Marketing could make or break a small business. Successful marketing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your small business. Here are 20 free marketing ideas:

1. If your marketing offends someone it will probably be a success
2. Get someone to tell a friend. Hopeful someone will tell another friend and it will become viral
3. Collect email addresses from prospects so that you can build a relationship (with permission, of course)
4. Everybody makes marketing mistakes, learn from yours
5. Give a sample away for free.
6. Perform an outrageous publicity stunt
7. In some instances it is better to co-operate with a competitor rather than compete
8. Create a company blog
9. Ask clients for written testimonials
10. Study the marketing techniques of your competitors. Do what works for them
11. Be seen as an expert in your field by writing Ezine articles
12. Write a press release and submit it to newspapers and magazines
13. Differentiate your product. Just know that your product also must be good. A different product that sucks is useless
14. Give something of value away for free via a contest
15. Put your logo and website URL on everything
16. Learn from the pros read Seth Godins marketing blog, read the Guerrilla Marketing series of books
17. Don't just make a promise in your marketing message. Deliver on your promise or you will be seen as a liar
18. Sponsor a popular local event
19. Use the new media
20. Follow your gut instincts