Mommy's Helper - Home Business Marketing Tips

*My favorite way to market my products is by having people taste them. This will work with any food related business you have. I happen to sell Gabby Goodies gourmet coffees and teas along with desserts. What I do is anytime I have guests in my home I make up a couple of my products and serve them. Once they taste how delicious my coffee is or how dreamy my brownies are it is easy to make a sale. I also carry samples of my candy and give them out with my business cards.
Debbie Ciulla
Gabby Goodies

*The best tip I can offer is to help others all you can. Signup for a few forums that are of interest to you and offer help to others. I especially like to help some of the newbies online. I was fortunate enough to come across some great people when I was just starting out that offered their knowledge, support, and encouragement when I needed it the most. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you :-) Give of youself:-)
Cheryl Hovey
Coffee Fair

*Always smile when you're talking on the phone to your customer. Don't give up on your goals.
Lori Voss
http://lorivoss.internetmoms.net/

*I just went to a trade show and walked around looking for prospects. I offered them some hand cream and asked if they have heard of Arbonne. This leads into a conversation. I got two huge prospects while doing this. What a GREAT and inexpensive way to get the word out there. Good luck!
Carolyn Briggs
http://www.yourhealthyskin.myarbonne.com

*I always remember the magnet on my refrigerator that says, "You can't make footprints in the sands of time, while sitting on your butt. Who wants to make buttprints in the sands of time?" It always gets me back to work!
Tara Crooks
Advertising Moms

*I have a Christian ~ Creative Cards Maker and I use it to make everything from Flyers, T-Shirts for my Kids to wear, Business Cards, Post-Cards, you name it, we can make it! The pictures are just adorable, so we just make our own advertising products and it seems to work well for us. I leave them everywhere we go, and the kids love to wear the T-Shirts around. Pretty simple ideas, but worth the time to make.
Shandla Richardson
Stayin Home and Lovin It!

*The Power of 3 is my key to marketing. I share my Avon knowledge to at least 3 people every day either by handing out catalogs, free samples, or simply informing people about Avon and my website.

5 Days per week = 15 prospects
in 2 weeks = 30 prospects
in 1 month = 60 prospects
Gina Wright
Avon

*My favorite and best is submit a site at www.dmoz.com. This search engine is edited by humans and feeds into hundreds of main search engines. I have received a lot of traffic from this search engine. And best of all it was FREE!
Brinda
Baby Devine Specialty Infant Clothing

*I have to say that what's been working for me are the online (bashes/networking) parties. I have met many people who have been curious about my products and the company I represent and there starts the lead/relationship. Word of mouth is another good one and overall customer satisfaction. If you keep in touch with your customer and do a follow-up they know that you are interested in them being satisfied with your service or product.
Gwen Daniels
Wildtree Herbs

*During the holidays, I give my customer 15% off any items that are $20.00 or more and 10% off any of my auctions through the end of January. And any total of $40.00 or more, I give a free gift of their choice of gently worn clothing or jewelry as a thank you gift for being such a wonderful customer.
Sharon Staley
Shaaronus's Unique Store

*This may seem an obvious tip as well, but many people simply do not follow up. If you have a lead with even a slight interest, give them a call. I've had lots of "maybe's" on my lead slips that I use at my home parties. Call them back and ask for that booking. If you get an answering machine, leave a message, but if you don't receive a call back in a few days, call again. It took me 3 months of phone tag to finally get this one particular booking, but in the end it paid off. Plus, so far, I have had 4 additional bookings from that one "long awaited" booking. Without following up, I wouldn't have had these 5 parties at all.
Suzanne Enos
Party Moms at Home

*This may seem simple and dumb, but I have been putting up flyers at libraries and other places in the area with business cards for people to take and it seems to be effective!
Amber
Sweetdreams by Amber

*I give all of my new customers a magnet for their refrigerator with my phone number and web site information for future orders. Most office supply stores carry business card sized magnets you can glue your business card to, or many print shops do custom magnets with a minimum order.
Karen Goodale
Watkins Products

*I can't claim ownership of this one, it came from my upline but it really works!!! Go out and ask everyone you can to have a show/party for you or to buy your product. Actively try to get 100 nos. Go to people you just KNOW will say no. Watch what happens. I haven't met anyone yet who made it to 100 nos, but they DID get bookings and sales and even recruits.
Carla Ives
Usborne Books At Home

*Here is a WONDERFUL way to market, using the power of relationship building! Get a membership at The Greatest Networker website (see my link), and complete your TGN Face Page with your personal story, values, and all-important VISION. You can see my actual Face Page at http://www.greatestnetworker.com/is/laurie/ -- Use your Face Page URL in your signature lines. You get SO MUCH more with your membership -- free ebooks, articles, and extensive audio coaching files to listen online, plus forums, a Call Partner program, a photo album, and the ability to give away items from your library as free gifts in your emails and other promotions. I found my enroller in my primary program through discovering her Face Page, and the connection was immediate and STRONG, even though it took me several months to join her business. I signed up for her newsletter and the relationship was nurtured through that, and when the time was right for me, I joined her! :o)
Laurie Kristensen
http://www.greatestnetworker.com/is/laurie/member

*I like to leave my catalogs at nail and hair salons and doctor offices, where people have to wait a long time and are always looking at the magazines lying on the table. I also like to recruit new consultants with flyers at colleges. College students are always looking to make some part-time income.
Elizabeth Seredich
Affordable Luxuries

*This is probably very basic but is so true. Word of mouth is your best form of advertising and it doesn't cost you a cent! Offer superior customer service. Become an expert in your product line. Talk about your business wherever you go and speak with enthusiasm and passion. Your excitement and belief in what you do is your greatest asset and it's contagious. Always keep a couple of catalogs (if your business has them) on you at all times. When you go out to dinner, leave your business card with your tip.

Remember, excitement, enthusiasm and superior product knowledge along with superior customer service will get you far. Always ask for those referrals!
Elaine Torrance
Watkins
Procard International

*I created my own window stickers for my car. You can get inexpensive window sticker paper at an office supply store (less then $10/six sheets). I created the sticker using my Create a Card program. Put it in your window and advertise your website whenever you park you car somewhere.
Jessica Hooper
Independent Beauty Consultant

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