Free Marketing Ideas - Tips to Boost Your Credibility
Building your credibility as an expert in your field is one of the best free marketing strategies a small business owner can practice.
People are less price sensitive when they perceive you as an expert.
They are less hesitant to try your service.
They are also more likely to refer their friends to you knowing their friends will be in good hands.
All business owners should create an action plan to gradually build their credibility over time.
Share Your Knowledge Create a list of tips you are willing to give away for free.
Send those tips to your entire e-mail contact list (if they are good, they might get forwarded along), post your tips in your store/office window, write an article about them and ask the local paper to publish it, and give them away in networking situations to people who are interested in what you do.
Give Speeches/Presentations Make yourself available for speeches.
Keep an eye open for industry events as well as events your target market will be at.
Teach a Class / Host a Seminar Run classes or seminars.
Not only does teaching others how to do something raise your credibility, it can serve as a lead generator and a source of word-of-mouth.
For example, an Italian restaurant owner could teach a "Basic Italian Cooking" course.
Financial planners and mortgage brokers often run free seminars at public libraries.
If you can charge a fee for your knowledge, all the better.
Write a Small Book/Guide You don't have to write a huge novel to be seen as an expert.
Write a 20-50 page book, and have it published by a print-on-demand publisher.
In addition to being a great advertising tool, stating your credentials as an author can give you instant credibility.
At only a few dollars a book, you can give them away at networking functions to hot prospects, or mail a copy straight to people who you want to establish a relationship with.
People are less price sensitive when they perceive you as an expert.
They are less hesitant to try your service.
They are also more likely to refer their friends to you knowing their friends will be in good hands.
All business owners should create an action plan to gradually build their credibility over time.
Share Your Knowledge Create a list of tips you are willing to give away for free.
Send those tips to your entire e-mail contact list (if they are good, they might get forwarded along), post your tips in your store/office window, write an article about them and ask the local paper to publish it, and give them away in networking situations to people who are interested in what you do.
Give Speeches/Presentations Make yourself available for speeches.
Keep an eye open for industry events as well as events your target market will be at.
Teach a Class / Host a Seminar Run classes or seminars.
Not only does teaching others how to do something raise your credibility, it can serve as a lead generator and a source of word-of-mouth.
For example, an Italian restaurant owner could teach a "Basic Italian Cooking" course.
Financial planners and mortgage brokers often run free seminars at public libraries.
If you can charge a fee for your knowledge, all the better.
Write a Small Book/Guide You don't have to write a huge novel to be seen as an expert.
Write a 20-50 page book, and have it published by a print-on-demand publisher.
In addition to being a great advertising tool, stating your credentials as an author can give you instant credibility.
At only a few dollars a book, you can give them away at networking functions to hot prospects, or mail a copy straight to people who you want to establish a relationship with.
