Marketing is the biggest investment any business can make, and you have to invest in it if you want to get the visibility needed to sell yourself, your products and your services.

There are tons of resources in Chicago to promote your books, businesses and events. Some are free; many are not. Following are seven resources you can use to promote your ventures to large audiences without busting your budget.

Note: I am merely a messenger; I do not work for these companies. Visit the sites – by clicking on the links or the images – to get the name and contact information of the owners, as well as details about their services.Bean Soup Times has approximately 17,000 email subscribers, and thousands of social media friends, followers, and likes.

Get in front of over 100,000 urban professionals on Black Folks Hot Spots.

The Bronzecomm Newsletter is circulated to a highly targeted audience via email and social media twice per week to 20,000+ readers.

Olashay Strategic Marketing Solutions does digital marketing for entrepreneurs to an audience of 19,000.

Want to promote your culturally diverse events to an audience of over 20,000 culturally diverse individuals? Soleil’s To-Dos is for you.

Committed to promoting black businesses, the Ujamaa Network can get your ventures in front of approximately 23,000 people.

What You Need Is… has over 36,000 e-mail subscribers and super active presence on several social media sites.

What About You?

Have you used any of the resources you can use to promote your books, businesses and events. What was your experience?

Do you know of other promotional resources that are not on the list?

Share your info in the comment box below.