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