Affordable Marketing Ideas
Many who have thought about starting a business have actually done just that...
thought about it! It's amazing what begins to happen once you take that first step and follow through on what you have begun.
When starting a business, it is important to really pay attention to your expenses.
You know that marketing is important, but feel as if you might not be able to afford it.
Well...
think again! There are many affordable ways to market your product or service when on a tight budget! This guide will list a variety of ways to spread the word without spending a lot of money to do it! We all know that one of the most effective ways to get the word out is by word of mouth.
So in order to do this, you have to bring your product or service around "the mouths".
How do you do this, you might ask? The easiest way is to begin to attend networking meetings.
Look around online for a local networking event that caters to the audience you are looking for.
You might also look into joining your local chamber and start attending the meetings there as well.
If you cannot find a local networking meeting in your area, then here's a bigger and better idea...
START YOUR OWN! This is a great benefit to you! Not only will you be the host of this wonderful, much needed event, but now you will become the main contact and you've just allowed each of these attendees the opportunity to get to know you and learn about what you do, thus creating more of an opportunity for them to spread the word for you about your product or service.
You can be in full control of these meetings and even set up a vending table at the event that includes brochures of your company! What an affordable way to market! If you have products, this would be a great opportunity to offer your products to the attendees as well.
Another idea to assist in spreading the word about your product or service is web banner marketing.
Have a web banner designed that markets your company.
Once you do this, you can partner with others you have met at some of the networking meetings and do web banner exchanges.
If you place your web banner on someone else's website, you now have the opportunity to drive that person's audience to your website as well.
The only expense, which would be very minimal, would be the cost to have the web banner designed.
Please keep in mind that there are also websites available online for free banner designs.
It would be something pretty basic, but you can make it work.
E-blast distribution is a very popular way to market today.
If you already have a database in your email account, you can purchase a distribution service and import your email addresses into its database.
You are now able to use their software which some offer their own selection of templates to choose from.
This works really well for those who aren't really skilled in the graphic design area.
By the click of a button, you can now distribute to everyone on your list! There are also e-blast distribution services offered at very affordable costs.
These services can have your marketing material distributed to everyone in their databases as well.
One of the oldest affordable ways of marketing is by using flyers.
When selecting this method, it is important to choose the best detailed text to place on the flyer.
You don't want to include too much info where it loses the reader's attention.
It should be short and straight to the point.
Too much extra is just TOO MUCH!!! The last low-cost marketing idea that can be effective is searching the internet and posting company and/or website information in directories that cater to your audience.
You will find these at little or no cost.
You might also be allowed to post your website link on some of these websites as well.
When you start your business and are on a very tight budget, begin to use some of the above methods until the revenue begins to come in and then you can step the marketing up a notch.
thought about it! It's amazing what begins to happen once you take that first step and follow through on what you have begun.
When starting a business, it is important to really pay attention to your expenses.
You know that marketing is important, but feel as if you might not be able to afford it.
Well...
think again! There are many affordable ways to market your product or service when on a tight budget! This guide will list a variety of ways to spread the word without spending a lot of money to do it! We all know that one of the most effective ways to get the word out is by word of mouth.
So in order to do this, you have to bring your product or service around "the mouths".
How do you do this, you might ask? The easiest way is to begin to attend networking meetings.
Look around online for a local networking event that caters to the audience you are looking for.
You might also look into joining your local chamber and start attending the meetings there as well.
If you cannot find a local networking meeting in your area, then here's a bigger and better idea...
START YOUR OWN! This is a great benefit to you! Not only will you be the host of this wonderful, much needed event, but now you will become the main contact and you've just allowed each of these attendees the opportunity to get to know you and learn about what you do, thus creating more of an opportunity for them to spread the word for you about your product or service.
You can be in full control of these meetings and even set up a vending table at the event that includes brochures of your company! What an affordable way to market! If you have products, this would be a great opportunity to offer your products to the attendees as well.
Another idea to assist in spreading the word about your product or service is web banner marketing.
Have a web banner designed that markets your company.
Once you do this, you can partner with others you have met at some of the networking meetings and do web banner exchanges.
If you place your web banner on someone else's website, you now have the opportunity to drive that person's audience to your website as well.
The only expense, which would be very minimal, would be the cost to have the web banner designed.
Please keep in mind that there are also websites available online for free banner designs.
It would be something pretty basic, but you can make it work.
E-blast distribution is a very popular way to market today.
If you already have a database in your email account, you can purchase a distribution service and import your email addresses into its database.
You are now able to use their software which some offer their own selection of templates to choose from.
This works really well for those who aren't really skilled in the graphic design area.
By the click of a button, you can now distribute to everyone on your list! There are also e-blast distribution services offered at very affordable costs.
These services can have your marketing material distributed to everyone in their databases as well.
One of the oldest affordable ways of marketing is by using flyers.
When selecting this method, it is important to choose the best detailed text to place on the flyer.
You don't want to include too much info where it loses the reader's attention.
It should be short and straight to the point.
Too much extra is just TOO MUCH!!! The last low-cost marketing idea that can be effective is searching the internet and posting company and/or website information in directories that cater to your audience.
You will find these at little or no cost.
You might also be allowed to post your website link on some of these websites as well.
When you start your business and are on a very tight budget, begin to use some of the above methods until the revenue begins to come in and then you can step the marketing up a notch.
