I meet growing entrepreneurs’ everyday asking me on cheap ways to advertise their products and services. Not everyone can afford a full page in Guardian or Punch Newspaper. To advertise on a quarter page (which is the size of an A5 flier) in most dailies, you will still need about N100,000 naira (USD 667) at least, even if it’s a black and white Ad. That is the entire budget some small business has planned for their Ad campaign. Radio, TV, Billboards, all these ATL ads can be very expensive for small businesses, because of the amount involved in running them to make maximum impact. Even some big businesses still complain about this.
Most companies are looking for the best, inexpensive ways to advertise because they don't have millions, or even thousands, to spend on advertising. Make the most out of the ad Naira you do have, no matter how limited you are. These cheap ways to advertise give you a variety of options to choose from when you're on an ad budget diet while giving you a good return on your advertising investment:
Create a Flyer
Creating your own flyer to advertise your business is simple, inexpensive and it's a great way to generate buzz about your company. If you really want to make your flyer an effective advertising tool, offer incentives or discounts to people who bring in your flyer. This also gives you an informal way to track how many people are coming in just because they saw your flyer.
Advertise on Cable
Wait! Before your eyes skip over this section, thinking it's just for those who can afford a TV commercial, keep reading. You can advertise on cable through crawls, full screen ads and above program listings. These alternative advertising methods are very affordable. Crawls can cost under N1,500 a day. There are other cables that have wide coverage apart from DSTV. You should try My TV Cable, Star Times etc. Their coverage is also good and very effective, sometimes more than DSTV, because they are cheaper to maintain, so more people use these cables.
Use Your Web Site to Advertise Your Business
Many business owners think they only need a Web site if they sell products online. No matter what type of company you have, you need a Web site. Potential customers hit the Internet looking for companies in their local area. If your competitor's online and you're not, guess who has the advantage. Build a Web site that's beneficial to customers, though. You want to make a positive, lasting impression and having a poorly built Web site is a terrible way to advertise your company.
Post Your Commercial on YouTube
If you do have a TV commercial, get more shelf life out of it without having to pay for more air time. YouTube is an often-overlooked advertising vehicle. It costs nothing to post your commercial on the site and you can promote it on your own Web site so customers in your area can watch your commercial(s) online. You can even put this link on your flier or facebook page.
Cross-Promote Your Business Through Partnering
National companies partner every day because it's an excellent ad tool to reach new customers and cut the advertising costs at the same time. But partnering isn't just for corporate giants. Going in with other businesses helps you save advertising money while increasing your exposure to customers. You can watch out for events or programs that have close affiliates with what you do and seek partnership with them. Sometimes, the partnership takes you just giving a few winners sample product or free services.
Produce a Newsletter
A newsletter helps you keep in touch with your current customers and tap into a market of potential customers. Your newsletter shouldn't be used to send ads to your customers, though. Use your newsletter to provide your customers with valuable information that makes you the company they remember when they're ready to buy.
Don't let the advertising game intimidate you. There are so many opportunities out there for you to advertise your company that don't involve millions of Naira. If you're willing to do a little legwork, you'll save money and find the best, inexpensive way to advertise your company.
For more tips on how to promote your product and services, you can give us a call to day or send us an email. Good luck in your advertising campaign.
