Several ideas - where next?!

[BranchingOut]

Last week I handed in my notice when my employer rejected my application for flexible working. I am keen to look up on this as an opportunity to develop a freelance or self-employed lifestyle. At the moment my head is buzzing with several ideas, but I would like some general comments on my best next steps:

1. Freelance feature writing I have several ideas to pitch as freelance features and am reading 'No Contacts, No Problem' by Caroline Quinn. I think I have the skills to write a good feature and have also written on a voluntary basis. Any tips and advice from experienced freelancers? Also, is there anyone else on MN who got started in freelance writing with very little journalism background?

What is your view on whether is it worth doing 'content' writing for blogs, textbroker, demandstudios and random jobs on craigslist?

2. Business Idea 1

This is a business idea which would entail me going to people's homes and offering advice on a particular field. As far as I am aware, no one else is out there doing it in the same way.

2. Business Idea 2

This is a business idea which would entail me going to people's homes and performing a service. There are quite a few other providers out there, but on the other hand this means it is an established field.

Neither business idea requires any particular equipment, but I would need to rehearse my 'thing', plus devote time to advertising and promotion.

Is it a viable strategy to set up both business ideas and then see which picks up the most? I live in a wealthy part of the country where there is definitely a potential market for both services.

I was thinking of setting up a blog/website for each idea using wordpress.com, then exploit as much free or low cost advertising as possible.

Are there any other technicalities I would need to think through in order to begin trading eg. regarding accounts, self-employed status, insurance etc?

Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't recommend the first if you want to make a living - journalism is a dying industry and there are enough established journalists competing for the work (in which pay rates are going down instead of up!).

That is why I would want to do freelance writing alongside some other enterprise.

I am also hoping to take on a very part-time job, mostly home based.

My income expectations are fairly low, as if I had returned three days a week then I would have only been making a few hundred pounds a month after childcare costs.

Bump - any other views?

I am especially interested in what people think of building a site using wordpress.

I'm a journalist.

Writing is one of those jobs - like acting and TV presenting - everyone thinks they can do it. It's actually a lot harder than it seems.

I would say to start from scratch with no training, no CV and no contacts would be a challenge.

Every journalist I know is desperately trying to get out of the industry!

I would say Business Idea No 2.

I'm always dubious about how much people would actually pay for 'advice'. I'd say they'd be more likely to pay for a 'service'

But maybe that's just me - I'm mean - I'd want advice for free - but would pay for getting 'something' iykwim

If you are looking for a work at home job how about Ussborne?

Click here for information about a very flexible job