Marketing Your Services on a Shoestring Budget

Dr. Stan Fine is my Business Guru.  As the author of the highly acclaimed book, Business Boot Camp for Women, Dr. Fine lays out, step-by-step, what it takes to successful start and market a successful business.  It’s a book every woman in business should have in her library. 

Here’s another “Fine Tip”:

Marketing can be free or very cheap. Here’s a quick checklist of 22 different free or nearly free marketing ideas.  

1. Write, distribute, and publicize a free report (like this one)
2. Cultivate relationships with media sources
3. Use carefully written and appropriately distributed press releases that include solid information and are accompanied by a visual
4. Write the right letters to the editor
5. Organize and promote newsworthy events–and show media people why they’re important to their audience
6. Get your products or events previewed and reviewed in as many places as possible
7. Get involved with community service activities (and let your skills be used)
8. Publish articles–with full contact information and relevant credentials
9. Self-syndicate an advice column to special-interest publications
10. Take advantage of radio call-ins
11. Sponsor or underwrite carefully targeted special-interest shows on radio and TV
12. Donate premium prizes to media sources and charitable organizations
13. Appear as a guest–or host!–on radio and TV shows
14. Do as much public speaking as you can–to audiences that need what you offer
15. Use the Internet to promote yourself through e-mail signatures, articles, Web sites and links, live conferences, and more
16. Cross-promote with others, at every opportunity
17. Use every free classified ad you can
18. Write benefit-focused classified and direct mail copy that pulls in the reader and shows why you’re performing a great service to him or her–s/he’ll be so much better off with your offer that s/he’ll be grateful for the chance to buy
19. Focus your marketing on solving your prospect’s problems, easing pain, or achieving aspirations–not on how great you are
20. Use clear, persuasive testimonials–and attribute them so your prospects know these are real people
21. Tell everyone what you do and how it helps people achieve their goals
22. Actively encourage referrals