Cheap (and FREE) Advertising for your new Business

For any business to succeed, it needs to be advertised to let customers know about it. This extensive list gives ideas and suggestions for advertising. First, a rule of thumb: Always think about what kind of customer your products are aimed at. Try to advertise in places that they are likely to see.

Advertise Yourself: For example, if you make purses, make sure you carry a purse you made. This ensures that when people compliment you on your purse, you can give them more information or a business card. In addition, make sure you always carry business cards with you.

Word of Mouth: Friends, family, and past customers make great advertisers. I would suggest giving a small stack of business cards (or other advertising materials) to willing people and allow them to pass them out.

Local Businesses: Small businesses often will allow designers to leave a small stack of business cards in their store. For example, if you make hair bows, try contacting local hair salons that might allow you to put your cards at their reception desk.

Print Advertising: Advertising in magazines, trade magazines, club and school newsletters, and similar publications is often less expensive than you would think. For example, if you carry embroidered infant items, try contacting baby magazines (or visiting their websites) for advertising rates. Print advertising also refers to mailing materials such as postcards and catalogs. You could consider mailing out cards to past customers announcing a new product line or a sale.

Your Vehicle: We have all seen the signs on people`s cars and windows about their business. If you decide to try this out, check you local zoning laws. For example, many neighborhood associations will not allow you to park your car in your driveway if it has signs on it. Recently, I saw a car in a parking lot that had a sign and a small waterproof container for potential customers to take business cards. This is another option to look into.

Signs: Another option is to place local signs in places that potential customers might see them. Local businesses may allow you to place a sign in their store for a certain period of time. Note: If you are placing signs on public property, please research your town or city regulations.

Donate: Another way to advertise your business is by donating items. For example, you could donate an item to be raffled off at a work, school, or charity event. I also have a friend that donates her items handmade infant items to celebrity moms and to the parents of a set of sextuplets in her state shortly before their birth. Her donation appeared in print in a major magazine and on the website of the sextuplets.

Internet: The internet is stocked with places that you can advertise. Go to Google.com and type in "Internet Advertising" or "WAHM Advertising" and you will find hundreds of thousands of sites.

Copyright 2007, Inch By Inch Designs

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