Creative Marketing Ideas for a Work From Home Business
by Michael Law

Being able to work from home is a major bonus in most people's
eyes, but marketing a home business can be an ongoing challenge.
Newspaper ads and special sales are tried and true, but they
grow stale after a while. Looking for something a little out
of the ordinary to give your work from home business a little
extra advertising boost? Here are a few ways to get your name,
and your business, a little extra attention and a lot of added
business.

1. Magnetic Car Tags

Your business may be too small to invest in a company car,
but there's nothing preventing you from making it look like
you have one. Contact a local sign company and have them
design a set of magnetic door signs for your family car
with your company logo and contact information. It's a
great way to advertise your work from home company while
you run around town on errands and deliveries.

2. Networking Exchanges

'Networking' has nearly acquired 'joke' status in some
circles, but the idea of getting together with other
professionals to exchange information and build a circle
of contacts is still an excellent marketing tactic.
Especially when you work from home, you don't have the
same opportunities to make day-to-day business contacts.
Instead, make your own opportunities. Join community
and professional organizations, and keep an eye on the
community calendar for Chamber of Commerce sponsored
networking breakfasts and lunches. Personal contact
is still one of the most potent advertising mediums
around. A friend of a friend of a friend could be
your next big customer.

3. Give to Charity

One of the best ways to get good publicity for your
work from home business is to link it to a charity.
Contact a local non-profit and make arrangements to
do a fund-raising party for them, or contribute a
percentage of your profits for the month. Be creative
about it - choose a product that 'goes' with the
charity, for instance, and contribute 10% of all
profits from that product. Post the information on
your web site, and send out a press release in
conjunction with the organization. It's a feel-good
promotional marketing tool for everyone - the
charity gets contributions, your customers get to
feel pleased at making a difference, and you get
the benefits of giving - and receiving.

4. Community Involvement

Be a part of your community. Get involved in local
organizations, and take an active part. People like
to do business with people that they know. Don't
stop there, though. Make sure that your business
is listed on community and Chamber of Commerce web
sites, and hold events that can be advertised in
your newspaper's community calendar. Join the
Chamber of Commerce and other local professional
organizations. Remember, you're no less professional
just because you work from home.

Think outside the box when looking at ways to
publicize and market your business. When you
work from home, you don't have the benefit of
a storefront or business offices to front for
you - but you have flexibility and reach that
'real' companies can't match. Use it well,
and your home business will fly.


About the Author
Michael Law is editor at 1steliteworkfromhome.com ( http://1steliteworkfromhome.com ), a Work From Home Directory Resource.

1steliteworkfromhome.com is a resource for anyone
looking to find work from home job information and
discover ways to work at home.