With my last post, I’ve been investigating how possible it is to build a business with a computer, globally. Products can be services - after all. In the ninetes, the idea of basing yourself anywhere and doing business online was born.  Millions of people work this way now, without any formal office structure, comprising billions of dollars in trade. Articles on the boom of mothers working from home have been featured on the web and news this week, so I thought I’d look at some ways you can build this on-line working environment. Here’s a marketing opportunity on-line to look at setting up an account, it’s free and relatively simple.

Alibaba.com is the world’s largest B2B online marketplace, with more than 3 million buyers and sellers from over 200 countries across 39 industries.

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/servlet/page/static/campaign/landing_page_buyers_sellers?tracelog=ibd_us_ymarketplace07_02

For Buyers

Gain full access to over one million products

List unlimited purchase requests online and let supplies contact you

Utilize advanced communication and trade management tools

Get up-to-the-minute trade news and industry insights in our Community Channel

For Sellers

Reach millions of new buyers worldwide

Get your own mini-site with unlimited product listings in our search results

Utilize advanced communication and trade management tools

Get up-to-the-minute trade news and industry insights in our Community Channel

So everyone is preparing themselves for the pinch of a recession in the U. S. call it what you will, mini recession, downturn, tempory lack of confidence, depression: the result is the same, for those paid in dollars in the US, those who travel and those who work online. Less money, when they convert it into the actual currency they live on. I prefer to be paid in Euros or Pounds if possible,  for the work I do on line, however I often work in US dollars too. The companies who hire freelancers sometimes enable them to choose credits which have a value and are then paid out in the currency of choice. For example  I have 50 credits and the value of each credit is 50 cents. I then can request it in pounds and the correct value will be calculated.

Many of my contacts bemoan the fact that their on-line consulting in design, photography or whatever, is also taking a downturn  in value when paid for in dollars. Of course one man’s meat is another man’s poison, because somewhere in the world there’s a freelancer who can work online, deliver  faster, get paid in US dollars and be happy because his currency is weaker than it.  This is the true meaning of globalization, and then you consider maybe it isn’t  always better living in the first world of Europe or US after all. Unless you are paid in Euros, and can live in a less valuable currency.  Now that’s  e currency I’m interested in.

Yours in money,

 Moneypenny.