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Benefits of Working from Home

Working from home or WFH is not a new concept. People providing consultancies and other services have been working from home for a long time, but due to the recent Corona Virus outbreak almost all the companies are following a WFH protocol to stay safe. Working from home is a great way to keep working without going through day-to-day hassles in life and earn sufficient money. There are many benefits of working from home, some of them are:

  • You can work according to your comfort. You can take a break whenever you want or spend some time in between with your kids and make their favourite snack.

  • You get to choose the work environment you are most comfortable in, you can play soft music or hardcore rock-n-roll while working on a project without disturbing anyone else.

  • You don't have to worry about staying in fashion. You can work in your informal clothes if you want.

  • You have your home as your personal office and don't need to share it with anyone during your work.

  • You can keep working and taking care of your house chores at the same time if you like.

  • All you need to do to work from home is to get up and start your work without having to go out and fight the traffic to get to your office.

  • You save tons of lunch money, car maintenance cost and buying new clothes every other month for office.

  • You can be with your sick husband or get your kids homework done while working from home, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee without having to get into a debate on the falling economy with the co-workers.

  • You get tax benefits, simply deduct your expenses and pay taxes on your net income.

  • You won't go through the burn-out phase while working from home. You can change your schedule and work from different locations to keep yourself focused.

Tips on Working Effectively from Home

Working from home has many advantages but there are some disadvantages too, if you want to keep yourself focused and complete your task without getting stuck in situations that might distract you, you need to know a few things before you opt working from home:

  • You should have a designated workplace for yourself in any corner of the house. It could be your bedroom and a small space where you can set up your work-table, computer and other supplies to start your work without being distracted by running kids or your dog in the house.

  • You should also invest in some quality technology. It won't cost too much to buy a laptop, a separate phone for official use and a comfortable chair. A good router is much needed to work from home and stay connected.

  • Office furniture is a must. A good, spacious table with drawers, an office chair, may be a book-shelf will help you get your job done easily and effectively.

  • You need to set realistic working hours for yourself. It is natural to get distracted with housework but find the perfect time slot when you are free and are able to give 100% of your time to your work.

  • Don't forget to write a to-do list and update it each morning to stay on schedule and finish the task within the deadline.

  • Always use a planner, it will help you to prioritise your work and make it easier for you.

  • You might end up sitting for long hours trying to get the work done. It is important to take small breaks and stretch during your work-hours. Exercise increases endorphin which will keep you happy and will improve your productivity. It will also help you to maintain your posture and avoid back aches.

  • Make sure to stay away from social media while you work. It is tempting to check you Facebook in between but it will distract you.

Great Jobs for Working from Home in India

If you are planning to start working from home but not sure as to what you can do and earn good money, then read on. We have compiled a list of things you can do from your home and become a professional, not to mention earn money while sitting at home.

Virtual Assistant

You can become a Virtual Assistant (VA). They are home-based professionals and offer their services to different companies and businesses. You just need to learn a few things and become a professional VA. Being a VA depends on your skills, learning abilities, experience and passion. You will have to become the best in what you do to be a good VA. Here is how you can become a Virtual Assistant:

  • Choose a niche – you need to figure who you wish to work for. Some VAs work with a variety of things but if you find a speciality it would be better. You can focus on being good at it and since you choose what you want to do it will be more satisfying for you.

  • You can make a website. There are thousands of people working as VAs and if you want to be competitive you need to have an online presence for people to know your skills. You should have a list of services, testimonials, reviews from your previous clients on your website. Making a website is easy and affordable; you can start with researching as to how to start with it.

  • You will have to promote your skills and for that you will need to be consistent. Don't expect positive results soon, you might have to invest a couple of months in doing so. You can start marketing your business through social media, networking, email marketing, blogging, lead generation, public speaking, print media, etc.

  • Once your cash flow increases you should start reinvesting some of it for expansion. You can participate in conferences, webinars, online courses, coaching sessions and learn new skills to improve yourself and cater better services to your clients.

It is one of the easiest ways of starting working from home. Find your passion and start working towards it.

Online Tutoring

If you like to teach then being an online tutor could be a great way for you to start working from home or you can take it up as an additional job after your working hours. People of all ages can start online tutoring. An average online tutor may earn ₹ 20,000.00 which may go up to ₹ 50,000.00 for experienced teachers.

All you need is a computer with a good quality web camera and an expertise in a specific subject to start online tutoring. There are many different online platforms which let you register and start working as an online tutor. You don't require a teaching degree as long as you know your subject well and have the ability to teach it with confidence. You can choose to start tutoring kids from elementary to high school. Start with setting up a free online tutoring profile. Get in touch with students and start your work.

The best part of starting as an online tutor is that you can teach students anywhere in the world right from your bedroom. You just have to invest in a computer, an internet connection, a microphone and a headset and you are all set to work when you feel like working and earn good money.

Freelance Content Writing

If you have a passion for writing and have the skill to write creatively then becoming a freelance content writer is a great way to start working from home. They are in high demand these days. The job of a content writer is to write for a company. You need to write good and appealing articles through researching. As a freelance writer you work as a self-employed and can work on your own time as long as you submit the work within the deadline. You can write on tons of different topics which depend on what the company requires.

If you are a writer at heart then this could be the best job for you however it does not provide you with a regular income or holidays, it all depends on the work you take up. The benefits of being a freelance content writer are that you don't need to sit behind a desk from 9 to 5. You can choose whom to work with and the topics you wish to write about. You get to choose your working hours and set up your own work environment, whatever sets you in a writing mood will do. It will enhance your creativity and knowledge.

For being a content writer you may need a bachelor's degree. Some of the companies might want you to have a degree in English, communications or creative writing. You might also need a degree on certain topics if you choose to write about them. You can start by enrolling yourself for some certificate courses to learn the necessary skills like grammar, sentence formation, etc.

If you plan to start as a freelance content writer you will have to figure out your passion which will help you choose your niche. You can start by positing a few articles or blogs on different pages to figure out how people react to your writing. The best way to become a good writer is to keep writing, write a few lines or a paragraph each day, it will help you improve your writing skills and learn new vocabulary. The most important thing is to not to give up. It may take some time to find your place in the writer's community, but you will get there.

Data Entry Agent

Another easy and profitable work from home job is to become a data entry agent. A data entry agent has to insert data from various sources into the company's computer. You should be able to work with a good amount of data which is quite sensitive and private. If you are working from home as a data entry agent you will get the data through the accounts of the company, they will inform you about how to work with it and what are your deliverables. You can work in your own time as long as you finish the work within the timeline.

To be a good data entry agent you need to be good in typing with a typing speed of around 50 – 80 wpm. You should be able to type with minimal grammatical and punctuation mistakes. If you can do this you can become a good data entry agent in no time.

The companies might require a high school certificate or equivalent from a data entry agent, but if you know your work well it becomes secondary. You should also know the data processing software or should be able to work in Microsoft Office or Excel spreadsheets. Other skills you should have to be a professional data entry agent are: you should be able to work independently, pay attention to details, be deadline oriented and self motivated.

There are tons of companies that hire data entry agents online but you need to know that a genuine company should not ask for any registration amount to hire you. Research about the company before you start working with them.

Translator

Being a translator is a good way for working from home. A translator is expected to translate written or spoken material into various languages. He should be able to translate the matter with proper meaning and context to be an effective translator. Most of the translators work from home but have strict deadlines to follow. It is a great work from home option that pays well.

For being a translator you need to have a bachelor's degree, you should know how to read and write at least two languages, have proper knowledge of grammar and be an expert in specific subjects. You should also be able to pay special attention to details and most importantly, work under pressure.

If you want to start as a translator you should begin with learning two languages, know the culture of the places the languages belong to and keep yourself updated as the slang and words change over time. You should be an excellent writer for which you can take up some creative writing courses or learn through networking with other translators. You should have a good vocabulary in both the languages and good research skills to find the best way to translate a matter perfectly

Video Editing

If you have a creative bone in you, you'll like being a video editor. It is a great work from home job which can be done quite easily. Video editors edit and compile raw footage into complete products. You have to work with camera dialogues, sound effects, some special effects, animation, etc. If you become a good video editor you can earn a good amount of money in a short time.

A video editor uses digital software to compile a video and makes it into a perfect video; you should be able to work technically and creatively to deliver a great video according to the client's need. Having a bachelor's degree in film production is an added advantage plus knowledge of working with different software like Adobe Suite is essential. You should have proper communication skills and should be able to comprehend your client's need to be the best in the field. People who are into digital media and are creative do very well in this field.

If you don't have a specific degree but have ample amount of experience in the field you can still do well in this industry. If you wish to start with video editing you can start by learning these skills and reaching out to people who already work in the field. There are many video editing jobs available in the market but not all of them are advertised, therefore good contacts can help you land jobs.

You should work on skills like knowledge of media production and communication, knowledge of computer operating systems, great verbal communication skills and knowledge of working on various software.

You should also be able to create a video with a clear story-line, digitally enhanced sound and picture quality, formatting footage to view online, etc. Learning these skills does not take too much time, as long as you're passionate about your work and willing to learn new things.

Blogger

If you are passionate about writing then another great work from home job is to become a blogger. You may come across many people who have been writing blogs for years but not making any money through it. However if you have what it takes to be a writer, if your writing attracts people and can increase the traffic on your blog, you can easily make money through it. People use things like affiliate marketing, Google Adsense and sponsored posts to monetise their blogs all the time.

So, what is a blog? A blog is like a journal where you post different contents to attract visitors. It is also a platform where you get to write about anything you want under the sun. The person who owns the blog is the blogger. You don't need any professional degree to become a blogger, you just have to be an extraordinary writer who can play with words. Blogging lets you share your knowledge and experience throughout the world. You can either write on a specific topic or on many different topics.

To start blogging you will have to pick a creative/descriptive name for your blog. Register your blog and obtain a host, you can customise your blog through templates available on the site and start writing. You can promote your blog by getting it online and hopefully start making money soon.

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Your Perseverance and Discipline Will be the Key to Success

Working from home will be an altogether new work experience for you in the beginning. Ultimately it will be your perseverance and discipline that will make a success of this career option. We hope you would have liked this BP Guide. Stay connected with us for more such engaging content.