Special guest author: Laura Spencer (more on Laura at the end of the post) If you work from home in your boxers (as the title of this blog suggests), you probably realize that it’s becoming increasingly necessary to participate in online communities and social media to generate new business. Yet, that very same online presence that you need to attract and retain business clients can also pose a threat to both your identity and ultimately to your business. The identity threat to your business comes primarily from the threat that someone else will start using your online identity and/or that it will become associated with unprofessional activity. To your clients, your online presence may be the only thing that they know about you. From a... [Read more]

Special guest author: Susan Gunelius (more on Susan at the end of the post) Even a business that you operate from the comfort of your own home can benefit from a well-defined brand strategy, and despite what you might think, branding does not have to be complicated. In fact, by following these three steps, you can easily develop and execute your own brand strategy. 1. Define the image you want to portray in the marketplace: What does your business stand for? Who are you? What image or perception do you want to have in your customers’ minds? A brand isn’t just a logo or iconic symbol, it’s a reflection of your business’s overall message. Do you want to be trendy and hip or classic and refined? Are you the P Diddy... [Read more]

Special guest author: Miranda Marquit (more on Miranda at the end of the post) When most people think of making money as a blogger, they think of click-through banner ads and Google Adsense. However, it is possible to make money as a corporate blogger, offering your blogging services to companies that do not have the time or the people to write and post regularly. One of the realities of the Internet is that blogs can now be used as marketing tools, and many companies are realizing this. This is becoming especially true in the real estate field, where the demand for regular content in real estate-related fields meets a need for localized stories. But companies other industries and sectors, from entertainment to finance, also realize the importance... [Read more]

Special guest author: Shannon Cherry (more on Shannon at the end of the post) Being a mother and an entrepreneur is tough, especially when you have toddler twin girls in addition to a demanding business. As difficult as it can get, it’s also absolutely wonderful. The key to survival is simply to try not to go insane, and I want to share some of what I’ve learned so far about being a parent who works from home. 1. Make a plan BEFORE you have the baby. A lot of people think they’ll jump in after the baby is born. Wrong move! You need to plan ahead for it to work. That may mean getting extra help as you transition. I used a virtual assistant to keep me on track and got extra help with by using a college intern. 2. Develop a schedule... [Read more]

A coworker of mine here at b5 and advertising guru Chad Randall has listed a countup of the seven levels of revenue for your blog. Here’s a barebone version of the list: Level 1: Google Adsense Level 2: Affiliate Programs Level 3: Ad Networks Level 4: Automated Text Links Level 5: Fixed Text Links Ads Level 6: Graphical Banner Ads Level 7: Fixed Monthly Sponsors I agree with Chad’s list as a whole although in my experience most blogs do not have a full 7 levels as some of them simply will not make sense for the type of niche you are in. Some blogs may find there are no affiliate programs on their topic, their ad slots do not fill, or adsense ads are poorly targeted. For a complete description of the 7 levels visit Chad’s... [Read more]