7 ways to market your business if you’re a stay at home Mom

Let’s face it, having to market your business while being a stay at home parent is hard.

Not only is it hard to find balance between the two, it can be a tricky job trying to bring in new business while also playing the Mom role.

With your hands tied most of the day and your time being limited to”get out into the world and market your business,” it’s tough to grow your business while child-rearing at home.

But, there are a few practical ways of bringing in new work and clients without having to hire a nanny or care provider!

In this post, we are going to uncover 7 ways to market your business even if you’re stuck at home all day feeding mouths and changing diapers.

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used in this post, so that means if you purchase anything through these links, we will get a small commission AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. We only promote and share products that we personally us, trust, and love!

use a newsletter

The one thing that I LOVE about email marketing is that you can do it in your pajamas while your kids are tearing down the house – but the person on the other end of the email is completely unaware!

With the majority of our population owning a smart phone or mobile device, it’s never been easier to check your email on a daily basis (or multiple times a day if you’re like me). And, being able to pop into your target market’s inbox at any given day during the week is golden!

Email marketing is a complex web of things you need to know in order to use it effectively, but just by getting started, you can begin marketing your business in a way that works great with your current lifestyle.

If you don’t have a newsletter in place, there are many services to help you get started. Mailchimp is a great option for beginners and it’s free to signup, but the options can be limited if you want your emails to look branded and more professional.

I personally use Aweber for all of my email marketing and have fallen in love with their setup, campaign options, and follow-up series (where I can write a set of emails to be sent automatically when someone new subscribes to my list).

Whatever you choose, a newsletter for your business is one of the most inexpensive, simple, and powerful things you can do to market your photography business!

social media

In this day and age, this one should be a given.

But, instead of using social media to keep your business up to date and current with your followers, you can build a business and gain new clients by using it effectively.

First of all, figure out which social media channels are best for your target audience and focus of those first. Then, test the waters to see how your following is responding to certain types of posts.

Do they love links to your new blog posts? Or do they share your photos a ton when a friend is being tagged? Perhaps they engage when you ask them a question to break the ice to get to know them better.

Whatever the best response you get, go with what your fans crave and continually think of new ways to entice them and keep them interested in what you have to offer.

Sponsorships

This one might come with a bit of a higher price tag, but being a sponsor for local sports teams and events can level up your brand in many ways.

For one, it can provide brand recognition in your area. The more times a person is exposed to a brand and the more they see that brand in the community, it creates a sense of familiarity.

When it comes time to use that particular service or product, what do you think that person will think of?

You got it! Your business!

Another way it’s a great marketing method is that your business has the chance of being seen by many people in your area.

If you are strategic about the types of sponsorships you choose, it can also bring in new business.

As an example, it would be a great idea to sponsor a children’s soccer team if you’re a family photographer, but probably not a great idea if you specialize in boudoir.

Get in touch with your community to see what kind of events need business sponsorships and see what fits your brand and budget the best!

charity work

What other way is there of looking great in your community than working with a local charity to help them raise money?

By being able to give a charity a portion of your session sales, you’ll be able to help them raise money for their cause, and also get your business in front of a new audience.

If the charity is really committed to getting more donations, then they will help you promote the event to their donors and supporters.

In the end, their supports will be the biggest supports of this event because not only will they get to donate to their favorite charity, but they will also get a service or product in return.

What kinds of charities would blend well with your business?

Think of a few various types and start your research today to see which would be the greatest asset to your schedule and session goals!

donations

Like charity sessions where you donate your time and a portion of the sales, donating to local events and Galas is also another simple way to market your business.

Many charities, non-profit organizations, private schools, and churches host annual (or perhaps even a semi-annual) events where they hope to raise money for their organization.

They do this by people offering to donate their time and money to create more money and for it to be poured back into the organization.

A lot of the time these events will host a silent auction of sorts to generate more money – and these auction prizes come from donated items that people and business owners donate to the event.

By donating a free product or service, this can easily make money for the organization and help spread the word about your business while not spending a lot of time, money, or resources doing so.

All you have to do is research a few of these and reach out to the coordinator of the event to get involved – and this can easily be done from the comfort of your own home while the kids are napping (or quietly watching their favorite TV show).

referral/rewards program

If you don’t use a referral program to get new clients, then you must start one now!

When searching for a service of product that you know nothing about it, what do you normally do? You ask your friends and family for a recommendation of course!

Having a handful of raving clients can be your biggest asset when it comes to building a business and putting them to work is easy for you and fun for them (when offered the right reward.)

Google

Getting found online is probably the most simple, yet most intricate way to market your business from home – and while you’re raising kids.

By adopting a few key SEO strategies or investing in Google ads, you can market your business for a low price all without leaving the comfort of your pajamas.

Being able to land your website on the first page of Google is a great start & will help tremendously when new prospects are visiting your site in interest of your business.

Having your lead-capture in place (newsletter sign-up), you can also keep up with these leads if they decide not to book right away. I have personally booked several sessions by doing so and it definitely plays a huge role in my marketing strategy!

As you can see, there are many ways you can market your business while staying at home raising your children – some just require a little more attention to detail and research.