Window displays are a traditional location to advertise free.
Whether you're advertising a product, an organization or a service, there are plenty of free and effective ways of getting noticed by the public. These methods range from traditional tactics to emerging methods that take full advantage of Internet technology; depending on your style of business, you should be able to find a comfortable approach.
Around the Community
Many local stores display advertisements from members of the community in their windows, and this is often done free of charge. Alternatively, if your business stands close to a sidewalk, place advertisements and products right before potential customers' eyes -- this approach is particularly effective when attracting window shoppers.
Another option is to attend chamber of commerce or local business alliance meetings and ask for permission to say a few words about your business. Although this sort of advertisement will not be accessible to people outside your immediate area -- and some of these groups have annual membership dues -- it may attract customers who care about supporting local businesses.
Newspapers and Radio
Newspapers often have sections where people can place notices or advertisements free of charge, and if this is the case in your area, take advantage of it. Alternatively, draft a press release about your business and submit it to the newspaper's editorial team; for this to be effective, link your business to something that people will be interested in reading about (such as a story about how your organization helped support a local charity).
These principles are also true for local radio stations, which may have times of day when local announcements are talked about, or when the station may be willing to incorporate your press release into one of its news bulletins.
Internet Classifieds
The Internet has a wealth of free classifieds websites like Oodle (oodle.com) and Craigslist (craigslist.com), which may be the ideal solution for you to increase awareness about your organization or product. Advertisements and announcements will typically be viewable on these websites for roughly 30 days, so consider re-posting your advertisement when this time expires.
Social Networks
Social networks can be a key resource for people promoting products and services, as they're an ideal way to update people about developments and provide them with a convenient way to learn about your organization. Consider creating a profile for your business on a website such as Facebook (facebook.com) or Twitter (twitter.com), and invite people who may be interested to become a "fan" or "follower" of your updates. Using social networks can have the advantage of creating trust in your organization, as people may be more inclined to learn about your business after they discover that one of their friends has subscribed to your company's page. Post a humorous video or note about your business or a special promotion, and the free ad can go viral, with your page's followers forwarding the link to friends and coworkers. The result is maximum return for your business with minimal -- in this case, no -- investment.
