When an advertising budget is extremely small or completely nonexistent, a small business owner really needs to get creative. Writing is one free way that businesses can effectively market their products or services.
Consider Article Marketing
For an entrepreneur who can string a few words together in a way that makes sense, article marketing is a great option. Many people who spend a lot of time online use article marketing as a way to reach potential clients. They write a short article, add a resource box that promotes the business and submit the article to a variety of websites and article directories.
While writing articles to submit to these directories is a great low cost way to promote a business, there is another way to use articles that internet marketers often overlook. Print publications, from local newspapers to trade newsletters, all need articles. Some small business owners write so well that they start a second career as writers who specializes in topics related to their businesses. Others simply offer articles to publications free of charge in exchange for a byline.
Article marketing is useful because:
- The byline, author biography, or resource box is an excellent way to promote a business without charge. While a small business owner may not be able to afford to advertise in publications that charge very high fees for advertisements, he or she may be able to land a paid writing gig in one or more of these publications that includes free advertising for the business through the byline or author bio.
- Potential customers who know a small business owner has been published in trade magazines or even local newspapers will feel that he or she is an expert in the field. That increased credibility is something that even the most costly ads cannot buy.
Send Out a Press Release
Many small business owners do not realize the value of a press release. A reporter with a deadline that is only a few hours away sees a well written, interesting press release, complete with quotes. After skimming the release, the reporter realizes he or she only needs to do a bit of fact checking before writing up a quick article. How likely is it that the reporter will use that press release? The odds are pretty good.
To write a press release that will attract the attention of the media, a small business owner should:
- Make sure that the news is something that will solve a consumer's problem or will get readers excited.
- Include interesting quotes that reporters can use to flesh out their stories.
- Add the company name, address, email and phone number to the bottom of the release to make it easy for reporters to call for more information.
For small business owners who enjoy writing, marketing with articles and press releases is a smart way to stretch a small advertising and marketing budget.
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