Although many challenges engulfs
the management of profitable business. A business owner faces all sorts of
business problems and unresolved hard times reducing their momentum of
prosperity in business cycle. Hence, these problems are part of those prices
which dream enrich entrepreneur must pay. However, one of those drivers of any
successful business is an ability of an entrepreneur to identify and set up
measures to be able to streamline workable means to get his business across to
target audience. Therefore, all these identify outlets can be use to channel
the course of success in promoting your business despite the economic
disadvantage
A Website
A website
doesn't have to be expensive. A simple website or blog will allow you to share
information about your company or business with others. It gives people the
opportunity to get to know you. In this day and age a website is a MUST for any
business, from individual freelancers to large companies.
You can use
free tools like Blogger or Wordpress to start, but you should invest in your
own domain name. Web hosting packages are also generally very inexpensive and
many offer great tools for building basic websites where no coding is needed.
These are great for starting out – later on you should have an actual web
designer/developer help you search engine optimize and polish your site with
your unique brand to increase your business.
List Your Portfolio/Website
If you are
a freelancer take advantage of the many places to build a free portfolio online
that links back to your primary domain. this will help you with search engine
rankings while offering more exposure to your business. A good one to try Freelanced.com.
They have a really cool widget you can link to on your blog that shuffles
pictures of your work and catches people's attention. People can give you
"kudos" and recommendations as well.
Business Cards
There are
several websites that have fantastic deals on business cards. Design and print
cards in bulk to save even more. Every time you go somewhere leave your card
with people. Post it on bulletin boards etc. Business cards are almost always
less expensive when ordered online, so do your research.
Social Media
Use Twitter, Facebook,
and now Google+ as a way to advertise your business. It's a great way to
maintain contact with customers and gain popularity. You can use these tools to
host promotions, contests, and other activities. In addition these sites are a
great way to share valuable information with others which also lends to your
credibility. Write a great article and tweet it out – this will draw new business
leads. Don't overdo it though - nothing annoys followers faster than every
single tweet being self-promotion.
Mailing List
Give your
website visitors the opportunity to sign up for a custom mailing list. Do not
use this to spam people, but send out regular valuable content and promotions
to keep your clients/customers coming back. A great newsletter goes a long way
in developing customer trust and loyalty. Spend time on this, don't just slop
something together.
Community Bulletin Boards
Most
communities have some locations where there are free bulletin boards to place
advertisements. Place fliers with business cards at several of these locations.
Make them really stand out from the crowd. For my photo
restoration business, I printed my flier on photo paper and attached
business photograph postcards that people could take with them.
HubPages & Other Similar Sites
Writing
for sites like HubPages, Squidoo or other sites where you can write about what
you know and love is a great way to establish your credibility and get new
followers. You can also network with other writers and freelancers who share
common goals. The back links to your website from your profile are also great
ways to boost your own popularity. Do not use these sites for “spammy” purposes
however, because it hurts everyone. Do use them as a way to showcase your
knowledge by writing meaningful articles, stories, or tutorials that benefit
your readers.
Car Magnets
Car
Magnets with your
logo and URL are a very economical way to advertise every time you drive. They
cost very little and can be placed or removed as needed.
Refrigerator Magnets, Notepads, or Pens
All of
these can be made up fairly cheaply and used as giveaways or promotional items.
They keep your name "in view" and can often prompt calls and new
leads.
Event Setup
Set up a
table at a local fair, flea market, or other event where you can hand out
brochures, samples, business cards etc. You should engage people by letting
them enter to win a contest or passing out coupons – anything of this
nature. It's a great way to make a “face to face” impression and is usually a
lot of fun too. **Be sure to check the laws in your local area concerning
these activities!**
Free Samples
“The proof
is in the pudding” or so they say. Have free samples available for people to
try. When I was selling soaps at craft fairs I would staple little baggies with
soap samples in them to my business cards. It was a very economical way to
create value and draw future customers.
List on Merchant Circle & Thumbtack
Merchant Circle,
Thumbtack,
and other similar websites allow you to list your business locally for free.
They also give your customers the opportunity to post reviews of your business
as well.
Craigslist
Use
Craigslist to advertise your services or sell your items for free. Please don't
spam or place listings in multiple categories every single day. This will hurt
your business and is not helpful. Instead do a nice listing in HTML so that you
can use headings and easy to read text and you'll be ahead of most others who
post there.
SEO your website locally
SEO (search engine optimize). Your website should
ideally be search engine optimized for your local area as well as overall.
Targeting your geographic location typically allows you to move higher in
search engine queries specific to your area. Think about it when people are
looking for a plumber online – they are likely going to search “plumber + your
city”. Optimizing for these keywords will be of benefit to your business.
Yahoo Local & Google Maps
Have your
business listed for free on Yahoo Local and have markers placed on Google Maps.
This ties in to the same premise as above – driving more targeted local traffic
your way.
Add Your Business to Review Sites
There are
a few websites where you can list your website, offer coupons and specials, and
allow people to rate your business etc. These websites specialize in matching
local merchants to customers. Setting up links on websites like Yelp, Merchant
Circle, and others can help grow your business and also increase your website
traffic with back links.
Donate Products or Services to Quarter Auctions
Quarter
Auctions are all the rage and are typically used to raise money for various
charitable organizations. People who host quarter auctions are always looking
for quality vendors to donate items to be auctioned off. During the auction
people will learn about you and your business. Donating to worthwhile community
causes also develops your reputation.
Exchange Services For Advertising
A great
way to reach more people is to trade your product or service for advertising
space. If you sell a product other businesses need for example, you can offer
to do their project for free if they will in turn place your business cards on
their counter. This works well for businesses that complement one another. For
example, a few local antique shops have my business cards and fliers displayed
for my photo restoration business. I did this by offering to do a couple of
free photos for the owners. They enjoyed them so much that they give me word of
mouth referral and my advertising is in a niche location that is not directly
competitive with the shop owners.
Create a Custom T-Shirt
Have some
custom T-shirts, hats or other items made and give them away to friends and
family members who will actually wear them. Be sure to wear your own regularly
as well. This gets your name/logo out in the public eye whenever you are
grocery shopping or running errands, you are also your own billboard. CafePress
is a great website to order up a few custom goodies.
Customer Referral Incentives
This works
very well. Offer a valuable freebie to your existing customers who refer others
or run an affiliate program through your website. Let others sell for you in
exchange for great products or even commissions.
Answer Questions
Spend time
answering questions on experts’ sites or answers sites. Websites like
Experts123 or Yahoo Answers are a great way to give people feedback and
establish your credibility as an expert. Take the time to write thorough,
thoughtful answers to people's questions. Sometimes you can back link in your
sources and gain traffic to your websites.
Classified Ads in Small Local Papers
Many
locations have smaller newspapers that cater to the local area. Classified advertisements in these papers are
typically much less than advertising in large papers or print magazines. Look
for smaller publications in niche areas also because not only will advertising
rates be cheaper, the odds of reaching people interested in your product or
service will also increase.
Press Releases
If you do
something totally unusual or have something that has great local flare/value
you can use a press release to try to generate some publicity. Host a community
event or run a contest – anything that can generate some publicity and send out
a free press release.
Give Live Demonstrations
If it's
applicable to your business, sign up for events or fairs and actually
demonstrate your craft or business. Beyond just handing out fliers and
freebies, let people actually see you at work doing what you do. This is a
great way to generate interest and strike up conversations with others.
YouTube
Create a custom
tutorial or some kind of fun video that highlights your expertise, experience,
and also your business. YouTube videos often place very high in search engine
rankings so focus it to your business and your local area.
Have a Contest or Giveaway
Everyone
loves a contest or give away. Let people enter their name for a chance to win
an item/service. You can also do essay contests, drawing contests for the kids,
etc. Be creative and get people involved. Make sure the prize is something
worthwhile.
Partner up and Cross Promote
Find
another business where you complement one another but don't directly compete.
Work out an arrangement to cross promote each others business or run
co-specials
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