Marketing your small business online can seem difficult, especially if you’re on a small budget. In this article, you will discover affordable ways to market your business online, from free promotion through social media to low-cost (or even free) website creation and maintenance. These tips can help you grow your brand without breaking the bank!
Why is online marketing so Important?
It’s becoming increasingly common for people to shop online for products and services. That’s why it’s more important than ever for small businesses to have an online presence. However, digital marketing can be challenging, especially when you’re on a tight budget. Luckily, there are plenty of digital marketing strategies that are both effective and affordable.
Here are 10 of our favorites:
Create Social Profiles for Your Business
It’s no secret that your customers are on social media, so you should be too! Creating social profiles for your business is a great way to connect with potential and current customers. Plus, it’s a free way to promote your brand and grow your business.
Here’s how to get started:
- Make sure you pick the right platform.
- Write a compelling bio that describes your business and why people should follow you.
- Share relevant updates about what you’re doing and new items in your store.
- Make it easier for people to find your content by using (#) hashtags.
- Engage with other users by liking their posts, commenting on them, or sharing content they’ve posted.
- Follow other businesses in your industry with similar goals (or want more followers).
Google My Business Listing
Claim your Google My Business listing. This free service allows businesses to manage their online information, including their hours, contact information, and location. Optimize your listing by adding photos, a description, and relevant keywords. Use Google Posts to share timely updates and special offers with potential customers. Let customers leave reviews on your listing by encouraging them to do so. Reviews can improve your ranking in search results and help build trust with potential customers.
Local SEO
After claiming your Google My Business listing, you can control how your business appears on Google Maps and in local search results. Ensure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across all your online listings. Optimize your website for local keywords.
Online Contests & Competitions
Running an online contest or competition is a great way to generate interest in your brand and get people talking. Plus, it’s a great way to gather data and get feedback from your target audience. To run a successful contest or competition, be sure to:
- Make sure your prize appeals to your target audience.
- Promote the contest or competition through your social media channels and email list.
- Make sure you set a start and end date for your contest or competition so you can judge entries at the end of the period; this also helps you avoid being accused of running a lottery.
- Require participants to provide their name, email address, contact information, and social media handles as part of their entry submission so you can contact them about future offers.
- Offer multiple prizes for different categories (i.e., best design, best marketing idea).
Networking Events
Attending or organizing networking events is a great way to connect with other small business owners and professionals in your industry. You can also learn about new trends, get advice, and find potential customers or partners. Plus, it’s a great way to build relationships and expand your network.
Here are some useful tips for making the most of networking events:
- Bring a business card and an updated resume, so you’re prepared to speak with others at the event.
- Listen more than you talk since you’ll gain valuable information from others’ experiences.
- When meeting someone new, ask questions that start with What do you or How do you.
- Keep track of all contacts made at the event, including names, company names, contact information (email address and phone number), job titles, and industries they work in.
Content Marketing
As a small business owner, you may not have the budget for a full-fledged content marketing campaign. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still use content to grow your brand and reach your target audience. Try repurposing existing content, such as blog posts or whitepapers, into new formats like infographics or eBooks. You can also create free resources to offer potential and current customers, like downloadable checklists or templates.
Email Campaigns / Automation
Regular email campaigns are a great way to stay in touch with your customers and keep them updated on what’s new with your business. You can use email automation to personalize your messages and target specific segments of your audience. Automation can also help you manage your contact lists and track your open and click-through rates.
Offline Promotions
You can promote your small business offline using old-fashioned methods like flyers, posters, and word-of-mouth (referral marketing). But don’t forget modern techniques like QR codes that can link potential customers to your website or online coupons that can drive traffic to your brick-and-mortar store.
Video/Visual Branding
In a digital world, it’s important for small businesses to have a strong visual presence. You can create strong visual branding for your business by creating a consistent look and feel across all of your online platforms, from your website to your social media pages. Use the same colors, fonts, and logos across your platforms to create a cohesive look. Another way to make your brand stand out is through video marketing. Using TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, or YouTube shorts to create short videos about your company or product can effectively build brand awareness without breaking the bank. If you don’t have any video editing experience, in that case, plenty of free and low-cost options are available online that will allow you to create professional-looking videos in just minutes!
Audio Podcasting
Audio podcasting is a great way to connect with potential customers and build your brand. You can create a podcast for free using a simple microphone and recording software. Plus, there are many ways to promote your podcast and make it easy for people to find and subscribe.
Conclusion
If you’re a small business owner, don’t feel like you have to spend a lot of money to compete with larger businesses when it comes to marketing. Instead, you can use plenty of low-cost or even free digital marketing strategies that can help you reach your target audience and grow your brand. From email campaigns to Facebook ads, there are many ways for small businesses to advertise their products without breaking the bank.