This is a question I have seen asked many times on some of my on line message boards….”How can I advertise without spending a lot of money?”. I’ve answered a few of those questions, but I think it would be better to put my ideas here for reference. We do have a brick and mortar store, we do spend $$$ of avdertising, however we too are always looking for cheap or free ways to advertise. Here are things we do and have done. This list will grow as I get more ideas or see more ideas from others.
- put a free ad on Craigs List
- Does a local Newspaper, TV or Radio station or individual have a FREE online Classifieds?
- Barrow a library loan book and leave a business card in it as a “book mark” (this works if your business is not specific to your location)
- When you take library books back (to your local library)….leave a business card in them as a “book mark”.
- Leave a business card (and a small sample if you can) on the table with your tip, when you eat out.
- Leave a business card (and a small sample if you can) in a motel room when you check out.
- Put business cards/fliers/brochures/etc. on bulletin boards in gas stations/laundry mats/restaurants/other businesses/etc. (don’t forget to take some push pins with you just in case, and sometimes you might want to ask permission before pinning them up). Check on them regularly to make sure they are stocked.
- Take your business cards with you when you travel, if your business isn’t specific to your location, put them on bulletin boards in gas stations/etc. along the way.
- Magnetic signs on your vehicle (there is a cost for the sign, but the impressions are phenomenal)
- Vinyl graphics on your vehicle back window (there is a cost for this, but the impressions are phenomenal)
- Leave a business card in the restroom in a business, on the back of the toilet, on the sink, on the hand dryer, can it be slipped behind or in the frame of the mirror?
- Does something about your business come up in a conversation? Tell them a little about your “stuff” and give them a business card and ask them to check out your website/store sometime.
- Get online orders? Send a business card with the order. Maybe the satisfied customer will pass it on to a friend.
- Create a little card to give to your customers at check out with your web address, twitter, facebook, etc. information.
- How about the Local Time and Temperature? Ours gets an average of 50,000 calls a month. Well worth the $$ spent on advertising there. Some months it’s less than a penny per impression. How awesome is that?
