Business Ideas and Strategies for Moms Who Work at Home
There are lots of interesting business ideas out there for work-at-home moms (WAHMs). As more and more employers look for ways to cut costs, hiring people to work remotely is getting more common. Also, some WAHMs run their own business and have people working for them. Here are some business ideas and strategies for a home-based business for moms.
Telecommute
There are multiple resources on the web where you can browse for telecommuting jobs. You can also check with local employers who may appreciate your skills. Your current employer or employers from your past are often sources of telecommuting jobs.
Telecommuting jobs are varied, but writing, typing, and secretarial duties are probably the most common. Some people work for travel agencies or do other phone work from their homes. Tap into something you already know how to do and offer your services to employers who need you.
Freelance Work
Another business idea is to do freelance work for clients. You could offer marketing advice, design websites, write articles, edit e-books, and a host of other things. Working freelance means you have multiple clients rather than an employer, and you will need to market your business and skills in order to find clients.
Start Your Own Business
If you don’t want to work for others (or if you want to do both), you can start your own home-based business. Like freelancing, you are responsible for finding clients and promoting your business. Consulting, providing information, coaching, and building a membership website are just some of the ideas for a home-based business. Some moms have had success providing information to others who want to build their businesses from home.
Marketing
Choosing the right marketing strategy (or strategies) is important. Look into social networking like Facebook and Twitter, and use their advertising platforms to get your name out. However, it pays to take it slow – no one wants to be „spammed“ all the time about your business. Build relationships in your demographic – join groups, make friends, join discussions, etc. – and then see where you can advertise to your potential customers.
Depending on your budget, you might consider hiring someone else to do your marketing – in fact, it could be a nice give-and-take if you hire another WAHM to market your business for you. Then maybe she, in turn, can use your help.
Have a Plan
You need to know what you’re doing and have a handle on the tasks that need to be done. As a mom, you will have unexpected interruptions and also unexpected moments when you can snatch a few minutes‘ work. If you have a grasp on the day’s tasks, you can nip in and out of work mode and always know what needs to be accomplished. If you have a spare ten minutes you weren’t expecting, and you have to spend that ten minutes organizing and figuring out what needs to be done, you’ve lost productivity.