Work at home moms often have a tight budget, especially when first starting. You want to get the word out quickly, but you need quick and easy marketing ideas.
One simple marketing idea is to create business cards. Print your own or use an online service. Carry some with you to hand out when the opportunity comes around. Along with cards, flyers are great for promoting. Create a simple design on your computer and print them. Place one on bulletin boards in grocery stores, your kids preschool and the library.
One of the simplest marketing tactics for WAHM is to write articles about your business. Write a short one at least once week. Make sure it is related to your business. For example, if you are into making gift baskets, write up an article with 5 reasons togive a gift basket anytime. Submit to article directories like ezinearticles.com, isnare.com or ladypens.com. Be sure your link to your website is included in the resource box.
Join and participate in forums related to your business, home businesses and work at home mothes.Post quality answers to questions. Don’t blatantly advertise, just have a link back to your website in your signature line. Forums are great for building not only business relationships but you’ll meet some wonderful people who have the same interests.
Coupons and contests are another great promotional idea. Offering your product or service as a prize through a contest can turn visitors into customers. If you don’t want to run the contest on your own website, offer your product or service on someone else’s contest.Set up a special coupon for your existing customers or those who sign up for your newsletter.
You can use these simple and easy marketing ideas while working from home and see how yourbusiness grows.
Working around children can often be like juggling tigers in a three ring circus. With a little planning work at home moms can tame those tigers. Get creative with your scheduling. If your kids don’t nap or you need to nap when they are, then schedule work while Grandma or Dad can watch the kids. Avoid using the electronic babysitter (TV). Encourage your kids to find create ways to entertain themselves, like with crafts, books or make believe. Outsource as much as possible within your budget. When others are working on part of the project it won’t take as long to accomplish. And finally, plan ahead. Know what tasks need to be done before you sit down to work on your business.
But then again, sometimes they are just to cute for you to work…
I’ve been searching the web for ideas about balancing work and family while working at home. Here is a short summery of what I’ve found:
“Finding a good balance between work and family when working from home can be difficult. Sometimes you end up folding laundry while speaking to a client or you spend your evening working because the computer’s calling you to check your email.
For balance it is necessary to define your work area. Find a spot to set up a home office, even if it’s only a corner of your bedroom. Defining your workspace lets your family and you know when you’re working and when your “Mom”.Shut the door if possible to avoid distractions.
Sit down with your significant other and map out a time each day or week for your work schedule. There will be some tasks that will need to be taken care of outside this time, such as seminars or checking email. By having a set schedulewhile hubby takes care of the kids, of a few hours each week allows you to get most of your work done. Be sure to set aside time spent exclusively with family. And of course pencil in some free time for your self—no quick emails. Stick to it as much as possible!
Let the family know the rules. Help them understand that what you’re doing is serious work and you need their support. Don’t let them interrupt unless it’s an emergency. You will all soon adjust to the new habits and your work will go smoother and quicker.
Reexamine your schedule every so often and make adjustments when necessary”.
Yes, I know, nothing spectacular here. Basically I think It’s all about you. Your will and determination are what count. What one has to do is GO FOR IT, and make changes and adjusments on the fly.
Working from home can leave us feeling isolated and stressed, and the best cure is of course laughter. For a bit of humor today, why not listen to Sarah maizes. I love her.
Not enough? Why don’t you try this site for a good laugh. It’s a collection of hilarious, cute and inspiring quotes right from kids minds. As they say, “from the mouth of babes”, they sometimes hit upon the truth in a roundabout way. Categories range from family and friends to school and wise beyond their years.
A big step towards being a successful WAHM is to set up a proper home
office. Yes, we can start at the kitchen table with our laptop or the
family room computer. Except there will be constant interruptions.
The ideal situation is an extra room in your house you can dedicate
entirely to your office. Don’t have an extra room, don’t panic.Dedicate
a corner in a spare bedroom, your master bedroom or a laundry room for
your home office. It’s best to use a room with a door so you can work
quietly.
Include a system for filing and doing paperwork. Your paper files might be
contracts with clients, marketing and learning materials such as CDsand
binders and electronic files. Storage bins or filing cabinets are great
for paper files, while a bookshelf works for marketing material. Set up
differentfolders on your hard drive for electronic files.Make
a habit of filing and straightening your office and desk daily. It’s
much easier to get started each day with a clean slate.
Choose a desk and chair that are comfortable. Remember, you’ll be using them
for long periods each day. The last thing you want is a sore back after
a long day at your “work”.
Make your office friendly and inviting. You should be comfortable and feel
happy in … so decorate in your style and make it feel like your
space. Put up photos of the kids and loved ones. Hang up an
inspirational poster to help motivate you to work. But don’t go
overboard. You’ll want to keep distractions to a minimum. So no TV or
radio if it keeps you from being productive
Ok, now we are all set. The only things we have to worry about are minor details, like what to do and how to make money…
Unfortunately we lost all of our database when we moved MommiesCloset to a new server.
So we started this blog, and we will gradually add to the site all of the old features - classified, guest books, link directory, etc’.
Our vision is to create a friendly place where work at home mom’s can meet, talk, exchange Ideas and get help marketing their services.
To start off the blog I’ll write some standard stuff for work at home mom’s, and hopefully things will become wilder pretty soon :).
If you wish to share your ideas and knowledge with your fellow wham’s, please mail me (check the top left side of this page) and I will be more than happy to add your post to the blog.
cheers
Oh, and one more thing: The first post, called “original mommiescloset”, contains the text of the old mommiescloset.com. history must be preserved!
