What is the best way to promote a new service without paid advertising?
Getting attention is very difficult, and I'm not convinced that I want to promote my new business with advertising (yet). How do you recommend that I reach out to managers to promote my service, AwesomeBoss.com?
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Mar 4, 2015
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Feb 5, 2015
Social media is the most obvious answer, but there are several other things you can do that are effective ways to achieve your goals, and would not be considered paid media.
Feb 4, 2015
Hi B.J. ~ So many ways! Social media is a great one. You can tap into the networks that are most relevant to your services and really gain some good reach and trust. Sometimes, I like think that leads you find through less "push" methods have a higher longevity and are more valuable in the long run.
Feb 4, 2015
Well, for one thing, you just did (noting the domain listing at the end of your question). It's a mistake to ignore the value of advertising but we work with companies in your situation to create a PR blitz that will give them both exposure and credibility. Start with a press release announcing your service and promote it locally. Use that media coverage as the street cred you need and forward it out into your social media, website and other online marketing efforts. PR is NOT about free advertising, it's about gaining what advertising cannot give you - credibility.
Feb 4, 2015
B.J. There is a website I often recommend that has annually been offering a list of 100 FREE Marketing Ideas. Check out www.100FreeMarketingIdeas.com. The site is actually a handout from a 15-30 minute speech that Tara Jacobsen of MarkertingArtfully.com gives at networking events. If you have a networking event particularly in the Denver, Boulder, Clearwater or Tampa area look her up.
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Today's answer: www.AwesomeBoss.com has no pricing information. This is so easy to fix. Are you affordable? If so, I don't know the answer. Lots of folks won't sign up just to find out.
-The Pragmatic Web Designer
Feb 4, 2015
I would start small and local. Do a couple test cases to vet your service. Once you know the service will actually help your intended client, you can feel more confident advertising. Community networking and social media is always a cheap/free alternative to advertising when you're just starting out.
Good luck! Hope this helps!
Feb 3, 2015
Inventive loopholes can include email marketing, (lists can be obtained many ways) organized campaigns for credits towards your product or service, (Entailing the active recruitment through social channels) Reviews (also best to compensate reviewers) etc.
Feb 3, 2015
Social media marketing! :D While I have to agree with you that getting attention is very difficult, making advertisements on the social media is the easiest and fastest way to get notice. You just need to put consistent effort on it. ;)
Feb 3, 2015
You don't want to reach out to managers. That's called outbound marketing (old skool) you want them to reach out to you (inbound marketing). You need to find out what they are actively searching for and determine the market demand for what you are offering. There are ways to perform quality inbound marketing without seo, ppc, or even social media. What you need to do is interview these managers and uncover the problems/struggles with their current solutions. Then you create your value proposition around your unique solution. There really is a solid formula for executing this correctly. It includes consumer research, automation, and creating a unique and proprietary solution and user experience. The more unique your solution is, the less money you'll have to spend on advertising. I'm covering this topic in depth in my upcoming webinar "Growing Your Startup". Be sure to get registered by visiting http://bit.ly/1K9RHYw and click on the "Get Started" button. You don't want to miss this free training.
Feb 3, 2015
There is no such thing as non paid advertisement, organic days are over. You are limited in every way, even most viral videos are tailored in agencies.
Best you can do is have a strong website with heavy original content, that will help, other than that hit your niche at forums, linkedIn etc.
But sooner than later, you will be advertising.
Good luck!
(Ive worked in one of the biggest media advertising agencies in the world)