Are you a small business or start up? Do you sometimes feel invisible? Here are ten low cost marketing ideas guaranteed to boost your profile.

1) Word of mouth is most cost-effective, powerful form of promotion. Write a list of 50 people you know but don’t see regularly – relatives, friends, ex-colleagues etc. Send each of them a friendly email or postcard to let them know what you’re up to. Ask them for feedback, advice or contacts of anyone who might be interested in hearing about your business. Don’t be shy! People love to help. For practical tips on promoting your small business visit Guerrilla Marketing

2) Networking may seem intimidating but there are ways to make it less scary. Don’t feel you have to sell, sell, sell - number one rule of networking is to listen. It’s about building relationships - go to a networking event looking for opportunities to help others. Ask questions, gather information, offer contacts and advice – people will remember you for it. Networking PLUS is Business Link’s popular monthly speed-networking event – for details visit events section on Business Link website.

3) Business cards need to stand out from crowd. Get a new batch printed on unusual material – textured card, plastic, wood – or make it an unusual shape. Offer a business tip or special offer on back. Include your photo on card – this makes it more personal, easier to remember you and harder to throw away! For excellent free tips on killer business cards see Card Sharks on Lean Marketing website.

4) The internet is an amazing market place to promote your business – but it’s easy to feel lost or insignificant. Join specialist forums and exchange links with complimentary websites. To reach a targeted audience, join Affinity Trading Network – an active online network for small businesses. You get a full web profile about you and your business, and access to Trading Boards, providing an effective way to increase your online exposure.

A Dream Business or A lot of work?

Have you ever thought of starting an online business? Have you thought of making money from Internet?

That is exactly what I was thinking when I started my first online business venture. My head was turned by figures people were quoting of how much is spent on Internet every year. I thought to myself that it would be an easy way of making money without leaving house. In reality it couldn’t be further from truth.

It all started when I set up my first venture with a free website through one of online Internet Service Providers. I decided that I wanted my own slice of pie, so I set up a free website which can only be described as an embarrassing attempt at very crude web design. I knew exactly how to design a real website but didn’t have funding to start. Anyway website obviously did not attract anywhere near visitors I thought it would. I had to move to plan B.

I then decided to register a domain name for business which did, and justly so, take a while to come up with perfect name. I registered www.lastminutevillaholiday.co.uk and started to build website around this name. The first thing I had to do when choosing name was deciding whom my target market was? And what sort of thing would they be looking for?

The First draught of this website was a lot better than first. It was designed using a software design program and was coded to attract Search Engines. The only problem I had was I had no villas on my website therefore if anyone did find site they would not stay on it. The problem was overcome when I contacted a few villa owners to offer them free listings on my site.