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.

About The Author

Mohamed Rabea is the owner of one of the Internet's most popular home based business and marketing websites, available from http://www.bizpeak.com & http://www.bizpioneer.com

A Pass / Fail Test for Any New Market

If you are considering entering a new target market, with... Read More

Direct Mail Formats: How to Choose the Right One for Your Next Mailing

Which pulls the best response, a postcard, a self-mailer or... Read More

Receiving a Brochure Printing Quote

Brochures are a great way to get your message across.... Read More

Metaphysical Marketing

The foundation of success is in your mind. You do... Read More

Mortgage Originator Marketing ? Differentiate or Die

One of the best ways to attract more clients is... Read More

Natural Marketing for Full Business Success

Is your mind muddy on marketing? Do you wake up... Read More

30-Minute Marketing

Marketing your small business takes tons of time, years of... Read More

Marketing The Real You

I often wonder how the practice began of pretending to... Read More

Online Advertising Versus Traditional Media Advertising

Before I compare today's online advertising with traditional media advertising... Read More

Promotions That Build Profit

Promotions are everything you do to let your customers know... Read More