Entrepreneurs often start their ventures on shoestring budgets, hoping to



present their fledgling businesses as professionally as possible while

spending as little money as possible. Fortunately, there are numerous ways

to stick to your budget without having to skimp on the necessities of

running your business.

One of the most important aspects of ensuring your business's success is

marketing. To some the mere concept of marketing is daunting, but rest

assured it's easy and inexpensive to market your business. Following are

several ways you can ensure the word gets out about your business:

Business Cards - Business cards are an essential marketing tool. The

standard rule is to always hand out two business cards to each prospective

client or current client. Why? Simple: One business card is for the person

with whom you're talking, and the extra business card is for that person to

pass along to someone else.

There are generally two schools of thought when it comes to how to best use

the space on a business card. Some believe it is best to use both sides of

the business card. Others, however, believe that leaving one side blank is

ideal because that gives the recipient room to write notes, such as how and

when he or she met you. Which way you decide to go really depends on your

personal preference. The most important thing is you purchase business cards

and use them.

Postcards - You can use postcards in your marketing for several purposes.

For example, you can send out postcards to introduce your business to

prospective clients, or you can use postcards to advertise an upcoming

promotion.

Postcards are also an ideal way to keep in touch with your base of

customers, to thank them for their business. Additionally, you can purchase

bulk mailing rates from the post office to save on your mailing costs.

Letterhead - If you're going to be sending out professional correspondence,

you need professional letterhead. Ideally, your letterhead will match your

business cards and Web site.

Brochures - Brochures are an excellent way to promote your business. A

brochure allows you limited space to get your message across to and sell to

potential clients. You can mail brochures to prospective customers, or you

can keep them in your place of business, if customers come to your office.

Keep them in a prominent place, making it easy for customers and prospective

customers to grab one on their way in or out of your office.

You may also want to scan your brochure, save it in PDF form, and offer it

on your Web site for those prospective clients who want to check it out.

Finally, if you don't have a huge budget to hire a professional graphic

designer, you can find high quality templates - for your business cards,

postcards, letterhead, and brochures - for affordable prices on the

internet. Some businesses, like Sky Templates, even offer printing in

addition to high quality templates, making it easy for you to get all of

your essential marketing materials in one place for a fair price.