FaceBook.com is THE social networking web site that attracts tens of millions of viewers world wide. You can create a presence on the site for free and build a "friends" list from your customers, staff, or, if you're a church, parishoners.

Best part, as you know, it's free!

Be sure to link to your FaceBook page from your web site.

Years ago a dentist noticed my children while visiting Wendy's. He handed my wife and I a business card, noting he specialized in children's dental work.

When our kids needed dental work, we called on the friendly man we met at Wendy's and now their children see him regularly — or did until he retired.

Having business cards is NOT the same as USING business cards. See prospective customers? Hand them a card!

New Family Bureau.
Once each week (or each month) meet with other business persons and invite others to join you. Sales people and business people will appreciate the opportunity to network without the constraints of belonging to a dues-paying club or fraternity. New Family Bureau.

Review the newspaper every day. Note those who write letters to the editor. When the subject of a letter reflects a character quality. Write the letter's author a PERSONAL letter on business letterhead (copied form letters will do more harm than good - they will say, "You're not worth a personal letter.") Thank the writers for their positions and note how you agree with them.

You can research names and addresses of those writing to the editor at www.whitepages.com. While you won't find all of the names you are seeking, you will find many. New Family Bureau.

Do a weekly public access show. Invite business people to talk about their businesses. They will appreciate the exposure. While public access channels may prohibit you from advertising your business (or other businesses), you will get great mileage from simply mentioning your profession as, "The owner of..." New Family Bureau.

In many areas local TV stations produce local talk shows. Call the guest scheduling director of your local TV stations. Ask if they could use someone with your expertise. New Family Bureau.

Each week Betty's Beauty Shop gives each customer a $5 off coupon from Pearl's Pizza Parlor. And Pearl's tapes a coupon from Betty's on each of their pizza boxes. The two business exchange the services as low cost advertising. Everyone who sees the coupons (not just those who use them) is exposed to the businesses. New Family Bureau.

Once every six to twelve months, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. The topic should be newsworthy and relate to your area of expertise. Include a sentence such as, "As the owner of..." or "Having been a dentist in the community for..." If published, your letter will be free advertising that will reach your entire community! New Family Bureau.

Join a service club, such as Kiwanis International. When people ask you what you do for a living, hand them a business card. Most areas have luncheons designed specifically for business professionals to network. Join and attend public gatherings sponsored by such groups as the Chamber of Commerce. New Family Bureau.

To save money and budget time, you may want to consider co-opting with other business professionals. Ask a few other exhibitors to exchange business cards. You will place a stack of their cards at your exhibit if they will do the same for you. Don't want to rent a booth? No problem. Ask exhibitors to display your business cards or brochures for a small fee or in exhange for free service.New Family Bureau.

Did you know that every summer nearly every town and hamlet has a parade? Most parades don't have entry fees. Check with the Chambers of Commerce at towns in surrounding counties and ask for information about local events. They will direct you to the contact person. Be sure to have a sign to attached to the car. (Don't have a classic car? Rent one; or ask a friend to drive his car for a small fee.) Have lots of candy to toss to the kids along the parade route (unless you're a dentist). Consider hiring teens to distribute fliers along the route as well.New Family Bureau.

You will get high-visibility for a tiny-fraction of the cost of a billboard. Plus, you will have the advantage of providing a service for your community. Contact your county and state highway departments and ask them about their adopt-a-highway programs. Most programs will post a sign bearing your business name along the route you adopt. Rather than mow and clean the stretch of roadway, hire a lawncare service to do it for you. Be sure to check into liability issues. If you hire a lawncare service, for example, be sure it has adequate insurance in case of an accident and have them sign a disclaimer.New Family Bureau.

Some restaurants will allow you to put a "fish bowl" on their counters. Customers will drop in their business cards for the chance to win a free lunch — that you will pay for. Have a drawing once each week. The advantage? Everyone who walks up to the restaurant counter will see your business name prominently displayed on the fish bowl. It's great advertising for the cost of lunch (and the restaurant gets a guaranteed sale every week).New Family Bureau.

From the business cards you collected from the fishbowl (see Idea 6), create a simple data base, then mail each entry a thank you letter for participating. Although they did not win a free lunch, they DID win a free service. If you are a dentist, offer a free exam. Own a lawncare business? Mow their grass for free one time. New Family Bureau.

Speaking of restaurants, a locally-owned restaurant may allow you to furnish them with free (to the restaurant) paper place mats. Have the printer design the place mats including your advertisement. For the cost of printing, you will get great exposure! Avoid the temptation to co-op this project with other businesses. New Family Bureau.

You will be amazed at how effective this project will be. If a business gives you excellent service, take a moment to write a thank you letter addressed to the manager and, if you can, include the name of the employee(s) who was helpful. Often, you will find your letter — ON YOUR LETTERHEAD — posted for the public to see. You can also expect the manager to show your letter to employees — all of whom are prospective customers. (As a bonus, you will normally receive excellent service the next time you patronize the business.) Not bad for a 37 cent stamp!New Family Bureau.

Each week Betty's Beauty Shop has a drawing for a free pizza from Pearl's Pizza Parlor. And Pearl's has a drawing for a free haircut from Betty's. The two business exchange the services as low cost advertising. Everyone (not just the drawing winner) who enters the drawing is exposed to the businesses.New Family Bureau.

This is similar to idea 11, except there are more than two business cooperating. For example, ten business owners each place 10,000 coupons in 10,000 envelopes. Then, each of the ten businesses takes 1,000 of the envelopes and gives them to the first 1,000 customers. (Note: the numbers are arbitrary. You can use this idea with as many or as few business owners as care to cooperate.)New Family Bureau.

Donate $200 to $500 to a local youth club in exchange for providing volunteers to wash cars. Here's how it works: First, secure a highly visible location (your own parking lot is preferred, but not necessary.) Second, have the volunteers make signs to attract motorists on the day of the car wash. Third, as motorists come in for a wash, give each one a flier about your business and — of course — offer a free service to get them in your door. You may want to run ads in the newspaper, "Free Car Wash compliments of..." (include the day and time.) New Family Bureau.

This works well for insurance agencies and other sales oriented businesses, such as car dealers. Buy an inexpensive color TV (under $100.) Rent floor space in a high traffic retail business (such as a mall, large discount store, building supply store, etc.). Set up a table with an attractive sign. As customers walk by your table, politely ask if they'd like to register to win a free color TV. While they fill out the registration form, ask if they mind if you tell them a little about your business. If they agree, give them a presentation that will lead to an appointment. At a predetermined time of day, draw a form from a "fishbowl" and give the TV to the person whose name you drew. New Family Bureau.

On the same day each month (such as the first Monday), publish a business building idea in your local newspaper or business periodical. Title the ad THE FIRST MONDAY IDEA. Business owners will look for your idea each month. If you use any of my ideas, please credit NewFamilyBureau.com. At the bottom of the ad, offer a free service for first time customers. You may want to contact the editor of your newspaper prior to buying advertising space. If the editor agrees to run your idea as a monthly feature column, it will cost you nothing. In the by line (or bio sketch at the end of the column), be sure the editor includes the name of your business. New Family Bureau.

You are actually participating in this idea at this very moment. If you use my ideas, please credit NewFamilyBureau.com. You may want to post the ideas in a blog. New Family Bureau.

Although no one will use bumper stickers that advertise your business, THEY WILL use generic bumper stickers that include your business name in tiny letters under the sticker's message. For example, have 1,000 bright colored bumper stickers printed with the BOLD message I LOVE INDY. In tiny letters, include, "Compliments of Smiles R' Us Dental." (Obviously, you'll want to substitute the name of your city and business.) Then, every time the prospects look at their vehicles, they are reminded of your business. What's more, other motorists familiar with your stickers will be reminded of your business when they see them on other vehicles. (Note: A political organization in Indiana is using this idea very effectively. To see how they are doing it, visit their Web site here: REAL BUMPER STICKER. And, if you live in Indiana, they will actually send you a real bumper sticker!)New Family Bureau.

Ask a few high-traffic retailers and restaurants to place a coin bank on their counters with proceeds going to your favorite charity. Each week, go by each establishment and collect the change. The banks will include the charity's name and (of course) the name of your business. Customers who visit the stores and restaurants will not only be exposed to your business, but will appreciate your generous efforts. The charity will also be appreciative. Be sure to contact the charity, getting their permission. You will also want to maintain simple but accurate accounting of funds raised. Hint: Be sure the coin banks include locks. If you find trusted volunteers to collect the change (a real time saver for you), have the volunteers "swap out" the banks on a rotation. That is, they will pick up locked banks at the stores, replacing them with empty locked banks to be picked up the following week. New Family Bureau.

Nearly twenty years ago I began the New Family Bureau by bartering my graphic design skills for free advertising. And when I published a local ad circular, I frequently exchanged ad space for such services as haircuts, etc. Bartering your services for advertising gets you exposure in exchange for your time and talent. And exchanging products for advertising gets you exposure for the cost of your product, typically much less than what you would have paid for the advertising. What do you have to barter? New Family Bureau.

Hire a teacher to present a rotating 4 week course in Spanish (or English) at your place of business for free. Expect the teacher to charge $20 to $30 per hour. If only one or two students become paying customers to your core business, the class may more than pay for itself (depending, of course, on the nature of your business). You will need to limit enrollment in your free classes to accomodate the size of your facility. TIPS: Note that many enrollees will be "no shows." You may want to hire a teacher who does tutoring. The teacher will find your class a great way to recruit students and may, consequently, provide the service for free. New Family Bureau.

Identify apartment complexes with high concentrations of children. Then, ask the management to allow you to use their area for the story time. Invite parents to bring (not drop off) their children for cookies, punch and a story. Do this by distributing fliers (with management's permission) to every apartment. The fliers will contain the phrase "Compliments of..." and the name of your business. To be effective, you may need to hire an excellent story teller, such as an elementary school teacher. In addition to cookies and punch for the kids, parents will get a coupon for a free service at your business. The preferred time to do the story hour is after school and before supper. If successful, ask the management to allow you to do story times every three to six months. TIPS: Ministry organizations, such as Child Evangelism, may provide talented story tellers at no charge, though a contribution would be in order. Rather than a story time, you may want to sponsor a presentation by civic groups, such as D.A.R.E. For added exposure, consider inviting the local news media.New Family Bureau.

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