| A home business is the most economical way to be | | | | popularity. If you have the Google Toolbar, you can |
| your own boss. You don't have to rent office space, | | | | simply go to a site and its pagerank will be displayed in |
| there's no commute, and your expenses are tax | | | | your browser. This tells you the "importance" of the |
| deductible. Still, you will have to get the word out about | | | | page, based on how many other sites have links to it |
| your business if you want customers. Here are some | | | | on their site. You should try to stay with sites with a |
| ways to save money.Business cards are a must, but | | | | pagerank of at least 3, the higher the better; however, |
| many people don't get them right away because of | | | | the sites with higher pageranks usually charge more |
| the cost. What they don't realize is that there are | | | | for advertising.There is also pay-per-click advertising, in |
| ways to get them very inexpensively! If you have a | | | | which you bid the amount you are willing to pay for |
| word processing or desktop publishing program on | | | | visitors to be sent to your site. The best thing about |
| your computer, you can make your own. Many | | | | this type of advertising is that you only pay for the |
| programs have templates for business cards, and | | | | traffic you receive. There are many different |
| some even have pre-designed ones that you can | | | | pay-per-click programs available. Some are presented |
| simply customize with your own information. You can | | | | in search engines, others sign up other sites to display |
| find printable sheets of business cards at your local | | | | the ads. Just do a search for "pay-per-click" and you |
| discount store or specialty paper store. If you aren't | | | | will find lots of programs to choose from.Link |
| inclined to make your own or want a more | | | | exchanges are a good way to get your site seen for |
| professional look, VistaPrint has a low cost | | | | free. You simply find other sites that would be of |
| introductory offer. You get 250 customized business | | | | interest to your target audience, and contact the site |
| cards for the price of shipping and handling. Once you | | | | owner to find out if he or she would be interested in |
| have your cards, leave them everywhere!Offline | | | | trading links. If so, you place their link on your website, |
| advertising is another scary budget item, but there are | | | | and they do the same for you.Something you can do |
| ways to save money. A good, low cost way to | | | | online or off is donate prizes to be given away. All |
| advertise offline is in local classified-only publications. | | | | sorts of organizations hold raffles, and they usually |
| Classifieds in this type of paper are usually cheap, and | | | | accept donations to give away as prizes. Your |
| they can be quite effective depending on the type of | | | | business name and donated prize will be on the |
| business you are in. Another inexpensive idea is flyers. | | | | website or raffle ticket for all to see. The winner will |
| If you have a computer they are a cinch to design and | | | | receive one of your fine products or services, which |
| print yourself. Then you can put them on bulletin boards | | | | they will surely tell their friends about. Don't forget to |
| or hand them out personally.Online, there are many | | | | include a business card, catalog, or brochure with the |
| places to advertise. The trick is identifying your target | | | | prize so that they can come back for more!These are |
| market and getting your message to them. If you are | | | | just a few ideas to help you get the word out about |
| advertising to the wrong people, you are just wasting | | | | your business without spending a fortune. You can |
| your money. Find sites that do not offer the same | | | | also post tidbits about your business on online forums, |
| product or service as you, but something else that | | | | and of course talk about it every chance you get. And |
| would interest your target market. For example, if you | | | | always remember to provide good customer service. |
| are selling educational toys, you would want to | | | | The best advertising of all is word of mouth from |
| advertise on a site that offers products or resources | | | | happy customers, and that doesn't cost a dime.Kristy |
| for parents, but probably not a site about car parts. | | | | Pruitt is the owner of a resource site for work at |
| Shopping around is also a must. Find several possible | | | | home moms. |
| sites, check their prices and research the site's | | | | |