Marketing on a Shoestring for the Home Based Business
A Home Business Article Contributed by Amber Mcnaught
Marketing on a Shoestring for the Home Based Business
So, you've decided to start up your own home based business, and unless you're fortunate enough to have started out with a large marketing budget behind you, chance are you need to market on a shoestring! But how?
The Importance of Marketing for the Home Based Business
Working from home has it's advantages; you get to be your own boss, keep your own hours and work in your pajamas if you so desire, but it also has one big disadvantage - no one knows you exist. Well, not unless you tell them!
Unlike traditional businesses, which are based out of an office/warehouse or shop, unless your home is actually in the mall, you're not going to get a lot of walk-in trade; in fact, let's be honest, you're not going to get any! For the home based business, marketing matters - much more so than for any other type of business. But where do you start?
Your Home Based Business Marketing Plan
You probably already have a business plan (and if not, you should! ) A business plan helps focus your mind on your goals; to know the direction you want your home based business to take, and to make sure you keep steering in that direction.
A marketing plan does exactly the same thing, and it doesn't cost you anything but your time. Before you start work today, pour yourself a coffee, grab yourself a pen and make a start on your marketing plan. To start with, all you need to do is brainstorm. Write down every single idea you have on how you can increase awareness of your business, and set aside time in your diary to out them into practice. Before you start, though, take a look at our tips:
Marketing Tips for the Home Based Business
1. Network
The more people you know, the more chances you have of gaining business. The woman who grooms your pet may just know someone who needs your service - or she may need it herself! Every conversation is an opportunity to market your home based business. Make sure you have a stack of business cards on you at all times, and hand them out liberally. Most cities have networking groups you can join (sometimes for a small fee), and referral exchange schemes you may want to look into, but your best referrer is yourself - make sure you're working hard to market your home based business!
2. Get yourself a website
Never underestimate the power of the internet. Most people with internet access will look online for goods and services before they try anywhere else. If you don't have a website, you could be missing out.
3.Start up a newsletter
As a home based business owner, you're an expert in your field - whatever that field is! Starting up a newsletter allows you to become recognized as the expert you are; fill it up with top tips, amusing anecdotes and interesting articles (you can source these free of charge through any number of article databases online) and send it out to your customers and anyone else who expresses an interest. Once you have a few subscribers, you're on your way to building your own, opt-in mailing list - and it didn't cost you a penny.
5. Offer to exchange services with other professionals. Say you're a website designer, for example: why not contact your local printer and offer them a free site in return for a few hundred free leaflets adverting your home based business? Not only do you get free advertising, you also make a useful contact - which brings us back to networking!
Good luck!
