13 Low-budget Marketing Strategies

Today’s world revolves around marketing and advertising. There are so many new technologies and companies every day that it is simply impossible to keep track of all of them. Competition in the business world is rough.

Not every business company can afford to have large marketing departments with several marketing executives and sales people to plan and execute their strategies.

Small businesses and startups are having a hard time understanding marketing and all of the components of a successful marketing strategy. Often times it is only 1 or 2 people trying to balance between contacting clients, working on new projects, advertising, writing emails, and having phone calls.

Luckily, there are many low-budget ideas you can use to optimize and upgrade your marketing game. Setting up a marketing plan takes time and effort, but once you understand it, it will become easier to keep track of all these steps.

1. Create a website where you can present your main product offering. Add relevant content to your blog creating a stream of useful information for your target audience.
2. Set up a newsletter email and send it out weekly or monthly. Use a free e-book or PDF file to entice new subscribers. Your new visitors are more likely to sign up if they are being offered something for free.
3. Develop a social media plan and focus on 1 or 2 social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn). Trying to be everything to everyone on social media usually ends up being ineffective across all channels. Pick the most relevant channels for you.
4. Create a YouTube channel and upload videos that are relevant to your products/services Explain the features of a product you are selling and why is it useful. Although technically part of above, YouTube deserves its own mention.
5. Host free workshops related to your products or services either online or in person.
6. Show your company’s logo on as many places as possible (e.g., put it on a vehicle or create business cards with a logo on them).
7. Create brochures and business cards and hand them out so you can build awareness about your company.
8. Cross-promote with other compatible companies with similar target audience, but avoid direct competitors and business that are not similar to yours.
9. Create a contest so your customers can win prizes and stay engaged with your business. You can offer coupons, discounts, or financial prizes.
10. Conduct surveys or polls asking your audience what they expect from you and if they are happy with your products/services.
11. Build a free tool that will attract users and that you can market as a product/service for your business.
12. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals. More people than you think are willing to give referrals, if asked to.
13. Use Quora and Reddit to build up your presence, create a following, and start an open communication with your potential clients. The key is to be respectful to these networks and provide valuable responses that happen to mention your brand.

You don’t have to have a big business to be able to implement a successful marketing plan. By following these guidelines and being persistent, you can grow your online presence and build awareness with your prospective clients.