Marketing is essential for all businesses, but some marketing efforts can turn out to be costly. If your small business is working on a tight budget, there are plenty of ways you can effectively and efficiently market to your customers for little to no cost. Marketing isn’t just about paying for advertising — we’ve compiled a list of easy, free ways to get your message to your audience without breaking the bank.
1. Build an Online Reputation
Thought leadership is an incredibly effective way to get your name in front of hundreds of potential customers. And although it is not a direct response form of marketing (getting someone to sign up or make a purchase), thought leadership and an online reputation sets you up as an expert in your industry and builds trust with potential (and existing) customers. This can come in the form of regular blog posts that drive traffic to your website, guides and eBooks, one-pagers with handy tips to solve your customers’ pain points, and so on. Always be sure to include a call-to-action (CTA) within your content that either directs prospects to more information or another resource.
2. Post and Engage on Social Media
While social media does offer paid ads, there is a lot you can do with organic posting. Firstly, build out a brand across social media platforms so that you are easy to find and that helps people understand exactly what you do. Then, post regularly by sharing your thought leadership content, helpful resources, or repurpose snippets from your longer form content. It is also important to engage with other users on these platforms — it not only results in your business showing up more frequently in feeds, but also keeps you top of mind and enhances your brand reputation.
3. Build an Email Marketing Strategy
Email marketing is one of the most effective and common ways to reach your audience, especially if you curate your emails for specific customer needs. Rather than casting a broad net to your entire database and hoping for the best, it’s important to use what you know about your customers (and potential customers) to create personalized emails that provide them with what they need. You can always upgrade to a more sophisticated marketing platform as your business and budget grows, but to start, there are plenty of platforms that offer a free option.
4. Show Up in Searches by Using SEO
SEO-focused messaging can significantly increase your chances of ranking higher in Google searches and the like. But instead of keyword bombing your content, approach SEO strategically. Be sure to include the most important keywords throughout without losing the value of the information you share. You can also use Google’s free SEO tool to help you find the best ranking keywords and incorporate them into your marketing as well as track your results.
Tactical marketing is a must for any small business, especially as you’re trying to grow. But with these tips, among many others, there is no need for you to overspend and break your budget just to get your message to your audience. For more tips on how to save money and budget wisely, visit our resource library here.
