How to Start Marketing on a Budget
Marketing is an essential aspect of any business. But small businesses often have a very tight budget, making marketing challenging.
The good news is that marketing on a budget can be successful! In fact, there are plenty of ways to market your services without breaking the bank—many of them are even free.
As a business owner, it’s often hard to find the time to research and identify marketing strategies that will work for you. So, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite budget-friendly marketing ideas to help you get started.
Create a Free Google My Business Account
A Google Business Profile is valuable and definitely worthy of your attention. Your business may already appear in search results, but you need to optimize your business profile to get the most out of your listing. By creating a free Google My Business account, you can edit your listing, add photos and videos, and even include coupons to highlight any offers you are currently promoting.
Get Active on Social Media
Are you making the most of social media? Love it or hate it, there is no denying that increasing your social media presence is a powerful (and free) way to grow your small business.
Take some time to analyze your target audience and determine which platforms will work for you. For example, LinkedIn tends to be more suited for connecting with other businesses, while private clients are more likely to interact on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Then start creating content your potential clients will find informative, entertaining, and inspiring.
Managing several social media accounts can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be complicated and can be achieved whenever you have a few minutes to spare. And remember there are scheduling tools such as Hootsuite and Buffer to save time and keep you on track.
Here are some ideas for content to get your creative juices flowing:
Post informative videos highlighting your knowledge and expertise.
Share customer reviews and testimonials.
Create a fun poll to encourage engagement.
Promote your blog posts to drive traffic to your website.
Share a funny or inspirational meme.
Review new products relevant to your clients.
Create an “ask me anything” weekly segment.
The biggest key to success with social media is consistency. So make sure you are regularly active and engaging with your clients.
Work on Your Blog
If you don’t already have a blog on your website, get started now! Publishing quality content demonstrates your expertise and genuine desire to provide value to your clients. In addition, Google prioritizes high-quality content that answers the questions people are typing into the search bar. So, committing to a regular practice of writing blogs can increase your visibility on Google and drive traffic to your website.
Don’t panic if you feel writing isn’t your strength. Your clients mostly want content that is informative and easy to read. Remember that you are an expert in your field, and clients turn to you for advice. A blog is an excellent way to foster trust and encourage them to engage in your services.
If you have room in your marketing budget, hiring a writer or agency to help you with strategy and optimizing your SEO is a valuable investment that will contribute to the long-term growth of your business.
Develop an Email Marketing Plan
Business is all about relationships, and email marketing is an excellent tool for maintaining relationships with your existing clients and connecting with new ones. You can grow your email list by encouraging new visitors to your site and inviting them to subscribe to your newsletter. Consider offering bonus content like an e-book or 10% off a product or course as an incentive to subscribe.
When you are marketing on a budget, email campaigns can offer incredible value. Here is a list of just some of the ways this strategy can help your business:
Provides personalized content to your clients.
Creates opportunities to promote special offers.
Builds trust with your clients.
Delivers more value with quality content.
Brings potential to grow your contacts list.
Generates traffic to your site.
Set Up a Client Referral Program
Word of mouth is possibly the most underestimated marketing strategy. But it’s incredibly powerful, especially when starting your business and building a reputation. Consider offering your current clients a free product, a discount on a service, or some other reward for referring new clients. It’s a great way to provide more value to your existing clients and grow your business simultaneously.
Take One Step At a Time
While there are many great options available when you are marketing on a budget, as with everything in business, it takes hard work and time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to do everything at once. Instead, pick one strategy at a time and slowly work on integrating it into your business plan.
And as always, if you feel you would benefit from the guidance of an experienced and seasoned sleep consultant to help elevate your business, Sweet Sleep Academy is ready to support you.
