Chanette Sparks has been in the PR and marketing industry for 7 years. She’s also an author and her work is part of the D.I.V.A.S Anthology.
1) How did you get started working from home?
I started working from home during a company-wide layoff at my previous job. I was already running a part-time business, however, when the layoff happened, I decided to increase my work and expand with clients and corporate contract in my field.
2) How did you choose the work-at-home career you do?
I was working as a Children’s Party Planner and I was the Marketing team for that company. Upon conducting marketing campaigns, a client from an event inquired and asked I help with marketing for their startup. I was already in college working on my Master’s degree, so I was excited to embrace the request and explore my talents. I also conduct contract work for marketing research organizations.
3) How did you get started (basic initial steps)?
It was a growth stage for me from the work I was already doing. I helped a startup business with marketing efforts, and from there, I began to offer my services to other startup businesses. I noticed that some businesses were already established, but lacked a pr team due to costs, so I started to offer additional services such as press releases, media kits, and various copywriting services.
4) How did you get your first client or customer or job?
My first client came to me. She was a gym owner and saw the work I was doing for my small business, which as ultimately a startup. My success came after offering services for free, such as promo videos for marketing and advertisements. The free services helped me gain attention and I started getting referrals from word-of-mouth.
5) How do you market your business?
I market through my clients mostly. I’ve had about 85% success rate with word of mouth marketing compared to any investment I have ever spent. I also have a podcast that brings in a variety of clients from other states.
6) What does your usual day look like?
I wake up, meditate, take my children to school and exercise first. I try to start the day with self-care. Afterwards, from 10am-6pm, I am working on my clients work. I have project scheduled at different times and much involves marketing
research.
7) What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
Grow an audience. I think it’s important that we connect with people and network to build relationships. I feel I started off backward. I grew my business, but it took some time due to lacking professional relationships.
8) What advice would you give someone who wants to work from home?
If you want to work from home you cannot be lazy. You must be just as disciplined as if you were clocking in at a workplace. Your day should be scheduled and organized, or you’ll end up watching tv and relaxing all day.
Find Chanette Sparks Online:
Website: IBJ Marketing
Twitter: @ChanetteSparks
Instagram: @IBJ_Launch
FB: IBJ PR & Marketing with Chanette Sparks
Amazon: DIVAS Anthology
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Discover how Chanette Sparks turned a layoff into full-time work-at-home career in PR and marketing, and as an author. @ChanetteSparks #successprofile #workathome” quote=”Discover how Chanette Sparks turned a layoff into full-time work-at-home career in PR and marketing, and as an author. @ChanetteSparks #successprofile #workathome”]
