One Of The Best Free Advertising Ideas

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Delaney
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One of the best free advertising ideas is to casually offer information that relates to your business when natural opportunities arise. If you do it in an easy manner and actually provide useful information about the topic of conversation, people will appreciate it and soon be asking for your advice.

Now I’m not talking about being the guy who talks nothing but business and pushes his product relentlessly. No one likes that guy.

There are gentle ways to make marketing your business a part of social interactions without being overbearing. In fact, you may barely mention your business at all. But at the end of your conversation with someone, they will be well aware that you are a business professional with something of value to offer. And they will remember you when they need the product or service you are selling.

Conversational Marketing

When you start a conversation with someone, ask what they have been up to. Then listen to what they are telling you. While you are learning more about the person , you are also listening for  ways that your business might be useful to them. At the very least, you will know more about them. And the more you know, the better your chance of eventually making them a customer.

Eventually the conversation will turn to what’s going on in your world. You don’t have to say, “I need to make money and I’m trying to find as many clients for my new business as I can. Will you buy something from me?”

You can casually mention that you’re working from home now or you’re starting a small business. If you have a product or service that is relative to anything they mentioned, tailor your response about what you are working on to coincide with something that might be useful to them, now or in the future.

Perhaps they said they are starting a blog or trying to set up a website. Keep the conversation about them and show a genuine interest in their project. Mention that you have set up several websites for clients in the past and you know how complex it can be. Offer them a couple of really helpful tips that demonstrates your expertise. Give them your business card in case they have any more questions.

You’ve just made a business offer without pushing your services. I like to think of this type of interaction as pulling the client to you. The next session at the computer while struggling to set up their website, they will be thinking how much easier it would be to have someone else set this up and just may give you a call. Then you can explain how hiring your company to set up the website will benefit them.

Social Media Marketing

Social media is not the place for a hard sell. But it can still be very effective in drawing people to you. If you are on FaceBook, make posts that blatantly promote your business or product few and far between. What you can do is mention that your day was really productive or that work has kept you so busy, or how much you are enjoying learning about whatever you are currently working on. Leave it at that. Someone is bound ask questions.

The same thing will work with Twitter or any other social venue. Twitter is an excellent way to put out a series of helpful tips or ideas that will draw people to you for more information. It will keep your business and what you have to offer in the forefront of people’s mind.

If you need a venue for this type of networking, make your presence known. Join at least one community organization and and one business organization and participate in their activities. If your business is online, get involved in some prominent online forums or groups where you can do the same type of casual marketing.

These ideas should not be the only form of promoting your business. But they are free and very effective. With a little practice, it will soon become second nature to promote your business by offering helpful information that will lead people to your business.

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Advertising Your Business

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Delaney
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When you start a small business, you will have to decide how to advertise it. And in the beginning, your advertising budget will probably be very small. This is actually a plus, because it will make you think long and hard about the best use of your advertising dollar.  Knowing a little about advertising psychology and what gets people’s attention is useful when developing a small business marketing plan.

Consumer Decisions

Do you know how we humans make our purchasing decisions? While we like to think it is through careful research and good business sense, it really all boils down to our emotions. And to reach emotions, a sales pitch can’t just describe a product, it has to discuss the benefits of the product or service involved.

A good example of this would be an infomercial about mattresses. Watching only a few minutes, you will see that while they do mention that the mattress is made of the best materials, most of the discussion will describe the benefits of the mattress, such as getting a good nights sleep, pain relief, and comfort. These things touch our emotions. We really don’t care what the mattress is made of or if it is top of the line. We do care if we can sleep comfortably.

When making a recommendation of who to call for service or where to shop, people will tell you where you will get good service at a competitive price, but their remarks will almost always include something about how they were treated.

So whatever advertising medium you choose, it must speak to the consumer about how your product or service will be a benefit to them and make their lives easier.

Marketing Styles

Marketing basically has two formats. Push marketing is the hard sell, in-your-face advertising we see every time we turn on the television. We see that same commercial over and over again. This kind of marketing attempts to tell people what they want and sell it to them. At one time, this was the only way to advertise.

Pull marketing, or search marketing  is the consumer searching for a product or service. One of the first and most familiar forms of search marketing was the yellow pages. Today, search based marketing is, essentially, the internet. People want something and they go to a search engine and look for it.  They target a product instead of it targeting them.

There are pros and cons about both push and pull marketing and the best place to be is somewhere in the middle. You must be aggressive in the sense that you have to get out there and let people know you are in business. But the hard sell technique is not the way to develop repeat business today. You want people to be glad to see you coming and seek your services to help them solve their problems. That’s the pull part.

One way of establishing yourself is by first offering something for free that is genuinely helpful. If you have a blog or website about weight loss, for example, publish free low-calorie recipes and calorie information and weight loss charts. In all this free and helpful information, integrate information about your product and how it can help achieve results. Comments or testimonials from others will help as well.

Where to Target Your Advertising

To help you choose an advertising medium, think about the group of consumers you are targeting. What is the median age of  most of your potential customers? If your target group is senior citizens, you should consider that while many of them do use the internet, there are also  many you could reach with newspaper or radio advertising. If your customers are likely to be younger people, many of them never open a newspaper and an online presence is absolutely necessary.

The natural instinct is to want to reach everyone all at once. But if your marketing budget is small, going after everyone’s attention will spread your advertising dollar too thin to be effective anywhere. Direct the majority of your advertising toward the group of consumers most likely to use your services.

Internet Marketing

Anyone in business today must make themselves available online. Ideally you will have a website that introduces you and your business, publishes articles and information that discuss needs and problems, the solution your company offers, how your solution will benefit the consumer,  and why your company is the best one to do business with.

Developing a website of this level will take time and know how or money to pay someone else to do it for you. That won’t come cheap and it takes time to develop an in depth web presence.

But there are other ways you can get online that can be just as effective. Blogging, Facebook, and Twitter are three social media marketing tools that can be used to let people know what you’re doing.

If you blog, have buttons the reader can click on to like you on Facebook,  Tweet about or email your article.If you are on Facebook, list your blog and mention your business from time to time. Always mentions sales, special offers and new products.Create a Twitter campaign that sends daily exercise tips or motivational messages.  Include links back to your blog.

Press Release

When you open your new business, creating a press release to announce it is an excellent source of free advertising. Having your business information published as news creates an alliance with the community and establishes your presence. Include all of your contact information as well as some information about yourself. Describe you business and give some details your products and services.

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Loans For Small Business

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Delaney
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To obtain financing to start a small business, you should start by making sure your personal finances are in order.  Your business credit will be based on your personal credit and if you are just starting out in business, creditors will base the terms of loans offered on your personal credit history. Having good control of your financial situation could be the key to getting the financing you need.

Request copies of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus. They are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This is the first thing a potential lender will look at so now is the time to make sure all information on the reports is accurate.

If there are errors, contact the credit bureau involved to find out their procedure for making corrections. You will want all information to be correct before you proceed.

Once your personal credit is in in order, you will be ready to start the loan application process. There are several ways to borrow money.

Secured Business Loans

Secured business loans are the most common types of loans for small business.  Secured loans are loans that have collateral attached to the conditions of the loan. The collateral would be used to repay your loan if you default.

 A secured loan will have a lower interest rate and longer repayment terms. It will, however, put a lien upon any personal property or assets you provide as collateral. You will not be able to sell or dispose of them until your loan is paid in full or the lien is released by the lender.

Unsecured Business Loans

Unsecured business loans are made without any collateral and are based upon the borrower’s credit and promise to repay. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender will lose their money. As you can imagine, these loans are hard to get and if you are just starting out in business, it’s unlikely you will be approved for this type of loan.

If you are offered an unsecured loan, it will be at a much higher interest rate and for a shorter repayment term. It is wise to carefully consider the impact your interest rate can have on your loan. A high interest rate can often make your payments so high that it will put a strain on even a very successful business.

SBA Loans

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a variety of loan programs to help small business owners. While they do not loan money, they provide a guarantee to lenders who offer SBA loans. Applications for these loans are made through regular community lenders.

These loans are structured to meet criteria established by the SBA who guarantees that they will repay a percentage of the loan if the borrower should default. This guarantee makes it easier for borrowers who might not otherwise qualify for a loan.

When you meet with your lender to discuss financing, they will advise you which loans for small business would be the best for your situation. Doing your own research ahead of time will prepare you to be able to present relevant information and ask questions that will help you to make the best decisions.

 

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How Do I Start A Small Business?

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Delaney
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Do you want to go into business for yourself? Be your own boss? Do things your way? Good for you! Here are the first steps to take when you’re ready to start a small business.

What Kind Of Business?

Many work from home ideas were born from a hobby or special skill.  If something you have a passion for seems like a good small business to start, you will need to be sure that it will be profitable. Do your research and learn all you can about the business aspect  of your hobby before you turn it into a job.

You may have an idea or product that you want to promote.  The best way to start a small business is to determine if there will be a demand for what you have to offer. Check out other like businesses in your area and figure out how you can compete. Or you may want  to purchase an existing business or a franchise. The advantage to this is that most of the details are already in place and a customer base is already established. You can step in and start operating. The disadvantage is that the expense will be more than it will cost to start a small business from the beginning. You will need to determine if the cost is in line with the benefits you will gain.

What Is Your Business Goal?

It’s very important to set a goal for your business. It will be reflected in decisions about everything from inventory to customer service.  Suppose someone is  starting a business selling bicycles and accessories. Obviously they want to make money. The goal could be “Make money selling bicycles” or “To give bicycle enthusiasts the best possible experience by providing great products at the best possible price.”

If either of these goals is actively pursued, which one will make more money? Your customers are your business. They are what will make you successful. Making them the focus of your operation will  help you make the best decisions about products and services you intend to offer.

Always stay focused on your goal. Post it where you will see it often. It will be one of the keys to your success.

Creating A Business Plan

The next thing you need is a business plan.  If you are going to  borrow money, a bank will require it.  They will study the feasibility of your proposed business and look at it’s strengths and weaknesses.

A business plan will benefit you as well.  Thinking through the details of operating your business will give you a clear picture of  everything involved. There will be details you don’t know or understand and having the answers will aid you in making good business decisions.

A business plan should clearly state what your business will be, how much money you will use to start it, how you will promote it and what your expected expenses will be.  Do you intend to have employees or will you operate your business by yourself? How will you track finances? You should have a vision of what the future of your business will be and what steps you will take to make that vision a reality.

Image Matters

One thing to remember as you take these first steps to start a small business is to always be professional when making inquiries or discussing your plans. If you are too casual or indecisive, it will be hard to convince others to take you seriously.

Project confidence, have basic knowledge of what will be required, and ask intelligent questions. Those you are making contact with today could easily become your customers of tomorrow.

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Data Entry Jobs From Home

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Delaney
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One very good way to make money is by doing data entry jobs from home. It is, however, not as easy as it looks to find legitimate work.

Online Data Entry Jobs

If you are looking online, companies that charge an upfront fee or require you to purchase special software seem to be the rule. They claim the cost is small and only covers their operating costs. This fee will not automatically get you a data entry job.

Most of the time you will receive a list of other websites that might have jobs available. Some places on the list might charge a fee also and will provide another list for that fee.

While it is possible you will find a work from home data entry job this way, it will cost you money that will take time to recoup, and it will cost you a lot of time and frustration. It may even be hard to get payment once the work is complete.

Types of Online Jobs

The data entry jobs that you find online may not be what you think they are. Rather than entering a specific set of data, you may be required to write text for an ad that runs online and makes money for their company. Or you may be required to write actual articles. There are some jobs that want you to enter captchas. This creates spam, something you want to steer clear of.

Legitimate Work From Home Data Entry

If you want to do data entry jobs from home, the best way is to avoid what you see online and look for something within your community. There are many companies who outsource some of their clerical work and that is a good place to start.

Often these companies hire employees through temporary employment agencies. You will probably be required to take a data entry test. Your payment will come from the agency that is getting a cut of your salary.

However, this is often the way to permanent employment. Companies request a temporary employee and if the quality of their work meets company standards, they are offered a permanent position.

Another way you might make money doing data entry jobs from home is to free lance. If there is a college in your area, you may be able to get hired to type papers for students. Put ads on bulletin boards on in the school newspaper.

If you are or have been an employee of a company and are aware of a data entry job that could be done at home, approach you employer about doing it for them. It will save them money because they won’t have to provide work space for you.

Consider preparing a professional looking pamphlet and business card to distribute to businesses in your area. Individually owned firms are more likely to need this kind of service.

Some hospitals and medical offices hire data entry workers to help with some of their paperwork. Checking with local hospitals and even your own doctor will give you the information you need to be considered for these jobs.

What to Charge

 
It might be difficult to know what to charge for your services. The best way to decide is by shopping around and finding out what the going rate is. You may have to make inquiries posing as a customer to get anyone to give you that kind of information. Keep your rates in the same range as others are charging.

When you begin to get work, keep thorough records of the work performed and save backup copies of documents you produce. That will enable you to provide data recovery services for those who have lost or damaged original data, another service for which you can be compensated.

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Customer Service Skills Are A Must For Success

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Delaney
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Whether you’ve decided on the way you are going to earn extra money or are still looking, there is one thing you will absolutely need to insure success. You must have good customer service skills.

When it comes to earning extra money, finding a job, or starting a small business, you are a very small dot in the ocean. Whatever you are going to do, there are most likely others already doing the same thing. In order to compete, you must strive to do it better. To be remembered, you must shine.

Attitude

A major part of good customer service is attitude.  Projecting the attitude that you care about what the customer wants, and are more than happy to provide it will make the customer feel important. And they are important, they are your income.

When someone is starting a small business or working from home, this is particularly important. You don’t have the reputation or guarantees of a big-name company to back you up. You don’t have their advertising potential or their marketing capabilities.

Your business will grow by the amount of work you invest in getting customers and more importantly, by the impression you leave with those customers when your job is finished.  Doing excellent work, and having a professional and positive attitude will bring you repeat business and referrals for new customers.

Be courteous. Good manners are the cornerstone of customer service. Always, always put your best foot forward. As far as the customer is concerned, you should always be having a great day and excited to provide service to them.

Communication

Listen to what your customer is saying. Focus on what it is they want you to do for them.  At that moment in time they are your highest priority. Give them your full attention and take notes if necessary. Ask questions to show you are going to give them full and accurate service.

Then give quality service. Do an exceptional job and then look for a way to give an additional perk. Ask your customer if there is anything else you can do for them. You job is not finished until the customer is satisfied.

Telephone Skills

Customer service skills on the phone are even more important.  This is often the first contact with a prospective customer and the impression you make will determine whether they want to use your services or keep looking.  Practice, if necessary, to have a pleasant phone voice and giving answers that are accurate and professional.  Always answer the phone by saying the name of your business or giving your name.  Always conclude the call by thanking the caller.

If you are working from home, be sure you are able to answer your phone where there is a quiet background and that you are not interrupted.  If you answer during hours when you are not working, don’t be casual about the call. Be professional, listen to the caller’s needs or concerns and then give the time you will be available to help them.

Train Your Employees

If you have employees, give them customer service training.  They are representing your company and their attitude and actions can make or break your business. Be detailed in how you expect them to talk with customers, what their attitude should be and how they are to perform their job. Keep your customer service expectations high and lead by example.

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Work From Home Ideas

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Delaney
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Working from home has many advantages. You can be flexible and schedule your work around caring for children or other family members. You are the boss and can operate your business your way.  Whatever your reasons for wanting to work from home, there are some things you need to consider.

Working from home takes a lot of self-discipline. Even very easy work from home ideas require spending a certain amount of time working. It is your responsibility to get everything done.  You may have to put in extra hours from time to time.

Yes, your hours can be more flexible. And yes, you can work in your pajamas if you want. But procrastination is your enemy. You can’t watch TV all morning, read your favorite blogs, play some internet games and then work for the couple of hours that are remaining. You have to stay on task and keep yourself motivated to work.

Whatever work from home ideas you have, you will have to spend some time making a business plan. Decide what your services will be and how you will market them.  Know what start-up costs you will have and where you will get that money.

DO NOT bet the farm on this new venture. If you have another job, keep working until you have a sure, full-time income. If not, start with some free work from home ideas that don’t require any beginning capital and build your business from there.

You will need to establish what your fees will be and how you will handle the bookkeeping. Pay yourself a salary and put some money back into the business. Put money aside for taxes. If you start out by putting all income in your pocket and not preparing for future expenses, you are doomed to fail.

One mistake often made is spending a long time developing the perfect plan on paper and then not actually doing the work. At some point, you have to stop tweaking the plan and put it into action. It will require digging in and really working as hard as it takes to get everything up and running.

All that being said, here are some good work from home ideas.

The best work from home ideas come from doing something you absolutely love. Imagine making money from something you already do for fun. Is your hobby or special skill marketable? Do you know enough about it to create ways to make money from it?

With times being financially tight, many companies are turning to outsourcing some services. Data entry jobs from home and telephone support for a product or company are two jobs that are often outsourced.

Make contact with companies and offer your resume or a professional looking pamphlet outlining your data entry or telephone services. Some companies recruit these types of services from temporary employment agencies. While they would get a cut of your salary in the beginning, it can often lead to a full-time position.

Warning: there are many online offers for making money in data entry. Some are legitimate offers, and others want you to join their website and pay a fee. Never pay money to a prospective employer. They are supposed to be hiring you.

Has previous employment given you experience in human resources, advertising, financing, management, or any other aspect of business? Your skills will be valuable to someone else. Advertise your services as a consultant to small businesses or those just starting a business.

Be a life-skills coach. Help others learn to manage their money, lose weight, learn to cook or any other skill you can offer.

Be on call for hotels or arenas that host events. Take tickets or register participants. These places also rely on temporary employment agencies to provide people, but if you are professional and reliable, your name will be one that is always called.

Perhaps you already have plenty of work from home ideas. If you plan carefully, keep motivated and work hard, chances are you will be successful. Remember to market yourself well. Be the best at what you do. Give your customers reasons want your services again and recommend you to others. 

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Can You Make Extra Money Taking Paid Surveys?

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Delaney
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If you look on the Internet, you will find numerous sites that offer ways to make extra money. If you sign up for the right one and follow their program, you will surely have all the money you’ll ever need by next month. I’m going to tell you something you already know. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Something that caught my attention was the opportunity to earn extra money by completing paid surveys. All you have to do is become a member of the web site, and you will be able to choose from long lists of surveys. For each survey you complete, you will either earn actual cash or points that convert to cash. Easy, right? I joined and now I want to share what I learned with you.

Finding An Actual Paid Survey


The first site I joined claimed to have the best online paid surveys available. And they put $5 in my account just for joining. There was a long list of other survey sights to sign up for as well. And if I signed up for all of them, I could get even more money in my account. But they needed to know where to send the payment.

I want to stop right here and caution you about putting any personal banking information on any web site like this. Ever. Honestly, you have no idea where it will really go. I have a Pay Pal account, so I continued.

Purchase Requirements


Off to one side of the site were two premium surveys I could take that were higher paid surveys than the others. I decided to get the ball rolling by taking those. Rolling my cursor over one, I discovered I would be required to apply for a credit card, use it for a purchase and then answer questions about my experience. And it didn’t mention anything about how much it paid. I didn’t want to apply for a credit card, so I passed.

To take the second premium survey, I would be required to go to an online auction site, win an auction by being the highest bidder and answer questions about the experience. Again, there was no mention of how much it paid, but I’m betting not as much as it would have cost me to place a winning bid.

Getting the Run Around

I decided to just take the regular surveys. In order to best match me with a survey that was suitable, there were questions to answer; gender, age range, ethnicity, household income, number of people living in your home, age of home, rent or buy, etc., etc. After I had answered many questions, there was a pop-up screen that said they didn’t have any surveys for me just yet, but I could keep answering questions while they found something suitable.  I chose to continue, and guess what? The same questions started all over again.

I repeated the same cycle several times and then gave up. It was obvious I had chosen the wrong place to find legitimate paid surveys.  I searched Google for paid surveys to find out how to really get in the game.

I found a site that guaranteed a monthly payment for taking surveys. That’s what I needed, a guarantee.  After joining, I learned that my membership qualified me to purchase a list of the best paid surveys sites. I moved on.

I visited several other web sites, each one claiming to have the best paid surveys. I answered many similar questions and got various versions of the same results. I spent a couple of days on one paid surveys scam after another and never made a dime. And now there is a lot more personal information about me floating around in the World Wide Web.

The Facts About Online Surveys


Most companies gather marketing information from their sales records. There are very few legitimate surveys. Web sites claiming to offer paid surveys have a different agenda. Most of these sites are owned and operated by one group. They are gathering information about you from the questions you answer to qualify for the right survey.

That information about you is sold to other marketing companies. What you get out of the deal is a lot more email (spam), a lot more junk mail and probably a lot more telephone sales calls.

And those premium surveys that were offered? Those were actually paid advertisements purchased by the credit card company and the auction web site.  They were simply disguised a another survey opportunity.

Work Smart

If you are persistent, you will likely find a  a few legitimate paid surveys here and there, and actually earn a little money. But please consider what it will cost you. You will have spent a great deal of time for very little money. Your personal information will be in the hands of more data collection companies, and you will have helped a company that is supposed to be paying you make a large profit.

There are many, many better ways to make extra money. And there are good ways to make money online. But it will take time and you will have to work for what you get. Success won’t come instantly. Be wary of anything that offers something that sounds impossibly easy. And never pay a fee to get lists or other information.

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How To Make Extra Money

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Delaney
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If you read the success stories of people who have done well in business, you will find a common thread. They saw a need for something and  found way to provide it.

How many times have you seen a new product and wondered why you didn’t think of it? Don’t we all wish we had invented Google? Or post it notes? Look around at your immediate community. What is there a need for? Can you provide it? What are the best ways to make extra money doing it?

If you are looking for easy ways to make extra money, start with your hobbies or special skills. Chances are, something you do everyday is something someone else would pay you to do for them.

Do you know how to sew? Can you teach sewing classes for beginners? People usually bring their own sewing machines and all of their own supplies to classes like this. So there won’t even be a start up cost.

If you need a place to hold classes, ask a fabric store or sewing machine shop if they will provide the space. This is a good way to make money for both you and the store because it’s likely some of your students will make purchases while they are there.

This idea also applies to other crafts or hobbies. If there is a specialty store in your area, they may let you have space to hold classes in exchange for the customer traffic.

Do you speak another language? Since society has gone global, other languages are particularly important. Teaching beginners or helping to improve the skills of those more advanced would be a good way to make money.

Are you a good cook? Are you making meals for your family?  If you double the quantity, you will have some meals to sell. There are many people who would love to pick up a home-cooked meal for their family after a busy day at work.

House, pet, and plant sitting are good businesses to get into. Build your reputation as reliable and you may actually have so much work that you have to turn some of it down.

Clean houses. Again, be trustworthy and reliable and you will have more than you can handle. Clients will value someone they can depend on to do a good job.

Sell a product like Avon, or host product parties at people’s homes.

Speaking of selling, put things you no longer want or need up for sale. List them on eBay, sell them locally or have a garage sale. One man’s trash….

Start an errand-running service. Make pick-up and deliveries of anything from groceries or prescriptions to children. Or be a shuttle service that takes people to and from the airport.

Mow lawns or provide other landscaping or gardening services. Sell produce from your own garden.

These money making tips should give you a few ideas of your own. You already know how to make extra money.  It’s a matter of matching your skills and time with the needs of others.

Who knows, what you think are easy ways to make extra money could lead to you creating that next special item  or service that everyone loves, wants and must have right now. And that just might make you the next big success story!

Whatever your goals are, good luck!

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