Advice to New Home Business Owners 1. Take advantage of all the training that your company provides.  Most network marketing and franchise companies provide mentoring, training websites, live training calls, recordings, and even hands on training.  If you are not part of a network marketing or franchise company, learn all that you can about running home based and internet businesses through courses, books, and the internet. 2. Let everyone know that you are open for business.  Have a store opening.  Send out announcements.  Put up fliers.  Look into low cost publicity for your business. 3. Experiment with different advertising and lead generation methods.  Do not "put all your eggs in one basket."  Don't stay with a method that is not work,ing , but do move on and try something different.  Keep records and statistics on your advertising methods so that you know what works. 4. If you are working a business which involves prospecting for customers, be persistent and follow up.  I generally follow up with a person until they tell me that they are no longer interested.  5. Talk to people every day about the business.  In any business requiring prospecting for customers, you need to be talking to people every day in order to be successful .  If you are persistent and stay the course you will do fine in your new business. ____________________________________________ Read the amazing true story of how one woman, with no previous business experience, earns 400,000+ per year ... selling other people's stuff online! In her down-to-earth, sincere and often humorous style, Rosalind Gardner guides you through the entire process of building an affiliate marketing business on the 'Net. In over 300 pages, and more than 68,000 words, you'll learn how to pick the best programs, negotiate a commission raise and save time, money and effort on everything from affiliate software to web hosting. To learn exactly how she does it, Click Here ________________________________________ Free and Low Cost Advertising If you are a new business owner, your advertising budget will be limited.  Here are some inexpensive and free advertising sources: 1. Post fliers to bulletin boards in supermarkets, laundromats, and other public places.  See whether any merchants that you frequent would be willing to keep a batch of your fliers or brochures on the counter. You can use a program such as PrintShop to create your own fliers.  I like the tear tab fliers best. 2. Give out your business cards and brochures liberally and certainly whenever you do business with anyone.  3. Let everyone know that you have started your own business. 4. Post on free classifieds on the internet.  This must be done consistently in order to be successful. Moderate Cost Advertising Methods 1. Post button and banner ads to the internet.  Some of the work at home parent sites are excellent.  Do your research.  Prices vary as do google ratings.  If your funds are limited, consider joining a button swap.  2. Paid classified ads and business sponsor links on the internet can be effective.  Some of these are not very expensive and will work better than the free classifieds.  3. Purchase leads from reputable lead companies.  Try to get recommendations for good lead sources.  Leads can range from a few cents a lead to several dollars per lead.  Generally you get what you pay for; however, if you are good on the telephone you may be able to get away with the cheaper leads.  4. If you need to recruit people for your downline, consider placing a work at  home advertisement in an employment weekly. 5. Place inexpensive ads for your products in local newspapers, Pennysaver, and Thrifty Nickel type papers. 6. Flea markets and shows are good places to exhibit products as well as prospect for leads for service based businesses. 7. Consider having a party if you have many local leads where you can introduce your products or services. The point is to be creative and try a number of different advertising and publicity methods.  Keep records and see what works best for you.      Choosing a Home Based Business Opportunity How do you decide on the best home based business opportunity for you to choose.  Here are some quick guidelines to consider: 1.  Choose a product or service that really motivates you to want to promote it--one that offers the customer or client good value at an affordable price. 2.  If this is a franchise, distributorship, or brokership, consider the company's reputation.  Is the company a member in good standing with such organizations as the Better Business Bureau or Direct Sellers Association. 3.  What kind of training and support does the company offer?  Will anyone be there to guide and mentor you. 4. Choose a product or service compatible with your talents or experience.   For example, my previous experience as an insurance representative has been very helpful to the business of marketing discount medical and dental plans.  Many of the marketing approaches are similar.