How to Advertise a Home-Based Business

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SIX WAYS TO ADVERTISE A HOME BASED BUSINESS


1. Website

A few examples of web design firms that provide design and development services to home-based entrepreneurs include e-worc.com and PromoDivas.com.

2. Search Engine Optimization

A few books that can help you master the basics include Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day and Search Engine Optimization Secrets.

3. Email Marketing

Use an accepted email marketing service like Constant Contact orVertical Response to send your newsletters and email marketing pieces. Make sure that your email marketing efforts are in compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act and that you are not doing anything that could cause your domain to get blacklisted.

4. Article Marketing

Write and submit how to articles to quality, high traffic article marketing directories likeEzineArticles.com, IdeaMarketers.com, Amazines and others. You'll likely find that you enjoy exponential exposure from this type of internet marketing, as bloggers, e-zine publishers and website owners pick up and republish your articles on various websites.

5. Social Networking

Set up a Facebook page and Twitter profile for your company and build social networking followers by share useful information that potential customers and referral sources will want to learn about. If your business is one that lends itself to telling as story through video, consider utilizing YouTube as a social media outlet as well.Establish a LinkedIn profile for yourself and connect with other professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as potential clients.

6. Face-to-Face Networking

Consider joining the Chamber of Commerce in your community so that you will receive invitations to participate in networking opportunities with other business owners and professionals in your local area.

Join a structured networking group like Business Network International or becoming active in a civic organization. You can even build your professional network by doing volunteer work for charitable organizations in your community.

Measuring Advertising Effectiveness

Be sure to take steps to track the effectiveness of every advertising strategy that you use. This is an important key in determining if you have chosen the right advertising channels and messages to get your point across to consumers.

There are a number of ways to track advertising effectiveness. A few examples include:

• Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to keep up with traffic to your website and to stay aware of what key phrases and referring sites are sending visitors to your site.
• Google Alerts: Set up a Google Alert for your name and your company's name so that you'll receive email notifications any time something new is published online related to your company.
• Dashboard Reporting: Utilize the dashboard feature offered by your email vendor to keep track of relevant statistics associated with your email marketing efforts.
• Referral Tracking: Ask people who inquire about your business and new customers how they found out about your business and keep track of the responses.