Work At Home Business Options

Posts Tagged ‘marketing’

Those who are in a Direct Sales business tend to really work their butts off when it comes to advertising their home business. For those of us in this line of work…we have to work “much” harder than those in big corporation to get the word out about our business.

With that said, we don’t have the advertising budgets that the big guys have so we need to get creative with our advertising campaigns. Today I thought I would share a few “creative” ways I have successfully marketed my business over the years and all of these ideas are super affordable.

T-Shirts: I went to VistaPrint.com and had a dozen T-shirts printed up with my business information on them. I got a variety of sizes and did it when Vista Print was having a deal on them. I then handed these shirts out to friends & family members and had them wear them while running errands in our community. Cost was less than $8.00 a shirt and it’s an advertising campaign that keeps on giving since the shirts can be worn many, many, many times!

Cook Books: Since I was selling products for a kitchen company I would actively seek out print ads in charity cook books in our community. The PTA, local Animal Rescue Groups, Health Groups, Scouting Groups, School Groups, etc. have cook books printed on a yearly basis and then sell them to raise funds. For around $25.00 you can get a 1/2 page print ad with your business info printed in the back of their fundraising cook books.

High School Year Books: Every year I would spend $50 to $75 to have my business ad printed in the back of our local high school year books! These ads are a ‘worthy’ and ‘affordable’ investment and your ad will be seen for many years by hundreds of people.

School Art & Athletic Programs: You can get affordable print ads in your local school’s arts and athletic programs that they hand out at their functions. (plays, sport’s games, etc.) and you can usually get these ads for $25 and up.

Magnetic Car Signs: Many Direct Sellers do invest in magnetic car signs for their vehicles to advertise their home businesses. However, you should purchase several of them and let your family and friends slap them onto their cars when they are out and about doing their errands. You could give them a free gift or a continual discount on their purchases to help you out by keeping it on their cars.

These 5 creative advertising and marketing ideas are all relatively affordable and make for a worthy investment in your business. When it comes to advertising your home business it is time to think “outside” the box and get creative with your marketing campaign.

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10 Steps to a Successful Article by Terri Seymour

If you are an online business owner and are not yet active in article marketing, you need to get started as soon as possible. Why write articles?

Article writing and marketing is one of the most powerful ways to boost your traffic and sales. Articles will build your reputation and credibility. Articles will allow you to make more contacts and establish more connections. Articles will improve your ranking and bring you more traffic. Articles will improve your online presence. Article marketing is free!

Writing and article is not as hard as most people think. You are not writing a dissertation but a simple and informative article.

Below are ten steps to help you write a more successful article.

Step 1: The Title

Be sure you choose a title that will grab people’s attention and catch their interest. Most people will decide to read and article or not just by the title. Be specific in what your article is about.

For example:

How to Grow Vegetables vs. 5 Ways to Healthier More Delicious Vegetables

Which article would you read? I know I would read the second one.

Step 2: Topic of Interest

Be sure to choose topics that people will want to know about. Do some research to see what questions people are asking. Visit forums, groups, social sites and see what needs to be addressed. See what the buzz is about and write your article accordingly.

Step 3: Easy to Understand

There is no need to write a college dissertation. Use short, easy to understand sentences. Use 5th grade level words to be sure everyone who reads your article will understand what you are talking about.

Step 4: Easy to Read

Going along with the short easy to understand sentences, keep your paragraphs short but informative. Leave plenty of white space so reading your article is not hard on the eyes.

Step 5: Relevant Keywords

Research keywords when writing your article. Try to use some of the most popular search phrases that deal with your article subject. A good program to use is Google’s keyword search tool. But once you find the relevant keywords be sure not to overstuff your article with them. If you use them too many times your article will be too repetitive and will not do well in the search engines.

Step 6: Writing

When writing your article, write it as if you were explaining it to a friend. Don’t make it sound like a seminar or lecture. Add personal experiences when possible so your readers can identify with you and feel a bond and/or connection. Let your personality shine through and write from your heart!

Step 7: Lists

If you are including any kind of list in your article be sure to write it in a bulleted or numbered list style. This will attract the readers’ eye and increase the chances of them reading it through.

Step 8: Article Body

The first paragraph should be an introduction to what type of information your article will contain. Use it as a lead-in to the main body of the article. When writing the main body, be sure your writing flows from point to point and doesn’t jump around aimlessly. The last paragraph should sum up what the article meant and what points were made.

Step 9: Proofread

This step cannot be stressed enough. Read over your article several times to be sure all spelling, punctuation and grammar is correct. Things can be missed in just one or two goings over so do it several times to be sure.

Step 10: Resource Box

Your resource box is very important so you want it to be effective in getting people to click on your link and take you up on whatever you offer. Don’t try to sell anything in your resource box. Offer something free if possible.

For example:

John Doe is an expert in the SEO field. He can help you get your site to the top of the search engines. Click here to get his free step by step report.

Article writing is not as intimidating as it sounds. You do not need to know big fancy words. You do not have to be a scholar and you do not have to be a professional author to write a quality article with helpful information.
About the Author:
Don’t be one of the 95% of people who fail at their online business. Terri Seymour can help you make money online. Find out how to increase your traffic and sales with her popular “How to Build Your Online Business” ebook for FREE at: ==> http://www.SeymourProducts.com

Article Source: WAHM Articles

When it comes to running a home based business, you look for as many avenues as possible to market that business to others. One successful marketing tool is to write and publish your own newsletter. This can be published in print and mailed out to customers and clients, or it can be formatted and sent via email.

When it comes to writing the newsletter to promote your home business, you need to write and publish quality content that your readers will want to read. This content should be informative and engaging…along with a call to action sprinkled in.

Including graphics is a good way to go because it will grab the reader’s attention and give them immediate satisfaction of what you are talking about. I recommend publishing it in a normal black text that is easy on the eyes. You don’t want to get too fancy with fonts and colors.

Your newsletter should always contain your business’s contact information in a prominent place. I recommend you place it at the very top and at the very bottom with your important content in the center.

When it comes to the type of content you want to include, here are some great ideas on that.

1. In depth Product or Services Information: Let readers know in great detail about the products you are marketing, how they can use them, how they will benefit from them, how they can fit into their lives along with pricing and purchasing information.

2. Customer Testimonials: A great way to attract new sales is by including customer testimonials in your newsletters. Readers love to know how others are using your products or business services.

3. Company Events: If you participate in or sponsor company events, you will want to include that information if they will be of interest to your readers.

4. Questions and Answers: Ask your readers to submit questions to you and you publish those questions along with your answers.

5. Preview Of The Next Issue: You could include a little preview of what is coming up in your next issue.

When it comes to writing and publishing your newsletter, it is important to publish informative content that others will want to read. You want it to be viewed as a valuable piece of information and not as a spam advertisement that offers no real added value to the reader.

You will want to take your time writing it, formatting it and publishing it so that it comes out looking professional…after all, your goal is to gain readership and to represent your home business in a professional manner.

Written By: Shelly Hill ~ This article can not be reprinted unless Shelly’s official Author’s Bio is attached. Please email/contact Shelly to obtain her bio before reprinting this article. Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago I emailed a Direct Sales consultant with one of the beauty companies a particular question that I had about the company’s mascara line and she did promptly respond with the answer to my question.

About 2 weeks after that I started getting spammed by her once a week with her weekly customer email newsletter. Wow…I was shocked! I immediately clicked the unsubscribe link in the newsletter and realized it was disabled and not working! I then emailed her (nicely I might add) and asked her to unsubscribe me from her customer newsletter as I did not sign up for it nor did I tell her to add me to it.

The following week…I got another newsletter in my email box from her! ugh! I then fired off a second request for her to remove me. This entire back and forth process took a month or so before I was finally removed from her list!

When it comes to email marketing, customer newsletters and building your email subscriber’s list it is VERY IMPORTANT to never…ever…add a subscriber to your newsletter subscription list without asking their permission first! Better yet, don’t add anyone at all…have an online sign-up box so folks can sign-up for it themselves if they are interested!

Not only does this unprofessional behavior “irk” off customers and potential customers but it is also WRONG and ILLEGAL. You can not fire off emails and sign up folks to your newsletter just because you want to market your business to them. It is considered to be “SPAM” if that person did not sign up for it or request it.

6 Email Marketing Tips that Build Trust & Increase Sales by Ms. Liz

Having an opt-in email list is more than just sending subscribers your newsletters, tips, promotions and sales letters; it’s about establishing a positive relationship with your readers. People rarely buy from those they don’t trust but by fostering fond relationships with your subscribers you’re increasing their confidence in you which in turn will dramatically increase sales.

Here are 6 tips that will create reader confidence, build lasting relationships with your subscribers, lessen your opt-out rate and best of all, boost sales.

Tip #1 – Set Expectations for Your Subscribers

Be clear about what your subscribers are signing up for. That means telling them exactly what kind of emails they’ll get such as a newsletter, tips, ecourse, special report, etc. Also specify how often they can expect an email. Also, for easy recognition it’s a good idea to indicate what email address your emails will be coming from.

Tip #2 – Help Viewers Learn About You

Before asking for a sign-up, direct your viewers to your personal page where they can learn about you and your business. Share some personal trivia about yourself and include some pictures and a personal signature. Let your visitors see and relate to the ‘real’ you. The more they come to know and like you the more trust they will bestow in you.

Tip #3 – Respect your Subscribers Time

Your subscribers granted you permission to email them; this is a privilege, not a right so respect that. Send them only information and content that relates to what they signed up for. Introduce new products gradually. Sending blatant sales pitches are a sure way to increase opt-outs.

It’s also important to note that even though it may not be costing your subscribers money to opt-in to your list, it is costing them time to open your emails, read them and take action. Keeping your content relevant and to the point is recognizing that their time is valuable and they will appreciate that.

Tip #4 – Email on a Consistent Basis

Never flood your email subscribers in box, but don’t ignore them either. When you get a new subscriber send them a welcome letter but don’t wait a month or more to send them their next email. People subscribe to things all the time, so without consistent communication they often forget they signed up. Waiting long between emails increases the chance they’ll opt-out or worse yet, hit the spam button. Instead, use a good email autoresponder and send messages consistently.

Tip #5 – Always provide an Unsubscribe Option

No one wants subscribers to opt-out but you must give your subscribers the option. It not only shows your professionalism it also indicates that you’re a legitimate business and not a spammer. Use the double opt-in feature provided with most email autoresponders, it will considerably reduce the number of unsubscribes.

Tip #6 – Promote Less and Help More

People don’t like to be sold to; they like to buy on their own terms. Before they buy they need reasons, benefits and most importantly, trust in who they’re purchasing from. The “buy this because I like it” approach rarely woks and will annoy your readers.

If you have a product to sell use a slow paced approach by demonstrating how your product will benefit your viewers. A subscriber is not likely to stick around if they see you as someone only interested in making a quick sale. Your subscribers have come to you as a resource for help and information so be respectful of that. The more you help them, the more they will see you as genuine resource, then when the time comes for them to buy; they will look to you first.

In summary, don’t target your subscriber list as a way to make money, instead focus on building a strong relationship with them. Treat your subscribers well and they will treat you well.

Check in with Elizabeth for More Free Yet Dynamic Email Marketing Tips that will instantly boost sales no matter what size email list you have.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

You have a new online business, now what?

You need to advertise your online business both online and offline so this article will give you some online advertising ideas that you can start using today.

1. Write some short articles and donate them to online websites, ezines and newsletters.

These articles can be on family life, raising children, hobbies, cooking, pets, shopping, weddings, just about any thing!

Make sure your article has an attached signature tag with your name, business name and your website address. Some people call these signature tags, Author Resource Boxes.

2. Attach an email signature tag to every outgoing email that you send. Make sure it includes your business name and website address.

3. Publish an online blog! Blogging is very hot these days! A blog is an online journal (Web Log = Blog) and you can write one on a variety of topics including topics that relate to your online business. Do a keyword search through a major search engine to learn about blogging.

4. Get yourself listed in some of the online yellow page phone books under your business name for your local area.

5. Get yourself listed in online business directories.

6. Get yourself listed in online shopping and gift directories.

7. If you offer a contest through your online website, make sure you get yourself listed in online Contest and Sweepstakes directories for some free business exposure.

8. Online talk radio is big these days! Contact those sites and inquire about being a guest on one of their online talk radio programs.

9. If you can afford it, get some online advertising on a online radio station.

10. Do a online web search for your local city radio stations. A lot of your radio stations also offer online contests to their listeners. Offer to sponsor one of their online contests or inquire about advertising on their website.

11. Do a online web search for your local city tv news station websites. A lot of them offer online contests on their websites. Offer to sponsor one or inquire about advertising on their website.

12. Start a online newsletter for your business. I recommend doing a monthly newsletter. You will get more subscribers to your newsletter if you add informational content along with 2-3 specials that you are running. A newsletter subscriber contest is also helpful in promoting a online newsletter.

Newsletter subscribers don’t want to read just sales ads so its important to also offer informational content, tips, product reviews etc.

13. Online gift certificates are big business these days. Make sure your website offers online gift certificates for your business products or business service.

14. Get yourself listed in online search engines. You can start out with the free lesser known search engines and then work your way up to the pay-per click type of search engines.

15. Do a web search for message boards for your local city or town. Get on those local area message boards and start networking! Get to know others who live around you. This is a great way to get local customers and local leads. A lot of times you can get a text ad or a banner ad on those local message board sites to help promote your business locally.

16. Ask your online friends and family to attach your email signature tag to all of their outgoing emails.

17. There are alot of free online classified ad sites. I recommend that you place ads ONLY on the most popular of these types of sites. The best ones are sites that cater to your local area. You will want to stay away from link farms (sites that are nothing but weblinks as search engines frown upon those).

18. Link Exchange. Contact other websites and offer to exchange web links with them. You add their web link to your website page and they add your website link to theirs. When exchaning website links, make sure you are only exchanging links with sites that have similar content to yours.

19. If your business offers a bridal gift registry to new brides to be, make sure you get yourself list in some of the popular online bridal gift registry directories. Alot of them also offer contests to their readers so consider sponsoring a contest too.

20. Join some of the free online social networking websites such as myspace, face book, linkedin, yahoo groups, ryze and twitter. Once you join these social networking sites, make sure you fill out your profile page completely and make sure you put your business information in your profile. Once you have that completed, its time to join some of the sub-networking groups and make some new online friends.

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