Aromatherapy is a healing art using the essential oils from plants and other aromatic compounds to help soothe the human mind and cure certain illnesses. You can do it at home with the help of essential oils, perfume and cosmetics. When it becomes a part of pharmacology, it is known as clinical aromatherapy (Aromacology).

Aromatherapy can be done through inhalation. By taking baths, massages and compresses, the essential oils can be absorbed by the skin. Through oral rinses and gargles, they can be absorbed through the mucous membranes. Ingestion is another method of aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy causes various therapeutic effects like the antiseptic effects, anesthetic effects, and psychological effects. Aromatherapy has its effects on the central nervous system and the metabolism. For home aromatherapy, you can blend neroli, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, nutmeg, and peppermints in the base oils and add a few drops of basil in that mixture. For bathing purposes, you can add oils like lavender, and rose to the water. Aromatherapy can heal depression, insomnia, acne, joint pains, stress, cough, and other types of diseases. For the skin, aromatherapy best solves acne and dry skin problems.

Aromatherapy helps to enhance the skin and makes it glow. It gives a pedicure and manicure effect, and prevents skin wrinkles. The common essential oils used for aromatherapy are sweet almond, avocado, cocoa butter, grape seed, jojoba, olive, peanut, rose hip, sesame, sunflower and more.

Creative business ideas using Aromatherapy

These are just a few ways you can create a homebased business using Aromatherapy:

• Affiliate Marketing ~ Design an information website that recommends other’s products, ebooks and courses in Aromatherapy
• Do a course if you don’t know much about Aromatherapy and then create your own products to sell
• Dropship or wholesale Aromatherapy products and sell from your own online store.

Do some research, find a unique niche or get creative a create your own unique niche. For example, you could create Aromatherapy gift baskets for:

• Healing Gift Baskets
• Pet Pamper Baskets

The possibilities are endless!

Recommended Books:

Aromatherapy ~ The Essential Guide

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

Becoming an Aromatherapist: How to Train and Equip Yourself for a Rewarding and Fulfilling Career (How to Books, Jobs & Careers)

Recommended Courses:

Online e-course with a professionally certified  member of the National Association of Aromatherapy with over 15 years of professional practice.

Many of your hobbies can be turned into business ideas that can make you money. As a digital photographer you can sell those beautiful photographs online. Here are some ways to do that.

Digital photography allows you to capture a variety of images in a variety of formats. For instance, remember when you used to visit the carnival or amusement park and they took those old-fashioned pictures of people? The pictures looked faded but that was simply a sepia tone. You can create the same effect on your digital camera when you edit a photo.

Stock photography is one of the best ways to break into the online digital photography market. You can sell your photos to others who need pictures for websites, newsletters, magazines and e-zines and other media. Surf the Web lately?  Many of the photos look the same. Your photos can add a new flavor to what is currently being offered. There is never any harm in seeing how your images will be perceived.

First, understand how the stock photography business works. On these sites, customers can purchase pictures or lease them for a certain amount of time. On some sites, photos are free to use when signing an agreement of use and including a link back to the site.

As a photographer, you will make more money if your photos are leased as opposed to being sold. The one time sale may net you some cash but the lease will provide a continuous source of income off of that one photograph. And, many people can pay to lease the photograph at one time. Through the leasing process, your work will be viewed by a large audience.

Start by researching current stock photography sites. Find one that offers the leasing option to customers and also has an easy-to-navigate site. Begin here and test the waters with your work.

Now, all you need to do is produce some quality work. Look at other stock photographs. What do they have in common? Are the pictures clear? Can you make out all of the features of the photo? At the least, your photographs need to be clear with the subjects in the foreground.

Another consideration is the type of digital photos you are trying to sell. More of the same that already exists won’t be received well. The stock photography companies are out to make money too. Don’t be afraid to try some new ideas for holiday photos or for everyday photos. They will let you know what does and does not sell.

In the meantime, create a website or blog with links to the stock photography sites featuring your work. This will send more people to view your photographs and may lead to other opportunities in the future.

Get a FREE report on how to turn your photos into cash.

 Going with a Direct Sales company is a great way to start a work at home business. Direct Sales companies offer stay at home mums an affordable way to start up their own business. There are very little costs involved. Normally a starter kit can be purchased for $100 to $200. Compare that with opening a regular store that will cost thousands. Some companies even offer the opportunity to earn a starter kit for free.

Working a Direct Sales business also means that you have flexibility in your work schedule and your income. You make all of the decisions on when you hold parties or demonstrations. Your income is directly proportionate to the efforts that you put into your business. The more demonstrations you book and the more new clients you meet, the more you will make. You’ll also receive support and encouragement from fellow consultants. Weekly sales meetings help keep you motivated and give you fresh ideas for your business. You will network with other consultants for support and praise. Your up line or recruiter will also provide you with lots of help as you get your business started.

To be successful in Direct Sales, you’ll need to have great people skills. The products are really second to your personality. Your presence and your customer service will be what sell your items. You’ll also need to be very organised. As an independent sales rep, you’ll be in charge of tracking your sales and paying the appropriate taxes. You’ll need to schedule your parties, shows or demonstrations and follow up with your customers in a timely manner.

Once you’ve decided that Direct Sales is right for you, its time to choose while Direct Sales company you want to work with. It’s recommended that you choose a company that offers product that you already like or have experience with. The best salespeople are those who are enthusiastic about their products. Trying to sell something that you don’t use yourself or that you aren’t that interested in will make you appear insincere to your customers.

Think about your Direct Sales company choice in the long term. This will be your business that you put your name on, and you will invest your time and money in. Research your options thoroughly and make sure that you sign up with a trusted company. Don’t feel pressured by a sponsor to sign right away. This is your decision and it is up to you whether or not you want to join.

Also, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Know everything that you can about the company before you sign up. Understand the commission structure, how products are sold and if there are any monthly minimums. Make sure you understand how much your starter pack will cost and what the kit includes. Will there be anything else you need to buy immediately? Will you need to buy inventory? Understand how ordering works and how the products get to the customers.

If you are really serious about an opportunity, jump online and see what other consultants have to say about the company. Find out what customers are saying about the company. If there is more bad than good being said about a company and its consultants, then that’s a huge red flag.

Now I knew that this lady had been working as an office assistant in a construction company. Her eyes lit up as I gently suggested that she explore working at home as a virtual assistant. Of course, she had a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s no joke to venture into a home business after years of employment.

Since this situation is becoming more and more common with the current economic downturn, I thought I’d share the questions my friend asked and some quick answers to them:

What is a virtual assistant?

A virtual assistant or VA is a self-employed, home-based entrepreneur who assists other businesses, often in administrative work. In other words, a VA is an office assistant who never has to step into her client’s office! In addition, most business owners have particular tasks that they will turn over to their virtual assistants, and these can go beyond basic office or business administration.

What skills do I need to become a VA?

The basic skills a VA needs are office and business administration skills. A VA also needs to be highly organised, communicate effectively and pay careful attention to detail. Some clients look for additional technical skills, such as writing, marketing, social media, blog or website maintenance, and multimedia production – even podcasting!

The skill set you’ll need as a VA depends on the type of clients you want to work with. Find out what they NEED and build your skills to respond effectively.

What kinds of work does a VA do?

VAs commonly do office-related stuff, such as:

• responding to emails
• making travel arrangements
• sending out faxes
• researching and compiling information
• business writing
• typing up notes or transcribing audios

In addition, VAs nowadays are often expected to:

• write and publish or schedule blog posts
• work with autoresponders
• rewrite private label rights content
• optimize a website for search engines
• create a slideshow presentation
• update websites
• set up social networking profiles/pages
• create videos and publish them online

Is being a VA a good option for Mums?

Oh yes! A lot of work at home Mums I know are VAs and they make good incomes from the comfort of their home, without having to leave their children in the care of others. Virtual assistance is a home business, which means it’s flexible. You decide how many hours a day you want to work, on which days, what type of work you want to do, and even whom you will work with.

On the other hand, if you have small children, remember that occasionally you will need to be on the phone or webchat with a client, supplier or other associate. In this case you’ll need somebody else looking after your small children so you can have some quiet and be able to focus on the call or chat.

How much money can I make as a VA?

The hourly rate of VAs depends on several factors. These include their skills and experience, whether they specialize in certain services or a particular industry, and any certifications they may have (those who are certified by recognized institutions charge higher fees). VA fees vary widely, ranging anywhere from around $15 to $70 per hour. So you can see, it’s entirely possible for a VA to make a full-time income working at home.

Ok, I’m interested. Where do I begin?

You can try and figure everything out yourself, of course. But better yet, get the guidance of experienced VAs who have successful virtual assistance businesses. Two such VAs are Jen Houck and Nell Taliercio who have a combined experience of over 5 years in virtual assistance. They share their success stories and step-by-step tips in the Just Add Sweat Guide To Becoming A Virtual Assistant.

The guide includes:

• an audio course on everything from setting up your VA business, to marketing your services and finding and keeping clients
• a workbook to get you into action
• 5 videos teaching essential Internet skills

…and more.

This is the guide that will get your VA business up and running in no time. Who knows? Becoming a virtual assistant may be the next perfect “job” for you.

But, there’s always the big but…. but what should you do? It’s going to take some time to search your soul and search around for the kind of work that best fits your lifestyle and desirous income. If your interests seem to have the common theme of food, here are some ideas:

Offer cooking classes

There are a lot of people who don’t know how to cook even the basics. Think new wives, bachelors, uni students, new mums, new immigrants to this country, and kids. Determine the interest levels and work out your classes on paper. You may also consider making your cooking classes digital and offering them for a price on the Internet.

Start a catering service

Catering services abound but you might be able to carve a niche for yourself by offering children’s birthday party fare, or strictly wine and desserts, or tea parties, etc.

Sell through home-hosted parties

What’s not to like? You get to demonstrate some cool cooking tools, whip up some delicious food, chat with people, and make money selling the cool cooking tools. The hard part is finding people who want to host the parties.

Offer kitchen organising services

Many people are at a loss as to how best to organize their kitchens. Their food cupboards are a mess and they can’t find anything, so they keep buying more of the same things. They have stuff sitting out on the counters because their cabinets aren’t efficient. Not only can you sell your organising services, you can sell roll out drawers, lazy susans, new cabinets, and/or all-in-one type gadgets.

Sell your own jams, chutneys, sauces, cookies, etc. at markets or by mail order

This might not be the way to make your millions in food, but it is certainly rewarding to know that others like and will buy your secret sauce. If family and friends rave about it and continuously ask you to make more, it may be worth trying to package and sell at your local craft show or farmer’s market.

Sell cookware and cookbooks from a website

There are plenty of cookbooks, cookware, and other cooking-related products that you can feature on a website. Write up some product review articles that point out the features of the products you’re selling.

Set up a recipe website and earn money through selling ads on your website

If you have a lot of recipes on your website it will increase the amount of viewing traffic. And the more visitors you get visiting your website, the more money you can make through selling ad space.

Sell gift baskets fruit baskets, wine and chocolate baskets, cheese and cracker baskets, etc.

Your marketing skills come into play here. You can put together some gorgeous baskets, but keep in mind that you need to find markets in which to sell them. Research is in order to find out what kind of baskets the people/corporations/hotels want.

Take some time to do the research on any of these ideas that may interest you. It’s got to have more going for it than your interest though, it has to be something that other people want and are willing to pay for.

It’s a method that some people use to make money in their spare time, but many people mistake it for a scam. In some cases, it is, but there are lots of perfectly viable opportunities out there that are legitimate. Let’s take a look at what mystery shoppers do, and how to find shopping opportunities that are on the up and up.

Mystery shoppers are customers hired by a company to shop undercover, sometimes in competitors’ stores, sometimes in their own franchises. They shop everywhere, pose as customers, and gather information about all sorts of areas, from cleanliness to quality of service. Mystery shoppers buy merchandise, make returns, ask questions and act just like regular shoppers, while making a lot of observations. After the shopping trip is over, the mystery shopper completes a report.

This is not a way to get paid for what you think about the experience; it’s more like a form of journalism, and your report form will contain mostly yes or no questions. Most mystery shoppers are actually hired by businesses to tell them about the experiences of customers in their own stores – things that a supervisor might not see. After all, we’re all on our best behavior in front of the boss. The information gathered by mystery shoppers can even be used to reward good employees.

There are all kinds of businesses that might use mystery shoppers, from banks to hotels, restaurants to spas. There are even government agencies that send out people who do a similar job to that of mystery shoppers, to find out how citizens are treated. Plenty of opportunities are available, and if you want to get involved, you’ll need to find a mystery shopping company. About two and a half million people are working in this position at the moment.

Of course, like any job opportunity, this kind of position has brought out some scammers, too. Look for companies that belong to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, which have to agree to certain ethical standards and be formally approved. Never pay any company to apply, or to get a “kit” of information that’ll supposedly help you get the job. Legitimate jobs are available for free.

If you see promises of high pay rates, it’s probably also a scam. Most mystery shoppers get paid around ten dollars per assignment, though complex assignments can be in the hundred dollar range. While you’re not likely to get rich doing this job, it is a way to make a little extra money, and have a lot of fun shopping.

Do you have a passion for scrapbooking or papercrafts?

Have you been thinking of ways to supplement your income?

Why not turn it into a scrapbooking business?

It could be a great way to turn your hobby into a profitable work at home business!

Of course, to really be a success with your scrapbooking business, you’re going to need to have a plan and know what you’re doing.

So let’s have a look at the steps you need to take to put this business into action.

First, you’re going to need to decide whether or not you want your hobby to be a business. It might not be immediately obvious why it would be a bad idea. However, when our hobbies turn into another kind of work, it can be hard to find ways to relax. Make sure that you’re ready to add in another job, and that scrapbooking will still be your passion after money gets involved.

Next, think about whether there’s a demand for your services. Do people comment on the quality of your memory pages and scrapbooks? Do they ask you what they should do with their own, or where to get the best supplies? If you’ve experienced this time after time, a home based business might be appropriate. It’s no fun to leave your photos sitting in a drawer, and people are realising that. You can help them make their dreams of a beautiful scrapbook come true.

Put together a portfolio of your best work, compiling the pages you’re proudest of. That way your prospective clients will have something to look at that’ll tell them what kind of quality you have to offer. Make sure you include only professional quality work. Don’t fill out a scrapbook portfolio with pieces that aren’t up to snuff. It won’t look good, even if they make the portfolio look a little thicker.

Start spreading the news! Now you’re ready to start looking for clients. You’ll need to let others know you have this business. Start by telling your family and friends, and encourage them to tell other people they know. Write an online press release, or have one written by a professional who knows the format. You can also submit this press release to local papers and in other areas in the community. Just a flyer at church, the grocery store, or in the craft store can do a lot too. After you develop a good client list, think about offering discounts for referrals.

The business can expand if you’re willing to not just offer scrapbooking services, but to teach others how to put together scrapbooks too. Set up a class and teach people in your community how to present their memories in an attractive way.

A scrapbooking business can be a lot of fun and you may make some extra money. Just remember to charge fairly for your time and materials so you don’t undercut yourself. If you approach things the right way, your scrapbooking business could really take off.