Five Easy Ways to Promote Your Business – And they’re FREE!

Are you looking for ways to promote your business? Are you just starting out or on a budget? Need a little encouragement to get the ball rolling? Well here are five easy tips to promote your business that are absolutely free!   But first things first…

Be A Rock Star!

Do you ever wonder, “why would people want to follow me when there are so many other great blogs and podcasts out there that they could follow?”  Well I know I do. I mean really.  I can’t compete with Amy Porterfield.  She’s so, well, her.

My Market is Saturated with Businesses Like Mine

I was listening to a branding podcast by Rachel Hollis and she kept saying “There may be a lot of people in your market, and it may be saturated, but there’s only one YOU.”  Okay, okay, sure lady.

Now Rachel is amazing (and definitely worth the listen), but you know where it really hit me?  Watching the special on Queen and Adam Lambert (also worth the watch btw). They drove the message home. There are umpteen million rock bands out there, but only one is Queen. And only Queen can deliver their message and their music. People want to hear THEM. Tons of bands deliver out of this world music, but not like Queen does.

Get it? People… there’s room for more than one rock star.

So How Do I Get My Message Out There?

Well I’m glad you asked! There are lots of ways to spread the word about your business, many of which are free. They just take some work on your part. 

Spread the News. Spread it Wide!

If you’re just starting out, or if you don’t have a huge follower base, don’t despair. Everyone has to start somewhere. 

My first recommendation – tell everyone that will listen what you’re doing. Like the twins in the Discover Card commercial say, “It’s cash back match people. I’m gonna spread the news.” “Spread it wide.”

Seems silly, but it’s effective. Let people know what you’re up to. You never know when you might stumble on a potential client, or someone who can help to boost your message. Don’t be bashful.  Talk it up!

Be Social

Social media channels like Facebook and Instagram are also a free and easy way to promote yourself or your business.  Use those channels to direct followers back to your website or blog.

Ask friends and relatives to like your page and to subscribe to your posts; and ask them to share in their channels. Again, don’t be shy. It’s ok to do this; the worst they can say is no, right?  (Well let’s hope so at least!)

Focus on building community and engagement with your followers. Build your tribe!

Post Content Regularly

Once you start rolling with followers and subscribers, then you need to feed them. Deliver meaningful content that’s of benefit to your readers. Build trust with your readers and keep them coming back for more.

Yes I know it seems like a lot to keep up with, but if you’re going to grow this thing, it needs nurturing. And again, it doesn’t cost you anything.

What to post about? Well, here are a couple of thoughts:

• What questions do you find yourself being asked?
• What topics regularly come up in conversation with people?
• What do people want your advice on?

Open it up to discussion. Get feedback. Adjust the message if you need to. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Did you hear me? It doesn’t have to be perfect, just start!

Networking

It’s not all about you. Wait, what? 

How many of your friends are also business owners? Chances are, quite a few. And I bet they’re also working to grow their businesses, just like you are, so help them out. When they post about their business or brand, like and share it with your friends and followers. Chances are they’ll do the same for you.

Support each other’s endeavors. Talk with them about what they’re doing and what’s working or not working for them. Share ideas. Maybe even come up with some kind of joint marketing plan.  Think outside the box!  Again, it costs nothing to do this. Teamwork makes the dream work, right? 

Be You

As I wrote in the beginning, no one else is you. No one can deliver your message the way you can. Make sure your message is genuine and authentic. Build trust with your followers. Develop relationships. Nurture them.

People tend to do business with people they know and like, and who they trust. And when others see that their friends trust you, it’s an added vote of confidence in your favor. (I don’t have to remind you of the power of referrals.)

So that’s it for my morning thoughts on promoting your business. It’s not about perfection. Just make progress. In other words, JUST START and adjust as you go. And above all, be your authentic self. No one else has that market cornered but you rock star!

Best,

Laura
aka West Coast Cyber Chick