Spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on advertising is really not the soloists’ idea of effective marketing. Try some of these low cost marketing ideas instead.

1. Article writing

Article writing will not only ensure you become an expert in your chosen field, it gives you great exposure for your business. Once you have chosen a topic to write about, ensure your article includes lots of tips and ideas that readers can take away to put to use.

2. Strategic alliances

This entails forming partnerships, formally or otherwise, with other businesses that target the same market as you. For example, a baby photographer could ally with a baby clothes shop or a baby bedding business. All three of those target mothers with newborns, and could work together to ensure referrals are passed on.

3. Newsletter swaps

Working together with other like-minded businesses can also mean swapping spaces in each others newsletters. Ensure you put a good offer that each business can give to their database. This will help you to grow your own. Just approach another business and ask to swap. Be careful that your databases match up in numbers. It’s no good approaching someone who has 2,000 on their database if you only have 100. Make it win – win at all times.

Want more articles like this? Check out the business marketing section.

4. Press releases

These are an extremely valuable low cost marketing idea, but only if you have something to offer the media! Time and again I’ve seen people get a press release written, only to find that the media deem it un-newsworthy! Have an event, or tag onto a special occasion on the calendar.

5. Networking

Online forums and offline events are always extremely effective tools, provided you don’t join up solely to find customers. Networking is primarily about building your credibility, learning off others and basically getting your name out and about. Expect to give your time and expertise and don’t expect a customer every time. Focus instead on having fun, meeting new people and developing a reputation.

Whether you are in business by yourself, or employ one to two people, every business will benefit from low cost marketing. Take at least two of the above low cost marketing ideas and implement them in your business today.

Sure, you could spend thousands of dollars on marketing. But maybe when you try some of these strategies, you will realise that you don’t need to!