Free Marketing Tip #3: Donate Something

How can you get exposure for your business if you don't have any
money to spend on marketing? 

Is it possible? Absolutely! 

In fact, you can get others to promote your products or services
to your ideal customers, at no cost if you know where to look.

All you have to be willing to do is give away some of your
products or services for free. Not only will this generate free
marketing, it's also a great way to introduce a brand new
product or service and get people to try it and give you
testimonials. Testimonials you can use to market to others.

When you're looking for places to donate, make sure the people
your product or service will be exposed to are your ideal
clients. Look for organizations, events or people that have
members or attendees that are the kind of people you'd love to
have as clients.

Ask them a few questions such as:

Will they talk about your product or service in front of their
group? 

Or, will they give you the chance to talk about it? 

Will they include promotion of your product or service in their
event program?

Find out what kind of exposure you'll receive in exchange for
donating your product or service.

Make sure it's worth it before you start giving away your
valuable products or services.

Not sure what types of events, organizations or people you
should donate to?

Here are 10 ideas to get you started:

(1) Charity or Non-Profit Fund Raisers

(2) Auctions

(3) Industry Association Meetings

(4) Networking organizations or meetings

(5) People in related or complementary businesses

(6) Golf Tournaments or other events

(7) The media (for a product or service review)

(8) Chambers of Commerce Events

(9) At Your Own Speaking Engagements

(10) To industry experts (for a product or service review)

Using your actual product or service as a marketing tool by
giving it away is a great way to introduce it to your ideal
prospects, generate free exposure and start creating a buzz. 

(C) Copyright 2006 Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing