It's no secret that newspapers have fallen on hard times with the advent of the internet but they aren't dead yet and if you can get free newspaper advertising with just a little effort you're going to do your business a favor. Industry estimates say that 57% of the population still read a paper daily and the number goes up for the Sunday edition so there is still an audience out there that you can reach.
Large papers are hurting but the smaller community pages are hurting even more. Advertising revenues are down and the cost of publication, including the content, is up. If you can help them out by providing timely relevant content, odds are you can get that content published and get some free promotion at the same time.
For example if you run an auto repair shop and your local paper runs an article on the high cost of gasoline, you can prepare an article on tips to get better mileage. Remember this is a news story not an advertisement. You can talk about the importance of properly inflated tires, not carrying unnecessary weight in the trunk and the fuel efficiency that comes with an engine that is properly tuned.
Depending on the paper's policies, you'll be able to add something simple like "this article submitted by ABC Auto Care located at 123 Main St., Elm City" at either the top or the bottom of the article. Check with the paper first to determine what format they favor and what their policy is on submissions.
By providing helpful information on a topic that the paper decided was important enough to run in the first place, you're helping them out with content and your getting an excellent opportunity for free newspaper advertising. This is a simple, cost free way to promote yourself and get the community talking about your business.
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