How to Promote Your Business With No Money

Promoting your business does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, many of the best advertising opportunities are low-cost or free and available to everybody with a little imagination and the willingness to work around the limitations imposed by a tight budget.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Speak up. Networking has always been one of the main ways to get the word out about a business, but the Internet has given the word a whole new meaning. Not only can you network directly (pass around business cards at a meeting, for example), but you can also network online through forums, sites and even chat rooms.

2. Become an expert. Potential clients will be more likely to try out a new service or product if they believe in the expertise of the owner. If you can write, consider penning articles for websites, ezines or newspapers. If you are not afraid of public speaking, organize a seminar or lecture and offer it for free to local educational institutions, cultural centers or libraries.

3. Make the most of the Internet. Setting up a website should be your first step and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune (learn how to do it yourself if you cannot afford a designer). Then create a signature for your email that includes your business name and address. Finally, send out a press release through a distribution service to advertise the opening of your business.

4. Give something away. People love free things. One good way to attract people is to give them a reason to stop by. This could be something as simple as a small souvenir or token, or it could the chance to participate in a raffle or to join some kind of celebration or opening ceremony with free food and entertainment.

Tips & Warnings

• While you can save money on many areas when advertising your business, make sure that anything you do buy is high quality. Invest in professionally printed business cards (don’t do it at home), get flyers printed (rather than making photocopies) and don’t use a free server to host your website. Details like these say a lot about the seriousness of your business.

[amylaine]

on 4/5/2008 Great info