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Sound Advice
4 easy ways to get free marketing exposure
So your company is just starting out, your capital has run out and you're still looking to do some marketing and get some exposure for your company... is it possible?
Fortunately for you, it is. All you need is some determination and a whole lot of creativity and imagination. You need to get your product out and in the hands of buyers, potential buyers and even resellers. Remember you can distribute samples or examples of your products to a million people, but if you're distributing to people who don't use your product, what's the point? You need to get your product in the hands of people who're going to do something with it. Either large scale buyers, or people who have contact and who you know will share your product with some important people.
Sharing is Caring
If you've accumulated information regarding your product and related services, then why not share that information. Write a blog, get a website, or write a column in some form of printed material. If there are such services in your area, contribute information to radio or TV stations that could use this information
Often is better
Share this information on a regular basis, perhaps offline in the form of a magazine entry or online in the form of an Ezine, email or blog site. In so doing, you're spreading information that will create an awareness of your services and products. Naturally with each information package that you put together, references to your product that will ultimately pay your bills, should be included.
Take the mic
Why not enter yourself into some sort of a conference where you could share the information on your products? If there aren't any such conferences in your area, why not initiate your own? Contact people, make bookings and most importantly, do so with people that will use or share your product with others. Again, this step will create an awareness about your product or service. It also affords you the opportunity to sell yourself as well as your product. Meet and greet with prospective clients. Remember that with most services, they client isn't only buying your services, they're buying you! If there's a lot of competition for services like yours, your clients will be more likely to use the provider who's company they enjoyed the most. Make friends, make money.
Sharing is getting
If your product or service lends itself to giving away samples, then do so! Give people something to remember you by. Also keep in mind that you don't want to give them something cheap looking like a crummy pencil and pen set. That'll work against you. Either give them a sample of your actual product, or something that you think will mean something to them. Donate free services to them. Create a bit of fun by giving away such samples or prizes in front of everyone…get them all involved and thereby give them an experience as well as something tangible.
Granted, you're giving away stuff and this is costing you money. But don't view it as you throwing money away. Its an investment. It's a form of advertising and you can rest assured that if its been done to the right target audience, you will see results.
All this boils down to validate the argument that there are plenty of ways to get exposure for your company without laying down loads of cash. Do targeted advertising. Don't over generalize in your advertising.
Less can be more in exposure if the less that you offer, is offered to the right people.
