15 Free Ways To Promote Your Business

Marketing is essential for your business to grow. You could offer the most stylish products or creative services, but if no one knows about them, they are useless. One of the biggest misconceptions about marketing is that you need a large budget. That is not the case. There are plenty of ways promote your business at no cost.

Be creative and think outside of the box. You are competing with many others, so what about you is going to stand out? Brainstorm and put those ideas towards your marketing. Here are 15 ways you can promote your business for free. 

1. Host a webinar

2. Start a newsletter

3. Get on social media

4. Speak at a conference

5. Write a guest blog post

6. Be a guest on a podcast

7. Optimize your website SEO

8. Register your business on Google

9. Ask for referrals from past clients

10. Write and distribute a press release

11. Contribute to Pinterest Group Boards

12. Create a promotional video on YouTube

13. Attend a local networking/meet up events

14. Collaborate with other professionals in related industries

15. Put your website + social media handles in your email signature

What Not To Do On Social Media

Social media. In theory, it should be fun and simple. That does not mean that there isn't strategic planning that goes into the content you see. Whether you are a new entrepreneur or a veteran business owner, here are five things you should never do on social media. 

1. Only promoting your product/services. Don't be selfish. Be a resource of information, not just a seller. 

2. Posting all your content at once. While it can be tempting to post all your new content at once, don't do it. You will annoy your audience and will likely end up with a few less followers.  There are several scheduling tools that allow you to schedule your posts to go live at optimal times. Hootsuite, Buffer, and Tailwind are just a few great examples.

3. Going hashtag crazy. Hashtags are great, but they come at a price. Use too many and you look spammy. Use to few and you lose out on a higher audience. The key is to use a mix of hashtags related to your industry, related directly to your post, and to what your ideal client is checking. 

4. Never engaging with your audience. Social media is meant to be social. When your post receives comments, comment back. Like and comment on others' posts as well. 

5. Going off brand. The easiest way to avoid this is to have your brand statement and brand styling board in your sight when creating your posts. 

5 Tips on Working From Home

1. Create a designated work space - Step away from the bed. Tempting, I know, but you'll never get your work done if you're in that comfy cloud. If you have space for a home office, go for it. It doesn't have to be that grand though. A simple table and chair in your living room or your kitchen table will do. The key is to get into the routine of working in the same spot. 

2. Set hours - It is easy to lose track of time with your new freedom. You can start the day when you want (YES!), but next thing you know it is 6pm and you have only completed one thing off your to-do list. Set working hours and stay focused. You'll be able to get more done than you normally would in an office since you don't have coworkers interrupting you every five minutes. 

3. Get outside - Sure, working alone does wonders for your focus. It can also break you. Let's be honest, working from home can be lonely. Make it a point to get outside at least once a day. Schedule in little breaks, whether it is going to your favorite coffee shop or going for a walk. You'll come back to your work refreshed and more focused. 

4. Follow a to-do list  - With the freedom to make your own schedule, it is easy to get lost in the day. Make a list of what you need to accomplish everyday. Next, prioritize your tasks. What is the most important thing you have to accomplish today? If you are stuck, go with the task you are least interested in doing. You'll get it out of the way and won't spend the rest of your day coming up with excuses not to complete it. 

5. Set goals and keep them visible - This is a big one. With no one popping their head into your office asking on the status of projects, it is easy to lose sight of what you are working towards. Write down your goals and get specific. Keep them in sight of your working space so you are constantly reminded of what you are working for. 

Travel Quotes for Entrepreneurs

It's not what you look at that matters,

it's what you see. - Henry David Thoreau

5 Things Successful People NEVER Do

Success. Everyone wants it, but few are willing to put in the effort to get it. With successful people, what they do not do is just as important as what they actually do. Watch what successful people. Follow their habits. Want to be like them? Here are a few things successful people never do. 

1. Ignore their fears. Change doesn't come from your comfort zone. You need to tackle your fears head on and take control. 

2. Regret mistakes. Successful people do not dwell on their mistakes. They use it as an opportunity to learn a lesson. 

3. Quit. No matter how hard something is, they are all in. Quitting is not an option. 

4. Pull all-nighters. They do not partake in the glorification of being busy. Pulling constant late nights at the office wears you down. You are not as sharp and have trouble remembering information. 

5. Interrupt. Successful people truly listen when someone is talking. They listen to hear, not to respond. When you interrupt someone, it shows you are not listening to them, rather you are thinking about what you want to say.