16 Methods for Getting Free Advertising

1. Place copies of your flyer on bulletin boards throughout your community, such as laundromats, grocery stores, barber shops, coffee shops, libraries, and other local gathering places. Focus on Fridays and Saturdays when shopping and foot traffic are usually higher.

2. Check with local newspapers. Before going to press, some smaller papers may have empty space they need to fill. Your ad may be the right size for that space, and they may be willing to run it at no cost or at a reduced rate.

3. Place flyers on the windshields of parked cars. This can be a simple way to spread the word locally, and you may be able to hire someone to help distribute them. Be sure to check your city ordinances first to make sure this is allowed in your area.

4. Leave sales literature on the doorsteps of homes and businesses in your area. Weekends are often best for residential areas, while weekdays are usually better for businesses.

5. Have your best-performing 1-inch or 2-inch ad made into a rubber stamp. Stamp it on the envelopes of your outgoing mail. Check with rubber stamp suppliers for pricing and options.

6. When you have envelopes printed with your return address, ask the printer to include your best short ad directly beneath your address. This often adds little or no extra cost and gives every mailed envelope more promotional value.

7. If you publish a mail order magazine, newspaper, ad sheet, newsletter, or similar publication, contact other publishers about exchanging ad space. If your circulation is similar to theirs, many may be willing to trade equal amounts of advertising space.

8. Some publishers may offer free ad space in exchange for helping distribute their publication. Write to them and ask if they would provide a free 1-inch ad in exchange for mailing 50 to 100 copies of their publication.

9. Write helpful, informative articles for trade publications in your industry. Many publishers may offer free ad space in exchange for quality article content they can use.

10. Take advantage of advertising specials. Some publishers offer deals such as three ads for the price of two, or four ads for the price of three. These offers can give you extra exposure without increasing your budget.

11. Watch for publishers that offer a free classified ad with your first display ad. Use the free ad to promote another offer and make the most of the added exposure.

12. When a new publication is getting started, the publisher may offer reduced advertising rates to help fill available space. Watch for these opportunities, especially in publications that reach your target audience.

13. In your ads, request a self-addressed stamped envelope. When you reply, include additional offers or sales literature in the same outgoing mail. This gives you another advertising opportunity without extra postage.

14. Consider becoming a mailer. Ask your printer for the lowest price to print circulars on both sides of a sheet. Then contact other businesses and offer to print and mail their circular on one side with no competing ads. You can place your own circular on the reverse side and distribute both together. The other advertiser helps cover the printing cost, while your message gets included at little or no extra expense.

15. Offer commission-based circulars. Print one of your regular offers on one side and a commission offer on the reverse side, leaving space for the mailer to stamp their name and address. This gives others an incentive to distribute your offer for you.

16. If you use a postage meter, use the advertising space next to the stamp imprint for a short promotional message.