How to Advertise for your Small Business

Word of mouth is excellent small business advertising  but it’s slow, and may be practically non-existent for new businesses. If you want to grow your customer base more quickly, you have to advertise.This collection of small business advertising ideas presents both the tried and true and some you may not have tried yet  advertising ideas for your small business to effectively reach your target market and attract new customers.


1.Business cards
Sure, they’re advertising. Every time you hand one out to a prospective client or customer, you’re advertising your small business. But why not take this advertising idea further


2.Joining professional/business organizations.
Every professional or business organization offers exclusive advertising opportunities for their members, ranging from free promotion on the organization’s website through special section newspaper advertising. And being a member can be good small business advertising in itself.

3.Vehicle advertising.
The reason you see so many vehicles emblazoned with advertising is that it works; vehicle advertising is very visible small business advertising. If you’re not ready for custom graphics or a magnet quad sign that sit atop your vehicle, go for a magnetic sign that you can take off when you want.

4.Local website advertising.
More people are spending more time online than ever before. Cover all your small business advertising bases by ensuring that your business is listed on websites providing business information for your local area. Many municipalities, for instance, offer business listings on their sites.

5.Email advertising.
If you already have an in-house mailing list or are able to develop one, email advertising can work for you. I see this advertising idea as more of a way to communicate with current customers than to bring in new ones because of the ever-growing hostility to spam.

6.Cross-promotion.
Joining forces with other businesses can greatly increase your advertising power and your marketing reach. Kare Anderson explains how this advertising idea works and how to jump-start your cross-promotion efforts.