Many adult Webmasters will tell you that their favorite benefit to working in online porn is the opportunity it provides to work from home. But if you’re serious about working from home, then it’s time to go shopping.Many adult Webmasters will tell you that their favorite benefit to working in online porn is the opportunity it provides to work from home. But if you’re serious about working from home, then it’s time to go shopping. Connor Young lists seven essential Webmaster tools that should be considered standard equipment for those online pornographers who do not have to brave traffic each day to work in an office.
Working from home sure beats driving to the office five times a week. You avoid the traffic jams, have access to your fridge all throughout the day, don’t have to share a bathroom with gnarly co-workers, and can live just about anywhere in the country where Internet access is available. Yet if you are going to work from your home, then don’t pass on those essential tools which can help you guard your privacy while making your workday more enjoyable, profitable and productive.
PERSONAL MAILBOX
Few of us are eager to freely give out our personal information, especially our home address. It’s wise to keep your private life separate from your business affairs whenever possible. If you do work from home, this is where a personal mailbox can come in handy. I’m not talking about a post office box, since you won’t be able to receive certain things through a post office box (such as FedEx Overnight deliveries), and it will be obvious to the rest of the world that you aren’t working out of an office. A personal mailbox will solve this problem. Companies such as Mailboxes, Etc. are not officially part of the post office, but rather are private businesses that can receive your mail for you, including special deliveries, often allowing you to use an address in the following format for your business cards, letterheads and other public dealings:
2372 Mailbox Store’s Street Name
Your City, CA \’5628
CELL PHONE
If you don’t have a cell phone yet then you should get one. Cell phones not only come in extremely handy when attending adult Webmaster tradeshows, but they can also serve as your “business” phone number if you want to avoid installing additional phones in your home. Cell phone technology has advanced significantly in the past year, and the latest models integrate nicely with the Internet. Some models allow you to check email, browse various Web sites and even use your phone as a wireless modem for your laptop computer. That comes in handy when you’re on the road and can’t find a local dial-up number to the Internet.
“A laptop isn’t especially practical for an everyday computer, since the screen is smaller and the keyboard is a bit cramped when compared to desktop models, but you can pick up a used laptop with sufficient power to suit your travel needs for a reasonable cost if you shop around.”
LAPTOP
One of the advantages to being your own boss is the freedom it provides. If you feel the urge to hop in the car and take a trip down the coast to visit your favorite beach resort for a few days, there’s no need to beg for vacation time… just hop in the car and go! Yet if your business is successful, you can’t be completely cut off from the online world. You’ll want to have a gateway to the Internet in order to check email, monitor your sites, stay in contact with business associates and friends, and maybe even get some work done on your sites from the beach… that’s where a laptop can help. A laptop isn’t especially practical for an everyday computer, since the screen is smaller and the keyboard is a bit cramped when compared to desktop models, but you can pick up a used laptop with sufficient power to suit your travel needs for a reasonable cost if you shop around.
FILE CABINET
It sounds pretty basic, but if you’re an adult Webmaster then you’re going to want to spend a few bucks on a simple file cabinet, which you can find at any office supplies store. It’s important to keep your records organized. Phone bills, domain name purchase receipts, credit card statements, bank statements, receipts for hardware and software purchases, business travel receipts and records, receipts from content providers… you’ll thank yourself when tax time rolls around if your records are tight and complete.
BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT
Don’t make the mistake of using only a single bank account for both your personal and business needs. Open a separate bank account for your business, then at the end of each month you can “pay yourself” by transferring the profits from your business account to your personal account.
COMFORTABLE CHAIR
There’s nothing worse when sitting on your ass all day then sitting on a hard, uncomfortable chair. You’ve seen those nice leather chairs at the local office supplies store, but you’ve been too cheap to shell out the cash! Invest in a comfortable chair and you will find that your increase in production will more than pay for the purchase.
SHREDDER
No, I’m not suggesting that you’re doing anything unlawful, but it’s still wise to own a paper shredder. Don’t just throw away receipts and bills that have your personal information printed on them. Buy a paper shredder and destroy these documents before tossing them in the trash. Your business is your business and nobody else’s business. If you don’t protect your privacy then nobody else will.
Remember that you don’t have to buy every office gimmick that comes your way, but there are a few tools that will increase your productivity, protect your business and generally make your life easier and more comfortable. If you’re serious about being an adult Webmaster, then take another look over this list of essential tools and see if you have a little shopping to do in the near future.
Connor Young is Editor-in-Chief of The ADULTWEBMASTER Magazine.
