When opening a homebased business, how do I go about advertising and marketing my service?

Question

I am starting a cake decorating business with my sister. I have no idea how to get my business moving.

Answer 1

I would start with an estimate of how many cakes you need to sell per day or per week. That will tell you alot about how aggressive you need to be to get business.

How quickly does your business need to "hit quota"? Can you afford to let it build by word of mouth for 6 months? If not, you need some quick exposure.

Here are a few tips:

1) There's old style marketing and new style marketing.

The key to new style marketing is get a digital camera and take a photo of EVERY CAKE YOU DESIGN.

Then you build a website which shows your portfolio. As you get calls and referrals, direct them to your website.

Ask, do you see anything there you like or do you want something "custom".

It's like ordering from a Chinese food menu. Most people will say, "I like number 3 but change the red to orange and yellow to blue and make it say Happy Birthday Jimmy".

2) Look for LOCAL places to advertise, including online services. In California, we can advertise with PennysaverUSA.com and Recycler.com, usually for free or a small fee.

3) Include your name and phone number on every cake, even if it is on the cardboard base. That's how new customers can find you.

4) Partner with related businesses. A store which sells party supplies or rents patio furniture might have a bulletin board where can you post a business card or a color photo with your name and number.

The best way to create strategic partners is to become friends with the store manager. Tell him/her that you will refer your customers to them if they refer customers to you.

SEND THEM A THANK YOU NOTE or piece of cake for every referral.

Seriously, the personal touch works great.

Good luck,
- CarlD

Answer 2

Several things you can do:
- advertise on newspaper
- make business cards
- Post little banners on community places like laundry
- Post on Free Classified Sites like http://www.webcosmo.com

Answer 3

Make up flyers and put them up around the neighborhood , on market bulletin boards and ask if the party warehouses would put some on their counter (they would charge a fee of course , unless you buy supplies from them )

Good Luck

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Answer 4

I have a home based business, and I trusted word of mouth, business cards, and trade shows

Answer 5

i suggest the newspaper, its cheaper than tv or billboards by far, and it should draw more local population.