Market Yourself….for FREE!

by Katie Murtha MS, RD, CSSD, LDN

Owner of RDKate Sports Nutrition Consulting; www.RDKate.com

It seems budgets are tight all-around, no matter what profession you’re in. Deciding how and to whom you will market yourself or your business can be difficult. However, before you spend hard-earned dollars to get your name out there, consider these marketing strategies that are free to implement and may result in big returns on your time…

1. Your Email Address

If you work for a company, you’ll notice your address is @ that company’s name. So if you own a company, some part of your email address should include the company name or at least your name. Many hosting sites include an email account in the package. It’s free advertising! Every time you send or respond to an email, the person is reminded of your company name. The more times they see it, the more likely they are to take interest.

2. Your Email Signature

What a great tool! Add your website, credentials, tagline, Twitter account, Facebook, or anything else you can imagine. Be careful making it TOO extensive because that may be annoying. I have seen some RDs do great things with their signatures – posing a question or offering a promotion to drive clients to their website. Easy, quick, and free!

3. Blog

Blogging is a great way to get your name out there and let people know what you’re about. There are many free sites, such as wordpress.com (the type I’m using now), blogger.com, and others. Check out each one and determine which best meets your style and needs. They all offer the same basic functions, but differ slightly in how you use them and present your blog. I know many nutrition professionals who use their blog as their website. While this can mean some limitations on what you can do, that’s a huge money savings versus paying for the development and hosting of a website! When you blog, make sure you write in your own voice about things that interest you. Offer followers special discounts or other promotions.

4. Use Twitter and Facebook

While I myself am counting down the days until Twitter is no longer in existense, one cannot deny the usefulness of Twitter and Facebook from a business perspective. It is especially important for me because my niche includes younger adults. Creating an account takes only minutes. Find people to follow that you find interesting and that are in the same practice area as you. Get more followers by interacting with other Twitter users. Not sure how to do this? Find someone who does it well (@Joy_Bauer is an example) and read what they do. Twitter and Facebook are merely ways to drive people to your website.  And use apps to link everything to save time. When I post on my own blog, it updates my Twitter which updates my Facebook. This saves me time and still gets my name out there.

5. Use LinkedIn

I am amazed at how this networking site has taken off. I remember when I could barely find any RDs – now I’m shocked when I don’t find the person I’m looking for. Like Facebook, you can “Connect” with others (like Friending), add status updates, join groups, and even find a job. My Twitter account updates this too! When you search for jobs on LinkedIn, it will indicate who in your “Network” (in your connections) might be able to help you get that job. What a great way to get a referral! Another great way to advertise yourself is by using the “Ask a Question” area. You can pose this question to just you connections or the entirety of LinkedIn. I try to do this about once a month. Again – a great way to keep your name out there at no cost to you.

6. Offer to write for a newspaper or magazine for free

I know – no one likes to offer services for free. However, if you’re just starting out, this can be a great way to get your name out there and bring in clients. Take some samples of writing to the editor of your local newspaper or send some to a local magazine. The media is often looking for credible sources of nutrition information. Another great resources is “Help a Reporter Out” or HARO (helpareporter.com). You can get daily email listings of reporters looking for experts on a variety of topics. Reply and you can get yourself quoted – sometimes in big name news carriers. 

7. ADA Find a RD

Lets not forget the obvious – we are all ADA members so if you haven’t yet completed your “Find a Dietitian” profile, do it! I can’t tell you how many current profiles only have a name and credentials. Think how much you will stand out if you add your website, a personal note, or even just a picture! I have actually gotten quite a few clients through this, so do this now. What’s even better is that ADA finally allows you to do this online instead of having to fax in a form. So go to eatright.org, log in, and create your profile now.

These are just a few of the many ways you can market yourself for free. Questions? Don’t hesitate to email me at YourRDKate@gmail.com!