Four Ways to Market Your Small Business on a Shoestring Budget
Coca-Cola, Versace, McDonald’s, Ferrari…It doesn’t matter what industry you’re talking about. Companies live or die based on their reputation. And unfortunately, building a reputation is often expensive. Or is it? Because the truth is that you don’t need an expensive billboard or a fancy online campaign to build your brand. Don’t believe me? Here are four ways you can market your small business on a shoestring budget.
Focus on building strong relationships
Marketers are obsessed with how many eyes watch their advertising. But the truth is that it doesn’t matter how many people watch your ads or billboards if they aren’t building a connection with your company. After all, it’s a lot more expensive to gain a new customer than it is to keep an old one. And if you focus on keeping your customer base coming back for more you’ll have both a steady source of income and free word-of-mouth advertising. So, make sure you ask your customers for their email address and keep them engaged with relevant offers and discounts they’ll be interested in.
Give back to your community
No business is an island. So, if your small business is located in a residential area, why not take time to connect with your neighborhood? Your neighbors are a natural audience for your business. That’s why sponsoring a Little League team, charity run, or another local event is an excellent way to get to know your ideal customer and make your brand known in your area, especially if you go the extra mile and let the community sample your products and services.
Use coupons to attract and keep your customers happy
Coupons are a tried-and-tested method of attracting business. So much, in fact, that studies show people will go out of their way – sometimes driving to the other end of the city – just to get discounts with their coupons. That’s why, depending on your marketing goals, you can either use coupons to gain new customers (by offering them on your website) or build customer loyalty (by giving them away after a purchase). Whichever strategy you choose, you’re bound to get return visits!
Give something away for free
It doesn’t matter how good your product is if most people don’t get to try it. That’s why by giving away a product for free you can increase the chances of gaining a new customer and even gain a few referrals along the way. Sure, it might seem like an expensive way of marketing at first. However, if you understand what your ideal customer looks like, giving up free samples has hands down the best return on your investment of any marketing strategy.
Marketing a small business is easier (and cheaper) than you think. It all comes down to knowing your ideal client and putting his welfare above everything else. So, make sure you take these tips to heart when marketing your campaign and you’ll be surprised at how quickly your brand’s recognition starts to grow!
