I am a senior with a minor in advertising, and am looking to possibly set up my own small freelancing advertising business just to make some extra cash and experience. Any suggestions…costs, how much to charge, where to start, etc.?

Thanks

Have recently started a small service business & wondering the best advertising for my buck. The Pennysaver, Craig’s List, a local newspaper? Any ideas? Can’t afford much until I start making money. Thanks for any insight. I have business cards, website and brochures. Would like to get the masses in my local area quickly.

There’s more and more ways to advertise your business for free every day, plus being a small business keeping the costs down is very important. Having a small business myself finding all the possible ways to advertise for free is vital. I have used many methods and still look for new ways. I thought I can’t be the only one doing this, so I put together what I have used and some which I have not used. I feel this will be just the beginning of me sharing ideas, tips and more about free advertising, so this piece shares the beginnings of free advertising. Let me point one thing out before I begin, the ways by which you advertise your business for free can be maintained, with the assistance of some imagination and creative thinking. However don’t forget to monitor your results, it’s all good and well advertising for free but if it is not benefiting your business then it’s just a waste of your time.

A business wanting to promote their product or services, can write articles associated their area of expertise. These can then be submitted to media and publications which focus on that particular area. The article could feature information about the business and the benefits your products or service offers or some general information about the area you are working in, then implement bits of your own business with the piece. Due to the fast increase in Internet users and websites, many websites also offer free services when it comes to promoting your businesses. Your articles can be submitted to these websites and they then broadcasted them for free on your behalf, which will be viewed by hundreds of people everyday. However remember to place your contact information at the bottom of the article, this way the reader will know how to take up your offers or enquire. This should include your name, a contact number or your website address.

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Many businesses are reducing their budget to keep up with the tight economy. They do all they can to cut back on expenses without compromising the quality of their products or service. As a small business owner, you might be thinking of removing advertising from your business plan just to cut costs. However, doing so will only make your business suffer. Come to think of it, how will your customers be aware of your new product without advertising? Marketing your business in a down economy is still possible with these helpful tips.

Choose the right promotional tools. Promotional tools are a good investment for small businesses, because these can be produced fast and affordably. Printed materials such as flyers, brochures, and posters are effective tools in communicating your marketing message to your customers. Flyers are best used for announcing a big sale or promo while brochures are great for showcasing your products or services. Poster prints are the ideal tools for attracting the attention of your customers, because of their big size and high-impact images. You can seek he expertise of an online poster printing company in order to produce high-quality posters. Build connections with other businesses. Build relationships with other businesses to reach a whole new customer base. You can do this by trading leads or mailing list. Try shared advertising to help you cut costs on your marketing expenses. Your wedding consultancy service for instance, can partner up with a floral shop in advertising. Get involved in your community. Joining business organizations, clubs, or charities helps your business to gain more awareness and exposure. This also gives you the chance to meet prospective clients, interact with other business professionals, and promote your small business. Advertise online. Reach out to existing and prospective clients by marketing your products or services online. Build your own website to increase your visibility on the internet. Provide valuable and interesting content for your website to increase traffic. Read the rest of this entry