Times are tough and money is scarce.
Yet you can not only survive, but actually grow your business by employing these effective, low cost marketing tactics.
They are especially useful if your company is just getting started.
Implement one or two a week and within a month you will see results.
1.
Leverage online networks.
LinkedIn and Facebook are free to join, costing you only the time to set up your profile.
Are you thinking Facebook is just for socializing? No way--some of the most successful consultants and salespeople use Facebook to maintain their professional networks.
You can also set up a "fan" page for your company and invite people to "like" it.
2.
Leverage real-world networks.
Find relevant meetings through MeetUp.
Go to Chamber of Commerce meetings, and other events that will attract your target customer, client, or competitor.
Gather business cards and then phone or email to follow up.
Offer them something first (such as an hour of your time or a free product sample) before you ask them to help you.
3.
Create a handout.
Make it useful to the recipient, including tips, insider expertise, or handy reference info.
Make sure that you include your name, phone number, email address, website information and a brief ad tells the recipient how your business can benefit them.
The benefit part is important: it is not what you do (that is a feature of your business); it is what they get out of what you do, such as save time or money.
4.
Establish alliances.
Identify complimentary businesses and engage them in working together to provide clients or customers with a "bundle of value" or a comprehensive solution that is more than you could provide on your own.
5.
Write Ezine articles.
They will increase awareness of the business while building your credibility through their content.
They can be targeted to specific geographic locations or audience niches through keywords, if needed.
Less is more: short articles of 250-500 words are ideal for online consumption.
Results can be quick: within a month, the articles may be featured prominently in search results and be picked up by newsletter publishers, increasing distribution without any extra effort on your part.
By committing to one of these items on a weekly basis within one month you will gain recognition and increase awareness of your business.
You can effectively market your business without spending hundreds of dollars.