A 6-Pack of Quick, Easy, and Free Marketing Tactics

So your marketing budget is empty and you're getting itchy. You need to do something. Here are six things you can do today, and they're all free.

1. Add analytics to your website

Website analytics will change your life. You will be able to see how visitors use your website, what brings them to your site, where your visitors are actually located, and how long they stick around.

How is this about marketing? Well, it helps you adjust your site copy, content and product offerings. You will be able to see what pages get the most traffic, and which pages visitors avoid. You can even see what search engine terms bring people to your site. Google Analytics is free and fairly easy to install on your site. If you don't want to do it yourself, get your website manager or the most techy person on staff to do it for you.

Once you get comfortable with Google's Analytics, you can check out some more advanced, for-pay, analytics packages. I use one called VisiStat, that gives me live analytics and allows me to drill deeper into the numbers. VisiStat normally offers a one-week free trial, but if you use the promo code: MSPOT, you will get a 30 day free trial (up to 100,000 page views).

2. Email Your Existing Customers

You should be collecting email addresses from every customer that allows you. Now use those email addresses to email your customers! Send them monthly announcements of new products or feature clearance items.

Here's the big email success secret: (ssshhh) Ask your customers to buy something. You will be surprised how often it works. Almost every time I get an email from Shoestring Winery, I make a purchase. Why? Because I love their wine and they ask me to buy.

If your email list is small, you can send emails from your webmail account or from Outlook. However, most services will let you send a limited number at a time. If your email list contains hundreds or more addresses, you should try an email service. iContact offers a 15-day free trial and Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial with no credit card required. They also let you do fancy things with your email like adding pictures, and giving it a newsletter look.

3. Claim all Your Online Listings

Up to 30% of all search queries include city, state, or zip code. That means people are looking for information locally. Enhance your search engine visibility by claiming all your free listings. Each of the search engines lets you claim your listing and add basic information, pinpoint your location, and even add pictures and video. All for free.

Optimize your local, online business profile and then claim your local listings here: Google Local Business Center, Bing Local Listing Center, Yahoo Local, Yelp for Business Owners,

4. Create a Facebook Page

This week, Facebook surpassed the 300 million user mark, with about 70 million of those users in the United States, 19 million in the UK, and 12 million in Canada. As many as half of all Facebook users access their accounts every day. If you have a customer base that is active on the Internet, it makes sense for you to create your free Facebook page.

Facebook pages are not regular Facebook accounts (profiles). Profiles are for people, pages are for business. Unless you are a Facebook whiz, it can get a little confusing. First read these free eBooks about maximizing your presence: How to Use Facebook for Business (PDF) and About Face. Then create your own here: Free Facebook Page.

5. Use the Telephone

In the age of email, personal conversations stand out. You already have a telephone, so use it to connect with customers. But don't just call random phone numbers and say "I'm just calling to check in on you." Have purpose for your call that benefits both you and the customer. A really effective tactic is to ask for feedback.

After a purchase, within one day, one week, or whatever criteria you decide, place a follow-up phone call to your customer. Ask them: 1) Do you have any questions about your product and how to use it? 2) What did you enjoy / not enjoy about your purchase? 3) How can we improve your experience with us? 4) Are there any additional products or services you would like to see us offer?

You will be surprised at the positive reaction you receive. You will also form a personal bond with the customer that might create some word of mouth. Plus you'll probably get some good ideas to improve your business.

6. Place an ad on craigslist

craigslist is the wildly popular online classified ads site used by 55 million Americans. But it's more than just a place to buy furniture. craiglist allows commercial ads for local businesses under the "services offered" category. Here's an ad I posted last night for The Marketing Spot.

To place your free ad, you will need to set up a craigslist account. First, go to your local craigslist site by using this web address: http://(yourcity).craigslist.org - replace (yourcity) with your actual location. Create an account, and then post an ad under the "services offered" category.

Are you using all these free marketing tactics? Do you have other suggestions? Add them in the comment section below.

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