By Aimee Woodley

Running your own business can bring a lot of freedom: no real boss to tell you what to do, the freedom to set your own hours, and often the opportunity to run your business from your own home.

• Working from home does have its ups and downs.

  If you have a home office or shop within/attached to your home, you don’t have to worry as much about the increased costs of renting/purchasing a new space, you have a more flexible schedule (take care of that laundry in between clients), and no commute! However, all of these benefits do come at a cost if you’re not careful. That cost is no visible storefront.

• Don’t let your love of having a home-based business blind you.

  Especially if your home is nestled in a quaint, quiet neighborhood, you don’t have the advantage of a big, colorful, splashy sign. As new families move into town, they discover new places to patronize as they drive past signs in the downtown/central hub of the area. So, what do you do, short of building an apartment above a downtown retail space?

• Marketing your business doesn’t need to break the bank.

  There are many, many ways to get the word out these days. One of the biggest ways to do this is to just to get out there! Go to local community events and meet people – informally for formally. Talk to your barista, your dentist, even your neighbors. As people get to know you and get to know your business, they will naturally know who to recommend when someone is looking for your products or services. In a more formal route, check out local networking events and trade shows in your line of work. This brings you straight to the customers that are looking for providers just like you!

• And of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the fabulous advertising opportunity we have for you here at the Echo!

  Our Marketplace offers affordable rates, available for small businesses with a single employee in a simple, directory-style layout. We also offer many other size options with the option have a fully customized design. Give us a call and we can start on getting you more visibility for your biggest investment!  907-240-9338 | aimee@echoak.com