Spread word of your success.  Don’t keep it hidden under a bushel.  You can do this without seeming egotistical…simply let others know wherever appropriate. 

This is difficult for some of us because we may come from the generation where I still hear my mom saying, “Don’t toot your own horn.  People will think you’re bragging. ”

However, if you wait solely for others to discover what you’re doing, the world won’t
hear about your or your business.  You can share, as I call it, without seeming egotistical or “pushy.”  You can announce over forums and round-ups of success stories, as well as doing the traditional promotions. 

You might participate in a “success” post, such as the one Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business has initiated, Marvelous Mini Milestones & Super Successes – September 2007.  Yvonne has begun doing this on a monthly basis. 

(She even mentioned the guest post I wrote for Grow Your Writing Business about blog tours, Virtual Blog Tours – The Latest Innovation for Promoting Your Writing.  Thanks, Yvonne, for “tooting” my horn and mentioning Home Biz Notes!  Mother would be pleased that I hadn’t blown my own horn.)

Of course, the successes mentioned on Yvonne’s blog relate mainly to writing and publishing success, whether it’s print or online.  However, many of the techniques these writers/bloggers mention you can apply to other home businesses.

Why don’t you share your business successes here?  We can initate a monthly report of home business milestones and success stories.

Kelly, at Taxgirl, gives us something to think about today on her Fix the Tax Code Friday question.  She extends the discussion about deductions that she initiated on her Problogger guest post.

Should there be a separate Standard Deduction alternative for self-employed persons?

She also has another very good post on deductions for home businesses here….  Some of this deals with the home office, a facet of taxes that home business owners definitely encounter.

“What can businesses deduct?” Kelly Phillips Erb, from Taxgirl, says is one of the most frequent inquiries she receives.

Kelly has answered this in a guest post at Problogger, 46 Tax Deductions that Bloggers Often Overlook.  Even though this post is directed at bloggers (one type of home business), most of the deductions are applicable for any home business…whether you’re operating solely on the Internet, utilizing a walk-in shop, or combining the two.

Your business may have added deductions…or may not be able to use all of these.  However, take a look and begin thinking about those that could apply to you.  Kelly also offers excellent advice at her Taxgirl blog.

Many business owners have tasks to perform, especially if they’re producing items, that become very repetitive, and thus boring.  We may tend to put them off, thus getting behind with deadlines.  We may find ourselves doing them mindlessly, so that we make mistakes.  We may be so glad when the task is over that we rush them off to our customer, without checking for any possible errors.

Rico, at Contract Worker, gives us 4 Ways to Deal With Repetitive Tasks.  These are common sense tips, yet ones we may overlook.  Take a look.  I’m sure you’ll find reminders that will help you be more effective and efficient when your work becomes repetitive.

Miranda at WorkShak referred to my post, 9 Mistakes Home Business Owners Shouldn’t Make,  She mentions that it’s important to avoid these pitfalls.

One that she often fails to consider is factoring in her expenses when determining what she should charge.  Check out her interesting comments here…..

The deadline for the Jump Start Your Business contest was reached last night, September 25.  I hope, if you’d planned to enter, you didn’t let this opportunity slip by to be considered for around $2,000 in prizes offered by the b5media Business Channel bloggers and others.

We’ll be awaiting announcement of the Grand Prize winner and the two runners-up.

99 Ways to Kill Your Business highlighted the b5Media Business Channel Promo Day post.  Here you’ll find a round-up of 99 ways to “trash your business.”

However, if you’ll avoid these mistakes or reverse them, you could be on your way to great success. 

Home Biz Notes participated with 9 Mistakes a Home Business Owner Shouldn’t Make.

Let us know if you took steps to avoid or reverse any of the business mistakes mentioned in this Business Channel Promo Day round-up.

We frequently find advice about what you need to do to maintain a successful home business, how you can build it up, how you can have happy customers.  Are we ever warned about some of the worst mistakes we can make…so we can stay away from them?

Not usually…so, Business Channel bloggers will be giving you advice on things you shouldn’t do.

Some of the mistakes a Home Business Owner shouldn’t make….

*Tell a customer they’re wrong or stupid and don’t know what they’re talking about…even when they have no clue.

*Don’t worry about meeting deadlines for producing an item or providing a service. 

*Ignore a customer’s complaints. 

*Fail to file taxes because it’s “just a little business.”

*Pay employees “under the table”

*Use “shoe box” bookkeeping. 

*Cut corners on quality because “the customer won’t know.”  They should be glad I’m keeping the price cheap.

*Fail to return customers’ phone calls or e-mails.

*Fail to add all your expenses and overhead when determining price…then wonder why you keep losing money.

Are you a freelance writer, working mainly from home, who’s looking for information on job availability?  Check out The Golden Pencil at b5media’s Arts and Design Channel.  Anne Wayman regularly posts writing, editing and translation jobs.

She’s posted 157 jobs this week alone.  If you don’t see anything that interests you here, keep checking because Anne continues to publish her jobs listing and much other great advice for freelance writers.  Anne also publishes two free e-newsletters for writers. 

    Do you have your entry finished for the “Jump Start Your Business” contest?  The deadline is Tuesday, September 25.  There will be a Grand Prize winner with two runner-ups. Prizes and consulting total more than $2,000.

This is a great way to get your small business off the ground or to give your new (within the past year) one momentum.  Check out the details here…..