Have Someone Else Do Free Marketing For You While Controlling Your Budget
You may be able to find a blog or new outlet that accepts information from guests. Having information pertaining to a specific topic and sharing that can leave you with some free buzz about your company. Going this route you need to keep a couple of things in mind. Be sure that this will convey a positive message. The saying that any PR is good PR is not exactly true. Also, you want to make sure that you are speaking to the right audience. You do not want to go out of your way and spend the time to share information with an audience that is not likely to need you.
Write an article for a local magazine or newspaper. You are making a contribution to your community while also getting in a free ad for yourself. Simply remember to include your company in your bio statement that gets included as a tag line. Another way to do this is by offering a free article in exchange for a free ad spot. It never hurts to ask. The worst they can say is no.
B2B offers many no cost opportunities for furthering your exposure. When you make agreements with other noncompeting companies in your area you are able to exchange favor for favor. This is very effective when you get two organizations offering services that complement each other. Movie theaters and restaurants are a good example of this. They do not compete, and they are in a position to be easily paired together.
Online marketing must be included. While formal ads will not be free, plugging yourself on social networking sites is. It also costs nothing to add a link or tag line about your business to your personal email. Make sure to visit your website everyday to see what changes can be made to draw in more business. Free does not mean effortless.
Word of mouth is still the best marketing any company can hope to have. There is no substitute for a good reputation. One satisfied customer can tell friends, family, and co-workers about their good experience. Maximize this by offering additional discounts and incentives for current customers that refer someone new.
You can donate your services for a local charity auction. This is easier to do with services rather than goods because aside from your time there will be no out of pocket cost. While you will be giving something away, in return everyone at the auction sees your business. You will be doing a service to your community, it is tax deductible, and you will get free press for the good deed.
It is possible to have someone else do free marketing for you. You just have to be creative and think outside the box. These are little things, but they can have a big impact on the overall success of your business, and you will be cutting your advertising costs at the same time. Finding the free advertising can really boost your sales and visibility.