How can you get exposure for your business if you don't have any money to spend on marketing?

Is it possible? Absolutely!

In fact, you can get others to promote your products or services to your ideal customers, at no cost if you know where to look.

All you have to be willing to do is give away some of your products or services for free. Not only will this generate free marketing, it's also a great way to introduce a brand new product or service and get people to try it and give you testimonials. Testimonials you can use to market to others.

When you're looking for places to donate, make sure the people your product or service will be exposed to are your ideal clients. Look for organizations, events or people that have members or attendees that are the kind of people you'd love to have as clients.

Ask them a few questions such as:

Will they talk about your product or service in front of their group?

Or, will they give you the chance to talk about it?

Will they include promotion of your product or service in their event program?

Find out what kind of exposure you'll receive in exchange for donating your product or service.

Make sure it's worth it before you start giving away your valuable products or services.

Not sure what types of events, organizations or people you should donate to?

Here are 10 ideas to get you started:

(1) Charity or Non-Profit Fund Raisers

(2) Auctions

(3) Industry Association Meetings

(4) Networking organizations or meetings

(5) People in related or complementary businesses

(6) Golf Tournaments or other events

(7) The media (for a product or service review)

(8) Chambers of Commerce Events

(9) At Your Own Speaking Engagements

(10) To industry experts (for a product or service review)

Using your actual product or service as a marketing tool by giving it away is a great way to introduce it to your ideal prospects, generate free exposure and start creating a buzz.

(C) Copyright 2006 Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing