10 Low Cost Ways to Market a Small Business

At the time of starting out, you have limited resources to market a small business and its services. You certainly do not have an unlimited budget for advertising. So what is it that you, as a small business owner, can do? How can you get the word out about your services? The answer is simple – think word-of-mouth and networking. When you wish to market a small business,

remember that nothing works better than spreading the message through an established network. We’ve put together a list of 10 easy ways to advertise your business at a really low cost!

1. Talk to your friends and relatives about your business. Enlist their help in getting the word out about it. Send a postcard to every single person you know announcing your new business venture. Although they themselves may not need your products, they are likely to tell someone who does.

2. Join organizations or clubs relevant to your line of work. Join your local Chamber of Commerce, business association and any type of organization that reaches your target market. Offer your services for free at any events conducted by these organizations. You and your business will surely get noticed
.
3. Offer your service or product for sale at charity events and donate half the proceeds to the cause.

4. Ask for referrals from happy customers. Provide an incentive, like a 10% discount or a freebie, for referrals.

5. Write articles for web sites. Don’t peddle your product or service in the article, but write knowledgeably about your area of expertise. Remember, the content is the king here. Also include a short bio with your name, your business’ name and a tag line at the end of the article.

6. Take part in chats and visit message boards on the Internet. Make friends in cyberspace. Once again, don’t push your product or service mercilessly. Go out of your way to help people and answer their questions. In return, you will soon be asked what type of work you do.

7. Have you not seen signatures in emails that say what a person does? Do the same. Use signature files at the end of all your e-mails. Keep them short but precise.

8. There are many Internet sites that offer free classified advertising space. Use them to post your ads.

9. Sending out a press release is a great way to market a small business. Do the same when you add a new service or product, or if your business is involved in a special event. Don’t just talk about how great your business is; say how it can be beneficial to a potential customer.

10. Ask your friends with websites to provide a referral for your business as a favor. Once your business grows, you may be able to return it in double measure.

You may not have the budget to create an advertising blitzkrieg for your business, but creatively using the resources that are available to you will allow you to start building a client base for your new venture. The biggest hurdle is getting the first few customers through the door, but once they are in, you are well on your way to success! That is why entrepreneurs must know how to market a small business well.