Promoting and advertising your business

Learn how to use advertising and other promotional techniques effectively.

Advertising resources

• Make your advertising work for you
  
  http://www.bdc.ca/en/advice_centre/articles/Pages/marketing_advertising.aspx
  Choose the type of advertising that matches your marketing budget and follow some of BDC's best practices for advertising.
• Developing a company brochure
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/1342/
  Handing out promotional material is an important marketing activity, even in an online world. Follow these steps to create a winning brochure.
• Canada Brand International (for the Food and Agriculture Sector)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/1592/
  Applies to: All of Canada
  You can increase the value of your brand internationally by adding the Canada brand image to your goods.
• Key research facts about direct mail marketing
  
  http://canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/marketing/keyresearchfacts.jsf
  See which direct marketing methods Canadians prefer and which ones produce the best results.
• What your business can do: Greening your mail
  
  http://canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/aboutus/green/business/target.jsf
  Adopting eco-friendly initiatives has become a respected - and expected - business practice. Find out how to green your mail and direct mail marketing activities.
• Nova Scotia Business Development Program
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2076/
  Applies to: Nova Scotia
  Access funds to start or expand your business.

Promotion resources

• Public relations and media relations
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/1212/
  Learn how to spread the word about your company.
• Online Marketing
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/4516/
  Marketing techniques and tools like social networking, emailing and blogging often involve low or no direct costs.
• Trade show marketing
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/2050/
  Trade shows can be worthwhile, if you pick the right ones, set goals, train your show team, invite clients and follow up.
• Open Door Program
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3638/
  Applies to: Nova Scotia
  Your tourism business can market its products to front line tourism staff to help them promote and sell your products or services to visitors.
• Register on Canadian Company Capabilities
  
  http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ccc-rec.nsf/eng/00008.html
  Increase your business' visibility by registering on this free promotional database of over 60,000 Canadian companies. This database is used by domestic and foreign buyers.
• Music Nova Scotia
  
  http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/Member-Info/
  If you're in the music business in Nova Scotia, you may want to take advantage of the many benefits Music Nova Scotia offers its members.
• Translation Assistance Program
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/4359/
  Applies to: New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador
  You could access up to $2,500 to translate your promotional material into one of Canada's two official languages.