Small Business Advertising
How to Advertise on a Small or Non-existing Budget
Not having a large advertising budget does not have to stop a small business owner from advertising.
There are many inexpensive and free ways in which a small business owner can advertise a business. Back in the old days, before computers were so readily available and desktop publishing software was still so expensive, small businesses owners would have to hire professional graphic artists and advertising firms in order to create and maintain their advertising campaigns.
Fast-forward to the present and things are much cheaper and easier. Small business owners can perform advertising tasks in-house and save money. Here are a few ways that small business owners can advertise their business inexpensively or for free:
- Create a blog (can be free): Blogs are easy to create, fits in every advertising budget and takes little work to maintain. The purpose of the blog is to encourage readers to contact the business or steer them to the business' main website. The blog should be short concise and to the point. Strategically placed links will seamlessly lead readers back to the original website (Blogger.com and Wordpress.com both offer free blog hosting.)
- Write articles/reviews (free): Sure to fit in every small business advertising budget is writing and submitting quality articles/reviews to free article content sites such as ezinearticles.com or articlefactory.com. Article/review writing is a tried and proven way to advertise and drive traffic to the business site. Be sure to include the business name, web address, and a concise blurb about the business in the footer of every article/review.
- Design business cards (inexpensive): A simple word processing software such as WordPerfect or Word will enable any business owner to create unique and thought provoking business cards. There is a wide variety of business card stationery available at most stationery stores. The business owner can determine how creative or plain the business card will be. (Tip: Imprint a saying, testimonial, phrase or image on the back of the business card to make it stand out above and beyond the rest.)
- Develop a newsletter or e-zine (ranges from free to inexpensive): There are websites that offer ezine services for free (zinester.com), or for a small fee depending on the number of email recipients. Sending out a newsletter once a month or every other month is a great way to reach customers to let them know what's new and keep the business name in front of them.Newsletters should be short, concise and to the point. Give customers just enough information to wet their appetite to make them want to visit the main website. Encourage recipients to share the newsletter with friends, business associates and family.
- Create a magnetic vehicle sticker (inexpensive): The beauty of magnetic stickers is that they can be placed and removed without damaging the vehicle. Just like a business card, a magnetic sticker's display is limited only by the owners' imagination. The stationary can be purchased from a local stationery store or ordered from Amazon. If one 8 1/2 by 11 inch magnetic sheet is too small, then spread the design over 2, 3 or 4 sheets. Strategically place them on the vehicle's doors for inexpensive advertising.
No matter how large or small the advertising budget, a small business can spread the word for little or no cash outlay.
The copyright of the article Small Business Advertising in Small/Home Business is owned by Felicia A. Williams. Permission to republish Small Business Advertising must be granted by the author in writing.
