Five Free Ways to Market Your Biz

Trying to market your biz on a budget? Here are some ideas to help!

**Yahoo groups - Simply go to www.groups.yahoo.com and search for groups that interest you or that have to do with your biz. (Health, food, etc.) (Join the group and build relationships - don't spam the group!) Have something in your email siggy that tells that you work from home. Be sure to obey the rules of the group. You can also create your own group and make your own rules!

**Craigslist - Don't just spam Craigslist with your biz info! Create a Yahoo group (see #1) and then promote the group on Craigslist. Want an example? I created a group on Yahoo for women who are looking for a legitimate home business. I promote the group on Craigslist and started getting leads immediately asking for more info. If you sell non-toxic cleaning products, you could start a group for "Green Moms" or something similar. Gourmet food company? Start a group for "Quick cooking ideas." You get the point.

**Local online community bulletin boards - Again, don't spam the board with your biz opp! Follow the board rules. Find these boards with a Google search. Post your biz opp in the correct place and you can also promote your Yahoo group (see #1 and 2).

**Joint venture with another WAHM - First a few "howevers" : Choose someone in a non-competing company, of course. Find someone with a decent customer base. Now, offer her something she can offer her customers and you, in turn, will offer your customers something from her. (If you are new and have no customers, you can offer to do so with family and friends.) This can be a free sample, a percent off coupon, or anything else with perceived value. Both of you benefit from this relationship.

**Contacting "people of influence" - I saved this one for last because it is going to be where I am the longest-winded. When someone says "people of influence," most people think of the Mayor, the leader of the local Chamber of Commerce, etc. This is certainly true, but there are other, less-imposing people of influence all around you.

Contact people who are group leaders. (Meetup.com is a good place to find local groups.) The way you approach them is important, too. For example, I have several large groups. I get approached every so often from someone wanting to contact my groups for some reason. The difference is in the presentation! A personable email will get a much better response than a spammy email.

Once, I got a very nice email from a karate instructor. He was personable and gave a great price for my members. He included his phone number, so I called and he answered all of my questions. Of course I passed it on! He got several new clients and my members were thrilled to find an instructor for their kids.

(Make sure that the offer is a genuine deal. If you offer free facials to everyone, don't offer free facials to the group. Make a special offer that people have to ask for specifically. You can also offer samples, etc.)

Finally, do this on a regular basis. Don't just contact one person of influence and that's it. Continue to search and find people to talk to.