You can choose from many effective ways to advertise your home business at little or no cost. Exactly which methods you use depend somewhat on your specialization.

Once you have your business cards printed, carry a stack of them with you wherever you go. Pass them out to anyone who may be or know a prospect. As you stop for lunch, put your business card on the restaurant’s bulletin board. Do the same if you stop at a local market. All it costs is the price of a business card.

Many home businesses overlook one of the best sources of free advertising—publicity. As you start your business, write a short article or press release, and give copies to your local newspaper, radio stations and other media. Include in it information about your business, such as owners, experience, affiliations, background, expertise, purpose of the business, location, target market and contact name. If your market is across an industry rather than a geographic area, send this press release to magazines in that particular trade—these are called trade journals.

You can promote your business and get free advertising by offering to write a weekly newspaper column on your specialty in exchange for an ad in the paper.

If you’re personable and would be comfortable doing so, offer to host a radio call-in talk show on your specialty or a related topic. Or you can become a regular guest on someone else’s talk show. The publicity will make you a local celebrity as well as an authority on your specialty.

When should you seek free publicity?

• When you start your home business.

• When you’re ready to celebrate a company anniversary.

• When you hire a new employee.

• When you change or add a location.

• When you introduce a new product or service.

• When you take on a partner or incorporate.

• When an employee earns a promotion or special award.

• When your business is mentioned in another media.

• When a large contract is signed (if you have the customer’s permission to publicize).

As you can see, starting and running a successful home business involves many requirements, not the least of which are hard work and tenacity. Armed with those and the right information, you will be up to the challenge. Best wishes on finding and succeeding with your best home business. God bless!