The past two blogs I wrote about the need for businesses to make some kind of advertising effort in order to compete and reinforce their brand.
I also laid out a short outline of how businesses should go about preparing for an advertising campaign. (To read these please visit our website.)
Today I’d like to mention a few inexpensive ways that companies might begin their advertising efforts. Of course, I suggest that these should be carefully thought out before jumping in, with regard to strategy, target audience, etc. (Read our blog, “Get Ready to Advertise!”)
1) The first of these inexpensive approaches is a PRESS RELEASE. Many CEOs don’t realize the value of a simple press release. It’s a low-cost opportunity to get your company noticed, to get in print publications like newspapers and trade magazines, and also online publications. Even your local Chamber of Commerce may publish your news.
If you have a new hire, a special achievement or award, a new product, a new location, anything newsworthy is an opportunity to get the word out. I suggest that the release should be professionally written for the best impact. There are press distribution companies that will handle distribution to online and print publications that are specific to your demographic. Both the writing and the distribution are relatively inexpensive.
2) Another low-cost approach is BLOGGING via WordPress and SOCIAL MEDIA like LinkedIn, Facebook, and others. These are free for the user, although we suggest using a professional for the writing and posting. It’s a way for your company to offer helpful advice, education, and topics of interest to your customers and potential customers—they shouldn’t be “sell” pieces. It is a way for you to portray yourself as knowledgeable and helpful, an industry leader or guru, so to speak. In this way you get people to like and respect you and, indirectly, to be more apt to do business with you.
Importantly, blogging and social media should be done on an ongoing basis to reinforce your brand. Your followers will be waiting to read your next interesting installment.
3) EMAIL BLASTS are a great way to get the word out about a new promotion, special offer, or other company news. Using a program like Constant Contact or MailChimp, you build a database of customers and prospects from whom you have permission to contact. You or a skilled professional write up the email—you can even include a coupon!—and send it to the database you’ve created.
4) The last means I’d like to mention is PERSONAL CONTACT and NETWORKING—the good, old-fashioned face to face. Join your local chamber and go to their events. Most have tables where you can display your company brochure. It’s a great way to reinforce your brand so that when a potential customer needs your product or service they won’t hesitate because they already know and respect you.
All of these methods will help to get visitors to your website to find out more about you, or callers to your business to place an order. Why don’t you start today?
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful in starting your advertising efforts. Keep an eye out for our next blog.
Founded in 1992, Advertising That Works is a full-service advertising agency offering print advertising, direct mail, web content/design, search engine optimization (SEO), blogs, email marketing, social media, public relations, strategic planning, media research, budget planning, and media buying.
We get results for our clients because of our extensive research of the client company and research of their target audience, an advertising strategy based on this research, and killer creative that speaks to prospects in a language they understand and that delivers a consistent message and call to action.
Advertising That Works would like to help you grow your business. Contact us for a FREE consultation.