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Home-based businesses are very popular, and it is estimated that a new one is started every 12 seconds. Unlike most other small businesses, companies that are launched from home often require a start-up capital of less than $5,000. This makes it possible for people from all walks of life to achieve their goal of becoming self-employed. However, it takes a lot more to become successful than simply having a dream and starting a business.
Aside from filling a niche, having the necessary skill set and offering quality products or services, it’s imperative to harness the power of online marketing. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help you connect with a wide audience of potential customers. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you’ll be able to greatly increase your chances of becoming a successful home-based business owner.
1. Website Building Software
Having a nicely designed website with high quality written content has to come before anything else. After all, 81 percent of consumers research items and companies online before they commit to making a purchase. Additionally, a professional looking website is one of the key ways to build consumer trust.
The good news is that companies like WiseIntro make it possible to build your own professional website. This will help you save a lot of money while still attracting consumer attention. It’s also wise to combine your site with a strong social media presence.
2. Google Analytics
Let’s face it; Google basically rules the entire Internet. Unless your website and online marketing efforts attract a high search engine ranking, it’s going to be extremely difficult to build a profitable business. The good news is that Google offers a free Analytics service to help you improve the quality of your website and keep an eye on traffic.
You can also track the performance of your AdWords campaigns and set up specific conversion goals. This is very useful for tweaking your online marketing. It allows you to quickly and easily see what is and isn’t working. By utilizing this Analytic data, you can maximize your online marketing budget and efforts.
3. Email Marketing Software
There are numerous options available for email marketing software, including GetResponse, MailChimp, and Constant Contact. Use a personalized and automated approach to email marketing in order to have the best possible impact. Studies have found that merely including the email recipient’s name in the subject line can increase open rates by up to 42 percent.
4. Consider an Online Marketing Company
Do you have zero knowledge about marketing but a strong business idea? Turning to an online marketing company such as Markitors, Internet Marketing Ninjas or StraightNorth will be more expensive than DIY. However, in some cases, this is actually the best usage of your time and money.
Before you sign any contracts, though, do some research. See which company in your price range has the best reputation and offers the most comprehensive online marketing package.
5. Tools for Branding
Your company needs to be based on two ideas: customer retention and branding. Everything from having a professional logo designed to choosing a specific color scheme for your website and ads will make it easier for consumers to identify your products and services.
Always remember that even Coca-Cola still places an emphasis on product branding in their advertisements, and so should you. It’s also a good idea to look for small and simplistic ways to build brand awareness. For example, WiseStamp enables home-based business owners to create an eye-catching email signature that will further your branding efforts.
There are virtually countless additional marketing resources you could use, ranging from browser plugins that assist with blog writing all the way to free advertising sites such as Craigslist and ClassifiedAds. Ultimately, the marketing tools you choose to use should be based on your specific needs, along with your budget and business niche. By keeping these tips in mind, you can help your home business grow quickly without spending an exorbitant amount of money.
Holly Chavez is a multidisciplinary writer who enjoys writing entertaining and offbeat articles for families to enjoy. You can catch up to her on twitter @hollyleichavez
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I haven’t ever been entrusted in an online business
I’m sure you could if you wanted to 🙂
You forgot Directly Social. They’re phenomenal.
I will have to look into that one. Thanks!
Many nice resources. Definitely a ton of help for those starting out.
These sound like good resources. I really don’t know much about marketing or small businesses.
Very informative. I am going to save this. My current job is more local, so direct marketing mail is most effective.
May I ask what your job is?
I have a degree and former career in marketing and advertising. I have not worked in 10 years though, so a lot has changed, especially with technology. In fact, when I was ending my career, social media was just beginning to surface as a means of marketing for companies. I did use platforms like Constant Contact for mass emails.
I bet a lot has changed in your field since you last worked. Do you think you’ll ever go back to it?
Thank you for sharing. I haven’t really thought about Online Marketing. I think it would be nice to own my own business.
You and me both! Maybe I’ll own one, one day.
This day and age, all of these are equally important. I can’t narrow it down to just two. IT is a must, branding is a must. If you want to complete in this world of business, you have to have all of the above.
Sounds like you know what you are talking about!! A little of it all probably comes in handy at some point.
This article is really helpful! I personally think anything to do with social media is a powerful tool these days
Yes, I agree. Social media is very important in marketing these days.
I think any of these tools would work great for any business. I would mostly make sure that I am on all of the social media sites
Yes! Social media is a big one these days for businesses.
There are many options to go with. Anything regarding social media sounds right to me.
Yes, social media is very popular these days in terms of marketing.
I don’t really know anything about marketing but these sound like great resources. Great article for those starting out!
Thanks, Dana! I hope these marketing resources help someone out.
What I do is spread positivity through my Facebook Business page by posting only positive, funny, entertaining, and inspiring posts every day. I would only choose two days in a week where I would promote my online business. In addition, I found that I can get great traffic on Quora. Just answer people’s questions that are related to your business. Give people great insight in your answers, and they’ll come to check you out.
Quora is a great suggestion Jaff. People often forget about those question sites when marketing.
I think an important thing to remember about online branding is having a theme that carries through the website, emails, etc so that everything looks consistent and instantly recognizable.
Yes, that is important! It makes your business feel more consistent and trustworthy.
Thanks for the helpful resources. These will be of great help for those starting out.
You are very welcome and I hope these marketing resources help new and veteran business owners alike.
Branding is most important. Of course, branding is futile unless you have an awesome website. Be sure you understand your market. What do they want? how do you reach them?
All great points, Cindy. Have to meet your customers needs in order for any marketing to work.
The best techniques are….Client referrals and offering a free consultation
Do you offer incentives for referring someone?
I appreciate your humor…..I am way beyond the point where that is required…now I just rely on word of mouth….which is the most honest, builder of a business..your new clients come to you already expecting the right and most effective solutions
Word of mouth is a great way to get new business!!
Like earlier stated..if you are already established, new clients that have come referred already are more than half sold
Referrals can be a gold mine that’s for sure!
Great resources thank you for sharing.
Interesting. My parents are both small business owners. I will have to pass this on!
What kinds of businesses do they run?
I usually use Facebook and pay for my marketing adverts. Facebook lets you target your audience by region and many other metrics.
FB does have a nice little advertisement platform going
I can tell you know your stuff but I have never been into anything like this..
That’s okay! Marketing isn’t something most people get into.
I have never had an online business so I really don’t have any experience with these tools. WiseIntro looks like it would be a good place to start. I am retired now but the last few years I worked I worked from home. It was for a software manufacturing company but I did technical support, not marketing.
That’s great you can work from home doing tech support!
I find cold calling and pitching to work the best. I also feel like giveaways have a good conversion rate.
I do think giveaways are a great marketing technique too depending on your business goals
I can see where these would be helpful. I have no personal interest.
I understand. You have to be an entrepreneur for marketing to make sense.
I don’t have a home business. These are all good ideas—I know that Google analytics can be extremely important.
Yes, almost anything Google is super important. They rule the web.
This is a very informative post, thank you so much for sharing! I have never had to do any online marketing but these definitely sound like great resources.
I have been thinking about starting my own business. Great info to mull over.
What kind of business?