It was July 2009 and Corbett was celebrating a successful 18 months since the business launched. With four staff and an estimated second year fee income of £250k, business was going well.

But midway through the year, the recession really hit home and business growth slowed. So Corbett decided to run a competition with business publication The Home Based Business Network, offering £1,000 worth of PR consultancy as the prize.

“The competition was free to set up and I wanted names and numbers. ‘Normal’ advertising would not have given me that,” he explains.

Over 300 businesses entered, 180 of which agreed to be contacted by Jargon Public Relations. “The new business pipeline is bursting and several meetings have already been arranged,” he says.

Have you promoted your business without burning a hole in your pocket? Post comments below.

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