Marketing service businesses, however, is a bit different because there are no products to sell; in essence, you are selling yourself. If you're on a budget, that makes it even harder. However, there are a few things you can do to promote your business cheaply and effectively.
Instructions
1. Get business cards printed up. This is a must. Anywhere you go, hand them out, and give them to your friends so they can hand them out as well. Consider using an online discount site to get your cards made up.
2. Set up a listing on Google Maps. This is a free service and your business will show up on Google's local map when a potential client types in your type of business along with your city. Many other search engines offer similar types of listings.
3. Buy a domain name and design a low-cost website. GoDaddy offers a tool that lets you create your own site, so you're in charge of the content, while still being very affordable. A site with 5 or 10 pages will suffice for most businesses; your contact information, a short bio, some pictures, your menu (if applicable) and prices are the basic things to add to your site. Put your web address on all promotional materials.
4. Offer a referral discount to your current customers. For every new (paying) client they refer to you, give them something like 10 percent off their next service. You could also offer a punch card that you punch every time they spend a certain dollar amount; when the card is full, they receive a discount or a free service. This is a great tool as carrying around the card will keep your business on their mind, and the fact they are getting something free out of it, will motivate them to come back.
5. Create some fliers to distribute to surrounding apartment complexes, businesses and schools. Tailor them to each population's needs (i.e., make senior discount coupons to hand out to assisted living facilities). Make these using a word processor--print two or four ads per page, then get them copied on colored paper and distribute them to your target market. Some pizza restaurants will allow you to put fliers on the tops of their boxes for a small fee.
6. Fax a flier to local businesses that may be interested in your services. It may look similar to the fliers in Step 5 but make an ad that is a full page--it must be legible to the recipient and sometimes fax machines can distort the copy. Include a coupon on the flier, or advertise a new service they may be interested in.
7. Talk to owners of local coupon books. Ad space in these small newsprint books is cheap and doesn't usually require a long contract. Consider asking them to barter with you--that's the great thing about owning a service business.
8. Donate your services to a local charity. Give a gift certificate to a silent auction or sponsor an event. This will also help your public image.
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