Throughout each month, I’ll have posts I particularly enjoy researching and writing.  Also there will be posts that draw responses from readers.  I’m attempting to select a round-up of 5 posts at the end of each month.  I also enjoy having my readers letting me know about any that were their favorites.

For July, we have:

Concentrate on Your Customers, Not Yourself

Business Opportunities Present Themselves Years Later

Cap & Trade & Home Business

Expanding a Scrapbooking Business – Finding a Need and Filling It

Do You Need to Be More Organized in Your Home Business?

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In a post at Small Business Boomers, Should You Pursue One or More Businesses, I wrote about small or home business owners being involved in a number of businesses, some at the same time and in other instances at different times in life.  I posed the questions whether this was a good idea, or should a business owner stick with the same business.

Shawn, one of my readers, gave this interesting input.

I think the answer to this question pretty much depends upon whether the businesses are in any way related or if they will end up pulling the business owner in too many directions. If there is some kind of core competency, like freelance writing or accounting, that all the services are built around, then having multiple related businesses to serve various clients can be an asset allowing you to win more business than a more narrow focus.

Do you find you can develop spin-offs, or related businesses, from your home business?  Perhaps you already have.

I realized that, over the years, many of my home businesses have evolved from an existing one.  They’re a spin-off or become an additional service I can offer.

Primarily, I’m a writer, but have been involved in a number of home businesses. 

• My quiltmaking business evolved into writing about quilts, quilt history, quilters and quiltmaking, along with writing a book on the topic, The Magic of Patchwork.
• I write for children.
• I make author visits to schools and give presentations.
• I teach writing workshops for children and adults.
• I teach online writing workshops.
• My writing has spilled over into the field of family history and genealogy.
• I also give workshops and talks in this area.
• I’m a travel writer and teach workshops and give talks on this topic.
• My genealogy and family history interests have evolved into scrapbooking.
• More recently, I’ve conducted scrapbooking in nursing homes and offer scrapbooking kits for this.

The list goes on as my business interests and talents unfold into related areas.  “Put on your thinking cap,” and see how your business can meet current needs in the market.  In these days of a struggling economy, we need to be very creative with our business.

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Occasionally my husband’s desktop goes down.  Recently our son-in-law’s computer failed and is in the shop.  Sometimes my laptop decides to take a rest.  Or our server has problems.  What if someone decides to hack into your computer?  Or your computer gets a virus?

Whatever the reason, when these things happen, it’s impossible to access checking and business accounts one has installed on the computer.  So…do you know what bills have been paid, what must be paid, where your checking account balance stands when you can’t access your computer?

It’s almost imperative nowadays to have your business accounts on the computer.  But there are problems to consider and be prepared for.

Keep a back-up, but if your computer is down, you can’t install it either.  At least you have your records in case the original ones are destroyed.

Does it pay to print out end-of-day totals?  More paper, more filing and probably seldom used, but helpful when a computer or system is down. 

What do you do to preserve your accounts and have access if your computer or the Internet malfunctions?

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Do you have a work from home blog…or blog for your home business?

If so, let me know about it and I may feature you here at Home Biz Notes.  Also, let me know how you consider a blog important for your business.  Obviously, if you have a blog associated with your business, you have a reason for establishing it.

Did it come about because of your business?

Does it help you promote your business?

Does it enable you to provide information for your customers/clients?

Did your business grow out of your blog?

Has your blog helped you “brand” your business?

These are just a few of the questions you could answer as you tell me about your blog.

Happy Blogging!

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I mentioned in a post at Blisstree, Scrapbooking with Alzheimer’s Patients, that I had taught a workshop at nursing homes.  A reader inquired whether I sold kits so individuals or nursing homes could do it on their own.

Yes, I do put together the kits, but I hadn’t actively promoted this business because I’ve been wondering what direction to take.  However, this inquiry got me thinking…“Here’s a need.  I must fill it.”

So now I’m doing more than dabbling.  I’m putting together a business plan.  It seems practical at this point in my life, because it’s a fairly simple kit to compile, along with a booklet (I need to finish this) of instructions and ideas.  I’ll also include the memory questionnaire that the residents had such fun discussing with us.

Keep attuned to ideas that pass your way…to inquiries about your talents or your current business.  Perhaps there’s a way you can diversify and incorporate other products or services that would have appeal in this days of a struggling economy.

How can you brainstorm with your business, or expand your hobby into a home business?

What comments or questions have come your way that you haven’t paid attention to?

Let’s brainstorm!!

Having trouble with time management and being productive in your business…and your life?  You may want to read my post at My Organized Biz, “Time Management in an Instant” Book Tour. 

Here I check out the book, Time Management in an Instant, 60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day, by Karen Leland and Keith Bailey.  They have explored 60 common sense tips for managing your time, organizing your business, office and life, and hopefully becoming more productive and profitable.

Do you have time management tips that you’ve found helpful in your home business?

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This weekend I learned about an interesting business…Personal Dresser or Wardrobe Assistant/Consultant. 

If you like clothing, coordinating colors and styles, selecting make-up and determining closet arrangement, perhaps this is a business you could consider.  You might only want to do one phase of it, but becoming someone’s personal dresser, shopper, or wardrobe coordinator may be just what you’d like to do for a home business.

If you don’t have expertise in all these areas, do the one(s) you know and find resources for the others.

The woman who mentioned having a personal wardrobe assistant said she helped with wardrobe selection.  “Every article of clothing I buy goes with 10 other pieces,” she explained.  So the assistand didn’t help her with frivilous purchases, but coordinated her wardrobe and saved her time and money.

I’ve also known a woman who helped others organized their closets, coordinated the clothing they owned, and advised them on new purchases as an extension of her “gently used” clothing shop.  In addition to helping her customers with their personal wardrobe, this helped her by adding another dimension to her shop.

With creativity, you can expand and extend an existing business with unique services or establish a completely new business.

There are people out there who will help organize you.  These consist of people, whose business it is (Hey!  a home business idea!) to come into your home, business or office and set up an organizational plan for you.  Some even will do the organizing.

You’ll also find online programs, where you answer a questionnaire, and from it someone sets up a plan for you.  This might be a one time plan or it’s one with new goals each week until you’re on the road to organization and productivity.

The areas where you might get help in organizing are your home, office, business space, time, family, and finances.  Make sure you check out the service before investing any money or signing an agreement.  Get references from satisfied customers, particularly if it allows letting people into your home or receiving personal and financial information.

Have you ever used an organizer or organizational service?  Do you operate one?

Let’s hear from you!

This era of e-mails, online ordering, and contact with people around the globe has provided  a boost for many businesses and has enabled new businesses to crop up.  However, we can’t get so caught up in the enthusiasm of online business and that we forget the importance of the “personal touch.”

In one of my home businesses, customers have commented that they don’t want to order online themselves, even though I can set them up to do so. 

 ” I like the personal touch of calling my order to you, Mary, and getting a chance to chat.”

Another customer, an elderly couple, enjoy having my husband and me stop by with their order and chat for awhile.  They, also, don’t have a computer and have no plans to get one.

One more, who lives across the country, e-mails me and then I have her items sent.  She wants contact with me rather than the impersonal touch of ordering herself. 

Then, of course, there are those who like to do their own ordering online.  However, I do keep in touch with by e-mail, phone, and/or newsletter.

So remember, when working with your customers and clients, take into consideration their needs and preferences…and remember the “personal touch,” whether it’s face-to-face, by phone, text message, or e-mail.  This lets them know you care.  Even those who order online, without help from you, once you’ve established contact, e-mail them occasionally to let them know about new products, to determine what their needs are, and to see if they’re a satisfied customer.

What do you do to provide a personal touch?

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Many home businesses consisting of some type of handcraft often utilize Etsy.com for promoting and selling their wares. Here’s a place for the home business owner, as well as the hobbyist.  Some even expand beyond Etsy and start up small businesses outside the home, like Keara Sexton and her business, OAK,  on Newbury Street in Boston. 

To learn more about Keara’s business and Etsy.com, read Shawn Cyr’s article, Those arts and crafts projects could add up to dollars online.  This might spark your creativity and give you ideas for expanding your craft business.

There also are workshops and tutorials at Etsy.com.

What have been your experiences with Etsy.com?

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