How To Get Publicity For Your Business

Most small businesses don’t have a big advertising budget, so they need to be creative about their approach. Fortunately, there are a few ways they can gain free publicity and today we’re going to show you five methods that work really well.

We’re assuming you’re already clear on your marketing message and your target market. That’s important, because there’s no point in creating publicity which doesn’t tell people what your business stands for or it gets the message to the wrong crowd. Not all of these publicity seeking methods may suit your business or personal preferences, but there are sure to be a couple which will work well for you and your business. They are free and just require some time and effort on your part.

Social media

Don’t overlook social media. We tend to take it for granted, but it’s a powerful publicity tool. Facebook groups are insatiable for information, and local groups, in particular, are often filled with posts looking for recommendations, products or assistance. Speak up and be active. These are the groups which are followed by journalists and when they pick up on a story, will include it in the paper or local news for free.

Be newsworthy

The media is only interested in something newsworthy or linked to current events. Go ahead and pitch to media if you have an interesting story. If not, why not piggyback on campaigns or news stories? Just look at the clever campaigns which built on the Bunnings Warehouse onion saga. For this to work, your promotion must be fast and timely. All it takes is a little alternative thinking.

Stand for something

Support a charity, lead a cause, or partner with higher profile businesses that are doing good for the community. There’s a real human value in the stories behind the cause which will capture media attention. These days, there’s an expectation that businesses ‘give back’ to the community. Therefore being seen to do so will increase your profile and encourage your target market to shop with you.

Collaborate

Whether you’re supporting a cause or building a campaign, the more businesses involved, the more likely the media will be interested. Find businesses with the same target group and, by working together, you can tap into their list and reach more people than you could on your own.

Connect with influencers

Whether you write articles and blog posts about issues affecting the people in your market, try to mention some of the most influential people in your industry. Then promote your posts and articles on social media and tag them to let them know they’ve been mentioned. It brings your business to their attention, and they might even share the link to your posts, exposing you to a bigger audience than you’d reach alone.

Those are a few simple ways to find more publicity for your business. Just keep your eyes open for new opportunities and tap into them as creatively as you can. But don’t stop there. Make sure you tell people what you’re doing. The message has to start somewhere!