We at B&J love sharing bookkeeping tips for your business and family. Those of you on a tight budget know that it can pay big to scrimp and save. We’ve come up with these money saving ideas to boost your business’s visibility with inexpensive ways to draw in customers. The value of your hard-earned dollars is sure to go farther with these 7 ways to promote your business on the cheap.
1. On Your Own Materials
Have a new promotion or service? Use your own materials to advertise it. Include a call out box in your correspondence such as invoices, mailings, receipts, business cards, etc. The practice saves postage, as well as targets those who already use your goods or services. You can also make the most of your point-of-purchase locations by laying out coupons, newsletters, and other promotional fliers.
2. Hit the Streets
They say there is a Starbucks on every corner. Put it to the test by going to your own nearest Starbucks location or three to hang up promotional materials. The same goes for local cafes or other spots where potential customers might gather. Have a customer who knows the area well? Ask them where to go to put out your advertising materials. The cost is merely that of the materials themselves.
3. Blog it Up
You know your business better than anyone. If you have a website, you have the capacity to blog. The practice shouldn’t be shoved off your to-do list simply because everyone is doing it whether they know their stuff or not. Blogging enables your business to stand out by addressing common concerns right from your site. Best of all, readers who need answers to the problem may end up going with you due to your authoritative voice on the matter.
Google also takes notice of sites that update regularly over those who do not, making this another added benefit of blogging. The cost is simply your time, which adds up to about an hour or two per blog post.
4. Offer Yourself as an Expert
Chances are news is going to be made in your industry. For example, if a news report is done on dishonest mechanics, call up the news station if you are mechanic. Offer to give counterpoints on the bad practices, as well as what to look for in a mechanic. Make yourself available to local tv stations, newspapers, authoritative websites, and any other outlet. It may not pay off right away, but just one tv appearance can give you great visibility at no charge.
Need more expert opportunities? Consider speaking at a community meeting, teaching a class, or writing an article for a local paper. The practices not only solidifies you as an expert but garners a lot of attention for your business.
5. Join a Forum
No matter what your business, there are several forums out there your customers frequent to get answers to their questions. Join a few of these as an expert to get your name out there. This is especially useful if you offer goods or services across the nation, which will allow for just about anyone on the forum to hire you. Even those who sell goods locally can find a few new customers under the right circumstances.
6. Send a Newsletter
You probably already have the email addresses of your clients. Use them to send out newsletters promoting your business, advertising new deals, etc. The only cost is your time. You may need a paid service once you get past a certain number of subscribers- which is actually a good thing. However, most can get away with utilizing a free tool like Constant Contact.
7. Encourage Reviews
Nothing makes an impact quite like the reviews of your actual customers. Don’t be afraid to ask them to leave a review for you on Google, Yelp, etc. This tip is especially handy right after you wrap up a successful transaction with them. Tell them you enjoyed doing business with them and would appreciate it if they would take a moment to give you a review.
Bookkeeping Services in Houston
These tips are not only great for your bottom line, they are also good for the ecosystem. If your business needs help with books in order to maintain a healthy environment, contact us.