Marketing
Strategies for Home Based Secretaries!
By
Kaliannah Shirah
Marketing
strategies for getting your home-based secretarial business
off the ground - also could apply to other home-based
businesses!
As an owner
of a home based secretarial business, finding time to market
my business while actually running my business was difficult
- so early on, I implemented a few marketing strategies that
takes less than 10 minutes each to assemble - thus freeing
more time for paid projects - while still getting the word
out about my services! Here's a few suggestions - some I
still use, two employees and three corporate contracts
later...
FLIERS - Create fliers on heavy
bond paper to announce your business. Use bright colors that
immediately grab the attention but doesn't blind (avoid neon
colors). Distribute them to doctors' offices, hospitals, law
firms, court reporters, small businesses, post on bulletin
boards, etc. Hire a trustworthy high school or college
student to distribute them for you.
FORMAL PRESS RELEASE - Issue a formal press release
announcing your newly opened business. Some of the smaller
newspapers and official city websites will publish your
release
free of charge! You'd be surprised at the number of private
and government organizations that support hometown
businesses, especially those owned by women!
NEWSPAPER AD - Take out a 1/6 of a
page ad in your local newspaper, not in the classified
section where it may get "lost" among others - have it
separated, bolded and bordered. If your town has more than
one newspaper publisher, consider starting with the small
circulated paper to "test the waters." To reduce cost,
consider partnering with another home-based business owner -
one that offers a NONCOMPETING service. You both share the
advertising space - and costs.
BARTER - I realize this sounds odd when you're in business
to make money, but sometimes bartering can be an excellent
marketing tool. For instance, I volunteered to design fliers
advertising a local church's fundraiser. In return, they
gave me a 1/4 of a page ad in the "Sponsors" area of their
monthly newsletter - a newsletter with a circulation of over
2,500! My costs? About 20 minutes of my time designing,
editing and printing the final product.
POSTCARDS -
Create a set of bright colored, yet professional designed
postcards. These make great reminders to past customers that
your services are still available and to announce any
"specials" that may interest them. Can also provide a unique
way to introduce your service to possible clients. For
printing, I use Avery Ink Jet Postcards (Sam''s Wholesale
Club, around $5.95 for 400).
SPECIALS - Create your own "specials" or use the ones listed
below. Be sure to keep accurate records!
* Sweetheart Sale, 14% off all projects!
* Referral Roundup, 20% off your next project for each new
customer referred!
* Halloween Hauntings, 10% off all medical transcription
projects!
* Christmas Cheer, 20% off all transcription projects!
* Every other project FREE for non-profit organizations.
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Copyright � Kaliannah Shirah, All Rights Reserved.
Kali is a freelance writer for several on and offline
publications. She specializes in work at home career
guidance for women, weight loss and fitness. She also pens
Christian romances, short stories and children's books.
Visit her website for free original ebooks, etc!
http://www.kaliannah.com
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