Interviews With Home Based Women Business Owners

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Family Day Care Marketing - Offline And Online - Meet Allison Toney

By sandy.naidu | Category: Home Based Business, Recent Interviews

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My guest today is Allison Toney of Family Day Care Marketing. Allison runs a home based family day care business. Allison used her offline business knowledge to create a successful online business as well. And this is what makes Allison’s story so special. Today, Allison runs two businesses - an online one and an offline one. In her offline world, she runs a successful family day care business. In her online world she provides marketing and advertising support to other day care providers. There is a lot we can all learn from her success story. The online world offers lot of business opportunities.





Most people shrug off the online world thinking that their business is not suited for that sector. But do what Allison did and whatever your business, explore the online potential. Read Allison’s story, be inspired and implement her suggestions.
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
   
Family Day Care In addition to running a home daycare business, I also operate several online businesses. One of which is my main website (a marketing resource hub for home daycare providers). Long story short, I’ve parlayed my years of experience in the home daycare arena and taken it online to encourage the masses. lol
   
   
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
   
Well oddly enough, I never really set out to start a home based daycare business. My plan was to stay home with my little chicklet and feather the nest while hubby brought home the worms… I mean bacon. My neighbors on the other hand had different plans for me (the town baby wrangler). It seemed like every other week someone came a knockin’ with a youngin’ in one hand and a checkbook in the other. I was like the little old lady in the shoe. Of course I was much younger and firmer back then. (batting lashes)

Talk about potential. My market was literally banging down my door. Doesn’t the saying go… “Find a starving market and give them what they want”? Well in my case, the starving market found me.

So I decided to get my business affairs in order and turn this opportunity into a business.

As far as the online aspect goes, I figured if I could some how organize the thoughts and resources rattling around in my head into something useful and cohesive, maybe I could help another mom out there with dreams of returning home to feather her nest. The rest is history.
   
   
I understand that you are a bit of a marketing geek… Can you tell us the most effective bit of marketing you have ever done?
   
I would have to say quality “Article Marketing”.

  • You’re seen as an expert (the go to gal) in your field or industry
  • You get one way back links to your website which means better search engine rankings
  • You continue to reap the benefits well into the future
  • It doesn’t have to cost you a dime

For example, all things being equal. Say you’re in the market for a home office organizer or consultant. While doing some online research you come across two local gals, the first with no articles to speak of, the second with say a modest 3 under her belt…

  • 5 Steps To Home Office Organization
  • How To Choose The Perfect Who-Z-What’s-It For Your Home Office
  • Top 3 Ways To Store Your Files In Style

    • Who gets your business?

    If you can come up with 7 tips that are relevant to your target market, you can have your first article written before your head hit’s the pillow tonight.
   
What is your number one stress relief tactic?
   
Nothing beats curling up with a hot pot of tea and a good book. Even if I can’t get my cup of tea in, I still like to get in a good 10-15 minutes of reading before bed.
   
   
Apart from the obvious that you need to love kids, what are some of the prerequisites for a mum to start a family day care centre?
   
As far as I know it’s not written in stone anywhere, but it really helps to be a self starter, organized, creative, & most of all patient.
   
   
What is the most rewarding thing about your business?
   
Hands down, being my own boss! I often wonder why I didn’t figure this whole “Work-at-home” thing out a lot sooner. lol

   
   
Finally, your five keys to success?
   
  1. As a self-proclaimed “Marketing Geek” I’d be remiss if I didn’t stand high upon my well worn soapbox and yell… “NEVER STOP MARKETING!” Without clients, you have not a business, but a hobby. I know, I know, no one wants to come off as a used car sales man… or sales lady I should say. Find what works for YOU and work IT.


  2. Feel the fear and keep moving forward. I promise you, it will be ok. Just remember the little engine that could. I think I can… I think I can… I think I can… The more you practice moving through your fears, the more your business will begin to blossom and produce the kind of results, opportunities and fulfillment that you desire & deserve.


  3. Realize that you’re not an expert in “every” area of your business. Do what YOU do best and outsource the rest!


  4. Do what puts you closest to the $$$. If churning out X number of cloth diapers is what puts dinner on the table, why waist time fiddling around with the graphics on your website? Please re-read Success Key #3. Lol Sometimes you just have to literally ask yourself… “Does this take me towards meeting my financial goals, or does this distract me from meeting my financial goals?”


  5. Have some sort of an online presence. I don’t care if you monogram custom hair bows from your home office in the basement next to the furnace, there’s still room for YOUR business online. No excuses!
 
Sites Of Interest
http://www.familydaycaremarketing.com
 
 
This interview was published on 8th September 2008
 
Visit Allison’s website to get more information about her business….
 
To read more stories about women in the service based industry click Idea Home Based Service Business
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  1. Kathie Holmes September 22nd, 2008 5:25 am :

    There are so many valid points in Allison’s interview. She has done well to master not only her own business but the concept behind running a business.

    Well done Allison.

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