Marketing is one of the biggest challenges for businesses. Unless you’re a small business or startup, you may have a big marketing budget.
Otherwise, there are some creative ways you can market your business while sticking to a budget.
Guerilla Marketing
One way is to think big when it comes to your marketing plan. Guerilla marketing requires the use of creativity and a big budget.
But you don’t need to be a billionaire industry to make use of guerilla marketing.
Small businesses with small startup costs can use this kind of marketing to keep up with larger businesses.
If you have a brick-and-mortar business, create some eye-catching art with chalk, graffiti, or spray paint.
Advertise with billboards, banners, and posters around your area.
Organize a flash mob to create attention and awareness of your business.
Social Media Marketing
Two-thirds of Americans have a social media account, according to the Pew Research Center. Social media has grown since three years ago.
There are popular social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest.
Each of these social media apps is different and require different forms of engagement.
Rather than being on all of them at once, choose one or two that you like and master them.
Content Marketing
The next thing you should do is work on your content marketing plan. Google loves valuable content, as do your customers.
There are many ways to share valuable content – from blog posts to video content.
Content marketing helps you gain authority as an expert and gives you free traffic.
Search engine optimization (SEO) and other key factors can help land your business at the top of Google search results.
Don’t have time to start a blog? Offer to write a guest post for a high-authority site.
You can even hire a team of graphic designers or virtual assistants to do the work for you.
If you run out of content, you can always repurpose your old content.
Set Up Contests and Giveaways
People love getting free things. Host a contest or giveaway to attract new customers and build brand awareness.
Your merchandise doesn’t have to be expensive. Free eBooks, checklists, and white papers cost very little money to produce.
The only thing they cost is your time.
As always, you can hire a freelance writer or ghostwriter to create these products for you.
Use a heat transfer service like Coastal Business Supplies to create merchandise such as T-shirts, phone cases, and window transfers that feature your logo on it.
This could be beneficial to your business since your customers will see your logo every time they use your products.
You can also give them out to long-term customers every time they visit your business.
You can create a unique marketing effort by making your marketing campaign fun and attractive.
You want to create something that sticks in people’s minds. They’ll end up telling their friends and family about your business.
They may even give some of your merchandise away as a gift.
Use the Media
Having your business featured by a media outlet is a great way to generate free marketing.
To attract the media, invite them to your business and cover it.
Come up with a publicity stunt or a viral marketing campaign that’s not controversial, but will have everyone talking for weeks to come.
Do something nice for the community, such as hosting a charity event or offer free services to the less fortunate.
Sponsor an organization by donating your products or services.
Even hosting your own awards ceremony for your employees can attract the attention of the media.
Provide Useful Information
All of your marketing efforts should be useful to your audience. There are many ways to make your marketing valuable.
Provide useful information by hosting a webinar, online event, or Meetup group.
Offer to speak at industry events, schools, or other corporate events.
Be of assistance to your audience. This can include answering questions on sites such as Quora and Reddit.
Direct your answers to your website for more information.
Remember, your information should entertain your audience, not bore them to tears. They should be touched by the information they received.
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
You just have to think outside of the box in a way that works for your business.