Who knows any GREAT and FREE ways to get more business??

[ksmusselman]

Originally Posted by lbarraco

Please let me know!!

There are some really great free ways to get your business out there and generate some traffic, but they'll only take you so far. I know. I'm there myself, which is why I posted/vented/ranted my frustrations out on another forum that is all about online marketing.

You can read my LONG rant and the absolutely awesome advice, suggestions, viewpoints that I received and some of them were really hard hitting, but you have to have a tough skin to make it out here today.

But anyway, my post will show you all of the things I've tried and still do to generate traffic to both of my businesses and why stepping up to the next level DOES require some cash.

Take some time to read through the posts. Lots of priceless information over there...

Here's my post: I am SO frustrated anymore I could just scream!

[ksmusselman]

Originally Posted by HotHomeBasedJobs

Unfortunately, the free ways are not always the great ways, and vice versa. If the free ways were all great, we would all be rich and none of us would be on this forum :-)

It takes money to make money. The problem with the free ways is that you spend a lot of time reposting ads that scroll off the free classified sited in only a few hours, or you are trying to compete in SEO with those who have been doing their business for years and years. Or, you think that once you post your business in your Facebook status that all your friends will read it and refer you to their friends and so on. Not so much. Marketing your business takes a real effort.

I would try to find a copy of Guerella Marketing or "Marketing for Dummies" or something like that. You need some real in-depth advice on marketing on a limited budget.

This isn't all necessarily true. Both of my sites rank on the first page of Google, sometimes ahead of competitors who've been online for 10 years compared to my two years. It's all in what you do and how consistent you are, but it can be done - without spending a dime after registering your domain and setting up your website.

And you can build a nice income online just using free traffic generating resources. But yes, to take things to the next level - meaning earning $3000+ a month versus $500 to $1000/month, you'll need to reinvest some profits.

That's where I am now with my businesses. I may earn $350 in one week from one business and $500 a week with the other, then hit a dry spell for a couple of months at a time. So to step it up so I have consistent earnings, I have to step up what I'm doing and make some cash sales in a THIRD part time business to supply the necessary cash flow to drive each of the other two business up to the next level - i.e., paid directories, outsourced link building, etc.

But if you really push with the free resources, and by that I don't mean "free classified ads" that rarely ever work anyway, you can still generate a few hundred to even $1000 a month without spending any money in advertising.

[carla_easley]

1.Posting ads on classified sites such as Craigslist, Backpage, and Kijiji could get you some great leads from individuals in your area.
2. You can also print out some free business cards with vistaprint.com and distribute them.
3. Create videos about your product or service and post it on Youtube and other video sharing sites.
4. Make an audio recording about products that you're selling by using podomatic.com and then submit your podcasts to podcast directories such as Itunes.
5.Search Yahoo Answers for people who are searching for your product or service and then reply to their question with your business info.

[klm2960]

Post Post Post...

FB or twitter or other blogs

[yasimi25]

e out there every day telling everyone about what you do. You can leave cards, post info online........

[maximumleverage]

Free Ways To Get Traffic

Article Marketing
Video Marketing
Forum Marketing
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook)
SEO

[Dugsmom]

as much as I hate to admit this, cold calling works best for my business. I hate it though. Sending out newsletters (snail mail) has worked really well for me. Like the other said, Consistency is the Key!

[kimscents]

Keep things simple and use what is available to you. Facebook is a great way to get some free marketing, make it a point to talk to at least 5 people a day about your business: cashier at grocery store, other moms at school when you pick up the kids, maillady, bank teller just to name a few. Always be prepared to hand out a flyer, business card or catalogue wherever you are.
Hope this helps!
Kim Kelly
Scentsy Consultant