The chances are that when you launched your small business, you figured that marketing was going to be easy because after all, you were offering a product that your targeted consumers needed. But once you got rolling, you probably quickly figured out that marketing a small business is not a walk in the park. In fact, it’s hard! Not only that, it can cost an arm and a leg to market a business which makes the challenge even harder. Here are five, absolutely free ways you can market your business, assuming that you can do these tasks on your own without having to hire someone to do them for you. Ready? Here goes!
Attend Free Local Events
One of the best ways to get the word out about your small business is to make yourself seen and heard. Keep an eye on local newspapers for events you can attend. Also, look for groups that discuss topics that are relevant to your business like book clubs, organizations and scheduled networking meetings. Jump on any opportunity you can that will allow you to speak face-to-face with people who may become future customers. Oh and don’t forget to take along a few dozen business cards so people know how to find you later on.
Be an Active Volunteer
Look through local newspapers to find events you can volunteer for. Most communities host all types of events from marathons & walks to fairs and markets. Regardless of how busy you may be, there is always time available for you to do some volunteering. When people see you volunteering your time, they will view your business as a valuable asset to the local community which is excellent PR!
Get your Business Listed Online
There are tons of online business listing directories out there so find them and get your business listed! By simply claiming your business on review sites and Google Places, you will be increasing brand awareness and letting people know that you are actually a real business. Just be sure to fill out all required forms carefully and use the same business information on all sites you register with.
Teach Yourself the Basics of SEO
SEO is an undeniably powerful marketing tool. This is why you should make it a priority to learn the basics of SEO so that you can optimize your website. Google and the other search engines will push your site up in the search result pages if you do a good job with the SEO work you undertake so learn how to optimize your website to make it SEO-friendly.
Write and Distribute Press Releases
A well-written press release can go viral online in just a matter of minutes. Get in the habit of writing a press release whenever you have some fresh business news to share. For instance, if you are about to offer a new product that compliments an existing product you sell, write a PR about that new product and then submit it to PR sites. The great thing about a PR is that you can include a lot of business information in your release such as your physical address, your company background and your hours of operation.
