This week continues with four more ideas for investing time into marketing from the Wordstream article on low-budget marketing. Add these to your options:
Use free trials and packages to begin “pay-per-click” marketing.
Check out free advertising opportunities here. Don’t jump into too fast, though. Educate yourself first on what may get you the best results so you don’t waste the opportunities.
Get creative with guerilla marketing.
This includes unconventional ways to get your name in front of local prospects. Use creativity to builds your brand. Get your name out in public with community events, sidewalk chalk of your tagline or logo, street art with your brand look, urban decor (make a design with logo stickers?), and social media contests. More information here.
Content marketing
Writing is a highly effective tactic that just requires time and thought. Use articles, blogs, and gifted information (PDFs) to demonstrate your authority, expertise, and genuine desire to help. Offer what your audience wants. What questions do they ask? What problems do they have? Write for them. No need for fancy talk; just answer their questions and share your expertise! Do have someone proofread for accuracy.
Your articles can become blog entries (to add fresh content to your website), shared on social media, passed out as literature, and included in your newsletters. Original, authentic, and helpful content is the key here—how-tos, top ten lists, tip collections, best practices, data insights, thought leadership pieces, and the list goes on.
In addition to written content, include video content. What would your audience like to see? An interview with the owner? Testimonials from customers? A panel talking about benefits? Instructions and How-Tos? Demonstrations or Behind-the-Scenes? Upload your video to YouTube, where you can edit and add titles, and then embed the video link into your website and social media. Be real and be you! Authentic is more critical than perfection.
Form Partnerships
Team up with another business. Choose one that is not a direct competitor but does share your client base. Plan a local event, online event, promotion/giveaway, podcast, or Facebook live. Both businesses get twice as much exposure, and beneficial relationships are built. Be sure to clarify what each partner will contribute and make sure the work is shared.
