Running a small business from home is not easy. There are four things you need to keep in mind, if you want to have the cutting edge over competition…

	Lay out a plan of where your business is
	What is the main thing you would like to offer through your business
	Where you would like to see your business reach
	Lay out the plan to get there

The Business Plan
	If you already have a business plan in place, remember to re-assess it, review and re-focus it.
	Assess your strengths and areas that need improvement
	List out what is important to you
	Develop a strategy to achieve the above.

The Marketing Plan
	Combine your business philosophy and strategy
	The above should add value to the client.
	How do you plan to reach your target audience?

We bring you the Five “A”s to complete your Marketing Plan

The Five “A”s
• Awareness
Read, keep your eyes open, and be aware of new business opportunities, changing trends, as well as adding value to your customers and increasing profits
• Approach
Approach your clients and request them for referrals. You can reward the clients who spread the good word, with incentives or gifts.
• Assess
It is important to assess and track your Marketing Plan. Track clients, get information on how they heard about you: through an ad, your website or word of mouth. Soon patterns will begin to emerge and this will allow you to focus your efforts towards cost-effective marketing
• Advertize
When you advertise think of “target” more than “exposure”. Target your marketing and advertising efforts at the specified group who are interested in your product / services and make sure the message reaches them.
• Association
It’s important that you join the action! Become a member of the local bodies and associations, the Chambers of Commerce etc. This will help you network, connect, share ideas, find solutions to your problems and most important of all: it will help others acknowledge your existence and that of your business.