If you hate the job you’re currently in, wouldn’t it be great to work at something you truly love? Especially if what you love has an interest for others -- enough interest to have someone put down a few bucks for your product or service. The Civil War is a great example. People that have an avid interest in it will shell out a few dollars to read anything about the subject. The more they read, the more they want to know. And there are thousands of ideas that can sustain the same kind of interest!
How do you get people to open up today when you’re in a conversation with them? You ask them about a subject you know they like -- and then let them talk. Prospecting in your business is going to be much like that. You’re going to feel compelled to talk to people about a subject because it’s your favorite topic. Those that share that interest are going to like listening -- and talking about it! They’re prospects!
They’re interested! They’re potential clients! You may choose to advertise your product or service. This has more start-up costs to it, depending on where you advertise. Try and be market-specific! In other words, advertise to an audience most likely to be interested in your subject matter.
You can start getting news out about your product or service through your family and friends. They can do a lot of word of mouth advertising for you. The more people they talk to, the faster the word about your business gets around. If you are also prospecting by calling others, even remote acquaintances, all the better.
The more people that know, the more likely you can get some referrals. This is the hardest part of the business -- getting enough people to know about what you’re doing. But once you know how to do it and you’ve started the machine rolling, this all becomes easier. You may end up with more clients than you know what to do with -- a great situation to have!
There are a number of resources out there for you to review and contact as you get started. The advice and information you can obtain may help you to avoid some of the more common mistakes. Every connection you make might lead you to a nest of prospects. Many of the businesses listed here can help you focus in on the right direction and save you time and money pursuing people who have no interest in what you’re doing.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
5 HOME BUSINESSES YOU CAN START RIGHT NOW
There are a few businesses that you can get up and running quickly if time is of the essence. If you’ve just lost a job or you can’t take the one you have much longer, here are a couple of fast start ideas.
1. Private Tutor. To start this business, you would have to be qualified in at least one academic subject or have some teaching skills and experience. The subjects usually needing tutoring help are math, foreign languages and any of the sciences. It’s less demanding than full-time teaching and you don’t have to put up with the bureaucracy. It will undoubtedly be evening and (perhaps) weekend work, but you can charge anywhere from $25 to $75 per hour depending on the subject.
2. Errand runner/driver. Many businesses today are in need of a runner to bring material around from place to place. A company who does a lot of printing may need constant business to printer assistance. As long as you have your own car and are a safe driver, you’re in business. You should be able to canvass local businesses for work and be paid upwards of $20 per hour.
3. Specialty grower. Let’s say you have some land and you love to garden. You enjoy working outdoors and are tired of working inside a building for a living. Why not become a specialty grower? Gourmet stores all over the country are looking for the unusual in the way of plants and edible flowers. Herbs are also popular.. If you already have the land and the desire to do this, why wait. Start it part-time if you want, but you may find dozens of outlets for your goods if they are up to the test.
4. Cleaning services. You’ll need lots of supplies for this, but commercial building maintenance people are often on the lookout for good help in this area. You’ll need a lot of cleaning supplies, but if you can handle the evening hours and can find reliable assistants, this can be a gold mine business especially if you specialize in the hard-to-do work like swimming pools, blinds and windows. People hate to do windows. You can charge per house or, for commercial buildings, per hour.
5. Caterer. If you like to cook, consider the catering business. If you have a good kitchen set-up and can cook large volumes well and have a few handy unusual, but tasty recipes, you can be become a local party favorite. Repeat business is the name of this game and you can charge per person for your catered meals or appetizers. Ethnic dishes are the in thing for parties these days and the more diversified you are the better.
1. Private Tutor. To start this business, you would have to be qualified in at least one academic subject or have some teaching skills and experience. The subjects usually needing tutoring help are math, foreign languages and any of the sciences. It’s less demanding than full-time teaching and you don’t have to put up with the bureaucracy. It will undoubtedly be evening and (perhaps) weekend work, but you can charge anywhere from $25 to $75 per hour depending on the subject.
2. Errand runner/driver. Many businesses today are in need of a runner to bring material around from place to place. A company who does a lot of printing may need constant business to printer assistance. As long as you have your own car and are a safe driver, you’re in business. You should be able to canvass local businesses for work and be paid upwards of $20 per hour.
3. Specialty grower. Let’s say you have some land and you love to garden. You enjoy working outdoors and are tired of working inside a building for a living. Why not become a specialty grower? Gourmet stores all over the country are looking for the unusual in the way of plants and edible flowers. Herbs are also popular.. If you already have the land and the desire to do this, why wait. Start it part-time if you want, but you may find dozens of outlets for your goods if they are up to the test.
4. Cleaning services. You’ll need lots of supplies for this, but commercial building maintenance people are often on the lookout for good help in this area. You’ll need a lot of cleaning supplies, but if you can handle the evening hours and can find reliable assistants, this can be a gold mine business especially if you specialize in the hard-to-do work like swimming pools, blinds and windows. People hate to do windows. You can charge per house or, for commercial buildings, per hour.
5. Caterer. If you like to cook, consider the catering business. If you have a good kitchen set-up and can cook large volumes well and have a few handy unusual, but tasty recipes, you can be become a local party favorite. Repeat business is the name of this game and you can charge per person for your catered meals or appetizers. Ethnic dishes are the in thing for parties these days and the more diversified you are the better.
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