Advertising Ideas for a Small Business
- Begin your advertising plan by deciding how much you can spend on advertising your business. Create an attractive website for your small business. If you are not computer savvy, there are many web hosting companies, such as, Yahoo and GoDaddy, that offer websites at affordable prices and include website builders. The site builder will build the web page for you using a template.
After you have chosen a website, banner ads are a good way to advertise your business. These ads display in web pages that you choose in form of a banner. Users can click on the banner and be directed to your website. Place your banner ads on websites that attract the type of audience you are trying to reach. For example, if you are selling products that cater to women, search websites that women frequent and place your ads there. - Advertising using email lists can build your customer database. Companies such as Infousa sell customer lists that small businesses can use in their advertising. These lists are made up of customers that are interested in particular products. In using email advertising, be sure you contact customers who have expressed interest in the type of product that you are selling. You do not want to spam customers. Be sure to give them an option at the end of your email to unsubscribe from your emails.
- Offer coupons and promotional specials to attract customers to your small business. Everyone loves to get something for free. You can offer promotions that include a buy one, get one free item. You can also offer coupons that offer a discount on your products or to get the customer to return, you can offer them something free on their next purchase.
- Be sure to list your business in the local yellow pages and newspaper. You can even place a coupon in the paper. In addition to a newspaper listing, you can use the direct mail approach and send customers a post card inviting them to try your services. InfoUSA also sells mailing lists of customers that you can use. Color brochures detailing your services can attract customers and give them a visual of your company as well.