When you are developing creative home business promotions, it’s a great idea to include contests in your marketing toolbox.

Contests can be free or inexpensive but have a big impact
Can liaise with suppliers for free or discounted products or services
Contests can highlight existing or new products or services
Contests can be tied in with another promotional event or occasion
You can partner with complementary businesses for wider reach and more pizzazz
Creates interest and a sense of fun and occasion for you and your customers
Can often collect emails, addresses or business cards as part of the entry
Attract …read more

“What’s in a name?”
When you consider a name for your home business, determine what you want to achieve, the customers you desire to serve, and the products/services you offer. Nowadays, choosing a name for the image or impression you wish to project also might be included in the idea of branding your business.
*A unique name will catch attention. However, if it’s too far out, it may have the adverse effect. If it’s mundane, it won’t capture your customer’s imagination.
*In addition to being unique, will your name adequately describe your business?
*Is someone else using that same name? …read more

Developing a rapport with your customers so they’ll remain loyal and keep returning for your products and services is an important aspect of generating income for any business, including home businesses.  Some call this branding…others regard it as developing customer/client loyalty.
Ron at Brand Curve presents an interesting discussion about loyalty (Care to learn “loyalty”?) and points out how loyal football fans are toward anything connected with their team. 
So….how does a business, or home business, generate such loyalty in their customers?  How will you develop a business whereby customers return repeatedly for your products or services?
*Produce a quality product; never shortcut on quality.
*If yours is …read more

The Carnival of Entrepreneurs featured the sixth edition this week, which includes many business oriented blogs. My post about Branding Your Home Business appeared in this edition and has received numerous comments.
Participating in carnivals (gatherings of bloggers who contribute posts relating to a theme) are enjoyable and bring you in contact with others with similar interests. Ben Yoskovitz, of Start Up Spark began the Carnival of Entrepreneurs to bring business bloggers together. This carnival also gathers together a source of information for readers so they don’t have to search all over the Internet.