Yesterday I claimed business cards as one of my favorite marketing tools.  Today I expand my list of favorites.  I am really a big fan of what I like to call “favors”.  Similar to party favors given away at a party, these are those little “goodies” that you pick up free at fairs, parades, community gatherings, etc.  Now, there are all kinds, and definitely some are most useful than others.  My favorite favors include, but are not limited to, pens and pencils, magnets, post-its, clips, and rulers. 

All of these tools can be used everyday, therefore allowing exposure of your company name.  And since they can be used everyday, and someone has taken the time to pick them up from you, they are usually less likey to throw them away.  In the same way as the business cards, they’re a convenient go-to tool when a need arises. 

 What’s the down side?  Sometimes they can get pricey.  They vary in color, size, weight, etc., and the prices reflect those differences.  I’ve found pens that cost over $10 each.  So, you have to choose carefully and plan for the purpose of each.  For instance, basic, one color magnets are very reasonable.  Consider purchasing these as handouts at an event, along with some inexpensive pencils and pens.  Purchase a few of the higher quality pens or desk tools for those customers you see often.  For instance, we have an awesome insurance company that has given us countless referrals.  They get the good stuff! 

So, when considering your marketing tools, whether they are simple business cards, “favors”, or full-page ads in the phone book, remember to consider their purpose and their audience.  Think about how each will be used and it’s “shelf life”.  Be careful about the decisions you make, but remember to always show appreciation to those who help or have helped grow your business.  They ARE your best marketing tool!

Photo by steakpinball via Flickr Creative Commons.

Last night President Barack Obama offered his first State of the Union Address. One of the main issues addressed in the speech was employment. The jobs situation remains precarious, and the President wants to show that he is listening to the concerns of the people. As a result, it is little surprise that he offered some plans to encourage increased job creation, including a plan for tax breaks for companies willing to hire more workers.

In addition to addressing employment, the President also stressed the need to develop alternative energy technologies. He also talked of education reform, health care reform and financial regulatory reform. He also made sure to take responsibility for his mistakes, as well as point out that some things couldn’t be avoided, and that there is still a ways to go.

In the end, it will be interesting see whether any of his ideas can be put into play. While the President does have some influence over the direction of some policies, the bottom line is that actual legislation is in the hands of others.

The mess surrounding the heath care “reform” debate continues. Republicans received good news with the win in Massachusetts by Scott Brown, who will fill the Senate seat vacated by the late Edward Kennedy. This changes things up a bit, and may force some serious looking at the current reform bill that the Senate has put forward. It differs on some very key points from the bill passed by the House, so the two chambers are trying to reconcile the differences. One of the big differences is an excise tax on health insurance benefits.

Here is what the New York Times reports about a possible excise tax:

The excise tax, as written in the Senate version of the health care bill, would impose a 40 percent charge on the value of health benefits above $8,500 for individual policies and $23,000 for family policies, with higher thresholds for certain high-risk jobs, some retirees and certain telecommunications workers. There would also be a higher threshold in certain states with high health care costs.

For those who pay for their insurance as self-employed folks, this tax probably won’t have a big impact. If your home business is mostly a side business, though, and you get your insurance through another job, you might find yourself staring at an excise tax if your health insurance benefits are valuable enough.

One of the most important things you can do for your small business is to do a little networking. However, you can’t just show up to a networking event and expect everything to just turn out. You need to have a strategy. And that is where I’m at a Networking Event — Now What??? by Sandy Jones-Kaminski comes in.

This book is a guide to making quality connections when you attend network events, as well as providing you with insight into how you can build “social capital” wherever you go. The books is written in an easy to understand style that provides insight into how social networks — online and offline — actually work. That way, you learn the basics of how to connect with people, as well as gaining knowledge of what to avoid.

Jones-Kaminski offers a helpful handbook for those who are struggling to understand what they need to do in order to find success through networking their home business. With a little help from this book, it is possible to gain something of an edge. This book is available in paperback and in PDF format as an eBook.

(Disclosure: I am not being paid to promote this book. However, I am an affiliate of HappyAbout.info, and my affiliate link is included. I am also co-authoring a book that will be published by HappyAbout.info.)

Its time to begin another year, and I hope that you are set for a more successful 2010. Good luck with your home business resolutions, and may you find a little more prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

Image source: onemonkeyshow

No, I’m not working today! Instead, I wrote this post ahead of time and I’ve scheduled it to pop up today. I thought this was a funny Christmas video featuring pictures of kids who are scared of Santa. Don’t talk to strangers! (And some of these Santas are strange…) Merry Christmas.

Happy Friday!

Today is Christmas Eve, and if you’re like me, you’re operating on a shorter schedule. But the home business rarely gets a day off! So you’re probably hurry to finish a few things up so that you don’t have to do anything tomorrow. I know I am!

Hopefully, you have received the gift of a successful home business this year — or at least one that is on the road to success.

Merry Christmas!

This is a great time of year, with a chance to reflect on what you are grateful for. I hope you are having a good holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year, I participate in Blog Action Day. It’s a program in which bloggers around the world unite and blog about the same cause. This year, the cause is climate change. When one talks about climate change, one also has to talk about energy consumption. One thing you can do in your home office to reduce your own energy consumption is to switch from a desktop computer to a laptop. You can still put your laptop on the desk, if you want, but having a laptop saves energy.

Most laptops are build with LCD displays that are already energy efficient. Additionally, everything about a laptop uses less energy than a desktop. So, instead of buying another desktop to replace your current machine, consider a laptop. Not only will you save energy, but you will also have a more portable home office workstation.

Other things you can do to save energy in your home office include:

* Using power strips that you can turn off at the end of the day.

* Looking for Energy Star appliances for your home office.

* Using lighting that is task-specific.

* If possible, use natural lighting instead of electrical lights.

One of the things that can be difficult to grasp as you head out to market your home business is that networking isn’t always about the sale. Whether you are using social networking online, or whether you are doing a meet and greet at the local Chamber of Commerce or whether you are attending a conference, networking may not always mean that you get a sale immediately.

Over at Sparkplugging, Susan Payton points out that always trying to pitch your new contacts put you on the fast-track to rejection. This is because you go to a conference or some other networking event (even online) to meet people. You don’t go to sell your stuff. Networking is about building connections; it’s not really about the sale.

Effective networking means that you meet people, make connections and let them know you are out there. Exchange business cards. Make small talk. Tell them what you do. But lay off on the sales pitches unless someone actually asks for one. In the end, if you establish a relationship with someone, the networking experience was a success. You may not get a sale until far down the road, or not at all, but at least the people you meet are aware of who you are, and what you do.