If you have a walk-in business in your home, do you organize a day or afternoon during the holiday season when customers, potential customers, friends and family can stop by for punch and cookies, tea and hors d’oeuvres?
Often it’s good to plan this between the holidays to generate interest in your business, when sales may have slowed down.  It can be a way to have fun during a lull.

Have some “after Christmas” specials. 
 Show a new line you’re planning for the coming year.
Introduce an upcoming book (if you’re an author or publisher)
Reintroduce standby products and services.
Have a door prize
Give a lesson or …read more

Author Janet Elaine Smith, one of the queens of promotion, has developed a Brazen Hussy List of rules that work for her.
(Admittedly, some are a little tongue in cheek.  However, there are others I know she’s used successfully.)  These ideas should work for other authors; some of them are applicable for almost any home business.
What do you think?

Be a lurker.  Hang out in the section in bookstores where your books are. When someone looks for a book, offer them yours.
Never hide your book.  At a restaurant, set it on the table; make a see-through pocket in your purse and stick your book in …read more

When I wrote the post at Small Business Boomers, Why Have Seniors & Boomers Become Avid Online Shoppers, a reader responded and explained that health issues made this a handy way for her to shop.  Even though she might not be in the boomer category (or  wasat the very youngest end of the category), her escalating health issues were limiting her mobility.  So online shopping appealed to her.
This fact, along with the increase of boomers and seniors shopping online, is something to consider with your home business.  Perhaps your business is conducted entirely online.  However, if you have a walk-in …read more

When considering your most avid consumers, if you have an online business or a physical shop with online presence, don’t leave out seniors and boomers…as long as your products and services meet their needs.
 According to recent surveys, these two groups are some of the most avid online customers.
If your products are geared for younger people, reach out to the senior and boomers as the grandparents who will be buying for grandchildren and adult children. 
When you know, from statistics, who likely consumers are, you’ll know better how to focus your promotions and products.

Shopping on Black Friday, whether getting to the store on midnight or at 5 AM, has become a tradition in the United States.  At first it was 7 AM, but then the time began moving earlier and earlier when shoppers arrived at designated stores and shopping malls to begin their Christmas shopping with special deals and prices.
Sometimes a store does this individually.  Other times, a group of stores in an area promote the event and have special happenings for shoppers to enjoy, as well as special prices.
Even online stores nowadays have special prices for Black Friday.
Is your home business participating this year?  …read more

Google has developed a new service…a free listing for one’s business.  Here you can fill out the requested information and find yourself listed on the Google map and Google guide.
If you have a home business, where you might not want walk in customers or have mainly an online business, you might want to reconsider your listing.  It appears that you must fill in the information about address which automatically appears on the map.
However, if you do want to be listed and gain this free promotion, you could check into it.  Check out www.Google.com/LocalBusinessCenter

Developing a newsletter for your hobby could lead to your developing it into a business.  Or…if you have developed a business from your hobby, you may want to create a newsletter to inform and promote.
Your newsletter nowadays, in all likelihood, will be an e-newsletter in which you share information, shows, workshops and history of the craft or hobby.  This information also could gain you customers, if it’s a business.
For instance, I received for years a print newsletter from a canning jar collector.  She formed a collectors’ club in her area, then created a newsletter to share information about various jars …read more

When I wrote Tips for Unique Home Business Promotions, I planned to present you with more as I came across them. 
 Some of these you may have tried already; others will be those you haven’t heard about but can adapt in some way for your business.
Author John Foxjohn mentioned that he posts information about himself, his books and his web site on the top of his laptop.  It’s positioned so that when he has the laptop open, anyone glancing his way can easily read what’s written.  When he used his computer in a cafe, airport or elsewhere, he often has people approach …read more

Promoting your services, your products, your books constitute an important aspect of your business.  You might have a great item or service, but if no one knows about it, you’ll get no customers or clients.
Keep on the lookout for promotional tips…techniques that have worked for other business people which you can adapt for your business.  Even though the idea might have been used for a business different from yours, the concept might be applicable for your business.
For instance, author John Foxjohn mentioned that he sends a small colored announcement about his books when he mails a payment for a bill.  He …read more

If you have a home business with walk-in customers, promote online sales but do some demonstrations of your products, or conduct home parties, why not organize an Open House?  Invite customers to see your displays, receive updates on your products,  enjoy refreshments, and have fun.
One of my friends is doing this with her business and planning an Open House this weekend.  A number of her friends and acquaintances have said they will attend.  This gives her an opportunity to share with them the gift giving ideas she has available.
Ideas for a Holiday Open House:

Set a specific time and plan it …read more