If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to
promote your business — without spending a ton of money. Well,
you’re in luck. This article lists five of my top 10 favorite
ideas for promoting your business or organization for next to
nothing (and in some cases, completely fr*e). While these
ideas are a start, there are plenty of other ways to get the
word out about your product or service and build relationships
with potential clients. Use this list as a jumping off point
to brainstorm more cheap ideas that may work wonders for your
business. And stay tuned for the other five tricks, which will
appear in my Nov. 2004 newsletter, "Marketing Tips from The
WriteShop."
1. Volunteer your services or donate your products to a local
nonprofit. This tactic doesn’t just help spread the word about
your products and services, but it also allows you to help a
worthy cause. Many nonprofits are happy to promote their
donors in their own marketing materials, and nonprofit leaders
are also good people to know because many of them are
well-connected in their communities (and happy to give
referrals).
2. Educate friends and family about your business. Simply
utilizing the relationships you already have is one of the
easiest but most often overlooked forms of marketing. Nobody
wants to hear about your business or products all the time,
but it’s a good idea to make sure your family and friends
understand what you do — you never know when they might have
an opportunity to send business your way.
3. Become active in online forums related to your industry.
Many business owners and marketers turn to online discussion
groups for advice or to vent frustration, and you might be
surprised how frequently discussion pals become clients or
referral sources. By maintaining your professionalism and
sharing your own advice freely (remember to give, not just
receive), you’ll earn respect from other forum members, who
may turn to you when they need your products or services.
4. Make yourself available to local media. Reporters for
newspapers, business publications, television and radio are
constantly looking for expert sources to interview about
various topics. If they know about you and your areas of
expertise in advance, chances are they’ll contact you when
they need a quote or expert insight about your particular
field. If you don’t have relationships with media already,
start by locating the reporters who usually report on your
areas of interest. Introduce yourself in a personalized letter
or e-mail, and include a list of issues for which you would be
willing to comment. Follow up occasionally with press releases
or other information the reporters may find interesting or
newsworthy.
5. Sponsor local events in your market area. Consider hosting
an after-hours event for a local business organization at your
office or home. Sponsor a Little League team or a nonprofit
fundraising event. These types of activities will not only
keep your name in the spotlight, but they’ll also help
establish your company’s reputation as a generous,
community-minded business.
Nancy Jackson of The WriteShop helps companies better
market their products and services with powerful written
communications including newsletters, articles, Web content,
brochures and custom publications. Learn more, contact her, or
sign up for her free monthly newsletter at
www.writeshoponline.com .
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