10 Free ways to market your E-Commerce site!
Running out of advertising dollars? Facing budget cuts this year? Promotion of your business doesn’t always need to be expensive. The internet allows us plenty of ways to market our business without spending major cash.
Here are a few proven ways that you can drive hits to your eCommerce site for no cost at all.
1. Create product un-boxing videos that show what your customers will receive when they order. This gives you an opportunity to visually pitch your product to the customer. Post to your website and any other video site you can find. Make sure to put keywords and advertising text in your descriptions. Use simple video editing software to superimpose your URL at the bottom of each video so that people will know where to get your products.
2. Start a blog that centers around your industry. Make sure you give good information and that your articles don’t sound like spam. Syndicate your blog with feedburner or another rss service. Put a link to your site every so often in a blog post.
3. MySpace and Facebook are your friends. Connect with other users that are interested in your products. Again, it is important not to spam or you will get banned. Give these new friends information on upcoming events or new products your company may be releasing.
4. Put advertising materials in every order. Offer a discount for return customers. When you do get an order, make sure they know who you are and where to find more of the great products you offer. This is part of building a good brand and a customer relationship.
5. Post quality information in industry forums. Help your potential customers before they are customers. This will drive more trust to your brand.
6. Attract attention with the media. Did you just launch a new website? Redesign your old one? Make sure the traditional news media knows about it. Fax or email them press releases whenever you make a major business movie. You never know, it may be a slow news day!
7. Coupons. Create coupons and submit them to various deal websites. FatWallet is a good one. Make sure your coupons expire in 30-60 days so that your customers feel the need to buy quickly.
8. Product Feeds. Submit your product information to Google Base, Yahoo Shopping, and any other shopping search engine.
9. Word of mouth. It has been said that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Tell everyone you know about your E-Commerce site. Your friends and family may be potential customers!
10. Street Advertising. Advertising with street teams is no longer only effective in major metropolitan areas. Get out from behind your desk and promote your brand with fliers, stickers, and even graffiti. Well, reverse graffiti. 
