The COVID-19 pandemic had a powerful impact on everybody's lives, forcing people to create new habits while avoiding face-to-face contact. But staying inside wasn't the only consequence of the virus's violent outbreak. Many people lost their jobs while businesses tried to keep on track with the expenses. While some managed to survive the numerous lockdowns, others went bankrupt, firing their employees.
People became unemployed, started searching for other options to win money, and some even built profitable businesses that they wouldn't have thought about before. And even now, when the pandemic seems easier to handle, the home-based business trend is still popular because of its numerous advantages. Whether you choose to become a freelancer, create homemade products, such as jewellery and clothes, or teach online classes, you'll do all the work from the comfort of your home. Besides, you'll be your boss and have enough time for other activities, including spending time with family and friends.
But for growing your business, developing a good marketing strategy is the essential step to take. It will help you promote your products and services, being the primary tool to increase sales.
So, if you choose to start a home-based business or already run one, here are some tips that can help you promote your home-based business and increase sales:
Use social media platforms
Everything happens online, so you have to be where the audience is for a successful marketing campaign. The best way to build a wide list of clients is to use social media platforms. Millions of people use them daily, being the main communication channel between businesses and their potential customers.
These platforms allow you to connect with the clients in seconds, offering you the chance of spreading the message your business wants to communicate. Besides, you can use social media for free, so you don't have to deal with taxes and extra expenses. Whether you run a small or a big business, being present on online platforms will undoubtedly boost your company's sales. Here are some suggestions on how to use social media in your favour:
Choose the platforms that fit your needs best. When starting a business, you should better know the target audience, research, and ensure you choose the platform your potential customers use most.
Use videos to present your products and services. Today, people would rather watch a video informing them about a potential purchase than read a long description. So, don't hesitate to use videos for promotion, because they'll be very appreciated.
Build a community. Ensure you focus on loyal customers and avoid running after followers. Engaged clients will share your posts, recommending your products or services to their family and friends, so make sure you build a community that can sustain your business in the future.
Create a website
Using social media to promote your business is an intelligent step, but you should consider creating a website to inform the clients better about your offer. Besides, after searching for all the information they need about the products, the customers can order directly from the site, facilitating the selling-buying process. If you want your website to be more visible online, use SEO (search engine optimisation).
Another option is to build a blog where you can share your thoughts, ideas, new projects and photos about the business. This way, you can connect with the readers, allowing them to know how you think, what your passions are or what story your business holds.
Make a potential customers list
When you start a home-based business, finding clients who want to buy the products is crucial for your morale and financial status. You can start by promoting your offer among your family and friends because they can share the information with other acquaintances or relatives.
When your business starts to grow it is time for a new strategy. Now that you have a website and social media profile, begin to gather and store contact information that can help you extend your clients list. While personal data can be easy to access on social platforms, your website will need some extra characteristics, such as pop-up windows that invite them to submit an email or phone number. Once you have all the information you need, start promoting your products and services by sending emails or text messages.
Attend local selling events
You may wonder why people are so excited to sustain a local business. The answer is simple; they can have more control over what and from whom they buy. For example, you decided to make homemade wedding invitations and started promoting your business online and among family or friends. If someone from your town wants to buy these kinds of products, they will be pleased to work with a business owner that lives closer to them.
Besides, you can attend local selling events to promote your business. But, for doing it properly, ensure you have all the needed supplies, including promotional materials, flyers or samples. Plus, for delimiting your space, you can use pop-up tents. This way you can better organise the products and draw customers' attention.
Buy adds
A vital step in promoting a business is to ensure you are where your customers are. Whether you choose to attend local fairs or be more active in the virtual world, make sure you are updated about your target audience's preferences.
Start researching what websites your clients use to access, what kind of products and services they are searching for online, or their favourite magazines. This way, you'll know what to improve and your business's weaknesses. For example, you may discover that couples no longer search for sophisticated wedding invitations, so you can redesign your products to be more minimalist.
After figuring out your customers' online preferences, buy advertisements for more exposure on the website your target audience usually access. Besides, if you find out about specific events or conferences that your customers may join in the future, don't hesitate to become a sponsor for them.
Building a home-based business may seem challenging, but the results will show once you figure out how to manage the process. Promoting your business should be one of the main goals, so check the tips above for more information.