Whether you’re launching a new business or you’ve been in business for years, you’re always looking for new ways to attract and retain customers. As a small business with a limited marketing budget, this can be difficult.
We’re going to explore some of the best marketing tips and practices you can put in place when you have a limited budget. We want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
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Most small businesses focus on local markets and your marketing strategies should target those audiences near your business. This can be especially effective if your business has a physical location, like a restaurant or floral shop. In addition to localizing some of the smart marketing options we will talk about below, you should also consider hosting or sponsoring local community events or partnering with other businesses in your area.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most important marketing strategies for your business. SEO is the process of optimizing your website to make it easier for search engines to crawl your site. Small changes to your site can help you rank higher in search engine results and the higher your rank, the more likely you are to attract new customers.
Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing valuable and relevant information to your defined customer base to drive profitable interactions. Content marketing focuses on long-term relationships for sustainable growth. It should contain quality content, relevant topics and be optimized for both the reader and SEO. Content can include blogs, podcasts, online courses and videos.
Pay per click (PPC) advertising is an internet advertising model used to drive traffic to your website. PPC is usually associated with search engines like Google Ads or social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram. The amount you will pay for this type of ad is dependent on the publisher and the quality of the ad, along with, the maximum bid the advertiser is willing to pay per click.
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Social media marketing is a must. If customers are unable to find your business on social media, they will move on to your competitors. You need to decide how much time and resources you should or can spend on social media. You can either have organic or paid social media advertising. The important question to answer is which platforms your customers use and how they like to be approached. If you find your customers use one channel more than the others, champion that channel. It will be easier and more cost effective to target one channel and provide great content.
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Publish a blog. Blogging is one of the easiest ways to promote your brand and your services. You will be able to demonstrate your expertise in your field and customers will look to you for advice and guidance. It is important to only publish quality blogs and you should post at least once per week.
Find what works for your business and double down on those smart marketing strategies and tactics.
You may find you don’t have the time to effectively put these marketing strategies into practice. One of the benefits of how business is changing is that there are many freelancers to help you with this type of business.
Outlook Business Solutions offers an array of marketing and sales services from strategy planning to copywriting and public relations. We’re here to help you grow your business and inspire your customers. Contact us to discuss your business needs.