If you run a small business, your life is ridiculously busy.And if
you have a significant other, spouse, kids or anyone else that deserves
a chunk of your time, well, then your life is probably almost
impossibly busy.
That doesn’t mean your business has to suffer for it. But if all
you’re managing to do every day is just take care of clients, put out
fires, and handle the day to day tasks of running your business, trust
me, it is suffering.
Because right now, with the economy teetering on the edge of
disaster, you absolutely must find time to work on marketing your
business. Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have the money to do much
marketing even if I had the time…”
Here are 9 ways you can market your business for free or cheap in just a few minutes:
1 ) Get Free PR - Get access to queries from
reporters all over the country who need sources and information for
their articles, books, blogs and interviews. Join HARO at www.helpareporter.com
at no charge, read the query lists that land in your Inbox three times
a day, and respond to the ones you can genuinely help with on target
information.
2 ) Say Thanks - Write a thank you card to a
client, prospect who contacted you, referral source, or anyone who has
helped you along the way. Everyone appreciates being appreciated, after
all.
3 ) Become a Blogger - You don’t need your own blog
to benefit from the power of the blogging…You just need to post
comments that are interesting, relevant and helpful on other people’s
blogs. Then people who read and enjoy your comments can follow a link
back to your Website.
4 ) Get Networked - Online social networks are a
terrific way to market in your own backyard, and beyond. A quick Google
search will turn up a boatload related to every topic under the sun.
Sign up for a no-cost account with one that’s related to what you do
and set up your profile. I like Biznik.com, LinkedIn.com and Facebook.com for general sites. Twitter.com is also worthwhile.
5 ) Be Helpful - Many social networking sites like Biznik.com, StartUpation.com and LinkedIn.com
have Q & A sections where members post and answer questions. Jump
in there with helpful advice and people will want to learn more about
you and what you do.
6 ) Connect - Make a point of getting in touch, and
scheduling phone meetings, with interesting people you find on your
social networking sites. You never know who you might meet or how they
could help your business grow.
7 ) Speak and Be Heard - Start podcasting and
adding the audios to your blog or Website. The easiest way I’ve found
to do this is with a nifty little free service at http://www.utterli.com that lets you record your podcasts by phone. Simple!
8 ) Stay in Touch - When was the last time you
called a past client or referral partner just to check in? If it’s been
more than 6 months, there’s no time like the present to pick up the
phone and say “Hi. How’s it goin’?”
9 ) Get Your Expertise Out There - If you regularly write articles, submit them online. Again, Biznik is a terrific place to do this. I also like ezinearticles.com and evancarmichael.com, but there are plenty more options out there. Find ones targeted at your niche and have fun.
Do have other ideas for marketing your small business inexpensively and easily? Please share by leaving a comment below!
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