Want to get your business out there but are concerned about your low budget? If you’re a small to medium-size business, you probably only have a small amount of money to the side for all your marketing materials, but marketing doesn’t always have to be expensive, in fact, there are plenty of techniques which are completely free.
When planning a marketing strategy, you may be considering ideas which put you in front of your competitors. No one wants to look the same as everyone around them, but marketing is all about originality and creativity. Here are just a few original marketing strategies to use by Annie Everill, Digital Marketing Executive, Imaginaire, without breaking the bank!
Social media marketing
Utilising social media is one of the best ways to get your business recognised and also stay connected with the world and consumers. Although social media can take a lot of time and effort, it can definitely make an impact when done right. The best part of social media is you have completely free reign. Whether you’re opting for Instagram, Tiktok or Linkedin, there’s plenty of room for creativity, not to mention the no-spending aspect. To make your profile and social presence unique, make sure to create a clear brand identity, using personalised colour schemes, fonts, video footage and form collaborations.
Local fairs/markets
Depending on your business, participating in local fairs and markets can be a great way to build a loyal customer base. For small businesses, becoming successful locally is usually a top priority, as this provides reliability and convenience for both the business and the buyer. As you usually only have to pay a small fee for a stall or area, these events are ideal for making sales but also getting your name out there. By handing out business cards, flyers or company news, consumers can always come back to your business in the future.
Apply for business awards
Business awards are the perfect way to boost your business credibility and up your marketing game. By applying and winning a business award, you’re then given an online official badge which can be promoted through a website and social media platforms. If you can’t find any existing awards for your industry, you can always host your own! This also introduces an opportunity for collaboration and networking. It’s also important to remember that, even if you don’t win, you may still feature as a nomination which can be used in your marketing materials also.
Start a blog
One great way to create original content with no spending is to build a company blog. Small, medium and large businesses use blogging to drive traffic to their website, improve engagement, build online visibility, and improve SEO. One of the main advantages of blog posts is they can be completely what you want them to be. You’re in control of the topic, length, imagery, context and frequency. Whether you upload one blog a month or two a week, these blogs can form connections with your audience, offer a more personalised approach and keep content organic.
Creating your own competitions
Business competitions, whether you’re entering one or creating one, are a cheap and original way to market a business. Everyone loves a freebie and creating a competition which suits both the business and consumer can be a great way to attract new people. The competition doesn’t have to be anything crazy and certainly shouldn’t put you out of pocket. For example, if you’re a small fashion label, you could offer a free item, a voucher to spend on the site or an exclusive discount. In return, the consumers entering the competition may have to follow instructions such as liking your post, sharing the page to their story or tagging their friends.
