Get the word out: Promoting your home business

It's an exciting adventure that you're about to begin by
being self-employed. It's time to let everyone know about
your soon-to-be successful company by promoting your home
business.

While hiring a marketing or public relations firm is an
easy option, since you are just starting out, it may be a
tool you cannot yet afford. If this is the case, it is up
to you to develop different media means to promoting your
home business.

The most obvious is starting a Web site. There are many
freelances out there who would gladly do this for you for a
fee, but this is not really necessary if you have basic
computer skills. Several sites are dedicated to instructing
you on a step-by-step procedure on how to create a Web site
for promoting your home business. Many provide usage for a
price, but there are some out there in which you can use
for no cost at all. This would be a practical option. A
free site might not offer all the flourishes of a paid-for
one, but as your first priority would be simply promoting
your home business, other features, graphics and designs
can be added once the money starts rolling in and you have
extra cash to spend on creating a stand out site.

Writing a weekly or monthly newsletter is also a great
marketing tool in promoting your home business. Fill the
copy with your personal background, services provided and
costs involved. Update your newsletter with savings
advertisements, new services offered and comments from
pleased customers when promoting your home business through
a newsletter.

While posting a link or subscriber option to your web site
for the newsletter is a given, additional initiative must
be taken as part of promoting your home business. Obtain
e-mail addresses of several companies or individuals who
might be interested in using your services. Shoot for the
addresses of actual people rather than sending a letter
promoting your home business to a general business site.
You are then taking the risk of becoming a deleted spam
file.

If your home business is a local one, such as a day care or
accounting service, advertise in your local newspapers and
trade magazines. Coupons always catch a consumers eye, so
including them in your ad would be a key tool in promoting
your home business. Offering a 10 percent discount is
always a plus.

Also, holding contests with prizes would catch they eye of
a newspaper or magazine browser. Consider making the prize
a week of free service or a sales item.

Lastly, get some business cards together as part of
promoting your home business. You can design and print them
using a home computer or pay a professional printer who may
have additional design ideas that would capture consumer's
attention. Distribute your business cards to individuals
and companies, and post them in every store that offers a
free advertising billboard.

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Carol Rivet loves being a mother and enjoys working at her
business part-time. "Anything Worth While is Worth Working
for" is Carol's favorite quote.
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