how do i promote my new cake business from home?

Where are you located, what are your competitive advantages, and who are you targeting? What is your monthly budget for advertising?

There are many different ways to promote your business, but your ROI will vary greatly depending on your business and your market.

Oh you should advertise on Craigslist! And be sure to donate a huge spead for a local event ...for free! Then, find a client with lots of friends who wants a big huge intricate cake. Do it for free & she'll sen all her friends to you!!

^^complete sarcasm!! Those never really work.

As Jason said, a lot depends on your target market. You'll want to build a portfolio if you don't already have one. You'll also want to optimize your site for searchablity.

What did you previously that worked?

Hi,

 

I am a newbie, but, here are some suggestions:

 

- if you want to make use of technology and less on cash try Social Media

      -----> twitter, facebook  (also try checking out the features of meetup.com - find a group, network/make friends and promote your business)

      -----> blogging is another way

     ------> online flyers/forms/advertisement via ADOBE FORMS CENTRAL ( first 50 forms/flyers are free) you can email to your current clientele and new possible clientele, the interactive design environment is user friendly, streamlined, clean and simple (of course, additional features comes with additional cost) -- its like the digital version of traditional flyer-marketing-strategy.

     ------> e-mail marketing services (such as constant contact  and the likes)

 

 

- there's also the standard/traditional way (which still holds it grounds in this age of technology)

    --------> word of mouth, friend network, business or organization networks etc.

    --------> providing a calling card after every business meeting, discussion, consultation, or after every purchase

   ---------> advertisements on your products packaging or your business transportation or certain merchandise

------------> media marketing

 

hopefully this helps you out in some ways.

Google how to write a press release and send it to your local daily newspaper.  Having them do a spread with some photos on the great new custom cake bakery will get some local buzz going with your name.
 

This would only work if your customers still read the newspaper.

Agree with the newspaper part. Depending on where you are located, people do read the local newspaper. I was featured close to Valentine's Day, and had a big spread with pics etc. My phone was ringing for the next 3-4 days and I did 11 orders on Valentine's Day.

 

Since Easter is coming up, maybe you can make something related to Easter and have the newspaper feature you with the pics so you get some orders for Easter. Also do make a Facebook page and network with all the other local businesses in your area who are on Facebook.

 

Make sure to post pics regularly on your website and FB page. If you are looking to do wedding cakes, make dummy wedding cakes for practice and pictures and post those online as well. 

I think a lot also depends on what audience you want to reach. A lot of my business is from kids parties, so I've left multiple cards and a few look books with businesses that do kids parties. I also connected with my town parent and child association and will be part of their coupon book for members, and friends have posted in local interest groups for me. I've also put cards on bulletin boards at local dance studios, gymnastic academies, etc. Think about who you want your customers to be and where they frequent.

One word of caution though, make sure you are properly licensed/permits in order if your town requires it. I've heard it's the advertising that often alerts the board of health to unregistered home bakers.