The best way for people to get to know you, and find out how your business can help them, is to offer a complimentary sample of valuable information.  This can be something written, like a special report, or valuable audio tips.

If you don’t already have a valuable give away, then please read more about this topic here. 

In this article I want to share additional ways you can use your valuable give away in addition to offering it on your website.  Leveraging information you already have is simply smart marketing.

Having something valuable to share with people who are interested in what you do is fabulous because you have a gift to offer people.  It is also a way to show your expertise.  In addition, it saves you time because you won’t need to repeat the same information on a one-on-one basis.  Plus, it allows people to review your information when it is convenient for them.

Here are seven ways to promote your valuable give away in places besides your website:

1. Create classified ads which are inexpensive and sometimes free.

2. Use Google AdWords which allow you to control the level of investment.

3. Place postcards (with permission) that promote your valuable give away in lobbies and reception areas where your prospective clients frequent.

4. Promote it when speaking.

5. Offer it at trade shows are fairs.

6. Talk about it at networking meetings.

7. Invite your clients to offer it to their clients.

You can also create a physical version of your give away.  If your valuable give away is something written, you can print out color copies.  If it is audio, you can burn the information on CD’s or download it to memory sticks to give away.

This way, you have something to show people who are interested in your business.  Be sure you always have a few copies of your valuable give away with you when you head out the door.

You can also give a physical copy of your valuable give away to COI’s (Centers of Influence) you know.

If you don’t already have a valuable give away, get started now to create one.  If you do have one, then take action today to get it into the hands of more people.  You will be amazed at how this will help you attract more clients and grow your business.

© Stephanie Ward, 2008

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

All the experts kept saying it was a great way to give value, gain free publicity, and position yourself as an expert.  It was something I had planned to do for years and I finally did it for the first time in May, 2005 and I’ve been doing it ever since.  What is it?  Writing articles.  Don’t be like me and wait, get started today!

OK, I can hear the moans of protest from here, so let me explain what writing articles can mean for your business and perhaps you will be willing to give it a shot?  For those of you who love to write this is your big chance to get started or to write even more.

You don’t need to have a weekly or monthly newsletter in order to consistently write articles although this is a good way to make sure that you produce at least one article per month (it sure keeps me on schedule).

Pick a topic you are passionate about, one that allows you to provide insightful information that will help your clients, and start writing.  An average length for an article is 500-800 words.

Once you have completed your article ask a friend or colleague to review it for you and give you feedback.  If you’re going to take the time to writing something, make sure it’s the best it can be!

There isn’t room in this article to go into all of the details of how to write, there are plenty of resources out there if you need help in this area.

The point is that you, as the owner of your business, know a lot about the problems your clients face and how you can help solve them.  You have valuable information that people want and need, so why not give it to them? 

Writing is like any other skill, it takes practice and over time you will improve and find your own unique voice.

So what’s the big deal, what can you do with an article?  I’ll mention a few here, be creative and don’t limit yourself:

1. When you meet people who fit your ideal client profile offer to send them an article.  No sale, no pitch, just sharing something that will support them.

2. Offer your articles to strategic alliance partners for them to give to their clients.

3. Place your articles on your own website so visitors can see the value you offer. 

4. Once you have several articles you can package them together and voila, an instant e-book you can give away or sell.

5. Finally, a highly leveraged action to take is to place your articles on the internet where publishers go to find content for their publications.  This is really simple and it will cost you nothing.

There are different places to submit your articles on the internet depending on your focus and content.  Here are just some of the websites where I place my articles: Ezine Articles, Go Articles, Article City, Amazines, Idea Marketers,  and Business Know How.

To find more places where can publish your articles, search the keywords ‘article submission sites’ and any other keywords related to your business.   

Be sure to include a brief ‘author bio’ with each article you write and publish (see mine at the end of this article).  This way, when people read your article they know how to connect with you in case they want to know more.

Include a “call to action” in your author bio that invites the reader to take an action like: sign up for your newsletter, get a free report, or receive a sample of your product or service.   

Because you can allow your article to be re-published without permission you may not actually know how much exposure you have received.  To find out where you have been published simply type the name of your article into Google.

In some cases you will be contacted for permission even though it isn’t necessary.  You may also hear from people who want to thank you for allowing your article to be reprinted.

What will sharing your articles do for you?

- Giving people valuable information they can use makes you a resource and increases the possibility that people will think of you, and your business, when they have a need.  This is a way to let people get to know you and start building a relationship with you.

- You will increase your exposure by publishing your articles in many places.  Increasing your exposure increases your reach to potential clients. Think leverage! 

- You position yourself as an expert in your field by writing about the kinds of problems you solve for your clients.  Everyone wants to work with an expert.

These things will all contribute toward the growth of your business.  Don’t look for results overnight and stay focused on serving your clients by producing articles that will help them be successful.

Writing is just one of many marketing strategies you can use to grow your business.  Remember, the most important aspect of any successful marketing strategy is consistent implementation.  So please don’t write one article and then decide it doesn’t work and give up.  If you choose writing as one of your strategies, stick with it and leverage everything you create!

(c) 2005 Stephanie Ward

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.