Hello All,

I thought I would share a list of some ideas I have used to gain clients and get my business name out there.

1. Create a bookmark to give to anyone that will take it.

2. Business cards (have them on hand at ALL times)

3. Website (A must in the Virtual world)

4. Brochures (Another item to keep on hand)

5. Post cards (for direct mailings)

6. Car Decal

7. Talking to printing companies in your area (UPS, Staples, etc. Often times they have clients that they do printing for, but the clients may need someone to actually design what they need to be printed or other services)

8. Donation to Charity (Create a basket relevant to the charity with your business card, brochure and or book mark inside)

9. Trade-a-link (Trade a link on your website with another company)

10. Refer-a-friend Program (offer a refer-a-friend program to clients)

11. Avon Order or any other home selling business (They deliver catalogs to clients. Ask them if they could hand out your business with their next order and you will give them X amount of free time for services)

12. Press Releases (Write a press release about your new business and post in local newspaper)

13. Gather information from Welcome Wagon or have your business information put in baskets delivered to new people in town.

14. Join any and all free forums or directories.

15. Create a Facebook pages site to advertise your business - this is different from your standard facebook account.

16. MySpace - create a MySpace page for your business.

17. Donate a basket with your business information attached to a Buck and Doe Party/Jack and Jill.

18. Join your local Business of Commerce.

19. Join forums specific to your market niche.

20. Give business cards to family and friends - ask them to hand them out whenever possible.

21. Slip a business card in with your Christmas cards.

22. Halloween - Ha! I handed out candy to all the children with a little flyer about my business for the parents!

23. Create an email signature that is inserted in EVERY email that leaves your computer.

24. Talk to the teachers at your children's school or local school. They especially need help at report card time.

25. Talk to the principal at your local schools and get permission to place a tasteful basket in the staff room. I usually put some chocolates or candies in the basket along with my business information.

26. Leave business cards/brochures on the boards in grocery stores.

27. Any mail sent from your home should have a return address label with your business information. You never know who will see your business along the way to its destination!

Best of Luck!

Vanessa Lindsay

Great Ideas Vanessa. As a new VA I always appreciate new ideas. Thanks.

-Kellie

No Problem Kellie!

Some of this will work for others and some won't. The great thing about them though, is that they don't cost anything at all or hardly anything...so it doesn't hurt to try.
You just never know!

Vanessa Lindsay

And here I was trying to find new ways to access my "future clients... "

Thank you so much Vanessa...


Elenora

Great list! Thanks for sharing

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Hi Vanessa,

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas....I just love it. I am new to the VA world and am trying to get my name out there, and you have some great ideas!!

Thanks again.

Barb

Very good list Vanessa - thank you

Samantha

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Samantha Caldicott
On The Dot Typing/Marketing/Reception
http://www.onthedotreception.co.uk

Wonderful list! Thanks for sharing!

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Hello Ladies,

I am going to continue to add to this list. If there is anything that you have done that has worked, please let me know.

This was just a quick list that I complied last night. I will have more to share soon!

Vanessa Lindsay

Thanks for the list. It just goes to show that good marketing is more about consistency than exactly how much you spend. What you spend for marketing should be used to its fullest potential (i.e., what good are your business cards and brochures if you rarely hand them out?) You have demonstrated how effective marketing is an everyday event.

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Rosanna Tussey
OfficeSupportNow.com
The Virtual Assistant Connection - A blog for VAs

Another thing I have done but forgot to mention. Any time you go out for dinner to a resturant etc...when you leave the wait staff a tip.... Include your business card! (Make sure you leave a nice tip

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Ness, REPA
www.NessLindsay.com

WOW, great list. I'm going to start working on that ASAP.

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

Those are some great ideas! Thank you.

Julie

Thanks for the ideas !!!!! Some I hadn't thought of.