With so many companies doing business online hese days, it can be tough to get noticed. The only real way to do it is to try to create buzz in reference to your products and services. If you want to bring a lot of customers to your small business without spending a lot of money on marketing, you can do so by creating buzz. Instead of using money to create awareness, you use word-of-mouth to generate awareness. Here are a few ways to create buzz for your small business:
Feature a Prominent Name
If you can get a big name on an interview, you can generate a lot of buzz. Go to national networking events in your industry to meet well-known individuals and determine if they would be willing to be interviewed.
One great example of this is the Learning Annex. Before landing Donald Trump as a guest speaker, they were earning less than $1 million a year. The Learning Annex’s founder made a large wager when he offered Trump $1 million dollars to speak. They packed more than 10,000 into the audience when they had never had more than 2,000 before, and today, they have many millions every year.
Participate on a Radio Show
Come up with a controversial topic or stance and market yourself to radio show hosts. Post an ad in the Radio Television Interview Report (RTIR), the main place where show hosts go to look for experts.
Call up local stations and offer to be interviewed about whatever topic you want. The spicier you can make whatever it is you are seeking publicity for, the better. Try to come up with an exciting angle.
Host a Party or Event
In Silicon Valley, there is a small start-up business whose founder knows just about every big name in the valley. This man isn’t a millionaire, yet he knows many of the millionaires in the area because twice a year, he throws a big boat party.
He invites all the biggest names in Silicon Valley, and they come because they know the other big names will be there. By being the organizer, he generates a lot of buzz for his company and generates a lot of connections.
How can you do something similar in your industry that will get people talking? Google does it by having big name bands playing for their staff. Of course, you can also do it without spending a lot of money by just getting creative. There are lots of ways to hold live events that will help you stand out in the community even if you are an online business, that will increase your brand recognition.
These are just a few ways you can create buzz around your small business. Generating buzz takes a bit of creativity, but it also takes the willingness to act and put yourself out there. Come up with a few different ideas and take action on the most audacious ones. Those are often the most likely to succeed.
FURTHER READING
Organizing Successful Local Events
How to Use Storytelling to Build Your Brand
