shoestring business advertising?

Question

I am not anything near an official business.

No insurance. No bonding. Not incorporated.
Not fully experienced in any trade.

I assemble pre-fab furniture, hang shelves (wall mount), pictures, mirrors, plasma screens, do general repairs, and on rare occasion paint.

So far I have not been paying to advertise and I want to make a move away from doing only residential jobs and towards doing work for business and government clients.

Good ideas for where to start advertising with less than or near a $100.00 per month?

Answer 1

Newspaper is always good... I do advertising in there once a month and it always makes me a profit. Costs $53

Answer 2

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

I will tell you what i have done, i have 2 business's , i made postcards on the internet, for my business and advertised it on the postcard, and then got into a yellowbook or phone book and sent it to everyone in there. I know u think well thats not going to work, but you will be surprised @ how many people do respond to your postcard . Just keep track of everyone you have already sent it to, and do surrounding areas. Then another thing i did , was called alot of business and got their fax number, i made a flyer & faxed it to everyone within a 60 mile radus. i have been self employed , by word of mouth now, at first it was the cards & flyers, and i make a really good living w/my business and its not much expense if you do it ur self. What ever ur selling or can do, if its a good product or u do quality work. Ur advertising by word of mouth by clients will make ur business grow... trust me it works!!!! good luck

Answer 4

Be careful about working without a license, insurance or corporation. Without these things your personal assets can be held liable for anything that may happen in your customer's home.

This being said, many publications will not allow you to advertise without your license # because it is illegal in many states to not have it on your publications.

I would try grassroots marketing like putting flyers around the neighborhood or going to local networking groups. I would also speak with local companies who might be interested in outsourcing your skills under their license and insurance.

Answer 5

We live in a visual-rich society. Before we even began to understand text and reading at a young age, our exposure to TV and other visual media begins it’s imprinting our brains. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth ten thousand more.

Answer 6

If you are planning on working for businesses and gov't clients, then you MUST have a business license and insurance. Then you worry about advertising.

Answer 7

yellowpages is good for unusual jobs.

also try outdoor posters near the places that need you (walmart? home depot?)

Answer 8

Post free and get big results. http://www.craigslist.org