Here’s eight start up and operational tips to help you make a success of your home based business.

1. Have a separate telephone line for your business.

2. Have an answering machine answering all calls when you’re unavailable.

3. Make sure you have a fax machine for quick paper communication between yourself and your clients.

4. Get a photocopier. You’ll be surprised how often you use it and how much more effient it makes you.

5. Appearances sake - your office, your stationary, your attire should always be top notch.

6. Know it all. Read, study and research to stay abreast of current issues related to your industry.

7. Make your business name stick. Choose a name that is catchy, but descriptive.

8. Write a plan and follow it. Short term and long term goals and how you will achieve each.

Online Business Etiquette

In business, even an online business, it is people that will make or break you. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is just a means of maximising your business potential through common courtesies and respect. Online business etiquette is all about building relationships with people through print.

Truly it is all about communication. Communicate correctly to your chosen audience and trust develops.

Online business etiquette revolves around two principles.

Thoughtful consideration of the interests and feelings of your readers and minimising mis-understandings. Both are dependent upon how you present yourself with the written word.

Online business etiquette will vary based on markets, audiences and websites.

The best rule of thumb before you communicate on a blog or forum is to spend some time reading other posts or articles on that site and govern yourself accordingly - follow along and play by the rules - people who read what you have to say will instantly feel as though they know you. At that point trust and rapport is built.

Online Personality Behaviour

Your mannerisms and reactions speak volumes about you. If you come across as pompous, aggressive, rude, or unpleasant you’re not likely to have too many followers or friends. Of course a chosen few can pull this off - but they are highly educated, straight-shooting types - if this isn’t your natural persona, don’t attempt to adopt it online.

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

A reputation for delivering what you say will deliver goes an extended way in the online business world. Having a reputation of integrity and honesty will carry you far in your online marketing efforts.

Be Diplomatic

Whatever you write online has a long-lasting effect, so choose your words wisely. Avoiding thoughtless words will protect you from negative results. To achieve online business success remember to consider the interests of those who will read your words and wounded feelings generally have repercussions.

Looking for some free advertising for your small or home based business?

Here’s a few ways to use the media to get attention for your business in your community.

The media can be an enormous help to your home based business.

This post aims to show you why and how,and how to start building a relationship with your local media (newspaper, television, radio, etc.)

When you first begin your business, let the local newspaper know by sending them a press release about your new work-at-home business. Almost all newspapers have a business section, no matter how small. In small community papers it doesn’t hurt to give the paper a call, talk to them about your press release and ask how they’d like to receive the information. This also applies to the larger newspapers, but it may require more effort to reach the person in charge of business press releases.

After start up, keep the media informed of your business activities, especially when your business is doing something favorable for the community. Newspapers and radio stations love to get local ‘feel-good’ stories and it’s free press time for you! Again, you’ll need to research the matter to determine the right person to send the information to and what format they prefer.

Another option for free press time are in magazines. Highly targeted advertsing for just a little of your time. Are there trade magazines in the area of your business expertise? If so, try submitting a specialized article (not about your business, but an informative article that relates to your business specialty). If the magazine publishes your article or story, you’ll have free publicity and advertising for months to come.

Click here for some inexpensive, super slick software to submit your announcements to the press.

Your home based business will need a name sooner or later, even if you are planning on positioning yourself as an expert (therefore your own name will on everyone’s lips), you should still have a registered business name from which to operate.

The trouble most of us have however is choosing the right name.

Your home based business name should be descriptive, and flow well with a tag line.

I’ll try to provide some examples in a future post, but I’m sure you know what I’m getting at…something that flows off the lips and let’s people know exactly what your business is all about.

In past businesses I’ve verbally surveyed friends and potential clients on a few business names before I go to the registration office. And, a few times I’ve been surprised by their reactions and comments. Collaboration lends differing perspectives - invaluable tips that could make a big difference to the success of your company.

One of the first steps to deciding what type of business to run from home, especially if you are in a small community and will rely on locals for your income is to carry out a little market research.

You need to know, first-hand, how many people in your area will be interested in your product or service.

This is known as defining your market.

If after a little investigative research, talking about your idea with as many people or business owners as possible, you will get a feel for whether your home based business idea will be successful or not.

Often, during this market research stage, the home based business idea or plan will change to suit the community and give it a stronger chance at success.

Once you’ve spent some time at collaborating your business idea around town, draft up a business plan that outlines all areas of revenue for the business, your business mandate and mission statement, advertising and marketing ideas, production costs, start up costs, employee needs (if any), and a time schedule.

When the plan is laid out on paper you are able to look more objectively at your business idea, instead of emotionally, and correct or tweak any obvious faults.

Assuming then, that you have your market defined and well targeted, you have all your costs outlined and your time itemized, the next step is to set your project in motion.

Online Business Start Ups - Helping Others

Do you remember your first online business? You probably had questions and problems along the way and wished that someone would help you make sense out of this new world.

Perhaps, if you could have afforded a mentor, or knew of one you could trust, you might have signed up for an online business course.

But with all the talk you heard back then of scams and people out to steal your credit card information, you likely just muddled through and made a success of yourself anyway - with lots of bumps and bruises to talk about later!

Remember those days the next time you a start up online business owner sends you an email asking for help and advice. Remember how you felt back then and try to answer their questions and solve their online business problems.

If you don’t know the answer they’re looking for, try point them in the direction of another online business owner you trust.

Why would you go to all this trouble when you’re busy enough trying to run your own business?

Because it makes good online business sense.

Consider these points:

• One day you’ll be able to see their progress and know that you had a part in their start up success.
• They might one day become your business or joint venture partner - often a very lucrative way to do business online.
• Helping others looks good on you.
• You’ll be making a name for yourself in the industry.
• You may get a testimonial or endorsement for your time.
• They will likely repay you once they’re successful by becoming a customer.

There are probably many more benefits from assisting a new online business owner. I’m sure you can think up a few of your own or leave a note on how helping another, helped you.