5 Management and Marketing Tips for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs
An increasing number of professionals are choosing to work from home on either a part-time or a full-time basis. One reason for this is because rapid developments in business and technology are facilitating work-from-home opportunities. This option is typically more affordable for freelancers and self-employed individuals, but it offers cost-saving opportunities for others as well.
Regardless of your specific employment arrangement, it is important to have a functional work area that promotes just as much productivity as a corporate office environment. More than that, approach your marketing and branding efforts from a professional standpoint. The good news is that there are now apps and tools available to assist you with social media marketing, branding and more. Using the right combination of these tools and apps is critical for success, but you also need to incorporate essential elements into your own efforts. These are some of the leading elements that apply to most home-based freelancers and self-employed professionals.
1. Build an Effective Landing Page
When you work from home, a professional website is vital to your potential success. This is your virtual storefront, and it may be the primary method that new customers use to learn more about your business before they contact you directly. The best design for a landing page is simple, personalized and informative.
Remember that many visitors make snap judgments about your business within seconds after arriving at your landing page. This means that the landing page needs to effectively use style, images, and eye-catching font to encourage visitors to continue reading the fine print. More detailed information can also be included that explains your products and services.
While a landing page is your online business card or phone book listing, it also must be optimized with keywords, meta tags and more. Spend time educating yourself about SEO techniques or hire a professional to assist you.
2. Use Technology Strategically
There are apps and online tools for almost everything you could possibly imagine. Some of these apps and tools can streamline your efforts and help compete with much larger and more well-established firms and companies. However, using too many apps and tools can lead to redundancy or confusion.
A smart idea is to analyze the many options available as a first step and compare them to the specific challenges that you face. For example, you may struggle with business finances, workflow, SEO, or other related tasks. Try out a few apps at a time, and do not forget to use other online resources as well, such as forums and online communities. When you are not effectively using technology, you may be spending more time, effort and money than necessary.
3. Operate with Professionalism
When you operate a home-based business, enjoy starting the day in front of a computer in your pajamas. However, most of the time, it may be best to operate your business activities just as if you were in a professional office environment. This begins by selecting an area of the home that can serve as your dedicated office space. This space ideally will have exceptional climate control and proper electrical connections. In addition, it may have natural lighting, but you also need to add artificial lighting for maximum productivity.
It’s easy for a home office to become disorganized and untidy. Invest in proper organizational tools to meet your needs. In addition, straighten up the space daily, and clean it thoroughly each week. Remember to focus on home maintenance items as well.
4. Make the Most out of Social Media
Social media can be essential for a small, at-home business, but it also must be used with care. Identify the social media platforms that are most relevant to your business activities and target audience. For efficiency purposes, focus your attention only on the top few platforms. Get the word out about your social media presence by including links to your marketing material, email signature block and more.
You can also create blog posts with links to your social media accounts. Add links to your new blog posts onto your social media accounts to create a two-way flow. Remember to be active without being annoying. You may even partner with influencers or affiliated businesses to expand your reach.
5. Add Value
You can add value to your customers’ social media experience in multiple ways. For example, provide them with tips and advice through your social media account. You can also respond to questions and comments to create a two-way dialogue. Some business owners use their social media accounts to offer free tutorials or e-books.
Another idea is to announce and run a contest through social media. This is something many people can get excited about, and you may find that your posts or tweets are shared by many people when you offer freebies or contests. There is a cost associated with this, but you may find that the effort pays for itself and more over time.
Final Word
Working from home has considerable benefits, but you also need to approach the effort with the right strategy to maximize success. You can see that there are common pitfalls that at-home workers make with regards to general business management, operations, and marketing. Through the implementation of each of these important tips, you can take the necessary steps to manage your future efforts in a more professional and productive way.
