Over the course of the last few months, I've found some nice, inexpensive marketing alternatives that new, broke, or otherwise struggling developers can take advantage of.
1. Use the classifieds to advertise your auctions. It's perfectly free! The classifieds can be found by going to There, There Central, People, and on the right side of that page, there's a little sidebar with a link to the classifieds.
2. Use the forums. There are two threads that deal specifically with selling your items: The Marketplace forum thread and the Advetsiements - New Developer Items thread. Again, posting in forums is completely free, and it gets your name and your auctions out to the public!
3. Use ThereDocs that link to your auctions. While ThereDocs cost 2,000 tbux each, they are worth the money you spend on them, as you can leave them in high-traffic areas for people to see and peruse. While you can drop ThereDocs anywhere that dropping is allowed, asking for permission from zone owners to drop your ThereDoc is a polite and standard practice.
4. There is a There employee by the name of _Emma who, once a month, hosts a There Designer Showcase. All developers are welcome to join and showcase whatever items they wish to sell. Attendence is free, so why not take advantage of the exposure this will give you?
Also, be on the lookout for her planning events, as this is where you can learn about the theme for the next showcase. With this knowledge, you can plan accordingly. While you needn't have items according to that theme, guests will arrive looking for items with that theme in mind. Just keep that fact in mind.
5. Join the Broke Developers Group. Actually, this isn't the shameless plugin it sounds like it is. Geea, owner of the Voice of There, a popular There news site, was touched by my mention of the Broke Developers Group in an interview, and she wanted to do something to help the group out. So she decided to create a brand new section on her news site that will highlight a developer from the Broke Developers Group each week. The advertisement is completely free, and it will reach a wide number of people. All the group members must do is send me an e-mail with their product pictures and auction links, and I will forward them to Geea. Be sure, however, that the product pictures are of products that have been approved by There, as she wants to prevent other developers from stealing your ideas. And there you have it! Free advertisment!
6. Be involved with the Broke Developers Group. You won't automatically make sales by simply being a part of the group. You need to take an active participation in the group for that to happen. Respond to my e-mails, sned those product pics and auction links, attend the group get togethers as well as the group's main event: The Broke Developers Showcase. Through this active participation, you're more likely to make sales!
7. Join the Developers Group. Joining this group allows you to speak to the more well-established developers of There. Many of them are quite friendly and are more than happy to share what they have learned with you. Listen well, and take notes.
Also, be aware that there is a Developer Program forum that also allows you to converse with these developers. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and to listen to whatever advice they may have. You may not have to take that advice immediately, but perhaps, in the future, you'll find that you're in a better position to go with what you have learned.
Keep in mind that these are just suggestions. You needn't follow them, if you feel you have a better means of promoting yourself. But seeing the suggestions one has to offer can never hurt!
Moreover, be advised that none of these suggestions are guaranteed to make you sales. If they do help, well and good. If they don't, all I can say is to keep trying. Eventually, with patience, you'll be noticed.
Best of fortunes to you,
TheKeeper
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