MARKETING IDEAS and TOOLS
Business Card Design Ideas
Brochure Design Ideas
Die Cut Business Cards
Scented Business Cards
Cheap Business Card Ideas
Unique Business Cards
Unique Brochure Ideas
Cheap Advertising Ideas
Business Card Layout
Promoting a Home Based Biz
Competitive Advantage
Email Marketing Tips
3 Ways To Spend Less
Selling With Color
Promotional Magnets
MARKETING STRATEGIES
Differentiate Yourself
Information Marketing
Building Customer Loyalty
Getting Customer Feedback
Testimonials
How to Define a Niche
Discovering Niches
Finding New Customers
Indirect Benefits
The Consumer's Perspective
Promotional Marketing
Pricing Products and Services
Viral Marketing Magic
Marketing Mix
STARTUP IDEAS and STRATEGIES
Home-Based Startup Ideas
Business Idea Brainstorming
Virtual Assistant
Internet Researcher
Event Planner
Wedding Consultant
Telecommuting Strategies
Freelance Job Strategies
WEBSITE MARKETING
Build Traffic to Your Website
Domain Name Ideas
5 Ways to Increase Traffic
Scavenger Hunts
Talking Avatars
Promote Your Web Page
Autoresponders
Internal Links
Link Exchange Tips
Viral Marketing and Email
Attract Your Target Market
Market Your Website Offline
KEYWORD TIPS
Keyword Competition
Keywords and Meta Tags
Prime Spots for Keywords
Keyword Phrases
AFFILIATE MARKETING
How To Get Started
Residual Income
Affiliate Agreements
ONLINE BASICS
Choosing Domain Names
Domain Name Extensions
Website Design Strategies
Learning HTML
Understanding HTML Colors
Are Your Colors Web-Safe?
How to Accept Payments
Bandwidth: Doing The Math
Find The Right Web Host
Publish Your Website
MARKETING YOURSELF
Resume Tips
Event Planner:
Work from Home Strategies
Think big by thinking small. One way to start your business as an event planner is by planning birthday parties for children. Work from Home Strategies
Many working parents are lucky if they have time to pick up the dry cleaning, much less attend to all the details of planning a party. Two-income families, with more money than free time, are a ready market for your services.
From ice cream to invitations, it takes not only time and energy, but also organization. If you have all three, you're in business.
Birthday options are only one option. Anniversary celebrations, weddings, corporate events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, receptions of every kind - any event must be planned.
If you have the skills, all you need are the contacts and resources.
Start by getting referrals from everyone you know. Ask your friends to ask their friends for referrals.
Don't leave home without several business cards. Give them to your banking officer, your insurance agent, anyone with whom you come in contact personally or professionally.
If you specialize in a certain type of event, use a related background photo or image on your business card. Make the words "event planner", "event planning specialist", or something similar very prominent on the card. Using an accent color only for those words is effective. (A shade of red makes a great accent.)
Create a win-win situation for yourself by promoting your business as you plan it. As an event planner, you will need everything from lobsters to limousines.
Make a list with broad categories - food, music, other entertainment, equipment and locations where events can be held. Then, for each category, begin a list of vendors.
For resources, use local and regional telephone directories. Online directories and websites are another source.
As you contact each potential vendor, you will be promoting your new business and preparing for clients at the same time.
Get free publicity and establish your credibility as an event planner by volunteering your service on a limited basis to a non-profit organization.
Plan a reception or a silent auction. When you make the event a success, you will have a great start toward making your business a success as well.
As an event planner, you may choose to specialize in one event, or several related events:
- trade shows
- bridal expos
- health fairs
- fundraisers
- fashion shows
- auctions
- book signings
- grand openings
- corporate holiday events
- business expos
- open houses
- weddings
- receptions
- birthday parties
- seminars
- concerts
- pageants
- festivals
- parades
- art exhibitions
- conventions
- workshops
- competitions
- club meetings
Virtual Assistant
Internet Researcher
Wedding Consultant
Nancy Richardson
CreateYourMarket.com publisher
Need a writer?
Quick Tips:
Enclose a business card promoting your website with each piece of outgoing mail.
Ask customers who frequently do business with you for a testimonial.
Promote your website URL offline on everything from bumper stickers to your answering machine message.
Want to reach the highest percentage of your target market?
Advertise in specialty publications including newspaper supplements devoted to a specific topic.
Marketing is crucial, but it doesn't always have to be serious.
Some of the most effective advertising campaigns rely on humor. Don't be afraid to make your customers laugh!