As a business owner, you know how important it is to get your company known. There are ways to build your brand on a budget without cutting effectiveness. If you’re not sure what to invest in when it comes to marketing, these tips will help you get started.
Branding on a Budget 101
Here are several marketing strategies you should invest in to grow your business.
What You Should Be Spending Marketing Dollars On
Get a website – Many customers find companies by going online and searching for services. It’s important that you invest in a website for your business and update it regularly with blog posts, videos, pictures, etc. Be sure to include contact information and any social media profiles you use to keep your customers updated.
Use direct marketing – Discover the advantage of utilizing direct marketing. After all, it’s easy to overlook or delete emails, but physical mail will actually make it to people’s hands and hopefully catch their attention long enough for them to read the materials. Start with a postcard mailer. These have low production and shipping costs, and they won’t overwhelm potential clients with too much information.
Related: 7 Ways to Perfect Your Postcard or Direct Mail Lead Nurturing
Create visually appealing business cards — Don’t forget to invest in a well-designed business card. As a new company, it’s essential to make a great first impression. At the very least, make sure the card includes your name, job title, company name, and contact information. You can also use a stylish graphic to really make it stand out.
What to Cut from Your Marketing Budget
There are some marketing tools you can cut without having to worry about losing out on business.
Newspaper ads – Newspaper ads are expensive, and they often don’t have the results business owners hope for. This is because many people are using other platforms to find services — such as Google, Facebook, and referrals. Plus, you’re spending money on an advertising spot that is super broad rather than targeted toward your ideal audience. With a good online presence, you can feel confident cutting this expense from your marketing plan without it affecting your company negatively.
Unnecessary social media accounts — You don’t need to utilize all the available social media platforms to keep your company relevant. This can be very time-consuming. Analyze which platforms are paying off for you, and cut the rest. For example, if you get a lot of customer activity on Facebook and Twitter but few followers elsewhere, deactivate those profiles. Only promote the social media profiles that matter to your bottom line; otherwise, you run the risk of overwhelming your customers and yourself. Your time will be better spent developing your website and creating more engaging posts for the platforms your customers really do frequent.
Useful Tips to Build a Brand Without a Buck
The following tips will help you get more customers without spending a dime.
Take Time to Get Referrals
Word-of-mouth marketing is the most cost-effective tool you can use. Let your customers know how important their business is to you and give them some business cards to hand out to their friends and family. A satisfied customer will get you more business than any expensive ad campaign. Plus, the more you actively cultivate your list of happy customers, the more your base can grow.
Increase Online Testimonials
With this in mind, be sure to encourage customers to leave online reviews as well. A good presence on Yelp can go a long way in terms of reputation and interest in your services.
Related: Yelp for Restaurants: Take Advantage of 26,380 Reviews / Min
Use Social Media
Social media is a great way to build your brand without spending any money. People like to see regular posts, so make a point to post something interesting at least once a day, and you’ll find more people engaged with your business.
Watch your sales revenue grow with these simple and affordable marketing tools. SILKCARDS can help you create amazing promotional materials that deliver a high ROI for your hard-earned spend.
