Trying to start a home based business.

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Permalink Reply by EmilyJames on October 9, 2008 at 9:11am

Your cake decorating website shows that you are very talented. I would suggest creating a blog about your experiences decorating your cakes. Try to promote your blog and become an authority on cake decoration. This will definitely increase your visiblity on the web. This should affect sales too.

Maybe think about taking deposits/bookings online. Then you can use Google Adwords to locally advertise your website.

Good luck.

Emily James

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Permalink Reply by Lynn Marchand on October 9, 2008 at 9:16am

Thank you Emily for your advise I love the idea about the blog! =) I will look into both of these.

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Permalink Reply by Tonya on October 9, 2008 at 6:43pm

You should check out a few other cake decorating blogs. Here are 2 that I check in on regularly.

Snooky Doodle Cakes
Bakerella

You could have a contest, promote it on other sites. It would get people looking at your work.

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Permalink Reply by Karla on October 9, 2008 at 8:57pm

Have you thought of making "friends" with other businesses that provide services for events. Like leaving business cards with wedding planners, photographers, DJs, florists. Maybe you could give a discount to clients or some sort of bonus if they bring you more clients.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Nixon on October 10, 2008 at 7:01am

Best wishes to you Lynn. Here are some freebie tips on promoting your cake decorating business

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Market_Yourself_With_No_Money.html
http://www.businesstoolchest.com/articles/data/20040721103405.shtml
I hope you can use these tips. If the links don't work, just copy and paste in your browser.

Brenda Nixon
www.BrendaNixon.com

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Permalink Reply by Lynn Marchand on October 10, 2008 at 8:43am

Thank you for all the great advise, it is great to have different ideas. I think I was just going around in circles. I love your ideas and will check them out. thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by phoebebb on October 13, 2008 at 6:57pm

Get a decal fro the back of your car...this will draw people to your web site and you will be advertising everywhere you go!

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Permalink Reply by mandy on October 20, 2008 at 7:51pm

online resource www.grokdotcom.com if you want to get any good ebusiness ideas

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Permalink Reply by Ellen on October 21, 2008 at 1:09pm

One thing that you can do to boost your sales is to broaden your reach and exposure on the net by making a few short tutorial videos on the subject of cake decorating. Upload to MindBites.com (http://www.MindBites.com), which is a community where people sell "how to" lessons. Include information in the video and description about your business, where to find your product etc.. Helping people learn how to do a few simple techniques will go a long way to get your business started.

http://www.mindbites.com/teach

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Permalink Reply by John hanry on December 12, 2008 at 3:30am

You can make use of craigs list where you can sell and buy your products online which will be more beneficial to you. This is the place that gives more profits to your business.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Casserly on December 16, 2008 at 7:54am

Do you ask for referrals? I know it seems like an obvious thing to do, but so many of us don't do it. You would be amazed at what you get when you do. Here is a suggestion to ask your clients: I'm glad everything went well with your order, it was so nice working with someone like you. Do you happen to know anyone who may need cake decorating in the near future? I can do birthday parties, work parties, reitrment parties, showers wedding, etc(just examples). It will spark something if they do. Also, I can't stress these points enough:

-Strategic Alliances example: party planners, indusry organizations, moms groups(www.meetup.com). If they don't send you business, move on to someone that will.
-Handwritten Thank you notes! Who sends those out anymore...right NO ONE so you will stay fresh in their minds and become unique.
-Social Networking: Facebook. LinkedIn, etc.
-DON'T DISCOUNT YOUR SERVICES TO GET BUSINESS. You work hard, why should you de-value what you do?
-www.eWomenNetwork.com
-Label yourself as an expert in your field. Come on...who else is better than you in Cake Decorating :-)?
-Don't Send Out Mailers or pay money to advertise, it's a waste of money. It sounds counter intuitive but great service is the best word of mouth and its free!

Good Luck and feel free to shoot me an email with any questions that you have. melissacasserly@comcast.net
-

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Permalink Reply by Beth on December 16, 2008 at 10:20am

The best way to advertise any buisiness is word of mouth. Talk about your cakes everywhere u go. Talk about why they are different.
Also go out and find ways to donate free cakes for school raffels etc. Get your name out there if you hang in I assure you, it will thrive within 2 years.

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