WebProNews

In the age of the Internet we see many work at home businesses pop up. The sad truth is most look like a homemade mess. Running a successful and professional home business isn't impossible, but it does take logic, time, determination, and a business mind. So what can be done to make a home business appear more professional? Follow the 7 steps of success used by leaders in the home business arena.

1. Treat A Business Like A Business.

-Tke business seriously

-Dn't be afraid of hard work

-Have a business plan

-Budget your time, money & resources

-Have business hours

-Post contact information on the website

-Have a separate phone line

-Be compliant with the law - get tax licenses etc.

-Posses professional marketing materials

-Advertise the business

-Network

-Develop strategic alliances with other home business owners

-Develop partnerships

-Cross promote

-Find a mentor

2. Professional Business Cards

-Absolutely NO free business cards with logos of the printer on the back

-Business cards should show business name/logo, email and phone at a minimum

-Include a coupon or incentive for customer

3. Exclusive Business Domain Name

-Spend the extra 5.00 a month and 8.95 a year for hosting and a good domain name (ex. www.me.theotherplace.com instead of just www.me.com)

4. Professional Email Address

-Have a professional email address

-Try to have it at the domain (ex. me@me.com)

-Avoid yahoo, hotmail and other freebie accounts

5. Clean Up, Clean Up

-Have a professional looking website

-Combine links and "fun" things on a separate page

-Don't clutter the site with useless information make sure it's related

-Eliminate extra spaces to ensure the home page is not 3 miles long

-Research Search Engine Optimization and find out how to get the website's placement optimized for success

-Use colors pleasing to the eye

-Make visitors return to the site by offering them tools and other extras that keep them coming back for more

-Offer something free

-Don't overdo the graphics

-Have an impartial party take a look at the site and offer honest advice

-Tailor the site to its audience

-Be concise and to the point

-Build a site map

-Offer contact information

-Tell your story, after all you are a work at home business owner so use this as an opportunity to make the site more personal while still remaining professional--this is your advantage over the big guys

-Use professional graphics not clipart

-UPDATE YOUR SITE REGULARLY

6. Customer Service

-Ship items in a timely manner

-Keep customers abreast of the status of their order

-Have a working customer service email

-Have a working customer service phone number

-Listen to the customer

-Give customers something extra

-Thank the customer

7. Show Stability

-Prove to the customers you're not going anywhere

-Don't give up

-Don't open, close, and reopen your site continuously

-When on vacation find someone to cover the site or conduct business remotely

-ADVERTISE - it shows stability and the repetition creates branding

-Stick to your guns

Tara Crooks is the site owner and editor of
http://www.AdvertisingMoms.com. Taras journey with WAHM
Advertising began with the launch of her first site in June
2001. Since, she has earned a profitable living by building
a great WAHM advertising resource & network in Advertising
Moms. She is a PROUD Army Wife and WAHM!