5 Free Marketing Ideas For Small Businesses

If you own a small business, you are probably running out of time or resources to start a marketing department.  Hiring a full-time professional, spending thousands of dollars on newspaper ad or mailing printed brochures are perhaps not the best ways to invest your money.  What you are probably looking for is the easiest, cheapest, most efficient ways to advertise. Do not despair, there are plenty of cheap ways to get the word out about your business.  Here are five free marketing ideas for small businesses:



1)      Local business listing.  Any business with a physical address should and must be listed on Google places, Bing places or Yahoo local listings! People use their phones to look up your address so you need to make sure those potential clients can easily reach you (retailers, spas, catering services, etc.).  It is entirely free and it only takes five minutes to claim, verify and update your business listing. Anybody can do this, you have no excuse!

2)      Build a website. If your target audience is between the ages of 18 and 65, they’re probably looking for you online.  You don’t need a fancy website, just make sure to have a web page that includes basic information such as your business name, opening hours, phone number, and physical location on every page of your website.  There are some free web development platforms out there that are very easy to use, such as Wix, Weebly or Yola.

3)      Start a mailing list.  There is nothing simpler than creating an e-mail database and sending them monthly newsletters.  Mailchimp is a great tool for that, it’s simple and free! (I think I’ve heard that somewhere…)

4)      Get social.  Start a Facebook page for your business and post something every other day.  Always remember to soft-sell here; people on Facebook don’t like in-your-face marketing. Try posting a coupon and have customers bring the coupon with them so you can track the return on investment and results of your “Facebook coupon campaign”.

5)      Referral program.  Word to mouth has always been the most effective way to get high quality customers. Your most loyal clients can become key brand ambassadors, helping to bring new customers!  Create loyalty cards and offer a discount if they refer a friend or set-up a commission structure and pay your customer a certain commission as they bring you new business.  Everyone wins, your client is happy and you are getting more business!

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