Pink Think: “In marketing you must choose between boredom, shouting and seduction. Which do you want?” – Roy H. Williams
A friend recently launched a business and told me that she dreaded marketing her products. I told her I was surprised, because when she told me about her business idea, she seemed on fire. “It’s expensive,” was her reply.
I told her it didn’t have to be expensive. I’ve been involved in several fundraisers over the years that have always made a healthy profit on a shoestring budget. It’s possible to create money and excitement for just a little investment.
Whether you are a writer with a column idea, a book, or a businessperson, here are some surefire ways to market yourself and your product for free or nearly-free:
1. Get your product/book launch in the paper. Newspapers are always looking for a feel-good story, especially in their own backyard. Contact the editor (their email address should be on the website), summarize what your news is all about, and ask if they are interested. More often than not, they will have someone follow up with you.
2. Email your friends and family sparingly. You don’t want to be spammed and neither do your friends. Just something short and sweet about your product, and links in your signature line. But don’t NOT e-mail thinking your friends and family don’t want to hear your good news. They should be the first to know and rooting for you. But if they don’t know about it, they can’t.
3. Share your idea on Facebook. Post a photo summing up what your business is all about, and put out an invitation to act. Make an event page and invite people. Be sure to point out why your product is beneficial to THEM.
4. Put out a display in a business which has the same audience you hope to attract. The display itself sells, not just the product. Make sure your display is professional, eye-catching, and upbeat. You only have one chance to sell your image – the first time!
5. Guest post on a blog which has an audience you hope to attract.
6. Offer to write a column in your local paper on your expertise. If the column helps the paper’s readers, they will be more motivated to sign you up. Write a few sample columns, so you know you have the chops to do this, and so they can see the type of writing you do.
7. Write an op-ed. Worried about offending anyone? If you offend someone, congratulations. No one wants to read a boring op-ed, you know, the ones that don’t take a stand and just straddle the fence. Be opinionated and share it with the world so long as you write honestly, aren’t libelous, and back up your facts. And make sure you put your website address on the bio at the end.
8. Teach a workshop and share your idea. Helping others make their lives better ALWAYS translates to good karma…and sales.
There isn’t ONE sure way to get yourself noticed. But if you apply SEVERAL techniques, your message will resonate with others and convert them into your buyers.
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