Free Business Software

One of my favorite words in the English language is without a doubt FREE. As a SOHO warrior I am constantly on the lookout for free productivity tools. I can always count on the folks at CNET not to disappointment me. Not only can I always find productivity tools but most of them are, there’s that word again, FREE.


If you have not visited the site before check them out. Just click on “downloads” and choose your poison. You’ll find business and productivity software but also check out the home category. Sometimes you can find some good stuff there also.


You can download software for free or free to try which means it will stop working after a certain amount of time. This is still a good option if you want to try software out before you buy it. The CNET editors and users also review the software so you get to see what others who have tried the software think about it before you download it. There’s software for both Mac and Windows users so don’t worry.


My only problem with the site-- too much good stuff to choose from! So if you are looking for software for your business (or personal) use, stop by CNET today.

Q(uick) Tip- Take-One Boxes

You don't have to lurk in parking lots placing your flyer on car windshields or go door to door leaving flyers in mailboxes to advertise your business. Consider a take- one box.

A take-one box is a place where you can leave literature and where prospective customers pick up said literature. If you have a storefront you can simply plop a take-one box on the front counter. If not, look for non-competing amiable store owners who would allow you to place a take-one box in their store. Also look for other opportunities to place your flyer or business card for free. For examples, some businesses have bulletin boards that you can use. Others have glass bowls where you can leave your business card.

Here's a sneaky thing I sometimes do-- I leave my business card in library books or include one with all correspondence including bills! Be creative, think outside the box as they say, and you can come up with lots of free and creative ways to advertise your business.

Q(uick) Tip- Inquiry Tracking

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing efforts you should keep a written tracking record. When someone makes an inquiry about your services or purchases your products, remember to ask them where they heard about your business. You can create a simple spreadsheet to use as your tracking tool. Over time you will be able to determine where your new business is coming from.

Are You Using AIDA in your Direct Marketing Campaigns?

If you’re not using AIDA in your direct marketing you’re missing out on a lot of potential sales. In a nutshell, AIDA stands for: Attention, Interest, Demand and Action.


Attention: You must grab your prospects’ attention. You can do this by using strong headlines and opening statements.


Interest: Once you grab their attention, you have to follow up by arousing interest. Identifying your readers’ problems, wants or needs is a great way to get them interested in your message.


Demand: Create a need for your product or service by making a promise to the reader or an offer they can’t pass up. Both must stress a benefit for the reader.


Action: You have to ask for the sale. Many business owners fail to do so and in effect lose the sale.


Follow AIDA and financial success will follow.

Furnished Apartments: An alternative to hotel stay for business travelers

If you travel a lot on business, you understand all to well that the cost of one night’s stay in a hotel can be high. As an alternative to staying in a hotel, many business travelers turn to furnished apartments, especially for an extended stay. Furnished apartments can cost 30-50% less per night than a comparable hotel room.

Interested? Here are a few places to check out:

Furnished Quarters located in New York

Rx Housing has apartments in over 4,000 cities

BridgeStreet offers worldwide accommodations

Oakwood is another company offering worldwide accommodations



These are just a few companies offering furnished apartments for business travelers. You can run an internet search and find many more.

Atlanta’s Diamond Renaissance Concourse Hotel Has Great Offer for Traveling Businesswomen

Through March 31, 2008, women traveling to Atlanta on business can take advantage of Diamond Renaissance Concourse Hotel’s "Eat Right, Feel Good, Sleep Well" package developed specifically to help businesswomen relax, unwind and be refreshed and ready for their next meeting or hectic travel schedule.


The "Eat Right, Feel Good, Sleep Well" Package includes:

- Spacious, deluxe guest room complete with premium bedding ensemble, including fluffy down comforter, custom duvet, cotton-rich linens and down/feather pillows

- Plush robe and slippers

- CD player/radio/alarm clock

- In-room fitness system (Body Rev)

- Granola bars, assorted fresh fruit and bottled water delivered to the room

- Silk eye mask

- Soothing lemongrass foot kit

- Specially selected relaxation CD

- Prices starting at $199 per night

"Now is the perfect time for women business travelers to stay at an Atlanta convention center hotel noted for its superior service, award-winning luxury and enjoy a pampering package developed especially with them in mind," said Franklin Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Renaissance Concourse Hotel.


The Renaissance Concourse Hotel located just 1 mile from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport (ATL), offers complimentary airport transportation and is easily accessible from all of Atlanta's major expressways. The Renaissance is constructed with advanced acoustical design that minimizes noise, yet still allows for enormous windows with magnificent views. For more information or to make a reservation call 404-209-9999 or visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlsa-renaissance-concourse-hotel.

Eight Low-cost Ways to Advertise Your Small Business

For the SOHO warrior, advertising your business with limited funds can be one of the most frustrating aspects of being a business owner. But we know that in order to be successful we have to advertise. The good news is we don't have to spend a large amount of money to do so. Let's look at a few low-cost, and in some cases no-cost, ways to advertise your SOHO business.


(1) Word of mouth- Without a doubt, one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to advertise. How often have you purchased goods and services based on the recommendation of family, friends or co-workers? When someone buys your product or use your service, don't be ashamed to ask them to recommend you to others who may have similar needs.


(2) Networking- You don't have to network in order to run a successful business, but it certainly helps. Start by attending business to business events sponsored by your local Chamber of Commerce or other business organizations. Get our there and mingle as often as possible. Have a ready supply of business cards and/or brochures with you, but don't simply walk around the event passing material out like you're in some kind of marathon. Talk to people. I mean really talk to people. When you find someone who you think is a good prospect, show them how your product or service can help them solve a particular problem they may have.


(3) Cold Calling- You can mass mail to potential customers or you can cold call and qualify your prospects first. In the long run you'll save on postage and printing costs by not sending your material to every Tom, Dick, and Harry you think might want to buy your products or use your services. And although some people may tell you to go ahead and send the information just to get you off the phone, you'll still fare better than mass mailings. Make sure you get the information in the mail as soon as possible, the next business day, is ideal. You'll want to do this while you're still fresh in the prospects mind.


(4) Speaking Engagements, seminars, demonstrations and teaching classes- If you have the gift for gab and you're not afraid to use it, consider giving a seminar or demonstration or speaking engagements. Most associations and clubs welcome guest speakers. You may also be able to teach a class in your area of expertise. Check with your local college or university to see what adult education classes they offer. With just the right proposal you may find yourself on the faculty roster. As an added bonus, you'll make money from teaching the class, either a flat fee or a percentage of the tuition from each student. Although you can charge for seminars, you'll get more participants if you'll able to offer the seminar for free. Demonstrations are often done in conjuction with other businesses. For instance, if you're written a cookbook, you may be able to arrange demonstatrations at your local bookstore.


(5)Cooperative advertising- This is another excellent cost-effective way to advertise your business. In cooperative advertising you and other non-competing businesses advertise the products or services of the other. Even the big boys do it. Open any of your bills and you're likely to see an insert from a company offering their goods or services to you. If the big companies can do it why shouldn't you? And there's no need to spend money on four-color mini brochures. You can be just as effective using your business card or a flyer or coupon you create on your PC.


(6) Shared advertising space- The cost of advertsing in print publications can sometimes bring tears to your dry eyes. Put away your hankie. As an alternative to the high cost of advertising you can share advertising space with other businesses. Your group can purchases a full page ad and then divide the space by the number of participant. This can be a better solution to small space ads that often are overlooked.


(7)Joining a professional organization- The benefits of joining a professional organizations should not be overlooked. There's opportunities to network, free or low-cost seminars and training. Most will also have a members only directory and newsletter. These two tools can be your ticket to getting more business to business sales as well as referrals. Newsletters especially are on the look out for copy to fill each issue. If you, as a member, have an announcement they will certainly be happy to trumpet it for you, at no cost. You can also use the directory to contact members either by cold calling or if you prefer, direct mail. Either way, the fact that you belong to the same organization will establish that you have something in common and you won't be viewed as making just another sales pitch.


(8)Unsold advertising space- Psst, want to know how you can get cheap advertising in print publications? Earlier I mentioned the skyrocketing price of advertising space. Sharing the cost with other businesses is one way to get your message out but it's not the only way. Publications want to sell advertising space at the rate specified on their rate card. However, if at publication time they have unused advertising space they will sell it to you at a fraction of the cost. Before you make the call be sure you have your ad ready to go. The best time to call? Close to the publication's ad deadline. You'll be in a far better position to bargain for a good rate. Afterall, the publication would rather have an ad sale at a cheaper rate than no sale at all.


And there you have it; eight simple but cost effective ways to advertise your small business. But don't stop there, many other opportunities exist if you use your imagination.

Welcome

Welcome and thanks for stopping by. This new blog is called, Minding Your SOHO Business, and although it is spefically geared toward the small office/home office business owner already running a business, for those of you contemplating starting a business, or already in the start-up phase, you'll also find a wealth of valuable information here.

I have been freelancing for over ten years. I run my writing career like a small business so I know first-hand the joys and pains of being a small business owner. I hope that the information I pass on to you will be useful. If so, please pass it on to someone else.

So stay tuned for news and information you can use.