As part of our Boost My Business initiative we've put together a few suggestions of how to get you business more exposure for free.
Of course, your first port of call should be our own Boost My Business page where we spotlight and feature SMEs from all over Ireland. So far, we have featured over 120 businesses through their many stories and tips and advice pieces. If you’d like to tell us your story, you’ll find the form here. It does not guarantee a feature, but we are working our way through the list and hope to speak to you soon.
The Jennifer Zamparelli Show on RTÉ 2FM is also supporting small business. To apply to feature in their shout outs email your details to jen@rte.ie or text 51552
Virgin Media are also running a campaign on Ireland AM, to get in touch email them at backingbusiness@virginmedia.ie
There are a few shopping portals appearing online which will get your business noticed. Guaranteed Irish have their Guaranteed Irish Gifts for members.
Shop Local Online is a free countrywide site to list your business. Click here for more details.
Support Dublin has a list of Dublin businesses. To get on the list the form is here. They also have a wonderful 'Donate Your Commute’ initiative where you can donate to a charity the cost of your commute. Click here for details.
Galway businesses, help is on hand to get your name out there through Support Galway. You can can check out their website here or give them a follow on Instagram here.
Mary Murphy has built 'the ultimate guide to makers and producers' with her new directory Made Near Here. You can list your business for free here
Oonagh Monahan is looking for Irish food and drink producers for her free online directory Oonagh Eats. Producers must have their own online shop to be listed (excludes retailers and restaurants). Check it out here.
Just Buy Irish comes highly recommended by online art gallery owner Ruan Shiels. Any store submitted must have delivery within Ireland and preference is given to artisan producers selling directly to the public. You can submit your store here.
Also check out Buy Irish App - another free online business directory with an app on the way. See here for more details.
Instagram has thrown up a few new pages which are sure to help get your business pushed in front of a new audience. If you are a female business owner give Boss Ladies Ireland a follow. They aim to promote the female founded businesses of Ireland through their posts and stories.
Also check out Champion Green which is a campaign to support local businesses. They are working on promotion opportunities and you can sign their pledge here. It’s also worth adding Shop Small Ireland to your following list as they are having a big impact on the platform.
Another Instagram page worth a follow is Buy Irish Online which aims to highlight and support Irish businesses who are selling online through e-Commerce sites, from full websites to Etsy.
Amelia Walshe is running an Instagram page for Dublin based businesses called Pop Up Dublin where she shares everything from pop up events to new businesses - if you have a new business the people of Dublin need to know about give her page a follow here
Twitter is a great place for a retweet and Boost My Business favourite @TweetingGoddess will give your business a retweet if you ask her nicely in a tweet. Helen O’Rahilly has been flat out retweeting and supporting local on her Twitter profile.
Also Val Robus is giving any businesses who tag her in twitter @magnumlady a retweet - she may also feature you in her Irish gift guide blogs here.
Elsewhere on Twitter, Irish Food Champions (@irishfoodchamps) are asking those businesses with Irish food, beverage and hospitality Christmas gifts to post pictures and tag them and add the hashtags #greenfriday and #thisisirishfood.
As Black Friday approaches the annual Green Friday campaign is getting into swing and given the current climate there has never been a better time to ask shoppers to support Irish on 27th November. You can find all the details here.
Hashtags which will get you noticed across all social media platforms include #ChampionGreen #shoplocalireland #showyourloveforlocal #shopsmallireland #GreenFriday #thisisirishfood #buyirish #supportlocal #shoplocal #buylocal #supportsmallbusiness
New initiatives are popping up by the day and these are just a small handful of ideas to get your businesses noticed. If you’ve come across other free initiatives which you feel would be useful to the Boost My Business audience email fiona.alston@rte.ie and we’ll update the list.
