Running a successful home business is very different than working in Corporate America, or even working in a retail position or anything else. Our paychecks depend on our productivity. If we don't work, we don't get paid. My hope in writing this article, is to give some tips on how to run a successful home business. It's not successful unless you are going to the bank and depositing money.

The first key in running a successful home business is to create a business that is marketable. For instance, I have spent many years selling cosmetics, but so many people sell cosmetics especialy being in the same town as corporate, that I couldn't market the products. When I chose to become a coach, I chose to do so because the possibilities are limitless and I believed that I could market my services.

The next key to a successful home business is to become a part of the Din Din Club. Din Din stands for Do It Now. There are going to be things that you don't want to do and personally speaking, I found every excuse in the book not to do those things. What do you think excuses are? They are lies that we tell ourselves that no one else believes but us. Quit making excuses as to why you can't start a business and become a part of the Din Din Club.

The third key to being a successful home based business is self confidence. I will use myself as an example. When I first started coaching, I was afraid to approach people and talk about what I did. I didn't think anyone would want my services. But the truth was, that as long as I didn't believe in myself and speak about my business with confidence, potential clients wouldn't invest their time or money into me and my services.

The next key to running a successful home business is consistency. Many people are misinformed when it comes to running a home business. The clients do not just come knocking on your door. You have to find them. When I was selling cosmetics, I found that about 3 out of 10 became customers. As I built my customer base, I learned that 3 new customers a week would not pay the bills. So I made it a daily routine to talk to 10 people a day and giving them my business card was not enough, I had to get their number as well. But I had to take it a step further. I had to follow up with them within 24 hours. As a consumer, I look for consistency. I look for someone that is easily accessible to me. For the next 5 days, I want you to practice handing out 10 cards a day and you will see your business explode right before your very eyes.

The next key to success is marketing. In my experience, there are several marketing techniques. The first is on paper. This includes flyers, business cards, letters, or anything else that will introduce you to the community. This is very important in marketing. It makes us look credible to have professional 3 fold brochures printed and to always have business cards on us. In interviewing people who were attracted to my flyers, I discovered that the thing they liked the most was the client testimonials.

The next area of marketing is on-line. This is an important tool for gaining new business, but don't let it be the only source of business for you. I encourage you to NOT sit in front of the computer waiting for business to come because it doesn't happen that way. There are many tools to use such as: blogs, autoresponders, guestbook, etc.

The most important part of marketing is face to face. Check with rotary clubs, your local Chamber Of Commerce, associations, etc. When networking, the most important thing to remember is Who You Know. Who can you refer to others in the group. When you make referrals to others, they will in turn refer back to you.

All of these things come together to create the absolute most important thing in business today - professionalism. Incorporate these things into your business and people will respect you and your business.

About the author:

My name is Lynne Kaska and I am the founder of Visionary Coaching, a career and mentor coaching company. We began in Garland Texas in 2004, and currently we have coaches and clients around the country and are expanding into Canada. We work with vice presidents, managers and other executives, who are overloaded or may be facing career burn out. We also work with individuals who are facing big life transitions.