How to Get Free Advertising

Advertising is expensive, so whenever you can figure out how to get some of it for free, you are way ahead of the game. If you know how to play the game, it’s pretty easy to get some free exposure for your cause.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Make a plan. What is your objective? What do you want people to know or think after they have heard your message? Put together some key objectives and key messages so that you stay focused as you’re selling your message. Limit your key messages to three maximum so they are quick and easy to understand.
2. Plan your attack. Write a detailed plan outlining the sources you want to target. Make these sources as detailed as possible, with company and contact names and phone numbers. Some target audiences to consider are local and regional newspapers, local bulletin boards at retail stores, schools and colleges, and the Internet. Also, old fashioned word-of-mouth never goes out of syle.
3. One of the easiest ways to achieve free exposure is to contact your local newspaper. Local papers are always looking for new stories and usually are willing to work with someone local who has a message. Small newspaper staffs are notoriously thin, so writing something already prepared for them to publish sometimes seals the deal.
4. If the message you are trying to achieve is local to your area, posting signs around town is another option. Lots of retail establishments have boards where you can post signs. Universities are also good places to post signs.
5. The Internet is another huge tool. Use your own contacts in your email address book, go to message boards where your cause is a subject of discussion, or create your own blog to draw attention to your message.
6. Word of mouth is never ineffective. Get people talking about your message. Go to parties, send emails, and tell friends about your message. You will be surprised at the results you can achieve by taking the effort to have a few key conversations with people who you think can help.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep records of who you talked to and when. If you don’t get results from these sources, contact them again. Persistence usually pays off.