Small Business Owner Needs Advice on Free or Low Cost Advertising Methods (sales, organization)

[RLA89]

Hello everyone, I just ran across this site and just joined. This site seems to be very popular.

I just started a small home based business and don't have a lot of money for marketing and advertising. I am having a hard time getting new clients for my business and I am wondering if anyone has advice on free or low cost methods to attract new clients. I would love to quit my "regular" job and do my business full time if only I could find a reliable way to find customers without spending a lot of money. Thank you for any information you can provide.

By the way, I provide a consultation service for individuals or investors interested in starting a franchise business.

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by Franchise Referrals

Hello everyone, I just ran across this site and just joined. This site seems to be very popular.

I just started a small home based business and don't have a lot of money for marketing and advertising. I am having a hard time getting new clients for my business and I am wondering if anyone has advice on free or low cost methods to attract new clients. I would love to quit my "regular" job and do my business full time if only I could find a reliable way to find customers without spending a lot of money. Thank you for any information you can provide.

By the way, I provide a consultation service for individuals or investors interested in starting a franchise business.

What's the business or industry? That has a whle lot to do with the suggestions. If it's an online business that sells stuff maybe niche forums, link exchanges, banner exchanges, if its a service you do locally then it would be more like door hangers, networking with other business owners and doing some type of deal or advertising exchange.

If you give some more info myself nad I'm sure others could be more helpful, I love guerilla marketing whch btw pick up a book at the library about guerilla marketing.

[StealthRabbit]

Regional consultants for Franchise Opportunities - Buy a Franchise - Business Franchise - Business Opportunities - Franchise Opportunity - Start a Business - FranNet - FranNet Franchise Business Opportunity Consultants - Local Franchise Business Consulting Experts frequent our area and do free meetings at public places and try to attend SCORE, Chamber, Business luncheons with speaking gigs.

They also offer free classes to business groups. (Hint: most of your successful clients will be outsourced or disenchanted business managers from large companies) Get into THEIR network !

[ajsmith365]

Originally Posted by Franchise Referrals

By the way, I provide a consultation service for individuals or investors interested in starting a franchise business.

You have a few, effective and low-cost, options:

(1) Establish relationships with franchisees whenever and wherever possible. Prospective franchisees are encouraged by the corporate office to contact individual franchise owners for research and statistics on the franchising experience. Maybe franchisees can refer calls to you for extensive consultation. And, like minds tend to travel in the same circles; thus, franchisees may know other franchisees. Moreover, franchisees may need help in expanding or maintaining their operations.

(2) Attend franchising expos and market yourself (getting a booth may be too expensive and might not be cost effective). Alternatively, attend business seminars - these pyramid type businesses have them all the time in hotels - and sell people on the franchising model.

(3) Start a blog

(4) Advertise on places like craigslist

(5) search for forums on the Internet and give out just enough advice that shows people your competency in the matter and to draw people in to your services without selling the farm.

These are just my two cents on the matter.

[killer2021]

consultation service for individuals or investors interested in starting a franchise business.

Hmm, here is what I would do. First, focus on building a super solid, professional looking website. Image tells alot and most people judge a business by its image. If your website looks like crap, you'll lose clients every quickly. If your site looks professional, people will automatically boost your reputation score. Use a content management system like joomla and buy a good looking template for it. Make a nice logo etc.

Your next step is to make yourself appear to be an, "expert" in the field. Join relevant trade organizations and put that you are a member of these organizations. Most will probably be easy to join and like I said, most people judge a book by its cover. If you say you are a member of these organizations people will boost your, "expert score." Even if they've never heard of the organization. Another method to use is to write a book. Since you don't have many clients now, definitely write a book related to franchises. Once people walk into your office and see YOUR book on the shelf it will boost your expert score BIG TIME. Its also easier than ever to get a book published these days with kindle, nook etc.

Now assuming you've done the above two things (good looking website + appear to be an expert in the industry) then its time to get out there and start marketing. For your website, you have to learn SEO, no way around it. Do some research on SEO methods and start getting your rank boosted in google. Perhaps start writing a blog to build links to your main site and help promote your book. As well as boost your expert score. Craigslist and relevant communities related around franchising will be a good place to hang around. Same story of local franchising events. You have to do research on this.

[RLA89]

Sorry for the late reply. Had some user name issues. Anyway, thanks so much for all the replies. These are all great ideas. Ran across a free site for posting "selling business" ads and found a forum for people looking to start businesses. Posted an ad on Craigslist but getting a lot of spammers. Also trying to network, network, network. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again.

[samston]

For a small/medium enterprise, I'd recommend local print media, websites, or even trade magazines/websites. As an example, igf one owns, say, a plumbing business then advertising on a plumbers' trade association site could be beneficial. Most trade/professional organisations have avenues for adverts. Facebook/Twitter is also an option. Some people baulk at this, but look at it this way. Millions use Facebook everyday. That alone means that millions can potentially see an advert. The whole point, and major advantage, of advertising is that it is the most cost effective means to reach a mass audience. Coca-Cola or Pepsi don't use personal sales people to promote their products, it obviously wouldn't make sense.

[justahobby0]

FACEBOOK! FACEBOOK! and did I mention FACEBOOK! Very inexpensive per click advertising which you can limit per day, per week or per month spending to cap your ad costs. Also with key word and interest based orientation only the people that have interest in your products and/or services will even see the ad.
This was best performing for me. Goodluck!

[skatersollie]

I'd rather go with drupal than joomla..especially if you don't know what your doing...and i think drupal is more stable than joomla..and i would think it depends on what type of business your doing..Really though u need to advertise on google though..no way to make a good presence without it..Very Pricy though..doesn't make sense if your not selling high ticket items with good mark up...because keywords can be very expensive

[devgoswami075]

Don't be shy about letting your friends, relatives, neighbors, the guy who mows your lawn, your Avon Lady, and every one else know about your new desktop publishing business. Give them your card and/or brochure. Explain what you do. Give them extra cards and ask them to pass them around to people they know. You might find new clients among old friends.