Our newspaper has started to publish a new section for local businesses to provide coupons and discounts. I saw an interesting one this morning from a small proofreading business. The owner offered to proofread a chapter of a document for free. I thought that this was a great idea. She found a creative way to advertise her business, and she offered a free introductory service. Hopefully, it will help her build her business.

During tough economic times, it's not business-as-usual. We need to be creative, come up with ways to market our services, cut costs, and bring in business (either for yourself or for the company you work for).

Here are some ideas:

• Offer discounts or trades for your services (like the proofreader).
• Volunteer to assist non-profits in your area of expertise. They need help. You're providing the help, and you're building up your portfolio and reference list.
• Look for websites and other publications and what they offer. In addition to the new coupon section, our paper also now offers free ads for job seekers. They're called "hire me because" ads.
• Use social networking sites to build networks and contacts. They're also great when you need an idea or an answer. People are usually willing to help.
• If you have a website, add the URL to the signature line of your email. It's free, and it lets people know about your site.
• If you have a social networking account, add your URL to your profile.

Be creative and open to the possibilities! Happy Friday!