- Marketing should be allotment of all the various aspects of running a business.
- Branding is essential in today’s marketplace.
- Selecting a message and determining the media to use are predominant factors in advertising.
Several decades ago, marketing was often thought of as the promotion of a business. Today, marketing seems to have its hand in every conceivable aspect of running a business.
This growth, however, has not overshadowed the importance of good promotion. This should be sure to anyone who watches the Superbowl, and knows how much companies pay for those commercials. (I think the hype of it is actually the success of the TV stations’ marketing.) With that in mind, deem for a moment of how to get your business noticed, and remember, entrepreneurs aren’t shy.
Promotion is comprised of all the tools available to the marketer for marketing communication, a process that is made up of several different elements including sales, public relation, teach sales, sponsorship, and of course, advertising.
Promotion of your company can entail subtle activities such as procedures and policies designed to give your company notice. These could include something as simple as making “every third time you have contact with a client, whether by phone or mail, have nothing to do with your services-such as telling them about an article or gathering” (Davidson in Roha, 1999). Would this constitute promotion of your business? Does this promote a customer service atmosphere? Would your customer talk about it, or you, for telling about it? If yes to any one of these, it is promotion.
The main focus of promotion has always been advertising, and while there are distinct industries and styles of business that rely more heavily on other avenues to promote their business, advertising remains a major force and tool in promotion. Again, we have only to look at the sums paid to run ads during the Superbowl.
Anderson & Vincze (2000), break down the determination of whether or not to use a heavy advertising campaign into five key conditions.
·Favorable trend in demand.
·Strong product differentiation.
·Hidden attributes.
·Emotional buying motives.
·Adequate funds.
Does a market query your product or service? Is your product different? Are there attributes to your product or service that customers would have to rely on you for knowledge about? Can your product or service really get people emotional? And of course, do you have enough money for a successful advertising campaign? All these are qualities that can be exploited while using advertising to promote your business.
Selecting a message to communicate and determining the media to use in communicating it, are also predominant factors in managing an advertising program. According to Anderson & Vincze (2000), “a media plan should be based on an understanding of the objectives for IMC [Integrated Marketing Communication] and how consumers, users, and purchase influencers receive information.”
A thought targeting magazines, for instance, can exercise the high specialization of some magazines to increase their advertising power. But who are the market you’re looking for? Without adequate research into consumer markets, how will you understand and manage promotional objectives?
Many companies today have chosen to rely heavily on research and data, some you might not have thought of. Many supermarkets, for example, live by discount programs that allow your every shopping detail, from times you shop and products you buy, to what you pay with, to be monitored and tabulated for later consume. Do you think MasterCard would like to know this information? How about the actual supermarket product manufacturer? Do you think it would help them originate commercials highly targeted to their prime customers? A goldmine!
Not all consumers are ecstatic with such tactics. When one man’s local market began using a bar-code scanner card to give discounts, he said “…their cashiers are in my face every time I shop, warning me that all sale prices henceforth will be tied to the card, and I better get with it” (Sullivan, 2000).
This sort of strong-handed practice is not recommended by the author, and research by any company should never subvert the underlying goals of the company, which, according to Theodore Levitt in his 1975 article on Marketing Myopia, should rest in the ultimate consumer.
Branding is another advertising strategy that requires some management. “When it comes to brands, familiarity breeds loyalty, not contempt, as consumers come to trust a recognized message or logo, whether it be the tag on Cannon towels or Pepsi’s ‘Joy of Cola’ jingle” (Howell, 2000).
Many of the same things that determine a good advertising campaign come into play, such as differences, and the accurate message for your target market. . When these aspects are outstanding, branding happens.
What if people knew your company so well, they thought you were best at things you didn’t even do? “Debbie Lee Yohn, Sony’s director of corporation branding and consumer branding, said she wasn’t surprised [a] survey showed Sony’s brand power transcended its product offerings,” when a Consumer Electronics poll was shown to her (Howell, 2000).
Whine selling, is another form of promotion. It can happen before, or even during the sale, as a salesperson pitches the features and benefits of his company and product/service. “Catalogs and telephone marketing were the two primary means of direct marketing until 1994, when marketing via the World Wide Web began” (Anderson & Vincze, 2000).
Now, of course, millions of people are pitched everyday in countless ways. When you log on to America Online’s internet service, you are immediately presented with a pop up ad. Some may not consider this a prime example of direct selling, but let’s not build blinders on an idea that has made its own share of millionaires and successful businessmen. I do consider it direct since you have to physically click on the ad to get it to go away and continue to do what you want. If you click in the ad, you’ve said yes, but if you conclude it, you’ve said no.
Not long ago, I was woken in the middle of the night to the sound of my cell phone. It was a simple little text message ad. I was horrified, but later informed that companies had just won the right in court to spam you on your cell phone. I immediately turned off the text-based messaging function.
Direct marketing can have a tendency to be too invasive for many consumers. It’s simply done so much, that consumers have gotten tired of it and judge it to be rude. This doesn’t stop the exercise of such tactics, however, and it can be highly successful. Such a program should either be solicited, or done on such a large, inexpensive scale the few sales will make up for the thousands of “hang-ups”.
Seminars and trade shows are another great way of promoting your business. The simple act of getting your name out to prospective clients and suppliers is one type of promotion you’ll suffer without. My company regularly attends trade shows and conferences as well as touring manufacturing facilities. This is where we network with mill representatives, find installers, and even gather up some sizable prospects. Don’t be afraid to hold your possess seminars and free clinics as well. It’s a vast way to sell the services of your company and educate potential clients and associates.
Probably one of the biggest decisions a company will face today is whether or not to promote their business on the World Wide Web. Few businesses can compete today without some semblance of a web page, even if simply a static page with other contact info.
Companies must decide on how much and what type of promotion to do on the Internet. Will you have a full-fledged storefront, able to process complete orders and handle customer service issues, etc., or a mere graphic “mini-movie” for customers to see and remember you by? Think of all the marketing data you could gather with every “hit”.
A big source of further promotion on the web are links. Links are basically ads on other businesses web sites, but these ads do something special; they take customers with the click of a button to your web site. Links can multiply your number of status hits exponentially.
Promotion on the web has taken on some original and unusual twists. Adult sites consistently push the envelope with various pop up ads and un-closeable windows; all sorts of tricky new gimmicks to lure in meal tickets. While these annoying tactics may be too great for mainstream business, many of the techniques developed can be feeble in innovative ways that will capture the market you’re aiming for.
Simple things such as contests, coupons, and samples are all devices to promote your business.
Sponsorship is another type of promotion where an organization pays to be associated with a particular event, cause or image. Companies will sponsor sporting events such as the Olympics or the NBA. The qualities of the event are then associated with the sponsor.
This “win-win” area has been promoting businesses on dinky town Puny League fences for many, many years. It has also championed goods like soda, and maybe much more strangely, life insurance.
Public Relations is usually something that isn’t thought of until you’ve had quite a successful campaign, or impartial invented the Cabbage Patch Kids. It can be a surprise to some, but should be a planned and sustained pains to create understanding between an organization and society in general.
The costs of public relations can vary substantially. Successful strategies tend to be long-term and encompass future possibilities. These should readily include disasters…like lawsuits. The pre-planned public relations team can then gear up very quickly with an effective plan.
As you can see there are many possible ways to promote your business. All require different levels of effort and are certainly varied in costs. Using as many of these tools as possible can increase the exposure of your business many times over. Without some, your business can flounder and die.
The level of commitment you will need is complex and based on factors such as the recent popularity of your product or service, the level of promotional marketing your competitors use, and the capital you have at hand, among other things.
Remember, promotion is one of the 4 P’s, so the marketing of your business will depend on it. It’s simply a matter of whether you want to be or not to be noticed.
References
Anderson, C. H., & Vincze, J. W. (2000). Strategic Marketing Management. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Gurley, J.W. (1997). Marketing myopia: Is a software company a software company? Retrieved on September 13, 2002 from http://news.com.com/2010-1072-281042.html
Howell, D. (2000). The Hallmarks of Familiarity. Retrieved on September 03, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0FNP/20_39/68706284/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Landry, M. (2000). Beyond Marketing Myopia: The Service of Minute Railroads. Retrieved on September 14, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1038/6_43/67879636/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing+myopia
Rhoda, R.R. (1999). How to Raise Your Profile. Retrieved on September 15, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1318/5_53/54432797/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Sullivan, J. (2000). Forget the Product! All That Matters Is That You Know They Want It. Retrieved on September 10, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0BUK/38_18/65482594/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Related Posts
Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Dec 7th, 2011. 
Writers being self employed has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantage is that being self employed costs us more than just a regular employee working for some other employer. This is just my own personal advice. I am not a CPA. It is amazing how powerful items that we writers occupy over the months throughout the year that we can write off at tax time. So what can we write off at tax time? Make sure to check with your CPA since the laws do change every year. Here are some tips.
Documents
Make sure to have documents for everything that you want to write off at tax time. You need to have the receipts and also have a log for car mileage. You need receipts and other documents objective in case you ever get audited by the IRS. You need to be able to help up with proof of papers everything that you do. Make determined to accept a list from your CPA of everything that you can write off so you don’t throw out any important documents.
Advertisements
Any advertisements that you have such as business cards and brochures is a write off. Any website design software that you did acquire to design your website then you can also write it off. If you pay someone to design your website for you then you can write it off also. Any domain costs that you pay each year and hosting fees each month is also an expense. You need to remember that anything that you do to promote your books or articles is an expense.
Supplies
Pens and Papers is also an expense. You can buy the most expensive pens in the store since it is a write off. You can buy the most expensive professional paper too. Most things such as envelopes and postage is another write off. Writing software is something else that is a write off. Any printers that you buy and the new ink also matters. Software that you buy to design business cards or if you hire someone to produce and print business cards does matter too. The miles that you drive to the store to get supplies or to send mail does count so make obvious to record it in a miles log.
Computers and TV
Desktop Computers and Laptop computers is also a nice write off at tax time. Any repairs or upgrades is an expense. You can buy a recent wireless mouse or a nice nifty wireless keyboard since it is another write off. Make sure to check with your CPA before you buy a new computer they will let you know when it is the best time to buy a unique computer. You can also buy a new TV if you use it only to watch DVDs or programs that is suppose to help improve your writing.
Office and Phone
The office dwelling is a write off regardless of it being a home office or regular office. Your nice comfortable chair is considered an expense. The desk in your office is another expense. The decorations in your office count. Your office phone and cell phone expense is also another write off. Your Internet fee every month for Internet is also an expense so get the expensive high speed Internet.
Education and Magazines
Any education classes that you retract is another write off so remember to save the receipts. It doesn’t matter if it is on line via the Internet or at a local college campus. If you get any business magazines that is for freelance writers or authors it can also another write off. Execute sure to save the receipts for your yearly magazine fees.
Related Posts
Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Nov 19th, 2011.
Writers being self employed has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantage is that being self employed costs us more than just a regular employee working for some other employer. This is unbiased my own personal advice. I am not a CPA. It is wonderful how much items that we writers prefer over the months throughout the year that we can write off at tax time. So what can we write off at tax time? Do sure to check with your CPA since the laws do change every year. Here are some tips.
Documents
Make sure to have documents for everything that you want to write off at tax time. You need to have the receipts and also have a log for car mileage. You need receipts and other documents just in case you ever get audited by the IRS. You need to be able to back up with proof of papers everything that you do. Make sure to glean a list from your CPA of everything that you can write off so you don’t throw out any important documents.
Advertisements
Any advertisements that you have such as business cards and brochures is a write off. Any website design software that you did buy to build your website then you can also write it off. If you pay someone to design your website for you then you can write it off also. Any domain costs that you pay each year and hosting fees each month is also an expense. You need to remember that anything that you do to promote your books or articles is an expense.
Supplies
Pens and Papers is also an expense. You can steal the most expensive pens in the store since it is a write off. You can select the most expensive professional paper too. Most things such as envelopes and postage is another write off. Writing software is something else that is a write off. Any printers that you buy and the recent ink also matters. Software that you buy to design business cards or if you hire someone to design and print business cards does matter too. The miles that you drive to the store to pick up supplies or to send mail does count so originate determined to record it in a miles log.
Computers and TV
Desktop Computers and Laptop computers is also a nice write off at tax time. Any repairs or upgrades is an expense. You can hold a new wireless mouse or a nice nifty wireless keyboard since it is another write off. Form sure to check with your CPA before you buy a new computer they will let you know when it is the best time to buy a new computer. You can also assume a recent TV if you use it only to watch DVDs or programs that is suppose to help improve your writing.
Office and Phone
The office space is a write off regardless of it being a home office or regular office. Your nice comfortable chair is considered an expense. The desk in your office is another expense. The decorations in your office count. Your office phone and cell phone expense is also another write off. Your Internet fee every month for Internet is also an expense so pick up the expensive high speed Internet.
Education and Magazines
Any education classes that you take is another write off so remember to save the receipts. It doesn’t matter if it is on line via the Internet or at a local college campus. If you get any business magazines that is for freelance writers or authors it can also another write off. Make sure to save the receipts for your yearly magazine fees.
Related Posts
Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Aug 15th, 2011.
- Marketing should be part of all the various aspects of running a business.
- Branding is notable in today’s marketplace.
- Selecting a message and determining the media to use are predominant factors in advertising.
Several decades ago, marketing was often thought of as the promotion of a business. Today, marketing seems to have its hand in every conceivable aspect of running a business.
This growth, however, has not overshadowed the importance of good promotion. This should be obvious to anyone who watches the Superbowl, and knows how remarkable companies pay for those commercials. (I think the hype of it is actually the success of the TV stations’ marketing.) With that in mind, think for a moment of how to get your business noticed, and remember, entrepreneurs aren’t shy.
Promotion is comprised of all the tools available to the marketer for marketing communication, a process that is made up of several different elements including sales, public relation, direct sales, sponsorship, and of course, advertising.
Promotion of your company can entail subtle activities such as procedures and policies designed to give your company stare. These could include something as simple as making “every third time you have contact with a client, whether by phone or mail, have nothing to do with your services-such as telling them about an article or gathering” (Davidson in Roha, 1999). Would this constitute promotion of your business? Does this promote a customer service atmosphere? Would your customer talk about it, or you, for telling about it? If yes to any one of these, it is promotion.
The main focus of promotion has always been advertising, and while there are certain industries and styles of business that rely more heavily on other avenues to promote their business, advertising remains a major force and tool in promotion. Again, we have only to peruse at the sums paid to run ads during the Superbowl.
Anderson & Vincze (2000), break down the determination of whether or not to employ a heavy advertising campaign into five key conditions.
·Favorable trend in demand.
·Strong product differentiation.
·Hidden attributes.
·Emotional buying motives.
·Adequate funds.
Does a market query your product or service? Is your product different? Are there attributes to your product or service that customers would have to rely on you for knowledge about? Can your product or service really procure people emotional? And of course, do you have enough money for a successful advertising campaign? All these are qualities that can be exploited while using advertising to promote your business.
Selecting a message to communicate and determining the media to exercise in communicating it, are also predominant factors in managing an advertising program. According to Anderson & Vincze (2000), “a media idea should be based on an understanding of the objectives for IMC [Integrated Marketing Communication] and how consumers, users, and rob influencers receive information.”
A plan targeting magazines, for instance, can use the high specialization of some magazines to increase their advertising power. But who are the market you’re looking for? Without adequate research into consumer markets, how will you understand and manage promotional objectives?
Many companies today have chosen to rely heavily on research and data, some you might not have thought of. Many supermarkets, for example, live by discount programs that allow your every shopping detail, from times you shop and products you buy, to what you pay with, to be monitored and tabulated for later use. Do you believe MasterCard would like to know this information? How about the actual supermarket product manufacturer? Do you contemplate it would help them design commercials highly targeted to their prime customers? A goldmine!
Not all consumers are happy with such tactics. When one man’s local market began using a bar-code scanner card to give discounts, he said “…their cashiers are in my face every time I shop, warning me that all sale prices henceforth will be tied to the card, and I better get with it” (Sullivan, 2000).
This sort of strong-handed practice is not recommended by the author, and research by any company should never subvert the underlying goals of the company, which, according to Theodore Levitt in his 1975 article on Marketing Myopia, should rest in the ultimate consumer.
Branding is another advertising strategy that requires some management. “When it comes to brands, familiarity breeds loyalty, not contempt, as consumers come to trust a recognized message or logo, whether it be the tag on Cannon towels or Pepsi’s ‘Joy of Cola’ jingle” (Howell, 2000).
Many of the same things that choose a worthy advertising campaign come into play, such as differences, and the right message for your target market. . When these aspects are outstanding, branding happens.
What if people knew your company so well, they idea you were best at things you didn’t even do? “Debbie Lee Yohn, Sony’s director of corporation branding and consumer branding, said she wasn’t surprised [a] survey showed Sony’s brand power transcended its product offerings,” when a Consumer Electronics poll was shown to her (Howell, 2000).
Direct selling, is another beget of promotion. It can happen before, or even during the sale, as a salesperson pitches the features and benefits of his company and product/service. “Catalogs and telephone marketing were the two primary means of direct marketing until 1994, when marketing via the World Wide Web began” (Anderson & Vincze, 2000).
Now, of course, millions of people are pitched everyday in countless ways. When you log on to America Online’s internet service, you are immediately presented with a pop up ad. Some may not believe this a prime example of direct selling, but let’s not put blinders on an idea that has made its have share of millionaires and successful businessmen. I do contemplate it direct since you have to physically click on the ad to get it to go away and continue to do what you want. If you click in the ad, you’ve said yes, but if you cessation it, you’ve said no.
Not long ago, I was woken in the middle of the night to the sound of my cell phone. It was a simple little text message ad. I was alarmed, but later informed that companies had just won the right in court to spam you on your cell phone. I immediately turned off the text-based messaging function.
Direct marketing can have a tendency to be too invasive for many consumers. It’s simply done so much, that consumers have gotten tired of it and consider it to be rude. This doesn’t stop the use of such tactics, however, and it can be highly successful. Such a program should either be solicited, or done on such a large, inexpensive scale the few sales will make up for the thousands of “hang-ups”.
Seminars and trade shows are another great way of promoting your business. The simple act of getting your name out to prospective clients and suppliers is one type of promotion you’ll suffer without. My company regularly attends trade shows and conferences as well as touring manufacturing facilities. This is where we network with mill representatives, find installers, and even gather up some great prospects. Don’t be afraid to hold your own seminars and free clinics as well. It’s a great way to sell the services of your company and educate potential clients and associates.
Probably one of the biggest decisions a company will face today is whether or not to promote their business on the World Wide Web. Few businesses can compete today without some semblance of a web page, even if simply a static page with other contact info.
Companies must decide on how much and what type of promotion to do on the Internet. Will you have a full-fledged storefront, able to process complete orders and handle customer service issues, etc., or a mere graphic “mini-movie” for customers to leer and remember you by? Think of all the marketing data you could regain with every “hit”.
A big source of further promotion on the web are links. Links are basically ads on other businesses web sites, but these ads do something special; they capture customers with the click of a button to your web site. Links can multiply your number of site hits exponentially.
Promotion on the web has taken on some unique and new twists. Adult sites consistently push the envelope with various pop up ads and un-closeable windows; all sorts of tricky new gimmicks to lure in meal tickets. While these annoying tactics may be too much for mainstream business, many of the techniques developed can be used in innovative ways that will occupy the market you’re aiming for.
Simple things such as contests, coupons, and samples are all devices to promote your business.
Sponsorship is another type of promotion where an organization pays to be associated with a particular event, cause or image. Companies will sponsor sporting events such as the Olympics or the NBA. The qualities of the event are then associated with the sponsor.
This “win-win” situation has been promoting businesses on small town Little League fences for many, many years. It has also championed goods like soda, and maybe noteworthy more strangely, life insurance.
Public Relations is usually something that isn’t thought of until you’ve had quite a successful campaign, or just invented the Cabbage Patch Kids. It can be a surprise to some, but should be a planned and sustained effort to create idea between an organization and society in general.
The costs of public relations can vary substantially. Successful strategies tend to be long-term and encompass future possibilities. These should readily include disasters…like lawsuits. The pre-planned public relations team can then gear up very quickly with an effective understanding.
As you can leer there are many possible ways to promote your business. All require different levels of effort and are certainly varied in costs. Using as many of these tools as possible can increase the exposure of your business many times over. Without some, your business can flounder and die.
The level of commitment you will need is complex and based on factors such as the current popularity of your product or service, the level of promotional marketing your competitors use, and the capital you have at hand, among other things.
Remember, promotion is one of the 4 P’s, so the marketing of your business will depend on it. It’s simply a matter of whether you want to be or not to be noticed.
References
Anderson, C. H., & Vincze, J. W. (2000). Strategic Marketing Management. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Gurley, J.W. (1997). Marketing myopia: Is a software company a software company? Retrieved on September 13, 2002 from http://news.com.com/2010-1072-281042.html
Howell, D. (2000). The Hallmarks of Familiarity. Retrieved on September 03, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0FNP/20_39/68706284/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Landry, M. (2000). Beyond Marketing Myopia: The Service of Slight Railroads. Retrieved on September 14, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1038/6_43/67879636/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing+myopia
Rhoda, R.R. (1999). How to Raise Your Profile. Retrieved on September 15, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1318/5_53/54432797/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Sullivan, J. (2000). Forget the Product! All That Matters Is That You Know They Want It. Retrieved on September 10, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0BUK/38_18/65482594/p1/article.jhtml? term=marketing
Related Posts
Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Mar 14th, 2011.
Since the mid-1950s, Americans have brightened up their homes and neighborhoods with Christmas lights. It has become a holiday tradition for many families to decorate their houses with cheerful and sparkling Christmas lights. Unfortunately, this tradition comes with a lot of work. And some Americans may impartial be too busy, too exhausted, or physically unable to complete this task. That’s what a holiday lighting business is for! If you enjoy decorating homes with Christmas lights, this seasonal job (with some year-round work) may be for you! The following steps might help you launch a Christmas/holiday lighting decoration service.
Determine If This Business Is For You
Ask Yourself:
Do you have a lot of experience in decorating homes?
Do you have an additional source of income to make it the rest of the year?
Do you have enough time during the winter season to dedicate yourself to this job?
Are you motivated?
Can you handle some picky, and possibly irate customers?
Are you physically able to climb on roofs, etc?
Do you have some extra money to invest in advertising, supplies, etc?
If you answered “yes” to all of the above questions, this business might be for you. This service would make a great supplement for a lawn care business, house cleaning business, and more. It could also be an valid seasonal job for a college student.
Contact the SBA
As with starting any business, the SBA (Small Business Administration) is a valuable resource. Visit www.sba.gov to find the nearest plot in your area. They offer classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling. They can assist you with launching the business, marketing ideas, and more. Another great site to try is www.asbdc-us.org. Dinky Business Development Centers also provide assistance for entrepreneurs.
Choose a Name for Your Business
Now it’s time to come up with a catchy name. It could be as simple as “Mark’s Merry Lights”, or “Hill Valley Holiday Lighting”. Depending on the regulations in your area, you might need to get a DBA – “Doing Business As” license. Ask the SBA for more information.
Produce Business Cards
Business cards are a necessity to help promote yourself and your business! You can make them at home with a kit (can be purchased at Wal-Mart), or there are several sellers on eBay that would be thrilled to print them for you. Just a side note: if at all possible, put your cell phone # on it. Not all callers will leave messages. Having a cell phone could mean more business for you!
Create a Web site
This is not essential, but it could help bring you a little more profit. It is really not that difficult to fabricate a web-site through sites such as Yahoo and Homestead. This web-site could be used to display your portfolio, list client testimonials, and more
Gather Up the Supplies You’ll Need
This is an expensive, but necessary step. You’ll need to gather up the supplies you need. You definitely need a ladder. You will also need lights (of course), and hooks. You can either lift them now, or wait until you have your first client. Although it’s best to use your own lights, if the customer already has them, you might be able to use their lights instead.
Residence Your Rates
Now’s the fun part, deciding on how mighty you’ll earn! Truthfully, this rate is up to you. Since you are a novice to this business, you want to retain them low but don’t underestimate yourself either! You could charge by the hour, however, as you become more efficient, you’ll end up getting paid less. Your fees should depend on the cost of living in the area, and perhaps the size of the house. (Note: If you’re just getting started out, you might want to avoid decorating large mansions. Wait until you are more experienced to accept those jobs.) A typical job could steal between 3-5 hours. The minimum you should charge should be $125, but truthfully it’s up to you! If you use your contain lights, you of course will need to remove them, and will need to charge for that as well. You might consider an “early bird discount” for families who are willing to have their homes decorated in October/November.
Hire a CPA
If you’re not tax savvy, it’s wise to hire a CPA to help you with your taxes. He/she can (hopefully) make sure that the IRS doesn’t bang on your door next year.
Start Advertising and Promoting Your Business
You can start as early as September, although you probably won’t begin getting calls until October/early November. Here are some ideas to advertise your business –
Place a Newspaper Ad
Most newspapers have “Yellow Page Ads” where you can run an ad every day for a month. Those are the most effective, since customers may miss a one-time-only ad. Alternately, you can run both types of ads if you can afford it – perhaps one one-time only ad, and a full months worth (say November) of ads in the Yellow Pages section.
Bustle Ads In Free Local Publications
If you live a in a bigger town or city, your budget will probably not allow you to advertise in the local paper. Another great option is advertising in free local community publications. Most larger towns and cities have at least one magazine/paper specifically for the elderly. Senior Citizen publications are perfect places to advertise since they may not enjoy or be able to decorate their homes. There are also family publications you can advertise in, or free classifieds such as the “Thrifty Nickel”.
List Your Business On CraigsList
This one’s free – take advantage of it! Craigslist is a free online classifieds site available in most communities. The downside is you might need to post your ad every day, or every other day.
Send out Mail Outs
Another idea is to mail postcards advertising and discussing your business. You can purchase mailing lists for a very reasonable fee from sites such as www.infousa.com. For example, if you want a list of senior citizens living in a home that’s valued at $150,000 or more, they should be able to send you a list, or something very terminate to it. Don’t don’t form cold calls though – you’ll unprejudiced annoy a lot of people!
Hang Up Fliers
Fliers can be very effective, but very low-cost advertising. Create fliers and hang them up wherever it’s allowed – coffee shops, grocery stores, libraries and more.
Make Yard Signs
Decorate your own home and assign a sign in the yard promoting your business. You might try this with friends/families homes too. It might not bring you much business this year, but people passing by might remember it for next year’s season.
Rent a Booth at a Home/Garden Show
Most cities have a Home and Garden Present every year, where owners can rent booths to promote their businesses. This might be something you’ll wait to do until you have developed your portfolio. Many craft shows would probably be more than willing to rent you plot as well. Some holiday craft and gift shows begin as early as October.
Truthfully, the best advertising is word-of-mouth. If you do an excellent job, and provide friendly, top-notch service at each home, customers might spread the good news with their friends and neighbors. It is very important to beget a good reputation.
Patiently Wait for Your First Customer
Hopefully, you’ll receive at least a few calls after you start advertising. When the first job comes in, provide A+ quality service, be very friendly – after all it’s the holiday season!
Compose a Portfolio
At each home, takes lots of photos of your work. Collect them to form a portfolio (a simple photo album is great), and add them to your Web site.
Help Your Business Grow Every Year
As the business grows, you might want to hire an assistant or two to help keep up with the jobs. In addition, it might be a good idea to look for new ways to advertise and promote your services. Perhaps you could even do some charity work as well – hang lights on a group foster home, for example.
Hang in there! (No pun intended.) Good luck as you begin your unusual business adventure!
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights#wikipedia
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Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Feb 21st, 2011.