While I was working on an article for the American Chronicle (not yet published) that talks about creating a business out of a hobby I came up with an interesting byproduct: potential hobby-to-business ideas.  Since I can’t use them in the article I decided to share them here.  Starting with…
Drawing/Art
The ability to draw is a talent.  Not everyone is that gifted.  Combine that with some pre-made blank note cards or postcards and you have a potential business!
Sewing
The ability to sew some cloth together and make something is a very …

Businesses network because they want to be found.  Unless they keep their presence up-to-date regularly they might also be sharing false information with potential customers!
Just having your profile out there on dozens of networks is not good enough.  You have to be active on each network too.  That is why it is important for all businesses to network smart instead of in bulk.  Smart networking will bring in new customers.  Bulk networking, while it will offer a lot of search hits for your business name, will only become outdated with …

I couldn’t tell you how much time I spend each week sending out interview requests, just to see if maybe the owner would be willing to answer a few questions about their products, business opportunity, or services.
Around 98% of the people who respond turn out to be some of the friendliest people I’ve e-met.  That is a lot of friendly, and they make the whole interview (by email, in my case) process a positive experience.
The last 2% are usually made up of people who have been burned a lot by …

Who would have thought a murder mystery party idea could turn into a possible business?  Apparently Rae Walaska of Port Orchard. She was right!
A recent article from the Kitsap Sun talks about Rae’s journey into mompreneurship, one gruesome party at a time.  With the mind of a writer and the heart of a horror fan, she is living proof that even the most unique ideas can easily become a profitable business.

How can you make that work for you?  Easy.
Put your own writing to the test.
Grab some paper and …

One of my favorite twitpals happens to be the Providence Social Media Examiner at examiner.com.  The moment I realized it, I was awestruck.  You couldn’t find a more suited writer to fit into that position.
That also inspired me to write this.
For over a year now I have found myself stopping in to examiner.com periodically.  I look at that “write for us” button and I consider clicking on it.
Examiner.com is filled with talented writers that talk about their “specialties",” from celebrities to business. Each person comes from their own location …

If starting a business is your area of interest then you should know that now is the time to get started.
While it is no surprise to me, a recent study from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation shows that the negative impact on business startups during a recession is slim.  Furthermore, many of the businesses featured in the 2009 Fortune 500 and 2008 Inc. lists are businesses that launched during a recession.
For those of you that launched your business when times were good and find yourself trying to stay afloat, …

Nearly everyone is familiar with the Herbalife health pills, the Tupperware bowls, the Mary Kay or Avon makeup, and the sex parties of Passion Parties.  Not only are they everywhere, some people have made a living off the products each company sells.  How?  Because each company hopes that you will sell their products for them.  They’re all direct sales opportunities.
Lately I have noticed a new trend in the direct selling that even took me by surprise: handbags.  Considering my own obsession with them, that was one opportunity I knew needed …

I don’t officially have a logo but what I do have has some color, that happens to match my theme, and offers a little tagline that describes what I do.  Because AngelaShupe.com is a collection of articles and blog postings by me, it works well with what the website is about.
My logo tells people, quite literally, that I am a work-at-home mom, a freelance writer, and a virtual assistant.  That is exactly what I want it to say.  However, this article isn’t about me.  We’re here to talk about you.
 
What …

To get inside the mind of mommy blogging, you need to know what it is.  The concept is pretty simple: mommy blogging is based around a mom who writes about her life as a parent.
This can involve the different aspects to dealing with children of any age, making choices from their perspective, or running a household.  If it involves children and family, there will be a mommy blogger who expands on that definition in her own way.  But that’s not what makes mommy blogs so attractive.  So, what does?
Like …

Photo Credit: scui3asteveo

This is a guest post by Christie Ingram
What do you think of when you think of the word "intern"? College students trying to get credit? A medical student? The true definition of intern is "a student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, at a trade or occupation in order to gain work experience." Interning is the perfect way for you to try out a "job", to make sure it is a good fit for you before you jump in with both feet.
I have been …