Low budget marketing

I am currently developing a lowest unique bid contest website (aimed at UK) and have a very low budget for marketing (an initial objective for the site was to market the site completely freely) and was wondering what people would suggest?

I was thinking of:
- Collecting emails and making a mailing list (not sending people multiple emails as I wouldn't want it to be seen as spam)
- I have a myspace account, although only 200 friends

Any other ideas? I want to keep the budget as small as possible.

 

If you simply "collect" email addresses, it is spam, even if you only send one message. Make sure your list is completely opt-in.

I doubt myspace would be the best marketing tool for a site like yours anyway.

Here are a few basic free tactics though:

1. Keep posting in forums, and add the site to your sig link. It takes time, but if you don't want to spend money, then you do have to spend time.

2. Post comments on as many blogs related to your niche as possible (based on whatever's being auctioned offer there - shopping sites, tech sites, etc.). Just make sure the comments are legitimate and adding value, and not just spam.

3. You can draft your own press release for free (you can use the press release template I use in my PR firm if you'd like - here are instructions on how to use it too). Then submit it to a regional newswire or free UK-based distribution site(s).

Pick up a copy of any of the guerrilla marketing books (or visit www.gmarketing.com) to get plenty of other low-cost and creative marketing ideas.

Jenn

 

Definitely make at least one Squidoo lens (free)
Blog about your site (free if you use Blogger)
Write articles and submit to high PR directories - Ezinearticles, GoArticles, ArticleCity (free)
As mentioned above, forum posting (free), and press releases (free if you do them in the right place)

 

Yes, make sure your list is completely opt-in. I must admit the best converting advertising that I have ever down has been free advertising. The problem with paid advertising is that there is always an incentive for the site owner to try and earn a few more bucks by doing one or two clicks his self or by having links saying "click here for a great site", etc.

With free advertising the site owners have no incentive of needing to click on them as they will not earn anything if they do. So if a visitor wants to really click on your sites link then they will.

 

Seo if you have the skills can cost up to 0

 

I know nothing about SEO though:

Where would I send press releases to/post them where?

 

Press releases = prweb.com and other PR type sites. There are quite a few good ones and not so good ones. Best to use google to search or find a post here about PR sites.

SEO is worth learning if you want to making money online and want to get your website seen.

 

Any other ideas?

 

find busy forums that are UK based maybe?

it would help if I knew more about your site and product.

 

Yes, I'm currently looking to join forums based in the UK mainly gaming orientated.

You can visit the site as there is lots of information about it on there