Every business can benefit from advertising. It is a great way to get information about your products or services in front of your targeted customers. Even if your business cannot afford outdoor billboards or the Goodyear blimp, you can effectively advertise on the cheap. Some of the best advertising ideas can cost you less than a night out for dinner and a movie. You can also stretch your budget by combining free or low-cost advertising with pricier options.
Low Cost Visibility
If you don't have a lot of money, but you need to advertise your business quickly, start by looking at your existing personal and business contacts. Visit your local cleaners, drugstore and car wash. Ask if they have a bulletin board or business card display. Put your business card, discount coupons and small candies in a plastic baggy and leave them with bank tellers, librarians, car-wash attendants and home improvement store cashiers. Of course, you cannot expect competing business to allow you to drop off your business cards, but when you identify businesses that are not direct competitors, offer to display their cards or fliers at your business location.
Sponsor a neighborhood sports team or cheerleading group. Provide team uniforms with your business name. Sun visors, T-shirts or caps can also provide advertising space. The parents of all of the children in the group that you sponsor and the opposing teams' supporters will see your ads every time the team plays. If your community has an adopt-a-road program, find out how much it costs per mile and get your business name printed along a busy commuter route in exchange for your donation.
Free Credibility
Offer to teach free classes at your local library or recreation center in your area of expertise. In addition to gaining a built-in customer base, your students can also provide you with free word-of-mouth advertising. Remember to occasionally solicit their input on improve your products or services. Offer the people in your classes a mini-consultation or product sample in exchange for the best ideas.
Write articles about the benefits and uses of your product or service. Submit them to local publications and Internet ezines. Remember to add links from your website to the articles that display your expertise. Offer to contribute guest posts on blogs that cover topics that are relevant to your business. Put a link to your website in the article resource box.
Free and Cheap Publicity
Take advantage of free online advertising sites such as Google Local and Windows Live. Use offline publicity too. Write periodic press releases about your business. Find an angle or highlight a new product that makes your business newsworthy. If you receive an award from your local Chamber of Commerce or trade association, use the opportunity to send a press release about it to your local paper. Be sure to include your contact information, including the business address, phone number and website in the press release.
Buy a vanity license plate for your car. If your business name is too long for a license plate, get magnetic door signs. You can leave them on your vehicle or remove them as necessary. You can also ask family members and friends to display magnetic signs on their vehicles. This is especially good if they travel in different circles and visit other neighborhoods than you do.
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