The garden metaphor for business has been done to death, but it does apply. If you’ve recently started an at-home business or plan to do so in the near future, keeping the “growth” idea in mind is a good idea. The concept can be wonderful, and with constant attention, your new business will thrive.
Running your business from home has so many benefits. You have no commute; you can work in your pajamas, and you can set your own hours. For instance, I can work on my freelance writing career at any time of day or night. That freedom is very enticing to most of us, so we need to focus on making our at-home endeavors profitable.
If you want your at-home business to blossom, you must spread the word to the world beyond your family and friends. Even a tiny advertising budget is better than none, and an ad that is carefully targeted at your customer base is more than worth the expense. I live in a very small community, so potential customers in my immediate area are few, but an ad in the local paper can bring in a small number of clients. However, advertising on specialty writing sites is more productive.
Social media may be overdone, but it still works. Create a Facebook page for your business and use Twitter. These methods can bring in some new clients, and, once you’ve done wonderful work for them, word of mouth will bring in even more. I advocate this approach over plastering your neighborhood with flyers. Several times a month, I pull one from under my wipers. I have yet to use any of the at-home businesses who advertise this way.
I’m not a joiner, but belonging to professional organizations does help bring in leads. The old “who you know” adage is correct to a degree. You still need to know your stuff, but talented people can watch their businesses fail if they don’t utilize their connections.
Growing a home business is like tending a garden, but I won’t belabor the point. Just make sure the ground is fertile and that you water it regularly. Then you can harvest a comfortable living.
