Most effective ways to get local businesses ?

Question

How to get businesses for a new small startup IT company other than cold calling or direct selling ?

We do not have much money to do mass advertising. Please share your ideas how to market your business locally and create brand awareness without spending too much money.

Thank you

Answer 1

Advertise on Craigslist.org for free. Almost every city has a local site.
Many newspapers offer free ads for things under $500. Another thing you can do that is cheap is to find out what local competitors are charging, make a pricelist that beats those prices and fax it to every company in the area that uses your type of business.

Answer 2

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Small area advertisement would be the best way. Here we have the Pennysaver which everyone gets delivered to their home and reads for just such a company. Unfortunately, word of mouth and honesty are the best ways to get customers. Perhaps have some kind of diagnostic thing in your area and draw folks in. Then, if the problem is really easy to fix, fix it for free. It will make a lasting impression on the person who's computer you fixed and they will be your customer for life. That is how I got my mechanic. Good luck!!

Answer 4

backyard indications - verify which contain your city and determine any regulations. Does your chum do slightly using for his enterprise? if so, i could easily look into getting some custom motor vehicle magnets... they are affordable and persons observe them using by making use of. It additionally relies upon on what products or services your chum is offering yet coasters along with his form and touch advice are constantly great to place out if he can get some help from some community golf equipment or eating places. desire this helps.

Answer 5

I don't know where you are from but if you have www.craigslist.com go there.you can run a listing for free.Make your own fl-yer and enlist the help of family and friends to hand them out and put on cars.Offer pizza and cold drinks after.That will go a long way.Also you could try going to www.vistaprints.com.They have postcards you can have made up and their prices are low.Good Luck

Answer 6

You can always take out a small biz loan to assist you with advertising.

Answer 7

well when i stared my business i did mass mailings for about 200 a mailing and that was about 500 pieces.
it worked for me
or just create fliers on your computer and pass them out yourself

good luck