Welcome to the latest edition of my new weekly blog series, “Free Marketing Ideas”. Each week I will identify and explain a simple marketing idea that you can employ at low or no cost. Last week’s topic was Offer Free Trials.

This Week’s Topic = Goodwill

Everybody likes a company that is out for more than just a quick buck. Companies that give back to their community, take care of their customers and their employees, and are conscious about how their business affects the greater good are going to be more successful in the long run.

As a marketer, goodwill can take a number of different forms. It can mean partnering with charities or non-profits to donate time or money to worthy causes that impact your industry or your customers. It can mean operating your business in a more environmentally conscious way. Or it can mean implementing a program that gives back to the local community you serve.

Why is that free marketing, you ask. Because it will get your company noticed. Using the press list and the social outreach channels that you’ve set up, you can make the announcement, just as you would any other major business news.

And if your company is really doing something that supports the greater good, consumers will take notice. This can lead to more brand recognition, press coverage, and word of mouth. All things that marketers would kill for.

Share your thoughts on this idea, and other free marketing ideas in the comments section below and keep the conversation going!