Image by: 401(k) 2012
Often the main thing that is holding your fledgling new business back is simply the fact that next to no one knows who you are or what you do. So how do you get yourself out into the market place and grab people’s attention when there is a distinct lack of capital?
While you won’t be able to compete with the marketing departments of the international business goliaths that currently stomp and trample their way around the globe, there are a number of ways with which you can carve yourself out a little niche.
Just remember that the fact you can’t just chuck money at some guys in suits with a whiteboard doesn’t mean that you can’t get a little inventive. Creativity is free after all…
Create a Company Myth
Firstly you are going to have to come up with the central idea that will form the basis of how you operate and how you present yourself as a company. If it is a family owned business for example then maintaining and rejuvenating tradition would be a good one.
Get Yourself a Website
People don’t really go outside anymore so you are going to have to make sure that they can find you by scouring the internet. You will be able to get a decent looking website for pretty cheap, or you can just use a free content management system like WordPress.
Get Yourself a Social Media Presence
Social media is free and a potentially great way to network with both customers and businesses. The key here is not sales but useful and informative content that users will find useful, amusing or amazing. If you run a bike shop for example, you could post videos in how to mend punctured tyres and lists of the best cycle paths in the country.
Give Stuff Away For Free
The best way of letting people know how good you and your products are is letting them experience them first hand. You can do this at trade shows but it could be really successful if you hold a competition on Facebook and stipulate that the giveaway only becomes active after a certain number of likes has been reached (thereby encouraging people to share the page).
Make Arrangements With Other Companies
This can work in a number of ways. If you own a paper mill you could make a deal whereby you recommend a certain ink cartridge supplier and they in turn recommend you to their customers. Otherwise you could split the cost of advertising space with another company or run joint promotions.
Reward Referrals
Create schemes that reward returning customers, such as savings or free stuff. Everybody likes free stuff.
If you follow these golden rules then soon enough you will have made enough money to approach a TV commercials company, get some celebrities on board and begin making your millions. They will have you on TV as a “budding entrepreneur” in no time at all.
Please share any other tips you have for getting recognised when your business is young and poor.
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- License: Creative Commons image source
Gavin Harveyis a fitness freak who caught the travelling bug hard in his early twenties. Always somewhat of a free spirit, Gavin now spends his days blogging for companies like Space City and watching classic films with his partner.