10 Ways to Market Your Business When You’re Broke
All right, maybe broke isn’t the right word, but safe to say we are all looking for ways to maximize our resources. The following are ten absolutely free ways to market your business, the only cost being a little bit of your time.
1. Social Media
No surprise here. Social media is a great, free way, to spread the word about you and your business. Doing social media right is a great way to make connections, gain leads, and convert customers. I won’t go into great detail here how to get your social media presence set up, but at the very least consider getting an account on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
2. Free Classifieds
Use free classified ad services to promote your product or service. Aside from big online classified ads (Craigslist), there may be other free options specific to your geographical area, maybe even some free inclusions in local print media. Do some Google searches and see what is available in your hometown.
3. Reciprocity Advertising
Talk to local business owners and explore cross promotion you may be able to do with them. They are probably in the same boat as you, and would be willing to work out a “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” type of marketing campaign.
4. Barter
You may think of bartering as particularly “old school”, but there is no reason you can’t trade a product or service with another business in exchange for some marketing opportunities. Trading an hour of your consulting time, or a couple free products to a local business who is willing then to plug you in their newsletter or mailings could result in a better deal than paying out of pocket for the same marketing. Start with the barter directory, and go from there.
5. Write a Press Release
Write your own press release and submit it to the appropriate channels. If what you’re doing is particularly newsworthy, send it to local media. Also submit your press release to the free services online.
6. Article Marketing
Write an article that is related to your product or service and submit it to eZine Articles. Try to be helpful, and prove you are an expert in your field.
7. Networking
Scout out free networking events in your area, you’d be surprised how many “meet-ups” there are. Not only are they a great way to get out of the house, but think of every networking event as a mini-marketing campaign. Use MeetUp.com to scan for opportunities near you. For example, there were 51 meet up’s in the Portland, OR area that were related to entrepreneurship.
8. Provide Stellar Customer Service
Make sure your current customers know how important they are to you and your business. Make them feel good about what you do. They will sell for you!
9. Ask for More Business
Going along with point #8 above. Don’t be shy about asking for referrals. Happy customers are your best piece of marketing you can hope for. Word of mouth marketing is powerful, and there is nothing wrong with asking them to spread the word for you.
10. Maximize Your Mailing List
What, don’t have a mailing list? Start collecting customer information so you can get one! Use this mailing list to push out information about new products or services, give a special deal to your mailing list, share information with them, etc.
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This post is comforting the new small businessmen. I am inspired by it alot.
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Thanks for a list of great ideas for us not so deep pocketed individuals. Some ideas I had heard of and use but others that are certainly worthwhile looking into further. Something I really struggled with is building a list. Tried once and it bombed magnificently. Just seems implausible when you have all these big name gurus giving away crazy expensive stuff for nothing. How do you compete with that???
Peter Venter´s last blog ..Black and Decker SPCM1936
Great tips with the way the economy is these simple steps can really help you save on an expensive need.
This is Awesome. Kind of Like an answered prayer. Searching for answers! Got THEM! Thanks!
I’m doing those stuffs but I gave priority to social media. I still believe they are helpful for a relieve.
Great information but I’m amazed that more people don’t recognize that making more per customer should be a goal for every business.
The most cost effective method for making more from every customer is an effective on hold message.
On hold messages don’t have to be expensive either, we do them for just $69.
Great article but I strongly believe that you must first analyze why are you broke? If the product or target market needs changing, using different marketing strategies won’t help much.
Thanks for the information….I’m always looking out for new and old methods to improve my online business. Even more so recently when I was losing money trying to do too much of the wrong thing. But getting back on track now and with some of the info here, it will help.
Thats important piece of information.. I like it very well.
This article was very helpful. I design customized phone and iPod cases with fake frosting, Swarovski crystals, and embellishments; my cases protect your phone better than any other case out there, they last a very long time, you can get them wet and not have to worry about ruining your phone and you can even accidentally drop them and you won’t break your phone! But being a college student and not deep pocketed is hard to get my business out there without putting money down. So this particular article was helpful for me especially because it has a list of FREE ideas! Thank you
Surely, I have learnt alot. Simply, I am a Managing Director at a small business dealing with sealing of organic products like honey and neem products. The article, gave me more knowledge about marketing my business. Keep it up.
I know somebody that does a lot of stuff through bartering. His is more to avoid tax stipulations.. but he’s done tree trimming work for parts for vehicles before and such. It can be valuable if you find the right business partner!
this was so helpful espically to those who are starting out to own there own business. it was defintley helpful to me .
Great tips! Thank you for sharing. Current TV is a great place to use, too.
I thought this was very helpful. Especially as a soon to be single mom wuth VERY little resources its nice to have something available that is for free.
I enjoyed reading your article. Great tips for any body who has a limited budget. I always ask for referrals from each customer. Sometimes they will give me names before I even ask. It might be because of the type of business that I have but either way I am happy to take the names of any referrals.
Do you think it is a good idea to ask for testimonials? I have been debating on this aspect for awhile now. I wanted to have a few written up to show my prospective clients.
Any suggestions on that subject would be great.
Thank you.
Being a professional photographer in the Tampa, Ft Myers area, I can see how these suggestions can be used to bring in more profits. For instance; I advertised on craigslist, not thinking anything would come of it and after meeting with the couples to find out their needs, I was able to provide them with an excellent service at an affordable price. Harbor Elite photography uses these and a few other avenues like being visible. We get out there and show off our work, pass out cards and I like what was said above, barter your services. I can tell you how well that can pay off in two words, do it! Great article, good advice starting out.
Great tips we all don’t have the money to do what we want to do all of the time, But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get what you need done, with a little determination you can find ways to make it happen.