Marketing is expensive. There really is no way of getting around it. However, it is essential. There are very few effective ways of getting your business name out there without some form of marketing.
Word of mouth is invaluable, but in most cases, it just is not enough. Even if it was, it would be a slow burner and take a long time to build up enough momentum and lots of customers talking about you and what you offer for it to be a viable solo method of marketing and advertising.
However, for small businesses on a shoestring budget, this can pose a huge problem. How on earth do you get your new business off the ground if you cannot afford the costs of marketing?
Well, it is a lot more challenging, that is for sure, but it is certainly far from impossible. Here, we look at some of the things that you can do to market your business that won’t break the bank.
Carry business cards with you at all times
Business cards a superb way of sharing all your essential details quickly and professionally. Keep a wad of them in your purse, your wallet, your briefcase and your car, ready to hand out to anyone who shows any interest in your business. They are a cost-effective way of small business marketing and to create leads with those that you build a rapport with. If you wanted to be a bit more memorable, hand out some branded stationery as well, or instead of – logo pens are a great marketing tool!
Offer incentives for referrals
Large businesses may have the resources to set up a referral program with tracking links and automatic payouts, but smaller companies may not have the ability to do this. However, you can encourage customers to refer you. Perhaps you can offer a 10% discount off their next invoice if a referral turns into a paying customer. This is an excellent tactic if business is a little slow – send out emails to anyone on your email marketing list and remind them of what you can offer.
Content writing
This is a particularly effective method of marketing as well as being one of the cheapest. In fact, all you need is a website – which you should have anyway – and a bit of time. Spend some time setting up a company blog, perhaps tips or the best way to use your products. Maybe you can even do a behind the scenes peek or interview with people in your company or trade. The idea is that you produce interesting and engaging content to establish yourself as an expert within your field. It also helps to improve your SEO (search engine optimization) which means your site ranks higher on search engines such as Google and brings in more traffic.
Marketing for a small business is essential, but it does not have to cost the earth. Try out some of these tips and see the clients come flocking to you.
