If you think you have to have a multi-million- or multi-thousand-dollar
marketing budget to draw in customers, think again. Yes, you do have to
spend some money – marketing is an investment. You just need to make
smart marketing decisions and make the most of your marketing budget,
whatever it may be.
Here are seven ideas on how to broaden your marketing budget and boost your bottom line:
1.
Employ free publicity. Free publicity in the form of newspaper articles
and stories on the local television station builds awareness and
credibility. So look for opportunities to be involved with community
activities.
2. Use local organizations as forums. Local
organizations have monthly meetings and are usually looking hard for
speakers. You can lend your expertise to these audiences, talking about
how to build a successful business and use your business and products
as examples. You’ll get community exposure and may meet potential
customers. Utilize flyer printing
services by printing flyers that sum up key points of your talk with
your contact information and Web site address. Also be sure to bring
business cards and other tchotchkes with your logo or name on them.
People like free things!
3. Write articles for newsletters,
newspapers, industry journals, magazines and your own Web site.
Authoring articles shows that you are an expert on something and could
bring in potential customers – the people that read the media you used.
If people have seen your name in print before, and they recognize it
later when you contact them, they’ll feel more open to you because your
name is familiar.
4. Build a Web site. Everyone has a Web site
these days, and if you don’t you’re missing out on a great opportunity.
When people look for products and services, they look to the Web first.
A Web site is an inexpensive way to let people know about you and your
products and services. You can find free Web site hosting sites that
will run ads on your site, or you can pay any number of hosting sites
for an ad-free site.
5. Look for complementary businesses to
partner with. Swap flyers, brochures and other marketing materials with
a business that complements yours. This costs nothing to build a
relationship with another business and get to its customers. You can
even have special sales that include both of your products in a package
deal.
6. Get involved in the organizations you already work
with. Volunteer your products or services to an industry or local
organization. Again, your name will be more recognizable by the
community and industry if you get more involved. Recognizable, familiar
people are trusted people that customers will work with and buy from.
7.
Network, network, network. People like to do business with people they
know. Networking takes some time and little money. Make sure you get to
any trade shows or conferences that you can to get your name out there
and pass out business cards.
Make sure that the marketing
tactics you use have a purpose. If you just randomly pick marketing
activities or are marketing like your competitor because it’s working
for them, that most likely won’t work for you. You need to choose your
marketing activities carefully, considering the cost and benefit to
you. If you choose something thinking about price only, it could end up
costing you your profits in the long run. |
