Here we go. I said I was going to try offering work at home job ideas each week, and here I am. I’ll be covering not only various job ideas, but some of the common signs of scams for a particular idea. And of course most work at home jobs can also be done as home businesses if you want to find your own clients or customers.

Data Entry

Data entry is one of the most commonly searched for work at home positions, at least if the number of people I get asking about it is any indicator. Trouble is, it’s also one of the most scam-ridden.

Qualifications/Training Needed?

Your typical legitimate data entry position will be much concerned with how quickly and accurately you can enter data. A required typing speed of 40-55 words per minute is not unusual, and they may have expectations on how fast you can key data too.

Freelance positions can also be found. You can seek data entry jobs with local companies or check out freelance websites. In these cases you may not be formally tested, but you’ll have to prove your skills if you want to keep getting clients and improving your income.

Job Duties

Type in data from documents. These may be scanned documents, and are sometimes challenging to read. You are paid on production, but may be required to commit to a schedule or a certain number of hours weekly.

Equipment Needed

Computer with high speed internet is often required.

Where to Search for Jobs

Data entry job listings at Home with the Kids
Craigslist (beware of many, many scams!)
Elance
Guru
Hire My Mom
Go Freelance

Related Scams

As one of the more popular options for people just starting to research their work at home options, scams related to data entry abound. The skills needed for data entry are basic enough that many people feel they can handle it. Add in the uncertainty about what exactly data entry involves, and people get fooled easily.

The most common scam right now is probably telling you that filling out forms on Google is data entry. They’re really selling a pay per click affiliate marketing plan. That in itself is legitimate, but the way they present the information is extremely deceptive, as it’s not a job and pay per click marketing is very hard to learn for most people.

Not to mention that you may lose a lot of money while you try it. Better to go with legitimate sources if you want to learn any sort of affiliate marketing, such as The Super Affiliate Handbook or Perry Marshall’s Guide to Google AdWords. You’ll still most likely lose money on some campaigns, but at least these sources are upfront about this being a business, not a job.

The other version is related to the old envelope stuffing scheme. You pay for instructions on how to scam other people into sending you money to learn how to do the same thing.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many people who want to work at home start their search with something like data entry. It’s easy to understand why. Data entry work sounds nice and low skill, can be done on the computer by just about anyone, at any time of day, and with kids around. You don’t have to worry about noise.

No doubt the high appeal of data entry work is why there are so many scams in that area. It’s easy to fall for things that are too good to be true when you’re looking for the easy solution.

There’s a simple truth about legitimate work at home opportunities. They’re work. It may come easier for some than for others, but it’s still work.

Pick right and you’ll enjoy your work more, but an effort on your part is still required.

So what can you do aside from data entry if you don’t think you have any work at home skills, need a flexible schedule and can’t count on a quiet household? Are you just out of luck?

Fortunately, no.

Mostly that’s because most people don’t realize how many skills they do have. If you have office skills, for example, you may be able to find work as a virtual assistant. If you have transportation you might try mystery shopping, although it can be hard to earn a good living until you have a lot of experience in that field.

There are jobs where you can do research online, or where you can look up court documents in your area. There are writing jobs for those with excellent writing skills.

In all cases you want to watch out for scams. They’re out there in spades. If any job sounds good to you, check out the company. Ask on forums about them. Search the company name on your favorite search engine with the word “scam” and see what comes up. Take some time to think about it. Really understand what it is you are getting paid for.

And learn what the common scams are in different work at home industries. There are common signs that will help you to keep on the right path. But…

You don’t want to limit yourself to just work at home jobs.

That’s not quite true. You might want to limit yourself to work at home jobs. Many people simply cannot picture themselves running a home business. You’re limiting your options when you do that, but that’s a choice you make.

But thinking about a home business means opening your options up tremendously. It’s not all direct sales and daycare… although those aren’t bad options at all if they’re what you will enjoy doing!

Considering a home business means opening yourself up to risk. You might fail. You might lose money.

Then again, you might make more money than you would have with a job. You might end up doing something you really, really love.

In a home business you have the control. You decide what you do. You learn how to do it. You decide when you do it.

If you don’t work hard at a business, of course, it probably won’t go anywhere and won’t be more than a hobby.

But consider! You can blog about your life. Start an affiliate site about your favorite hobby. Sell crafts you make. Work as a website designer or other professional.

While you still have to learn about scams when you start a home business, especially if you join an opportunity, you have much more control over what happens.

Much of my own online success has come from continuing hard work. Shortcuts has nothing to do with it. Low standards have nothing to do with it. Demanding a lot from myself does.

You can do likewise when you decide to work from home, especially if you don’t limit yourself by thinking you don’t have the skills to succeed. These can be learned, even if you don’t get them on the first try.