Service providers are all over the Internet these days. You can find them on forums, advertising on Craigslist, using job boards like ProBlogger, or on freelancing sites like Elance. There are lots of ways you can advertise your services, but one thing to keep in mind is that it’s easy to make mistakes, especially if you haven’t advertised before. Here are three mistakes to avoid when you’re considering advertising your services online.
1. They Go with the Cheapest Service Possible
If you’re going to advertise, you definitely shouldn’t go with the cheapest option available. As the saying goes, good things aren’t cheap, and cheap things aren’t good. If you want effective advertising, find out what’s working for other service providers, even if it costs a little extra. You’ll find that it’s worth the investment in the long run, and you might see enough short-term results to justify it.
Just as you wouldn’t want the cheapest doctor or dentist working on you, you shouldn’t trust the cheapest digital marketing service to represent your business professionally.
2. Not Doing Their Research
Another common mistake freelancers and service providers make when it comes to online advertising is that they randomly pick a platform and start spending money. What you should do is ensure that the advertising method is actually effective for your specific service, and that others have had results using the same company or platform.
Read expert advice about advertising strategies in your niche, and connect with others who offer similar services for recommendations. At the very least, read reviews before committing any money.
3. They Don’t Do It at All
Believe it or not, the biggest mistake many service providers make is not advertising at all. Some assume that word-of-mouth alone will help them grow, without taking any active steps to increase their visibility.
If you don’t already have more work than you can handle, you should be advertising. Even if you don’t have a budget, there are free ways to get started, like social media marketing, blogging, or listing your services on niche platforms, until you can afford a professional advertising service that drives real results.
