Work-at-Home Mommy 101

I am blessed that I was able to make working at home work for me. Most of my working mommy friends dream of working at home to have more time for the kids and the home, too. Aside from writing for my three blogs, I am currently a freelance contributor for two foreign clients and one local client. These three employers give me regular online tasks that contribute to my monthly income. Although what I was earning from tutoring was considerably bigger than what I am earning now, I still think that working at home has more benefits since I don't have to go out everyday anymore. My schedule is also more flexible now than how it used to be.

There are other venues for mommies who want to work at home. I was just fortunate to have stumbled upon mentors and other colleagues who taught me the ins and outs of online writing. Read on if you want to know more about earning from online jobs.

Step One: Set up a Paypal account.

Paypal is an online facility where you can receive your online earnings. Set up an account and link your local bank account so you can convert and transfer your dollar earnings into your local bank account. Be informed that Paypal foreign exchange rate is different from the standard foreign exchange rate. Don't you worry, I am going to write more about Paypal in my next work-at-home posts.

Step Two: Sign up in oDesk.

oDesk will provide you with hundreds of online jobs to choose from. The online jobs posted here do not only cover writing tasks but other jobs as well such as data entry, virtual assistance, and computer programming. Jobs may pay by the hour or according to an agreed fixed rate. You will need to prepare an impressive oDesk profile which will serve as your online resumé. An impressive oDesk profile will attract more buyers (employers) to invite you for a job interview. Set up your job notification preferences so you can receive job openings through email. Start applying to jobs as soon as you accomplish the oDesk readiness test. I will also be writing more about oDesk soon.

Step Three: Respond to calls and emails.

Having online clients will oblige you to have all communication options possible. For instance, I had Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Skype, MSN, and ICQ installed in my computer so clients can communicate with me via chat or internet calls. Assign an email address that you will exclusively dedicate for your online jobs. Personally, I would recommend using a Gmail account as Yahoo Mail may forward messages from new contacts as spam.

Step Four: Set up your work area at home.

You should have a home office. It's not advisable to be working in front of the TV or anywhere in the home that is full of distractions. My work desk faces a blank wall. By my left side is a glass window to look through every now and then. Invest in an ergonomic desk and chair as you will be spending a lot of your time sitting down in front of the computer. Be ready with your computer paraphernalia, too (e.g. speakers, mic, headset, and webcam).

Remember that working at home is not that different from working in a conventional office. You will need to be disciplined to resist temptations like taking a nap or surfing the net especially when you have deadlines to meet. You should also be responsible enough to stick to your work schedule.

I'll be sharing more of my work-at-home tips soon so please stay tuned.