Advertising & Marketing
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FREE OFFLINE Advertising-
- Post flyers on community boards like at the YMCA, Gym, Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Community
Centers, Libraries, Laundrmats, Local Community Colleges & Universities...
- Business Cards - LEAVE YOUR BUSINESS CARDS EVERYWHERE!!! With your tip at restaurants, in
public restrooms, in books at the library, newspaper stands, magazine racks, dressing rooms, doctor's
offices... (just don't litter) :-)
A cute thing I have started doing is cutting two small slits on the right side of my biz card and sliding a
dum-dum pop in it. Very affordable too. You can buy a bag of 300 dum-dums for about $7 at
Wal-Mart/Sams Club
Makes a great filler for mom packs/filler packs or to leave with your tip at a restaurant or to leave in the
seat at the movie theater. Hand one to the teller at the bank, the cashier at the grocery store. Leave them
in the bank deposit container for the next person.
Keep them in your purse at all times and always be prepared to give them out or leave them somewhere.
Keep a catalog in your purse at all times and pull it out and read it when you are sitting in a waiting room.
It's a great way to start a conversation without having to say a word.
- Car Biz Card Box- When you go to a store, mall or anywhere that you will be parking your car - either
tape an envelope with Biz Cards in it or Use a Metal Band-aid Box (wrap it in pretty paper and put a
magnet on the back) and put your Biz Cards in it. Place a Flier that says FREE- TAKE ONE on it. You'll be
amazed how many people will grab a biz card.
- Logo/Website/Company name on clothing or buttons - Get some t-shirts made with your business info
or make them yourself with iron on transfer paper. Have some custom buttons made that say "Ask Me
about (Your Company Here)" or "Ask Me About My Home Business" or "I Work at Home - You Can Too -
ASK"
- WORD OF MOUTH - Best Free Advertising Source out there! Be sure your friends and family know about
your business! Ask them for referrals, offer them a discount or free item for every referral.
LOW COST Offline Advertising:
- Car Decals - Great Way to Advertise! I highly recommend Dave at OTG Logos on eBay. A three line decal
plus shipping was less than $17 for me! http://stores.ebay.com/OtG-Logos
- Newspaper Ads- Local Classifieds can be very affordable. Also check out newspapers in small towns
near you. These are usually only published 1-3 times a week and their classified ads are very
inexpensive. The subscriber base may be smaller, but still great value for the money.
- Local Newsletters or Community Magazines- Many communities have small Community Magazines
that can be low cost to advertise in.
- Direct Mail or Welcome Packets to New Home Buyers / New Apartment Renters- Check your local
newspaper for the recent real estate transactions to see who has just purchased a home. New home
buyers are a great target market! Wait a week or two and send them a Welcome to Your New Home
Postcard or Flier and offer 10% off for New Home Buyers or Put info about Hosting a Party and Earning
FREE Products for Their New Home.
Call local realtors and Apartment Managers and see if they do welcome packets for new & potential home
buyers / renters. If they do, see if they will allow you to bring them fliers or biz cards to put in the welcome
packets. Take them a free goodie basket with some of your products to say thanks. You may even get
sales/parties from the real estate agents & secretaries.
- Local Events, Craft Shows, Vendor Expos and Flea Markets - these can be very affordable and a great
way to get sales, recruits and leads. There is usually a booth rental fee. Just find out how many typical
visitors they have to see if the booth rental is worth it. It's hit or miss with these events, but I feel the leads
are the best part of these events.
- Job Fairs - Another sometimes low cost way to promote your biz and recruit. Check your local
community college or university for job fairs too. Many college students are looking for home businesses
they can do in their spare time.
-Open House- have an open house and invite all your neighbors, family & friends for a floating party to
announce your business, sales, products or services.
- Local Chamber of Commerce- usually charge an annual membership fee, but this will give you
invitations to many local events for networking as well as sometimes free or discounted advertisements
in Chamber publications.
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