7 Ways to Take Your Business from Blah to Booming!

Starting your own business can be a great way to earn some extra income.  And many home-based entrepreneurs are very content with that.  But if you want more - if you want to one day replace the income from you job - then it's time to step it up! 


Here are some suggestions to help your business grow!


1.  Get online!  By now, most business, even home-based businesses, have some sort of online presence.  It may be a website complete with shopping cart or other order mechanism.  Or it may be a simple blog.  So I almost feel like I shouldn't have to say it.  But for the few holdouts, here we go.  Get ONLINE!  Ecommerce is the wave of the future.  Quit stalling and just do it!


2.  Build a mailing list.  Preferably an email list.  You have surely heard it said that the money is in the list.  Truth!  If you aren't doing this already, start capturing the contact information of all your customers and prospects.  Then send a newsletter to your list a few times a month (at least) or even every day.  Use it to announce new products or services, provide company news, share helpful information about your niche and just connect with your customers and prospects to build that know-like-trust factor.  The mailing list is one of the most potent tools a business can have.  It can make the difference between just getting by and a six-figure income. 


3.  Get in front of your prospects.  With all of the technology available today, there is no excuse for not connecting on a more personal level with them.  Live streaming, video, and webinars are all great ways to get that connection with your market.  It enables them to put a face with the business and create that personal bond with you. Give presentations on your area of expertise wherever you can.  Marketing whiz? Teach social media marketing at a local  college.  Health and wellness expert?  Give a presentation on staying healthy as you age at your local senior center.  No matter what your area of interest is, someone somewhere wants to hear it.


4.  Attend networking events.  Not to hand out business cards.  95% of people you give your card to won't follow up.  But you are not part of the 95%,.  You DO follow up!  And so you go to networking events to collect business cards.  Get as many as you can.  Make notes on them so you remember what you discussed and any points of common interest you may have.  Wait 48 hours and then follow up with a short email or phone call.  Remind them where you met and then use the information from your notes start a conversation.  Do not discuss business on this first contact unless they specifically expressed interest earlier.  The goal is to schedule a face-to-face meeting, even if it's just for coffee.


5. Social media advertising.  Yes, you can now pay to advertise on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a host of other social media platforms.  Learn how to do so effectively and then advertise!


6.  Referrals.  Ask your existing customers for referrals and reward them if you get new business from someone they referred.


7.  Article marketing.  Write articles for local newspapers, magazines, other websites and online article directories.  You should write about what you know and establish yourself as an expert in your field.


To learn more about ecommerce, creating an e-mail list, and other strategies that will bring you more customers and bigger profits, join the Tecademics Internet Marketing College.  It costs absolutely NOTHING and the training is invaluable!  Click here to register!