Keeping Safe When You Work From Home
Missy Ward
· Issue 24 · October 2013
by Missy Ward
W
ith so many affiliate marketers working from home, home office safety should be on the top of our list of things we should be thinking about.
Here are six tips that will help keep you safe when work-
ing from home:
relax your guard when you hear the doorbell. No mat-
» Get to know the neighbors. With so many people
ter how safe your neighborhood is, you need to always
working from home, it’s highly likely that one of your
check carefully before you open the door to anyone,
neighbors also works from home during the day. Take
particularly when you are home alone.
some time to introduce yourself to your neighbors, if
» Don’t hold meetings at home. This might seem
you haven’t already, and perhaps find a local meetup
obvious, but even if you’ve had a long email relation-
of others that work from home as well (plus it’s good
ship with a client, don’t meet them at your home while
networking).
you’re alone. Schedule a meeting in a public place such
» Make your house as secure while you’re in it as
as a cafe or coffee shop, or even take advantage of co-
you do when you aren’t. Sure, we all lock the door
working spaces that offer conference rooms for meet-
behind us and turn on the alarm system when we go
ings to members.
out or even when we go to bed, but taking those same
» Use a buddy system. If you work alone, it is very
precautions when you work from home is a smart bet.
important that you have someone you check in with
If you don’t yet have a home security system, now is
regularly. If you’re meeting a client offsite, let your
the time to invest in one.
spouse or a friend know before you go, and check
» Check your windows – and lock them. I’m not sug-
in with them when you return. Use digital tools such
gesting you deny yourself the lovely fall breezes we’re
as Skype or Gchat to stay in touch with professional
having these days, but I do suggest you be sure you
friends throughout the day as well (but be careful to
lock the windows in the rest of the house while you’re
not let them become a distraction). Being connected
working in your home office. Also consider window
helps you stay safe.
treatments; while it can be nice to see the yard while you work, it also lets strangers see right into your office full of expensive equipment. » Exercise caution when you answer the door. Chances are you often receive packages from FedEx or UPS if you work from home, and this can teach you to
The perks of working from home far outweigh these safety concerns, of course, but it’s still good to bear them in mind. Practicing these basic tips to keep yourself safe will make a difference. Now, go check those windows.
Missy Ward is Co-Founder of Affiliate Summit, Co-Editor-in-Chief of FeedFront Magazine and blogs on MissyWard.com.
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16/10/2013 04:01:49 p.m.