What are some inexpensive ways to market/advertise a Small Business on a very low budget?

You need to complement your offline marketing -- direct mail, press releases, flyers, -- with online marketing. If you do it right, you can get a lot of targeted traffic to your website without spending a dime.

Here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:

1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.

2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important -- and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more - that's additional traffic that you get for FREE!

Recommend Site Scripts (various) http://php.resourceindex.com/Complete_Scripts/Webs...

Big Nose Bird Recommend this Site http://bignosebird.com/carchive/birdcast.shtml

CGI Resource Index http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/...

Hostscripts http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs...

3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.

If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com's "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm

SEO for Google http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/google.htm

SEO for Yahoo! http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/yahoo.htm

SEO for MSN http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/msn.htm

Tying It Together: SEO For The Big Three http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/seo.htm

4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News.

http://www.prleap.com/sign_up.html

http://i-newswire.com/

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/links/add.cgi

http://www.pr.com/press-releases

http://www.prfree.com/

http://www.clickpress.com/releases/index.shtml

http://www.theopenpress.com/

http://www.przoom.com/

http://www.prweb.com/

http://www.newswiretoday.com/

http://www.free-press-release.com/

5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.

Here is a comprehensive list of where to submit your articles http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AhzreGmnCU...

6. Improve your conversion. Getting visitors is one thing; getting them to buy your products is a whole different story. Read the article "10 Ways to Convert Visitors to Buyers" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/072005/conversion.htm for tips on how to improve your conversion rates.

7. Post a link to your site for free where it is allowed (always read the Terms of Use). Examples are:

Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com/

Google Base http://base.google.com/

Classifieds for Free http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/...

Text Link Exchange http://www.txtswap.com/

Recycler.com http://www.recycler.com/

Yahoo Classifieds http://classifieds.yahoo.com/

US Free Ads http://www.usfreeads.com/

Read "Guerrilla Marketing" by J. Levinson. While every idea might not work, there is a kernel of information that with a little re-working can work for you.

My favorite is a standard size postcard that has a photo that visually says everything about your business, with the other side bullet points about your business. Logo and business address, web site and telephone number should be on this side as well. This postcard can be a direct mail piece, a business card and your brochure. There are printing companies that specialize in printing postcards- check out US Print as one possible source. They do "gang" printing- it means 10-15 business days but low prices.

There are lots of terrific ideas- and he has several follow-up books that can give you ideas in other area.

Try teaching classes in Community Ed program- low return but cheap way of getting PR. And, I have found instant recognition as an "expert" in my field- has led to lots of articles in the local press. That has turned into real business and people recognize me.

Direct Marketing is your best bet, Print out leaflets and post them through doors. No marketing tool is 100% effective. Alternatively, contact your local radio stations and ask if they would put a good word out for you. It could be free, or very cheap.

Ask neighbouring shops if they would let your put a small ad in their window. Use online directories and free ads in the papers.

Use social media sites such as Facebook, Linkedin. Look for a website that has an expertise in promotion of small businesses. Try www.40Billion.com They have been helping small businesses for over five years and they do it very efficiently and at a very low cost.

A great way to get your company heard about is to make business cards and a handfull of flyers. Go to your local gyms and small businesses, most of them have a posting board or a place to put your cards up. Most places like that understand what it takes to launch small businesses and are willing to help. Good Luck!

There are a number of free resources available to advertise your website and increase traffic. You can advertise on relevant free classifieds ( www.craigslist.org) ,directories (dmoz) and relevant forums. Major search engines like Yahoo, Google , MSN search are a major source of visitors for most websites and you can submit your website to these search engines for free. You can also run contests offering prizes to regular visitors. I have found the following website useful

http://tinyurl.com/n547z

I might add if you're going out in the way of fliers, you might want to send people out with wearable signs and/or costumes to hand them out -- this might increase the impact of the fliers.

Also, asking for eferrals from people who've actually bought stuff, perhaps in exchange for cheap freebies, might be a good idea.

This website gives you free traffic, it's free to join, you earn here free credit, with which you get free traffic to your website, http://www.trafficswarm.com/go.cgi?537476 then there are other features, there are tools and other things that will help you with other things about your website, first 100 credits will activate your account, you will find out in the website how you get free credits,

my friend i have the perfect website for you. it includes over 1000 places to advertise for free. including search engine submission, free directories, free classifieds, free ppc campaigns, free viral marketing and all other sorts. It should keep you going for quite a while!

http://www.freeaddsgalore.me.uk/

computer print out posters - put in front of public transport office, church, collages, gyms and gardens, put business cards in a small envelop, write on it 'pick one' and paste that envelop on post box.