Author Janet Elaine Smith, one of the queens of promotion, has developed a Brazen Hussy List of rules that work for her.
(Admittedly, some are a little tongue in cheek.  However, there are others I know she’s used successfully.)  These ideas should work for other authors; some of them are applicable for almost any home business.
What do you think?

Be a lurker.  Hang out in the section in bookstores where your books are. When someone looks for a book, offer them yours.
Never hide your book.  At a restaurant, set it on the table; make a see-through pocket in your purse and stick your book in …read more

More and more, self-publishing for authors has become acceptable, in non-fiction and fiction. 

Some of these self-publishers evolve into small publishing houses.   However, some of the traditional publishers frown on this practice, while others look for good self-published books to pick up for  themselves.
Recently there has been a controversy because Harlequin, the well-known romantic novel publishing house, announced they are creating a self-publishing imprint along with their traditional publishing.  This has caused intense objections from various writers’ societies, who maintain they’ll reject Harlequin authors, whether traditionally or self published.
However, I know of numerous writers, of romance and mystery, of mainstream and children’s fiction, as …read more

“Turn a setback into a comeback,” I heard speaker/author Willie Jolley advocate. 
How do we do this in our business, especially when there are happenings beyond our control?  How do we turn depressed economic times, when business may be down, into an upturn or comeback?
Find something in the situation that you can use to help others.  In other words, find a need and fill it.
I thought of this theory recently as I was reading a mystery.  Woven into the “who dun it” story line was the heroine Peggy’s challenge with a drought in her area.  This adversely affected her gardening/landscaping business.  …read more

Home business owners are unique in that they want to work from home, or have a home base.  Some work entirely from the home, either online or with a walk-in shop.  Others have their base there but sell their products or perform their services outside the home.  You also may find a combination.
Here are some characteristics that unite most home businesses:

They frequently enable the owner to work around the family schedule because of a more flexible business schedule.
Home businesses often enable spouses to work together.
They generally allow you to turn a hobby into an income producing venture.
A home business is hard work.
Home businesses require persistence …read more

Who starts a home business?  What would cause a person to consider it?  What are some of their characteristics?
I’m not sure there is any one characteristic that sets a home business person apart from others, but these are some that you may find you have or others do who develop their own business.

Independent thinkers who enjoy working for themselves
Self-starters who can motivate themselves, even when they aren’t getting a weekly pay check or have someone setting their schedule
Achievers who set goals and continue working to achieve them.
People who don’t give up when a situation doesn’t work out as planned.
Someone who …read more

Many people think they must wait for the time and timing to be perfect to establish their home business.  Yes, you can’t go off half prepared or unorganized, without checking into the situation.  But if you wait until everything is perfect and without risks, you’ll probably never get your business off the ground.
Des Walsh, at Thinking Home Business, tells a fascinating story about his Kasongan Elephant and the Indonesian villagers who made it and other items in their home businesses.  In spite of imperfect conditions, these people, living in a small village off the beaten track, began to develop their …read more

One of my favorite blogs for blogging advice is Lindsay Buroker’s  Writing for Your Wealth.  I discovered this blog when Lindsay visited Home Biz Notes and left a comment.  I then asked her to write several guest posts converning what she’s learned about writing a successful, money earning blog and developing this into a home business.
 You’ll find her guest posts and suggestions at:
How to Turn Your Love of Writing into a Money Making Blog – Introduction
Money Making Blog – Part 1
 Money Making Blog – Part 2
Making Money Blog – Part 3
Money Making Blog – Part 4
Money Making Blog – Part 5
Also, Lindsay posts information …read more

In recognition of “Getting Things Done” and professional organization this month, I interviewed Ellen Faye.  Ellen is the owner of Straighten-Up and she’s a Certified Professional Organizer.  She’s been working in the professional organization business since 1999, and she is a key person in the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).  Here’s the interview:
1.  How did you get into the professional organization business?
When my youngest child went to school full-time, I decided I needed to get back to work.  I had been in the hotel business, learned about service businesses, but I knew I didn’t want to work for someone …read more

In response to questions about Virtual Assisting as a home business opportunity, I am interviewing several people.  The first is Stacy Brice, founder, President and Chief Visionary Officer of AssistU.  (I can see why she is successful – what great positive enthusiasm!)  Stacy founded AssistU in March 1997 as a way to help people create the business and life they wanted.  Read more about Stacy’s journey to founding AssistU on her bio.
Questions for Stacy Brice:
1.  How did you get into the VA business?  What motivated you to start AssistU?
I got started as a VA, working for myself, because I was …read more

I was reading about an interesting home business today, and it struck me how typical their path to success has been. It might seem like luck, or maybe it’s just good hard work.  I’ll show you what I mean:
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The business is Engraved Garden Path Markers, Inc., in Haubstadt, Indiana, owned by Chris Ingler.  Her story was in the local newspaper and online. The story shows how a typical small business grows and becomes successful.  The typical business success story goes like this:

Chapter One: The Idea to Help Yourself.  Chris Ingler had a large daylily garden and …read more