It makes no difference if you have an internet site, brick and mortar store, or a work at home business, it is a fact that none will succeed if nobody knows you’re there.
Advertising IS the key to success; however advertising doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Of course, the big display ads cost advertisers many thousands of dollars, and “pay per click” advertising on search engines can add up to big dollars very quickly if you’re not carefully targeting proper key words and keeping track of the results of your advertising dollars.
There are many ways that we can promote our businesses literally for PENNIES, that can rake in THOUSANDS of dollars in sales. Listed below are just a few ideas that work well, and I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with additional ideas once you start working with these.
** FREE AD ON YOUR ENVELOPES. You can either use labels, or glue or tape one of your “mini-flyers” on the back or front of each envelope and package you mail out. There is no way of knowing how much “free” advertising these mini-flyers will generate – after all, you’re mailing the letters and packages anyway, so why not take advantage of that and give your advertisement a “free ride”.
** ENCLOSE SALES LITERATURE in all outgoing orders. If you already have a business where you send out orders, NEVER send out a “naked” package! If you simply enclose the customer’s order and receipt and mail the package, you are missing out on one of the very best sales tools available! Any additional sales literature you can enclose in the package (other items you offer for sale, information on another website to visit, etc) could bring you extra sales. It is a well known fact that if a customer buys from you one time, they’re more likely to buy again and again, if they are satisfied with your service and products that they bought in the beginning.
** BUSINESS CARDS are one of the cheapest methods of advertising that I know of. Many times, people will have 1,000 or more business cards made, then put them on a shelf and never use more than a dozen or so. If you have a business or website and don’t have business cards – GET THEM! Hand out the business cards to prospective customers, leave one on the table at the restaurant when you go out to eat. Many restaurants and other businesses have a location where you can put a small business card holder with several of your cards in it for future customers to see and pick up as they pay their bill.
** SCREEN PRINTED SHIRTS. This also is a “one time” purchase that will last for years, and will be read by people wherever you are walking – through stores, standing in line at a check out register, etc. These don’t have to be fancy, just “to the point” so people reading them will know what they represent. I saw one a few days ago that simply had a pair of glasses on it (the logo of the website) and the words “Specterweb.com” — everybody knows to put the http:// in front and in this case I wrote it down just so I could go there and see what it was (and this will work the same way for you). You can make enough of these shirts for you to wear, or perhaps some of your family might want a “free” shirt (they will be advertising your website when wearing it), or you always have the option of selling or giving them to customers as a free gift for placing an order.
As you think about these suggestions, I’m sure you’ll be coming up with additional ones that you can use. Remember, advertising is a MUST for any business, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
The tips are just a few from our book, “Jumpstart Your Business With Proven Techniques and Strategies“! Check out the book – read the table of contents – then see how YOU can get your business moving ahead.
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