You know the old adage, “It takes money to make money”? While that may be true, marketing and advertising don’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, some of the most effective ways to get your business noticed are either free or surprisingly affordable (especially with the technology available). Whether you’re just getting started or trying to grow on a tight budget, here are 15 creative and cost-effective ideas to boost your visibility and draw in customers. 15 (plus one bonus) Cost-effective Ways to Get Your Business Noticed 1. Partner with Your Chamber of Commerce Your local Chamber is a marketing gem hiding in plain sight. Many chambers offer affordable sponsorships, advertising in their newsletters, banner placement on their website, and opportunities to speak at or host events. Chamber membership also often includes social media shoutouts, ribbon cuttings, and business directory listings—all built-in exposure for your brand. Chambers have excellent reputations in their communities as well as good relationships. Many tourists and new residents rely on referrals from the chamber when they come to town. Plus, the rates chamber’s charge for this type of high-quality exposure is very reasonable. Chamber Members! Be sure to check out - Our Facebook Group, Chamber Connect . - You can also view your advertising ROI from your online listing from August 2024 onward. - Have an upcoming event? Submit it to our newsletter/online calendar ( Office@LLChamber.com ) - Interested in hosting a Chamber Coffee for 2026? Contact us to see what dates are available: Office@LLChamber.com - Support our Government Affairs Committee or Operations International. Contact us for more information! - Interested in event sponsorships? Let us know! We can put you on a priority list for first information- Please note that our sponsorships are all ‘First Come, First Served’ basis. 2. Get Active on Social Media You don’t need to be on every platform—just the ones where your customers spend their time. Create short videos, behind-the-scenes posts, tutorials, or even humorous content to show off your brand’s personality. Authenticity performs better than high-budget polish. Be consistent with your posting too. The more people see you, the more they notice and recognize you. Soon you will be on their mind. Check out these past blogs for social media help and ideas: - 5 Content Marketing Strategies for Small Business Owners - Feeling Stuck? Try these Content Ideas for Small Businesses - How to Be More Engaging - How to Get More Love for Your Business on Social Media 3. Run a Giveaway or Contest People love free stuff. Give away a product or service in exchange for likes, shares, or email signups. It’s an inexpensive way to create buzz and grow your audience fast. Or run a contest when you host a pop-up or sponsor a table at an outdoor event (if it fits for your business). You’ll get to talk to a variety of people. A fun contest that also gets you more visibility is encouraging people to check-in when they’re at your business. Then provide a quarterly prize to the person with the most check-ins. House of Gaumond , a pop-up bakery, used this to great effect to get their following! 4. Create Google Business Profile Posts Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business) are free and powerful. Use posts to highlight new products, offers, events, or blog content. Bonus: It helps with your SEO. Get Started 5. Use Customer Testimonials and Reviews Happy customers are your best marketers. Share their testimonials on social media, your website, and even printed materials. Ask loyal customers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many people will write them when asked and when you make it easy for them to do so. Use links to get them where they need to be. Chamber Members : Your built-out business listing allows people to rate you, submit a review, or ‘Like’ particular services. 6. Get Involved in Community Events Sponsor a little league team, host a booth at a local fair, or donate a prize to a nonprofit raffle. Community involvement builds trust and visibility with your target audience. Have you seen the traffic from the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope’s 2025 Night of Hope Gala? Or Ten and Two Coffee- Lansing , is known for being a great place for community events! 7. Start a Referral Program Reward your current customers for referring new ones. A simple discount, freebie, or exclusive perk can motivate people to spread the word about your business. HOTWORX- Lansing is a great example of this! 8. Offer Free Workshops or Classes If you’re an expert at something, share your knowledge. Hosting a free online or in-person workshop can position you as an authority while attracting new leads. Share hashtags at your event to remind people to share on social. Have an expertise? Would you like to share it at a Chamber Event? Let us know ! Also, we’ve utilized this ourselves with Propert y and Sales Tax Forums, as well as a Cybersecurity Forum . SorWil Technology Solutions also utilizes this for their videos/podcasts. 9. Pitch Local Media Send story ideas or press releases to your local newspaper, TV station, or community blog. Journalists are always looking for local angles—your business could be the next feature. Support our local paper, the Leavenworth Times! 10. Use Window or Sidewalk Signs Creatively A clever chalkboard sign or window display can stop foot traffic in its tracks. Make people smile, laugh, or think—and they’ll remember your business. Other examples are Leavenworth Main Street’s Passageways project , or the Leavenworth County Historical Society’s Spirit of the Buffalo project ! 11. Create a Loyalty or Punch Card Program Encourage repeat business by rewarding customers who come back. Whether digital or old-school punch cards, loyalty programs keep your brand top-of-mind. It can also sway people to choose you more often. For instance, if they know they’ll get points from buying with you, they may go out of their way to do so knowing that they will benefit from it. And we’ll help you share the news about your new program! 12. Offer a Limited-Time Promotion Scarcity sells. Use urgency—“for 3 days only,” “first 10 people,” or “today only”—to create buzz and spike short-term interest. Sis’s Sweets does a great job updating daily and letting people know what’s available and for how long. 13. Join (or Start) a Local Business Collaboration Team up with complementary businesses for cross-promotions. For example, a coffee shop and a bookstore might do a “Read & Recharge” special. You both win. The Red Hibiscus Juice Co ., is one example of a business that coordinates & collaborates with others in the Health & Wellness to promote awareness! 14. Start an Email Newsletter Email is still one of the highest-ROI marketing tools. A simple monthly email with updates, deals, or helpful tips can keep customers engaged and coming back. Be sure to check out Constant Contact – it’s what the Chamber uses! Also, be sure to check out these articles for tips on newsletters: - Build a Fanatical Following with Email - 10 Unique Ways to Get More Email Subscribers - The 5 Most Common Mistakes Email Marketers Make 15. Use Your Vehicle as a Moving Billboard A magnetic car sign or vinyl decal can turn your commute into an advertising campaign. It's a one-time investment that works 24/7. The Chamber got ours from Advantage Printing . Support Local! Bonus: Watch your favorite brands. What makes you stop what you’re doing or stops you from scrolling. Even if they’re in a completely different industry, ask yourself how you might use what they do to improve your marketing. You don’t need a big budget to make a big impact. With some creativity and a willingness to show up where your audience is, you can get your business noticed without breaking the bank. And this isn’t a “choose one and you’re done” idea. These ideas are designed to get you thinking about what your audience will respond to. Then give it to them consistently so they get used to seeing you around. And remember—your Chamber of Commerce is here to help. Reach out and ask about marketing opportunities available to members. You might be surprised by how many resources are already at your fingertips. ---------- While we can’t list them all, here are a few more Chamber Members with a fantastic social media presence – Give them a follow! Alliance Nationwide Title Agency – Check out their past events. They have both fun and informational events that helps get people in the door of their offices, and they also celebrate with the community. Artistic Works by Lu - a mix of short-form videos, a weekly live stream, and regular posts about what’s new in store. They have a loyal following ready to see what’s New with Lu. Communication Concepts, Inc . – Their content is more professional, informational, and helpful! But it all leads back to what they do, creating a good sense of brand. The Small Hinge – Really lets her personality shine! Always showing off finished products and upcoming workshops. It’s easy to feel excited when her posts cross your feed. PS: Have a great social media strategy that we missed? Let us know in the comments! --------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Smart business owners know: legacy starts long before exit. Growth rooted in values builds staying power. Your wisdom is an asset—document it and pass it on. Deep community ties are part of your long-term equity. Succession is strategy, not retirement. 616 words ~ 3 min. read Legacy and Longevity: A Playbook for Owner-Operators Who Think Long-Term You didn’t build this business just to make money. You built it to make a mark—to create something that outlasts your time at the helm. That’s legacy. And the smart owner-operators know: legacy starts long before you hand over the keys. Whether you’re five months or fifteen years from stepping back, building a legacy business means making intentional decisions now that will pay dividends later. Lead With Values Values aren’t soft—they’re strategic. Businesses grounded in clear principles like craftsmanship, fairness, and community trust outperform their peers according to HBR . Ask yourself: Are your hiring decisions, customer experiences, and product standards aligned with what you believe in most? If not, that disconnect is eroding trust—and legacy. Values-led growth is sustainable growth. Codify Your Wisdom Your experience is one of your greatest assets—but too often, it lives only in your head. That’s risky. Start documenting the systems, instincts, and insights that drive your day-to-day: Record process videos for training. Create standard operating procedures. Mentor rising leaders intentionally. Your know-how is your company’s operating system. Treat it like intellectual property—and invest in transferring it. Root Yourself Locally Legacy is measured by what your business means to your community. Owner-operators are often local anchors—supporting schools, mentoring entrepreneurs, and sponsoring events. These efforts build goodwill, strengthen brand loyalty, and deepen your impact. Investing in your local ecosystem isn’t charity—it’s long-term brand equity. Plan Beyond Yourself Succession isn’t about stepping away—it’s about strengthening your business for the future. Here’s a simple way to begin: Legacy Planning Starter Pack - Identify: Who could lead in your absence? - Document: Start with one key system per week. - Align: Meet with a financial or legal advisor about timelines. - Even if you’re years away from a transition, having a plan brings clarity and confidence—to you and your team. The Takeaway Trends change. Markets shift. But a business built on values, people, and purpose? That sticks. Legacy isn’t what you leave behind. It’s what you build—day by day. This playbook isn’t about retiring—it’s about leading with intention, every step of the way. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.