The following is a guest post by Hillary Thomas. If you would like to write for this blog, please check out the guidelines here.

With everyone in the entire world slowly coming out of a financial recession, it really pays to be frugal. Whether you are looking at going into affiliate marketing to make some extra income, or just keeping a watchful eye on your expenditure, you can really make a positive change to your income. With this in mind, here are 5 great ways to improve your income and make some serious headway with your savings…

1. Shop for the Cheapest Deals

There are literally hundreds of cheap deals out there just waiting to be found. Are you paying too much for your broadband or electricity? Then why not shop online and find the best deal available? At just a click of a mouse, it takes only a few minutes to save a good amount of money by comparison shopping and getting the best price available.

2. Leave Your Credit Card at Home

This may sound pretty obvious, but leaving your credit card at home and carrying money with you instead can save you a small fortune. It is easy to lose track on how much money you are spending when you put everything on your credit card. As a rule of thumb, I always make sure that I take out money in cash and leave my credit card at home, that way I know that if I spend too much I won’t be tempted to go into debt on my credit card.

3. Cut Travel Costs

If you travel with work, then it may be helpful for you to know that travel costs can be subtracted as company expenses come tax time. So, if your travel is part pleasure and part business, then just subtract the business part from your expenses and save.

4. Affiliate Marketing From Home

You’ve read previous posts by Alan on this subject, but it’s true that you can earn extra money from home. And maybe some day, eliminate that gas-hog of a drive to work every single day, saving you a ton of money. Affiliate marketing also brings flexible working hours. You don’t even need to have a unique product… you can just endorse someone else’s. Take a leaf out of the many successful affiliate marketers online today and earn a steady income.

5. Buy Raw Materials Online

I recently needed to buy some foam cushions and soft furnishings for my new home, but the prices quoted were highly expensive and out of my budget. With this in mind, I went online and bought the fabric materials needed in bulk and created some fabulous foam cushions and sofa coverings using my trusted sewing machine. Purchasing products wholesale can really save you a small fortune.

I hope this list was helpful. If you have any affiliate marketing ideas or ways to save money at home then feel free to add them to the list by leaving a comment below.

About the Author:

Hillary works from home and recently created a 1/25th scale model of the Royal Festival Halls, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the famous Hayward Gallery. She regularly enjoys reading blogs on frugality and personal finance.

With many countries gradually dragging themselves out of the financial recession (or still trying to), it seems that many of us business administration managers have become even more frugal with our business finances. With this in mind, businesses are taking note and tightening their purse strings.

So, if your business is struggling in the current economic climate, why not try some of these money-saving tips and see how much you could save. Below are 6 great money saving tips aimed at helping your business become even more frugal.

1. Credit Control Tips

Sadly, late payment of business debts is a serious problem facing many businesses in the UK. Whether your business is large or small in size, you have to take credit control seriously. So, stay on top of your finances by making sure your business debts are paid on time as you will incur an extra charge for any late payments!

2. Reduce Your Gas and Electricity Bills

When running a business it’s extremely important to keep a close eye on your expenses. Where can you save money? What costs could you cut? One of the simplest ways of cutting costs is by reducing your gas and electricity bills. Shop around online to find the best deals in your area and make sure you do your research before signing on the dotted line. There are loads of sites out there that help you find the cheapest business electricity deals, so keep your eyes peeled.

3. Waste Management

Many businesses don’t realise that the cost of dealing with your company waste can eat into your profits. Sending waste to landfills can be expensive and cost between 4-5% of your annual turnover. By minimising waste through recycling and reusing materials, businesses can make considerable savings year on year.  For example, there are companies available that will buy used oil from you so that they can produce bio-fuels. Alternatively, sell old equipment which you no longer use on Ebay.

4. Protect Your Business Against Employee Theft

Shockingly, a large amount of UK employees admit to stealing from their workplace. Although on many occasions, it’s usually a case of ‘borrowing’ a pen or a pad and forgetting to return it. Nonetheless, even such petty thefts of office stationary can add up to substantial amounts of money over a long period of time. However, in other circumstances office thefts can be far more serious and yet astoundingly common. A recent survey has reported that nearly a quarter of all employees have borrowed a laptop and never returned it. Secure your companies valuables by installing CCTV and provide storage facilities so that employees can safely lock away their laptops. Also make sure you keep track of all the laptops you give out.

5. Buy in Bulk

This one isn’t that hard to be honest. Instead of buying stationary, toilet paper and even coffee when required, simply buy in bulk! These are items which will be needed time after time. You will receive a substantial discount when buying in bulk and this should be done with all the materials you use on a regular basis.

6. Cheap Travel

Now I know first class is the best way to relax when travelling on a business trip, but why not use economy class? Not only will this slash hundreds of pounds or dollars off your ticket price, but it will also save you a small fortune. This also applies to travelling by train. If you’re wise then you’ll make sure that you book in advance. You can typically save between 40-50% on the overall cost of your ticket.

About the Author

Rahul Mistry helps people be more prudent with their finances.

The following is a guest post by Brendan Cruickshank. If you would like to write for this blog, please check out the writing guidelines here.

I’m amazed at the increasing number of job postings for freelance writers these days. While I’ve noticed this merely as an observer, albeit one who’s been working in job search and recruitment for many years, I thought I’d check to see what researchers are saying. Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, a compendium of descriptions of hundreds of jobs types, including information on education requirements, earnings, and job prospects over a 10-year period, agrees that the trend is real.

The official word is that between 2008 and 2018, employment for authors, writers and editors is projected to grow about 8%, about as fast as average. The Handbook says that an increasing number of writers today are freelancers. I bet that now, with the current economic recession, the number of freelancers is going to be even higher than BLS predicts. Budget woes are causing governments, businesses and organizations to tighten their belts, and one good way for them to save money is to contract out their writing needs.

So, you’re a freelance writer and you’re looking for jobs. What do you do? In part, it depends on what kind of writing you do, what the topic(s) are and who your markets – both the employer and the readers – are. These are all questions you’ll need to consider as you develop a marketing strategy for yourself. However, I’ve got some suggestions and strategies to help you, and they’re appropriate for any type of freelance writer

Using LinkedIn

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If not, you should spend time setting one up for yourself. As soon as you contact a perspective employer for work, it’s more and more likely that they’ll Google you to learn who you are and what you’ve done. LinkedIn profiles almost always come up on the first page (because the site is one of the most popular social networking sites), and it’s to your benefit to be there. Your LinkedIn profile will show that
you’re a professional and that you value communication.

You will need to create a well-written and complete profile, and then start seeking connections. The more people who have access to your LinkedIn page and can track your activity on the site, the more obvious you are. And, if you’re working from home – whether it be in the middle of the desert or on the 28th floor of a Manhattan apartment building – you’re likely alone. You need to find a way to remind people that you exist. Seek out
recommendations from colleagues, engage in group discussions, ask and answer questions, and demonstrate what you know and how well you write.

You can also use LinkedIn to research potential employers. Many companies and organizations have Company pages that identify staff members and their positions. Through your connections, you can gain access to people who may be looking for your writing services. With LinkedIn, you can play the networking game for all its worth!

Self-Branding

If you’ve set up a LinkedIn profile, you’ve already started the personal branding process, but there are additional ways to establish your presence. The first step is to figure out who you are, what you want to do and how you want to appear to others. Chances are you know a lot of this already, but it’s important to consider the image of yourself and your work that will best help you get freelance jobs. Do you want to market yourself as a specialist
in niche market – as an expert in nanotechnology, for instance – or as a generalist who understands science and technology, and who can communicate about latest trends?

Once you’ve determined this, there are an increasing number of tools you can use to project your image and brand. One is the tried and true resume, which you’ll want to spruce up to indicate your interest and experience pertaining to freelance writing. Next, set up a website for yourself, and include a description of who you are, your clients, writing samples, and testimonials about your work. Next, is a blog, which serves your branding
strategy, and more. See below. Finally, become active on a variety of social media websites, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and others. Project yourself so that people will get to know you and remember you.

Face-to-Face Networking

Getting out and talking to people is another of those tried and true methods of getting a job. That’s not to say that there are automatic or direct pay-offs for having coffee with someone, even if you’re the one paying for their Venti Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with whipped cream. What I mean is that the more you actually meet people in person, and communicate who you are, what you’re like, and what kind of writing you have done and
can do, the deeper the impression you’ll have on them. And, the more likely they’ll think of you when they or their colleagues have freelance writing needs.

Face-to-face conversations are more open, revealing and free form than written communications. They provide participants with opportunities to ask questions and respond directly to answers. And, you’ll also gain valuable non-verbal information from your interviewee. For instance, when querying someone about a potential employer, body language may indicate more than the words spoken. In general, a personal interaction is warmer, more memorable and more informative than a series of emails or phone calls (though, if you and the employer are physically distant, telephone or Skype are good alternatives).

Blogging

Since you’re reading this, you’re aware of the power and outreach of blogs. They’re excellent vehicles for demonstrating your interests and writing style, and bringing attention to your abilities. For a freelance writer, especially one who doesn’t have a lot of published work yet, blogs are an easy way for you to show off your stuff. You’ll need to write well: clearly, concisely and interestingly. That is, you’ll need to be articulate, using
proper grammar and punctuation, and be able to keep your readers’ attention. You want your audience to read all the way to the last word, and to beg you – on hands and knees, if possible – for more.

Finally, the nature of blogging is that you’re creating a continuing conversation – one that the blogger initiates and readers respond to. This means that you need to be diligent and dependable, establishing a publication schedule and keeping to it. In doing this, and in maintaining dialogue with your readers, you demonstrate that you are responsible and communicative, features which employers of freelance writers value as much as the writing itself.

Now go to it, and come back to let us know how it works! Best of luck.

About the Author: In his 8 years in the job search and recruiting industry, Brendan has served in senior client services roles with major sites like Juju.com and JobsInTheMoney.com. He has been regularly quoted on topics such as employment as well as jobs. His opinions have appeared in the Wall Street Journal and US News & World Report as well as other major publications.

The following is a guest post by Michael D. If you would like to write for this blog, please check out the guidelines here.

The internet is probably the most powerful tool ever for those wishing to work from home and be their own boss. What I love so much about the internet is that it doesn’t discriminate… you can be fat, ugly, have a speech impediment, or any other number of obstacles that would cause challenges in the “normal” work world. But none of those matter when it comes to making money on the internet… all that matters is how much work you put into your business!

And, if you’ve put a lot of work into your business and you’re now generating a satisfactory level of income, you may think it’s time to kick back and relax. Think again. If you only have one online business, you’re setting yourself up for failure… regardless of how successful that business may be. The key to sustaining your work from home career is to diversify your revenue streams.

Don’t Make the Same Mistake I Did

I am the founder of Credit Card Forum, which is one of the leading sites for credit card reviews on the net. Before the credit crash of 2008, business was going great for me. But, instead of using that as an opportunity to diversify my business, instead I did the opposite, and dedicated all my time to my credit card business.

You can probably guess what happened next… the “Great Recession” hit, and the credit markets basically froze. Many banks stopped marketing credit cards altogether. Some didn’t “officially” cease their advertising, but they were hardly approving any of the credit card applications coming in, so it was more or less the same. It was so bad that I remember one month where not a single commission was earned! Instead of making money off credit card reviews, ironically I was now staying afloat by raking up debt on my business credit cards!

And just like that, my work from home career was over, and I had to go back to working a 9-5. Fortunately, I only had to do that about half a year because during that time, I began to finally diversify my business into completely different niches. It worked out perfectly because I ended up being fired from that job, but at that point, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel with the new ventures I had started.

What I Would Have Done Differently

No matter what niche you work in, the bottom line is that every niche is prone to an earthquake. For my credit card business, it was the credit crunch. But, if you worked in the health supplements industry, for example, that earthquake could be changes in FDA laws governing the marketing of supplements. What I’m trying to say is no sector is risk-free, so diversity is a must in order to make it through the ups and downs.

When I say diversify, I want to be clear that I’m talking about choosing totally different niches. For example, credit cards and personal loans would definitely not qualify – they’re too closely related. I think that everyone that works from home on the internet should be in at least 3 or 4 completely different sectors.

Last but not least, I also think that at least one or two of your niches should be highly specific (think a niche within a niche). That way there will be less competition, and you will be more likely to maintain your slice of the pie, rather than get squeezed out by other sites down the road. In fact, if I were just getting started today, I might even choose micro-niches for all my businesses.

About the Author: Michael is the founder of Credit Card Forum. Today, he writes the reviews for the business credit cards on the site. He is also the founder of a few other online businesses (in completely different niches, of course).

The following is a guest post by Sebastian Brown. If you would like to guest post for this blog, please visit the Write For Us page to view the guidelines.

With unemployment rates reaching an all time high and many workers finding their old jobs obsolete, the need for a position in a recession proof industry is critical. When the economy is bad, even jobs that were lucrative at one point can become negatively impacted when consumers spend less money. However, there are several industries which are not effected by a downturn in the economy because the services that they provide are always needed.

Even in a bad economy, people will still become sick or injured and require care, which makes the medical industry virtually unaffected by a recession. While it is common knowledge that doctors and nurses make a steady income, many fail to realize there are many other positions available within the medical community that don’t require years of schooling. Obtaining a position as a medical billing specialist is one easy way to make good money in a bad economy as there is a high demand for these types of jobs.

Why Medical Billing is a Good Job for a Bad Economy

There are several good reasons to get into the medical billing field when the economy is bad. For one, it is an easy way to work in the medical field without having to go to medical school to become a doctor or nurse. While a career in medicine can be lucrative, it will take years of study and thousands of dollars in tuition. Instead, working in medical billing will require only an MBA, which is easy and affordable to obtain. You can sign up for distance learning programs and obtain your MBA online in the comfort of your own home.

Obtaining a Certificate of Completion in Medical Billing and Coding will help you to better comprehend the medical terms that doctors and nurses use so that you can relay this information to patients in a way that is easy to understand. In addition, you will learn valuable computer skills as understanding the latest billing technology is crucial to keeping up with an ever-changing work environment.

Working for Yourself

Medical billing experts can also forgo working in an office altogether and can choose to perform freelance services for a variety of clients. This makes it an ideal career choice for stay at home parents or individuals who prefer to be their own boss. As a freelance medical billing expert, you are the owner of your own small business, which can give you a new-found sense of independence. You get to set your own schedule and pick which clients you wish to work with. Freelance services can also be performed as a side job to supplement your existing income which is always helpful in a bad economy.

However, if you’d rather work in an office, medical billing is a flexible career path which gives you several options. You can work at a private practice or a hospital if you prefer to work in a smaller office that is closer to the medical field. Insurance companies also hire medical billing experts and are a good choice for people who prefer a larger office setting. You can expect to work either part-time or full-time in these types of office settings, with the opportunity for overtime by working nights and weekends.

As the medical industry continues to grow and reach new innovations, the demand for medical billing specialists will continue to rise, making it a good job choice for a bad economy. There is an unlimited amount of opportunity in medical billing with a variety of jobs to suit your economic needs and your personal working habits. Best of all, the career path is easy to get started with, and obtaining your certification will take a short time. Until doctors find a way to make it so patients no longer become sick or injured, there will always be a surplus of medical billing positions available.

About the Author: Sebastian Brown helps run and maintain Medicalbillingandcoding.org. Medical Billing is a quickly growing home-based career that offers stability and a lucrative income.

Register now! Free Call – June 23rd – 9 PM EST/6 PM PST

I know the economy has seen better days, but it’s very counter-productive if you just sit around and wait for things to get better. It’s important to take action to better your circumstances because they’re not going to get better on their own.

Here’s something that will truly change your life for the better (I hope), no matter what circumstance you may be in right now, but you have to take action.

A good friend of mine, Shannon Jaklic, is holding a teleseminar that will teach you how him and his wife, Kim, made $109,000 within 9 and a half weeks building a profitable business on the internet – Even in this tough economy.

This is the real deal, folks!

I was talking with Shannon on Facebook the other day, and he was telling me how him and his wife have a passion for sharing what they’ve learned over the past 3 years with other people. They didn’t come from wealthy families – They earned every cent they made.

Shannon had been working his butt off in the construction business, making $50,000 a year. Yeah… that’s some nice money, but he was also working 70 hours a week.

The money wasn’t worth the sacrifice of never seeing his family. I can’t blame him one bit for wanting out of that mess. There are just some things money can’t buy.

Long story short… Shannon and Kim realized they wanted to move in a different direction and get Shannon out of the construction business so that he could have more time with his family.

9 and a half weeks later, Shannon was able to quit his job.

Shannon and Kim have over 3 years of experience in network marketing and direct sales and have used what they learned to build multiple, successful online businesses, bringing in up to $50,000 per month.

No lie…

But this is where it gets really cool.

The teleseminar that Shannon and Kim are holding on June 23rd at 9pm EST is an informational call for entrepreneurial minded people looking to start or restart a business in today’s economy.

Within their 3 years of experience, they’ve learned some key components that are necessary to succeed in any online business, and also what you must avoid if you don’t want to fail. They’ll be sharing this information on the call.

You don’t want to miss it!

This is REAL advice… from REAL people who have a passion for helping others in these tough times.

This is about using a proven model and applying it to whatever business you want to create your own success and your own recession-proof future.

Shannon and Kim didn’t have any experience or skills when they started 3 years ago. So, if you think this stuff will be too complicated or over your head… relax, because this is exactly for people like you.

All you have to do is register for the live call and then prepare to be blown away June 23rd when things get kicked off at 9pm EST.

If you’re at all skeptical about this stuff… then just leave right now. This isn’t for the doubters and naysayers.

This also isn’t for the pouters. I’m not here to feel sorry for you, I’m here to help you, and I hope I can do that by getting you to sign up for the call. What you’ll learn will change your life.

This is for people who are willing to do whatever it takes to turn their financial situation around and create a positive and bright future.

Register for the FREE call now!

Making positive steps towards a better tomorrow will set yourself in the right direction from here on out.

Why wait for the economy to get better?

Create a better future starting today and sign up for the free teleseminar.

I’ll see you on the call.

An online friend of mine recently shared a report with me titled “The Brutal Truth About Internet Marketing.” Now, I already know most if not all the truths to be told about internet marketing and running an online business. But, I realize that there may be some of my readers that aren’t aware of the ugly tactics used in today’s world to scam honest hard-working people.

Have you ever been told?

“Make $5000 per day while you sleep.”

“You only need to spend 2-4 hrs a day to become an internet marketing success.”

If you’ve ever read something that truly made you think:

“I’m going to become rich overnight or in a short time doing almost nothing.”

I’m sure you’ve heard these phrases or have thought that getting rich was easy at some point. My inbox gets flooded with nonsense like that all the time.

This free report will debunk many of the common internet marketing myths and advise you on what to look out for if you’re serious about becoming an internet marketer or dreaming about making money online.

It’s a short 5 page report and can be read within 10 to 15 minutes. I highly recommend you grab your free copy before you fall victim to an internet marketing scam.

To get your copy just go to this page and fill in your first name and email address. You’ll have to confirm that you want to download the report, and then the download link will be emailed to you right away.

It’s refreshing to see stuff like this available because more and more people need to be aware of what’s going on. With the recession affecting so many people, there are many who are desperate to get money as quick as possible, and they’ll believe almost anything they hear to get it.

The sad part is that most of the time it’s just another trickster selling a bogus product that doesn’t help anyone to make any money online. They’re only making themselves money by taking your money.

A great example of what I mean can be found on JR’s Internet Marketing Strategies Blog, where he made the post Secret Shortcuts To Making Millions Online. Definitely worth the read so that you know what you should avoid.

This free report covers this topic as well as other pertinent information that is essential for anyone looking to get into internet marketing. Again, to download your free copy of  “The Brutal Truth About Internet Marketing,” just click here.

A while ago I had posted a question on the Warrior Forum about how to find a profitable niche. That question received some great responses, and I thought I’d share with you some ways you can find a profitable niche, even during the recession.

One thing I would just like to add is that it’s important to get into something that you have a personal interest in. There’s no point in creating a website in hopes of selling something if you have absolutely no interest in the products or idea.

For instance, I have an interest in video games. I have quite a few different gaming consoles, and I’ll every now and then take some time to play. Because of that, I decided to start a website related to the Nintendo video games niche.

I used some of the responses to my question to gauge exactly what niche I should go into. Here is some feedback (in my own words) of how to go about finding a profitable niche. And keep in mind… you want to make a profit here, otherwise it’s not worth it.

First, you want to find a “hungry” market. In other words, you want to find buyers for whatever it is you’re thinking of selling.

Once you find a hungry market, or niche, you need to gauge how much competition there is for that market. High competition isn’t always bad. That means there is money to be made. Too low of competition could mean there’s not a hungry market. But, that could also mean you have the chance to make some serious money due to the low competition and the need within that market. It requires some research, but more often than not, go after niches WITH competition.

So this brings the question… how do you go about finding a niche and also determining the amount of competition?

Here’s some strategies to find a hungry niche:

1. Search the term in Google, if there are a lot of advertisers at the right column of the results page, it’s likely a good one. These are ads that people are paying for.
2. Search on CBEngine.com. See what products are hot right now and what niche they’re in.
3. Search on Amazon.com. Check if there are books, CDs, etc. that sells to that niche.
4. If you’re looking to sell software, check Download.com, etc.
5. See if there are at least 3 forums in the niche you’re looking to get into.
6. Use Google Trends, eBay Pulse and Yahoo’s Top Searched to find out what people want.

Here’s some advice that would be very relevant to today’s economy. Find a lower priced niche that targets towards people’s needs more directly rather than expensive isolated niches.

How to determine the amount of competition…

I recommend reading How To: Evaluating Competition For New Site Niches as Dennis Edell posted an article by Donna Fontenot that provides some great insight on this very topic.

Also, use tools such as Google Keyword Tool and SpyFu to find out how many competitors you could be dealing with. If you’re focusing on specific keywords, do a simple search in Google and see how many websites show up for that keyword phrase.

Another tool I highly recommend is Detecting Online Commercial Intention: Audience Intelligence: adCenter Labs. This is to see if your particular keywords are profitability-oriented (example: people searching for “acne” want info. People searching for “acne cure” want a solution/product).

There’s a lot more I could share with you, but that should give you a pretty good start in finding a profitable niche you can use to make money on the internet.

If you want to fast-track your learning curve in finding a profitable niche and have all the hard work done for you, I recommend you check out the Niche Power Group.

Did you learn anything from this article? Is there anything you would like to add? I’d love to hear your feedback.