What is the best way to promote small businesses?

Answer 1

I took a course before starting my small business and one of the best ways they recommended is word of mouth. Always carry business cards and make sure to give them out - give out more than one at a time so people can hand them out to others, as well. Go to events where you might find people interested in your business, but also take cards to church, to school events if you have kids, to any activities you belong to (Legion, Fitness Club, Book Club etc.)

In my business I have found that flyers posted at grocery stores and other places where people wait for taxis has generated good business - I operate a pet grooming service that includes pick up and delivery, so I thought about where people without transportation might be waiting. We cannot post ads in bus shelters here or I would do that too! I also posted flyers and cards at apartment complexes that cater to older or handicapped tenants, and have gotten huge response.

My friend Cheryl swears by the lettering she had put on her car, to promote her motorcycle shop.

An ad in the Yellow Pages is very important - then, if people have heard of you, they can look you up.

Promotional items like magnets, pens, keychains are good too. These are surprisingly low cost!

If you tell me what yr business is I will try to come up with more. my email is [e-mail]. Good luck!

Answer 2

Get a website. Put the address on your business cards, lettehead, print ads, and anything else your company gives away. Put it in your email signatures. Make sure to submit it to search engines (or have your web designer do it). Respond to discussion board postings in a helpful way and make sure your company's web address is in your signature. If you have a small service area, it might also make sense to put an ad in the local paper or even to rent a billboard. Sponsoring an event is a good idea too, depending on what type of business you have.

Answer 3

It depends entirely on what your business is, how you are marketing your product, and who your target market is.

For example, if you are selling children's books, it would not make sense to spend money advertising in new car magazines, which don't target parents. You would be much better off advertising at day cares, schools, and stores which sell children's products.

What you need to do is determine a few main things:
1) Who are you trying to sell to?
2) Where can you reach them?
3) What message are you going to use in order to get them to buy your product?
4) What is your budget?

These four questions should provide a good start for you to hone in on your "target market" so that you can get the most out of each advertising dollar that you spend.

Answer 4

Community activies and specific mail outs.
Chamber of Commerce participation
I literally made a copy of the white pages and send out letters to everyone in a three mile radius of the shop.
I had guys flyer cars and gave deep discounts to teachers, cops and city employees.
Best wishes.
You have to always be marketing, you never can stop.
I wore company t-shirts to the YMCA and carried a logo purse to church.

Answer 5

Try www.40Billion.com They specialize in promotion of small businesses very efficiently and @ very low cost.

Answer 6

sell on eBay is a great start also make a web page and pass out business cards with the web address on it

Answer 7

Here are some great articles to help you through the process from Entrepreneur Magazine:

Advertising: http://entrepreneur.com/advertising/index.html

Marketing: http://entrepreneur.com/marketing/index.html

Answer 8

send out emails to people you know and them to others it does not cost you a penny