AHello I am seeking some CONSTRUCTIVE criticism on how to grow and build my brand. I am a home-based business operating out of FL under the CFL. I have been in business for a year with the same amount of experience. I would like you to review my website and fb page to see where I can make changes. I have a business plan but am still unsure of my target market and how to market to them. Most of my business comes from word of mouth or instagram[URL=http://www.yolandasuniquetreats.com]http://www.yolandasuniquetreats.com[/URL]. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[URL=http://www.facebook.com/yolandasuniquetreats]http://www.facebook.com/yolandasuniquetreats[/URL]

A"How to create a white background in side a cardboard box...........GREAT ideas!! & great for phtogra... - http://pinterest.com/pin/20195898301384722/ " Right off the bat I say photos. Especially since instagram is a big tool for you. You should consider making a white box. Going back to look

ASecond, take down the photos of anything copyrighted. I'm not here to lecture you, I'm sure someone else will. But it could get you in trouble and cost you a lot of money.

AThird, sharing other people's pictures of cakes, even if it shows their fb name is rough waters. I reccomend avoiding it.

AIdentifying your target market should be done ASAP...ideally this is done during the planning phase well before you launch the business.

What are your competitive advantages?

Your web site needs quite a bit of work, I would recommend working with a professional designer. Aside from the issues with photos, you need to provide a clear path for the customer to place an order (ideally via an order form), utilize your home page space to clearly communicate your mission to your target market (once you decide who that is), simplify your site (is it necessary to have a guest book and a blog and a facebook page?), and rewrite the copy and menu to be more professional and specific (can you really cater to every budget?).

You're doing a good job keeping active on Facebook, you might want to ease up a little on the hashtags though.

AI think from now on, when anyone asks for advice on anything, I'm just going to suggest buying a Cake Safe. It will solve all your problems.

AI agree that you need to identify your target customer before you can figure out how to market them. Are you trying to sell celebration cakes and sweets? Trying to reach more of the wedding market? Do you want your business to come from young families? Are you looking for the $6 per serving high end crowd or the $1.50 per serving budget customer (I don't recommend this, you'll burn out quickly and have nothing to show for it). Are there even enough customers in the market you're going for to make your business work? This is how you figure out your market and then how to reach them. I'm not sure what you have in your business plan but if you missed these key elements it's not a very good business plan.

And yes all the copyrighted characters need to come down as well as any photos that are not of cakes you actually made.

WOW!!! The penis and *** stuff needs to come down now! Some people find that amusing but you will lose tons of potential clients with that alone. Some people put that stuff up but on a separate page with a warning....

Your cakes need better presentation. Your About Us picture needs to be professional....I don't get that feel when I click on it. Ditto Kayla on the copyrighted material.

I think your flavors should be on your menu page. And your gourmet and specialty flavors shoud have a description of what they are...while Oreo cake may sound self explanatory to you, the customer will want to know if the oreos are in the filling, baked inside the cake, crumbled up all over the outside? They will want to know if you use real alcohol in your Mascato cake or a flavoring. A picture of those cakes next to the description would be helpful.

Are you being fairly compensated for your push pops and cake pops? Those prices are extremely low in my opinion. $12 for a dozen of minis...what exactly is a mini?

AThanks for the input. All the information received has been very informative. I hope I was not offensive with my capital constructive. If so I apologize. Its just I've posted in the past and gotten bashed by other CC members Jason: My competitive advantage is my personalized customer service, and treats made fresh to order. Allowing me to have repeat customers. Maybe I should have said I'm struggling with how to market to and network with my target market. I will work on making these changes. Thanks again.

Having a great site will help you market. Who is your target market? Occasionally on my FB page I will do a giveaway. I will direct people to my site to fill out a contact form in order to enter. That has helped bring new potential clients to my page. Find local events in your area where you could be a vendor. Set up some dummy cakes showing your work, give out small samples and sell some cupcakes. Donate a gift certificate to a charity as a door prize or auction item. I have never done this but have seen it suggested, take your practice cakes to the fire department or someplace similar...

Hi :) I had a peek at your website, and to me, the market you're currently targeting is the cupcake market and also the more novelty/hens night type market. That is what the types of cakes in your gallery and the design and colours of your website line up with. Is this the market you want to be targeting? You need to have a good think about the type of cakes you WANT to be making and if it's different to what you're doing at the moment, then take some time to get some good practice cakes under your belt and start changing your website.

I guess until we know what kind of business you want, it's hard to give specific advice. 

Hens...heheehe

?? It's getting late here and I have the flu, so don't get it? You made me laugh though, even though I don't know what's meant to be funny! Lol!

Oh!! Hahahaha! Here in Australia we call the bride to be's last big party night her Hen's Night :) So yeah, gossipy ladies definitely fits!! 

ABachelorette is the US version of a hen night/hen party/hens night everywhere else!

ANow that you've said it, I have heard of Bachelorette parties before. Glad I gave you all a chuckle :) Hahaha!

A

One thing to look at when identifying a competitive advantage is how sustainable it will be in the long term. How difficult would it be for someone else to offer personalized customer service and make treats fresh to order? Just about every successful custom cake business already does this.

AThat's an advantage over the grocery store bakery, but it doesn't set you apart from the other custom bakers. Do you have a specialty cake? A particular style?

A

I'm trying to find out.

BUY CAKE SAFE!

Apparently, I take CC too seriously... It doesn't matter if your goal was shouting or emphasis. My point was that the word "constructive" was highlighted to immediately warn us that we better respond in a way that YOU find acceptable. I'm a professional and come here to help those with less experience. I don't appreciate being warned in that manner.

So my best and most current advice: You need a Cake Safe way more than you need us.