Budgets are tight all around and I’m the perfect example of an el-cheapo marketer. When I meet new prospects and tell them that I’m a marketing coach, they sometimes start to look nervous and say that they don’t have any money for marketing. Well here are some free ideas that take away that excuse real quick:

1. Get endorsed by a local celebrity.
Instead of trying to get a superstar to support your business, try seeking out a local celebrity instead. These are people your local paper is writing about — perhaps an “unsung hero” such as a teacher or a resident who’s doing something positive and newsworthy.
2. Create a LinkedIn group.
Not only is a LinkedIn group free to create, it can enable you to offer your professional network a vibrant, useful information resource all while driving traffic to your site and increasing sales.
3. Get published on niche blogs.
While it may be difficult to get on the front cover of a major magazine, you can create marketing opportunities by being featured in a popular niche blog.
4. Create videos for YouTube.
The marketing videos you create should include the following elements:

• A keyword-researched headline
• A clear editorial message (don’t try to accomplish too much in one video)
• A call to action (tell the viewer to do something, such as subscribing to your channel)

5. Write an e-book about the biggest issues in your industry.
The goal is not to make a profit from direct book sales but to use it as a lead generation tool, encouraging readers to opt into your website for further information.
via 5 Online Marketing Strategies for a Tight Budget.

Free marketing really comes down to one thing-creating relevant content and disseminating it to your target audience in large numbers through targeted social media channels. It sounds scary but it’s that simple! So do whatever you need to do to learn your way around online marketing because it is cheap cheap cheap and so worth your time.
Need more chicken soup for your biz? Follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook or connect with me on LinkedIn –and let’s talk!

Related articles

• Online Marketing on a Budget (ehubconnections.com)
• Where You Should Market Online (inc.com)
• You Only Need to Know These 3 Words to Grow Your Business Online (business2community.com)