Small businesses usually have a low potential for profits during the first few years. As a result, there’s less money for advertising and marketing. But balancing your budget doesn’t mean foregoing effective promotional techniques that establish your brand. With a little creative thinking and a few stand-by advertising methods, you can engage your audience and bring more customers to your door. Here are a few great ways to boost your brand with low-cost marketing strategies and take your small business to a higher level.
Leverage the Power of Social Media
This one is a no-brainer. Everyone needs to be on social media these days, especially small businesses. What’s great is that establishing a basic social media presence costs nothing. Set up accounts with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
Be sure to regularly add posts and images touting products and services. Create videos and other fun content by giving people a look behind the curtain at your store or company. You can even run polls to gauge customers’ needs and sentiments and create special discounts and giveaways for those who interact with you and share your content. An active social media presence also gets Google and other search engines to notice you!
Use Email Marketing to Your Advantage
Email might seem a little old-fashioned compared to other online communication methods, but it remains effective for marketing. Request customer email addresses so you can send them a monthly newsletter and alerts about sales, discounts, and promotions.
Personalize emails to establish a connection with new customers while remaining on a friendly basis with old ones. There are plenty of free email platforms to choose from, like Mailchimp, which can walk you through the steps of creating an effective email newsletter.
Local Advertising
You probably don’t have the budget to pay for coast-to-coast advertising on TV, radio, and the Internet. But you can likely afford basic advertising formats that catch the eye and draw people to you. A single billboard near your establishment is a worthy investment. So are flags, which you can hang outside your facility or around town. Flags are affordable and engaging, and you can use color psychology to send an effective marketing message with them.
Online Reviews Generate Buzz
Returning to the online world, always encourage customers to leave reviews and star ratings about your goods and services. Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms allow customers to publish their views for free.
The more positive reviews you have, the stronger your online reputation. This builds trust, attracts new customers, and helps you stand out on search results pages. A small discount in exchange for an honest review encourages people to post. And be sure to maintain a testimonial page on your website too.
Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. Boost your brand with these low-cost marketing strategies. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and remember, consistency is key to building a recognizable and reputable brand!