Website

A website can provide a central location for your customers to find you and revisit you. Not just for locating new customers, many old customers will return to your website thinking "I remember the name of the business", and will be able to find your phone and email details. The web is the Yellow Pages of the future, and you need to be in it. No matter how small you business!

Business Cards

Business cards allow you to leave a small reminder with every customer that you meet. Your business card should tie in with all your other advertising, especially with your website.

Signs

Even a small home business should have a sign. Did you know that every home business (in Brisbane) can erect a sign at the front of their home. Visit the Brisbane city council website for more information.

Email

Doing business usually means having a phone. But email is just as important, and your email should promote your business. Email should look professional, include your logo, link to your website and even include some information about your product or service.

Online Advertising

If you advertise, then you should consider online advertising. Google, Yahoo, Sensis and other 'Search Engines' all provide advertising programs that make your business more prominent. You can use online advertising to bring in more customers.

Local Paper

The local paper can provide a low cost method of bringing in new leads.

Yellow Pages

I hate to admit it, but the Yellow pages still has some life left in it. Although the use of the Yellow Pages is in strong decline with longer ages, the older customers still prefer to use the Yellow Pages to find a business. But you should weigh up if you think the number of customers is worth the cost.

Print and Flyers

Have you considered print brochures and letter drops?

 Small businesses struggle to find ways to promote themselves, get links, rank in search engines, and ultimately drive traffic to their websites. Most small businesses also have limited budgets making the task more difficult. For those businesses here are 13 ways you can promote your business online for free.

Email Signatures: Be sure to add your URL to all of your outgoing email. Try adding your mission statement, or a catchy phrase to help people understand what you do. Change it a several times a year so people notice it again.

Google Local: If you don’t already have one Create an account on Google Local. emty-pocketsEnter your company name, address, phone number and website. Verify the information with a postacard or telephone call. In a few weeks you will help you get a map listing for your company name or industry and town.

Google Coupons: Coupons are a great way to bring new customers into your business or remind old customers that you’re still around. Google has a free coupon tool that puts your coupon on relevant local searches.

Google Base: Google base is part of Google’s one box service. Google uses it to try giving the most appropriate answer from different data sources. If you are selling products you can upload feeds automatically into Google Base and often get preferential placement. You can also upload your business, or special event.

Yahoo Local: Yahoo local is a directory organized by category and geographic location. You can get a basic listing in Yahoo Local for free. People searching for your business or industry can find your listing

Get Reviews: An integral part of the Yahoo Local listings are reviews. Ask your good customers to write reviews for you on Yahoo local. Businesses with higher ratings will get preferential listings.

Press Releases: Doing something newsworthy? If you are you can always submit a press release for free at PRLeap.com. Be sure to check out their tips like 25 Action Words for Writing a Newsworthy Headline and Why Localizing a Press Release to a ZIP Code and City Matters.

Free Blog Promotion Tools: Does your company have a website or are you thinking of adding one? Websites like Technorati and mybloglog can help you gain exposure, visitors, readers, and subscribers to your blog.

Free Directory Advertising: It doesn’t get any easier than trying free advertising. Go to BOTW.org and sign up for a free 60 day advertising listing.