When retiring or laid-off Baby Boomers launch a home-based business, one of their most important decisions is choosing what type of solutions to utilize.Previously, the answer was clear – use resident software for performance and security. However, in the era of high-speed Internet connectivity, switching to cloud-based solutions offers many advantages:
Lower costs – no software licenses or equipment to purchase and maintain.
Instantly available – you do not have to install anything on your home computer.
Often available with no long-term contracts.
Accessible over the Internet from anywhere.
Secure access.
Free updates.
Satisfies the need for disaster preparedness – If you lose your hard disk or your house burns down, your critical business information is still available from any laptop!
Sometimes free for up to 2-3 users or basic functionality!!
Cloud-based solutions are those (e.g., accounting or customer relationship management) not resident on your home office computer, but which rather reside on a remote server and are accessible over the Internet. Typically, cloud-based solutions are less expensive and offer an easy means of quickly adding functionality. They are especially beneficial when you have partners, contractors or employees working at remote locations because databases and activities can be easily synched, ideas and projects improved through online collaboration, and sales/marketing management simplified.For example, many home-based businesses use online QuickBooks or FreshBooks for accounting. Pricing is reasonable and partners can access and update information from any location. And having an easy accounting solution is critical for any small business, especially at tax time!A plethora of cloud-based solutions exists for backing up critical business data and online collaboration. Two of the most popular are Google Docs and Dropbox. Residing online at distant servers which are backed up daily, they also provide the benefit of disaster preparedness should your home office suffer a burglary, fire, flood or earthquake.Cloud-based solutions can also assist Boomers who have client-based home businesses. Consider DocuSign, for example, which facilitates secure online delivery and signatures for agreements. These services are professional, save a lot of time, and enhance customer relations.Baby Boomers discover soon enough that achieving success with a home-based business requires time management. There is a hard way to get things done and the easy way. Leveraging cloud-based solutions is economical while also adding ease-of-use and functionality. Compared to resident desktop solutions, these online tools are hands-down winners!In short, Baby Boomers starting or operating a home-based business can expedite their launch, cut costs, acquire professional functionality and make their operations run smoother by simply embracing cloud solutions. What’s not to like?!

To help you seal a lucrative deal, you should incorporate the following six powerful marketing strategies:

Identify Your Target Market – This is very important as not everyone would be interested in what you have to offer. While your products may prove to be just perfect for some, not everyone would be interested. One of the first steps when striving to develop an effective marketing strategy would be to identify your target market. To accomplish this, you should take a long hard look at your overall market, then go on to identify various market segments and evaluate them to see which one would give you the best results.

Making use of a Positioning Strategy – Do not just develop a me too positioning strategy as this will lead to your consumers comparing your goods or services with your competitors when they think of purchasing it. You should develop a strategy that positions you away from your competitors by offering superior benefits that is based on a well-developed marketing mix strategy adopted by your organisation.

Providing an Outstanding Sensory Package – By marketing an unique sensory package where your customer get to touch, smell, feel and even taste your products or services will forever change the way you do business with them. You can compare it with your body language where you would make use of various hand signals and facial expressions. This kind of marketing strategy proves to be very powerful as it impacts on how your customer get to interact with your products with regards to the way it is positioned, instant recognition, favourable impressions, and even emotional gratification.

Marketing Mix Foundation – Laying your marketing foundation correctly that would include your product, promotion, pricing as well as fulfillment will ensure you have the right marketing mix combination in place and serve to attract as well as retain your customers. The core ingredient to effective marketing strategies would be to utilize the right marketing mix if you hope to attract your target market.

Analyzing the Competition – It’s been said that competition is good and the spice of life. If you let them, your competition can drive you crazy. On the other hand, it will ensure your competitive juices starts flowing as it will inspire you to greater things where you look for ways to differentiate yourself. You will start analyzing as to why your customers buy from them and not you, and also what they are buying.

Main Marketing Indicators – You need to track your marketing strategies by looking at the size of your target market. In addition, you should check to see what part you are covering with your various marketing activities. Then try and determine how much of this market you would be able to cover and even convert into interested buyers. You may look at it as a marketing funnel where each step would be narrowed down into the next one.
By incorporating all of the above marketing processes or strategies, you will soon develop the right marketing mix that would enable your business to become very good at pulling in targeted customers and also retain them.

Owning a home based business has many perks. You get to set your own hours; there is no travel, minimal inventory and the freedom of working for yourself. No bosses, no coworkers, and no politics allows for less stress in your life. There are many opportunities to choose from.One key to being successful is to do your due diligence. Check out the company online. Google the company and its owners to make sure this is a legitimate home based business opportunity. Be sure that the company you choose provides good support. There should be ample conference calls, webinars, a call center and a sponsor for you to talk with. You should feel very strongly that this is a product or service that you feel passionate about.You absolutely must believe in your success from the very beginning. Know that you will have a learning curve and frustrations. Owning a home based business is not easy. Be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to be successful. Decide never to quit. There will be challenges to overcome. Look at the challenges as opportunities to learn something new and find a way to overcome them.Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 2,000 times before inventing the light bulb? He viewed this not as a failure but as a new way not to invent the light bulb. Learn from your failures and move on.Be positive and surround yourself with positive people. There will be naysayers and negativity. Ignore it. Keep company with others that believe as you do. Continue to believe that you are successful. Find a mentor that has been successful at what you want to do. Ask for help and home based business advice from others that have already achieved what you want.Set goals. Know what is important to you. Is it sales, marketing, financial stability, your reputation? Set short and long term goals. You achieve what you put your mind to, so set your goals high. Write a vision statement for where you want to be five years from now and then read it every day. Believe.The compensation plan of the company you choose should be easily understandable. It should pay out immediately and not after some number of sales. Check the affiliate programs and what other offers are out there.Look at the reality of the situation and know that this will take some time and some money. No one ever starts at the top, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort and believe in your personal success, then it will come to you. You must stick to it. Refuse to fail.Finally, take action. The best home based business advice I can give is if it feels right do it. Jump in, get started and learn what you need to know to be a success. There are home based business owners making millions, hundreds of thousands and much less than that. Decide who you want to be and get going.