How to market your business on the cheap

1. Embrace Web 2.0

Social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn are all the rage and are being used by businesses to promote their products and services. A group on Facebook, for example, allows you to network with people looking for the very sort of thing your business is offering. Use it to promote your offerings and keep people up to date on the latest content on your website. You could also consider posting promotional videos on sites such as YouTube.

2. Blog your business

Outdated content can be a real turn-off to site visitors, so ensuring it remains fresh is vitally important. Blogging allows you to do that. As well as writing specifically about what your company is up to, you can also offer your opinion on subjects affecting your sector, your customers or events in the news. Free blogging software such as Wordpress, which can be incorporated into your website, is available online.

3. Network yourself silly

There are endless networking opportunities both online and offline. Services like the FPB's forum allow small business owners to network with other entrepreneurs. As well as promoting your firm, you can also use forums to actually do business. Make sure you have something worthwhile to say though, as spamming will do you no favours.

Similarly, there are a host of offline networking meetings available. Run by several organisations including business groups and trade associations, the events allow you to network face-to-face with other business owners. Make sure you take along business cards and if possible prepare what you're going to tell people in advance.

4. Win! Win! Win!

People love free stuff so why not run regular competitions? Organising contests relevant to big sporting events or specific times of the year such as Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day is a good way of promoting your company and making people think favourably about it.

5. The customer is always right

It may be obvious, but ensuring you offer good customer or client service is essential to building business success. Answering calls and emails quickly or at least having a useful answer phone message is key. In these days of online forums and social networking websites, negative comments about your business can spread like wildfire so it's vital you stay on top of it.

6. Share your expertise

There are always thousands of events which need speakers, and publications which need content, so why not offer your expertise? Seek out events and exhibitions focusing on your sector and contact the organisers about being a speaker. Similarly, publications – particularly local ones – will generally be happy to consider articles. Find out the names of local journalists on the publication's website and get in touch. And if you are particularly knowledgeable sign up to media contact agencies which put journalists in touch with experts in particular fields.

7. A sporting chance

You may not have the resources of AIG to spend on sponsoring the likes of Manchester United but you are likely to be able to afford sponsoring a local sports team. Backing an amateur or school football squad for instance and getting your company logo on the players' shirts can be a cheap and effective way of raising your profile. And you never know, the team may end up doing a Havant and Waterlooville and end up playing at Anfield.

8. Become a campaigner

If there's something that the government is or isn't doing that is really winding you up, then start a petition. Setting up petitions on the Downing Street website is an easy and effective way of promoting your business. During the recent controversy over the government's capital gains tax reforms for example, Duncan Cheatle of networking group The Supper Club started a petition which attracted more than 18,000 signatures. As a result, he was quoted in several media articles.

9. Testimonials

If you've got lots of happy customers, shout about it! Get them to give you a quote saying why they liked your product or service and put it on your website or promotional literature. Also considering fuller case studies which new customers can read to find out how great your company is. Whatever you do though, don't make up testimonials. You will get found out!

10. Poll-tastic

With the plethora of news pages both online and offline, journalists are always looking for stories, so carry out some research and send out a press release. Online tools such as Survey Monkey allow you to gather survey data while forums allow paid-up members to carry out online polls. When you've got some data, put together a well-written press release that has a story to tell. You could consider taking on the services of a PR company to help you but it is very possible to do it yourself. If you're happy to spend a bit of time searching for the email addresses of journalists from particular publications it can bring big benefits.
Taken From (http://www.fpb.org/hottips/223/How_to_market_your_business_on_the_cheap.htm)