As we enter the information age and the world enters a global economy, more and more women today are turning to alternative ways to earn additional income. The old adage of “go to school, get good grades and get a safe secure job with benefits” may have worked in the industrial age of our parents and grandparents. However, relying on old age advice in a new age can be a recipe for financial disaster. What are you going to do if your job gets outsourced to another country? What if you are happily married to a loving husband with three wonderful children and God forbid, your husband dies unexpectedly. In an age where most households are a two income household, how are you going to provide for your children?

Some women make an incredible income and have a job in a very stable industry. However, they never have time to spend with their children. A mother’s worst nightmare is when your youngest child calls the babysitter “mommy” instead of her. It is for these and many other reasons why women are flocking to the work from home businesses and having massive home business success. Here are some examples of home business success stories of successful women who have made the transition to the home business industry.

In a recent issue of Home Business Connection magazine, we learn the story of Ms. Elizabeth Foo. A young, single and successful woman in her mid twenties, Liz had a very successful career as a top salesperson marketing gym memberships. With a six figure income in her twenties, you would think that Liz had the ultimate lifestyle. Unfortunately, that income came with a price and the price was working 6 days a week including nights and weekends with very little time to do anything else. By getting involved in a proven home business, she was able to make $40,000 part time her first year and over $100,000 full time her second year. She now not only enjoys home business success, an incredible income, but she actually has time to enjoy it and the income continues to come in whether she personally works or not.

Dani Johnson has an incredible story of the power of owning your own business. Getting started in the work from home industry, at the age of 19, she really struggled to have success, not making any money and going deeper into debt. However, after investing in herself and getting much needed training and development, she was able to go from being broke to becoming a home business success as the #1 producer in her work from home opportunity and earned her first million by the age of 23.

Margaret Tanaka was a highly successful producer at a public broadcasting station in Chicago, Illinois. However, she and her family were tired of the big city life and wanted to slow down. Of course, with a slower pace in life, her income took a huge hit as well. Prior to moving from Chicago, she got involved in a work from home business but didn’t do anything with it for 3 plus years. She finally made a decision to get started and work her business like a business. It’s a good thing she did that. Her husband unfortunately died at the age of 36. However, because of the time she invested into building her business she was able to take off completely, spend time with her son and still earn monthly checks that averaged $5000 a month.

There are many reasons why getting started in a work from home opportunity is often the right move for women. Success in this type of opportunity is usually based on effectively communicating your vision for what the business opportunity can do for people. Women, generally speaking are better communicators than men, which is one of the reasons why so many women are coming to this industry and are experiencing massive home business success.

Success in this type of opportunity is also based on building effective relationships, another trait that women tend to do a better job at then men. For example, one of the reasons why Margaret Tanaka decided to give her business opportunity another try is because her sponsor, also a successful woman distributor within the opportunity constantly followed up with her through letters and phone calls over the 3 plus year period that Margaret was inactive in the business. As you can see there are many home business success stories for women. The only question that remains is will you be the next one?

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is advertising and promoting a business through the use of digital media. This includes the Internet, cell phones, social media, and interactive television. Digital advertising is a diverse and growing field. As more consumers get access to the internet and various digital media, marketing products and services to this ready made audience is essential.

What kind of digital advertising jobs are available?

Depending on your interests and skills, you can find digital marketing opportunities with advertising and marketing agencies, large businesses that have their own web or marketing division, and smaller businesses that need technical support that can “do it all”. Once you have acquired digital advertising skills you can even start your own business, and create marketing plans for businesses and individuals.

What type of training is required to become a digital marketing professional?

There are two ways to get involved with digital advertising. You can:

- Be a marketing or advertising professional already, and learn the skills required to promote your clients or business through digital media.

- Go to school specifically to learn about computers and digital promotion

If you are interested in a career in digital marketing, you will need to complete some training. Courses are offered in a wide range of formats. If you are currently a student, you can pick up a class or two in digital marketing right on campus. If you are already employed, consider an online course or a work at home program, so you can enhance your skills, but still have time for your existing job.

You can target specific fields in digital marketing. If you enjoy creating ads, consider learning about video, flash, and CGI techniques, to build compelling ads that customers respond to. If you prefer writing, enroll in some courses designed to help you learn how to write ads to increase customer response, and in turn revenue for your business.

No matter what your area of interest, be sure that any school or program you are attending is accredited, and can provide you with the correct certification for your field. While the knowledge you gain is important, some positions and employers require certification as proof of your training, so you will need to be sure you are able to provide it when needed.

How do I find a job as a digital marketing professional?

If you are enrolled in school full time, start searching for a job in your last semester. Check with your university to see if they offer any paid or unpaid internships-these are often a great gateway to a full time, permanent position.

If you are currently employed, look for a digital marketing position in your own company. Make sure your employer is away of your skills, and let them know you are ready to apply what you have learned when an opening becomes available. You should also check with the school that you did your training with, to see if they have a placement department or program. Make sure you check the major job search sites online and your local newspaper as well, so you can be aware of what positions are available to you. Don’t forget to update your resume to reflect your new skills.

If you enjoy working with computers, and learning about new technology, then a course of study to become a digital marketing professional might be for you.

Just a couple of years ago, if you are in the business of flipping houses, it would have been near impossible to find great properties that you can buy and sell off quickly. Flipping houses is not a new business model. Many investors and real estate brokers have been involved in flipping houses to make a quick profit. In brief, here is how it works.

In order for this business model to work, you must first find a property that you know you can sell off quickly at a profit. How do you do that? You can do so when you have your key metrics at your finger tips. The key metrics are: market value of the property, the asking price of the property, and the potential selling price of the property. Let’s take a look at each metric, and see how they come together to help you make the right decision.

1) The market value of the house.

Every house has a market value. The market value of a property is the dollar value of similar properties in the area. Not everybody knows the market value of a house. Sometimes, even the homeowners are not aware of the market value of their own homes. That’s because they are not in the real estate industry, and they do not follow property trends. You can easily ascertain the market value of a property by having a qualified valuer value the house. Even without a proper valuation, you should have a good idea of how much the house is worth.

2) Asking price of the property.

When times are good, demand for property is high. Therefore, the asking price during such times may even be higher than the actual valuation. That’s why it is difficult to find great deals while the economy is booming. It is not impossible though. It just takes more time and effort.

However, during a downturn, jobs are lost, and many homeowners may be forced to sell their properties at low prices just to meet their financial obligations. Now is the time to grab as many bargains as you possibly can.

Of course, as you acquire the properties, you should always keep in mind that since it’s the downturn, there may be a lack of buyers. If you really want to flip houses in 2009, then you must be confident of the third point.

3) The potential selling price of the property.

This is what separates the professionals from the amateurs. The professionals already have a ready pool of customers. They are likely to be in the real estate business longer than most people, and they have a wide network of contacts. When they buy a property, it’s very likely that they already know the potential selling price of the property. In other words, they have a few ready buyers in mind.

This helps to minimize risks. The pros are confident that they can flip the houses and make a quick profit. The amateurs may just buy, and hope to sell off quickly. When that doesn’t happen, they get stuck with the property, and run into cash flow problems.

If you are serious about flipping houses, be sure to learn as much as you can about this trade.