The Comprehensive List of Ways to Market Your Business
Updated 3/2015
Yes, we know this list is by no means comprehensive. Our apologies for misleading those of you who thought you’d found the holy grail of marketing.
It’s a pretty good start, but since marketing is a fluid profession and, as someone out there’s grand-pappy used to say, “the times be always changin’,” perhaps this is better titled:
The Almost Comprehensive (Always-Expanding-Never-Complete) List of Ways to Market Your Business.
Feel free to send us your own ideas and we’ll keep updating this—at least until blog postings are as passé as operator switchboard gossip…
In absolutely no particular order:
- Word of mouth / Asking for referrals
- Networking
- networking groups
- business membership organizations
- civic organizations (Lions, Rotary, etc.)
- volunteer associations and activities
- hobbies and clubs (golfing, bowling leagues, bridge groups, etc.)
- Referral Sources/Testimonials (Yelp, Angie’s List, Kudzu, etc.)
- Social Networking (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. — check out how many there are!)
- Ad Exchange Networks (AdGridwork, adOne.com, etc.)
- Directory Listings – online (Google Place Pages, CitySearch, Yahoo! Local, etc.)
- Directory Listings – print
- PPC “Pay-per-click” Advertising – Google AdWords, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn, etc.
- Promoted Posts
- Print Advertising
- Commercials / TV and web advertising
- Infomercials
- Magazine Articles
- Press Releases
- Product Spotlights
- Advertorials
- Editorials
- Wikipedia, dmoz.org
- Video Marketing / Blogging (YouTube, Vimeo, Websites)
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- MeetUp (join one, or start your own)
- Presentations
- Tradeshows
- Conventions
- Conferences
- Website (kind-of a no-brainer we know)
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
- Write Blogs
- Comment on Blogs
- Guest Blogging
- Newsletters / eBlasts
- Direct Mail
- Sponsorships
- Volunteer
- Business Cards (duh!)
- Brochures / Brochure Folders
- Stationery
- Product Packaging / POS Marketing
- Incentive Programs
- Link Exchanges
- Coupons, Groupons, etc.
- Thank You letters, gifts, etc.
- Vehicle Wraps / Mobile Advertising (not to be confused with smart phone “mobile” marketing, this is the car you drive around town!)
- Mobile Marketing (mobile web sites, text message marketing, etc.)
- Billboards
- Zip code mailings (check out the USPS Every Door Direct Mail program!)
- City and regional Information Centers (directories, rack cards, brochures, etc.)
- Hotel Concierge services
- Ads on restaurant/diner placemats (yes, these are still around!)
- Ads, fliers, etc on bulletin boards
- Referral exchanges with affiliated businesses
- White papers
- Publish a journal or book / e-book
- Get published in someone else’s journal or book
- Infographics
- Workbooks and downloadable information documents
- Contests and Sweepstakes
- Online Surveys
- Promotional Products (yeah, there’s only about a gazillion options for this type of marketing)
- Short-form video (Vine, Instagram, animated GIFs)
- Direct mail and e-mail video cards
- Donating gift certificates for services or products to non-profit fundraisers
- Participating in charity or cause events (“business/corporate” teams for a walk- or run-a-thons, golf tournaments, etc.)
- Find a university or professional course in your arena and offer to be a guest speaker
Comment below with your ideas for ways to market your business and we’ll add it to the list!
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vmcampos
Short-attention span video: Vine, Instagram, and GIFs
Long-attention span video: YouTube and Vimeo
Podcasts: Soundcloud
BRANDgfx
Ah yes, short attention span marketing is becoming more important every year Victor. These are great additions to the list – thanks!
Sharna Langlais
Awesome article! You did such a fantastic job of listing so many, I had a hard time coming up with a few extras!
– Donating gift certificates for services or products to non-profit fundraisers
– Putting together a “business/corporate” team for a walk- or run-a-thon for a charity or cause
– Find a university or professional course in your arena and offer to be a guest speaker
BRANDgfx
Glad you enjoyed it Sharna! And thanks for these great additions – we’ll be sure to include them in our next update.
patricia duarte
Black Friday ads
Misspelled branding
Direct mail video cards
BRANDgfx
Great ideas Patricia, thanks. We’ll add them in the next update! Would love to hear more about how you’re using “misspelled branding” to market your business???
Brad
Along the lines of Word of Mouth, joining groups:
civic – Lions or Rotary
volunteer – Habitat for Humanity
fun – bowling leagues or card groups
special interest – hobby or travel
BRANDgfx
Right on Brad – thanks for your input!
Better make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand when you’re out having fun with your civic groups at a bowling fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. ;o)