As a business owner, you need to make sure that you are bringing in business. However, many marketing plans are expensive and simply don’t give you the returns you’re looking for. Luckily, there are a number of marketing techniques you can utilize, even when you have a tiny budget.
Cross-Promote
It doesn’t matter if you’re in a small town or a huge city—there are other businesses around you. One of the best ways to market without a huge cost is to cross-promote with other businesses. Is there a company near you that offers a complimentary product or service? Talk to their marketing department and set up a partnership. It will save both companies and foster great business relationships.
Email Marketing
A number of companies are leaving the field of email marketing simply because they feel that customers aren’t paying attention. According to SalesForce, about 70% of people use discounts or sales that they get in their email. Because of this, it would be silly to abandon your email campaign. On top of that, about 82% of consumers open emails from businesses. While it will take some manpower or marketing budget to get your emails set up, it’s one of the most effective methods you can use for a low cost.
Look at Your SEO
Have you heard that the search engines don’t care about SEO anymore? While this myth has been around for a while, it simply isn’t true. The search engines still care—they simply have changed how their algorithms react to different types of SEO. Don’t stuff your website full of keywords. Instead, sprinkle them into the content naturally to make sure that the search engines see that you are relevant to your topic without looking like you’re spamming keywords. On top of this, make sure you’re using meta titles, descriptions, and keywords on each page.
Revisit Target Market
Every successful business knows who their target market is. This allows you to ensure that you are getting the right promotional materials to your customers. Understanding your target market is crucial to the success of your business. However, sometimes it’s a good idea to go back and review your market. Is it working out the way you thought it would? Have your products or services changed, changing who you should market toward? Has the mindset of your market fundamentally changed recently? Answering these questions allows you to put the least amount of money into your market, since you’re able to market more effectively.
Without great marketing, your business has a much lower chance of excelling. Make sure you’re not overextending your marketing budget, however. What is your favorite marketing technique?