Need help networking for my small business.?

Question

I have started turning my hobby into a business and would like to know what the best way to network out. I have a price list set up and need advice. Anyone who is serious about helping me, please assist.

I have decided to turn my scrapbooking hobby into a business and sell my artistic talents out to people who do not have the time to put together an album. I have also put together gift ideas for friends, families, and co-workers. I need some assistance on how to network this out to people. Please let me know you thoughts or ideas. Only serious responses please.

Answer 1

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

You should create some examples and take them to bridal shows. Weddings are a moment everyone wants to treasure for a lifetime. You can also contact high school newspapers and advertise in the graduation editions or ask if they have special editions for parents around graduation time. Scrapbooks make great graduation gifts. You can also try asking hospitals if you can leave business cards in the waiting rooms of the maternity ward.

Just a few thoughts. Get creative.... think of all the great occassions scrapbooks would make great gifts for and figure out the best way to find people in those situations: babies, weddings, anniversaries, graduation.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

First, hook up with any clubs that cater for your hobby (you don't say what it is, by the way, so all I can do is hypothetical answers). Join them, and talk up your business. What makes your business different? What can you offer to your fellow enthusiasts?

Look for networking associations in your area. These are groups of business people who gather regularly to meet and share ideas and support each other.

Have you set out a business plan for yourself? What about a future plan?

to do this, list your goals for your business and when you would like to achieve them. Make them realistic and then set down the steps you need to take to achive them.

List your business in your Yahoo profile. Tell people about it. For example, your question could have read:

" I have started to turn my hobby of pasta jewellery making into a business." - there you've mentioned what your business is about, so that anybody reading the question knows what it is you do.

Hope that this helps.

Answer 4

Deffinitely get a good website (preferably not a geocities or likewise one, a real all-your-own site), and start getting in on link shares and webrings.

If you have a site, email me and I will add your link to my website ( www.creationsbytara.com - beign overhauled right now, but plenty of traffic for such a new site).

Good luck!

TDK