Computer businesses involve a great deal of personal satisfaction as you get to manage your own online business without all the hassle of a traditional office.  Though, it’s wise to choose a direction that suits you, one that interests you and is akin to your skill set.

There has been an explosion in the number of opportunities available for making a living working online. Perhaps you are a designer, or great at assembling PCs, or an expert in sales. There is strong competition on the web, and in many cases, price is chosen over quality – unfortunately. Running a computer business from home has allowed people to run their businesses on a very flexible level and without the high overhead costs of a traditional high street setup. Door-to-door and telephone canvassing is being replaced by email newsletter campaigns and article marketing.

So, do you pay for a business start up or start with just a dime? Well, either way works, though whichever you choose – a web site is crucial. You can start the business part time while working – so you still have an income. Or you can go for a loan from the bank to help kick start the venture. The only thing you don’t pay for is a job.

Many job scams exist masked as a computer business from home. Avoid chain letters and promises of millions in your first few months. Any business will take time and effort to produce a steady income.  Popular choices particularly for secondary incomes if you need the extra capital are data entry, transcription, and writing.

There are plenty of reputable business plans trying to sell to you on the web. Use Google to search for the business plan and be wary of promises of fortunes for doing very little. You should question the validity of a plan that promises that. If up-front cash is being asked for, then check it out first. What are people saying? Any personal experience documented in blogs? A good place to start is affiliate marketing where you market a merchant’s products for a commission rate. Check clickbank as it is full of popular and selling products.

You can also develop your own product, best way to start a computer business from home. Perhaps you have information of use to a niche market for example. So, you can write an eBook or prepare a web site on the subject.  Again, use Google to look for products similar to your own and note the successful ones, analyze why that product succeeded – low price, lots of benefits, solved a problem, etc. Build a mailing list of people by giving away a product for free that entices them to purchase an upgrade or a full version. Offer that as your sales pitch on your web page. A good service to help here with developing landing pages that convert is sitesell.com or wealthyaffiliate.com.

Your working place is your home so have a dividing line between family and work. You need a dedicated work station with easy access. It really depends on how you react to interruptions and noise. Most can’t work when the TV is on or if the radio is loud.

So many opportunities exist, and you need to choose what the best path is for you.

Google often provides a Google Adwords promotional code through web hosting companies, banks or other entities who frequently deal with online businesses.

These codes offer credits to businesses when they sign up for the service. You can get a Google Adwords promotional code from other places, particularly online vendors who partner with Google. GoDaddy and BlueHost are two vendors who offer the promotions,  and sometimes they are available directly from Google itself.

Naturally, Google is anxious for you to try out their program, and most businesses these days are trying to save money wherever possible, so the Google Adwords promotional codes work well all around.

In order to get your code to work, you’ll need to set up an Adwords account. If  you already have an account, you probably can’t use the code, since they are generally meant only for brand new accounts.

•   Browse over to the Adwords homepage at https://adwords.google.com

•   Click on the button that says, “Start Now”

•   Create an Adwords account by following the steps in the sign up wizard.

•   After you have an account established, sign in.

•   Click on the tab labeled “My Account.”

•   Click on the button labeled “Billing Preferences.”

•   When asked for billing information to activate your account, you’ll get to the third step. There you’ll find the field where you can enter the 12 digit promotional code. If you received a URL with the code, then go to the URL first, and you can leave the code field blank. Your promotional credit is applied to the account automatically.

•   Click on the button labeled “Continue,” and you’ll be prompted to enter the rest of your billing information.

•   Clicking on “Activate” will complete the setup process.

There are some caveats to remember when using a Google Adwords promotional code. First, they are meant for new advertisers only. They’re only good for 14 days after creating the account, or until the credit is exhausted, whichever comes first.

If the promotional credit runs out, you will start being charged for the campaigns you’ve set up. (That’s why they still want your complete billing information, of course.)

If you’re not prepared to pay, or you don’t think it’s working out for the time being, go into your account and click on the “Pause” feature for your campaigns.

Naturally, you  can’t combine a Google Adwords promotional code with another promotional code or any other offer from Google. As it says in the fine print, “limit one per customer.”

The code is usually only valid for two weeks after you create the Adwords account, so be sure to get started right away with your campaign.

It’s a good idea to check with Google if there is a service or other online company that is offering you a Google Adwords promotional code in exchange for signing up with their service. Be sure Google has a relationship with them before you grab that offer.

If you get a code out of the blue from a company you’ve never worked with, be skeptical – the code may not be valid.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

But when you’re starting your own business, there’s no guarantee that your “mousetrap” is going to survive, especially in today’s fast-paced business world.

Nearly half of all small businesses fail within the first two years of operation. The number one reason for business failure is inadequate planning. The second reason is under-capitalization.

So before you mortgage your house, or go into debt financing your business, you need to know if your business is going to do more than survive — you want to know if it’s good enough to thrive! Here are three things successful businesses that have stayed in business for five years or longer have in common:

1. The idea. A successful business start-up always starts with an idea. Something that makes your business stand out from all the rest. So how do you know if you’ve got a good idea?

You’ve probably got a good idea if you can answer yes to any of the following questions: Does your idea provide the solution to a significant problem for your target market? Does it satisfy a need or want? Does it create an opportunity?

The most successful businesses either fix problems (either real or perceived), or they increase your customer’s pleasure. They create a repeat need for a product or service among the target market.

2. The market. Your chances of survival are better if you can answer the following questions with a yes: Is there already a market for your product or service? (It’s much easier to fill a need than trying to create an entirely new market.) Can your target market afford to buy your products or services? (If they can’t afford it, it doesn’t matter how great it is, you won’t sell any!) Will your target market perceive your product or service as valuable? (If they want it, but don’t think it’s worth what you’re selling it for, you won’t make any sales.)

3. Your ability. Do you have the people, the resources and the knowledge to be able to consistently provide your products or services to your target market? Can you maintain a competitive advantage? Do you have enough manpower? Can you purchase the supplies and materials you need over the long run?

Your first step always is to create a solid business plan. Your business plan is more than an essay on “Why I deserve to get funding for my idea” however. Don’t spend all the time creating a business plan and then toss it in the bottom drawer of your desk. Your business plan should be a living, breathing roadmap that helps you make sure you’re on course and reaching the goals that you set for your business.

The second step to business survival is getting enough financing. Although the term “bootstrap entrepreneur” describes most small business owners, having enough capital to be able to keep your business afloat is vital to your survival.

When you’re creating your financial analysis of your business, make sure you’re being realistic about costs and expenditures, so that you give yourself the cushion you need to succeed.

If finding financing is a problem, either because you don’t have enough credit or equity, or there are other problems, take the time to look into the resources that are available in your community. There are a wide variety of grants and loans (including microloans) for entrepreneurs, if you know where to look.

Some great resources will be:

-The Small Business Administration

-Local Small Business Development Centers

-Women’s Organizations

-Local University or Community College

-Chamber of Commerce

-SCORE (The Association for Retired Executives)

-Nonprofit organizations that work on economic development in your area

Use other successful business models as a guide. When you’re getting started, look around. What businesses are successful? Why? What is it they’re doing that is working? What attributes do you admire, and why? You stand a better chance of succeeding if you’re modeling someone who is already successful.

Find a mentor. Most entrepreneurs have great skills and abilities, but no one does everything well. You probably already know what your strengths and weaknesses are. (If not, there are many resources and tools that can help you figure it out!) Rather than ignoring your weaknesses, find a mentor who can help you either build your skills in your weaker areas, or offer advice for getting what you need.

If you take the time to plan to succeed, you could be creating a legacy that will be enjoyed by future generations, and that other entrepreneurs will look at as a model for building their own businesses.

Every entrepreneur knows that setting goals is crucial to business success. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve arrived? Or, more importantly, when you’re heading in completely the wrong direction?

If you’re the owner of a small business, what is your goal? To make it to the end of the month with enough money in the bank to cover the payroll? To take a holiday for the first time in five years?

Every small business owner should have the same goal – sooner or later, to become independent of the business. Small businesses turn into big businesses only when they are able to operate smoothly without the owner being present. When you can stay away for a week, or a month, or a year, and return to find the business running better than before you left, you have the opportunity to do whatever you like – sell the business and start a new one, retire, buy a yacht and sail around the world.

True financial independence is the ability to live your life doing what YOU want to do. Do you really want to show up for work an hour early every day, leave late at night and never take a holiday, for the rest of your life? Surely not.

What is the key to being able to walk away?

It’s simple. You need a system in place so that everyone in your business knows exactly what’s expected of them.

When you take on a new employee, how do they learn what they’re expected to do? Does an existing employee take them in charge, explaining how things work? How can you be sure that the new employee is learning what you want them to know?

As the owner of the business, it’s your job to ensure that a system is put in place as the business grows. The system will ensure that everyone knows what they need to know to do their job effectively.

How do you think companies like McDonald’s are able to manage thousands of restaurants across the planet? McDonald’s Head Office doesn’t sell hamburgers. They sell franchises, and their customers are the franchisees. The most valuable asset they have is their system. It regulates what employees wear, the words they say to customers, how many seconds a patty is left on the grill. to variables within their business, every contingency is dictated by the system.

The system makes it possible for new employees to fit in. They are educated on ‘how we do things around here’. They are taught the specifics of their job. They may be required to sign a performance agreement.

In a well-designed system, there is still space for individual creativity. Better ways of doing things should always be sought out and encouraged – and written into the system for the future.

The system provides the framework for ensuring that the business is never entirely dependent on any one person. If you own the business, your future depends on the quality of your system.

While Adwords seems to be the only game in town for PPC marketing these days, it is just as easy to lose with Adwords as it is to win.  Here are some basic Google Adwords tips you’ll want to follow as you venture out into the world of Adwords.

1. Avoid Broad Matching to begin with. Broad matching means that if you list a keyword like soda pop in your list of keywords, then your ad could appear any time a user searches for either soda or for pop as well as for soda pop.

You ad may also appear when they search for related terms, like seltzer water, or something else that may or may not connect to your site.

Expanded match is for experienced advertisers, those who are acquainted with negative keywords and focusing a campaign, and may be used by lazy advertisers who just don’t want to take the time to really cull good keywords. If you’re neither of those, then forget the broad matching.

2. The next of the Google Adwords tips is to make use of the Dynamic Titles option. These are easy to do, don’t add any cost to your ads, and are generally effective at gaining clicks and conversion. The exact phrase entered by the individual who initiated the search will be used as the title of your ad.

In order to utilize this feature, simply put {keyword:your backup title here}. This also saves you the trouble of coming up with a new title for each ad.

3. Use some global negatives to narrow searches.  For example, use “Free” as a negative search word if you have a product to sell, not give away. It seems a bit obvious, but if you do some sample searches, you’ll discover that it’s a real problem.

You can do this for other words that you don’t want to waste an ad on. If you are trying broad matching, then you’ll definitely want a long list of negative keywords.

4. Avoid using the  “content targeting” and “search network” features until you are well acquainted with Google. If you don’t know anything about a site, you probably won’t profit from it. Each varies widely on conversion rates and CTRs. If you ask for  Google Adwords tips, you will often hear the advice to avoid advanced features at first.

5. Don’t rely on the default positioning for ads. You want to try different positions for your ads and different keywords for different locations. You need to know where your ads work the best.

The only way to find out is to test the ads in different positions. Think about your return on investment needs (ROI) and test each ad to see in what position it is most effective.

You can also run tests with different ads. Rewrite your copy several times and see which version brings in not just the most clicks, but the highest ROI.

6. Perhaps the most useful of the Google Adwords tips here is to optimize the landing page for each keyword term. If you’re selling photographs, you should have a different landing page for “flowers” and another for “landscapes” while still another for “portraits,”

You don’t want to use your home page for the landing page for each search term unless it specifically deals with what you’re selling.

If you follow these Google Adwords tips, you’re likely to have more success with your Adwords campaign.

According to Google, Adwords cost is as much or as little as you would like to spend. In reality, it may not work out that neatly to get the results you are hoping to get, but there is a wide variety in spending options.

The basic costs are a $5.00 activation fee (US dollars) and the minimum cost per click (CPC) on your ad, which is $.01. The minimum cost per thousand impressions, or thousand times your webpage is loaded by a user (CPM) is $.25.

Google offers two options for payment. One is to prepay a certain amount, set up your campaign, then let it go until you have reached the end of the money. In this way you know your Adwords cost before you begin, and can control it easily. The minimum amount for a prepayment is $10.

If you are less concerned with the budget, you can opt for the post-pay method to pay your Adwords cost. With this method, your campaign runs, then at the end of the billing cycle, you are charged the amount that has accrued.

For either type of payment, you’ll need to enter an appropriate credit or debit card or bank account information to activate the account. Google only accepts U.S. bank accounts for bank transfers.

They accept American Express, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards, and any debit cards with a Mastercard or Visa card logo on them.

Fees per click or per impression can go much higher than the minimum. Google gives you tools to control that aspect of the Adwords cost by allowing you to set either limits on the amount you’re willing to spend each day, or a limit on how much you’re willing to pay per click or per thousand impressions, or both.

It’s possible to project Adwords cost by using the Google keyword tool and get a general idea of how much things will cost.

You can see if you will be able to get the results you’re hoping for with the amount you’re willing to spend, and if not, can find out what you need to spend.

It is easy to predict the amount you’ll spend each day, since you can post a maximum budget for daily spending after establishing the framework for costs.

After that, you’ll want to evaluate your keywords, adjust text, look at ad placements, and generally tweak your campaign in order to make the most of the program.

Using tools can add to your Adwords cost if you choose to utilize third party tools, but some of those may pay off for you by increasing revenue.

You’ll need to know enough about how your campaign is going and what it needs to improve so that you can evaluate what tools will best help you have a successful experience with your Adwords campaign.

Keeping a careful watch on your search parameters and keywords, controlling the amount you’re willing to pay and setting a daily budget can help you keep your Adwords cost under control.

Google’s Adsense program has been delivering targeted ads to web pages for some time and allowing those advertisers to promote products. This has generated a revenue machine that has added much power to the advertiser’s strategies. In addition, Google allows people who host these ads to share a percentage of the revenue when people click on the ads. It’s a win win deal – the advertiser gets a potential conversion, Google gets cash for it and the web site showing the ads attracts cash to its owner.

Adsense is a free program from Google that allows you to register an account and display relevant ads on your web page, blog, or on free article directories like Hubpages and Orble. These are targeted ads. That means the Adsense information in the Google box pertains to the products being sold on the web site or the information being conveyed.  This has extended to display mobile and video ads.

For example a web site selling real estate will have Adsense information ads on estate agent services, and other sites with similar information. These ads are paid for by the publisher to Google, and they are specifically targeting their niche areas. You get paid as part of the Adsense program as a way of saying thanks from the publisher for displaying the ad and providing traffic. Google knows that people react well to quality content as opposed to a search listing. Notices how descriptive the sales copy for the ads are on various Adsense enabled web pages.

Here’s an example of one:

Acting Jobs

10,000 new jobs adverts every month Find a job with Gumtree today!

www.gumtree.com

Notice how it uses content to sell the idea of the web site benefits. This is a form of copywriting, and publishers using Adsense make a lot of money from knowing their markets with ads like this one.

If you create a niche web site with Adsense ads and place links to the site in relevant directories and search engines, visitors will reach the site and may click the ads.  Give it a whirl. Go to https://www.google.com/adsense/ and create an account. Choose the type and style of ads that suit your content and products, and plug in some work advertising your site. If you already own a high traffic site that converts well, Adsense will be a nice lucrative extra! If your site is struggling to get traffic, Adsense will probably not do much for you yet. Get some help on SEO and choosing the right keywords for your content so that Google searchers find your site.

Don’t confuse Adsense with Adwords. Adwords allows people to make a purchase direct from the publisher using targeted keywords and baiting sales copy. Adsense using baiting sales copy allows you to earn from people clicking on the ad called impressions. This is good as Adsense connects you with people seeking information.  Adsense information ads can provide large amounts of extra cash.  It will expose your site further and increase your site ranking.

Have fun with your Adsense campaign.

If you work from home, chances are you already know that you’re really pulling “double duty”. You probably work on your business while doing the laundry, corralling the kids, or fixing dinner… and let’s not forget all the phone calls from family and friends expecting you to run errands or just “go out” for an afternoon of fun.

One of the hardest parts of running a home business is separating your work from your family and social life. Here are six proven ways to keep your home life running smoothly while keeping your business on track.

1. First, create a work schedule and stick with it. It may be tempting to answer personal calls during the day or take business calls after-hours, but doing this actually shows that you’re expendable – not dependable – and people will take for granted that you’ll “always be there” for any little things that come up. Even though family comes first, stay true to your business hours and resist the urge to chat with friends or pick up groceries during working hours.

2. Your friends may consider “working from home” an invitation to chat during the day or just go out for coffee or shopping for an afternoon. Make it clear that your business hours are just that – for business. Leave personal calls for after-hours, and you’ll find that your friends will gradually accept your schedule without feeling slighted.

3. Just because you have to set up a work schedule, doesn’t mean that you have to keep the same hours as everyone else. One of the benefits of working for yourself is setting your own hours to fit your most productive times. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you’ll find that you’ll get much more done when you’re attuned to your body’s own natural rhythms. Some people work in the morning, take a break in the afternoon when the kids are home from school, and work again in the evening. Schedule your work time when you feel the most productive and you’ll find that things get done easier, faster and better than when you were dragging along during those same rigid work hours that everyone else has.

4. If getting after-hours business calls or work day personal calls is a problem, it helps to have a separate business phone line, or at least an answering machine or voice mail, to take the incoming calls. This also gives your business a more professional appearance to clients than if you and your family make and receive calls from the same phone line.

5. If at all possible, try to separate your “home office” from the rest of your home. If you don’t have the luxury of a separate room, a room partition or screen can be just as helpful. This also serves as a visual cue to family that you’re working and shouldn’t be bothered.

6. Dress and act professionally while working. Some people find it helpful to dress in casual business attire during their working hours. This reinforces that just because you’re working from home doesn’t make you any less of a professional. Answer the phone with your name, or business name, and keep your children off the phone during business hours. Also, spend money investing in the tools you need to do your job right. A cell phone, fax machine or even a budget computer can help turn your home office into a true workspace.

If you follow all of these tips and stick with them, chances are you’ll find a routine that not only makes you feel productive and active in your business, but also projects the message that you mean business – literally!

Yeah, sure it’s easy, and of course, that title is a little tongue in cheek. It takes a lot of hard work to get a business off the ground. But, it’s worth every hour I’ve spent getting to where I am now.

When I decided to start my communication and image consulting business, I tried hard to find a good startup guide. I couldn’t find any that had all the steps. So, I decided to write one. So far, it’s mostly just the bare-bones outline (which is long enough as it is) you see in this article.

I’ll be adding to it every week or two, and writing more detailed articles on all the steps, so try to stop by and check it out from time to time. Let me know how I’m doing. Shoot off an email to me if I’ve forgotten something or you have questions.

Before you spend so much as a dollar, talk to a few experts.  Go to the library or get on the internet and research, research, research.  Take a little time to make sure entrepreneurship is right for you.

Make a pro and con list of business ownership, and evaluate yourself honestly.  How many characteristics do you have in common with successful entrepreneurs?  Is your financial position strong enough?  Do you have the necessary technical and management skills?

You’re not going to be the perfect entrepreneur.  Nobody is.  But in order to make yourself the best entrepreneur you can be, consider ways to compensate for any weaknesses you might have.

I’m from Canada, so the government agencies I’ve mentioned in this guide are Canadian, but really, it can be used by anyone. All you have to do, if you’re from somewhere other than Canada, is find out where you need to find some of the things I’ll talk about. Some of the steps might be slightly different, and you may not have to worry about things like GST for example, but I’m sure you’ll find this discussion helpful all the same.

These steps to starting a business are in reasonably good order, but you might find yourself varying from it under your particular circumstances. That really isn’t a big deal, as long as you get most of it done. There are some steps you’ll be able to skip as well, but please don’t skip any of the “big ones”, which I’m sure you’ll pretty much figure out from taking a look at the list.

So, assuming you’ve done your evaluation and you still want to start a business, take a deep breath, and let’s get started.

1.  Conduct a feasibility study of your business.  Describe your typical customer, your product and your competitors.  Who will your suppliers be?  What will you charge for your product?  How will you market your product?  These are just a few of the questions you need to answer.

2.  Write a complete business plan for your company, using the information you gathered from your feasibility study.  This vitally important, often overlooked step needs to include a description of your company, its goals, competitors, market, financial information, and of course, how you intend to meet your goals.

3.  Get your financing in place.  There are many ways to finance your business, from your own savings to personal credit cards to bank loans.  If you need credit, know your business plan from front to back and maybe even sideways.

4.  Decide what kind of structure your company will have.  From a legal standpoint, there are three basic choices, sole proprietorship, partnership and incorporation, each with advantages and disadvantages.

5.  Choose a name for your company and check on name availability. Naming your company is highly individual, but it’s the first thing associated with your business, so choose your name carefully.  You’ll need to do a NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) report, which checks your name choices for uniqueness against a database of other business names.  A reserved name is valid for 90 days.

6.  Decide whether you want to register federally or provincially and register your company.  If you register federally, you’ll also have to register provincially, which almost doubles the cost. You don’t have to have a lawyer process them for you, but it might be a good idea to at least consult with one.  You can get the forms from your local government office, have them faxed to you or download them.  You can fax or email printed copies, or complete the forms online

7.  Contact Canada Revenue Agency Business Window for your business number, and to register for GST/HST, payroll, corporate income tax and import/export (if applicable).  You can also contact the CRA if you need general information about business expenses.  Chances are you’ll have to collect GST, but you may want to register for a GST number even if you don’t have to collect it because of input tax credits.

8.  Decide whether you need to collect PST.  If you do, you need to submit “Registration as a Vendor” documents with your province.

9.  Determine whether there are special permits or licenses in your municipality.  It’s highly unlikely that your municipality does not have special permits or licenses.

10. Develop the marketing materials you decided on in your business plan.  They should include at least a company identity package, press kit and website.  Your identity package is your logo, business card and letterhead.  A press kit can include letters of introduction, biography sheets, press releases, articles and a brochure.  In today’s electronic age, printed materials aren’t enough.  You need a website that looks professional, matches your printed material and has great copy.  You’ll also want to make sure it’s optimized for search engines.

11. Set up your business bank account and record-keeping system.  Your banker will need to see your incorporation documents, and you should probably set up more than one account so you can keep track of your finances better.  Record-keeping is required, and can be done manually or with a computer program.

12. Purchase insurance.  There are many different types of insurance, but most probably your company will need at least one.  For example, if you’re going to have employees, you need to contact the Worker’s Compensation Board.  Depending on your type of business, you might want to contact them even if you don’t have employees to insure yourself.

13. Contact potential creditors and set up credit terms.  You should have researched suppliers when you were doing your feasibility study.  Now is the time to contact them.

14. Decide where your business will be located.   Lease your business’ space.  Alternatively, you could choose to start your business from home if it’s feasible.  There are advantages and disadvantages to starting your business from home.  You have tax write-offs for example, but sometimes your image suffers.

15. Purchase supplies and office equipment.  You’ll need too many things to list here, and of course, each business has different needs.  You might need a fax machine and printer.  You’ll probably need a computer.  You’ll definitely need paper, pens, pencils and a calculator.

Congratulations! Go out, buy yourself a bottle of champagne and celebrate. You’re about to embark on a most exciting journey. And may I be the first to wish you good luck and prosperous times in your business venture.

As promised, here’s my email address so you can ask questions, make comments or add steps to my list. Or, if you want, you could just drop me a line to let me know how your small business is doing. I’d really like to know.