There is so much to do and so little time. If that’s true in your world, here’s a list of 10 things you can do to promote your business.
- networks. Tell anyone and everyone what you are doing. Tell your relatives because they love to “talk” about their family members who are doing something on their own. Let your former coworkers and bosses know in case they ever need your services. Become a walking, talking billboard for your business.
- url. Make your website URL like your middle name. When you’re on a call and asked to introduce yourself, give your name and your website address. Do the same at business meetings or functions. Make it part of your “advertisement” about yourself.
- Press release. Formally announce what you are doing through a press release. Send it to local online media or anywhere else you think the information might be valuable. For example, if you’re offering a local service that caters to consumers shopping for groceries, place it on any free billboards they offer.
- write articles. Share your knowledge. It is the best way to show others what you know and what you know how to do. And, if you’re reading this, then you know that EzineArticles is a good example of where you could place these articles. Research article submission sites and post those articles.
- I have a blog? If not, then you should. They’re easy to create, easy to manage, and as long as you update them often, they help spread your message. For each entry, be sure to use the keywords that you associate with your business throughout the article.
- Spread the Ezine. Here is another deliverable to offer. Yes – you must have an email list to do this, but you’ll build it as you go. At the very least create a sample ezine that you can show to other people who might ask.
- cheep. There’s a TV commercial that says only 26% of people who watch the commercial know about tweeting (or Twitter.com). You better not be part of that 26%. You have to connect and start sharing what you do with others. If you’re not sure how to tweet, Felicia Slattery (www.communicationtransformation.com) offers the best program I’ve found on this topic.
- merge forces. Bartering is very important now and there are probably plenty of people you can find who are willing to promote your business and theirs. Find these people, just ask them if you can do a few things together and go from there. There was a commercial in the ’70s (I think I watch too much TV) for a hair product that coined a phrase about “tell a friend and she’ll tell a friend and so on.” That is 100% true. It’s strange how someone can remember what you do in the middle of a conversation with another person.
- rewards. Let people know that if they send you business, they will get something in return. Think of something that doesn’t cost you money: for example, a free month’s membership in your program, or a small discount based on the amount of business you receive from the referral. Turn everyone in the world into your little sales force. (In the online world, these people are called “affiliates.”)
- Advertisements. Similar to a press release, send out announcements about what you’re doing to people who don’t have email or live outside the area you can’t see face to face. Remember: everyone knows someone who lives somewhere else, so that friend from college who lives 3,000 miles away may have a friend who lives in their immediate area.
As a solo professional, your number 1 job is to promote yourself and what you do. Each contact is a lead or knows a lead. So honk your own horn, loud and often.