Top 10 (Cheap) Marketing Ideas

Marketing is a challenge when the amount of money your business can afford to spend on advertising and public relations is limited. But with a bit of creativity you may find you do not need a big marketing budget to build your company’s reputation and spread the word about your products and services.

Here are ten ideas to help you jump-start your marketing efforts without draining your cash reserves:

10. Identify your target customers. Marketing dollars are often wasted through indiscriminate targeting. Think about who is most likely to patronize your business and what type of customer you wish to attract. By focusing on the group of people you are trying to reach, you may be able to do without more expensive forms of marketing, such as advertising in mass media outlets or large-scale direct mail campaigns.

9. Don’t overlook the classifieds. A small ad or a few lines offering your services in the classifieds section of a newspaper or trade publication can bring in more business than you might expect. In addition to posting a phone number, refer potential customers to your website for more information about your company.

8. Network, network, network. If your customers are based locally, seek them out at community meetings and events. Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club events are good places to meet members of the local business community, but you may also make valuable contacts at softball games, holiday parties, or school fundraisers. Always have your business cards with you, and…