WAHM Warning
Are you a mom who works from home? Do you market yourself as a WAHM? If you do, you need to watch UnMarketing Expert Scott Stratten's controversial rant on why so many WAHM's market themselves badly.
Are you a mom who works from home? Do you market yourself as a WAHM? If you do, you need to watch UnMarketing Expert Scott Stratten's controversial rant on why so many WAHM's market themselves badly.
Tags: Working mother, WAHM, Unmarketing, Scott Stratten
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I have to agree with what he is saying. I'm a SAHM and a WAHM and when I do business I build my work description in person and otherwise pertaining to who it is I am in works with. It's just like when you are with friends, you don't need to put certain things on front page if they don't understand it or if there is no connection, or ability to identify with it. It can turn people off or make them shy away in the business world, sometime people think when they take you on for a project they take on everything else it is you say you are then it becomes and overwhelming thought and questions of your time dedication and abilities start to come into play. Queen Cee, Hamilton, Ontario www.whensistahsgettogether.com www.be-you-tifulgirlsclub.com www.myspace.com/queenceemusic |
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| @hullabaloo519 I work at home as a Senior Consultant/programmer (9 years) and for my business as a children's party planner. Thankfully, when clients ask if they should come to my "office", I'm able to say that I need to see their space for the party. I wish I could be on Google without Google showing where my house is! Michelle Peer, Waterloo, ON www.hullabalooparty.ca |
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| I just found Scott Stratton yesterday, and through him discovered you this morning! Yeah! I am starting Twitter this week. Do you suggest using your business name on twitter or your personal name? Julia, Madison, MS |
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| Well, for as long as I can deliver the best products and services to my clients, I don't think there's something wrong if I'll market myself as a work at home mom. Patrice, Los Angeles, California http://mom-work-at-home.com/ |
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| Great subject matter! I never mention that I'm a wahm because it's just not relevant to my business. I do agree that you market to your target market and if it's wahms, then all good. Agnes Ikotun, Wethersfield, Connecticut http://www.aivirtualsolutions.com |
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| As a business owner whose audience is definitely WAHMs, I couldn't agree with Scott's rant more! He is bang on. While it is certainly liberating to share with other mom's the freedom and flexibility you enjoy being a WAHM, when it comes to your clients, you want to present yourself as an ultra talented, business-savvy, virtual rock-star. I don't believe that you need to entirely hide your persona as a WAHM, but it not something to be emphasized or brought to the forefront in your marketing strategies. At VAClassroom.com, we train WAHMS to be marketing-savvy virtual professionals who offer cutting edge skills and services to busy business professionals. I recently spoke at the International Virtual Assistant Association Summit in Montreal and I left that conference amazed at by the unique talents and abilities of these women virtual professionals (many who were WAHMS). I get the sense from this group that they are not marketing themselves as WAHMS but savvy, multi-skilled business professionals. Thanks for stimulating a great discussion here Scott! Craig, Kamloops, BC http://www.vaclassroom.com |
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| Great video - as a work-at-home professional (mum) for a number of years - I always aim to maintain a high level of professionalism and focus on delivering great service & results for my clients. Christina, Canada, BC http://officeassistants.ca |
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| Yes! Yes! Yes! Absolutely right on Scott. I do have WAHM written everywhere, however I'm marketing to Work At Home Mums. A lot of the WAHMs I've seen online though - I wouldn't hire them for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Their marketing material doesn't give me confidence that the work their doing for me would be a priority. Mind you, marketing materials should ALWAYS be about the customer and their needs, regardless of whether you're a WAHM (or WAHD) or not. :-) Melinda | WAHM Biz Builder, Jerrabomberra, NSW (Australia) |
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| I could not agree with Scott more. I run my business out of my home. I print 123,000 Mississauga Kids Guides 3 times per year. When I was starting out I never mentioned to my clients. Private Schools, Day Cares, Tutors, Dance Studios, Martial Arts Gyms, Camps, Indoor Playgrounds, Family Dentist etc. etc.... that I worked out of the home. If they asked I told them but I never brought it up. Now that I'm 3 years into my business I'm slightly more open about that. My clients have experienced the great results they get working with me. They know I publish my guides on time and distribute them as promised. In other words, they know I get the job done. Anne Green, Mississauga, ON |
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| One question: in the case of a virtual assistant should you still tell a potential employer that you're a WAHM/have kids so that they're at least aware that you may not be available all the time (eg: have to pick your child up from school because they're sick)? No argument over the "marketing" yourself as a WAHM though. Caroline, Mississauga, ON |
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| Great video, Scott. I think it's part of the never-ending struggle for identity Moms have. Having just returned from BlogHer conference and talking to a lot of mom bloggers and business owners it seemed that some of the Moms who didn't refer to themselves as WAHMs felt like misfits in the space. Having been a SAHM/WAHM myself for nearly 20 years (shhhhh!) I agree with your stand on this. It's great to bond with other WAHMs but from a business standpoint it's not a great marketing tool. Right up there with having kids screaming in the background during a conference call ;) Merlene, Toronto, ON |
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| Great tips for all WAMs! I do see some ladies market themselves as a WAHMs. Delphine, Surrey, BC |
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| This is very well put in all our marketing endeavors we should ALWAYS consider our market and what is relevant to them! Seems like a basic concept, but I'm shocked to see how many just don't get it! If it makes sense to tell others that we are WAHMs (or WAHDs) then go for it but if not, like Scott says a WAHM(D) pitch could be to your detriment! Here are some questions I ask myself to keep myself focused! What are you selling? (This is not just a product or service. What is the fundamental nature of what you are selling?) Who is your audience? Where are they? Why should they care? How can you communicate with them, to motivate them to act the way you want them to? When are you going to launch your marketing plan? Thank you for a great post! Aurea Crotty, Toronto, ON |
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| I just found Scott Stratton yesterday, and through him discovered you this morning! Yeah! I am starting Twitter this week. Do you suggest using your business name on twitter or your personal name? Julia, Madison, MS |
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| PERFECT! While we celebrate that you are likely the best juggler on the planet- that's required for WAHMs- the client just wants to know you can get things done for them. Yes, your kids are probably the cutest ever (after ours, of course), and we know from experience you have the hardest jobs (plural) imaginable... just happy to see Scott take the bold move of explaining how critical it is to keep your entourage backstage during the show. VERY nice, Scott!!! Aly & Andrea, Houston, TX |
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| I absolutely agree! Unless you're marketing to moms, don't market yourself as a mom first. It's our little secret! :) Wendy Kenney @23Kazoos, Phoenix, AZ |
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