For small local businesses, the market is much more cut-throat, and the best way to achieve growth and success is through marketing. This strategy promotes their products and services to their target markets and lets the world know one’s business exists. It involves numerous activities such as promotions, advertising, and public relations.
Getting the word out is the most crucial element of your local business’ success. However, if you have a limited budget, you probably think that having strong marketing is not feasible. Luckily for you, that’s not always the case. In fact, you can execute proper marketing in any budget. Here are some low-budget marketing ideas you can try.
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Write powerful content
Content marketing is one of the most powerful strategies you can use to reach out to potential customers. Users online are usually looking for information or products they need, and if you’re able to provide them with helpful content, they’re likely to visit your website or physical location.
A well-made content is relevant and engaging, and it should promote brand awareness to your potential customers. Fortunately for local businesses on a budget, there are types of content creation that are either free or inexpensive. These include blogs, articles, instructional videos, live-streamed sales or product announcements, and e-books.
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Be social media savvy
Just by having an active social media page, you can make your business visible not only to everyone in your community but also internationally. In choosing the right social media platforms to use for marketing, there are several factors that you should consider. These include the channels your targets are using, the type of content you want to create, and your goals.
However, if you’re planning to build a strong social media reputation, hiring a reputable marketing company is ideal. They can help you maximize your marketing efforts at a reasonable rate. In hiring one, choose a company that specializes in the business same as yours. For instance, if you’re operating a local car dealership, you’d want to work with an automotive advertising agency since they have better specialization in marketing businesses like yours.
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Apply for business awards
If you’re not yet taking advantage of business awards, this is the perfect time to do it. There are dozens of them out there, and your brand might qualify for at least some. Research specific awards in your industry or general small business awards that accept nominations or applications. The good news is, many of these are free of charge as well.
Winning will give you a great opportunity to add the award to your reputation and shout out about it across your social media pages and marketing materials. Depending on the accolade, you are also likely to gain a winner’s badge or press coverage.
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Use old-school advertising
For businesses targeting local customers, traditional marketing is still a great strategy to go for. It allows your local business to build a genuine interest and connect with customers on a personal level. For instance, print materials such as flyers or brochures still work great for local exposure. Handing out or posting these on your local store can provide more familiarity to every person passing by.
Furthermore, from a psychological standpoint, this type of marketing also establishes stronger credibility for your local business. In fact, printed materials are often deemed to be more trustworthy. And yes, most types of traditional marketing materials are inexpensive to produce.
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Team up with other local businesses
Another low-budget marketing tactic you can consider is teaming up with other local businesses. Find a local business that complements yours to ensure you’ll both benefit from the partnership. For example, if you own a local bakery, you can team up with a coffee shop. Or, if you run a supplement shop, you can team up with a local gym. You can do cross-promotion or a joint campaign.
If you want to gain more exposure in your community, you can also consider partnering with a local non-profit organization. One positive way to contribute to the community is donating products or volunteering your time for beneficial projects. This also enables you to get the word out about your business and connect with potential customers.
Good marketing doesn’t require thousands of dollars. Even if you have a limited budget, you can still come up with effective marketing efforts just by being wise and witty in creating and launching your campaigns. Be sure to incorporate some of these tips into your strategy and make your local business thrive in the global market!