Donated advertising materials make for free advertising.
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When you have a message, product or event you want to promote through your nonprofit organization, it makes sense to look for free advertising. While countless organizations eagerly await advertising requests for a price, securing effective, no-cost advertising takes legwork. Fortunately, a wealth of free advertising opportunities exist for someone who knows how to network.
Email Message
Add a message about your nonprofit organization or an upcoming event to every email you send. Include the message after your signature line. Include a plea to recipients to forward the information about your organization or event to others who have interest.
Portable Sign Donation
Find a businessperson in your community who owns a portable sign. Ask him to donate the use of his sign for a few weeks so you can advertise your nonprofit organization. Position the sign in a prominent place.
Related Reading: How Non-profits Advertise on the Web
Media Kit
Organize a media kit for your local newspaper with materials you already have. Include a press release, brochures, newsletters, statistical information, pictures and biographies of key people in the nonprofit organization. Submit the kit to newspapers in your area so they have the option to write a story about your nonprofit organization and publish it for free.
Newspaper, Television or Radio Ads
Contact advertising, media or marketing instructors at local colleges, universities or high schools and ask about the possibility of obtaining free student-created advertisements for your nonprofit. Provide the advertisements to the newspaper, local television station or radio to use as filler.
Website
Create a free website for your nonprofit organization through an online service that offers free web-building tools and hosting or open a social networking account. Advertise your nonprofit in the "Community" or "Groups" section of a free online classified site. Include a link to your website or include the name of your website if the classified site doesn't allow users to post links.
Online or Community Calendars
Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and ask the representative to include your non-profit advertisement on their community calendar. Many Chamber of Commerce organizations have websites.
Rosa Parks