor.

Upon recently learning of yet another PayPal horror story, though, I thought that it’s high time to offer a few alternatives. Now, don’t get me wrong, PayPal has millions of satisfied customers and I’m not advocating in favor of or against them…I use them myself, in fact. It is not unusual, however, to hear of PayPal restricting or freezing accounts while wreaking havoc on a customer’s business and professional life.

I’m also going to be upfront about the fact that I’ve never used any of the companies I’m about to share with you. Most of my customers pay via check or PayPal. Since hearing about so many people suffering under PayPal’s policies, however, I have bookmarked a few companies and am seriously contemplating a switch sometime in the near future. Without further ado and in no particular order, the following is a brief list of some of the companies that I’ve found and which look like they may be good PayPal alternatives:

Authorize.net

2Checkout.com

EZPay.com

Payza.com

Moneybookers.com

While we’re always here to offer information on work at home jobs for moms (and home business ideas), we’re leaving it up to you to determine which payment processor is right for you. PayPal has plenty of satisfied customers who’ve never experienced a glitch in their system and have never been placed in a bad position as a result of their policies. Still, a lot of people live in fear of the seemingly endless supply of PayPal horror stories out there, which is completely understandable. If you are one of those people, I hope that these PayPal alternatives offer you an idea of what else is available. As with all of the info that we offer on work at home jobs for moms, it is always up to YOU to do your homework and determine which one is right for you.

Those of you who’ve already found work at home jobs for moms, how are you paid? Are any of you using a PayPal alternative? Would love to hear your comments, ideas and recommendations below.

Work at Home Mom Time Management Skills During the Holidays ~ Guest Post by Maria Rainier

Time Management Skills During the Holidays

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.

Tips for Keeping Business Records ~ A Guest Post By Maria Rainier

The IRS doesn’t care that you’ve got kids to feed or that you’re new to being a work-at-home mom.  They will tax you where they can and you will hurt.  This isn’t a threat, only a truth.

So, what to do about it?  You’ll find that keeping proper business records for your home-based business is often inconvenient, usually confusing, and always a learning process.  These tips—and a few tricks you’ll doubtlessly come up with yourself as time goes by—will ease the learning curb and make tax time significantly less painful.

1.       Home office deduction.  Read up on the IRS’s rules about the home office deduction (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108138,00.html) to see if you qualify.  Don’t be scared to do it if you do qualify because you’ll be able to deduct a portion of your rent or mortgage and utilities bills as business expenses.  Save all of your monthly payment bills if this is the case.  Remember to not allow the kids into this room since it is your home office.  A large amount of evidence—should the IRS come poking—that you’ve been mixing business with pleasure might void your deduction.

2.       Keep receipts.  If your printer runs out of paper while printing out documents for your business, keep the OfficeMax receipt.  If your lamp loses a bulb, keep the receipt.  Keep any and all receipts made for purchases for your home office and business, including office supplies and equipment (from sticky notes to your new Mac, as long as you use that computer primarily for business).  Keep the receipts for Internet provider fees, phone bills, membership fees, and any other costs to keep your business running.  Deduct these from your taxes as business expenses.

3.       Advertising and professionals.  If you advertise for your business or have hired a professional to help you (such as an accountant or printer), save the receipts.

4.       Employee records.  If you’re not working alone, keep an accurate record of your employees’ hours to make the W-9 forms easier to fill out during tax season as well as calculate salaries.  If you’ve hired more than 10 people for your business, you’ll need to get an idea of what records OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires you to keep, including accident reports.

5.       Accounting.  If you ever make any kind of transaction for your business, you’re better off with evidence of it than without.  Keep copies of them to back up your income and spending in case anyone comes inquiring.  It’s best to accumulate all of your receipts and evidence of transactions in one place, like one notebook or filing cabinet, so you don’t lose things along the way.

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 different bsw degree programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.