"But I don't have a car..."

One of the toughest obstacles for a new SAHM to surmount is lack of transportation. Whether your second car is in the shop, the family has only one car, or mama is not allowed to drive for a while after baby comes, the inability to get out and join friends can seem very isolating at a time when you most want to share your experiences. I have a few suggestions for our members without wheels.

The first step is to appoint yourself the Minister of No Transportation for your area. Information is our tool, and you are the best source of that info! Now that the responsibilities of the office are weighing heavily upon you, let's outline a rudimentary course of action.

1. Invite, invite, invite.

Perhaps you are not blessed with a home that serves the purpose of entertaining. That's okay! You know better than anyone what is within walking distance of your home. If there is a local library, coffee shop, or park that is close by, invite others to join you there. You'll get the most response if you announce your plans at least one week in advance- most of our Joy Troupe groups have members who are only too happy to hop in and have fun. Library meeting rooms can be reserved during open times without charge- there are other public spaces like this too. Or arrange a meeting point for a stroller walk or jog, weather permitting.

2. Rail & Bus

You'd be surprised how well developed the public transportation system is in the area. If you've got no wheels, scope out the WMATA and use their trip planner. Once you've plotted a course, send the info to the event coordinator and ask her to add it to the event for the benefit of other car-free folks.

3. Hitchhike.

Okay, not really- but do RSVP "maybe" and say you'd love to come if anyone is going your way. There's no guarantee that you can catch a ride, but it's worth a shot!

4. ZIP Car

Zipcar is a "car sharing" service. For those who only need a car (or a second car) occasionally, this service can save the day. Although there is a fee to join the service, hourly rental rates on weekdays start just above $9/hour for no commitment plans. You can get a lower rate if you know you'll use the car more often by opting for an "extra value plan."

5. Network

New to the area? Put a post on the forum for our local chapter titled "fun things to do in {Neighborhood Name}." But don't just wait for others to post... Go out and walk. Do a little web surfing. Add your best finds to the thread and soon others will want to check out the cool spots you've seen, which brings us back to option 1: Invite, invite, invite...

Joy Troupe Saves!

You already know that the Joy Troupe is FUN for you and your little ones.

What you may not realize is that being part of our community of families can help you fatten your savings account! Everyone wants a good nest egg in uncertain economic times. Check out all the ways our members are using our group to save, save, save! Got your own ways you're using our community to save money? Be sure to add them in our "comments" section.

We have a sitter exchange so our members can swap child care. You sit for her kids, she sits for yours, and you pocket the money you'd have spent on a sitter. Our Classifieds are free- no ebay fees! and you know everyone who sees them is a local parent or caregiver- no Nigerian Princes here! Our recipe swap group is a great place to find economical solutions for meal planning. (And share your own!) Our calendar is packed with FREE events and activities every day of the week. Not spending doesn't have to mean sitting at home! We have a pre-school coop, which is going to save some families over $8,000 apiece in 2009. Special Joy Troupe only discount offers from local businesses Swap Meet events: Swap stuff you don't need for stuff you do... leftovers donated to a local charity Find and share deals and tips on our "green and thrifty" forum Weight loss support group starting soon- much more fun than commercial plans, and SO much less expensive! Check our Community Events calendar for consignment and garage sales near you- don't buy new when used will do!

Promoting your Business to the Joy Troupe

So, you are just starting out on your own in a business that appeals to families or women and you'd like to reach the Joy Troupe members to start promoting your product or services. We'd love to get in on the ground floor of your business! My best suggestions for good results, based on my experience and feedback from previous photography events, would be as follows:

1. Set aside some time to do some (say, three, depending on your location) Joy Troupe events. If there will be any waiting, combine them with a social activity, so the families will be having fun even while they are waiting for you. (We have lots of playdate and Mom Time ideas that would work for this- just talk to one of our organizers for help.)

2. It's tempting if you are just getting started to give away your time in an effort to promote your business. However, if you have a familiar product or service, people are more likely to take you seriously if you do charge something for your time, however modest. (If people have probably not tried your service before, by all means offer a free trial to make it more approachable.)

For us to post a group event which has a fee, we do require that you give a portion of the money back to the group, but on the whole, it's a win-win. A 20% commission is typical for our fundraisers. Choose a price that's within most families budgets, and you'll find that people love a bargain. I'm the last to complain about anything that's free! But this is your time away from your kid/home/dog/other job, whatever- you should walk away with something in your pocket.

3. Set up your website, even if it is very simple and only has pictures of your own child, so we can link to it when we promote these events. Establishing your web presence now will pay off down the road. (Check out the Joy Troupe package. You can download free templates and design software, too.)

4. Once you create your introductory offer, offer a coupon toward future services to all members, whether they participate or not. We normally do an after-event email with pictures, etc- be sure to ask the photographer if you can use some of the nicest ones on your site! Once folks see others having fun at your events, they will be interested, and a coupon will help "close the deal."

5. Once we post the events, let us offer one or two free spots in the events as prizes. We'll tie them in with something else we are promoting to build awareness and excitement for your events.

6. Last but not least, if you are charging for your event, require each RSVP to pay a non-refundable deposit up front to hold their spot. This will cut down on no-shows. I suggest 50%.

The suggestions I've outlined above would offer value to both you and the JT members, and help you take the next step toward starting your own business. For further reading and more ideas, I highly reccommend the books by Jeff Gitomer for anyone who is considering self-employment- they are easy and fun to read, and very insightful about marketing and sales.