Starting baking business.

Anyone have any ideas on starting a custom baking business?

• I just got out of the military and i'm super into baking. Im not bragging but im really good at it. im super creative and have a natural talent of turning anything into a dessert. I want to do it for money until i can eventually open my own bakery. but the problem is i don't know anyone here so getting it out through word of mouth just wont work. its about to be graduation season and i would love to do custom dessert orders for that (and weddings and birthdays, etc) but i just don't know how to advertise my skills without putting money into it to get nothing in return. I do cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pastries, you name it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

• Answer:

  Firstly, congrats on you knowing what you want to do after your military service. Many people don't! I assume you are on a ZERO budget, but your instincts just tell you that you have got to do something now to fulfill your dream of opening a bakery shop. I am going to share with you the ZERO way of doing it, and turn you into a HERO. Social Media Marketing - Via Facebook 1) Create a Facebook Business PAGE,not "PROFILE" for your bakery business - You can have unlimited followers. You can click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/business 2) Come up with a bloody unique name. 3) Bake 20 products, decorate them nicely, take photos of them(make sure the angle is right and apply some effects like filters/contrast/focus), and upload them to your new FB PAGE - Make sure all of your products have their USP(Unique Selling Preposition): What is so special about your bakeries that attracts people want to buy? It has to be appealing and tasty. Appealing: Draws attention / Tasty: Keeps customer's loyalty. 4) Invite all your friends to the shop - Plead with them to "Share" your photos so your PAGE gets to their friend's networks too. 5) Be generous: Remember the 20 products you baked? Give them to your friends and relatives. They will most probably help you to do free advertising via the Word-Of-Mouth. 6)Have an order list to keep track all of your purchases - You wouldn't wanna risk your reputation by saying " Oops, sorry, we completely forgotten your orders! " 7) Maintain consistency. 8) Keep feedback coming. 9) Have your followers to vote what they would like to see in your next product. 10) Good luck!