Best Work from Home Jobs

Some of the best work from home jobs have been around for a while. Others are offshoots of developing technologies. Following are some legitimate work from home jobs that can help you earn extra income. With dedication and some hard work on your part, some of these can be full-time jobs that let you earn a good living.

Freelance Writing
One of the best work from home jobs is freelance SEO writing. SEO is an acronym for search engine optimization. SEO writing refers to writing the content for a Web site so that it is easier to get found online. Because SEO is such a new, burgeoning industry, many freelance writers are finding good opportunities.

Industry Rates: Rates for SEO writing work-from-home jobs range from a low of $1 to $3 per article on up to hundreds of dollars for an article. However, $15 to $35 for an SEO article that is between 350 and 500 words long is average.

Avoid Getting Scammed: As with most Internet work-from-home jobs, use common sense to avoid scams. Make sure the company uses safe online payment systems and watch out for extremely large orders. If a client orders 100 articles right away and balks at paying an up-front fee, turn down the job.

Blog Design
If you've got the artistic and software skills, consider blog design. Designers create unique blog designs or Web pages, usually for clients who started out with a free platform but who are growing and want more of a cohesive, branded look. Some designers get to create logos as well.

Industry Rates: Design rates are all over the map, as is the case with a lot of Internet work from home jobs. Many designers give a free consultation and then offer a customized quote. You can easily charge at least a couple of hundred dollars for a unique design.

Avoid Getting Scammed: Require a deposit to start and the remainder of payment upon completion. Keep control of the site until you've received final payment. This could easily be one of the best jobs you've ever had, but if you're constantly chasing after clients for money, it can be the worst.

Web Design
Web design may be old hat by now, but when you consider how many new businesses are started each year, it still provides great opportunities. Again, you'll need some artistic talent and the ability to use graphic design software.

It works exactly like blog design. You'll start with a free consultation, create a customized proposal, then get a down payment before you start working and a final payment when you're done.

Industry Rates: Web designers can charge as little as $5 per page to $500 or more per page. As a rule, the more complex and technical the design, the more you can charge. If you're using basic HTML and a few graphics, expect the rate to be at the low end of the scale. If you're designing a Flash-enabled site with interactive catalog pages and animation on the home page, your fee goes higher.
Avoid Getting Scammed: Don't start work without a deposit. Keep control of the site until you get your final payment.

Credit Counseling
Credit and debt counselors help people with credit problems develop a plan for getting and staying out of debt. You'll do this by developing a customized solution for the client, examining existing debts, working out a payment plan and developing a savings plan. You'll need some knowledge of debt repayment rules and a good telephone manner to be effective.

Industry Rates: Credit counselors can either charge by the hour or charge a set fee. It's not uncommon to see counselors charge a set fee of $395. Experienced counselors can earn up to several thousand dollars per client for those with difficult cases.

Avoid Getting Scammed: Don't work with any company that promises to erase bad credit or give customers a "new credit history." This is illegal and could put you at risk for criminal charges. Also beware of companies looking for people with no experience, as you could find yourself calling to collect debts all day, rather than helping people find solutions.