Have you ever thought about bartering for business-related services? For example, if you're a caterer, perhaps you would offer to do an event for a local print shop in exchange for a brochure printing. Or if you're a dog walker maybe you'd offer to deliver door hangers for a lawn services company for some yard work.
With the eocnomy still in recovery mode, bartering is becoming popular for small and home-based businesses. But how do you begin to barter? There are some groups out there, like The Barter Group in Arizona, that act as clearinghouses for companies looking to barter.
Here are some things to keep in mind when bartering.
Bartering is not free. You're basically exchanging something for something else, much like you used to switch sandwiches with classmates at school. You might be pay cash, but you will "pay" something.
Bartering can be time-consuming. You have to find the right exchange at the time you need it--and be available to complete the transaction on your end.
Bartering has to be reported on your taxes. You should keep careful records of your barter deals and consult a tax attorney or CPA for how to report bartered goods or services on your tax returns.
Bartering can be a great way to supplement your business. If you've bartered for something, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Online Fabric Retailer
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: An online fabric retailer is one who sells fabrics through her own website or on other fabric websites.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: Knowledge about fabrics and sewing a must.
Job outlook: Growth in this niche industry is hard to pinpoint, but anecdotal evidence points to modest increases, especially for those fabric retailers who cater to a specific niche, such as children’s or wedding fabrics.
Possible employers: National organizations related to the industry can be great places to mine contacts for sales. Also, monitor social media sites or groups related to your specialty. Consider joining with other fabric sellers to develop an online store.
Preparation: Join the Fabric/Quilt Trade Association, National Association of Decorative Fabric Distributors or the Decorative Fabrics Association. Attend conferences to learn more about the industry.
Get your foot in the door: Talk to an online fabric seller to learn the ins and outs of the business. Try selling a few things on Etsy or other craft sites before launching your own to gauge interest.
Testimony: “I love the creativity of my business. It is taking something I love to do and hopefully making money at it. I also get to interact with wonderful people. Sewers are creative, fun and kind,” says Lisa of Trumbull, Conn. Her law degree laid the groundwork for the legal side of setting up a business and her extensive sewing knowledge helped with fabric choices. “I have always wanted to have my own business. I enjoy controlling my time, and wanted a creative endeavor for my business,” says Lisa. “When starting a business there is so much to learn. Most importantly is the willingness to educate yourself about the different issues that come up.”
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: An online fabric retailer is one who sells fabrics through her own website or on other fabric websites.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: Knowledge about fabrics and sewing a must.
Job outlook: Growth in this niche industry is hard to pinpoint, but anecdotal evidence points to modest increases, especially for those fabric retailers who cater to a specific niche, such as children’s or wedding fabrics.
Possible employers: National organizations related to the industry can be great places to mine contacts for sales. Also, monitor social media sites or groups related to your specialty. Consider joining with other fabric sellers to develop an online store.
Preparation: Join the Fabric/Quilt Trade Association, National Association of Decorative Fabric Distributors or the Decorative Fabrics Association. Attend conferences to learn more about the industry.
Get your foot in the door: Talk to an online fabric seller to learn the ins and outs of the business. Try selling a few things on Etsy or other craft sites before launching your own to gauge interest.
Testimony: “I love the creativity of my business. It is taking something I love to do and hopefully making money at it. I also get to interact with wonderful people. Sewers are creative, fun and kind,” says Lisa of Trumbull, Conn. Her law degree laid the groundwork for the legal side of setting up a business and her extensive sewing knowledge helped with fabric choices. “I have always wanted to have my own business. I enjoy controlling my time, and wanted a creative endeavor for my business,” says Lisa. “When starting a business there is so much to learn. Most importantly is the willingness to educate yourself about the different issues that come up.”
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Building Trust Through Email Marketing
Most any business--home-based or otherwise--uses email marketing to some extent. Here are a few tips on how you can build trust with your clients or customers with email marketing.
Tailor content to your audience. Find out what your list wants to know and then create a e-newsletter or other communication to fulfill that need.
Schedule regular communications with your readers. Whether it's monthly, weekly or daily, develop a schedule you can handle and then stick with it.
Keep your information exclusive. Provide specific information only to your list--in other words, don't send out to your list what you have posted on your website for all to read. Or, if you do, make sure your list has it first. For example, I post the previous month's issue of At Home News online, but my subscribers get it a month before the posting.
Use your email marketing to provide free service to your customers. Sure, we all want to sell whatever product or service, but to build trust and loyalty with your clients, give them content that is worthwhile.
Read more about how to build trust with email marketing in "The Power of Permission."
Until next time,
Sarah
Tailor content to your audience. Find out what your list wants to know and then create a e-newsletter or other communication to fulfill that need.
Schedule regular communications with your readers. Whether it's monthly, weekly or daily, develop a schedule you can handle and then stick with it.
Keep your information exclusive. Provide specific information only to your list--in other words, don't send out to your list what you have posted on your website for all to read. Or, if you do, make sure your list has it first. For example, I post the previous month's issue of At Home News online, but my subscribers get it a month before the posting.
Use your email marketing to provide free service to your customers. Sure, we all want to sell whatever product or service, but to build trust and loyalty with your clients, give them content that is worthwhile.
Read more about how to build trust with email marketing in "The Power of Permission."
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Vending Machine Servicer
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A vending machine servicer stocks the machines, records sales numbers and products, and collects money from the machines.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: The ability to drive and service vending machines, which generally means the ability to move merchandise and restock machines.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that job prospects “will be fair for servicers, or route drivers,” while overall employment for coin, vending and amusement machine servicers and repairers will be average with a growth rate of around 7 percent. Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Investigate potential leads from clearinghouse websites such as http://www.vendorsequipment.com/foundations/store/storepage.asp?page=Vend+Org and http://www.vendingconnection.com/ypassoc.html. Remember to always vet the company with the Better Business Bureau before handing over any cash, and have a lawyer review any contract before you sign.
Preparation: Join the National Automatic Merchandising Association or your state’s vending machine organization for networking and education opportunities.
Get your foot in the door: Contact National Automatic Merchandising Association to ask about shadowing a vending machine servicer to see if this career would be a good fit for you.
Testimony: Betty of Morgan City, La., started her business with 35 vending machines, and grew it to 50 machines within a few years. She placed the machines at businesses, such as beauty shops, bank lobbies, tire stores and hotels. “These machines are the ones you see with bubble gum in them for 25 cents,” she says. “They are so easy to carry and to service—this is a great job for a woman.” The machines quickly paid for themselves and she makes a tidy profit on them each year. “I just think I have a great job!,” says Betty.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A vending machine servicer stocks the machines, records sales numbers and products, and collects money from the machines.
Education: None necessary.
Skills: The ability to drive and service vending machines, which generally means the ability to move merchandise and restock machines.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that job prospects “will be fair for servicers, or route drivers,” while overall employment for coin, vending and amusement machine servicers and repairers will be average with a growth rate of around 7 percent. Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Investigate potential leads from clearinghouse websites such as http://www.vendorsequipment.com/foundations/store/storepage.asp?page=Vend+Org and http://www.vendingconnection.com/ypassoc.html. Remember to always vet the company with the Better Business Bureau before handing over any cash, and have a lawyer review any contract before you sign.
Preparation: Join the National Automatic Merchandising Association or your state’s vending machine organization for networking and education opportunities.
Get your foot in the door: Contact National Automatic Merchandising Association to ask about shadowing a vending machine servicer to see if this career would be a good fit for you.
Testimony: Betty of Morgan City, La., started her business with 35 vending machines, and grew it to 50 machines within a few years. She placed the machines at businesses, such as beauty shops, bank lobbies, tire stores and hotels. “These machines are the ones you see with bubble gum in them for 25 cents,” she says. “They are so easy to carry and to service—this is a great job for a woman.” The machines quickly paid for themselves and she makes a tidy profit on them each year. “I just think I have a great job!,” says Betty.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Don't be a Tigger
Do viewers tend to bounce away from your website quickly? Here are a few tips on how to entice your visitors to be more like Eeyore than Tigger and stick around for a while on your site.
Figure out from where your visitor's come. Google Antalytics is great for finding what keywords are used to get to your site. You might need to tweak some of the keywords on your site.
Make sure your website is not cluttered and has a strong message. Too much information can make a viewer skip away quicker than if your site is streamlined and clean.
Keep pages simple. If you're selling a product, make the product page about the product, with photos, details and ordering information. If you're talking about a specific subject, then make sure the page is dedicated to that topic and keep irrelevant data off the page.
For more tips, check out "Do your website visitors come...and quickly go?"
Until next time,
Sarah
Figure out from where your visitor's come. Google Antalytics is great for finding what keywords are used to get to your site. You might need to tweak some of the keywords on your site.
Make sure your website is not cluttered and has a strong message. Too much information can make a viewer skip away quicker than if your site is streamlined and clean.
Keep pages simple. If you're selling a product, make the product page about the product, with photos, details and ordering information. If you're talking about a specific subject, then make sure the page is dedicated to that topic and keep irrelevant data off the page.
For more tips, check out "Do your website visitors come...and quickly go?"
Until next time,
Sarah
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