© nathanborror


Unfortunately, when you start a business, just setting-up shop and tossing a welcome sign above your door isn't enough. As you begin a home-based business, you need to set aside some time to consider your marketing. It's good to think about branding, approach and of course cost.

When it comes to branding you must take care of these 3 areas:
• Colors
• Logo
• Message
Start with your message. Do you want to be known for quality and good service, or maybe cutting-edge and vibrant support? Decide these things first.

Then look at colors. What colors make you think of the message you decided on. It's a good idea to discuss color ideas with a professional designer. They can give great insight on people's reactions to color.

Finally a logo. It must use the colors and also define your message even more. A logo is more than just a pretty picture. Shapes, designs and even straight or curved edges can alter people's perception of your company. I strongly suggest hiring a design to walk you through logo design. (Be prepared to drop money on your logo, this is a long term investment and worth having right from the start.)

Then decide cost. How much are you willing to spend on marketing? (Take into account what you don't spend on marketing you'll probably make-up with your personal time.) Do you want to put aside a certain amount a month? A year? Once you know the amount you're willing to spend, you can better decide what approach makes the most sense. Extra hint: always add a little more than you actually plan to spend. Better to have cash left-over than not enough.

Marketing has multiple facets: online, print, multimedia. Expect another post covering each of these areas soon.

How did you decide what to spend on marketing?