When you start a home-based business, you may do so thinking that it will be a great way to spend your days as a stay-at-home parent. Alternatively, you might consider the benefits of being your own boss and ditching the morning commute. After spending time building the foundation for your business, your mindset begins to shift and you decide that you want to be a big deal.
Creating a booming business doesn’t require a move to a corporate office or a network of employees. There are, however, different tools and procedures you will require to turn your home-based business into a bustling empire. Here are a few to consider:
A Social Media Strategy
When social media took off in the first decade of the millennium, it caused a revolution in the way people communicate. Word-of-mouth marketing returned with the force of a meteor striking the Earth. Social media has become a powerful source of communication, with the average person spending about two hours scrolling per day.
With algorithms, short attention spans, and various formats and platforms in front of you, social media management can be a full-time job. Having a strategy in place will direct your marketing plan and help you maintain your reach by posting consistently. Putting this together can take a lot of time on the front end. If you are serious about taking your business to the next level, consider hiring a virtual assistant to handle this for you.
Professional Communication
To be taken seriously as a business, you need to present yourself seriously. If you haven’t already gotten a customized email account and still use a Gmail address, it is time to take the plunge. You can create a customized email address through your website hosting provider — yes, a website is also a must — and integrate it through Gmail. This allows your customers to see your email as that of an established business while letting you use the platform you know and love.
While you’re working on your communication, you should consider adding a virtual phone directory. Virtual Phone Systems for Small Business Owners allow you to add multiple numbers to a central switchboard. This is a great way to redirect a 1-800 number to your mobile phone or create a centralized connection point if you expand your business by adding team members.
Invest Back Into the Business
When you are an entrepreneur, money can be tight. As such, it can be tempting to cut costs wherever possible. Rather than reinvesting your profits into upgrading your business, you may use the funds to pay bills or take the vacation you have been dreaming of. While both of these are perfectly valid expenditures, you need to make sure a percentage of your money goes back into bettering the business.
Most startups will tell you that their first website now embarrasses them. Their old logo looks terrible next to their new one. When you have everything in place to launch a business, it is best not to wait for perfection. An unappealing logo may not matter to your initial clients, but as you become more experienced in your field, you’ll want to take a more professional, established approach. Put together a budget and allocate a percentage of your income to go toward business improvement.
Treat Your Business Like a Job
Long days and late nights are the laments of the modern entrepreneur. However, it is important to instill self-care practices as you become more successful and in demand. Set business hours and stick to them. Remember to leave the “office” and enjoy social time with your friends and loved ones. Get dressed and show up on time each morning, even if that requires some extra coffee. Set up a designated office space at home that grants you a distraction-free, peaceful work setting. Prioritize and write a daily to-do list that you hold yourself accountable to. Set goals and conduct your own performance review.
Being an entrepreneur takes time and dedication. Taking your business to the next level requires even more. However, with the right mindset and tools in place, you’ll soon be running a bustling empire from the comfort of your home.
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