Marketing Are you missing the free boat?

In today's market whether you're an agent, appraiser, inspector or contractor one needs to look at their marketing plan weekly. So often we take our networks for granted.  Gone are the days that cold calls and post cards bring in new customers.  With consumers being more and more Internet savvy one needs to constantly look at ways to tie into the Internet.  Are you taking advantage of all the free things you can do?

Do you have a web site?
Is your web site linked to other web sites in or out of your field.  The more links you have the higher the ranking your site will pull up when Googled.

Are you member of the chamber of commerce or BBB> Both offer free resources, networking, classes and small business meetings and education that one may find valuable.

Have you registored with google or yahoo for a web campaign? 

Do you send follow up cards to thank your contacts ones you did business with and those you did not do business with?

When doing seminars do you only collect address's, phone numbers or do you also get e-mail addresses and get permission to send those clients information upon occasion?

If you have a web site do you keep it updated or is it stale and out of date? Is it too busy with graphics and such that people still on dial up have a difficult time uploading it?

If you have a picture on your profile is it cheesy or professional looking?

What is the focal point of your advertising?
Are you just keeping your name out there or are you bringing in new clients?

What are you doing that sets you apart from your competition?  In another business that I used to be in a box was a box was a box.  All of our competition sold one so we focused on service during and after the sale.

Shop the market, the other day a firm came to me that wanted to build my web site for our HVAC business and their cost was 5 times more then some of their competitors.  I have seen prices in the range of 300 dollars plus monthly update services to 10,000 dollars plus monthly fees to build a web site.

So I ask you again are you taking advantage of all the things that are free and are you making the most use of your advertising or marketing dollar?