Where to Advertise your business for free?

Small businesses are always looking for smart, cost-effective ways to advertise. But how can small businesses compete in a world that is already so cluttered with advertising, spam and big-budget messages from big-money brands? Fortunately, there are still a lot of free, low-cost ways to promote your business. With a bit of imagination and lots of hustle, you can get big advertising results with even a tiny advertising budget.

Here are a few free and low-cost ways to advertise your small business:

Learn to Use Help A Reporter Out
Help a Reporter Out is a free way to get publicity for your business by signing up to be an “expert source” for reporters who are looking for people to interview. Whenever you see a reporter’s query on HARO that suits your skills and expertise, you can offer some quick insights. This method will gain your business exposure in different online publications, and also allow you to begin defining yourself as an expert in your industry.

Use Mugs with Your Info on the Inside Instead of Business Cards
People get overwhelmed with so many business cards and often end up tossing them. A mug with your business information on the outside ensures your name is seen every time.

Postcard Thank-You Notes
When was the last time you sent a thank-you note to one of your favorite clients? Spend a bit of money to get some colorful photo cards or postcards printed – with your business logo, your photo, your family’s photo or photos from your business. These personalized thank-you notes will remind your customers that they’re buying from a real business run by real people – connect with them on a human level.

Ask for Referrals
Once you have a solid business relationship established with a customer, look for ways to ask them to refer new customers to you. You can make your referral program informal and ad hoc, or precisely targeted, but either way, make sure you put some thought into it and approach your customers carefully. Don’t just ask anyone for referrals; you’re asking them to do you a big favor by sharing names of their friends and colleagues. So reward them accordingly – give a nice gift to customers who refer new business to you. What’s a new customer worth to you? Be generous accordingly.

Use a Customer Loyalty Program
There are great online tools available now to help small businesses set up sophisticated (low-cost!) customer loyalty programs to track and reward customers. Encouraging your existing customers to give you more repeat business can be the most efficient way to boost sales.

Revamp Your Social Media Strategy
Posting on social media is free, and even though we’ve all been bombarded with social media clutter and thinly veiled sales pitches, there are still many ways for small businesses to spruce up their social media presence without spending lots of money. Check out this article for ideas on how to take a fresh approach to social media marketing.