If you’re a stay-at-home-mom who also wants to work without being away from your children, starting an online business may be your ticket to financial success.
However, this takes effort and dedication, as well as several other considerations you need to think about before you can build a successful online business.
1. The Time Commitment
Depending on the type of business model you choose, the time commitment will vary – however, you are going to have to dedicate a block of time during your day to focus on the business. When caring for children, finding free time can seem impossible, but this is why you must take any free time available to you.
For example, you can put in work time during your child’s afternoon nap, or while they’re watching television or doing homework. Alternatively, you can get up an hour earlier each morning and dedicate that time to your work before the rest of your family wakes up. No matter how much time you have to dedicate to your online business, it’s important that are you consistent and take the time wherever you can find it.
2. Pick Your Passion
Before starting an online business, it’s important to think about the things you have a passion for. It’s too easy to get burned out and give up if you choose something that doesn’t interest you. Whether you start a blog, sell a product or any other type of online business, you need to make sure it’s about something you love.
Even choosing a subject you’re passionate about can be tiring and frustrating. Running an online business isn’t easy, but if you choose something you love you are much more likely to stick with it during the tough times. Bottom line: if it’s something you can envision yourself doing every day, it’s a great idea.
3. Determine Your Target Audience
Even if you’ve already figured out what type of online business you’d like to run, you need to figure out who your target audience will be. Who are you targeting? Is it a specific group of people (i.e., women ages 25-50?) How big is your target audience?
Once you’ve determined your target audience, that will help you be able to craft a business plan with those demographics in mind. For example, let’s stay you want to start a parenting blog. Obviously, you’ll have a very focused target audience – parents! You’ll be able to tailor your content, advertisements and product reviews/giveaways to that specific demographic, making your online business much more successful.
One way to connect with your target audience is to get social. Identifying what niches might thrive on a platform like Pinterest is definitely something to consider.
4. Assess Your Skills
Once you have an idea for an online business, you need to assess your skills and see which areas need work. For example, many work-at-home-moms who decide to venture into the online business world aren’t always prepared for the technical side of things, such as when a website goes down or your newsletter isn’t getting to your e-mail subscribers.
If your business will require you to have a working knowledge of various skills you may not possess, figure out if you can delegate those tasks to other friends or family members interested in seeing you succeed, or learn them yourself! There are many free online tutorials that can help you learn the skills you need in order to succeed with your online business, but again, this will take a time commitment.
5. Interact With Customers
Whether you’re actively selling a product or monetizing a niche blog or website, it’s important to remember that your customers (and readers) are real people, with real faces behind that computer screen. If you want a successful online business, you need to make an effort to interact with your customer base.
If you operate a blog, this can be as simple as responding promptly to reader comments and inquiries. If you operate an online shop, good customer service (responding to e-mails and phone calls in a timely manner, for example) will ensure that you retain that customer. If you start a business simply to make money while neglecting the fact that your customers are real people and not just sales, you will find that you lose customers on a regular basis.
Building Your Business
Work-at-home-moms who desire to start an online business can definitely be successful, but it’s important to understand exactly what you’re getting into.
Building a successful business takes time, effort and skill, but if you pick something you are passionate about and dedicate time to your business, you can see real results and a lot of success.
Same goes for Stay-at-Home Dads, although, in my experience, we’re less likely to admit professionally that we’re primarily at home with the kids and knocking out great work during naps!
Good point Brandon, the headline should have read “How Work-at-Home-Parents…”
Great advice, even for us empty-nesting Nanas!!
Oh, all this is so true. I also think it helps to remember that sure, maybe we can “do whatever we want,” but that doesn’t mean we should, or that we can do ALL things we want, ALL the time. There are seasons for things.
So when I was starting my blog network, I had a newborn. I spent a looooot of time just sitting there when I was nursing, so I used that time to learn and research blog businesses. In the early baby stage, I was able to focus more on tweaking my design, getting lots of good content in, etc. Basically, the baby just sat there. I could lay some of that solid foundation.
But when I’ve got a toddler in the mix, I just don’t have as much time, so I stick to the basics—new posts, basically. No new business ventures, nothing major. There’s something about that stage when toddlers are in to everything and have no filter for what’s dangerous that makes me up on my feet a lot more. It’s not a long stage, but it’s a tiring one.
And when they pass that stage, then I have more time again. And it’s easier to focus a bit more on the business. And it’s all okay, because it goes so fast, and the days are long but the years are short. And for me, the kids come first, especially when they’re so young.
Great post, Brian!
Hey Tsh, thanks so much for taking the come by and comment.
I do think that planning and strategizing your time are critical elements as well when it comes to planning a work-at-home-mom (or dad) business. Even being smart with your time can be a huge boost to the success you see.
You’re proof in the pudding, as they say, that a mom can build a successful business. I mean, 5 “Simple” channels and going strong?
Tsh – I’m at home with a 14-mo old and a 2.5-year old and understand completely. 5-6:30 a.m. and about an hour midday when they’re both napping are the bulk of my work time now. Every so often, when I’m starting to get more backlogged than normal or promised dates are approaching too fast, I work it out with my wife or in-laws to give me a few hours on a Saturday at a coffee shop to knock out everything.
Speaking of… time to work!
Well. Every work from home entrepreneur can do the same regardless you are married with kid or not.
It’s the freedom that you can work any time from anywhere.
I agree with you on this Terence, but for this post I wanted to specifically encourage moms/women who want to work from home. As a husband of a someone who I’m trying to encourage to pursue her blog more (shameless plug for ShellyVentures), it made sense to angle it that way.
Yep. Organization, perseverance and creativity are some of the things you must have to succeed online. Sometimes you get desperate but when everything is being done as you describe, for sure that something good will come… Thanks for the advice! I really need it
I’m going to forward this one to my wife, Brian. This is timely, indeed.
Awesome Charles. Maybe print it out and put it under her pillow at night, as I hear osmosis is just as effective.
Hmmm, it’s a thought. LOL
Thank you Brian for writing this awesome article. I have been a work-at-home Mom for just about 10 years now. When I first started I wasn’t sure what direction to go in- so I just started out with 20 minutes a day and worked my way to where I am now. I can’t imagine going back to working for someone-so I encourage any ‘parent’ to pursue their online profession-only if it is very part-time to start!
You’re welcome Becky, and congrats on your success over the years. Imagine how hard it would have been 20 years ago, long before the internet was around. Networking, social media (or lack thereof) wouldn’t exist, and now we pretty much all take it for granted.
My girl is complaining about the situation she’s in: not being able to spend enough time with our baby. I’ll show her your article.
PS. You’ve changed the design of your blog again…
Heh, yes – I did a subtle update to the design about a week ago. Great eyes!
Hi Brian,
? I know there are several opportunities offered that supposedly teach you the basics and more but who to trust is overwhelming. Unfortunately , I’ve already fallen in that trap and invested quite a bit of my “cookie jar” funds into a program developed by someone who was/is doing very well in his own ventures but hasn’t delivered on our agreement.
Thank you. It these types of encouragements that keep me chipping away at my blogging project. Starting the blog was cathartic for me but for a while now I’ve been battling teaching myself WP and all of its possibilities and I do not feel like I’m making any progress and it’s very frustrating. Not to mention the fact that so many are understanding WP, content, SEO, analytics and all that fun stuff is extra frustrating. Do you have any recommendations for someone who is obviously a different type of learner and doesn’t have a husband that’s a WP genius
Any and all ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Honestly, if you have limited funds and want to learn WordPress I’d suggest going the trial and error route. I’m completely self-taught, and found that I learned more by trying to do it myself. If I ran into any issues, I simply Googled it and usually found a resolution to my problem.
Great stuff! I began working online while homeschooling my 3 daughters. What began as a way to teach ourselves web design led to our own web publishing business. I currently have 16 websites/blogs – all of which are fueled by coffee.
Lots of coffee.
Tips I’d give from the front lines are:
1. Pet blogs/websites make great niche sites. Even in hard times, people spend a great deal on their pets which translates to healthy affiliate checks.
2. Don’t get into anything you couldn’t talk for hours on end about. Been there, hated that.
3. Stand out! Don’t be afraid of putting up “yet another food blog” (or fashion blog, or wedding blog, etc.). There are SO many because they’re incredibly popular. Just put your own spin on it and stand out from everyone else. Vegetarian recipes and Healthy eating are huge right now.
4. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is this: Advertisers are drawn to professional-looking websites. The Genesis child themes have proven, literally, to be very valuable. If you want your blog to be more than just a hobby, you need your own domain name and you must have a professional-looking theme.
5. Never give up. Success does not happen overnight – far, far from it. It takes time and effort. I’ve seed so many people with so much promise give up just when they were about to break through.
Joi, I am looking for an “at-home/online” alternative to working outside the home 60+ hours. How do you decide what to do? I just don’t know where to start and even what I want to do. How did you get started and can money really be made this way?
Hi Brian. Great article!
I’m a work at home mum and I just love it. I love the freedom and the flexibility. And because I’m crazy about my work, having the office in my kitchen means it becomes an easy extension of my life.
I think you make a really important point about ensuring you’ve got access to the tools you need to work effectively. I rely on my website a lot. It’s build using the Studio Press Balance theme powered by Genesis. I love it’s professional look and easy functionality. And I’m very grateful that I found a techy lady (@magentaskyUK) to help me with that stuff (coding makes me shudder!) I’m a fierce believer that you have to overcome the risk of isolation that can overshadow you when you work at home, and ensure you surround yourself with people who can support your business into success.
Great stuff, Brian! Another thing I advise my clients to investigate, once they determine what they are passionate about, is to check out what sites are already online so they can carve a distinct niche that no one else is catering to and then go for it! You can be passionate about gift baskets but if yours are not any different than what is already online you are going to have a steeper and therefore more time consuming hill to climb!
That’s great advice Judith. Too many folks want to copy something that’s already been done – I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve received in our space about trying to do what ProBlogger or Copyblogger does. “I want a blog/theme exactly like those guys.”
I have been a serial entrepreneur since 1989 and built multiple 6-figure businesses working from a home office, while raising a child on my own.
It can definitely be done, but you do need help to look after your kids if they aren’t at school yet and they’re too old to stay put in a “bouncy chair.” At various times I relied on part-time babysitters, part-time daycare and summer programs (once my child was school aged), so I could have chunks of time to concentrate, go to meetings, or whatever.
But I always had more time to parent and be actively involved in my child’s day-to-day life than I would have been if I had been an employee. Plus, I got to teach through my actions what it’s like to run your own business and make money doing what you love.
Stopping by from Simple Mom’s latest edition of weekend reading. I am a mom to a three year old little boy and I am trying to figure out how to break into the online world. I already started my blog and I have a passion for organizing. I just get overwhelmed sometimes by those who have already “made it” and I often feel there is no way I can catch up. Deep down, I know I just need to jump in with both feet! Thanks for these wonderful tips!!
My biggest piece of advice… is to encourage you to do just what you said. “Deep down, I know I just need to jump in with both feet!”
Take a look at the organization blogs that are out there, or the ones you follow. Do they lack anything? Have any of them caused you to say “I just wish this blog did this.” If so, then you have your angle.
And thanks for stopping by, Alana!
Great post covering major considerations. Here’s another one – strategize to care for your health. It’s easy to get so excited starting something up that you pour yourself into it. However, success is built on marathons – not sprints. And your business (and your family) needs you to stay strong consistently and for the long term.
I’ve put together lots of resources for staying healthy while working at home at http://www.yourhealthyhomebiz.com.
Another thing to consider is how you can involve your children. I’ve had fits and starts in this area but it’s a wonderful way to outsource, get your kids interested in your business and help them develop skills. Sarah Cook provides fantastic advice for parents who want to help their children succeed in business – or get involved in the family business:
http://www.raisingceokids.com/
Done right your business can support your family life while your family life can support your business!
Hi, just stopping in from Tsh’s blog.
Great post, and good things to think about. I think I like many other “mommy bloggers” feel that same tug about not having a particular niche….feeling a little clueless how to make a moderately successful mommy blog into a business. For example, Tsh is a great teacher and the “Simple’s” all teach, train and how-to. I’m confused as to what to focus on and where to take it, though I’d really like to turn it into a business. I just don’t know what I’m selling! Does this make any sense? =) I’m currently thinking about going the ebook route, but I’m torn. I know there are a lot of money making mommy blogs out there, but those few seem more like anomaly’s than a guide to success. Well, it’s 12:37am where I’m at, so please forgive me for this bumbling reply!
Hey Grace – thanks for dropping by from Tsh’s blog!
If you are confused, or not sure which direction to go, I’d encourage you to think about the things you’re passionate about. Either as a mom, or as a person – what are the things in life you lost enjoy?
I’ve found that writing about things I don’t enjoy, usually results in failure. Motivation to keep writing when you’re not interested in a subject is tough to come by.
I truly adore this stuff that you wrote here about working at home. I gain some information and gets a lot of tips on how to be successful!
This is so inspiring! I love the way you write, so simple and direct… thanks for sharing!
This is a great blog! I am a stay a home mom who works from home so that I can be with my children, and I love it! I’m reading a book right now called “The Barefoot Executive” by Carrie Wilkerson and I think it would be great for those interested in the this same type of topic. If you go to her website, barefootexecutivebook.com, you can find out more about the book itself! These are great tips and I’ll be using some of these to tweek how I work from home. Besides this article, has anyone else read any great pieces (books, articles, etc.) on this topic?