• Try some witty marketing ideas to interest customers.checking out the hats image by monamakela.com from Fotolia.com
  
  Customers have to know about a business if they're going to patronize it, so marketing is crucial to your success. Having an informative website and a well-promoted grand opening are good starts; try a few witty and creative marketing ideas to keep your business in the public eye and to generate positive and plentiful word-of-mouth.
  
  

On the House

• Personal chefs: offer free breakfast with purchase of lunch and dinner.serious woman image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
  
  Appeal to everyone's love of getting something for nothing. If you're a personal chef, offer a complimentary breakfast with the purchase of lunch and dinner. Give loyal customers their fifth free. If you're an upholsterer, offer to do a fourth seat cushion with the repair or recovering of three seat cushions. If you teach, offer a buy-three-get-one free package of horseback riding or archery or piano or swimming lessons. If you own a beauty salon, enter customers who purchase any service into a drawing to win a free manicure or pedicure.
  
  

DIY Demonstration

• If you sell dolls, offer a doll-making workshop to interest your buyers.indian peg doll image by Daughterson from Fotolia.com
  
  Invite people to monthly "how-to" workshops teaching about a service you offer or product you provide. This idea works well for businesses that sell specialty homemade or handmade items. Spend an hour showing attendees how to do a simple version of what you sell: sculpting pottery, baking croissants, putting together a little gift basket or making bead earrings, a corncob doll or a bar of scented soap; then show them the ornate, vast and varied selection for sale in your store. Or, spend 30 minutes demonstrating how to lay brick, tan a hide, build a wooden chest, work metal, create a wreath or blow glass; then offer your services.
  
  

Written Word

• A travel column could interest people in your bed and breakfast.English Rural Manor House and Garden image by Chris Lofty from Fotolia.com
  
  Offer to contribute a weekly column for a local newspaper, magazine or other publication. If you own a bait store, writing a fishing column. If you own a gallery, write an art column. A bookstore owner could do book reviews. If you run a bed and breakfast, contribute to the travel section. At the end of each article, have a paragraph letting readers know who you are, and also consider offering readers a discount. "Travel Tips is written by Sam Smith, owner of Smith's Bed & Breakfast. Mention this column and get half off one night's stay."