Starting A Work At Home Typing Business On A Shoestring Budget

Nov 27
19:40

2006

Elaine Currie

Elaine Currie

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Starting any home business will require some financial investment but it is possible to get a home typing business up and running with minimal investment if you make the most of free advertising resources.

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You have decided to start your own work at home typing business. Money is in short supply,Starting A Work At Home Typing Business On A Shoestring Budget Articles so where do you start?

Identify Your TargetThe first thing to do is to identify your potential customers. Don't bother asking big companies for work at home typing, you will be in competition with existing staff and employment agencies. Look around for small businesses, the smaller the better because they won't have support staff. Pick them out from classified ads in local newspapers, flyers and phone directories. Start with tradesmen such as auto mechanics, carpenters, washing machine repairers, plumbers, electricians, general builders, painters and decorators etc. Avoid any business connected with IT, they are almost certain to be keyboard literate.

Business CardsGet business cards printed. You can get this done free of charge. Make sure that, in addition to your name and contact details, your card states that you offer a typing service. Get as many free business cards as you can, you will need them to hand out to everyone you meet as well as sending them out with mail shots.

FlyersHave flyers printed. Flyers are very useful: they can be posted in locations where local traders will see them, delivered to targeted businesses and used in mail shots. If you want to hand out flyers or put them on windscreens in a car park, make sure you get whatever permission is needed from the land owner before you start.

Classified AdsPlace ads in any local newspapers, trade journals etc. which offer ad spots within your budget.

Free AdsMany places such as shops, wholesalers, supermarkets and church halls have notice boards where you can place an ad free of charge. Take advantage of this and remember to return regularly to make sure your ad hasn't been removed or covered over.

Mailing ListBuild a database containing the names and addresses of local companies and sole traders.

Brand YourselfMake yourself a professional looking template with your word processor to use as a letterhead. If you opted for a logo on your business cards, repeat the logo on your business stationery.

Mail ShotSet up a standard letter to be sent to all the people in your database. The letter should announce the service you are offering and ask the recipient to save your card for future reference. When you get your free business cards, you can do your first mailing shot.

DeliveryIf you are able to target groups of companies in small areas, hand delivery of your letters is feasible but don't make the mistake of wasting gallons of fuel for the sake of saving a few pennies on postage.

The small traders will mainly fall into one of two categories: either they will have a computer and do their own typing of invoices, estimates etc or their typing work will be done by their wife, girlfriend or mother. Your want to find traders who don't like doing their own typing work and will be glad of help or whose wife/girlfriend is too busy and wants to get rid of the typing work.

If you get nothing from your first mail shot, don't despair, repeat it after a couple of weeks or a month. You can alternate between sending a flyer or a letter enclosing a business card. In the meantime, continue to add likely candidates to your mailing list. You need your offer of home typing work to be in the right places at the right times. When the plumber splits up from his girlfriend or the electrician's wife has a new baby to cope with, make sure they think of your home typing service. One of the best home typing jobs I had was for a local Private Detective. I just happened to be seeking typing at home work when his wife who had done his typing for years decided she'd had enough ot typing reports about adulterous husbands!If you are lucky, you might hit a candidate for your services with your first shot and be in business practically overnight. It won't be big business but it will be a start. Give your clients an excellent typing service and chances are they will recommend you to other small traders. Personal recommendation is the most powerful form of advertising anyone could hope for. If you don't score a hit at the first try, keep repeating the mail shots. Make patience and persistence your watch words and you will succeed.