By Michael J Sullivan

When you are just beginning your new home based business, one of the greatest challenges you will face is how to get customers coming to your website.

Most of us know that we will need to advertise at some point. Most people have the idea that is necessary to spend large amounts of money in order to advertise their home based business. Because of this misconception, they give up before even getting started. This is a shame. With a little creativity and some fiscal responsibility, advertising can work even with a small budget.

Before you begin your journey into the world of advertising, I would like to share some general ideas that I have learned. (Many were learned the hard way)

One of the first things that should be pointed out is that advertising does not have to be an expensive proposition. With good planning and more importantly, with effective testing, the cost can be manageable.

Testing in advertising is a critical component. If you immediately start spending your money without first testing your advertising, you will find yourself
penniless and without any sales. Most people who fail to test, and thus fail to profit,
blame their failure on the home based business they chose or the economy or any number of other reasons. Don't be one of these!

When you begin advertising your home based business, it should be done in small segments. If you were to place ads simultaneously in a number of different media you would not have any idea which ad is bringing in the profits or which ad is a total bust. That method is no better than buying lottery tickets. You need to know what works and what doesn't. Choose one media to start and follow the results closely. Tweak your ad and chart your results. Make small changes only. Keep up this process until you get the results you want.

Once you have accomplished that, you then might start to spend more money on your ad. You might expand it to other media. Again do so in a way that allows you to chart your results. Another medium may not work as well as the first one you tried.

Not all advertising has to dollar intensive. There are a number of other means that cost very little.

• Word of Mouth can be very effective. However, I know that many people are fearful of embarrassment if they fail. If you are one of these, I say congratulate yourself for having the courage to do what many don't. Go for it! There is absolutely no dollar cost for this method of advertising. Tell every person you meet or come in contact with. Send an email to every one in your contact list.

• Business cards are an absolute must. I am always receiving solicitations from Vista print offering 250 or sometimes 500 personalized cards for $1.99. That is the cost of a morning coffee. You can easily find them on the internet. Give a card to everyone you see. You can also post them on community bulletin boards in places like your local supermarkets.

• Press releases are another inexpensive avenue. These are simple to write and can be posted on the internet. There are a number of free directories for the posting as well as hints on how to structure your own press release. It is simply an announcement detailing your home based business with contact information. The cost here is virtually nothing.

• Writing articles like this one is an absolutely FREE method of advertising. With a little research you can put together 500 - 700 word articles that you can post on the internet using sources like ezinearticles.com.

Finally, remember that advertising can be a fairly complicated adventure. However, with some basic knowledge and some perseverance on your part, it will bring your business to the place you dreamed of when you first decided to start your home based business.

At DCMProfits we are offering a simple and fast turnkey setup for your own home based business using the internet. We will include your own website set up for you in as little as 24 hours, affiliate partners and all of the training (a 30 day quick start program to follow) necessary for you to succeed. Get started now! Go to http://www.DCMProfits.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J_Sullivan

By Jenny Schweyer

Most every business has already invested in at least one type of promotional gift. Business giveaways have long been one of the most cost-effective means of direct business advertising. Pens, mugs and keychains are among the most popular, and every business should invest in one of these staples of advertising. But when it's time to take it to the next level, seasonal promotional gifts provide extra memorability and impact.

Seasonal promotional gifts refer to business giveaways that correspond to a particular season. Many business owners/managers think of holidays, like Christmas, when they hear the word "seasonal." While that term can apply to holiday giving, it really refers to any season. It may include the seasons of the year (spring, summer, etc.), or it may refer to more specific seasons, like "golf season" or "graduation season."

The major advantages to distributing business giveaways that correspond with a particular season are twofold. First, items that correspond with the current season tend to stick in the mind of the giver. Your business name gets imprinted in the receiver's mind faster, and will be retained longer that with other types of promotional gifts.

Secondly, seasonal promotional gifts tend to get used faster and more frequently than other types of handouts. For example, a barbecue gift set that is given to a customer in June will likely get used within days or weeks of receipt. The faster and more often the barbecue set gets used by the receiver, the more impact your business' name will have on his/her consciousness.

This list of suggestions, broken down into the four seasons of the year, may help you get started ordering your seasonal promotional gifts:

* Spring: Nice weather and new life characterize this season. Focus on items that take advantage of growth and warm days. Garden and barbecue tools are just two examples. Spring is also time to celebrate graduations, so graduate gifts like watches or commemorative picture frames are memorable. Outdoor toys and fitness items like flyers and jump ropes also make great spring promos.

* Summer: Get your customers ready for sunshine, surf and travel! Beach toys and water bottles are perfect for a day at the seaside. Sun hats and beach umbrellas will help protect them from the sun while they're there. Glow items like bracelets and glow sticks are fun for night-time activities. Camping gear (flashlights, pocket multi-tools, etc.) are another practical suggestion for promos for the outdoors lover. Summer also means more road travelers, so promos like customized flares, roadside emergency and first aid kits make helpful business giveaways.

* Autumn: Fall means back to school for children all the way up to college students. Send them back with monogrammed pencils, computer accessories, desk/office supplies, calculators and other electronics promos. Sports/duffel bags or laundry bags also make practical student gifts. Or, help get ready for the big homecoming game with promos that fans will love using, like noisemakers, pom poms, megaphones and more.

* Winter: It's the season of colder weather and maybe even snow, depending on your location. Jackets and ski caps will keep your valued customers warm when it's chilly outside. Ice scrapers are practical for frosty mornings. And of course, winter brings Christmas and Hanukkah, the perfect time for giving wine kits, glasses and accessories, candle holders or holiday-themed items. Don't forget to stock up on promotional calendars for the New Year that's just around the corner.

Don't pass up on mugs and pens: these staples will always be appropriate and efficient for everyday giving. But for maximum advertising impact, try investing in seasonal promotional gifts at least once in the coming year. You'll likely find that dollar for dollar, these types of business giveaways pack the most punch.

Jenny Schweyer is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest.

Art Promos: YOUR PARTNER IN BUSINESS ADVERTISING. WE CARRY A COMPLETE LINE OF SEASONAL PROMOTIONAL GIFTS.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Schweyer