No matter what kind of business you own or manage, you are faced with selecting mediums or methods of advertising or promoting your business. It doesn’t matter if you are a retailer or a consultant working from a home based business. Every business markets themselves in some manner. Some businesses use traditional advertising mediums such as newspaper, and others use less obvious means such as word of mouth.

Knowing what how best to spend time, money and energy will help you grow your business quickly. In order to select most effective medium or method of promoting your business, you must evaluate your sales process. Here are 4 things to ask yourself about your unique sales process:

1.Do my customers seek out my product or service? In other words, do they know they need it?

2.How well is your company and product/service category known?

3.How easy is it for a prospect to buy and use your product/service?

4.Can prospect receive benefits immediately?

There are always going to be rough times in any business. But those who throw money at their marketing problems instead of finding alternative means will find themselves in a tough financial situation.

Here are a few cheap and easy marketing methods that won't drain your bank account:

1. Learn to barter. Not every price is fixed. For instance, TV and radio time that goes unsold is wasted forever, so stations will usually accept offers below their normal rates.