In fact, if you're just getting started with your own business, then I recommend that you read Shama's post.
For many freelancers and home business owners, marketing is NOT the main part of what they do. They provide goods or services. Whether you are a graphic designer or you sell handmade jewelry on the Internet, chances are that you don't think of marketing as a major part of what you do.
(I DO realize that there are also a large group of home business owners who specialize in various types of sales. For them, Marketing IS the main task.)
In fact, having to market your own goods or services may be one of the biggest differences between working for yourself and working for someone else.
Speaking from my own experience, I know that it was a huge adjustment for me. In the corporation, did I have to go out and find technical writing projects? No. My employer brought them to me. While I might have been required to provide an estimate of how much time it would take me to complete a particular project, I didn't ever have to worry about actually finding projects to work on.
As a freelance writer, my role is completely different. I now spend a small portion of each day looking for work - even when I am already busy with a project. When I find work that I would like to do I must sell my services to that potential client. To do that, I use marketing.
There are a lot of different ways to market your business. We've covered some of them, such as blogging and getting referrals here at Work From Home Momma. We'll continue to providing marketing tips.
Today's post, however, is more about attitude. It's about understanding that you must market your business and about being comfortable with that.
In fact, if I had to guess, I would say that lack of marketing or poor marketing, is the number one reason that home businesses fail.
What about you? Are you comfortable with marketing your business?
Leave a comment and let us know.
I used to be proud of my marketing skills for my biz. But now that I'm too busy marketing others' businesses, I must admit that I've become one lousy marketer of my own biz.
But I've included revving up the marketing dept as one of my business goals this year.
Posted by: Alfa | January 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Permalink to Comment