Marketing a Home Based Business

The small business owner illustrated the problem, marketing her business, by drawing herself with one head, one open mouth, two moving feet and six hands.   She realized that as a home-based business, she represented her business to the community.

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The Head
The head represents brain power.   The thoughts associated with this are analyze; strategize; and study.

The Open Mouth
The open mouth represents word of mouth.  Associated with this thought are: 1) bad news travels fast; 2) gossip; and 3) be outrageous.

The Six Arms
Give it Away: This idea sparked these thoughts - contest, advice, excitement, information and articles.

Shake Hands: Warm, friendly and take the initiative were the thoughts connected with shaking hands.

Pass It On: Jokes, gifts and cards are passed on.

Touch Someone:  When you touch someone, you hit their heart.  The thoughts tied to this are compassion, stories with a moral, the warm and fuzzies, and stories of inspiration.

Heal: Hands heal.   Healing, to the business owner, meant listening, asking and supporting.

Throw It Away: She thought of a baseball player, getting the ball and then throwing it hard to another player.  This brought to mind the image of aiming high and throwing hard.

The Two Feet
Stand Your Ground: When you stand your ground, you have integrity, honesty, truth and you don't compromise.

Move Forward: This thought brought to mind these phrases: "be flexible" and "don't stop where you are."

Ideas Coming From the Mindmap
The Head:  Don't always go by the gut feeling.  Think, analyze and research and use this as a base for your marketing plans.

The Open Mouth:  Make plans to quickly conquer negative PR.  Gossip and bad news travel fast.  Take advantage of that by doing something outrageous and spectacular - and get other people advertising your business for free.

Give it Away: People like getting things for free.  Make them feel that they are getting something from your working relationship.  Then ask them for a favour - telling others about you.

Shake Hands: Make sure any marketing efforts portray the company as warm and friendly - someone they would like to know.

Pass It On: Jokes travel at lightening speed on the internet.  Tell a funny story, include your signature and send it off.  Get others to forward it to their friends.  In the brochure, give them something that they can tear off and pass on to someone else.   People love cards.  Send the clients a touching story and include another copy in a card that they can mail to someone they care about.

Touch Someone:  Research stories of compassion and link them intellectually and electronically to the business.  Send them to your clients via email.  Ask them to forward them to their friends if they liked the message. 

Heal: Ask your clients what they want.  Reward them for giving you ideas.

Throw It Away: Don't think about your small size, aim high and have a vision for the future.

Stand Your Ground: Don't compromise just because you need the work.  Stand firm to your ideals.

Move Forward: Always think of the future.  Make plans but don't be afraid to change them as you grow and develop.