Work from Home Writer Success: The Team

When you are a work from home writer, chances are you are a sole proprietor or at least the sole member of your business. After a while, however, the writer needs to do more writing and to branch out their business. Have you considered hiring a team?

Team member number one for work from home writer success: The professional house cleaner

If you work at home, does that mean you have to still clean your home? For me, it seems the professional thing to do to hire a house cleaner because I cannot seem to work and clean at home without one interfering with the other. Consult your local chamber of commerce, your yellow pages, and your friends for referrals. Often, a property management company or real estate agent can provide your best referral for this service.

You will immediately notice the difference in your time, especially if you are a work at home mom with children too young to help out around the house. Hiring a house cleaner will have a positive effect on your business because you will be able to focus on work.

However, administration tends to get in the way. This brings us to team member number two.

Team member number two for work from home writer success: The virtual assistant

Thanks to advancement in technology, you can have an assistant that works for you virtually, and I don't mean virtually in the "sort of" sense. An assistant will massively add to your effectiveness.

As assistant can serve many roles. When I worked as an assistant as a previous life, I was bookkeeper, administrative assistant, calendar manager, researcher, and editor. Therefore, this is what I looked for in an assistant. You may want to hire separately for an editor and a bookkeeper or accountant, but experienced professionals in this industry often provide all of these services.

If you hire an assistant to manage your calendar and appointments, keep track of and execute the collections process, research your copy and content, edit your copy and content, and generally help to take care of your business, you will notice that you will make more money and get more done.

A simple ad on Craigslist can help you find an assistant. If you are like I am, you will screen those who reply by asking for a certain word or phrase in the subject. For example, the middle paragraph of your ad may say "if you are serious about this position, include the word 'sock' in your subject line to let me know you read the entire job description". Then, just delete any emails you receive without sock in the subject line.

In your ad, talk about your business and its needs. Discuss payment, work schedule, and responsibilities. Mention that is a telecommuting/virtual position, and whether it is hourly, salary, or contract.

When you place the ad, you will get plenty of responses. Arrange for an interview with each prospective assistant. Doing this by phone or email is up to you. Just be prepared with what to look for and how to find it in an assistant.

(Also, if you don't like the term assistant, you can always replace it with office manager. Just remember to be very clear in your job description.)

So if you are looking for work from home writer success, consider forming a team. After all, the team is the model for success in most businesses, in one facet or another. Just remember, before you hire anyone, have duties and payment terms set in stone. Not actual stone, of course, but an employment contract. The basic employment contract can be formed with some information from the Internet, but still contact the IRS and add them to your team. Don't forget your employer identification number!

A work from home writer with a team is a writer with more billable hours, less "non-writing" duties, and more efficient! Get started on building your team today.

Takeaways

• Hiring a house cleaner alleviates stress.
• Hiring an assistant adds to your billable hours.
• Consult the IRS before hiring anyone.

**Did You Know? Most successful businesses are effective because they operate with a team. Won't you be successful with a team as well?**