Business anniversaries, seasonal events, holidays, grand openings and other special occasions can result in contests, drawings, and enjoyment for your customers. You’ll often notice a sign or advertisement for a first (second, fifth, tenth, etc.) anniversary celebration inviting you to stop by.
Online celebrations may take the form of contests and drawings and linking to one another’s sites and blogs.
These are occasions when we’re pleased we’ve made it this far in our business and want to celebrate with others. We can share by offering special sales, as well as the contests of various types.
Darlene McDaniel, at Interview Chatter, …read more

As some of you know, in addition to writing Home Biz Notes with Yvonne Russell, I co-author Alzheimer’s Notes with Liz Lewis.  I’m a former caregiver for my mom and aunt and now help with Alzheimer’s awareness through my writing and speaking.  Liz is a nurse whose work involves the elderly.
Liz is organizing an All About Alzheimer’s Carnival at Alzheimer’s Notes, “to create a community place to discover each others writings and thoughts.”
We know that Alzheimer’s knows no boundaries so may affect your lives in some way that you’d like to share…to find comfort or to comfort others.  Lia and …read more

I’m continually looking for business tips and information that will aid you (Home Biz Notes readers) in your ventures. A search through the other b5media Business blogs often turns up great nuggets.
 Today I discovered some in a post, 5 Small Business Marketing Tips, at Brand Curve, written by Susan Gunelieus.  These tips for small businesses with small marketing or promotional budgets are unique, but common sense and should prove helpful.
Perhaps every one won’t apply to you, but see how creative you can be with using this information as a springboard for your particular home business. 
Do you have some creative marketing/promotional tips you’d like to share?  …read more

The first eye-catcher of your blog, other than perhaps a photo or illustration,  consists of your headline or title.  This is true of press releases, titles of stories, headlines in newspapers and ads.
How do you write a headline that captures attention?  What makes people stop and take notice?
Brian Clark at Copyblogger has an excellent post, Warning: Use These 5 Surefire Headline Formulas at Your Own Risk, that gives advice and suggestions about headlines that catch attention.  He also explains why these are good techniques.
Brian also has another post, How to Write Magnetic Headlines with a list of  8 additional headline resources.  …read more

Even though some business owners mention they don’t use business cards or use them less than previously, especially if they operate an enterprise with an online presence, my husband and I still find business cards a necessity.  Yesterday at our yard sale, there were several opportunities for Jim to hand out his business card.
As people chatted with him, they often asked what he did.  That gave him an opportunity to mention his web based business.  “What’s your web site?” let to his giving them a business card.
Two other people wanted our phone number to get back to us later in the week.  They …read more

Here’s an interesting idea for businesses with a shop in the home where customers stop by?  How do customers know you’re open for business?
You probably have a sign.  Is it homemade (a piece of plywood smeared with paint or poster board with lettering in permanent marker) or is it professional looking.  When I operated a dressmaking business and gift shop in my home, Mea’s Boutique, I did go to the expense of having a professionally made sign to place in front of our house.  It more than paid for itself by attracting customers and giving the impression that I was a professional.
At Art …read more

When we mention press releases, or getting news out about our business, a new product or service, we think of sending them to as many publications or media sources as possible.  However, Eric Eggertson of Common Sense PR mentions another technique in his post, If You Can Give a Journalist Exclusivity, the Payoffs Are Big.
“Information about your organization [home business] has relative value.  The more journalists you send the information to, the less value it has for each of them.”
Eric discusses the value of a well-placed story rather than diluting it through numerous short pieces in many media sources.  This is …read more

The appearance of your blog and your business say much about you. First impressions are important. Whether it’s a shop in your home or web site or blog, do they give the impression you want customers to perceive?
The old adage, “You only have one time to make a first impression,” still holds true. Even in these days when much business is done online and customers don’t physically see you when doing business with you, there are still ways that you give an impression.
*Your blog and/or web site don’t have to be flashy, but should give the impression …read more

Slide shows for presentations have been popular for some time.  These generally were considered something you projected onto a screen, then on video, eventually DVD to show on a TV or computer screen.
However, you now can find slide shows on the Internet and place yours there, too.  Alyson B. Stanfield, of Art Biz Blog, has an informative post, Get a slideshow of your art online, with a link to SlideShare.
“SlideShare is a cool FREE site, “ says Alyson,  ”where you can upload your slides from PowerPoint or PDF file so they can be viewed online.  You can even embed a …read more

                                  One of the traditional methods of obtaining publicity for a business has been press releases, written by the business owner, or someone hired for them. (I once did this, on a freelance basis, for a real estate office, as well as write their ads.)  You can send these to print publications and online e-zines and web sites.However, how you write a press release determines whether it’s read by the appropriate person and used. 
*If it’s well written and short, a publication may use the press release in its entirety.
*Sometimes they take the information and enter it into a calendar of events, people …read more