Five ways to market your business for FREE

Getting the word out about your business or product doesn’t have to cost you the earth.

In fact sometimes the best marketing methods are absolutely FREE

Below are five of the best methods:

Email Marketing
I’m still amazed at the amount of businesses that don’t use emails as part of their marketing campaigns. I think people think they are too good to be true because they are free. But in order to be successful with email marketing you have to build up your list of email addresses. So each time you are in contact with a customer or a potential customer ask them for their email address. Now for many people they don’t like handing over their email addresses so in order to get round that offer them something for free. That could be a free report, a free e-book or a free service.  If you give something free of charge then customers will part with their email addresses. Email marketing is perfect for building a relationship with potential clients. Email your customers at least a few times a month. Don’t bombard them with sales pitches though, offer them information that will help them. Hard selling will just make them unsubscribe from your email list. Make your emails simple and keep them friendly and personalised. Large amounts of money can be made from emails. Give it a go.

PR
Write a press release about your business and fire it out to newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and websites. But make sure what you have to say is interesting otherwise it will go straight into the bin at the other end. Being a journalist I have been sent thousands of shit press releases over the years. I don’t care if your managing director has won an award for implementing some dull strategy. Your press release has to grab journalist’s attention. It must have a catchy headline. The first paragraph is the most crucial as it must want me to read on and find out more. And please put proper contact details on your press release. It’s unbelievable how many press releases I get sent which don’t have a phone number on them. No matter what your line of business is you will have information that will benefit people. Become an expert in your field. Producers and journalists are always looking for ways of filling their shows, columns and news bulletins so don’t be afraid to get in touch with them. PR can produce coverage that would cost you thousands if you had of paid for it. Being featured in a publication or broadcast also gives your company more credibility than if it was just an advert.

Increase Your Prices
It sounds crazy in a recession but it works. People don’t buy products on price and if you seem a bit dearer than your competitors then that makes it seem like your products have more sustenance or quality. Test it out. Increase your prices by 10% and see what happens. By doing that the difference on your bottom line with be happy viewing. Also if you employ more marketing techniques then your business will get stronger so you can afford to put your prices up slightly. I know there will be a few of you reading this thinking ‘How can I justify this to customers?’ well you have to back up your higher prices with information on how your product or service will be worth the money and how you pay for what you get in terms of great service and customer satisfaction from you.

Social Networking
If your business hasn’t got a Facebook page or a Twitter account or BOTH then you could be missing out on some serious profits. In this day and age your business has to embrace the internet as there is so much money to be made online. Social networking is FREE and it helps to build a relationship with your customers. Facebook and Twitter may seem complicated if you are not on them but trust me they are simple to use. Get online and set up a page today and start building up your business friends lists. Every day post a few messages on them. Again give people FREE info and tips regarding whatever line of work you are in. Also don’t be afraid to personalise messages on them too. Your customers are human and to build up a relationship you have to show that you are human too. Once you establish trust with potential clients it will become easier to sell to them.

Joint Ventures
A wee while ago now a TV company I was working for went into administration and I was made redundant. So to make a bit of cash I launched a production company which consisted of a cameraman, a picture editor and myself and I started contacting marketing companies to see if we could film corporate videos they were commissioned to make from their clients. All I did was make contact with them by phone or email or in person and provided a sample of my work. Some responded to me, some didn’t but the best part some HIRED my team and I. The point I’m making is your business has services or products that could mutually benefit other companies. Other companies have a client lists you can get access to that would take you years to build up. Do a deal with a company which allows them to make money by selling your service or product to their clients. If you are a wedding photographer join up with a wedding videographer and sell a joint package to couples. Set up a couple of joint ventures with other businesses and watch your profits soar. It’s like having another sales team without you paying them. Aim to set up one joint venture a month and sit back and watch your business grow.

FOR MORE BUSINESS MARKETING METHODS DOWNLOAD THIS FREE REPORT