One primary and common element that new small business are short of when they just begin is cash. Without a significant bank roll to deploy, it can be a daunting and somewhat expensive task to try to promote a new business. Fortunately, there are many avenues available to small businesses that allow them to promote freely.
The big gun search engine Google offers a couple of solutions when it comes to free promotional tools.
The first option is to sign up with Google Local. This handy service is great for web surfers looking for businesses and companies local to them. After entering in the company name, address, phone number and web site, a little patience is required as it takes a few weeks for Google to go through submissions. Generally, this takes about two weeks.
Google coupons is another fantastic way to grab new customers and even keep current customers coming back again and again. The search engine offers a tool that allows you to create and place the coupon on relevant and local searches.
For those offering products, Google has a Merchant Center in place that allows businesses to upload product feeds and make them easier to be found on a product search. If not offering actual products, the alternative is Google Base. It has the same premise except it is geared toward non-product offerings.
Yahoo
Yahoo Local is similar to the Google Local service. Users sign up for free and register their company or business. After a short waiting period for it to be reviewed, business owners can be assured of their services or products being displayed on a map for anyone searching for local businesses.
Another promotional venue on Yahoo is the process of obtaining reviews. Businesses with established and happy customers should request a review on the Yahoo Local site. The more good reviews received, the more the business will be preferentially listed.
Blog Promos
For those businesses either thinking of, or already having established a blog, some great web sites on the Internet will list the blog free of charge. Heavy hitters such as Technorati have massive blog listings and even show ratings by popularity. Just be careful to not get sucked into some of the less than desirable blog listing web sites available. Many of those cater to spam and are not the place for reputable businesses to be listed.
Tell the press
While many press release web sites charge for their services, sites such as openPR, i-Newswire, and PRLeap will submit a business’ press release completely free of charge.
Social Media
With social media becoming more and more popular, companies are quickly discovering their value when it comes to getting the word out about a new service or product. Twitter is one example of reputation building and social media. Companies such as Dell and Starbucks use Twitter heavily to discuss current promotions and specials. The best part? It is completely free as well.
Taking the First Steps to Free Promotion
Promoting a new company or business need not be an expensive proposition. There are plenty of readily available tools and solutions one can find on the Internet that will help get the word out and not cost a single penny.
