| Did you know that it has recently become much less | | | | People like the moving image and many searchers |
| expensive to start a new business? With advances in | | | | have started using sites such as YouTube to find the |
| digital cameras, social media and online shop software | | | | products they are looking for. |
| it is now much less expensive than in was even | | | | - Social Media: Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and |
| fifteen years ago when I started my business. The | | | | MySpace are becoming increasingly popular in |
| great news is I did it then for less than $10,000 (USD) | | | | business promotion. If you do not already have an |
| and you most definitely can now. | | | | account on these sites, do so now. It is free. You will |
| It is important to keep as much cash in the bank as | | | | also need to start a Facebook fan page for your |
| possible. You will most likely need it to pay for | | | | business which is easily done by following the |
| products and supplies. Chances are you will not be | | | | instructions on Facebook. Again, all of this is free. You |
| offered an account by your suppliers when you first | | | | will no doubt need to do other types of paid marketing |
| start up so hold this money back so that it is there | | | | but this should not cost you an arm and a leg. For |
| when you need it. It is also important to resist the | | | | example, if you are not a web designer, you will need |
| temptation to get an office unless in is absolutely vital | | | | to find someone to do this for you. You should be able |
| to your business. Many young start ups work very | | | | to find a company that specialises in websites for new |
| comfortably from home for the first few years and | | | | companies which look very professional. Once you |
| their customers are none the wiser for it. As long as | | | | have your site, you will need to do the proper SEO |
| your service is fantastic, where you work should not | | | | (search engine optimisation) for the site so that it can |
| make a big difference to your clients but it will certainly | | | | be found on the search engines. Whether you do this |
| make a huge difference to your monthly spend. | | | | yourself or hire someone to do it for you, I strongly |
| Deciding to start a business is a big decision and one | | | | recommend you purchase a few books and read up |
| that should not be entered into lightly. You need to | | | | on the subject to avoid paying over the odds using a |
| consider how you are going to advertise your | | | | company capitalising on your naivety of the subject! |
| company to ensure your target customers know you | | | | You may also want to look into inexpensive |
| are there. Thankfully, this is now a lot less expensive | | | | promotional gifts. You can purchase good quality |
| than it used to be. In fact, much of it is free. Following | | | | plastic promotional pens for pennies. These can be |
| are some very good ways of promoting yourself for | | | | printed with your logo and details and given to your |
| nothing; | | | | key customers. Other inexpensive promotional gifts |
| - Article Writing: If you know your industry and are able | | | | that are currently very popular are stress balls, |
| to write about it, then do so and do it often. Many | | | | keyrings, and of course clothing. |
| business people are now writing about their products | | | | It is important to remember when purchasing business |
| or industry and posting them on sites such as Writing | | | | gifts that the gift that are used are much better than |
| keyword rich articles can get attract a lot of interest to | | | | the more gimmicky gifts. Everyone needs to write so |
| you and your company. I recommend visiting and | | | | handing out good quality promotional pens to your |
| looking at some of the articles your competitors have | | | | customers will be offering them a product they will use |
| written for ideas. | | | | often. Each time they do, the product will be selling |
| - Marketing Videos: There was a time when marketing | | | | your company name, contact details, products and |
| videos were only done by the biggest of companies to | | | | services! |
| be shown at conferences and tradeshows etc. Now | | | | So you see, starting a new business does not need to |
| you can purchase a hand held digital video camera | | | | be expensive. The most important thing is that you |
| and make your own. Your videos can be uploaded to | | | | keep the majority of your startup costs in your bank |
| sites such as YouTube and Facebook to promote | | | | so that the money is there for you when the orders |
| your products or services. It is important to understand | | | | begin to roll in. |
| that your videos do not need to be of Oscar quality. | | | | |