7 Advertising Strategies...

[admin]

For Business Owners And Entrepreneurs

For new business owners or freelancers, spending too much cash on costly and expensive advertising is a shortcut to bankruptcy during a recession. Whether you're just starting out, or simply want to reduce your overhead, skip the very expensive advertising spots and focus on free and/or less expensive advertising. Since you won’t need to recoup as much cost of advertising, any business you generate from your free and inexpensive advertising efforts will be nearly all profit.

1. Free Business Cards

“I save money by ordering my business cards from Vistaprint,” says computer technician Marcia. So do thousands of other professionals. Vistaprint is a web-based company with a solid reputation. The cards are 100% free—you just pay for shipping. The only catch is that a small Vistaprint logo is printed on the back of your business card, but the effect is still professional.

“When I paid for business cards, I’d find myself hoarding them,” Marcia jokes. “Now that they cost me nothing, I give them to anyone I meet. I think my free Vistaprint cards have improved business as well as saving me money.”

2. Free Flyers and Brochures

Most office software includes an easy-to-use template for designing your own flyers and brochures. But if you want something more original and personalized, think outside the box. That’s what Eric, a personal trainer, did to get his marketing materials designed for free.

“My gym is right next to an art college,” Eric says. “I just asked the design instructor to use my business as a class project. The students all got real-life experience to add to their portfolios, and I had dozens of great designs to choose from.”

3. Free and Inexpensive Advertising on Every Email

An email signature is a piece of text that your email program automatically pastes at the bottom of every email you send. Keep it short and professional: your name, business name, website, and contact info.

“I would never have thought of my email signature as advertising,” Wendy says. “But I had emailed a cheesecake recipe to my friend, and she forwarded it to her colleague at work. She just happened to notice my Wendy's Wallpapering signature at the bottom and called me the next day about getting her spare room papered.”

Be sure to check into advertising on local email blasts. Online and email advertising is hot right now. It is often inexpensive and very effective. The small price can deliver a big impact for your business and hit directly to your target market.



4. Free and Inexpensive Advertising Through Online Social Networking

Online social networking expands your audience at no cost. And advertising on these sites costs next to nothing. LinkedIn is specifically geared towards professional networking. National Networks like Facebook, Myspace, and Orkut are also useful. Twitter lets you send on-the-fly advertisements as text messages. There are also new local networks such as wqmag.com. If you have existing personal accounts, set up separate business accounts; your professional contacts don't need to know that Buttons, your new kitten just learned to widdle in the sandbox.

Many of these technologies work in tandem. For example, Raj, a life coach, updates his Facebook status every morning just by sending a Twitter update. “Don’t get addicted,” he cautions. “They’re free, but too fun!”


5. Free and Inexpensive Advertising Through Blogging

A blog is a free online publishing tool for you to share information and updates with readers on a regular basis. Blogs that simply promote a business are common and forgettable. Instead, provide useful information that will keep users coming back for more.
Here at WQmag.com the reason you are reading this article right now is because we are reaching you through social network tools such as email blasts, blogging and online articles. These advertising tools are all fun,free and effective.

For instance, Allan owns a knitting store and wanted to increase business. He started a blog where he posts seasonal patterns, funny knitting anecdotes, and answers to reader questions. As Allan gains his readers’ trust and liking, they'll be more likely to use his business or refer him to others.

Some sites will feature your blogs or articles in high traffic areas of the site or in email blasts for a small fee.


6. Free Advertising Through Shared Interests

Say you needed to hire a sound engineer, who would you call—some random Joe in the yellow pages, or the guy you knock pawns with down the pub on Tuesdays? Meetup.com is a fantastic free resource that enables you to connect with people who share your interests and widen your advertising net.

For example, Manuel is a sound engineer who loves to play chess in his spare time. He organizes two regular Meetups. One is a meeting for sound engineers. This helps him network with peers and stay connected to the industry. The other is a chess club. Manuel meets people from all walks of life there, and he always has a business card on hand to give them. Imagine the possibilities!

7. Free Advertising Through Generosity

Are folks more likely to hire someone who donates to their charity of choice? Without a doubt.

Claudio donated a basket full of dog toys to the local animal shelter's annual lottery. In return, the shelter listed his pet toy business as a sponsor on their pamphlets, announced his business name during the lottery, and passed out his business cards at the door.

Seek out local organizations and offer to donate your services or products for any public events they might be holding. Not only will you forge a good relationship with local organizations, you'll also make an instant impression on potential clients who wouldn't have known you existed.

Using all of these approaches to free advertising together with some inexpensive targeted online advertising is a winning combination. However, no matter how many contacts you have or how many business cards you pass out, if you give off a bad vibe your business will suffer.

Be direct, honest and sincere: the comments people post on your blog or article will reflect their positive perceptions of you and your business. You are your own best—and truly free—advertisement.


By Antonia Anderson

[Frank Gomez]

Sorry Antonia,
I have to disagree with the first two points (design your own cards and flyers/brochures). The suggestion for getting the "Art Class" involved is great! Your other suggestions are great.
First of all please shop locally, it makes a huge difference. I can recommend a super competitive printing company (Creative Technology at 5959 Palmer in Sarasota).
Free business cards don't include a proof. What you see on your screen is always different from how it looks when you print it.
I would avoid:
-Designing a card or brochure yourself - it will look that way.
-Using a template on Vistaprint (not original and it will look that way), the same goes for desktop publishing programs and clipart.
-Printing your own cards at home with fold and tear cards (not good for your printer unless flimsy, and people can tell that you did it yourself) and........ you aren't saving money!
If you print 1000 cards yourself you've paid $15 for fold and tears, plus 4 - 10 cents a page of ink with most home office printers (10 cards per page, x 100 pages = 1000 cards), 1000 x 4 cents (.04) = $40, if your printer is worse you could be using $100 of ink.
-Printing at home the ink will smudge and smear in our humid climate (unless you have a laser printer). Even double sided cards at a professional printing company should be under $100. At the printer recommended above - probably under $50.
-A designer takes into account a lot more than you do, Impact of colors, fonts, layout, subconscious meanings of content, logo etc. That makes your promotional materials much more powerful!
Final point. Your time is valuable. Do what you do best, unless you are a designer you should hire an experienced designer to do it.

Respectfully,
Frank Gomez, Graphic Designer
www.FranksDesigns.com

[WQ|mag Admin]

I would also like to add to Franks reply. Advertise on WQ Mag.com. Fastest growing website in Sarasota. Most everything is free, but there are some great advertising opportunities to promote on our site as well as the WQ Mag Daily Scoop at incredible rates. Plus I need the money to support my snow skiing addition:)

[admin]

Hey Frank,

Thanks so much for your response to this article. I agree shopping locally for the best deals should be everyone's first choice. You are in expert in this field and your advice and tips are definitely appreciated.

Kim
WQ|mag

[admin]

Wes...
Snow skiing??? I better be getting a raise before you go snow skiing ...and a vacation.... new tires or an IPhone would suffice.

Kim
WQ|mag