In "Small Marketing Changes With a Big Impact" on Entrepreneur.com, the authors outline seven simple--and low-cost--ways to increase business.
1. Put a Twitter, Facebook or website link in your email signature. That's an easy way to spread the word about your business.
2. Use your business card's reverse side to promote your business. Don't let the white space on the back of your business card go to waste. Put a photo of yourself or your product. Turn it into a coupon by adding "10 percent off services or order" on the back. List what your company can do for a client.
3. Redesign your website. If it's been a few years since your website debuted, consider doing a facelift. Changing colors and fonts, and rearranging material can freshen up your site. Make sure your site is readable and that browsers can easily find information about your services or product.
4. Push your expertise through blogging and tweeting. As a small-businessperson, you are an expert about your services or product. Let people know that.
Next Tuesday, I'll review the final three ways this article suggests to boost your business.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Transcriptionist
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Position: Transcriptionist
Education: A bachelor’s degree in English or communications could be helpful, but might not be necessary.
Skills: The ability to transcribe audio to text without mistakes as high as 75 words per minute. Good grasp of the English language a definite plus.
Job outlook: Transcribing court proceedings has a rosier outlook than general transcribing.
Possible employers: Court reporters, colleges, companies that sponsor lectures, radio and TV programs, and journalists could be in need of transcribers. Check out productiontranscripts.com, alicedarling.com and tigerfish.com as possible sources for freelance assignments.
Preparation: Refresh your typing skills by practicing transcription work before contacting potential clients. Most clients will require a test to gauge the accuracy and speed of your transcribing.
Get your foot in the door: If you prefer to strike out on your own to find clients, offer to do a short transcription for free to show off your skills.
Until next time,
Sarah
Position: Transcriptionist
Education: A bachelor’s degree in English or communications could be helpful, but might not be necessary.
Skills: The ability to transcribe audio to text without mistakes as high as 75 words per minute. Good grasp of the English language a definite plus.
Job outlook: Transcribing court proceedings has a rosier outlook than general transcribing.
Possible employers: Court reporters, colleges, companies that sponsor lectures, radio and TV programs, and journalists could be in need of transcribers. Check out productiontranscripts.com, alicedarling.com and tigerfish.com as possible sources for freelance assignments.
Preparation: Refresh your typing skills by practicing transcription work before contacting potential clients. Most clients will require a test to gauge the accuracy and speed of your transcribing.
Get your foot in the door: If you prefer to strike out on your own to find clients, offer to do a short transcription for free to show off your skills.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Marketing Your Home-Based Business: Developing a Marketing Plan
To be successful at marketing your business, you need a marketing plan. "How to Create a Marketing Plan" on Entrepreneur.com takes you through the steps to developing a personalized plan for your business. Here are a few of the tips covered in the article.
Plan for 12-months at a time. "For small companies, this is often the best way to think about marketing. Things change, people leave, markets evolve, customers come and go," the article states.
Give enough time to write the plan. Expect to spend several months on developing your plan, even if it's only a few pages.
Get input from others, either your co-workers, employees or friends. Have a few people look over your plan and offer suggestions or improvements.
Make your marketing plan mesh with your business plan. While these two things are completely separate, your marketing plan should adhere to the basic tenets of your overall business plan.
A marketing plan can be as simple or as complex as you need. But taking the time to create one can make a big difference in promoting your business.
Until next time,
Sarah
Plan for 12-months at a time. "For small companies, this is often the best way to think about marketing. Things change, people leave, markets evolve, customers come and go," the article states.
Give enough time to write the plan. Expect to spend several months on developing your plan, even if it's only a few pages.
Get input from others, either your co-workers, employees or friends. Have a few people look over your plan and offer suggestions or improvements.
Make your marketing plan mesh with your business plan. While these two things are completely separate, your marketing plan should adhere to the basic tenets of your overall business plan.
A marketing plan can be as simple or as complex as you need. But taking the time to create one can make a big difference in promoting your business.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Product Line Creator
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Position: Product Line Creator
Education: Not applicable.
Skills: The ability to design original ideas and art to submit online.
Job outlook: Could be good, depending on how much self-promotion you do and the variety of your designs.
Possible employers: Websites such as zazzle.com and cafepress.com, among others, offer freelance designers the opportunity to submit artwork for mugs, t-shirts, children’s accessories, posters, stickers and housewares, to name just a few options. Also check with local t-shirt or other printers to see if they offer similar opportunities for freelancers.
Preparation: Refresh the artist inside by taking an art course or workshop to see what new techniques are out there. Ask family and friends for feedback on your designs to see what could be a potential hot seller.
Get your foot in the door: Start with a few designs and see what sells and what doesn’t before expanding to a larger product line.
Until next time,
Sarah
Position: Product Line Creator
Education: Not applicable.
Skills: The ability to design original ideas and art to submit online.
Job outlook: Could be good, depending on how much self-promotion you do and the variety of your designs.
Possible employers: Websites such as zazzle.com and cafepress.com, among others, offer freelance designers the opportunity to submit artwork for mugs, t-shirts, children’s accessories, posters, stickers and housewares, to name just a few options. Also check with local t-shirt or other printers to see if they offer similar opportunities for freelancers.
Preparation: Refresh the artist inside by taking an art course or workshop to see what new techniques are out there. Ask family and friends for feedback on your designs to see what could be a potential hot seller.
Get your foot in the door: Start with a few designs and see what sells and what doesn’t before expanding to a larger product line.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Marketing Your Home-Based Business: Postcards
In this age of electronic communications, using something as old-fashioned as a postcard to promote your business might seem like a throwback to the Dark Ages. But postcards can become a great way to capture the attention of current and potential clients.
Here are some tips to develop a smashingly successfuly postcard campaign.
Start with one idea per postcard. Don't overload your postcard with multiple ideas. Simplify your text to one idea or promotion per postcard. If you want to highlight several different things in an integarted campaign, consider doing a series of postcards instead of piling everything up on one postcard.
Write your copy with an eye for clarity, not cleverness. No one wants to get a postcard that cloaks its message behind overly cute word play or coyness. You don't have to be boring with your word choices, but don't go too far in the opposite direction and have copy that the reader doesn't get.
Use artwork sparingly. Don't have your copy overwhelmed by the postcard's design. Go with streamlined instead of cluttered when it comes to graphics. Many printers--both online and traditional--have templates you can customize.
Shop around for the best price. Online printers such as Vistaprint.com offer good prices on good quality print jobs. But don't forget to call your local printer, such as FedEx Office, to talk about pricing because you might be surprised how affordable local printers can be.
Postcards can be an effective marketing tool that any business should consider adding to their advertising program.
Until next time,
Sarah
Here are some tips to develop a smashingly successfuly postcard campaign.
Start with one idea per postcard. Don't overload your postcard with multiple ideas. Simplify your text to one idea or promotion per postcard. If you want to highlight several different things in an integarted campaign, consider doing a series of postcards instead of piling everything up on one postcard.
Write your copy with an eye for clarity, not cleverness. No one wants to get a postcard that cloaks its message behind overly cute word play or coyness. You don't have to be boring with your word choices, but don't go too far in the opposite direction and have copy that the reader doesn't get.
Use artwork sparingly. Don't have your copy overwhelmed by the postcard's design. Go with streamlined instead of cluttered when it comes to graphics. Many printers--both online and traditional--have templates you can customize.
Shop around for the best price. Online printers such as Vistaprint.com offer good prices on good quality print jobs. But don't forget to call your local printer, such as FedEx Office, to talk about pricing because you might be surprised how affordable local printers can be.
Postcards can be an effective marketing tool that any business should consider adding to their advertising program.
Until next time,
Sarah
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