Hi everyome!

I am currently out of the country on vacation. Posts will resume on July 25th. Thank you for your patience and have a great week!

For most home business owners marketing is far from a favorite chore. However, for a business to be successful it has to be done. Here are a few tips to make it a little less painful!

Do join forums and discussion lists related to your business area. This is a great way to network and promote your business. Make sure to put a link to your business website in your signature and use it on every post you make.

Don't spam! Unless a particular site or list allows it, don't post ads for your business on them. Let your sig do the talking and make your posts interested and relevant to the topic at hand.

Do have a professional looking website. These days a website is an invaluable marketing tool. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it should look professional. Stay away from the free website services that plaster your site with ads. Purchase your own domain name and a webhosting service. Neither are very expensive. When designing it, keep it simple. Flashing text, animated gifs, music and the like will just drive potential customers away.

Don't let your resume get dusty. No matter how successful your business it, it's always a good idea to keep your resume and if applicable, portfolio up to date. You never know when a potential client may ask to see it!

Do invest in nice looking business cards. Do it yourself cards are easy and inexpensive but the fuzzy edges scream amateur. Instead, order them from your local printer or a service like Vistaprint or Overnight Prints. Both offer high quality cards at great prices. Vistaprint often offers deals such as 250 cards for free. Business cards are still valuable marketing and networking tools-don't skimp on them!

Don't be afraid of cold calling. It's no fun and we all hate it, but it's still an effective marketing tool. Just be polite and professional-and if you are nervous rehearse ahead of time with a friend.

Do make time in your weekly schedule to do some marketing. You won't regret it!

Summer is in full swing, and if you are like most folks, it's also vacation time. Here are some tips to prepare your business for your richly deserved time off:

Do give your clients plenty of notice. They will appreciate it, and your professionalism. Even if you plan to be available via email through your Blackberry, smartphone, or laptop, let them know.

Don't leave without backing up your work. You never know what might happen while you're away, and it only takes one storm or power surge to wreck havoc. Make backups before you go and store them in a safe place.

Do unplug your computer and other equipment before you leave. If there is a power outage, doing so will protect them from the power surge that can occur when power is restored.

Don't use an autoresponder carelessly. Many people use one of these, which sends a canned "Out of Office" message in reply to any email sent to you. This is fine if you only get emails from your clients, but if you're on any mailing lists, your autoresponder can cause serious problems. It's better to set any mailing lists you're on to "No Mail".

Do have a backup plan. If you have a service business, try and have a colleague available to help any of your clients who may experience an emergency while you're gone. This gives your clients added peace of mind.

Do enjoy your vacation! As tempting as it is to grab your laptop or Blackberry and check your emails regularly, try and resist the urge. Your customers and your business will be just fine. Relax and have some fun!

Here is an outstanding video on how to tell if that company offering that great work at home opportunity is legit or not-sadly most of them are scams. The best way to fight back is to educate yourself-watch and learn!

Here is a terrific article from the Hartford Courant about working from home. It offers some great information, stats and tips. For example did you know that the ratio of scams to legitimate work at home job ads on the internet is a whopping 48 to 1? It also makes a very good point-if an ad's main focus is on the work at home part rather than the job part, something's wrong. Check it out and share your thoughts here!

Happy 4th to all our American readers! Take a minute away from the fireworks, food and fun and give thanks for the freedoms you enjoy thanks to the brave men who fought for our independence all those years ago, and to the ones who continue to defend this great country! This is a great country to live in, and the 4th is a wonderful summer holiday, but don't forget that freedom doesn't come without a high cost.

I love this video...not only is it full of great ideas for the home office, but it's great to just look at...I wish I had that kind of office-it's gorgeous! I wonder how long it stayed that way though?