Ideas for freelances and contractors to get free marketing and PR
by admin on Feb.10, 2010, under 22 In Motion
Free marketing and PR is hard to come by nowadays despite the fact that the competition on the various markets for clients and customers has intensified. Only the most innovative business related entities get the free marketing and public relations. Tradition employed the use of paid advertising. Over time, customers have been fed up with advertisement due to the fact that, they feel that the advertisements are often false and misleading. The present day has seen competition over two ends in marketing and public relations. Firstly is over advertising space, and then secondly is over editorial space. Advertising space is readily available and companies with the most financial muscle have crowded this space. This refers to paid advertisement that is controlled by the owner of the advertisement. For freelances and contractors, this form of marketing and public relations is often off their radar. They hence have to compete for the second niche, the editorial space. Editorial space refers to comments written on the daily journals in regard to your line of work. This is more credible as it doesn’t take any sides.
If you are a freelancer or a contractor there are a number of ideas that you can take up to get free marketing and PR. Firstly, you need to understand the various media and their target audiences. Understanding the media goes a long way towards knowing what they best want as well as prefer. This will make you work hand in hand with their polices hence seeking favor and a working relationship that is very ideal for free marketing and PR. Different media houses have different target audiences and hence you should go further by looking at the target audience that the media address. This is simple and can be done by looking at the media houses, company profile. After creating a relationship, you need to show why you, as a freelancer and contractor, you are unique in your trade. This can be through the various practices that you uphold as well as the relationship that you have with your customers and clients.
The use of mass media for free marketing and PR forms the traditional method of the cause. The internet propagated by constant technological innovations has though brought more avenues to seek and establish free marketing as well as Public relations. There are a number of ways through which you, as a freelancer or contractor can make the most of the internet. Firstly is through the newest form of communication, social media sites. The development of social media sites has revolutionized the way communication is carried out. They have provided a forum for instantaneous communication. The first step that you need to take as a freelancer or contractor is to engage your clients and customers through the social media. Get involved in their activities that are outside your trade and seek to establish great mutually beneficial relationship. You can also sell your products here by creating a page that addresses your line of work. Encourage people to join and always keep them informed. The need for new content can never be emphasized. Online social media sites are free to use and it is only your time and dedication to the use that will enhance you as well as your company.
The internet furthermore provides another forum for free marketing as well as PR. This is through a number of ways. Online listing comes as one of the many. These include registering under local websites that give information about the location that you practice your trade. Designed to promote the locality, local websites offer free marketing and PR through creating a buzz about the presence of your work. They are often free and offer a forum for you to place your number as well as any other information about your business. The second internet mediated free marketing and PR idea comes through the email. Through the use of the Email address, you can contact a number of your clients as well as to be customers on the various new additives that you offer or revamped prices. You can also source for new jobs by posting and talking about your availability via email.
Off the internet, there are other ideas that you can take up for free marketing as well as PR. Networking through working with a number of business groups goes a long way towards development. Always seek to attend the meetings held in your area of operation as well as trade shows and exhibition affairs. This provides you with a face to face avenue to interact and bond with the community members. Give out business cards and take business cards and always remember to keep to your word. You can also interact with possible customers by building credibility. Remember, marketing and PR is a constant and ongoing activity.