Marketing Solutions When There’s More Time than Money

When I asked some friends for advice on finding a professional to help me promote my forthcoming books, they said, “It’s going to cost you thousands of dollars a month.”

These are friends with lots of experience, so I believed them. Then I read the same advice in a Wall Street Journal small business column published in my local Sunday newspaper. The article explained various methods and the cost to spread the word about your business.

“Be extra diligent when selecting a PR firm. Firms charge clients anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000 a month, depending on the region, size and expertise, and results sometimes can be disappointing or inconsistent.”

My focus, when considering professional marketing help, was to outsource some of the work so I can concentrate on other projects. I won’t invest thousands of dollars on this effort, and I have a feeling that your budget doesn’t allow you to do so either. Here are the methods suggested in the article.

Create a blog as part of your strategy, or if you already have a blog, add more content and links to increase your promotion.

Create, upload, and share video clips on MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube to promote your product or service.

Submit press releases to online distribution services such as PRWeb and MyPRGenie (note: many online distribution services exist, some with stronger promotional power).

Other methods are available to you, but these ideas will get you started or at least renew your marketing strategy without blowing your budget.

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