Modern Goddess Magazine

The New Year provides a great opportunity to assess your current marketing strategies and to identify new efforts to boost your business to the next level. Although marketing is traditionally an expensive component of your overall strategy to be successful, there are several low cost and free opportunities that are highly effective.

Networking and Word-Of-Mouth

One of the most effective approaches to marketing is absolutely free… networking. Each person that you interact with that has a positive experience, is likely to share information about your business with at least five other like-minded individuals. The word-of-mouth exposure that networking provides can create new business opportunities and expand your market base. Both formal (ie. meetings) and informal (ie. train ride) provide great opportunities to network.

Press Release

Although you could choose to spend hundreds of dollars to place ads in your local newspapers and magazines, a free article can generate more attention to you and your business. Write a unique press release that will draw the attention of the editors to write an article about your and your business. A press release can be focused on an event that you are hosting, an honor or award that you have received, or an update on where your business is going.

Participation in Organizations

Identify organizations that are of interest to you and/or your business. Consider non-profit organizations that you can provide volunteer services for and organizations that attracts professionals similar to yourself. Your participation in these types of groups will provide valuable information about your community business leaders and increase your public exposure. Many business women have found their greatest mentors through their participation in these organizations.

Monthly Email and Blogs

The best way to capture those who have come across your business is to provide monthly updates. Amidst the craziness of personal and professional life, people need to be reminded of your existence. In fact, most people appreciate the reminders and information provided in the emails. Another method, the blog, can exemplify your knowledge, skills, and experience in the business that you have chosen. For someone that is vacillating between utilizing your business versus another, the blog can provide them with a glimpse into what they might expect from you.

Libraries, Bookstores and Coffee Shops

My favorite place to advertise is at libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops. A large percentage of my market, women, visit these locations and frequently read the community bulletin boards. You can leave a stack of business cards, brochures, or postcards for others to pick up. People love to discover great resources and will be excited to find your information at their favorite low-key spots.

As your New Year kicks off to a great start, be certain to allow low-cost marketing strategies to work for your business. Marketing doesn’t require you to spend thousands of dollars to be successful. Use your creativity to discover new ways to take your business to the next level.