A home-based business is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to start their businesses. In this, you don’t need to purchase an office or lease space in a building, which saves many costs. This kind of business is run at home, which will save you a lot of money on overhead expenses. However, the key to the home-based business is marketing. You need to attract your target market and advertise the products or services you provide effectively.
If you are someone who has just launched your new home-based business, then you have come to the right place. Once your business is established, you need to focus on marketing and your business’s promotion to attract new customers. It may be hard at first, but with a few tips, anything is possible.
While it is incredibly tempting to swing for the fences and try to be of good use to everyone, it is often risky. On the other hand, focusing on one product is less risky and more profitable. With one product, you have more things under control and make it easy for you to execute well.
Especially because your business is home-based, have a Facebook page, an Instagram page, and a Twitter feed. Consider your target consumers when determining where to establish your social networking presence. For example, if your target audience is tech-savvy about their social news, ensure that you can be found on sites like Digg. If your audience is the young generation who focuses a lot on visuals, make sure you have a Pinterest board.
Invest in getting a web development agency that develops a user-friendly website for you and gives reliable SEO services, one that focuses on content and its marketing. This will take your mind off of marketing, giving you more space to optimize your product and services and make them better. Having an internet presence helps you reach millions of shoppers worldwide without paying rent for utilities or garbage collection.
Do you think publicity is just for celebrities? No. It is also for you. Make a list of magazines and blogs that will rave about your product. Once you’ve figured out your magazines, find out whom you should contact using a media list that has the contact information of editors and producers. You can also do this by scanning the masthead of newspapers and magazines or keeping an eye out for the production credits at the end of a TV show. Next, write up a brief pitch that will entice the media folks. Email it to them and follow up. Many publicity opportunities are lost by not following up. Now, create a press kit. This is a mega-marketing tool that you can make available on your site, which will make it easy for media professionals to find you and feature you. These press kits included a short biography, a professionally taken headshot or a picture of your product, a press release that offers information about you and your product or the service you are providing.
Once you have mastered the steps above and gotten a foothold in the market, expand. Your customers will appreciate having a range of options for related products to choose from. However, only branch out to new areas that provide high-quality service across the board. Branching out may hurt your reputation in the market if you end up collaborating with businesses that don’t offer good quality services. If, for example, you make spa products, try to convince a local health club to carry them in its stores and offer discounts to its members. Or, you could even send a free, one-day health club pass to anyone who buys your lotions and scrubs.
While having a business is excellent, doing some good for the community will always give you a sense of satisfaction like nothing else ever will. Find your favorite charity and volunteer for their events. Offer to host/plan one of their events. Gather your friends and family and get them to join in on the action. This way, not only will you be doing some good for the community, but companies will recognize you more and include your logo on their brochures, shirts, and websites. This is an excellent way to get exposure to your business and build new relationships while doing good for the community. As you can see, there are multiple ways to market your business. And most of them cost little to nothing to get started. They just need some creativity and, well, a business mind. Pick 3-4 methods from this list and incorporate them into your business. Then take a back seat and watch your business flourish.