Small business marketing ideas for the shoestring bourgeoisie.
Display artwork for sale from local artists. In doing so, you support the local artist community, gain word-of-mouth through the artists, and bring more interest to your walls. This can be done by writing up an offer and presenting it to a local art gallery. You may want to bring focus to the display either by centering on a specific artist or by having the showing coincide with a particular (and appropriate) event.
Donate your products or services to a charity auction. In doing so, you add value to the fundraiser while promoting yourself. Furthermore, the fact you’re willing to offer your time for a good cause can only help your own cause, and you just might be helping someone who wouldn’t have been able to afford your services otherwise.
Tip: Get started by contacting your local radio stations, libraries, or newspapers. You might also do a search online for charity auctions in your area.
Volunteer for a local nonprofit group or charity. Maybe you have something to offer by volunteering on an advisory board. Maybe you want to climb into the trenches and help on the front lines. Whatever direction you choose, be sure your efforts are a reflection of the values you hold close to your heart. The cause you support must inspire you on a deep, personal level. Otherwise, you will tire quickly and may end up abandoning the effort before you’ve even begun—and that is not the way to build a reputation for quality and service.
A great way to gain exposure and provide entertainment is to provide public tours of your facility. This is especially powerful for agriculture, arts and history, manufacturing; essentially, any place where something is grown, created or built. Try not to schedule such an event around any deadlines or busy periods you might have. Take your time with the tour to ensure your captive audience remains engaged and make sure to tailor your presentation to your audience. A class of first-graders may be more interested in learning how apple cider is made than watching giant steel presses shape red-hot bars into orthopedic implements.
Or, then again, maybe not..
If you are aware of an annual conference in your industry, offer to be a panelist. If it’s too late for this year’s conference, contact the event coordinators and voice your interest in attending next year’s conference. Anytime you’re able to present valuable ideas on your topic of specialty, you bring value to the effort of marketing yourself as an authority.
Tip: Nervous speaking in front of groups? Join Toastmasters to sharpen your public-speaking skills.
Teach a class at your local community college. For as little as one or two nights a week, take a few hours and guide a class through the curriculum of your specialty. Students want real-world information from someone who is spending most of his time in the trenches. Bring your successes and failures to them. Let them learn from your experience—and place another feather in your marketing cap while you’re doing it.
Be one of the speakers at your local high school on Career Day. This gets you practice in front of what could be a tough group. (If you can keep their attention and inspire them, you can approach any audience.) Be sure to research the school first. Have they won any big games lately? What sport season are they in? What are the students focused on? What are their challenges? How can you make your own story something they can relate to?
Remember: Your audience isn’t limited to the students; it includes their parents and the school faculty.
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