Don't cheat your business

You are a crafter and everyone says wow you should sell your work and you think yeah I will sell online. There are plenty of free things I can use. This won't cost a dime!

Not the case. A business takes money regardless of your budget. Don't cheat your business before it even starts.

First thing is first. Get that business name. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Keep it relevant to your business. You don't want to use sweet treats when your business is graphic design. You also don't want to use what everyone else is using. Boutique, bowtique, one stop shop, are all common. Using your name or your child's name is over done. Unique spelling look fun but if nobody call spell it, how will they find you? So don't use thins like "Oliviaz Designz". And no long names. They are hard to remember. "Olivia's Jewelry Accessories and Custom Designs" sounds great but will those who don't know you remember this? Even the ones that do know you, will they remember it all when telling friends?

Once you choose your name Google it. It's an easy way to see if someone is using it. Nobody using it? Now head over to godaddy.com and check the domain name. If available, buy it. Don't use the excuse I don't have the money. You don't secure it now, someone can come in and taken from under your nose.

Now go get an email account with your business name. I like gmail because this is Google based and Google based is great for online exposure. This account should be used for business only.

Now go through a few social networks and secure your name such as Twitter and Facebook. These are highly recognizable and anything recognizable is great for your online exposure. Plus you want people to search for you even if you are not an online business yet.

Now this is the part people ignore and skip. Doesn't matter how small you are or if you only sell on places like eBay or etsy, you must register your business and get a business license and resellers license or tax id. Check with your county clerk or state to see what you need as state to state and county to county can vary. If you get caught running a business in your state without these, you will get fined and charged with tax evasion. It's not pretty so don't go there.

You've jump the hoops and survived the ring of fire so take a deep breath and get that website. It sounds intimidating but really it is not. You can start small with places such as wahmshoppes.com and move up as you need. Stay away from free sites. Not only are they limited but getting in the search engines are a pain, you cheapen your business because visitors wonder why you can't afford proper hosting, and you do not appear to be reputable because its a red flag for fly by night scams. You came this far so don't cheat your business.

Don't overlook the exposure and opportunities you have with blogging. Some think that they don't see a benefit to a blog for their business or that it is a right fit for them. Blogs give you the opportunity to go in depth on your products in a way that a website or social networks do not offer. Social networks are for relationship building, websites are for sales, blogs are for information.

You have the product, the name, the website. How does anyone know you exist? Design and order those business cards. Pass them out. Give family and friends a stack to pass out for you. Use those business cards every way possible. Marketing is key to your business. Free ads sound good and just posting a link here and there is easy but if nobody knows you are online nobody will even look.

Now that you have a few things to get you started with building your business, go out there and get that exposure.

Olivia Vidal

© 2009-2011

Free Ad Space?

When starting a new business or just trying to keep it going, budgets are tight and you often wonder to the dark side of "free." Now before we get upset, hear me out on this one.

The problem free ads have is many people are doing the exact same thing. If everyone is just there to advertise, what are you accomplishing? Not all free ads produce these results but most do.

If you are going to take the opportunity to place a free ad, be sure you are getting results. Do no join free ad groups. These are usually a waste of time. Ones that are not are hard to find and still take more work than you will get in return.

Free ad space you want is:

• When someone wants to post a WAHM Feature (such special promotions at Liv's WAHM Blog) or product review. 
• When newspapers offer free space to fill voids in their print. 
• When writing articles you include a byline at the end that includes a sentence or 2 about your business including website. 
• Social network business page where you interact with customers (check the social network TOS in regards to this prior to posting ads). 
• Email signatures where you can include your website or mini bio. Keep these short and sweet. 
• Forum groups where you can create and manage a group dedicated to teaching customers about your products and offer tips. 
• Managing a blog dedicated to your product/service.
• Word of mouth. There is nothing better than a customer recommending you to a friend or family member.

These are just a few free ad spaces that are helpful in business building.

When looking for ad space, be smart about it. Don't place an ad just because its free.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009-2010
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Go for the Goal

As a WAHM building a business, at the top of your list is your goals. Your goals are your foundation and direction in which your business moves forward and build. Without goals you will wander in every direction but forward.

When thinking about your goals, these need to be realistic. What are realistic business goals? A realistic goal is what you should be able to meet with persistence and hard work. This does not mean keep them simple. Challenge yourself but make sure you are aware of the achievable limits of these goals. An example of an unrealistic goal is making a million dollars and live debt free within 1 year. A realistic goal is to make enough money to pay for your mortgage payment using your profits after 1 year.

If you meet that goal, go back and set a new goal. Once your achieve a goal, your goal setting is not over. You should always be setting and striving to achieve goals. If you achieve a goal early, great! Move on to the next.

Why should you set business goals? Setting goals give you focus and a reason for being in business in the first place. It does not matter whether you are selling your homemade candles or you have just become the new beauty consultant in your neighborhood for an up and coming company.

When beginning to think about your goals, think short term. Take baby steps. You can't go from the bottom to over the top over night. Do it right and do it right the first time. Start with how much you would like to earn each month. Now remember to keep this realistic. There is no such thing as fast money in an honest business. Lets start with $100 a month. This number sounds very reasonable and less intimidating. Make it more attainable by breaking it down further to weekly. In this case it would be $25 a week. Maybe your weekly or monthly goal will be sponsoring a new member to your team or courting a new customer even breaking out of your shell and meeting new people and giving out your card. If you are in a home party plan you goal could be 1 party booking a week at bare minimum. Your goals are anything you will achieve to build a flourishing business.

Now that you have your short term goal, how are you going to achieve this? Time to make a list. This is where that notebook I have mentioned time and time again comes in. How many new people will you approach? Will you host a party that week? This is the time to be honest with yourself and know what you will and will not do to achieve those goals. The only thing between you and your achievement is you.

While you are thinking about and setting your short term business goals, you also want to keep in mind the long term business goals. I suggest starting with looking at 6 months ahead and 1 year ahead. What kinds of goals would you like to have met in your business in 6 months and at 1 year? Can you see yourself obtaining these goals? Start with 1 year and write down all the things you wish to accomplish at this point in time during that first year. Once you have your 1 year goals, break it down to 6 months.

By now you should have weekly, monthly, a 6 month goal, and a 1 year goal. Don't write them down to never be seen again. Put these on your calendar. Refer to them often. Look over them from time to time and modify anything that may have changed. Make new goals to replace goals achieved. Never go a day without having a goal. If at any time you miss a goal, don't beat yourself up over it. Accept it, learn from it, keep moving.

You have your goals now go after them!

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Where Does Your Support Come From?

Starting a business is hard enough. Starting a business from home can be worse. You no longer have anyone to answer to. You are the boss. Having support is still required. Where does your support come from?

A supportive family and spouse can be hard to come by at first for many people. They may eventually come around but getting them on board is important. This is where a well laid out plan comes in. Not just ideas in your head but written down and worked out. This is regardless whether you are turning a hobby into a business or you are going to be a distributor for your favorite direct sales company.

For some without the support can be a deal breaker. How do you plan to deal with this? Have you thought about this yet? It is not something we want to think about but it can happen. You need to be prepared.

Support can leave down the road as well. Some may be experiencing this. Not to worry. Try inviting them into a day in your life. Show them what you do in a day and have them assist you. Let them see what you do. Some of the non-support comes from the not knowing. The more they know the better the chance you have at gaining or regaining their support.

Sit down with your spouse and discuss your new venture. Make sure to answer their questions and address their concerns. Just keeping your spouse in the loop is all you need to get continued support.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Getting Started as a Consultant

So you've decided to start working from home. You are pumped! You are excited! You are maybe a bit overwhelmed and even a bit lost as to where to begin.

Before you are off and running lets run down a few things first.

At this point you should have an idea of what you want to do and likely have found a company to join. If you have not I want you to think about this -how many do you know that sell the same product in your area or your networking circle online? If you do not know, start looking and asking. This will give you an idea of what your competition is. You need to know this from the start. If you know 20 people who sell the same thing, you will have a tough time building a business.

Next see how many would actually be interested in the product you offer. As an example lets say you sell southwest home furnishings. Do you live in a place where this would sell? Being unique does not always mean a good thing. You need to be able to sell it. Just because you feel it is great doesn't mean everyone else will. Do your local research as well.

Are you willing to invest in your business? Many don't realize you will have to invest. This includes advertising, business materials such as business cards and catalogs, demo product, samples. If you aren't willing to invest, this is not the right time to start a business. Create a budget of what you can spend now and sustain over the next 6-12 months. You want to look at up to 12 months because in some cases this is how long it can take for you to turn a profit and not returning it all back into your business.

What are you willing and not willing to do to make your business a go. If you are looking at a party plan but not willing to do parties, this is not the right type of business. Knowing what you are will and not willing to do will help determine a business that is right for you.

Doing a little homework will be very helpful when starting out. You will be more prepared in the long run and better able to take on the challenges you will face.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com