Help for Homepreneurs

Work-from-home businesses are often small—with one or two employees. But when homepreneurs sell their wares in the marketplace, they often compete with the big dogs. Presenting products or services next to large, established companies with dedicated staffs and expensive marketing materials can be daunting. It's easy to feel minute when faced with a behemoth or even a mini-behemoth. This feeling of inadequacy is a confidence buster. Worse, it can give a small business an identity crisis. A business owner who originally entered the market energized may begin to wonder if her business can compete. In her mind, she may question whether the business is a career changer or just a hobby. So what makes a business a game-player? Is it the number of employees an organization has? Maybe, it is the size of the company's product portfolio. It could be the company's budget or profit margin. These certainly help, but businesses strong in these areas still fail. I say, it's the profe...

Recently, I contacted a dance studio via the business’s Web site for information about dance lessons for my child. After several weeks the company emailed a brochure with upcoming classes. I picked the class I wanted and sent the company an email asking how to sign-up and pay for the class. No response. I sent a second email. After receiving no response again, I called the gym down the street. They answered their phone and signed my child up on the spot. I’d like to say that this experience is rare, but it is unfortunately too common. Customer service seems to be a lost art at many businesses, but it is one that can mean the difference between repeat business and no business. Something as simple as responding to an email, honoring an appointment, and even saying hello when a customer walks in the door can make all the difference in a business’s success. As a business owner, it’s easy to say that customers will stick around because they need the product or service a business is sel...

Owning a work from home business may seem like the ideal situation. The commute to your office is measured in footsteps not miles and the length of your workday is yours to define. But before you trade in your business suits for sweatpants, here's some truths to consider: Myth: Working from home is a good alternative to childcare. Truth: If your kids take consistent naps and you can fit your work into that time period--great! Otherwise, make plans for child care. Trying to take a phone call or work on a client's project with a screaming child in the background is just plain miserable. Believe me, I've tried. It's frustrating to have to place a client on hold to calm a crying baby or wipe burp-up off your computer keyboard. If you have a neighbor or relative that is willing and able to pop over when you need quiet time to work, call them. If you can schedule your phone calls ahead of time, work around your babysitter's schedule. If you can't sch...

Marketing is the processes used to get your message and product to your customers and potential customers as effectively as possible. If you’ve ever had to go door to door with your child selling candy bars for a school fundraiser, you understand the basics of marketing. The school has probably identified a sales target for you and your fellow candy bar sales people. Your job is to find the most effective way to reach the target. You want to edge out the competition by setting yourself apart from the candy salesperson down the block. Before hitting the street with your box of candy bars, you’ve sized up the market. From previous wanderings around the neighborhood you know who will bring out their wallets and who will kindly (or not so kindly) say no thanks. You may even have an idea about what type of candy bars your neighbors prefer so you can choose your candy supply accordingly. You use this information to sell to the folks most likely to buy. Guess what? You’re a ...

Remember the classic school-yard taunt that embarrassed countless young romantics during their most formative years? [Insert name] and [insert name] sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love than comes marriage, then comes mommy with the baby carriage. Now that I am living that anthem of tweendom , I'd add a second verse: Then comes countless hours of writing thank-you notes for crock pots, lace doilies, and ducky covered burp cloths. If I'd known weddings and babies led to hand cramps, writer's block and whiny husbands who would rather change the diaper pail than write even one thank-you note, I might have thought twice about visiting the kissing tree. But, as much as I'd like to see handwritten thank-you notes go the way of the telegraph, that would be a mistake. Yes, you can say thank u in a text message, but it lacks the personal touch that says, I give a darn. And don't we all want to know that when we give something of ourselves, so...

Last week, my husband and I were invited to a birthday party for one of his co-workers. Amidst the gifts, cake, Cheetos and mile long buffet I chatted with his work family about bowling, the weather, the state of the economy—anything I could think of that would entertain without offending. As a work-from-home business owner, I enjoyed the chatter and was humbled by the fact that these people who were strangers to me would welcome me into their circle. I also felt a bit ashamed. As these kind people shared their war stories, all I could think of was—I bet they could use a marketing consultant. Luckily, I had the sense to know that this was not the appropriate place to sell my marketing strategies. As a business owner, it's a struggle knowing when to sell your wares and when to take off your business hat and be a civilian. It's not an easy call. Your network is often the lifeline of your business. Making connections means making sales. But some places require caution. Wed...