One of the simplest ways to spread the word and expose potential customers to your product or service is by giving some of it away. It’s a way of coercing someone to sample what you are offering without any risk. Once they try it and see there is value in it for them—i.e., they like your product or service—they’re more likely to pay for it in the future. Consumers enjoy finding new businesses to patronize, and who doesn’t love free stuff?!
The Yellow Pages used to provide small businesses with a way to be listed in directories where they could be found by consumers in need of what they were selling. Local directories still exist; they just do so online. Yelp, Google Places, Yahoo Local, and Bing Places are just a handful of the options businesses have to list themselves locally these days. They enable your company to be found with an online search, and the free cost makes utilizing them a no-brainer.
While it may be perhaps the oldest form of marketing for businesses, word-of-mouth still works wonders. Ask your existing clients or customers to spread the word about your business. A satisfied consumer is a powerful advocate for your product or service, and they usually are willing to refer your business to their friends and family after a positive experience.
