Self-Employed Freelancers & Home-Based Businesses: 10 Ways to Market Your Small Business Inexpensively & Successfully

If you're in business for yourself, you have probably noticed you don’t have the same marketing budget as Coca-Cola or Proctor & Gamble. However, you still need to get the word out about our businesses. You just have to do it with a few less million dollars.

Usually the first thing that pops into the mind of a new self-employed person is, “I have to place an ad.” However this can cost money. Place just a few ads and soon your marketing budget is dry as a bone. Also keep in mind that a person has to see your ad six times in the same publications before they even think of using your business. Now if that is a monthly publication, I’m telling you it will take you six months till a person actually thinks about picking up the phone to call you. Now that isn’t good news. Especially if you would like to get customers a bit sooner than that. So what’s a home business mom to do?

Many of the self-employed moms I talk to says most of their business comes from one simple source -- word of mouth. It comes from that one happy customer who liked what they did for them and started to spread the word. What would make you want to shop somewhere? A friend telling you about a great service or product, or a ad in the paper telling you the same thing?

Here are a few suggestions on getting the word out about your business in the quickest and cheapest way possible.

• Send out a press release, and not just when you open your business. You need to tell the world if you’ve added some new service or product or if you’re business is involved in a charity event. Be sure you give the release a human slant. Don’t just talk about how wonderful your business is, talk about what your business can do for your future customers.
  
  
• Join Organizations. Chamber of Commerce, women in business organizations, and any type of organization your target market belongs to.
  
  
• Put your service or product for sale in a charity auction.
  
  
• As soon as you start your business write every single person you know a postcard announcing your new business venture. Although they may not need your business, they just may tell someone who does.
  
  
• Ask for referrals from other happy customers. Cold calling will never be the same again if you use this approach.
  
  
• Write articles for web sites. You don’t need to push your product in the article. But write about your area of expertise. Then include a nice byline at the end of the article.
  
  
• Go to chats and visit message boards on the Internet. Make friends in cyberspace. Once again, don’t push your product or service on people. That will only turn them off. Instead go out of your way to help people and answer their questions. Before you know it you’ll be ask what type of work you do.
  
  
• Use those sig files at the end of your e-mails and posts to message boards. Keep them short (4-6 lines).
  Use all those Internet sites that offer FREE Classified ads.
  
  
• Host chats and give talks at your local Rotary Clubs. Once again – talk about your area of expertise

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Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of, The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money. Her book is available at your favorite bookstore like www.amazon.com or by calling, 800-632-8676. Liz has also created a resource site for work-at-home moms at: http://www.bizymoms.com. When you visit don't forget to sign-up for the free e-newsletter.

Liz Folger may be contacted at http://www.bizymoms.com lizfolger@bizymoms.com. Click here to view more of their articles.
Liz Folger works full-time as a mom, wife, author, columnist and public speaker. She has two daughters ages four and five. She is the author of the book, The Stay-at-Home Mom’s Self-Guide to Making Money: How to Choose the Business That’s Right for You Using the Skills and Interests You Already Have.(Prima Publishing $12)

Her book, The Stay-at-Home Mom’s Guide To Making Money has been featured in the national publications; Business Start-Ups, Working From Home, and Woman’s Own. She has appeared as a guest on many radio shows and regional TV. Liz was also a guest on Lifetime’s Television for Women, Our Home, where she reported on how to avoid work-at-home scams.

Liz Folger runs a work-at-home mom resource in the Internet called Bizy Moms http://www.bizymoms.com. She also publishes a weekly syndicated column that can be found on several sites on the Internet

Right before the birth of her first daughter, Liz struggled with how she could stay home with her child and still contribute to her family’s income. Falling for a scam and sinking a lot of money into a dealership that didn’t work out, she finally figured out the key to success was to find a business she loved and didn’t actually feel like work. After this realization, her writing career took off. Liz is currently at work on her second book.

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