Working at Home on the Internet

Consultants on Retainer?

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 Do you ever wonder what to charge a customer for a bunch of small jobs that don’t really fit into a billing category? Answer questions small and large that help them through rough situations continually but you would feel guilty if you sent them a bill for each and every time you solve a problem.

I have thought about it long and hard.

I think I may have just come up with an answer that could work to the advantage of both the customer and your business in just such a senerio.

Go on Retainer

Why not, Lawyers do it with Big Corporations and Small Businesses all over the world. If there is a legal question that doesn’t involve any investigation and can be answered in a single sitting and is answered to the clients satisfaction, it’s covered by the retainer. If it is a lot more involved and involves casework or some court appearances then the client is charged depending on the type of case and how much work has to be done.

Reasons

I get calls from clients and customers every day with some small problem, but I still have to take the time to answer. Sometimes it takes a little investigation to find the answer to their questions, but it always takes time. And, as they say, Time is Money.

I’m not talking about the occasional question, but clients that need and want answers right away on a moments notice. Or the one’s who think that it is only one question, although it might take an hour or more to get the answer and they want it NOW.

Solution

Going on retainer for some clients seems like a viable alternative to either billing them for each small job or not billing them at all. If the customer/client wants you to be there front and center to help them with their problems right then and there and have priority statis, they should be willing to pay for it.

What do you think?

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You can always answer in comments if you want to expand on your answer.

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April 22nd, 2008 at 04:29pm | Posted by Joe | Attitude, Basics, Management | 2 reader remarks | Print This Post

How Often Do You Back-Up Important Information?

Many, many times I have professed the importance of Backing-up all your Important Information. Whether it be Blog, Website, Accounting Information or even your e-mail Address Book, you want and need that information for your Business.

When it is there for easy access, you have no problems, BUT when it’s NOT What Happens? You can’t do what you need to do, and in the case of an Online Business, you could be Out of Business.

So, I have a simple little question for you that could Make or Break your Online Business:

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

Be sure to Back-Up as often as necessary to maintain the momentum of your business. You won’t know how important something is until you don’t have it, trust me just read some of the related posts below.

January 12th, 2008 at 06:15am | Posted by Joe | Basics, Polls | 2 reader remarks | Print This Post

Do You Want to Start a Home Business on the Internet?

So, you want to work at home using your computer to make a living?

Probably not going to happen.

Unless…

• You have the Desire. You really, really want to make it happen. It doesn’t matter what genre you choose, whatever you are good at, but you have to WANT IT. It will take a lot of hard work to accomplish your objectives, just as in any business. If you are not committed to the success of your endeavour, you may as well give up before you start.
• You Create a Game Plan. This is supposed to be a business, so treat it like it is… Plan Ahead. You better have an idea of what you want to accomplish and how to get there. If you have no plan on how to get the business from one point to the next, there is no way to get there. You need a compass to get pointed in the right direction.
• You use the Best Equipment you can afford. Unless you have a Venture Capitalist or an Angel in the Outfield, you won’t be working with the state of the art computer, printer or even the fastest internet connection, but you need to make the best of what you have. Bear with it, it will get better.
• You get your Own Domain. If you want a presence and make a dent on the internet, you need to have a domain that says what you do from the beginning. Don’t experiment with one of the freebees that are out there and then decide to get something later. Do It NOW! It could end up costing you in the end when customers can’t find you. Getting a domain and a server to host it are fairly cheap.
• You start a Blog or a Website (or a combination of both) for your business. Through personal experience, at least in my niche, I have found that a combination works best. But, you need to decide what approach is best for your business. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Either way, you need something to reach your customers.
• You give your customers a way to reach you. Make sure you have a prominent link to an e-mail address to contact you at the very least. If you are using a Blog, be sure to leave comments open as well. Having a way for people to reach you, ask questions and get involved with you on a more personal level is very important. It’s a great way to build a reputation as a business that cares.

This is far from a comprehensive list of what you will need to start an online business, but I think it is a good starting point.

Can you add to the list of requirements to getting off the ground with a Home Based Business on the Internet?

January 9th, 2008 at 06:06am | Posted by Joe | Basics, Work at Home | 6 reader remarks | Print This Post