Working from home is the way to go these days. No matter what type of product or service you offer, there are countless ways to find and retain customers and ensure growth. From sourcing your first clients to staying focused and productive, here are five steps starting a home-based business, fast.
Take Your Business Seriously
Ensuring your business’s legitimacy starts with filing the right paperwork. In many cases, you will need a business license before you begin selling products or advertising services. But there may be more steps involved, depending on the nature of your company’s offerings.
For example, forming an LLC is a viable option for anyone from solopreneurs to small multi-founder companies. States’ varying rules on LLC formation mean you’ll need to research before beginning paperwork in your region.
Form Beneficial Connections
Networking is essential in many industries, including both the corporate sector and the small business world. Fortunately, working from home doesn’t mean you can’t build valuable connections. By using media to your advantage—and showcasing your expertise—you can continue to network remotely, The Muse explains.
Seeking support from professional mentors, like coaches with OpenIGO, can also give you a leg up when it comes to growing your brand. A personal mentor can help guide your business and solidify your goals, no matter what stage of growth you’re in.
Learn the Tools of Your Trade
Working at your home-based business will require some adaptations from the standard office or retail model. Namely, you’ll need digital tools to schedule tasks, communicate with clients, and share documents. Platforms like Asana and Trello offer low-cost plans for project management that accommodate your entire team or client collaborators.
You might find a handful of niche-specific tools especially useful, too. For example, freelance writers might find writing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway helpful for creating flawless copy. Organizational apps can also help streamline your workflow, regardless of your niche.
Think Creatively to Find Clients
Though the recession has affected the growth of many companies, plenty of industries continue to thrive. For many, the key is knowing where to find the ideal consumer and strategizing to ensure repeat business.
When it comes to finding your first customers or clients, the first step is to know your audience., Addressing a well-defined audience is key when crafting your pitch for securing client work (and penning website and blog copy).
Dial-in Your Marketing Plan
Though finding clients may sound intimidating, there’s a perfect audience out there in need of your product or service. The biggest challenge is narrowing down your ideal consumer and then creating the marketing plan that will draw them in. Entrepreneur recommends creating a thorough hand cohesive marketing plan with multiple steps.
Of course, when you’re just starting out, your marketing plan might be more bare-bones. For example, if you come up with a list of companies or professionals who could benefit from your service, you might write customized email pitches to each one.
Or, you might create paid social media advertising that appeals to a wider target audience. Alternatively, blogging might become an essential element of your marketing toolkit. Whatever elements you choose, experts agree that good quality content on an easy-to-navigate website is instrumental when recruiting new customers.
In the past, starting a business meant hustling for a ton of up-front capital, securing office or retail space, and hiring teams of employees. These days, opening a home-based business takes far fewer steps and even more benefits. With these steps, you can start working toward growing a brand that serves both you and your customers’ needs.
Written by: Amy Collett
