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We all know that marketing can be expensive, but it doesn't have to break the bank. In fact there are plenty of great strategies available for small businesses on a budget. These are tried and true methods that will help you attract more customers or clients without spending too much money.
The Internet is where your target audience spends most of its time, so you need to have an online presence. A website will provide potential clients with all the information they need about your company and products or services. It's important that this site gives visitors a reason to contact you for more information or want to buy what you're selling. If the site is cluttered, uninviting or slow, people aren't going to stick around. Don't forget the importance of mobile optimisation, either - over half of your traffic is likely to be from mobile devices.
Content marketing is basically the creation of lovingly crafted content that's aimed at bringing customers to your business. The idea behind this strategy is simple - if you want people to buy what you're selling, then they need information about it first. Well-written blog posts, informative videos and infographics are all great ways to attract new clients or customers without having to spend a lot of money. This strategy is time-consuming and requires consistency but when done right it can be incredibly powerful.
An email list is more than just a tool for broadcasting your marketing messages; these days, people expect businesses to use their lists as tools for communicating with them too. Sending out regular newsletters or providing customers with tips on how they can save money or get the most out of their purchase is a great way to keep an existing client base happy and help attract new customers. Customers who have opted-in for your emails are much more likely to buy from you than those who haven't, so make sure that this activity doesn't fall by the wayside.
Referral programs are a low-cost and low-risk way of marketing your business. They're a great way to attract new customers because they give existing ones an incentive for doing so. For example, a customer might share their referral code with others and earn rewards when someone uses it, or get a discount after a customer they have referred spends a certain amount. This is also a good solution if you have limited funds available since this strategy doesn't cost you anything until after you've gained a new customer.
Whilst macro-influencers with millions of followers charge a high fee for promotional content, micro-influencers with a smaller, more focused group of followers are much more affordable to work with. In some cases, you might simply be able to offer free products in exchange for an honest review.
Best of all, micro-influencers are often seen as more authentic than macro-influencer.s These creators have strong ties to the community and their credibility isn't likely to be questioned by those who follow them because they're seen as an authority on certain topics or industries themselves.
Having an effective Facebook ad campaign can be expensive, but there are ways to make it cheaper. Avoid the allure of bidding on high-cost keywords and instead focus on low-cost options like 'link clicks' or 'website conversions'. These allow you to place ads in front of people who already have some knowledge about your business, such as potentially interested customers who are more likely to buy from you.
Targeting people with relevant interests also increases the chances of success, saving money in the long run because your campaign doesn't need as many impressions or clicks to be profitable. This is a good tactic for businesses on a budget that don't have an enormous social media following but still want some online exposure.
Marketing your small business doesn't have to cost the Earth. By following the tips in this article, you can improve your brand's online presence without breaking the bank.