1. Post lots of free ads through the internet. There are
hundreds of places to advertise for free. Try placing
atleast 12 ads each day.
2. Follow up on all your leads. A few people will buy right
away, but most won't till after about the 3rd try. Don't
be obnoxious - just a polite note following up with some
additional info to help them make their decision or to
see if they received the info ok and if they had any
questions.
3. Set up a website and have your URL listed on your
signature.
4. Remember to use your signature when you send e-mail
or post to newsgroups. (Don't make your signature
too long. Remember to use proper Netiquette!)
5. Participate in chats, message boards and newsgroups. You
can't advertise there unless it is permitted, but you can
get to know people. Find out what they are doing and it
will eventually get around to what you are doing. And be
sure to contribute information that is helpful and may
assist you in presenting yourself as an expert in your
field.
6. Check the message boards when you are posting notes
and ads. You may find people looking for
information, products or services that you can
provide. And then make contact with them quickly
before your competitor does!
7. Check out Guerrilla Marketing Online at: http://www.gmarketing.com
1. Start a newsletter and mail to previous clients,
family, friends, business associates etc. letting
them know about your new business and updates.
Send it out quarterly.(Or find someone to do
this for you-there are tons of moms at home that would
be glad to provide this service!)
2. Post flyers on the message boards at the library,
the grocery store, neighborhood bus stops,
laundromats, book stores, whole foods markets or
any place else you see that is appropriate for
posting your information.
3. I started an Internet Training Class as a way to
introduce people to PowerNet. So now I get paid
to teach the class, people get to use the Internet
Service I am promoting (and a free disk goes home
with each of them!) Included in their training
packet is info on the other businesses I am
involved in as well as discount coupons from
local merchants etc. (another way to network!)
4. Just sit down and start brain storming. Write down every
idea - no matter how crazy. The crazy one may be the one
that really works! Just keep writing nonstop for about
15 min. then start looking at the ideas and thinking about
how you could implement them.
5. Place inexpensive ads (here we have something called the
"Thrifty Nickel".) There are always alot of other small
papers around. Look in the Yellow Pages under newspapers.
Call for their classified rates or media kits.
Many neighborhood associations have newsletters
where you can advertise too. Call the city to
find out how you can get a list of the
neighborhood associations in your area.
6. I also do mailings to small businesses that I think may be able
to use my services. Don't forget to follow up after
your mailing. that's the key.
7. Put flyers out in neighborhoods where you would
like to do business and leave flyers in the local
businesses in those areas.
8. Read a lot of magazines like Inc., Entrepreneur, Home Office
Computing and publications geared toward small
business, self help and motivation. If you don't
have these, pick them up:
"Guerilla Marketing", "Guerilla Marketing Online",
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".
9. Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up. Don't ever forget
that people rarely buy after the first contact. So
be sure to FOLLOW UP!
10. And last but certainly not least - JUST DO IT!
Get started and work consistently at your business
each day. Just because you're working from home
doesn't mean you can just goof off. It is a job and
you are the boss. And, if you don't do it then
nobody will! So, you had better get started now!
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WHAT IF?..........
Don't sell yourself short. Don't let anyone else sell you short either!
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You can accomplish great things if you set your heart and mind to them.
When anyone tries to tell you that you can't, don't listen. Consider this....
What if?.. Inventor Thomas Edison had listened when he was told as a
child that he was not intelligent enough to stay in school?
What if?.. Physicist Albert Einstein had listened when they told him as a
boy that he was retarded?
What if?.. Cartoonist Walt Disney had listened when he was told that he
really had no artistic talent?
What if?.. Prime Minister Winston Churchill had listened when he flunked
an English composition course six times?
What if?.. Conductor Fred Waring had listened when his college told him
that he just wasn't good enough to sing in the glee club?
Don't listen to anyone who says you can't. Instead listen to that voice inside
you; the one that's on your side, the one that says, "You Can".
Quotations from "The Hub", Rotary Club of St. Paul, MN
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