Although Internet marketing costs less than traditional advertising, there are some methods of advertising that are free. Advertising for free seems like an impossible thing when you hear about it. But there are several ways by which the cost of advertisement can be maintained with the help of some imagination and creativity.
Write Articles
If you are a business wanting to advertise, you can write articles related to your field of expertise, which can be submitted to media and publications having interest in your particular field. The advertising article can have information about your company and possible dealership or franchise opportunities. Due to the rise in Internet users and websites, new websites have sprung up, which offer free services. Articles can be written for these websites and they can be broadcasted for free, which will be viewed by hundreds of people everyday.
Interviews
Once your business has gained some recognition, within no time it will gain popularity also among the crowds. This popularity can lead to you being invited on radio and television talk shows and even to interviews. These kind of opportunities shouldn’t be missed as they provide a chance for free promotion. If it is taking a long time to get a break, the producer can be addressed with a letter that can be followed up with a telephone call or in-person visit. During your visit, the nature of your expertise can be discussed about your business, which will be of interest to the viewers of the particular channel. Once you gain the status of being public-friendly, more offers start pouring in.
Bulletin Boards
Free bulletin boards located in your neighborhood, like in grocery stores, libraries, and salons, are another good idea. Advertising circulars can be posted on such boards for free. Circulars for mass distribution can be handed out at the mall, shopping center, bus stops, particularly on weekends when there is a big rush. Students can be hired on part-time basis for this purpose.
Promotional Advertising
Promotional advertisement can be printed on the envelopes used by your business firm. Both you and the receiver can see this advertisement. Promotional offers can be sent to customers by postcards, which should be utilized to its fullest, leaving only the place for writing the address.
Publications
Some of the new mail order publications offer free first time and seasonal deductions for advertisers. Other publications offer pay per inquiry space. Inquiries can be made about stand-by space, which means that the publication holds the submission of your advertisement until the space is not sold and in that case, thirty-three percent savings can be achieved. Usually local newspapers provide these kinds of offers.
If your business is involved in ad sheet or catalog publishing, other publishers can be contacted for the purpose of bartering an advertising exchange. They can place your advertisement in their publication, in return for placing their advertisement in your business’s publication.
Free Offers
Free offers can be provided to your customers. This can be done by emailing or printing newsletters about information regarding the area of interest of your targeted customers and can be made popular by using tag lines. Attach a free coupon with it, which the customers can use for shopping, if a criterion is met like minimum purchase of $50, for example. By this, the response will be huge and most of them will purchase something in order to take advantage of the free offer.
The basic ingredient for advertising for free is imagination and research. Opportunities should be searched and a strong working force should be applied to increase the sales.
Which methods of free advertising do you use for your business, and is it effective? We would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below.
RJ’s Internet Marketing Services, LLC
Photo: Courtesy of Google Images
