Idea's needed for cheap advertising?

Question

I just started my own buisness as a photographer doing photo shoots outside of a studio. I don't have a lot of money since I just bought my new camera and need to advertise around the close areas to my home. I tried papers but they honestly don't have a place for my ad that works and want triple the price because of that one problem. Any wonderful suggetions on advertising would be greatly appreciated. I am limited on money so please think low cost!
Thanks!

Thanks everyone!!
I do have my own website. I pay $19.95 a month for it. I also have my own site on myspace for my buisness. I have posted flyers but no real help with that. I've only had one customer since I started a few months ago. I love the ideas though and appreciate your help. YEAH!!

Answer 1

Starting a new business can be hard, especially when the finances are tight! There are a few approaches you can take, and they are pretty much free:

1.) Craigslist: Go to Craigslist.org and place an ad. I haven't been there in awhile, but I believe that posting is free. They have a Craigslist for most major cities, so the ad will be read by people in your area.

2.) Yelp.com: This is a site that allows people to vote for their favorite restaurants, places, etc. Try posting a review of your services on there.

3.) Get a Website: Since you have no money, sign up for Geocities on Yahoo! and create yourself a nifty little website that you can refer people to with samples of your work.

4.) Try Myspace/Facebook: Do you have a profile? If so, use it to tell your friends and networks about your services. Use the local networks that your in to target your audience.

5.) Business Cards: A business card can be the most important aspect of running your own business. It gives something that people can refer to or give to someone they know who needs your service. Since your on a budget, just do a Google search for "free business cards" and all you pay is shipping and handling!

This is just the beginning... there is plenty of low cost advertising out there. Online advertising is usually the cheapest... but check your local white/yellow pages or weekly flyer you get in the mail.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I know my answer is long, but do finish reading through it....

Look, I do not think that THE MORE you advertise, the more it'll help your business.

This is my proposed strategy:

1. First, you have to build up your portfolio, this the most CRUCIAL part. Because if you do not have a strong portfolio, people would not even bother to look at you.

2. Secondly, since you just started you business, you might want to give FREE photo sessions to small companies. Trust me, this will help in your portfolio and also, people will spread your name if the quality is good. And this is always the best way to promote...

3. Third, DEFINE YOUR TARGET MARKET. E.g. do you do photo shoot for weddings? moments? products? fashion? billboard ad? landscape?events? etc? once you already have your target market then FOCUS to your market.

4. Fourth, DO NOT, and may i repeat again, DO NOT spread flyer's to areas around your home because there is only a 5% chance that you'll get a customer and it is degrading.... honestly speaking.

5. Fifth, once you have decided on your target market
e.g.
1. wedding, you might want to send your portfolio to wedding organizers that is in your town.

2. Products/ fashion, you might want to sent your portfolio to advertising agencies/ graphic house in your town.

Let these agencies do the marketing for you, but again, you have to have a strong portfolio.

If you do all of the above, you can start up your business pretty smoothly.

And also, I think I deserve to get the best answer for answering your question.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Contact business universities in the area. You must be professional when presenting your ideas to professors. I took an advertising course at UIC where new businesses were having trouble marketing their company. Professors bring these people in and give thema handful of students to come up with marketing ideas and set up everything for you...Brochures, flyers, campaigns, interviews, etc.

Also, since you are on a limited budget...you can tell them how mcuh you can spend. Our group had a limit of 500 and we were able to do so much through networking, and finding sponsors.

Answer 4

I am not sure where you are located but here is a list of sites where you can advertise in your area ( both in the US & Canada) for free.
www.kijiji.com
www.craigslist.com

try advertising on facebook in the market place. I own a small business and have found my name has reached a wider community by advertising there as well.
www.vistaprint.com here you will have to option to get free business cards, all you do is pay for shipping. once you have placed your first oder you will receive promotional e-mails and you can get things like postcards for free ( shipping extra of course) however that is an awesome way to advertise to locals. Drop them in the mail or hand deliver them if that is an option for you.
Also if you have programs such as Publisher, you can create your own flyers, brochures, etc and post them in grocers, variety stores, the library, etc. Another good way to advertise - word of mouth! If you can, put together a portfolio of work you have done. Do free work for family and friends to get you started. it may cost a few $ but will be worth it in the end.
As for websites - yes i think you should create one. Its not hard with all the programs out there to do it. As for the free ones - they are full of ads and very un-professional looking. If you want to create your own add free site, try using www.hostinginsiders.com as your hosting company. they provide you with your own domain name example- www.yournamegoeshere.com- and will host the site for cheap i pay 2.95/month and am billed annually. it is more than i need for my small business and you have the option to upgrade to a bigger package as you grow. I hope this helps.
Good luck.

Answer 5

I suggest making not just one, but several specialized flyers and distributing them in some strategic places.

for example you can make
Sports and Action Photography: For example, local sporting events at elementary or high schools. Maybe the parents would love some great shots of their kids on the field?

Party and Event Photography: Same with proms or kid's birthday parties.

Distribute flyers at local attractions like the zoo or amusement part, or perhaps you can make an arrangement with the management to be 'official' on-site photographer?

Pet Portrait Photography: Maybe you can leave flyers in the local pet stores - people who love their pets might want a nice professional portrait of them and furry babies.

Architecture and Scenic Photography: leave flyers on local homes and business offering your services to immortalize their buildings

Lots of things you can do on a shoestring! best of luck to you!

Answer 6

Colleges and universities have various departments: fine arts, music, computer science, communications... and each of these are filled with hopeful future graduates who NEED to build real-world experience into their portfolio/resumes at once.

You have needs :logo/art work, brochure or card design, web design and PHP nuke programming, theme song composition (fun fun) and possibly editing/voice-overs (thinking down the road). All of these needs can be addressed for little or no money by contacting the department chair and openly discussing how to blend your company needs with offering real-world experience to the students.
Be Blessed!

Answer 7

Go to your local school transportation dept. and ask the supervisor if the drivers are willing to hand out fliers to the students as they get off the school bus that you have printed.

I am a school transportation dispatcher and we get fliers to hand out all the time. Most drivers have no problem doing this.

Another idea is to go to each school and see if they can post your flyer in their weekly or monthly news letter that goes home with all the students. Good luck.

Answer 8

Create a business card with an eye catching but not-too-busy photo on it. It gives your info., and a taste of your work.
It worked for my friend.
Good luck!

Answer 9

Print out flyers and leave about 20 on the front desk of every store that will let you.