You have decided to start your own work at home typing business. Money is in short supply, so where do you start?
Identify Your Target
The first thing to do is to identify your potential customers. Don't bother asking big companies for work at home typing, you will be in competition with existing staff and employment agencies. Look around for small businesses, the smaller the better because they won't have support staff. Pick them out from classified ads in local newspapers, flyers and phone directories. Start with tradesmen such as auto mechanics, carpenters, washing machine repairers, plumbers, electricians, general builders, painters and decorators etc. Avoid any business connected with IT, they are almost certain to be keyboard literate.
Business Cards
Get business cards printed. You can get this done free of charge. Make sure that, in addition to your name and contact details, your card states that you offer a typing service. Get as many free business cards as you can, you will need them to hand out to everyone you meet as well as sending them out with mail shots.
Flyers
Have flyers printed. Flyers are very useful: they can be posted in locations where local traders will see them, delivered to targeted businesses and used in mail shots. If you want to hand out flyers or put them on windscreens in a car park, make sure you get whatever permission is needed from the land owner before you start.
Classified Ads
Place ads in any local newspapers, trade journals etc. which offer ad spots within your budget.
Free Ads
Many places such as shops, wholesalers, supermarkets and church halls have notice boards where you can place an ad free of charge. Take advantage of this and remember to return regularly to make sure your ad hasn't been removed or covered over.
Mailing List
Build a database containing the names and addresses of local companies and sole traders.
Brand Yourself
Make yourself a professional looking template with your word processor to use as a letterhead. If you opted for a logo on your business cards, repeat the logo on your business stationery.
Mail Shot
Set up a standard letter to be sent to all the people in your database. The letter should announce the service you are offering and ask the recipient to save your card for future reference. When you get your free business cards, you can do your first mailing shot.
Delivery
If you are able to target groups of companies in small areas, hand delivery of your letters is feasible but don't make the mistake of wasting gallons of fuel for the sake of saving a few pennies on postage.
The small traders will mainly fall into one of two categories: either they will have a computer and do their own typing of invoices, estimates etc or their typing work will be done by their wife, girlfriend or mother. Your want to find traders who don't like doing their own typing work and will be glad of help or whose wife/girlfriend is too busy and wants to get rid of the typing work.
If you get nothing from your first mail shot, don't despair, repeat it after a couple of weeks or a month. You can alternate between sending a flyer or a letter enclosing a business card. In the meantime, continue to add likely candidates to your mailing list. You need your offer of home typing work to be in the right places at the right times. When the plumber splits up from his girlfriend or the electrician's wife has a new baby to cope with, make sure they think of your home typing service. One of the best home typing jobs I had was for a local Private Detective. I just happened to be seeking typing at home work when his wife who had done his typing for years decided she'd had enough ot typing reports about adulterous husbands!
If you are lucky, you might hit a candidate for your services with your first shot and be in business practically overnight. It won't be big business but it will be a start. Give your clients an excellent typing service and chances are they will recommend you to other small traders. Personal recommendation is the most powerful form of advertising anyone could hope for. If you don't score a hit at the first try, keep repeating the mail shots. Make patience and persistence your watch words and you will succeed.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Mistakes Made By Home-Based Business Owners
Running a home based business is not as easy as you might think. Dividing your home into business and living spaces takes careful planning. Just having enough space for your business may not be the only problem you may encounter. There are some problems that seem to arise by numerous home business owners. We will explore them, so you will know what you may encounter. When you are prepared for possibilities there is a better chance you will be able to get through any situation and come out a success.
There are some businesses that should not be the basis for a home based business. By exploring the needs of the business, including equipment, space, inventory and employees, you will be able to decide if the business will fit in your home. Businesses that are based on services will work better than those that require products and their storage. This is typically true because they require less inventory and services never go out of style.
A home business should be run like a regular business. It is easy to get distracted in a home based business. You need to get yourself motivated to get up and go to work early as you would if you were going to an office. In order to succeed you will need to maintain that motivation all day, every day.
If you are lucky and your business grows, you will need to expand. A common problem with home based businesses is that they have no room to expand. This expansion can be anything from buying more equipment to hiring additional employees. In starting a home based business, plan ahead and make sure you have some expansion room.
Another common mistake home based business owners make is not promoting their companies. It is so easy to get relaxed in your home business and forget that you need to keep you business name out there for consumers to see. E-mail newsletters are an easy tool for home business owners to use. Local commerce gatherings can also help build your client lists.
While you are still in the planning stages of your business, be sure and check the zoning laws for your area. You may not be sure of your zoning laws, but it is a sure bet that at least one of your neighbors will. It is a good idea to read all the zoning laws so you will not have a surprise at a later time.
Technical difficulties are another major problem for home base businesses. If you will be running several computers or other office equipment, you will need numerous electrical plugs. It is a wise decision to have an electrician check out your electrical systems to see if they can stand the extra usage. Technical equipment should be as state of the art as you can afford.
Starting a home based business is fun and exciting, but can also have many perils. Plan ahead, explore all the avenues that are available to you and keep yourself motivated. Your home based business could be your dreams come true.
There are some businesses that should not be the basis for a home based business. By exploring the needs of the business, including equipment, space, inventory and employees, you will be able to decide if the business will fit in your home. Businesses that are based on services will work better than those that require products and their storage. This is typically true because they require less inventory and services never go out of style.
A home business should be run like a regular business. It is easy to get distracted in a home based business. You need to get yourself motivated to get up and go to work early as you would if you were going to an office. In order to succeed you will need to maintain that motivation all day, every day.
If you are lucky and your business grows, you will need to expand. A common problem with home based businesses is that they have no room to expand. This expansion can be anything from buying more equipment to hiring additional employees. In starting a home based business, plan ahead and make sure you have some expansion room.
Another common mistake home based business owners make is not promoting their companies. It is so easy to get relaxed in your home business and forget that you need to keep you business name out there for consumers to see. E-mail newsletters are an easy tool for home business owners to use. Local commerce gatherings can also help build your client lists.
While you are still in the planning stages of your business, be sure and check the zoning laws for your area. You may not be sure of your zoning laws, but it is a sure bet that at least one of your neighbors will. It is a good idea to read all the zoning laws so you will not have a surprise at a later time.
Technical difficulties are another major problem for home base businesses. If you will be running several computers or other office equipment, you will need numerous electrical plugs. It is a wise decision to have an electrician check out your electrical systems to see if they can stand the extra usage. Technical equipment should be as state of the art as you can afford.
Starting a home based business is fun and exciting, but can also have many perils. Plan ahead, explore all the avenues that are available to you and keep yourself motivated. Your home based business could be your dreams come true.
Free Publicity For Your Landscaping Business
Regardless of whether you are just venturing out into the business world or already have a successful company, budgeting your expenses will help to improve profits and the overall health of the business. The largest expenses that a landscaping business has are advertising and the cost of equipment. The prices associated with a print advertisement can be significant, which is why a growing number of business owners are turning toward an alternative way of spreading the word about their landscaping business. With a company that provides local services, such as landscaping, it is more important to reach a local audience as opposed to a national one.
The most common way to generate free publicity for a landscaping business is through a press release, which is distributed to local newspapers, magazines and trade publications. Whether the landscaping business has an actual storefront present, is home or web-based, this option may have a positive success rate. In order for a press release to be worthy of publication, it must feature some type of news. A terrific example would be a grand opening, the launch of a new website, a free landscaping project contest or similar newsworthy event. A photograph of the business owner would make a nice accompaniment to any press release and may even grab the editor’s attention. Press releases can be submitted via mail, e-mail or fax and should be directed to the editor’s attention.
Many businesses, including those that provide landscaping services, often choose to have a website. Although the internet does provide for national exposure, many local customers may surf the web for landscaping information. A website should be professionally designed, regularly updated and feature plenty of landscaping example photos to showcase your ability. With a website, the free promotional opportunities are unlimited. From press release submission websites to article marketing and search engines, there are plenty of ways to get the word out about your new web presence.
Just as there are a number of ways to generate paid advertising, there are even more ways to obtain free publicity for your landscaping business. Most local companies will find paid advertising works most effectively in the telephone book’s yellow pages, but may also find limited success with newspaper and/or radio advertising. The main problem with the latter is that newspapers are often discarded quickly and most people do not have a pen handy when listening to the radio in order to write down a contact number. When you reduce the advertising costs and increase profits, your company’s bank account will begin to glimmer just as much as the dew on a beautifully landscaped lawn.
The most common way to generate free publicity for a landscaping business is through a press release, which is distributed to local newspapers, magazines and trade publications. Whether the landscaping business has an actual storefront present, is home or web-based, this option may have a positive success rate. In order for a press release to be worthy of publication, it must feature some type of news. A terrific example would be a grand opening, the launch of a new website, a free landscaping project contest or similar newsworthy event. A photograph of the business owner would make a nice accompaniment to any press release and may even grab the editor’s attention. Press releases can be submitted via mail, e-mail or fax and should be directed to the editor’s attention.
Many businesses, including those that provide landscaping services, often choose to have a website. Although the internet does provide for national exposure, many local customers may surf the web for landscaping information. A website should be professionally designed, regularly updated and feature plenty of landscaping example photos to showcase your ability. With a website, the free promotional opportunities are unlimited. From press release submission websites to article marketing and search engines, there are plenty of ways to get the word out about your new web presence.
Just as there are a number of ways to generate paid advertising, there are even more ways to obtain free publicity for your landscaping business. Most local companies will find paid advertising works most effectively in the telephone book’s yellow pages, but may also find limited success with newspaper and/or radio advertising. The main problem with the latter is that newspapers are often discarded quickly and most people do not have a pen handy when listening to the radio in order to write down a contact number. When you reduce the advertising costs and increase profits, your company’s bank account will begin to glimmer just as much as the dew on a beautifully landscaped lawn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)