| Whether your target audience is in your | | | | effective networking is to not just be on the lookout |
| neighborhood or across the world, you can use your | | | | for what business contacts can do for you, but to |
| local resources to get the word out about your | | | | consider what you can do for them. When you meet |
| business. Your local community is easily accessible and | | | | someone new, ask questions and engage them in |
| provides dozens of opportunities for building a buzz | | | | conversation. Offer advice or ideas, build a |
| about your product or service. The following are | | | | relationship and trust between you. Once you've |
| twenty ideas to get you started.1. Offer Your | | | | established a rapport, offer to meet for coffee or |
| Product or Service as a Free Give Away - For | | | | lunch and see if you can brainstorm ways to work |
| example, if you own a restaurant, you could have | | | | together.11. Set Up Shop at the Farmer's Market - If |
| your local Holiday Inn give away dinner gift | | | | you have a food-related product or anything of |
| certificates for $10 to hotel guests during check-in. If | | | | interest to the general public, the local farmer's |
| you own a car wash, you could have the local car | | | | market is a great place to not only generate sales, |
| dealerships give away a certificate for a free wash | | | | but to increase exposure to your business. Visit for a |
| with all car purchases. Think about businesses that | | | | directory of these events.12. Swap Coupons with a |
| are complimentary to yours and offer a promotion | | | | Complimentary Business - Offer to give away their |
| that is easy for them to implement and that will | | | | coupons with each purchase while they give away |
| benefit their customers.2. Donate to Local Charities & | | | | your coupons with each purchase. Each provides the |
| Schools - Offer your products, services, or gift | | | | other with coupons and runs the promotion |
| certificates for charity auctions and events. This will | | | | simultaneously. Make sure you print a special run of |
| get you exposure to everyone who attends the | | | | coupons or give them some unique identifier (printed |
| event and build loyalty with members of the | | | | on a special color of paper, for example) so you can |
| organization you are supporting- not to mention a tax | | | | easily track the success of the promotion.13. Give |
| write-off!3. Leave Brochures, Fliers, and Business | | | | Away Free Tips - Tips sheets or booklets can be a |
| Cards Everywhere - Many local businesses will allow | | | | fantastic marketing tool. Put together a list of tips, |
| you to display your cards and brochures. Potential | | | | similar to the tips you're reading now. Your tips could |
| venues include:* Car washes* Bookstores* Coffee | | | | be as few as ten or as many as 100. For example, a |
| shops* Apartment buildings (near mailboxes or in | | | | financial advisor could put together a tips sheet called |
| laundry rooms)* Churches* Student centers* | | | | "Twenty Ways to Save on Tax Planning." A beauty |
| Community centers* Retirement centers* Fitness | | | | salon could offer "Ten Tips for Ageless Skin." A child |
| centers* Subways and bus depots* Fraternities and | | | | care center could give away "Twenty-five Tips for |
| Sororities* Libraries4. Canvas Nearby Neighborhoods - | | | | Child Safety."Print your tips sheets or booklets and |
| Instead of just leaving a flier, you could leave an | | | | give them away as a bonus with purchase or use |
| inexpensive item or tips booklet. One local Realtor | | | | them with your advertising. If you offer something |
| stuck an American flag on the lawns of everyone in | | | | of real value, people will be more likely to hang onto |
| our neighborhood and then left her brochure on the | | | | your list and refer to it over and over again, thus you |
| doorsteps. Not only did the neighborhood look | | | | are providing a consistent reminder of your business. |
| wonderful with all of those flags waving in the wind, | | | | Make sure your contact information and logo are |
| but everyone loves a patriotic theme. This is a great | | | | printed on the documents.14. Smile for the Cameras - |
| strategy for all kinds of holidays: Independence Day, | | | | Television news programs like to host guests who |
| Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, etc. You could take this | | | | have visual appeal. If there is something you can |
| idea a step further and do something similar for all of | | | | demonstrate, or an interesting presentation you can |
| the major holidays. You can find inexpensive novelty | | | | give, pitch your idea to local news program producers |
| items in bulk from or Hold a Contest - People love to | | | | (locate their contact information from their websites). |
| get stuff for free and contests are a great way to | | | | Watch your local programs to see what kinds of |
| lure in new customers. Make the prizes something | | | | stories they feature and how you can tailor yours to |
| people want, or even just a gift certificate or | | | | meet their needs.15. Offer Something Wacky - One |
| shopping spree for your business. Be sure to alert the | | | | northern California restaurant started a "Bald |
| media to your contest. Here are some contest | | | | Tuesday" promotion. You guessed it; anybody who |
| ideas:* Have kids color pictures or submit stories | | | | was in a stage of balding could eat there for free on |
| related to your business.* Have customers submit | | | | Tuesdays. Not only did this bring people in for a free |
| funny business slogans.* Hold a poetry contest with a | | | | meal, those patrons brought along paying customers |
| theme related to your business.* Have people submit | | | | with full heads of hair. And the biggest benefit of all? |
| their best solutions to problems related to your | | | | The media loved the story and covered it in the local |
| business. For example, if you own a garden center, | | | | news. Soon the story reached national news and the |
| people could submit their best gardening tips. Take | | | | restaurant became the talk of the nation. Think of |
| this a step further and publish the entries in a booklet | | | | something unique and unusual that will bring people |
| when the contest is over.* Host a recipe contest if | | | | in-then be sure to alert the media.16. Online Classified |
| you have a food-related business.6. Use Gift | | | | Ads - One fabulous venue for getting the word out |
| Certificates Creatively - Gift certificates are great for | | | | about your business is There is no charge for listing |
| business because they cost you next to nothing, | | | | your add in a variety of categories and Craigslist now |
| bring in cash, and often they are not redeemed. Get | | | | has a presence in most major cities. Ads are archived |
| your customers to buy gift certificates by offering | | | | for two weeks, so be sure to resubmit regularly. Try |
| them a special bonus. For example: Buy a gift | | | | different ads to see what works best. You can even |
| certificate for $20 or more and receive $5 off your | | | | offer a discount or special offer for people who print |
| next purchase with us. When the customer | | | | the ad and bring it to you.17. Record Audio CDs - It |
| purchases a gift certificate, you then give them one | | | | can be relatively inexpensive to record a CD using |
| worth $5 dated for use the following month only. | | | | your computer with a recordable disk drive. You can |
| This means that your customer must return to you | | | | put together and audio presentation that your |
| the following month and if they do, will probably | | | | prospects can listen to in their cars. Assemble a |
| spend more than the free $5 you've given them.7. | | | | display and give them away. You can also place them |
| In-Home Parties - Mary Kay, Tupperware, and | | | | in the same types of venues where you distribute |
| Pampered Chef are just a few of the companies | | | | fliers.18. Turn Your Customers into Billboards - Give |
| who generate big sales from small parties. This | | | | away your shirts, hats, and other gear or sell it at |
| strategy won't work for all businesses, but if you | | | | cost. The big companies print their logos on |
| have products that would benefit from an in-home | | | | everything and get people to buy, so you can too. |
| party, contact your friends, family, and business | | | | Make sure it's something of interest that people will |
| associates and get the party started.8. Join Local | | | | want to wear. You could put a fun image or phrase |
| Trade Organizations - Many organizations hold regular | | | | on the front of a shirt, with your company logo and |
| meetings and free seminars, providing you with | | | | website address on the back. Be creative!19. Make it |
| another opportunity to make valuable contacts. | | | | Stick - Magnets are an inexpensive way to leave a |
| Toastmasters ( has chapters all over the U.S. and | | | | lasting impression. Print your business card and logo |
| there are probably dozens of other organizations in | | | | on a magnet. Many people stick these on their |
| your community to choose from. Even if you don't | | | | refrigerators and will remember it's there when it's |
| think your business can benefit from networking, you | | | | time to call a plumber, do their taxes, or order |
| might be surprised by the connections you can make | | | | supplies. These are especially effective for service |
| at these events.9. Join Everything - Even the PTA | | | | businesses. You can order these from Use Your |
| (Parent/Teacher's Association) can be a great place | | | | License Plate - It only costs a bit extra to order |
| to network. Join book clubs, writer's groups, or any | | | | vanity plates from the DMV. If your business name |
| groups of interest to you, even if they don't directly | | | | fits on a plate, put it on there. Be sure to frame it |
| relate to your business. Get known by everyone. | | | | with a vanity license plate frame.Your local |
| They will associate you with your business as soon | | | | community is a great place to build support and |
| as they get to know you and your mere presence | | | | recognition for your business so don't miss out on |
| at functions could serve as a reminder and cause | | | | this valuable opportunity. By implementing even one |
| members to want to do business with you.10. Use | | | | of these suggested marketing strategies, you could |
| Networking to Build Alliances - The secret to | | | | open new doors for business opportunities. |