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Re: Free Marketing Ideas

The Expert — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:48:43 GMT

This was posted by Puzzleman at another blog titled Marketing ideas for Buffalo wings and Pizzas. But they are such great ideas I thought I would like to share them with you.

They are nearly free. But involves a lot of 'sweat equity'

Everyone here has some great ideas for you. One thing to remember is that marketing is like pushing a car up a hill. It hard and slow to start with but gets easier as you keep pushing and get others to help. But when you stop pushing the car will roll back to the bottom of the hill and you have to start all over again.

My idea would be to give free samples. I'm not sure how it would work but if you're feeling a financial pinch, through caution to the wind and go for it. Broadcast it big. give samples to radio stations (preferable sports talk, as they like to eat as well as talk). Put someone in a chicken suit on the street with a big sign saying free wing samples with purchase of a pizza. Go zany. Shoot for the moon. You don't have to spend lots of cash to promote. Give product away. It's cheaper. Plus it gets your product out there.

How about putting coupons on the back of grocery store receipts? How about someone in a Luigi costume to promote your pizza and free wing samples? How about do enough of these things that a local TV station notices and puts you on the wacky part of the show. How about someone in a chicken suit riding around on the back of a Harley type motorcycle or a motorcycle with a sidecar with a sign saying "Check out my wings at....." or " Free Chick! See more at......" . Things like this don't cost much money.

Jim Report as inappropriate

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

The Expert — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:56:33 GMT

Spend an afternoon thinking about the ways business owners will be trying to tighten their budgets becuase of the economic downturn.
Now think of your product.
Figure out how you can help people to cut cost
Announce this to the world.
Use free media to make your announcement - Example - posting events at web sites like www.TheBestCityGuides.com, Ezines, Blogs etc etc
Good Luck

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

Uncle Leon — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:51:38 GMT

Free marketing is worth every cent you pay for it. (;>) Chuckle, chuckle

All kidding aside...it's not the cost of marketing that really counts, as much as the business (and especially net profit) that it generates versus that cost.

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

LostBoy — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:22:12 GMT

I occasionally post in the service section of Craig's list.
I haven't gotten any responses from it though but I believe that I'm still getting my name out there. Craig's List and the local papers' online thing are also searched by some search engines so it will also add to any search results that come up.

Most of the time I just attach an image of my most recent flier and write a quick summary. The quick summery will add to the chance that I turn up on the search engines.
It's totally free so I don't have any complaints. I don't think too many people look in the service section of the online ads though.

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

Hair One — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:00:44 GMT

Well for our Salon MySpace is a "Free" form of advertising. You can do a brouse and type in your zip code, enter a mile radius then add "friends". It's similar to passing out a flyer.

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

The Expert — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:01:50 GMT

Hi Lost Boy
Could you please share your experience with the Craigs list
Thanks

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

The Expert — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:23:08 GMT

Once you identify a Market segment, think of all the ways you could let them know about your product / item.
Now, spend a lot of time figuring out how to do this cost effectively
If you are creative, you can find really cost effective ways to do this.
Please please becareful about the cost of things - dont let that get out of hand. Especially when we are facing an economic down turn

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

MKTG.com.au — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:14:21 GMT

I think a strategy worth mentioning is to get small businesses used to the idea of accounting for marketing and creating a budget.

As larger companies know, a marketing budget just does not appear from thin air, a tiny percentage of sales is set aside for marketing. Marketing is more important now than ever (recession or not aside) and the people who create a marketing budget as part of a sales strategy will win long term. Its kind of like the theory of giving a man a fish is good for that day but teaching him to fish will set him up long term.

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

The Expert — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:50:52 GMT

Thanks for your suggestion - Ezines are a great way to get the word out too.

The other is small 'press releases'

Always try to create a 'new angle'

Re: Free Marketing Ideas

Peter63 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:31:48 GMT

Speaking in terms of online marketing, I would be inclined to try and get some (loads!) articles written; good, original content, a minikum of say 250 words and get postin gto some article sites. Ezinearticles.com is one of the best. Google article marketing sites and see if there's anything that catches you interest.

P