Stretching Your Marketing Dollars--7 Cheap and Easy Ways to Market on a Budget

Just because you have to stretch your marketing dollars doesn't
mean their effectiveness will decrease. The easiest marketing
solution is often to simply throw money at a problem. But that is
rarely the most effective. When Businesses are forced to use
creativity and ingenuity to market on a budget, that is when some
of the best results happen.

There are always going to be rough times in any business. But
those who throw money at their marketing problems instead of
finding alternative means will find themselves in a tough
financial situation.

Here are a few cheap and easy marketing methods that won't drain
your bank account:

1. Learn to barter. Not every price is fixed. For instance, TV
and radio time that goes unsold is wasted forever, so stations
will usually accept offers below their normal rates.

2. Create your own marketing materials with desktop publishing
programs. These programs are easy to learn and use, so after a
few hours of study, you'll know your way around well enough to
create simple marketing materials. If you aren't confident in
your design skills, find a sample piece to model yours after. In
the marketing world, looking over someone else's shoulder for the
right answer is permissible.

3. Get a toll-free number. Although long distance rates are more
affordable than ever, most people will still hesitate to call a
long distance number. If you have a toll free number, there is
nothing standing between you and your potential customers.

4. Buy smaller print ads and run them consistently. In the end,
the repetitive printing of your ads will elicit more results than
running a few large, impressive ads.

5. Buy cable TV ads. Now anyone, no matter how tight their
budget, can advertise on television. Cable rates are incredibly
cheap and you can even target your commercials to specific parts
of the city.

6. Get the cell phone package with the most minutes and give your
number to everyone. When customers can get a hold of you anytime
of the day or night, you can connect to more person-to-person
sales.

7. Don't sacrifice your image by accepting shoddy production or
design. A shoddy advertisement gives you a shoddy image. Continue
to hire professionals to design your ads, but shop around for the
best prices. Hire a professional designer to create a visual
format, then hire a lower-cost designer to do your follow-up ads
with the original as a guide.