Want to grow a small business but can’t afford to invest in expensive advertising? Do you want to increase profits for your company, but know you can’t afford to hire a marketing guru or spend money on radio/television/newspaper ads? There are easy ways to promote your small business for free if you are willing to be creative and diversify your customer outreach efforts. Consider the following five free marketing methods to see which ones will help attract new customers to your business.
5 Ways to Grow a Small Business (Without Spending Money)
Referrals from Other Local Businesses
Networking with other local companies is an excellent way for you to build your business. Think about who your ideal customer is and what types of companies they are likely to frequent i.e., accountants, financial planners, etc. Drop off your business card at a variety of businesses and ask those business owners for their cards too. By cross-promoting your businesses, you both benefit from additional referrals and word-of-mouth marketing.
Podcast Guest
Becoming a podcast guest is a great way to attract new
customers to your company. Discover podcasts relevant to your target audience and offer to become a guest interviewee. You can also use Twitter’s advanced search feature to search for terms like “podcast guests wanted.”Yelp
Adding your business to Yelp is another free way to market your company (biz.yelp.com/signup_business/new). Yelp reviews are often featured prominently in search engine results, allowing you to connect with potential customers who might not even know your company exists. Be sure to respond to all reviews on Yelp and leave helpful feedback consumers can use to get to know your brand.
Google My Business
If you want to attract customers to your business on an ongoing basis, add Google My Business (google.com/business) to your arsenal of business-building tools. Google My Business lets you do everything from creating your free website to advertising your business hours and inventory. Showcase your business by uploading photographs for free and respond to customers via Google’s business review interface. Not only does Google My Business give you a way to spotlight your company for potential customers, but it is also great for SEO too.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a terrific tool for attracting new customers to your business. Promote your business in the appropriate section (be sure not to spam) and help customers discover your company. You can even promote your Craigslist ad on social media to attract additional eyeballs to your brand.
These are just five of many ways you can promote your small business for free. While paid marketing can be great for business growth, sometimes it is good old-fashioned free advertising that delivers the best results.