If you have just started your own business, you might be on a budget to tackle other expenses. Keep in mind though, that you will need to market your business to ensure a steady stream of potential clients and paying customers, whether online or offline. There are tons of resources available out there now for you to optimize your marketing efforts. If you are a small time business entrepreneur or are just on a shoestring budget, you can still make a big marketing impact with little to no cashout.
The idea of marketing your own business can get overwhelming, especially if you are handling other aspects of the business, but here’s what you can do on a budget – or sometimes even no budget at all:
- Create a Google Business Account. With a lot of things that can be accessed online, having your business information on the internet is a great way to put your business out there. Your business will show up on the local search, Google Maps, Google + and you also get to interact with customers online for free.
- Create your own website. Every business, no matter how old-fashioned or offline your customers are, needs a website. This is another great way for inexpensive marketing for you. Start by creating a website by claiming a domain name with your business name. There are a lot of domain registration options that are usually cheap and inexpensive.
- Build a cheap or even free email list. Every business owner nowadays should have an email/ subscriber list. This is a great way to push out content from your website to your customers and it’s a great way to market out new products that you may have. If you are just starting out, there is an email management system that offers a free option for those businesses with a smaller list. When you are ready to take it to the next level, you can opt for a system that has monthly fees/ service charge so that you can also take advantage of the other features available.
- Establish a social media presence. Social media is another free and even inexpensive way to get the word out about your business. It can be through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn. However, do not use your personal account since this can only limit your reach to your friends and it might not be good for your professional image. The best social media practice you can do is create a separate business account and promote it to your friends.
- Join communities or groups. There are tons of communities and groups, both online and offline that is relevant to your business that you can get in. This is a great way to build connections and good karma. Offer a hand to help others just starting out, get great advice from entrepreneurs who are nailing it and even exchange ideas to improve your business.
Bonus idea: Find the weirdest promotional products available to offer your clients. The quirkier they are, the more memorable they’ll be. Marketing that’s unforgettable is the best marketing.
These are just a few helpful ways you can market your business on a budget. If you have any other tips you’d like to share, feel free to post it in the comments!
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