Paying for someone to advertise your business can be expensive. With that said, did you know you can advertise your business yourself for a lot less and sometimes even for free?
You don’t need to spend a fortune to advertise your business effectively. In today’s ever-digitized world, you have many ways to advertise at your disposal. From live demonstrations of your products on Facebook to old-school methods like donating to charities or partnering with like-minded businesses, there is no reason to ever dish out thousands of dollars a year on advertising.
Free and cheap business advertising is all about getting creative and using the tools available to you. If you need some inspiration, consult the list below of six powerful advertising methods that are cheap or free.
1. Reward Your Loyal Customers
Gaining new customers is great, but keeping your loyal customers happy is something you must do to encourage positive word of mouth. Reward loyal customers by offering discounts or corporate promotional gifts. When you honor their loyalty, they’re more likely to share their positive experiences with your brand, giving your business a boost in one of the most powerful yet cost-effective ways.
2. Build a Company Website
These days, it may seem like a no-brainer to have a company website, but you’d be surprised by the number of small businesses that don’t have one. If you’re among those that don’t, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities for advertising and customer interaction.
Without a website, it’s almost impossible to fully engage and sell to a customer online, which is where most people turn when they need something. While it will cost a few pennies a year for a domain name and hosting, these are minimal compared to the amount of money you’ll bring in because of the website.
If web design is not your forte, consider hiring a creative design agency to produce a high-quality, user-friendly website that will make your brand shine and your customers happy.
3. Make Live Videos
Humans are inherently curious, and customers love to see behind the scenes. Give them what they want by utilizing Facebook Live and other social media platforms to put your face and products front and center. It costs you nothing to create a video and post it on Facebook, so do it right and do it often to keep your customers in the loop.
4. Partner with Another Business Owner
Advertise your business for free by partnering with another like-minded business owner whose products or services complement your own. Cross-promotion allows you to tap into the other business’ customer base, opening up a new audience at no expense.
5. Donate to Charity
Nothing brings awareness to your brand quite like donating time, money, or other materials to a charitable organization. Whether it’s asking customers to donate to a specific charity, hosting a community event to raise money, or using your resources to boost awareness for a social issue, your brand will automatically be recognized in a positive light.
6. Hand Out Business Cards
Sometimes, old-school advertising tactics are still the most effective. Having a business card on-hand to give to a potential customer or client is a great way to spread the word about your brand. You can print business cards fairly cheaply at a number of online sites – simply search for one that meets your needs and budget.
Paying someone to advertise for your business can get expensive, but thanks to today’s digital world, doing the advertising yourself is easy and cheap. Consult the list above for powerful ways to advertise without the eye-watering bills.
