Advertising - Be Seen, Be Heard, Save Money
Now that you’ve gotten your business cards printed, your website designed and hosted, your location rented and set-up, how do you get the word out about your brand-new company?
I have been faced with this question, repeatedly, for the last six months. I started my company for less than $5000, and don’t have the money to pay for expensive advertising. In fact, I can’t even pay a designer to design an advertisement! So, what do you do?
Grassroots. Word-of-mouth. Free.
I like those words. You probably do too—especially the last one, “free.” First and foremost, get your website recognized by a search engine. Read about SEO (search engine optimization) and submit your website URL to DMOZ (an open directory). I got my website spidered by Google and Yahoo! by sending out query emails to potential customers, which contained links to my site—therefore upping the number of daily hits.
Search engine spiders also cruise Craigslist. Free advertising! Once every two weeks, I post on Los Angeles Craigslist, in the small business ads section. Besides getting picked up by search engines (include your website URL on the post), I also received some interest from potential customers.
Hand out business cards to your friends and send out emails to everyone on your contact list about your new venture! People who know you (and like you!) make for great referrers. Have your parents bring it up to their friends at a dinner party. Post your business cards on coffee house bulletin boards. Do whatever it takes to get your name and website SEEN and HEARD.
Lastly, if you are willing to spend a little money, try sponsoring an event that will smack your company logo on a newsletter or heavily-trafficked website. Pro-bono work, even though you’re not getting paid, is a wonderful way to give back to the community and meet potential clients.
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