If you’re new to Internet marketing, you may not yet have everything you need for your home office. Many people find they work better after they have all of the things they need for their business. Productivity can really go up if your office is equipped properly – even if it’s nothing more than a laptop and convenient Internet connection.
A computer and Internet connection is the most obvious thing you’ll need. It doesn’t matter if your computer is a PC or Mac. Either will work just fine for your marketing efforts. Just keep in mind that most Internet marketing software is created for the PC, so if you have a Mac, you may need to make sure you can also run Windows programs on it by using a Windows emulator, or installing Windows on your Mac.
Your computer doesn’t have to be a high-end model unless you intend to do a lot of extreme graphics work or video editing. Most Internet marketing tasks can be accomplished well even on systems that are several years old.
You should probably have a high-speed Internet connection, but if you can’t get one, you can still work just fine. You might be slower, but you can still accomplish most tasks on a dialup connection.
A few things might be out of your reach on dialup. For example, you might not be able to do much video marketing if it takes you 12 hours to upload a single 10-minute video. But for the most part, you can do whatever you need to on dialup until your success takes off and you’re able to upgrade.
You’ll need a comfortable place to work, with an ergonomic chair. Most people find they’re most productive if they have a clean room with few distractions. Your work surface should be as clear of clutter as possible. Have folders ready for projects and a place to store and file your receipts and other things you print out.
You don’t have to have a separate office, but you’ll need to make sure you can have a little quiet space if you need it to work. If you live in a small apartment with a family, you may find it difficult to get any privacy, so a good set of noise-reducing headphones and a good white noise CD or MP3 can really help. White noise will help block a lot of bothersome noises, and will help you focus on your work. Music can also work, but it may be too distracting for some people.
Some marketers find it very helpful to have a small refrigerator and microwave in their office area. This way, you can easily grab food and drinks without breaking your focus too much. If you only have to walk three feet to grab a soda, your focus won’t be broken as much as it would be if you had to travel downstairs to the kitchen. But at the same time, it’s equally important to take some small breaks to relieve stress and maintain your sanity.
A fax machine and printer is a very good purchase. Many companies will require you to print and fax documents like a W-9 tax form. PayPal occasionally restricts accounts for various reasons, and then they often require you to fax certain documents to them in order to reactivate the account.
Having a fax machine can save you from having to travel to Office Depot or Kinkos while you’re panicking because your account is restricted during a big launch! Have a good planning and scheduling program, and keep your tasks well organized and documented so that you can achieve your goals easily.
